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Posey approaches Dust with a bit of a desperate look
(in a totally non-aggressive manner this time)"Dusty, we are in a pinch. We have multiple pressing issues at hand and we cannot be sure what to do next or what order to do it in. We cannot be sure if we should go looking for the airponies first before they perish or take on that eldritch monster that might destroy the world. We are lost. Can you use that priestly magic of yours to call for some guidance that could help us find the path? Your powers as a shaman far exceed my own as a sorceress, in both breadth and magnitude: I believe in you."
She cups her hoofs together pleadingly and bats her eyelashes
(See
>>188998 → ,
>>189001 →)
>>189015Oh hey, there was a new thread I missed. I mean, why not. What's the worst that can happen.
Dust stares at the mare for a few moments. And a few more. He looks among the rest of the party, and back at the mare. He sighs.
"I will ask of the path we might take.
Of it a plan we can make.
But if this action I pursue,
Nopony with me better argue."
Dust then steps back to find a rather barren piece of earth, and begins to draw a circle in the ground. Once done, he splits the circle down the middle with two even halves. At the center, he clears a little hole. He then takes his flail and places an end in this hole, letting the head of the flail dangle directly over the line.
"Choose your sides, for our path.
Stand around, and do not laugh.
Our plea to above, I shall exalt,
And hold no ideals to any fault.
Choose your sides, which do not tell.
We shall side with where my weapon fells."
He looks at everypony expectantly, waiting for them to line up on differing sides based on how they wish to move forward. Do not publicly declare what you want, just follow the others you know you agree with.
>>189050Nice rhyming
Posey takes a step back.
"I heard that Zebrew rhymes were a key to great spiritual power, but I never took that class in magic school."
Posey looks unsure where to go, but her body instinctively orients herself towards the whale bones.
>>189050Pipette walks around in front of Dust and on the other side of the flail and moves her forelegs slightly apart as she extends her neck over the circle, looking down at the flail. She smiles in a toothy smile, squints her eyes through her glasses looking at Dust, and wags her tail one, two, three times back and forth.
>>189050>>189054Silver lines up on the side of the circle oriented towards the whale bones. "We go to whale bones and stick with plan."
Kira, meanwhile, giggles at Pipette's actions. "I think she likes you, Dust."
>>189050"I've tried on a growing 5 occasions to discern what in Luna's name you just said. I swear, Zebras. But to your point, I'm in the camp of the best defense being a good offense."
>>189060Dust shoots a glare at the bat
"Line up on the side with whom you agree,
And please make no other pleas."
>>189054>>189057Dust then glares at Pipette, trying to stop the slight red flush to his cheeks at Kira's comments
>>189061Dust's reaction gets Kira to giggle a little bit more. "You two should get to know each other better after we win."
>>189077"Kira, have you found the scent of the missing airponies yet?"
>>189078Kira: "Oh, uh...well, I can try."
>>189054Survival: Kira raises her head up and flicks out her tongue, picking up the scents carried in the air to see if she can recognize any scents of ponies beyond the current group.
[1d20+11 = (16+11) = 27]
>>189079With the rest of us rolling to assist her (about half of us would succeed), she easily beats DCs above 30. The airponies are in a group, so their numbers should offset terrain debuffs. She's also tracking by scent, which is much more potent.
Kira should be able to be able to track them, wherever they are on this island (hopefully).
"Everypony follow the snake." Posey says, as she trots after Kira
Silver: "I will say this one more time, and it should be last time I will say this: right now, GRU is traveling in large single group as to avoid being killed off one by one by neverending hordes of monsters Traveler is no doubt summoning to oppose them. They will be slower than if they had split up, but they will still be moving around and sweeping across island methodically. If we do not go after your whale bones and get that explosive and guns from plane now, there is zero guarantee we will be able to return to this part of island."
If you can agree on something we can advance this weekend, and the next, up until BABScon on Easter Weekend. I was at Festival of Friendship last weekend
>>189084Silver described a plan in
>>189085 →Let's do that.
Dust looks around, wondering if the ponies are gonna want him to finish what he was asked to do.
>>189098Silver blinks at the zebra from his side of the circle
>>189098Do it. Cast the spell so we can stop debating.
>>189088Yes, it was as retarded then as it is now. Why you want to split the party later is something you will have to work to justify, cuz at the moment it comes across as batshit insanity
>>189061"Adorable. If that is how your ordinarily compel ponies, let me just offer that you should find a subcontractor for that part. Not only do I still not know what in tartarus you were first saying NOR saying now, but now you've made the foolish mistake of thinking you're in a position to bark orders. A pity." Brie shakes his head dismissively.
"Here's an idea, I'll make this really easy for everypony! When you fuckwits pull your heads out of your asses and make some progress, you can meet ME at the Kostromo," Brie says before turning and departing for the freighter. "I assume it will be months before that happens, so taaa!"
"Oh joy, he is finally gone."
>>189104>>189105Silver frowns at Brie, calling out after him, "Do not be foolish. On your own, your best options are between getting torn apart by monsters or being captured and tortured to death by GRU."
>>189108"He seems intent going up to the nest of the monster alone. Perhaps he will accomplish something there, or perhaps he will simply perish. I say let him. If he dies, he dies. Fewer ways to split the reward." Posey says with a shrug
>>189108"Stealth assassination of an unsuspecting military force is my specialty, though I suppose I should take one of the radios. At the least, I can gather reconnaissance and begin to strategize our assault. And, this way you can split up or not split up in whatever configuration you think is best without my interference OR snide remarks! It will be - as they say - a gas; I've always wanted to say that," he finishes, retrieving one of the radios before turning in the direction of the Kostromo.
>>189084GM, please see
>>189050 and
>>188998 →Dust doing this little ritual appears to be his way of casting this very powerful divination spell that effectively makes our decisions for us and tastefully railroads us into the most optimal course of action. Can you please tell us the results of that spell? The duration is indefinite until the decision is complete, which means it could last all day if we ask it what do do and in which order.
>>189061>>189061>>189098Pipette smiles widely in her toothy smile as Dust makes eye contact. Her bespectacled purple eyes are out of focus, the skin below lax and the lids half closed. She leans forward until she begins to lose balance, and as if in slow motion, her head leans down to look at the flail below, her eyes go wide, and her lips close and pull back. She moves back, falling onto her rear with a squeak-like “mmph!” Her forelegs go between her hind legs, and her disheveled blue tail bounces into the air.
She looks back towards Dust with a very wide smile that shows all of her well-maintained teeth, and she tries to pull herself forward. With a sort of hop to her left, she gets back up and moves around the circle, coming closer to Dust. And opens her mouth and gets out the beginning of a word, but stops when Dust makes it clear he is busy with other matters
>>189119Silver, deciding it's needed, gives Mala some pets.
Dust watched Brie fly off and shrugs
"His claim to stake,
Is now forfeit.
A decision I need not make.
For now we take the opposite."
He turns to nod at Silver and Posey, before turning to look at Pipette and cocking an eyebrow. He's almost considering looking her over again and making sure she hasn't hit her head too hard.
>>189121Please cast Path Of The Exalted
Please
I'll pay you market price for spellcasting services
>>189121>>189122Posey dangles 1.5 pounds of gold in front of Dust's snoot
"Dusty, cast the spell. Cast it. I know you have it. I will pay you for your service."
>>189121Pipette wags her tail back and forth again. No, she does not appear entirely lucid.
>>189124>No, she does not appear entirely lucid."Uh, oh. Stay with us, mare. We cannot have you prancing off to the realm of Luna with the Traveller about."
Posey makes a hand with her magic and snaps its fingers before her
"Focus. Look at me. Listen to my voice."
Rolling a Hypnosis check, using her eyes as a focus (+2 if she's already charmed)
[1d20+8 = (18+8) = 26]"Stay awake."
>>189125Of course I roll 18 on the shitpost skill check.
Oh well, I finally got an opportunity to use this skill (now that I think about it, I probably should have tried it on Blackheel).
>>189125Pipette's head, previously moving about, turns towards Posey as the latter speaks. Her ears perk up and she positions herself in front of Posey, moving her head closer to her, her purple eyes widening and focusing on Posey's. As she moves ever so slightly closer, her pupils widen and then refocus, and at the end, she shakes her head away.
>>189125>>189126You call that a shitpost, but that was actually really useful.
Kira ooos and ahhs at the display. "That's amazing! It's like the stories my cousin told me about the desert lamias! Except you're a pony!"
>>189128"It is a trick I acquired in my training. The circle told me I had a natural talent for it, but my master had other plans for my studies (only 1 skill rank)... I do, however, use it therapeutically on my colt whenever he has one of his episodes..."
She looks off towards the horizon
"..I wonder how he is doing right now..." she trails off, lost in contemplation
This is the Hypnosis skill from the Ravenloft Gazetteer, btw. It's an opposed skill check that creates an effect similar to the Hypnotism spell. It may require a Bluff check first, if the target is suspicious of you. Perhaps it could be useful later, if GM determines.
>>189131Kira looks at Posey in her contemplation, tilting her head. After a couple seconds, she reaches out a hoof, and starts petting the top of Posey's head, deciding she could use it.
>>189132Posey is too distracted atm to smite the snek for touching her superfluous mane. Also let's assume her chill touch doesn't discharge.
is pet
>>189133Hmmmmm...perhaps a nice friendly snek hug, instead?
>>189133We've found her weakness! It's headpats, as to be expected. Spread the word
[YouTube] Spread the word ID4
[Embed]
>>189135GM, can you tell us the results of Kira's survival check to find the airponies?
>>189079>>189146>>189135Kira should be able up lead us up the airponies.
>>189146>>189147As Kira wraps around Posey to give her a nice, friendly snek hug to help her feel better, it occurs to her: is the wind even blowing from the direction of the crashed airship? Because she gets a sneaking suspicious as she feels it blow through her mane that it isn't.
>>189148Posey pretends not to notice.
The first thing Kira might notice is that her body is quite cold. Also her heartbeat is strange... More like some kind of erotic throbbing...
>>189149>>189150Hmm...it'd be pretty hard not to notice a snek wrapping around you to give you a friendly hug. Make a Bluff check.
[1d20+2 = (9+2) = 11]
>>189151[1d20+16 = (17+16) = 33]Posey is lost stone face and unreactive.
... Wait.. Is she dead?
>>189152Damn, that's pretty convincing. So much so that Kira, concerned, start poking Posey's cheeks in an annoying fashion to see if she can provoke a response from her, just to make sure she's not actually dead.
>>189153"One task at a time, Kira." Posey finally speaks up
"You still need to find those airponies."
>>189079Peeping her head up, and flicking her tongue, Kira searches for that distinct scent of friendship.
flick flickWait. There it is! Friendship! We found them!
Wait. No. That's just the ponies nearby.
flick flickWhat is that? Salt... Fish... No friendship... Why is no friendship? Where have they gone? Oh. The wind is blowing from the sea, and it's impossible to smell anything far upwind with wind this strong. So where is friends?
Wait! Kira has an epiphany. She can't smell the friends. So they must be... upwind! That's it! Yes, there we go.
Unless they are perpendicular to the wind but... we don't speak about that possibility.
Kira believes the airponies are across the island.
>>189081Mala walks up to the bat, and with his right paw, pats him on the back.
>>189120But now, Mala is pet. He closes his eyes, and leans his head up in the direction of Silver's hoof.
>>189152Oh noes
Blackheel approaches the mare, who is hopefully not about to be crushed and or eaten by Kira.
"Are you alright?"
>>189154>>189155Kira looks relieved at Posey's reaction. "Whew! I got worried for a second there. Anyways, I think they're across the island. But what about your whale bones? It sounds like they're important to Silver's plan, too."
>>189156"The airponies come first. Lead the way."
>>189159Now Silver speaks up. "Backtracking to this part of island will be difficult, lengthy, and very, very dangerous. It is best we do it now, get it out of way so we do not need to come this way again."
>>189160Okay, fine, let's do the other thing first.
GM, can you take us to the whale bones now? Do we get there in one piece?
>>189161Consider phrasing your appeals in a manner not akin to a petulant child
>>189161Kira can make a Survival check if needed. It should only be a five minute journey to the whaling village. About the same distance as it takes someone to walk to the store.
Okay, I’m about to do final call
Everypony err, creature declare an action
>>189165Kira and Silver are going to lead the party back to the whaling station.
>>189165>>189166"If time is as of-the-essence as everypony seems to think - self included - then I'm wasting my time baby-sitting the lot of you. SOMEpony should get a head-start on assessing the situation at the Kostromo," before Silver can pipe up, Brie raises a hoof in his direction, "Shut up, this is the point where I do what I was specifically tasked for. I will need a radio; perhaps 'need' is a strong word, but if you wish for me to relate what I find in advance of your arrival, that will be a necessary concession," He states, before looking to Rosey. "Oh dear, I still haven't had the time to finish appraising those trinkets of yours. Or have I? It's so hard to tell. In any case, I trust that you will do the righteous thing and save those poor and waylaid marines, and hopefully avoid damaging the airship."
In character, Brie still wants the airship. He looks back to Silver before reiterating, "Yes, this is comparable to the time you decided to tell me to be cautious around explosives."
OOC, I just want this mission fucking over. IDGAF about loot, IDGAF about story (other than Brie survives with one of the eggs), experience; Brie could arrive back in baltimare naked with 1 hp and a permanent handicap and I'll be happy. Especially if I don't have to wait on all you idiots. This isn't a rage-post so I'll leave it at that.
But Jesus christ, its been over 6 months already. I've had campaigns last less time. Consider brie 'no longer present'.
But don't think for a moment I won't talk shit.
>>189169I thought he was already gone? Why is he speaking?
>>189170Because GM doesn't think my posts are serious, and haven't been ratified or even acknowledged, other than to acknowledge they aren't being acknowledged.
Tell me GM, is Brie fucking off and gone, or is he still here?
>>189170While we wait for confirmation, whatever gives you the impression that you are in a position to critique when/where anyone posts? Why don't you mind your OWN business?
I mean, I'm trying to move on to bigger and better things, but if you wanna pick a fight on my way out, we can do that too.
>>189174I apologize for not orange-texting the first post, but it was VERY in character, sop fuck off.
Also, while you're trying to criticize OOC posts, do I need to go back and cite all yours? Seriously, mind your business.
>Is Brie there or not
I’m asking now for players to declare actions. I am asking you.
>>189169Silver looks at Brie seriously. "If you are forced to choose between death and capture, choose death. It is not just GRU I am worried about. If you get ambushed by Traveler's minions, and they knock you unconscious, then Traveler will attempt to puppeteer you. If he succeeds, then he will learn
everything. Our forces, our targets, our armaments...our plan."
>>189176I am certain I didn't stutter, because then you would have heard it twice and would need no clarification.
This is what I definitively said.
>>189169Will that be all?
>>189177"Silver, mate, read the writing on the wall. I have as much confidence in MYSELF going 1v1 vs the traveler as I do with going in tandem with you. Yes, you're that much of a liability."
>>189180Silver's only response to what Brie said is to furrow his eyebrows at him and scowl. "When you die, do not haunt me. It will have been your own damn fault, not mine."
>>189181"And when I save your ass, I'll make you eat those words," he says, waving but not turning.
>>189182Silver snorts, but offers no further reply.
>>189182"Give us the camera before you fly off to die."
>>189184Silver still has the camera, actually. He used it to take a picture of the Abomination that attacked Black Heel. Silver also has the demolition kits, so Brie shouldn't have any mission critical gear left on his person.
>>189185Oh, nvm
"Let him go. It is not our business if he wants to die. That is just one less pony to split the reward with. We can try to recover his personal equipment later if need be."
>>189184"Glad to see you're paying attention," somehow with this wave, you intuit that if there were fingers involved he would be presenting the middle one.
Okay, so we all know what we are doing now.
Do we make it to the bones?
>>189188>Garv's response>Dust's responseGood of you to be so patient and accommodating
>>189189Garv already said he would follow Posey to the whale bones, and Dust has just been following the group for the entire adventure. I think it's safe to say our decision is clear.
>>189191I stand corrected. Carry on, peach.
Across the restless waves of the sea, on the grey horizon, a new bank of fog is on its way. The grey skies increasingly darken. The ponies in the group stand up, Blackheel says
"For now... I acknowledge that travel is safer in a group... Certainly with that thing spawning monsters of out air..."
The whole little herd slowly picks up to start to follow Kira, Posey and friends. The way to the whaling station is around the hill - the plane crash site can be avoided - and down it to the little valley where the first fight with the Petrushkas was fought, then down to the small sealing station by the water.
>>189198Posey cocks an eyebrow at Blackheel's approach, and then gives a quiet, subtle chuckle
"So you decided to follow us after all. Very well. Come along."
As Posey approaches the whaling site, she turns to Mala
"Mala, help me out with that nose of yours and look for where the griffons discarded their spare seal bones, while I inspect the leviathan skeleton."
>>189198Silver, for once, smiles. "It is good to have you with us."
Kira, meanwhile, looks at the whale skeleton when the group arrives. "Hmm...it looks like it's missing its head. Did the griffons mount it up somewhere as a trophy?" She looks to the griffons in the party, to see if any can answer in Ponish.
>>189203"I would strongly prefer it if the head were to be found... But it is not necessary."
The ponies come to the sealing station, with its tins roofs and weathered wooden walls, dim windows and still open doors. There is no sound but that pervasive tinnitus ringing. The buildings cast long shadows onto the hill behind as they contrast against the near-setting sun.
>>189201Blackheel has a muted expression.
Mala wags his tail once, then moves off, through the set of buildings towards the north, cautiously looking through each door before moving past.
>>189205>near-setting sun"We cannot afford to delay any longer."
Posey trots up to the whale bones
"Mala, gather whatever seal bones you can find. They do not need to be in good condition or of any particular type, they just need to be many of them."
Posey brandishes her scroll
>>189205>tinnitusOh no...
Kira looks around with a worried expression. She pulls her bow out, just in case. "Anyone feel static in the air?"
>>189203Johan, the white griffin, answers
"I am... not sure... Maybe it was placed in the water, or the bone pile... I would assume it was cut off."
>>189207Mala moves his head up in the air, then looks back to Posey.
"Over this way."
Taking his right forepaw, and moving all but the inner most toe, he points straight ahead to the north.
"There is a pile this way."
>>189208The radio is on, but fortunately,
not picking up excessive static. for now.
>>189209Kira lets out a sigh, but does seem too relieved. "Maybe this island is just getting to me...maybe..."
Silver gives Mala some pets, offering him a "good job, Mala" for his efforts.
Survival: Kira, meanwhile, has an idea; perhaps the bones still carry a scent, and if so, she could use it to track down the skull that shares the same scent. She flicks her tongue in the air to test.
[1d20+11 = (5+11) = 16]
>>189209Posey prances after Mala, her bone-obsession getting the better of her.
"I really should not waste time looking for the head... It would look so amazing!"
>>189210flick flickKira can't quite get the smell of it
>>189211The two wright whale skeletons, as well as a pile of seal bones are to the north. The giant rib cage is to the south.
>>189212Posey loads as many whale and seal bones as she can onto her floating disk, especially the skulls, and then she proceeds towards the leviathan skeleton.
She requests that Mala do the same.
Is the leviathan's ribcage intact?
>>189213Kira and Silver, following Posey's lead, also take as many bones as they can carry to the leviathan skeleton.
I will need to sleep soon
>>189176Cavaliere will accompany Posey to the skeletal remains and assist with gathering bones for whatever this plan might be. May I roll a search to find that "leviathan" skull?
[1d20+2 = (15+2) = 17]
>>189189Don't use me as a cope for your arguments
>>189176Dust does NOT follow to the bones, as I am hoping to keep the poor zeeb's sanity intact a little longer.
I'm assuming Silver and Kira aren't going that way (I think) so he sticks with them.
>>189219Then play, or have the good sense to not leave other players waiting on you.
>>189219No seriously, I will bend over backwards if you actually engaged the thread/site
>>189219Silver and Kira are in fact, going towards the bones
>>189216Cavaliere thinks that there is...
something... In the water north of the pier, and near the main set of bones
>>189223I don't want you to bend over backwards, I want you to leave me alone. 2025 has sucked and I'd just like to pretend I don't exist.
>>189224Of course they are. I guess Dust has no other choice at this point... He follows. This should end poorly
>>189246
*deep breath*
Anon, I don't want to make things harder for you. I'm an asshole, but I think the world of you and what you have accomplished. I know a bit (I wont say) but I'm one of your biggest fans, even if that doesn't come across.
>>189249
>anon
You know who I am Xp
>still waiting on GM
Lads, this mission started in October. The dialogue to just actually get to the island lasted weeks. For fucks sake. Look back at the logs, and then pretend to care about efficiency.
>>189255>>189256>>189258Your character is not even present: you have nothing to roleplay. Stop shitting up the thread.
>>189259That has yet to be affirmed by GM. Are you GM? Maybe stfu
>>189259>stop shitting up the threadNO U
btw
>>189215>>189213>>189191>>189188A cursory glance at Posey's OOC posts
As they say, what's good for the goose is good for the gander, innit?
>>189259
Do I have to resort to handles? Are you seriously begrudging me for trying to at least apologize to "anon with the snek"? No, not you Silver, I mean anon who made the snek. Its complicated.
But yes, I'm not gonna apologize for taking the opportunity to make peace with him, even if it's only tenative. I would do the same with/for you if I thought there was receptivity. I have been trying for half a year to try and mend all the bridges, but if you want them sundered, good to know
Go on, quote my posts and bitch about >ooc
>>189225Cavaliere whistles.
"Look over there, in the water."Let's be nice to each other.
Everyone:
Tries to do questBrie:
“I’m leaving!”
Everyone:
“Okay”
continues questBrie:
Storms back into room “Hey everyone I’m leaving! Why won’t you see me leaving?”
>>189258>>189260See
>>189197
>>189266Posey prances after Cavalier
"Did you find it?"
>>189267You couild LET him leave. You know, acknowledge what I posted. You've had months
>>189268Cavaliere points to the gloomy waves.
"Not sure, but I would wager there is something of interest in the water over there."
>>189225>>189266>>189270Kira comes over to investigate the whale skull after depositing the bones she collected over near the ribcage. "I feel kinda bad for the poor thing. I know it's long dead, and carnivores both on land and in water still need to eat, but whales are very intelligent and peaceful animals. It's sad to see one that perished like this. It never asked for this..."
>>189264For what it's worth, I do think it's commendable that you're making sure everything between you and Dust's player is good. I'm a little confused though, he actually didn't have anything to do with Kira's creation. I came up with the idea for Kira, and GM pone and I worked together to come up with the lore about how lamias work and what their civilization and society is like.
>>189271I betrayed Dust's player's confidence once. He drew a line, and I crossed it. And fwiw, it was retarded, cuz I didnt know what I was talking about at the time. Kind of like now, except at the time I wastrying to blow shit up, whereas now I'm trying to mend the damage. I dont expect reception or acceptance, I just want it not left unsaid, especially if I'm to leave y'all to play without interference
>>189272Bro, shut the fuck up. We have a separate thread for this.
>>189270"Oh... Seawater..." Posey says, stopping just at the edge of the waves, prancing hesitantly
>>189271Kira still has Endure Elements up, right? Can she swim to it?
"Kira, can you go see if the skull is there?"
>>189252Oi, one of those posts does declare an action for Dust, but yes yes I've gotten to wishy washy, whatever. Come put me in the ground yourself.
Also is everyone really going to the bones? I'm trying to postpone Dust seeing necromancy for as long as possible since we didn't come to another satisfactory truce.
>>189274I thought we were going to go pick up the airponies first, but Silver wanted to do this instead and I am not going to spend another month arguing about it.
Sorry.
>>189274Yes apparently.
I can see absolutely no justification for it besides “We’re doing necromancy now.”
If Dust wants to take a few NPCs and run off though, he can.
>>189276>We’re doing necromancy nowThe Dread Agenda spreads
>>189273>bro shut the fuck up110% no you
If theres a problem with the tone you have painstakingly cultivated, check the mirror. Meanwhile, I appreciate that my character is a cause of friction, and rather than insisting on being the main character like SOME people, Im trying to relegate him so you can do your 'thing'
>>189273>>189274Kira looks at Posey surprised, offering her an "Oh, okay" before wading into the water to get to the skull.
Silver meanwhile, takes Posey on the shoulder. "You should really talk with Dust about what we are about to do, see if you can soothe some of his fears and work something out with him."
>>189278Darling. Bro. Brie’s already left the group. This is a settled issue. You’ve said this already. I said “everyone declare an action.” You said “Brie leaves.” I said “K” and moved on with everyone else. It’s done. What do you want?
poofBrie has left apparently.
Okay. There. It’s a done a second time. Everyone, look and see how not there Brie is.
Now we’re moving on.
>>189279>>189266No, you can’t really see it. It’s just water.
But then the trough of a wave moves over the shallow water near the pier, and a massive yet of yellow-tinged bone can be seen.
>>189280"Ooh! That will do..."
Posey grips the bone with her magic and begins to drag it towards the beat
>>189280>I said KDid you now? Lets look.
>>189267If this was your "k" then it domes across as contempt. Small wonder I want out of this game.
Is there another post that I'm missing, or are you as inconsistent as I have come to recognize you as?
>>189281It’s not exactly the size of a basket of apples.
>>189283Posey can drag up to 1950 pounds, or half as much under poor circumstances.
"Hrrrrhk..! A little help here." she groans as she exerts herself
We'll say Dust is still a decent ways off to the side, checking on Pipette, making sure she doesn't have a fever and her pupils are dialating normally. Typical medical stuff.
>>189284Kira continues to wade out into the water, wrapping her tail around the skull and pulling with all of her might towards the shore. Silver helps using his magic to try to lighten the load, as he again speaks to Posey. "I am serious though, you should talk with Dust about what you are about to do. I am not sure he will be most pleased with this plan."
>>189280>>189282Cavaliere ties some rope into a lasso and tries to hook onto part of the whale skull.
[1d20+9 = (15+9) = 24]
>>189284>Can lift a car with telekinesis magicNo.
And that’s not what the word “drag” means.
>>189285She’s… She’s right there. Actually she’d probably scare Dust a little, standing only a few feet away and looking at Dust. Her tail wags twice when he makes eye contact.
She’s obviously tired, and her eyes are… well they could be worse, but her pupils are more narrow than normal.
>>189286A Blue whale skull is 18 feet in length. I don’t think you understand how big it is.
>>189287Now we’re getting somewhere
>>189288Hmmm...perhaps a Strength roll then from Kira and Silver?
Kira:
[1d20+3 = (20+3) = 23]Silver:
[1d20+3 = (9+3) = 12]
>>189289And the griffon helps with pulling the old bone.
[1d20 = 5]
>>189288He feels her forehead with the back of his hoof. Is she hot? Cold? Normal?
>>189288What if I used a rope? Could I drag it then?
>>189292As a single little pony, no.
But though a single stick may snap in two, sticks in a bundle hold strong. Together as one mighty faggot, you all may overcome.
>>189291Dust quickly notices a major problem. There’s a decent sized, cone-shaped, velvet-covered protrusion growing directly out of her forehead. Is that caused by the Traveller mutating ponies?
Wait. That’s just a thing that ponies have. Or some of them. Why don’t all of them have it? Anyways it doesn’t matter. But touching that part of the forehead is a no-go. So… above that is covered in tin foil. Can’t move that, she’ll freak out. Maybe place the hoof on her cheek? No, she might get the wrong idea. So… touch immediately above the eyes? Maybe the top of the muzzle? Uh… sure.
She feels… normal? Maybe a little warm? She isn’t dead, anyways.
>>189289Kira is able to move the thing out of the sand.
>>189292That would work better
>>189295>>189292While Kira is able to move the heavy skull, she would definitely appreciate some help.
Also, Posey, please give me any indication at all that you actually saw Silver telling her she should go speak to Dust, preferably before she actually raises the Bone Lurker?
Pardon, I fell asleep
>>189296Posey helps Kira
I am willing to speak to Dust. Is Dust present at the moment?
>>189274"Dust, a moment, if you will." Posey says
>>189301It's fine poner, only one player gets punished for falling asleep, and it isnt you
>>189296>>189274Posey approaches Dust and pulls him aside to speak to him privately
"Dust... I have a feeling that you know what I am about to do with this scroll." She says, brandishing the black, bone-decorated scroll, the onyx gems inside it rattling inside the bone centerpiece.
"I can fool around with the other ponies by dressing it up with fancy Arcane buzzwords like 'conjuring a spiritual ally' or 'waking the beast to combat the forces of Dagon, but I know that a Zegro of faith like you would not be fooled by such language. While Silver has grown quite enthusiastic by the way I delivered it, I suspect you might be less than comfortable with your suspicions, so I will be frank with you. This scroll, that my old master bestowed upon me, is a scroll to animate the dead, and I intend to use it on the bones of that leviathan over there." she says, pointing in the directions of the bones
"Perhaps you might be familiar with the concept of a Bone Lurker: a mindless, flying amalgam of shambling bones; that will be the product of this spell. I intend to use it as a minion to counter the monsters that the Traveller conjures, to carry that explosive, and potentially use it as a mount to flee this island should things turn sour." she continues
"It is likely that what I am about to may conflict your spiritual beliefs. Silver seems convinced with this maneuver is essential, but we could be persuaded to reconsider... Knowing this information, what do you intend to do?"
>>189315I will proceed as soon as I hear back from Dust. Casting Animate Dead will only take one action.
"Well, Dust, do you have anything to say."
>>189327Life's been kicking Dust's player in the nuts lately, give him some time.
>>189315>>189327Dust freezes for a minute. He stares at the mare. He almost reaches for his flail a few times. He starts a few prayers under his breath before stopping. He finally lowers his head for a minute, and finally looks up.
"Our discussion is not done
We will resume when the day is won."
Dust plods off, obvious he will not partake, nor witness this.
>>189328My nuts are sufficiently kicked
>>189334"A level-headed and wise response, as expected of an accomplished priest. We will speak again, and exact our conflicts then. In the meantime, use those rhyming skills of your to keep Pipette out of the dream realm."
.
.
.
Posey then returns to the leviathan bones.
She circles the bones, having gathered them in two piles: one Huge sized pile, consisting of the Leviathan's bones, and a second large sized one consisting of the smaller seal bones and whale bones, humming a subtle, indistinct mantra that may or may not be part of her spell. She unscrews the cap on the core of her scroll and shakes out a few black jewels, silently lamenting at having to expend them all so early in her career.
She turns to the onlookers
"The practices of my mentor's arcane thesis were a closely guarded secret. They shared them with nopony, not even me. It was through trust and privilege that they bestowed me with this scroll to use tonight. Keeping their secrets was a an oath that I made in exchange for their teachings, and my eventual emancipation. I would appreciate if the rest of you, especially the unicorns, would look away and cover your ears for this next part, but I cannot force you: like that honorable zegro before, I too must make compromises with my code of conduct."
Whether or not the onlookers honor her request, Posey proceeds to unfurl the scroll, scribbled with deranged inscrutable writing, levitates the gems into the eye sockets of the whales, and throws her head back and begins her chant:
"By the blackened sky and the starless sea,
I call upon the bones, from death set free.
From ocean depths where light dares not tread,
Rise, Leviathan, from the realm of the dead.
Whale of shadows, ancient and vast,
Awaken now from your timeless past.
Let the marrow of your bones ignite,
As ghostly flesh returns to night.
By the cursed winds and the deep sea’s roar,
I summon thee, to walk once more.
Ghost-whale of the abyss, rise high,
Tear through the heavens, darken the sky.
Dagon’s servants, tremble with fear,
For the spirit of the deep draws near.
Devour their souls, their flesh, their breath,
Sift through their hearts and bring their death.
From the deep, from the void, from the edge of time,
Come forth, my leviathan, so cold, so prime.
Through oceans of sorrow and seas of hate,
You are my weapon, you are my fate.
Rise, oh rise, ghost whale of dread,
Bound by the tides, in death’s dark thread.
Devour the spawn of Dagon’s reach,
And claim the earth, the sea, the beach.
Let the waves churn, let the waters boil,
As your spirit stirs in the ancient coil.
Leviathan, arise to feast and roam,
Take back the seas—this world is your home!"
Posey then makes two boops, completing the Animate Dead Spell, with intent to reanimate one Huge sized advanced bone lurker and one large typical bone lurker, in the form of spectral whales made of shambling unconnected bones.
Yay! I got to cast animate dead for the second time in this game :D
At GM's discretion, the residual magic in the leviathan bones may act as an additional material component to cause something unexpected to happen. Or perhaps the loathing resentment within the spirit of this CR 25 monster causes the spell to go awry. Or perhaps the resulting beast gains intelligence and turns on its master. Or perhaps Posey's master hexes her for revealing their secrets. Anything can happen.
>>189336>>189341Fine, Silver takes Black Heel away from the scene of necromancy that's about to take place.
>>189336Cavaliere looks suspiciously at Posey and the jewels, making an arcane knowledge check as to their nature:
[1d20+7 = (13+7) = 20]However, he reluctantly turns around and, sitting on the ground, covers his ears. Or, at least, it's where his ears probably are. With griffons it's hard to say.
>>189345Arcana would tell you that it's a material component of some sort.
Spellcraft would tell you what kind of spell it is.
The gems are black in color, and don't appear to be particularly precious (they're carved onyx)
>>189336But first! Silver takes Black Heel aside, away from the scene currently unfolding, to discuss with him their plan moving forward, and especially to make sure that he and the commies won't fly off the handle around the airponies.
>>189336I just remembered that my Spellgifted trait only applies to spells that I personally cast, so it turns out I do in fact still need to make a caster level check to activate this scroll, since I am one point short of the proper caster level.
The DC is 8, so I succeed if I roll a 2 or higher. If I fail I suffer a scroll mishap.
>inb4 nat 1[1d20+7 = (8+7) = 15]I apologize in advance if this fucks up everything.
Posey closes her eyes as she completes the spell and the writing vanishes from the scroll.
She stands awkwardly, trembling somewhat
"D-did it work?"
Cavaliere turns to Sørvik and asks, "Heb je ergens netten liggen? Die hebben we misschien nodig om de bezeten pony's tegen te houden zonder ze pijn te doen."
Two *clicks* come over the radio, the result of someone pressing the transmit key twice, but saying nothing; ostensibly by a Bat who wishes to remind the party that we have radios, but without saying anything to betray their presence further.
Brie took a radio with him?
How many do we have on us now?
>>189155Frenly reminder, Kira caught the airponies' scent almost 2 weeks ago
Brie makes his way cautiously. The absence of wildlife lending toward overgrowth, the longer grass gives him some degree of concealment as he carefully pads his way in the direction of the Kostromo. Discretion being his foremost goal, he turns the volume of the radio down to where any transmission that is received will only cause an almost inaudible "click"; it wouldn't do to be in a tight spot when somepony decided to ask an ill-timed question. Setting aside his pack of cigarettes, his portable tea set, and a few other unnecessary items, he evaporates into the surroundings, becoming like Domingo Chavez in Clear and Present Danger (although this case, not sporting a McDonald's hamburger).
If, when, and whatever requisite skill checks will be forthcoming as requested, to avoid "having done them" and them getting lost in the mix.
Wondering if perhaps Dust Defiant is capable of casting that funny "magical sneak spell",... Sneak without leaving tracks, or something like that, he really hopes that the party doesn't decide to make a grand entrance, or at least if they DO, he can use it to strategic advantage.
>>189351Taking Black Heel aside (conveniently away from the scene of necromancy taking place, Silver begins speaking to the commissar about their next moves.
"Now, I know what you are. You are political representative of Supreme Soviet, meant to ensure loyalty and discipline within troops. That also means you hold same ideological enemies as they do. But this, what we are going up against...it is threat to everyone, communist or not. There are ponies on this island, survivors from crashed airship we hope who can help us in this coming battle against Traveler. I need to know that you will not shoot them on sight, and that you will keep your soldiers from shooting them as well, so long as we keep them from getting itchy triggers too."
>>189389Sorvik looks back towards Cavaliere, lowering his beak then raising it up as he responds with his first "Ja."
"Ja, dat doen we. We hebben ze op de boot, en er zouden extra's moeten zijn in de opslaghut aan de binnenzijde aan de noordkant."
>>189475Blackheel whips his tail, though he does this as he is being moved away and before Silver speaks. He looks back to the settlement, and scrunches. After Silver speaks, he answers:
"How many more foreigners are on the island? Was losing my ship to the hippogriff and the griffin not enough? Very well. Sure, they can leave. Kill that - that thing, and let us all leave." A pause,
"So you really are here for the blimp. I should have known."
The grass on the hills behind and above the cluster of buildings by the water continues the trend of being tinged yellow, half-dead but not altogether bereft of green. Surely in the spring and summer it must be a vibrant green, that colors lovely rolling hills dotted with ruined stone, padlock fences. Now in the Winter, what it certainly is not a white and snow-covered wonderland seen in the mainland Equestrian flyover country, which, though it speaks to a state of death, has a charm all of its own, and foretells the rejuvenation of new life in the spring. The hills, rather, cling on in a half-dead state, committing neither to death and prophesized renewal, nor to life, but rather something non-defined and in between.
The wind, likewise is non-committal, at one second blowing intensely from the southwest, and the next, calm, only to return in the third. Thus it pulls at manes and clothing like a bored foal seeking attention. But now it blows steadily from the water. And unlike before, it brings with it a chill, telling of a freeze waiting in the night beyond the last rays of the sun. In its stronger moments, nothing but the salt of the sea can be smelled, but when the wind relents for a moment, or when its path is broken and redirected by the hills or by the wooden cabins, or even when the source is strong enough, other smells intrude: mollusks, fish, diesel fuel, and the pervasive rendered fat spilled upon the ground.
The sun on the west horizon is blotted out by the distant clouds that hug the ocean. The sunlight diffuses through the haze giving the horizon a dulled, yellow glow. The dim light illuminates the small, rectangular buildings that in a cluster form the sealing station. The muted grey-brown hues of the slightly moldy, vertical wooden planks of the buildings scarcely show in the veiled light of the sun. But when the ever-moving clouds provide a moment, just a moment, of those last direct rays of sunlight, the cabins cast long shadows that reach as far as a the hills behind, and oddly look dimmer by the contrast with the light. Most of the doors to these vacant buildings are open. One door, belonging to the office on the far north, opens and slams shut with the with the wind. But the other doors are on the leeward side, blocked by the cabins themselves, and they remain half opened.
Though in almost every moment the crashing of waves or the rush of wind fill the air with sound, there are lulls in the wind, or between the waves, when the silence of the island intrudes. In those moments, a sound not unlike the muffled noise of moving underwater makes its way in. It were as if your own ears could not be trusted to deliver noise.
Dare anypony wade into the water? Surely someone must, as that is where the giant skull resides. Wading into the water, whomever dares finds a threat deadlier than any kraken, eel, or leviathan. The water itself pierces through fur and hide and soon feels like thousands of small needles, prodding straight through to the nerves and sapping out the life force of any living creature who dares touch the water, save for Kira, who is protected by a gambeson of magic. This water belongs to the icy winter ocean of the far north, and though sea ice is not present on this shore, neither is it much warmer. Surely anypony who falls in will soon die of hypothermia. Remember that the Titanic sank in mid-April, not the end of January as here. But to those who do wade in, they find that the beach has a sudden drop to the water covered in basalt stones. Under the water are many smaller stones, and beneath that, a black sand that threatens to swallow hooves where the rocks are thin.
The head of what must surely be the leviathan whale is nothing less than gigantic, being probably 15 or so feet in length and weighing perhaps a metric ton. To those who are familiar with the skulls of cetaceans, it can be said to most closely resemble the skull of an orca, if only an orca skull were several times the size, with a higher, raised frontal and a more defined orbital, producing a shape that overall that more closely resembles the skulls of pinnipeds or terrestrial mammals than that of other toothed cetaceans. It could be compared to the skull of a dolphin, likewise, except that it is much wider than the long and narrow skulls of the smaller creatures, and with ticker bones. The teeth are absolutely massive and built for strength more so than sharpness; the mouth of the giant would allow it to swallow almost anything that finds itself in the sea, with only other whales needing to be ripped apart into smaller pieces.
To those who have never seen a whale skull before, or even those who have, but have only seen the thin bones of the baleen whales or the smaller, thinner cachalot, the skull looks as if it belongs to some antediluvian monster, with its thick bone, many teeth, and vaguely triangular shape. If someone were told it belonged to an ancient dragon, or to some reptilian beast before time, or to a gargantuan crocodile of never-before-seen size, they would believe it. Only with the leveraging of Kira's long and muscular body to pull it out of the black sand, and Cavaliere, Silver, and Posey's combined strength to pull it by several ropes, is it brought onto the shore. The skull is not the bleached, white color of bone long exposed to the sun, but a yellow color, with scattered spots that are slight black or orange where remains of sinew cling to the bone. Tiny scrapes from the actions of crabs may be seen upon a close inspection, and a few cracks and cuts obtained by the creature in its life - or perhaps its death - can be seen as well, in particular a large crack running diagonally along the frontal plate on the top of the skull, that same frontal plate that is so unlike a whale, but so much like near any other mammal.
Posey surely knows where she wants to drag this skull to, as the whaling griffins have already made the choice clear. In the south side of the tiny settlement is a set of leviathan whale bones organized as the creature was in life, near complete. The ribs are pressed into the ground. The giant animal's backbone, if loose, is still there. A pony can walk right through it, as if journeying through the inside of the creature. The backbone is two or perhaps three times higher off the ground than the top of a pony's head, and the creature is similar in width. Each of the massive rib bones is a dozen or so feet in length, and as large as a foot in width, though the bones nearer the center are larger, and the backbone of the animal curves downwards with the smaller fore and rear rib bones. Some of the bones, especially towards the center, are cracked and the marrow extracted. Some have cuts on them from evident knife cuts. All are tinted yellow-white. Posey would surely place the skull at the fore of this display. The neck of the creature is longer than normal for a cetacean, being relatively well defined. With a little effort, the fin and tail bones could be fished out of the pile and put in their respective places. All together it looks like a mosasaur with gigantism, or the remains of a dragon lord, missing the wings.
The well defined orbitals - eye sockets - of the leviathan, relative to other whales, is likely welcome to Posey when she places a black gem in each. Posey recites her poem, and reads from the scroll. The text on the scroll fades. For Posey, it is surely as if the world turns. A wave crashes against the beach. Off in the distance, a set of cracks that may be automatic gunfire. But then, In the left orbital of the leviathan skull, the black gem shakes and rattles against the bone, Then it levitates in the air, and starts to spin like a top suspended in air. The gem in the right orbital does the same. Both begin to exude a kind of black smoke as if the gem itself were slowly boiling. The green pony of the survivors, Steppe Eagle, stands up and is unsettled,
"Это работа Чернобога? Проник ли он через чары этой кобылы?"
No one has an answer
The black smoke travels away from the orbital, isinde of the skull of the creature, in its mouth. A luminescent aura can be seen, moving around the bone. It begins to move around the other bones two, travelling through the neck, then through the backbone, and down each rib. It isn't bright to be sure, but there is a definite ghostly glow. All the ponies and the griffins look over towards the sight, with gasps and awe. The spinning gems disappear - or more likely evaporate - leaving only spinning masses of black smoke in the centers of each eye socket.
After another few seconds, the ribs begin to shake. Indeed the whole set of bones seems to shake, as the ribs loosen themselves from the thin topsoil and gravel. Slowly, the set of bones begin to rise upwards, into the air. The bones in the center rise first, but the backbone keeps its integrity, such that the mass culls inwards with the center of the back rising first. But once the ribs are free, the whole mass moves upwards. The skull rises and the black smoke condenses into something more akin to glowing green specks. Bones fly through the air until they form bone fins and the tail, It rises into the air. Only ten feet, perhaps fifteen feet, but levitating all the same.
The black griffin cries out:
"Hvilken trolldom er dette? Er dette det samme som den jævla kronen? Ikke igjen!"
All the ponies and griffins stand back and talk amongst themselves, startled at best, if not outright terrified by what floats before - or above them. The leviathan lowers its skull as if looking down towards Posey, though the skull rises soon enough. Indeed, the whole structure of bones moves at least once in a rhythm doubtless akin to the movement of the great whale in the water. As it moves its fore and tail up and down slowly its marine motion, it seems as if it will call out its whale song, crying out for an unknown purpose, but in a somewhat familiar form, transmitting its music through air rather than water. But it doesn't. In this form, it may not be able to sing at all. After some seconds of slow movement, as if with the waves, it stops moving much at all, but hovers there above the ground.
In the distance, a crack and a loud thud.
>>189517Silver nods to Black Heel's final statement. "It was reason we came to this island in first place. When my colleague mentioned us 'looting ship', it was airship she was referring to, not yours. But then we encountered one of your possessed sailors on beach, and then we heard your distress call, and our plan changed. We could not just stand idly by and leave you all to your fate." His ears twitch and turn towards the cracks, pops, and thuds in the distance, clearly being signs of the advancing Spetsnaz forces encountering the summoned monsters of the Traveler. "We should be ready to move out momentarily, and not moment too soon. We will be heading to airship while Posey, Garv, and griffons all head back to crashed airplane to collect our MGs and our explosive. They will rejoin our group along our path towards airship. I am glad to have your cooperation, it will be sorely needed if we are all to have chance at survival."
>>189336>>189518>>189519>>189521Kira is very glad to have Ouroboros' protection as she wades into the water. Rather than the life-sapping coldness that surely would send the warm-blooded but still not acclimated lamia into shock, the water to her feels as if it's exactly the perfect temperature. Not too hot, not too cold, almost perfectly in line with her body temperature. It's the type of water temperature that gives her the urge to pee, though whether she does or not and what it looks like will be left to the viewer's imagination. What is known is that thanks to the strength of her tail giving leverage, the skull is pulled out of the black sand and back onto land, where the next scene takes place.
Kira looks on in awe as the leviathan whale is slowly reanimated, no doubt aware that the clerics of her tribe would condemn the actual action taking place but still amazed at the wonder before her. She lets out a "Wooooooooow..." that sounds like it's coming from the same place of wonderment a foal has seeing the first snows of winter. Looking back at the others in the group, she smiles. "Well, it's not attacking us or anything, so it must have worked! That was amazing, Posey! Are you going to name it?"
>>189518>The water itself pierces through fur and hide and soon feels like thousands of small needles, prodding straight through to the nerves and sapping out the life force of any living creature who dares touch the waterPosey, despite not being not among the living, recoils anyway. Not from the cold, but from her innate phobia of running seawater.
>>189519What a glorious beast it must have been in life. Even in death its glory still shines.
Retrieving the head was certainly worth it, as style is no small factor in raising an undead beast.
>After another few seconds, the ribs begin to shake. Indeed the whole set of bones seems to shake, as the ribs loosen themselves from the thin topsoil and gravel. Slowly, the set of bones begin to rise upwards, into the air. The bones in the center rise first, but the backbone keeps its integrity, such that the mass culls inwards with the center of the back rising first. But once the ribs are free, the whole mass moves upwards. The skull rises and the black smoke condenses into something more akin to glowing green specks. Bones fly through the air until they form bone fins and the tail, It rises into the air. Only ten feet, perhaps fifteen feet, but levitating all the same.>All the ponies and griffins stand back and talk amongst themselves, startled at best, if not outright terrified by what floats before - or above them. The leviathan lowers its skull as if looking down towards Posey, though the skull rises soon enough. Indeed, the whole structure of bones moves at least once in a rhythm doubtless akin to the movement of the great whale in the water. As it moves its fore and tail up and down slowly its marine motion, it seems as if it will call out its whale song, crying out for an unknown purpose, but in a somewhat familiar form, transmitting its music through air rather than water. But it doesn't. In this form, it may not be able to sing at all. After some seconds of slow movement, as if with the waves, it stops moving much at all, but hovers there above the ground.Pic related
"... Magnificent...!"
Posey is fascinated by the glory of her beautiful crime against nature. She looks up at it in awe and affection.
She reaches a hoof up towards the nose of the beast to see if the creature yet obeys her commands.
"Boop." she beckons
>In the distance, a crack and a loud thud.What direction is it from?
>>189518>>189519>>189521After Cavaliere gives a final, successful yank on the rope to bring the skull ashore, he anxiously watches the repugnant ritual. The watchful among the party might have seen how he kept a talon near his gun as the titanic skeleton hovered, though he would be all-too-cognizant of how useless one firearm would be against it.
>>189524Cavaliere glances aside to Posey as he hears Silver speak.
"Very well. We don't have any time to lose. I'll keep the griffons together since they are as uncomfortable as any of us."
>>189524>Are you going to name it?"I think I'll call it... Monstro."
She refers to the bone lurker
"Your name is Monstro."
>>189562"Very well." Posey says
she claps her hooves
"Monstro, dearie, please pick me up and carry me after that griffon."
>>189563Posey would like to climb on the back of the bone lurker and ride it towards the airship we were at last.
>>189530I guess I need to roll a religion check to identify Monstrous, to see if my spell succeeded as I intended.
[1d20+11 = (15+11) = 26]
>>189524To Silver's right, he can see in the periphery Star Fire approaching. He does not move so close as to imply that he is attempting to insert himself into the conversation, but to lurk and listen, twice as far away as Blackheel. He turns his body around and faces almost the opposite direction of Silver, evidently looking at something beyond Silver's field of vision, his tail tucking in.
Blackheel likewise pulls his tail in and moves his head back with widened eyes. He does not say anything for several seconds, but stands in silence. Until he speaks:
"I see... I believe that unicorn is engaging in dark magic. I want none of that. I want nothing to do with fascists patrols either, but I will take the demon I know."
>>189530Around Posey, there is talk
"Hvilken svart magi er dette?"
"Это дело рук чернобога?"
"Du sier at kronen er ond, men hva er dette?"
"Gjorde hun dette med kronen?"
"Призвать работу демона, чтобы сразиться с другим демоном? Что это?"
"Если демоны будут бороться с демоном, то хорошо. Пусть воюют"
Two of the ponies level their rifles at it, and nearly every griffin and pony moves back away from it, facing it in a defensive stance.
Whales are almost unique among mammals in the degree to which their heads are made of soft materials that are eaten by the crabs and rendering pots upon death. What Posey boops does not correlate with the nose, but simply the upper jaw. The thing's lower jaw slowly moves down and opens, showing off its rows of massive teeth with the jaws slightly open. Maybe it
could rip a baleen whale apart. Certainly, it could swallow near anything else.
Posey can see the cracks along the skull. The long, diagonal one is more severe, but there is a second, smaller crack that must surely have healed in its life.
>>189562Cavaliere is most certainly going to need a bigger gun if he wishes to fight
that. After moving in its rhythmic motion, it remains still in the air. The lack of motion is actually more concerning, as surely the wind ought to move it.
Johan speaks:
"What the fuck is this?"
>>189563If it was a home to Geppeto, perhaps it can carry Posey. It closes its jaw, lowers its head and attempts to push Posey onto its long, crocodile-like "muzzle." Posey would have to move on top of it, or else it would simply push Posey along the ground. But it's jaws move open by three inches, if an alternative means of picking up Posey is necessary.
>>189583Or, Posey can climb up to its back. The best means is to climb over the head.
>>189837It is indeed an animate mass of bones.
>>189897Silver looks back at the floating whale skeleton, eyebrows raised in minor surprise. His body language doesn't give much else to suggest shock or fear. "Huh, so that is what she summoned. Well, it most certainly looks strong enough to carry explosive, at least. And it is not attacking us, so I think it is safe to assume it is friendly." Silver then returns to looking at Black Heel. "I suppose that means we are ready to head out then."
>>189897>"What the fuck is this?""My new friend." Posey says
"Is it not adorable? Is it not beautiful? Monstro, the spectacular soaring cetacean!" she says, puffing her chest out in pride
>It closes its jaw, lowers its head and attempts to push Posey onto its long, crocodile-like "muzzle." Posey would have to move on top of itAnd so she does, strutting up on top of the creature
>>189900"I am ready when you are." Posey replies
>>189897Nice trip code, btw.
>>189900"Friendly?!?! And what is the cost in the long term? What is the end?" Blackheel shakes his head and neighs, scratching at the ground with his hoof. Then he points at it:
"You think you are the first to make pacts with monsters in hopes it will eat you last?" He holds in that position for a second, then slowly lets open his mouth, and lowers his head. He sighs.
"Sure. To the airship. They can only do so much harm."
>>189901[YouTube] "Hi New Friend!" - Izzy Moonbow
[Embed]Johan, the white griffin, stares at Posey with his beak hanging open. He eeks out an "eh" as if he is going to say something. But he says nothing. He is speechless.
Where precisely on the creature does Posey chose to sit?
>>189902D'aww, thanks
>>189901Kira looks up at Posey getting onto Monstro's back. "Are we really married to that name? I know you made him and all and it's your decision, but he looks more like a 'Reginald' to me. Don'tcha, buddy? Oooo! Or, if you wanted a punny name, how about something like 'Bay Lean'? You know, because he's a whale, and he doesn't have any fat on him anymore?"
>>189903Silver tilts his head at Black Heel. "I do not think it can eat. It has no stomach." Realizing that it's probably not the time or place to be witty or funny, Silver holds up his hoof. "Sorry, just...it has been long day. We have far bigger fish to fry."
>>189903>Where precisely on the creature does Posey chose to sit?Posey stands around the back of the head and neck, or wherever is most stable to stand. If necessary, she grips onto the back of the skull tightly with her vampony hooves, trying to use the lurker as a mobile platform.
She rides the creature a bit awkwardly, but confidently, with a villainous grin: it is clearly not the first time she's piloted an undead siege weapon.
>>189905>>189906The thing again starts to move slowly in a wave-like fashion, like it would have when it moved in water, moving its tail bone down as the head raises slightly and vice versa.
>>189906The ponies and griffins seem thoroughly unpersuaded of the normalcy of this situation, with Pegasi and griffins unfolding their wings, and several continuing to point weapons at it.
>>189905"I mean the thing that created it." Blackheel tries to respond.
But that pun. That last pun. That earns Silver a death glare from Blackheel.
>>189907Silver: "Okay, that one I did not intend to make, it just slipped out of me. And it does not even make sense: whales are mammals, not fish."
Kira: "D'awwww, I think he likes the name! Or...which name? Okay, nod once for 'Reginald', twice for 'Bay Lean', okay buddy?"
>>189907>The thing again starts to move slowly in a wave-like fashion, like it would have when it moved in water, moving its tail bone down as the head raises slightly and vice versaPosey is too enamored with her art to remember that she has severe sea sickness (it only applies over running water anyway).
>The ponies and griffins seem thoroughly unpersuaded of the normalcy of this situation, with Pegasi and griffins unfolding their wings, and several continuing to point weapons at it.Good. Let them be afraid. Let them shudder.
Posey eyes them with a bit of a cocky smile, before she orients the beast towards the airship.
She draws her sword and points it
"Onwards!"
>"I mean the thing that created it." [Cackling Necromancer in the background]
>>189908"Whales were 'fish' until taxonomists arbitrarily decided that they were something else based on the current nomenclature fad!" Posey obnoxious shouts from the distance
(t. Victorian era scholarly mare)
>>189908I created the monster, I get to pick the name.
Mindless undead don't normally get names, but when they do it has to sound cool and spooky.
>>189909Posey continues to contradict Silver's claim that Silver and the caravan of followers would go towards the Airship while Posey would go to the crash site to pick up items, but instead would go directly to the airship with the caravan even as the griffins and ponies are not merely about to bail but potentially become hostile... nevermind that. Posey does her thing, clearly not on the same page as... anyone else
God sent a great fish to swallow up Jonah. But God did not send
this.
To move it towards the airship, Posey would have to turn it 90 degrees to the left. If she is too close to the buildings, it may hit one. Though it may fly above the griffins and ponies, they are not secure in this belief, and flee as it turns to stay out of range of its bones.
>>189908It's floating still. Wait no. The head is going up. Slowly... slowly... like it takes 15 seconds but it goes up. And down... and down... Is that a nod? Wait. Is it going up
again?
>>189911I was confused about the crash site and the airship.
Posey does as she was told, carrying out the plan as we agreed earlier.
I need to sleep now.
>>189897Cavaliere moves his talon away from his gun but still looks leerily towards the undead whale mount. He turns to the griffons and the communists.
"We all have questions, but they will have to wait until we have ensured our own safety as well as that of our friends. That is the important thing we all have to focus on now. Don't worry about…that…since it's not hostile and, regardless, too slow to be a serious threat." He isn't quite sure on that last statement, but these followers need all the encouragement they can get.
>>189909>>189911Cavaliere shouts from below.
"Not that way! Steer it back to the plane!"He starts on that path, gesturing to the griffons to follow and staying close to them, as if his presence might have a calming effect.
>>189914Cavaliere's closeness
does seem to have a calming effect, though perhaps not enough. The green pegasus aims his rifle at the whale, or maybe towards Posey. But though his rifle is aimed at Posey, he turns his head to Cavaliere, and with fear in his eyes yells in his pony gobbletygoop,
"Это от Черного Бога? Он вызвал его сюда? Работает ли она на Черного Бога? Она испорчена?"
But who could understand?
Johan, however, speaks in the shared Ponish:
"Are we going to ignore the floating whale?" he points at it with both a wing and a claw. He continues:
"That thing was dead. How is it floating? How can we be so sure it is not a threat?"
>>189912>>189911I would like to clarify that I misunderstood the previous instructions (mixed up the airship with the plane), and I intend to follow the plan as we agreed to.
Posey orients the lurker in the appropriate direction.
>>189915>But who could understand?Lacey Row
>>189918>>189912Once Posey gets to the plane, she will get to work on mounting the bomb onto monstro, preferably within the ribcage, because that looks cool in my head.
She will then extract the guns from the plane and integrate them into her bony siege weapon, ordering her Dreads to operate the guns.
>>189915Silver steps in authoritatively, hoping his apparent calmness in the face of this event will spread to the other creatures. He first speaks in Severyanan. "Это не дело рук Путешественника. Путешественник может призывать только испорченных, деформированных зверей. Это всего лишь скелет кита, но плавающий. Она призвала союзника, чтобы он нам помог, вот и все."
Turning to Johan, Silver answers in Ponish. "Magic, I would assume. It is not attacking us, and seems to be fully under Posey's control. If it was threat, we would have found that out by now."
If Posey is off at the plane, then the group should be heading towards the airship now.
>>189915"It's some sort of magic that makes it float. Magic is also used in countless other places and industries which one doesn't think about day-to-day. Using this to our advantage is not a threat as far as I can see."
>>184672 →Amber stays thoughtful for a time. However, when a quiet moment presents itself she turns to High Sewn.
"Miss Sewn, I didn't mean to cause any offense. I'm sorry if I did…. Just…well, I don't know how to talk about Mustard when he's not here. It just feels awkward, almost inappropriate."
>elsewhere
Brie creeps carefully toward the Kostromo, cursing himself for having not taken that telescope that he pawned off on Garv. It shouldn't matter, he doesn't plan on getting any closer than the observable flank of enemy movements. His advances, timed to coincide with the shifting of the wind, he plods along silently and - from a distance - unnoticeably. He is in covert obesrvation mode and if he had hands, they'd be doing the shikamaru cup gesture.
<back to you
>>189922>>189929The Bone Lurker can take the Run action while flying, and being undead it can run indefinitely and hustle without tiring itself, and being a flying creature it doesn't have to deal with any difficult terrain, so it could cover ground at at least four times the rate of the rest of the party, and would therefore be able to pick up the bomb and rejoin with the party on their path to the airship in little time (Kira doesn't have Swift Tracker yet, so the party would be moving at half speed).
If no problems arise on the way to the plane, Posey immediately rejoins with the party after picking up the equipment.
Alright. Who is going where?
>>189929The green pegasus, Steppe Eagle, looks aback to Silver and says "Скелеты не должны плавать!" Neither he nor much of the small herd appears completely placated. But he can be seen to (partially) lower his rifle, and that is a discernable difference as the herd is somewhat at ease.
>>189933"O...kay... But on a skeleton? Why a skeleton? Why not, like a rock or something? Surely she could animate rocks. And they would be tougher than bone. Especially one that has been cut apart already. Why must it be so... creepy?"
>>189935As she moves towards the door, she moves her head back and looks towards Amber with a pouting expression. She stops. Then her lips curl back into a sly smile, combined with a partial lidding of the eyes.
"Very well. Keep your secrets."
She turns her head, and heads out the door.
>>189970While Posey and her skeleton friends get the explosive and the guns from the plane, Kira will lead the rest of the party on hoof towards the airship, staying on the side of the central hill facing away from the GRU.
Survival: Speaking of Kira leading...
[1d20+11 = (11+11) = 22]Silver: "I do not think you can reanimate something which was never animated in first place."
>>189970Sneaky sneaky sneak
>>189972I want to point out that Kira previously rolled a 32 to do this.
Okay, so Silver is going with the NPC flock/herd across the island towards where he believes the airship ponies are. Kira is leading this group. Dust, I assume, would be with this group. Cavaliere, I do not know.
Brie is going.... to the Kostroma? I guess
Posey is taking the whale bone thing and is flying up towards the Sea Rover crash, I believe to pick up the torpedo and the machine gun, evidently all by herself. That sounds like something Posey would consider beneath her and refuse to do.
>>189976>Posey is taking the whale bone thing and is flying up towards the Sea Rover crash, I believe to pick up the torpedo and the machine gun, evidently all by herself.Iirc, Cavalier was with me.
>That sounds like something Posey would consider beneath her and refuse to do.She has her Dreads, her Unseen Servant, and the Bone Lurker to do the manual labor forward. She only has to watch and give them orders.
Maybe it's breaking character a bit, but idk if it's right to refuse to commit to agreed-upon plans at this point.
>>189976>I guessDo you have questions? I thought this was pretty self-explanatory
>>189947
>>189976Is Posey able to pick up the bomb without issue?
>>189987GM described the explosive portion of the bomb as weighing in the neighborhood of 500lbs, so Posey may want a team-lift
>>189970>>189976Cavaliere is going with Posey, as was said before. Don't we have the griffons with us?
>>189970Cavaliere, who has seen Posey's morbid armor, looks toward the whale with a perusing glance. He replies, "She isn't a rock magician. Unicorn magic is typically specialized according to what the pony is good at and otherwise incapable of complex feats. She is a student of thanatology, or the mechanism of death, and knows enough to perform magic like this."
>>189971Amber looks confused at her boss leaving. Why do ponies have to be so inquisitive yet enigmatic? Can't they just be forthright? Anyway, she keeps at her work and waits patiently for High Sewn to return.
>>190042You have the Griffins, yes, but who are the griffins going with? Are the Griffins flying with Cavaliere and Posey while the ponies are going with Silver and Kira?
>>190043That was what was implied. I wanted to take the communists too but Silver seems to want to escort them. That might be necessary for him to do regardless. They would have to fly under their own power, since none want to ride the bone lurker.
>>190042Amber would do well to remember that mares, for all of their allure and mystique, are, at the end of day, females.
The minutes that follow are among those lulls in the day, when no customers enter the store and there are no tasks that need be done immediately. The store is oddly still and silent, with only the most subtle hum of a steam line, and the buzz of some backroom electric light, to break up the silence between the automobiles that pass outside. High Sewn has elected not to have music playing, though music often plays in the store when Guy is around, and Amber has heard the radio play in High Sewn's office. Perhaps this moment is peaceful. Perhaps it's unnerving. Perhaps it's a matter of perspective. When High Sewn returns into the store, she simply walks past Amber and towards her office.
Of those heading to the crash of the Sea Rover, Posey is of necessity the first to move, with a command directing the skeletal leviathan to the right, and up the adjacent hill. Though the fog has not returned in full, a lower cloud moves in the kiss the hill's peak. Posey, Cavaliere, and all who fly may immediate get the sense that it is not wise to fly in these parts in the dense fog, and especially not in a foggy night, for these clouds have rocks in them.
The bone whale, or "Monstro" or even "Bay lean," as it has been so lovingly named, moves some feet above the ground in a rythmic motion that mimics the movement of a whale in water, traversing through the air in death as it did the ocean in life.
It may take some prodding by Cavaliere, but the griffins follow shortly thereafter and on the same course, spreading their wings and taking to the air. None wish to come to close to the bone monstrosity, but the threat of a loss of visibility when the fog comes in force keeps the griffins near, lest they be separated and loss. Cavaliere, presumably, stays close to this group.
For all of the glory and majesty of what remains of the devil whale, the aluminum corpse of the Sea Rover deserves a few words of its own. Coming into view as the summit of the hill is rounded, it's great, 30-foot-tall vertical stabilizer comes into view perhaps before the cockpit windshield, the broken glass observatory of the nose, or the high-mounted wings with four engines and broken propellers. Though glass and the propellers are broken, and the wings bent, it remains almost entirely intact.
The light blue painted color scheme is on its own invocative of a large whale, as is its size. But this one could fly fast, high, and far. And whereas the devil whale ate whatever was smaller than it, the Sea Rover hunted prey bigger than itself.
One, perhaps two torpedoes are nearby. It'll be just a little effort to get a warhead, and a machine gun off of a mount.
For those bound to the ground, who seek to traverse the island to get to the presumed crash site on the other side, the route is familair. Or at least, half of it is. Between the two hills that form the southeast edge of the island, then up the line of the hill that splits the island in two, and towards a hill on the other side. There's the battle site where the first encounter with the Petrushkas and the creations took place, with the corpse of the dead Petruska remaining. Blackheel and more than one other stop to investigate the body, remarking in their native language. Remains of the ruined wall line the ridge of the hill, towards the medieval village.
What is different, however, is the sound of gun fire and explosions. They may not be so alone. The veil of fog is not so near as may be desired.
>>190048What do Black Heel and the commies remark about as they pass the body, that Silver can hear?
Can Kira use her keen sense of hearing to lead the group safely around the battle going on?
>>190049Translating,
The mulberry pony rescued from the village: "May you walk the fields of Elysium." He places his hoof to his chest and bows, a gesture Silver is familiar with in Celestialism
Starfire: "Be at peace now, comrade." He makes a gentler bow.
Blackheel winces and shakes his head. "What a waste. All of this over a whale carcass in a forest. I should have shot that damn griffin and the hippogriff when they started acting strange."
The grey pegasus, Rustling Pine, says, "What tore him up?" And looks away quickly.
That sounds like a dice roll
>>190050[1d20+8 = (20+8) = 28]
>>190046Amber doesn't mind the quiet, though she would prefer to enrapture herself in music. When High Sewn returns, the younger mare decides to speak up.
"Miss Sewn, what is the best part of living in a city?" she asks.
>>190047Cavaliere prowls next to the clowder of griffons, keeping an ear out in the fog. When they arrive at the now-deserted plane, he wastes no more time.
"Sørvik, Nils, pak het machinegeweer en draag het naar buiten. Laat het niet vallen!" And, quickly switching languages,
"Bøkli, Ingerstadt, let's finish dissecting that torpedo. We will need to grab a canvas cloth for the warhead. There should be one in here."
>>190052Amber doesn't need a radio. She can call to mind great symphonies played on instruments she can correlate with no known form, recalled from some memory, or from some depths of her psyche she cannot quite place. The tracts are not necessarily full, instead taking the form of fleeting fragments as if from a half-remembered dream. But they are glorious.
High Sewn stops, turns her head, and looks towards Amber. She opens her mouth to say something but stays there frozen for some time more than a second. She closes her mouth, then opens it again to say,
"It's where everything is." As if straining to say what is really meant.
>>190053Amber peers at the mare. She's nothing if not interesting, if hard to interpret at times.
"And what's 'everything?'" Amber asks, a small smile curling across her lips.
>>190054Speaking as she stands in place,
"Culture. Power. Entertainment.
Everything. It's all in the city. If you wish to go dancing, you may do that in the city. If you wish to make connections with important business ponies - at a dance - you may do so in the city. Probably only in the city. If you wish to buy a dress for said dance - either one - you may do so in the city. If you need to go to the hospital, if you have a lawsuit, if you need to buy certain materials en bulk... It's much easier in the city. Everything happens here. Anything
can happen here. My dear filly, I scarcely know where to begin."
>>190055Amber glances off to the side, then back to High Sewn, a bemused expression on her face.
"Those all sound very grand, but I don't know how I can possibly get involved in those things. I don't suppose waiting for them to happen would work? Life so far has been…dull," she remarks with a frown.
>>190051The small herd traverses the top of the hill, through that old medieval village where they encountered resistance before.
Starfire moves near Silver, staring at him, but looking away when Silver acknowledges the stare, and glances back. He keeps a guarded distance, but has some sort of fascination, clearly, He moves forward and shows interest in Kira. Oddly, he's less motivated to keep a distance from Kira, attempting to come near her long body, staring at her scales, and looking as if he may pounce. It's Kira, actually, who keeps her distance from the group, travelling ahead in advance. Starfire's dual yellow and red mane is frizzled, long, and wavy under his hat. His light green eyes look tired under his spectacles. His body must be kind of slim, though it's not easy to tell with how lose fitting his white coat is. His tail is longer than normal for a stallion, and shares the yellow and red scheme.
Blackheel likewise tends to be distant from Silver, but unlike Starfire this does not seem to be a deliberate choice. He talks with the mulberry pony and the royal purple stallion, who comments as they enter the village. He stops to look inside of the hut where the mulberry pony was rescued. Steppe Eagle and Rustling Pine, as well as the engineer of unknown name, help move along the wounded ponies. Mala keeps guard of the rear, looking over the train of blindfolded and gagged petrushkas who are pulled in a rope by the engineer pony. Patient Pippette walks near Dust, though after a while she moves to the front, closer towards Kira.
>>190047Posey gets to work, ordering the minions to load the items in a timely fashion.
When all is done, she readies the loaded lurker to proceed after Kira'a group.
Posey and Cavailiare
may be able to see some of what follows
>>190051>>190074Kira is likely the first creature to look over the side of the hill towards the bay. Or maybe she isn't. The view is open from many parts of the hill as the weather has cleared and the herd is along the ridge, and sounds of explosions and danger emanate from the lower position.
The northeastern bay is not quite symmetrical with that of the south and west, but it's very nearly a mirror. The hill descends towards the water, where there is a black, basalt beach that is thin in some areas but noticeable and thick in others, especially near the center. The bay has a sort of half circular shape with a hill, low cliffs and a thinner portion of the island on the left, culminating in a small light house, and then on the right, a taller and thicker hill bathed in green, and this one almost alone is crowned with fog. There are some cliffs to the right, though as a whole there is a decline towards the water that is covered in grass and traversable on hoof. The island is thicker and not as long on the right as the left, breaking up the symmetry. Off in the far distance, another island can be seen that is a smaller companion to this one. But the party isn't interested in the scenery.
In the center of the bay can be seen a grey coated warship, presumably a destroyer, or perhaps a frigate. But more importantly, on the beach in the center are several beached row boats, with ponies outside and on the main beach. Near the center they have set up boxes, and there is an attempt - on pause at the moment - to set up tents. Two mortars are set up, with several ponies manning them.
But there is ongoing action. On the right, near where the ponies are going, are two, very long legged... things. You could say they are vaguely equine in shape, being quadrupedal... except they aren't quadrupedal. A superfluous fifth leg exists on each... thing, although for one it is on the front and on the other it is on the back. It's also greatly larger than a pony, being something like twelve feet tall, although this is more so caused by unnatural long legs than an unnaturally large body, though both have this latter feature. In one, the number of heads is correct, while the other has a vestigial head that mostly stays out of view on the thing's right side. Or maybe the other one has a vestigial head too, you just can't see it. It is hard to tell if it has elephant grey skin, or if its creator has understood the concept of fur. There are black lines along one of them, presumably some kind of dirt or oil or other contaminent, though at this distance little can be said with certain. The things advance forward, down towards the beach. One of them picks up a large rock with two of its three forelegs.
It throws the rock at a group of ponies who stand near each other, moving back in a fighting withdrawal. There must be a dozen of them, or at least ten. Ponies in dull green uniforms that don't stand out significantly against the green and yellow grass, and contrast most significantly with the black sand and gravel of the beach. They wear black gas masks and carry brown saddle bags. Most carry the vlazhny rifle, though many don't. One carrying a light machine gun with a great pan magazine and an assistant run further back, before going prone and laying down a machine gun. The group of ponies shoot at the two things, which roar back, opening a black mouth that opens all the way to the back of the head as if the jaw were not attached. Through the sky, a little black line can be seen as a mortar round goes far and lands behind one of the things. Then another hits the second one on the head. There's a delay of many seconds, to be sure, where the mortar can be seen dropped in the tube, launching high in the air, and falling on its target.
But the things don't make effective use of the time. Some distortion of light, some kind of will of the wisp floats near the things, momentarily taking their attention. The crack of rifles follows quickly, hitting the things and making them recoil. Then a mortar round hits the second in the head, causing its head to explode into smoke. It's body follows a second later, but the left more of the two charges forward, scattering rocks forward that hit a couple soldiers and seems to daze them. The thing charges towards the beach, and at this point, the center of the dozen ponies break and they move back. But even this breaking is a retreat backwards with rifles and bayonets facing this alien enemy. On the far left, a couple ponies keep up fire with automatic weapons. On the far right, the pan on the machine gun is put into place, and there is a "tat tat tat tat" until the thing screams and turns into smoke, just feet before coming into contact with the line of ponies.
Yet this isn't the only set of twelve ponies. Another, to the left of the center, stands in a line. A pony wearing a gas mask and the great black cassock of the northern rite of Equestrian Harmonism walks past the soldiers letting a thurible swing. The soldiers stand at the ready, and each offers his rifle to the priest, who lets each weapon bathe in the smoke from the thurible, then touches it with his hoof.
More boats move in, to both the left and right shores of the bay, including towards where the ponies wish to go.
Kira quickly gets the impression that it's best to hug the southern slope of the hill, out of the line of sight of these ponies.
>>190056"Well..." she takes a moment to respond. "It isn't like living in a village, or a small town. There, you are kind of just thrust into life. You know everypony. You know what your life is. What your place within the world is. In the city... You really have to insert yourself into things. Like when I entered Canterlot. I was into the trade of prepared fibers. Yarn, for example. So I began to learn ponies in the trade. Of course I didn't go to Canterlot alone but... You have to go out there and take advantage of things yourself. If you don't, well, you won't really take advantage of very much at all."
>>190076>Posey and Cavailiare may be able to see some of what follows"Giddy up, Monstro!" Posey shouts, as she hears the sounds of combat in the distance
Monstro takes the Run Action, proceeding at 120 ft per round.
>the priestHmmmmm... Is he handsome?
>>190076>Kira quickly gets the impression that it's best to hug the southern slope of the hill, out of the line of sight of these ponies.If Posey is in any position to do the same, she follows this maneuver, ordering her bone lurker to fly as low to the ground as it can.
>>190077Amber nods.
"I've been wantin' to do that! Well, it's tough to do if you don't know anybody…I guess going around town helps. There are lots of nice ponies everywhere. Maybe learning music will be the 'inserting myself' that I need.
Everypony likes music, after all."
>>190074>>190076Okay, am back from doing a thing.
Silver takes a moment to give Starfire's slender, tired body a look over. Certain thoughts are brought to the forefront of his mind, though he puts them aside for later when the danger has passed. Kira for one, should she notice, would be ecstatic to see the ponies growing more comfortable with being around her.
Looking over the battlefield, Kira grows uneasy watching the weapons and tactics being used by the GRU, drawing similarities between them and the foes who are currently attacking her people back home. Silver whispers quietly to the group upon seeing the priest. "He is blessing their weapons. They will be more effective against these abominations. Traveler will have to send far, far more if it wants to keep them from overwhelming island."
Kira gladly leads the group along the southern slope of the hill, having zero interest in being on the receiving end of those weapons.
>>190081Wait, this is the GRU? I thought we were looking for the airponies?
Or are we just spotting them as we pass by? Anyway, let's keep a low profile and head towards the airponies.
I did not expect the communists to have a priest with them. They're full of surprises.
The final resting spot of the Sea Rover is on the leeward of the hill, just beneath the summit. The sound of the wind is subdued and the air has a sort of stillness to it. In this lonely patch of still air the fog remains, though much thinner than before, and most of the sky presents grey. Down the slope, however, a part of the south bay is visible, including a small hamlet of semi-modern buildings, a lonely stone keep on the far side, and a derelict freight ship holding steady at an odd angle. Though pops and cracks often penetrate the silence, even the ringing of tinnitus is sometimes overcome by a sound best understood as the sound of moving water past the ears; a pervasive, muffled rumbling never quite loud enough to truly overpower the wind, or even the most distant of cracks and pops.
The torpedo has at least been separated into a warhead and propulsion section, with the warhead the lighter if the two by far. With rope and especially the help of the sealing griffins, this may be lifted into the ribcage and held into place. There is a second torpedo if truly desired, but this is much heavier and may only be moved by rope.
The machine gun presents a kind of challenge. It may be taken off of its turret, but Cavaliere would be wise to remember that this is not an infantry M2 designed for heavy fire support. It is not intended to be carried on pony back. It is not intended to be used against infantry at all. This is an anti-vehicle weapon designed to kill smaller frame aircraft, or even small ocean vessels.
[YouTube] Call of Duty: World at War - Black Cats Mission - Improved Music
[Embed]It has a covered feed that links to an unattached feed box, and a separate feed to collect ejected casings. It is not at all easy to replace the band - or carry it, for that matter, given it is not attached - but at least jans may be cleared. The sights are for anti-aircraft use, and there’s no obvious way to absorb recoil as it has no proper mount; it is intended to be fixed onto a vehicle.
>>190085We have a kind of aircraft to mount the guns on, don't we?
>>190086Technically, yes. Should the effort be taken to mount it, at least.
>>190087We can travel much faster in the air than the other party does on hoof, so let's take the time to mount them before we leave.
>>190087>>190088Are we able to catch up with the rest of the group after loading the weapons?
>>190081Blackheel moves closer to Silver, followed by Starfire and Pipette, who keep slightly back. Blackheel says,
“If they brought a priest, they must consider the situation to be fairly dire. I hardly need to explain to you that that is not standard procedure. He must have been brought on for the morale of the troops.”
Blackheek is almost cut off by a voice from the back.
One of the tied up Petrushkas speak. It’s the third one back, second to the last. A burgundy stallion in a navy uniform. He’s bandaged up, and has a makeshift blindfold covering his eyes. He is half a step out of line, and pointing his muzzle towards Blackheel.
He then speaks, or perhaps yells, in a strained voice almost like a whisper; a voice that bypasses the vocal cords and uses only the mouth to form words. Perhaps the pony’s vocal cords are damaged. Certainly he was wounded. Maybe Kira crushed a rib, or crushed a bit more than that. Or maybe he who forms the words does not understand quite how words are made…
“What is
he doing here?” The Petrushka demands. Mala moves forward and points his shotgun at the Petrushka, but in no way dies the Petrushka react. He certainly can’t see it. The entire line of Petrushkas turn their heads in the direction of Blackheel. The red Petrushka speaks again:
“That Traitor. He who would reject harmony. What is he doing here?”
>>190089Eventually, sure
>>190090Are we present for this conversation?
>>190091It seems unlikely to me that if Posey were around for this scene that she’d be paying attention to what the ponies are talking about, and able to hear it from the back of the whale. But if you want to make an argument for it…
>>190090Silver looks over, and quickly rushes to the burgundy stallion. He shoves a hoof in the stallion's mouth to stop him from talking as he half whispers, half hisses out to the stallion (or, more accurately, the Traveler), "
Do you want to get off this island to new lands, where you can spread your gift of True Harmony to all?"
>>190092Posey would definitely be interested in anything concerning priesthood within military ranks, or the ramblings of creatures possessed by the Traveller. The bone lurker is flying low to the ground.
I will just roll a listen check to see if I can overhear.
[1d20+3 = (13+3) = 16]
>>190085>The torpedo has at least been separated into a warhead and propulsion section, with the warhead the lighter if the two by far. With rope and especially the help of the sealing griffins, this may be lifted into the ribcage and held into place.Frenly reminder, Brie made plenty enough side-commets that the party would know that A. an integrated explosive (grenade, or satchel charge) would be more than sufficient to detonate, alongside - according to (you) - too vigorous of an impact.
>>190093It answers,
“Yes. I think so. We wish to spread Harmony.”
>>190094Sure
>>190095Also sure
>>190096Silver:
"Then trust in my plan. Also send more summons to slow down invaders on Northern shore, they have machine guns and priest blessing their weapons."Kira peaks over the hill to make sure the GRU isn't advancing on their position.
>>190096Posey's cute little ears swivel in on the conversation as her flying beast lurks in the ear over the rear of the herd. It has peaked her interest.
>>190097Bluffing the Traveller. Interesting idea.
We could at least get it to expend its resources.
>>190097It replies,
“How could that, that ‘arch reactionary’ be a part of any plan?”
>>190099Silver: "
If you can convert him, it will prove power of True Harmony beyond any doubt, but you can not convert him from afar. True Harmony's power must be displayed in person, to convert someone with such reactionary ideas in their mind."
>"Could it be naive enough to fall for something like that? This mission might be easier than we expected."
Posey thinks to herself
>>190101That’s a very good point. I’m kind of feeling like there should at minimum be a roll here. Or a challenge.
>>190102Let's see here, then. The dice gods gave Kira a nat 20 earlier, they may have run out of generosity. Or, perhaps not.
[1d20 = 9]
>>190103I'm gonna assist with my smooth-talking superspy bluff mod
"She raises good points. You should listen to her." Posey chimes in
Bluff
[1d20+16 = (5+16) = 21]
>>190096>also sureJust reminding that it can be detonated easily OR accidentally, without the assistance of an explosives expert
>>190100>>190103It takes a moment to respond.
“Yes…” then it turns to Silver.
“If you can make him unconscious, I can persuade him more easily.”
A second of pause, then it turns to Silver,
“Why don’t
you join in our unity?”
Then to Posey, though it misses her exact position,
“Or you, you who backed out just before achieving Harmony?”
>>190106"Add another blindfold. And put a helmet on him. Or anything made of metal around his head." Posey demands, with a flat tone
If she was disturbed by this behavior, she does not show it on her face, but she narrows her eyes with professional caution
"No more word about our position. Do not even THINK about where we are headed. Everypony just follow Kira as she tracks the scent."
>>190106>>190107Silver:
"To achieve great things, sometimes it requires one working from outside. Trust in me."Silver turns away from the vessel, and nods at Posey's statement. Kira resumes leading the party, assuming nothing else interrupts them.
>>190107This time, it gets Posey’s position correct. It speaks in its loud whisper,
“You. You are lonely. Resentful at the world. I know what it is like to resent. To hate those who have reduced you to where you are. But this world is not at fault. This world, with all of its limitations, may be transcended, or lifted, to something better than what you see. Come back. I can show you. Come back to me. I have seen you. I know you. I was like you until I came here. I can make it better. I can make you better.”
Mala keeps his position, but Blackheel moves closer, and holds onto his revolver.
>>190108The Petrushka hisses at Silver
>>190108Use the crown as bait
>>190109Posey ignores the statements, not looking towards the pony
"Do not engage with the prisoner any further. Gag him."
>>190109Silver places a hoof on Black Heel's shoulder. "Ignore him, it is just Traveler speaking through his vessel. Your soldier is still in there, beneath all of that. But yes, we should gag them."
>>190111>>190112The Petrushka aims its blindfolded head first towards Posey, and then towards Silver, and hisses.
>>190114"Mindsight? Well then, have it your way."
Posey hops off her bone lurker and draws her blackjack, smashing the pony in the head to knock him out
If one blow isn't sufficient, she hits him again until he is unconscious.
>>190085Cavaliere takes 10 to hold the items within the ribcage. He looks wistfully towards the second torpedo.
"I'd like to be more sure we can kill this thing. That torpedo isn't armed and might be safe to move via towing across the terrain. It'd strain the rope and drastically slow down your 'vehicle,' 'Captain.'">>190086With the machine gun feeds, he has to be careful to coordinate movement via the accompanying griffons to prevent them from breaking. If the gun is tied to one of the beast's vertebrae, the feeds would be wrapped around and held with rope.
"There is no firing this from the creature, and we'd be lucky to hit anything if we put it on the ground. I wish we had a tripod. I suppose we could brace it against a rock, and pray we don't need to aim.">>190089>>190090Cavaliere scouts ahead for Posey, or at least attempts to with the creature's speed, and when the GRU are spotted he gestures to keep the thing out of a clear sightline. It's not easy but at least the terrain is hilly.
>>190115"Good call."
>>190115Silver: "...I hope they will not mind having to be treated for concussions after this is done."
Kira: "You know, concussions are
really bad for your health."
>>190120>"You know, concussions are really bad for your health."
>>190115>>190114Are there any other prisoners for me to knock out?
>>190123Yes, there are at least three more prisoners. Whether they
need to be knocked out is a separate question.
>>190125I say we may as well knock them out anyway.
Can Kira determine how far it is to the airponies?
>>190139Survival: Well, let's see
[1d20+11 = (9+11) = 20]
>>190140Kira already rolled a 30 earlier. She shouldn't need to roll again.
But nice roll.
>>190139>>190140Less than a mile, but not there yet.
>>190128Does she?
>>190144Are they walking in their own? It would be inconvenient to carry them.
>>190144Kira relays this information to the others. "We're pretty close, we just need to keep plodding on."
>>190145Silver: "Probably good idea to leave them be until we need to. I worry for their mental and physical wellbeing if we keeping hitting them over head."
>>190145Yes.
>>190146Mala looks down at the now knocked out pony, then back up to Silver.
"I think his ear plugs got loose... I'll get him off of the line. It'll only take a moment." He tilts his head. "Do you still want him?"
>>190147Silver nods, and gives Mala some much-deserved pets between the ears. "Yes. No creatures left behind."
>>190148Mala smiles and bends his neck upwards to better receive the pets. He closes his eyes as he does so but opens them when he next speaks to Silver.
"How will he be carried though?"
>>190149Kira now pipes up, wanting to feel more useful. "How heavy is he? I might be able to carry him if we tied him around my back!"
>>190150Mala moves a step back as Kira nears,
"Uh, not that large. 160 pounds, maybe."
>>190147Posey does not knock out anymore ponies unless they express behaviors similar to the one she just knocked out.
>>190144Alright then. It should not take us long to get there.
Do we see any signs of airpony activity on the way there? Hoofprints? Blood splatters? Signs of a struggle?
>>190151Kira turns around, showing her back to Mala and Silver. "Mind helping tie him to me?"
Silver looks at Mala, to see if he'd help him assist the snej with this idea.
>>190153I'm still deciding on precisely what I want to do nextIf there are preferences...>>190154Mala looks back to Silver with a "do I have to?" expression. He's taken initiative to do things before...
>>190155Well, we have been waiting to see the results of Kira's tracking for weeks now, so a a conclusion to that in finally finding the airponies would be welcome. Knowing that we have completed our main quest after all this time would feel rewarding, even if we still have a finally battle to fight.I have to sleep soon, but carry on without me.
>>190155Silver chuckles slightly. "Would you help me with this, please?"
>>190157Mala looks up towards Silver with his big, brown eyes and leans back. His tail slowly curls down and to the right as he stands there, almost frozen in place but at the same time leaning further and further back, until it seems he is in danger of falling over on his hind quarters. But he jumps up in a sudden movement and with his mouth and paws moves to remove the unconscious pony from the line, though he takes the rope in his mouth and drags the pony towards Kira. All the same, he seems to want to not touch the giant snake-thing.
>>190158Silver helps with the moving of the unconscious pony as Kira giggles. "Come on, Mala, I don't bite. Remember how friendly we were getting on the plane ride?"
>>190159Mala turns his head towards Kira, his body angled diagonally towards her. His ears stand tall, and his eyes are focused on her. He says nothing, but stands there for several seconds.
>>190160Kira twists around to look back at Mala, smiling. She flicks her tongue out in the air.
>>190161Mala looks down towards Kira's body, then back to her eyes, then back down again, dragging the pony forward. He moves his paws along trying to find exactly where on Kira's body to place the pony. He starts high on Kira's back, on top of the goat, feeling the creature inside her with the press of his paws. Then he backs off of that, and moves lower on her body, where her tail is thinner and less conducive to carrying anything. The process is rather invasive, and Mala's frantic movement with his paws betrays that he feels the process is awkward.
>>190162Kira: "It's okay, Mala. Why don't you try to put him higher up my back? It'll be a little hard to carry him from down there. Silver is willing to help you if you want!"
>>190163Mala skittishly pulls the pony high onto Kira's back, and tries to tie him to her, at first seeming to circle around her body, but then instead more conservatively tying the pony to Kira's backpack and the leather straps already on her body. He tries to make sure it is secure but does not seem to want to intrude much. He does step onto her back at one point. Oddly he's gentler than even Neela despite being much larger, with soft padded paws and with soft and deliberate steps.
>>190164Silver helps to finish up the tying, making sure it's nice and secure. Kira moves around, making sure the pony will stay stuck to her.
>>190155>>190144Have we made all necessary checks to get to the airponies? We're just waiting for everyone to be ready to progress to the next plot point, right?
>>190171I believe so, yeah.
>>190164>>190165Kira, eventually deciding that the pony is securely tied to her, reaches down and gives Mala a big hug with her forelegs. "Thank you so much, Mala! You're such a big helper!" Once the hug is finished, she gets back up and points in the direction of where the party needs to go. "Okay, creatures! To the destination!"
>>190173"Kira, keep a look out so that you detect the airponies before they detect us. When you sense them, signal me so that I can approach them before the herd does. If the airponies have had even half as rough of a day as we have, they will be on lookout for any incoming threats." Posey says
Posey begins to strip off her grotesque armor, revealing her less-threatening, fluffy white self. She bundles her armor with her weapons and pack saddle on top of Monstrous, keeping only her satchel that contains her tiara and spell components.
"We also do not know if the Traveller has enthralled any of them yet. I would like to go ahead of the herd to parlay with the airponies and affirm their cooperation in being rescued. If I get shot... I get shot..." she adds, with a shrug
"So be a dear and keep that tongue of yours to the wind so you can smell them before they see us."
>>190175Kira does a mock salute with a giggle. At the mention of her tongue, Kira flicks in in the air as she begins to keep a lookout for ponies.
Spot:
[1d20+8 = (3+8) = 11]Listen:
[1d20+8 = (2+8) = 10]
>>190176Maybe just take 10 instead.
[1d3 = 2]>>190165Mala is surprised, and looks down towards his paws, presumably making sure to avoid being captured in Kira's constrictor grip. He repositions his paws to be in a more stable position. However, he relents, and hugs back.
Though his shape is
sort of like a pony, he does not feel or smell like one. His head is lower on the shoulder, he is rather fat, though fairly muscular and with a large bone frame, making him very large over all. His legs are thinner than those of an equivalent sized pony. He has a distinct smell, not necessarily subtle or pleasant. But the biggest difference by far is how much fluffier he is, with thick fur on much of his body and a mane that extends halfway down his back.
After the initial reluctance, he does seem to value the hug. He probably doesn't get many, and certainly not from females.
>>190175>Posey is taking active measures to not appear so obviously hostileNoted.
>>190176With a flick of her tongue, Kira can tell what she already should have known: that all smells, however strong or subtle, are carried on the wind. And the party is upwind of the alleged location of the airponies.
>>190178Kira giggles, and gives Mala a nice friendly squeeze. "You feel nice and soft!"
Relenting on the hug after a bit, Kira resumes leading the party towards the crashed airship.
>>190177Kira: "Hmmmm...nope, not getting scents so far. If they have a lamia too, though, they might be able to smell us."
>>190178>party is upwind of the alleged location of the airponiesWell, does Kira see/hear them first?
I may as well roll for what Posey sees
Spot
[1d20+3 = (10+3) = 13]Listen
[1d20+3 = (20+3) = 23]I guess I can have Posey's dreads do some scouting. They have +8 racial bonus to spot, and they will fly upwards to get a Pegasus's eye view.
Dread 1
Spot
[1d20+5 = (9+5) = 14]Listen
[1d20+5 = (10+5) = 15]Dread 2
[1d20+5 = (20+5) = 25][1d20+5 = (12+5) = 17]I gather that this is gentle hill terrain, so spot checks would begin at 2d10x10 feet, right?
>>190175Cavaliere has been keeping an eye on the escorted griffons as well as his surroundings. He remarks,
"It's a good idea to have you along, unarmed, so as to not present a threat to them. I'd also like to talk with them. They might not expect a griffon, but one from Nova Griffonia might not be unwelcome.">>190179He exhales with something of a chuckle.
"Heh…I don't think they will so don't worry. You might want to hang back. Too many strangers and those of unfamiliar appearance might put them on edge."I'll roll as well:
Spot:
[1d20+7 = (5+7) = 12]Listen:
[1d20+3 = (4+3) = 7]
>>190181"I will flag you over in appropriate order once I get a grasp of the situation. We will have our 'crew' approach them first, and let them know what to think of the Stalliongrad soldiers. Until then, keep the whalers under control, so that they do not break the line and compromise our parlay."
>>190179"Silver. You should stay back with the Stalliongraders while I the rest of the team makes secondary contact with the airponies. You are the only one who speaks their language, so you need to be present with them."
>>190182From far off on the hill, to the left and on the eastern side of the northern bay, sounds resembling speech can be heard.
Through breaks in the fog, which at the moment hugs only the summits of the thousand-foot hilltops, can be seen the glimmer of shinning aluminum.
>>190182Silver nods in agreement, and goes to hand back with the commies. "Осталось совсем немного, мы уже близко."
>>190181Kira: "Awwwwww...well, what if I try to keep my tail hidden? A lot of ponies mistake me for a bat pony if they can't see my tail."
>>190182Cavaliere looks doubtfully at Posey, but slowly nods.
"We'll be here when you need us.">>190184"I'm sure you can do that well, but they might be so eager for rescue, they could approach us before we have a chance of hiding anything."
>>190183Alright. Posey will trot ahead with only her longspear, which she ties a piece of white fabric to, with intent to wave it at the airport once she gets close enough to Parley
>>190184"Just wait a minute, Kira. I will explain it to them."
>>190185>>190186Kira turns her head to the ground, a little dejected. Her tongue flicks out from her mouth again.
>>190187Cavaliere gives a small smile toward the lamia.
"Don't worry, as soon as they realize they have nothing to fear from us, and how gentle you are, we will be able to mingle freely."
>>190188>>190186>>190187The group passes the ruined houses of the old village, and along the hill between the bays. The destination, or at least the favored location right now, is a hill to the east of the North Bay. Though it is not adjacent to the south bay, it is higher than the that run along its length, and do not touch the cloud layer. The hill may be the tallest on the island, though with the cloud level at 900 or so feet, you can't really see.
Walking up this hill leaves the entire group vulnerable and visible, both to the destroyer and the Kostroma. There is no cover, or at least, no significant cover, to prevent them from being seen as they ascend, save possibly for rounding the hill and approaching from the other side. They are vulnerable. Or at least, until they reach the cloud level and reenter the fog.
>>190189Hide: Kira gets as close to the ground as possible and widens he tail's stance, blending into the grass such as it looks merely like a breeze is blowing the stalks of grass in the direction she slithers. She looks back to the party, and instructs them to do much as the same as she does, helping them with their technique where possible.
[1d20+13 = (11+13) = 24]
>>190189Having a gigantic floating whale certainly does not help matters.
>>190190Cavaliere does the same in staying low to the ground, but also suggests,
"If we take a longer route right along the hill, we can reach the top without exposing ourselves on this ridgeline."Hide:
[1d20+3 = (10+3) = 13]
>>190189>rounding the hill and approaching from the other sideI guess that's the only way then. We don't want to be seen by the Kostroma.
>>190190>>190191>>190192The geography of this side of the island does not quite mirror the other, but there are similarities. Below the hill, to the right and south east, is a sort of valley that is less visible to either bay than the side of the hill. Moving along its still somewhat green grasses, past the remnants of gravel paths and small stone fences that demarcated the edges of fields and padlocks, the group presses onwards. In the background can often be heard the cracks and pops of gunfire, and explosions.
This route is not without cost, as it takes minutes longer. Minutes longer that the GRU is certainly making good use of, given how though the party moves away from the thumps of mortar fire, and the ground trembling thunder of what must be naval artillery, it hardly becomes more distant, but moves closer towards them. Reaching the edge of the island the cliffs are less severe, instead allowing someone to walk all the way down to the water. Off in the distance, across the purple-green of the ocean can be seen the outline of land - the Nova Griffonian Coast. But though this land on the horizon, with its vaguely defined forests and trees, and low hill, is perceptible, it does not dominate the view. Rather, the low lying clouds and fog, perhaps laden with snow as it meets the cold, continental air, fade into the black horizon in this land opposite the setting sun, until it appears as a dark grey abyss. slowly swallowing the world as the light retreats.
The hill itself has more visible rocks, and pillars of rocks, than the other side. The sea stacks and cliffs that abut the sea may be absent, but they have the equivalent further up the hill. When the party reenters that grey limbo they seem to have left the green and rolling hills of Northern Equestria - A northern Equestria whose form persist even as the land itself has been abandoned and forgotten by Celestia and her ponies - and entered some sort of alpine region beyond the reach of the sun, with black and grey rock faces that admit of no vegetation.
A few flakes of shinny material are strewn across the ground.
>>190193Knowledge: Being close to the ground, Kira briefly examines the shiny material, wondering what it could be. A rock? Some kind of plant? Animal feces?
Nature:
[1d20+3 = (2+3) = 5]Geography:
[1d20+2 = (3+2) = 5]
>>190193>A northern Equestria whose form persist even as the land itself has been abandoned and forgotten by Celestia and her ponies - and entered some sort of alpine region beyond the reach of the sun, with black and grey rock faces that admit of no vegetation."I have taken quite a liking to this island. Under different circumstances, I think I would come here for a vacation." Posey wonders aloud
Posey waits for the position of the airponies to be clear, before she gets ready to trot ahead of the herd to parlay.
>>190194Gonna assist with an untrained Int check
[1d20+3 = (8+3) = 11]
>>190193The griffon ranger trudges on ahead, less cautious about being hidden while behind the hill. He looks at the shiny flakes for just a moment, then calls out softly to the others,
"We haven't any time to lose. Let's spread out."He searches for the larger part of the wreckage, which might possibly house the ponies.
[1d20+2 = (12+2) = 14]
>>190195It must surely be green and lovely in the springtime, when not caught in this grey limbo.
>>190194It's... metal? Well, it's not a rock, and it's
definitely not a plant. Do not eat.
>>190196Cavaliere is the first to see it. It towers above the ground. Even in the fog it's hard to miss. It is a wonder that it was not seen before, though its color, an indistinct grey just near to that of the fog and almost the same as the basalt rock that forms its background, gives a hint as to how it has evaded view. Even so, Cavaliere must surely wonder if indeed this point of interest
is unknown by the GRU and the Traveller, or if it is only a matter of time until either may come this way.
Little bits of metal are strewn across the ground, as are scrapes, gravel, and dirt that form drag marks. An aluminum pipe can be seen, and beyond that, the form of an aluminum truss, and then what must be an engine nacelle. It's a rather large form, as tall as Cavaliere. But it's what is beyond that that is rather more interesting.
Maybe 50 feet away can be seen what is, to be to the point, a blimp, deflated and intact but still in a recognizable form. It is at a perpendicular angle to Cavaliere, with the rear of the airship facing him. It must be caught on a rock formation on the side of the hill. The craft's port side is visible given the craft's list to starboard, but starboard is presumably difficult, though perhaps not impossible to access from its respective side.
The thin aluminum fins are still in part elevated into the air, though the bottom touches the ground, and the whole of the empennage sags and is partly deflated, especially where the empennage meets the middle, as it is folding in on itself. The great envelope retains more of its size than not, but it is dented in the front, and its folds move in the wind. The wind has dulled for the moment and as a whole seems less severe here than by the shore, this whole segment of the island perhaps in the lee of the western hills. Or maybe it's just a momentary pause. All the same, the air feels near still, and though the envelope flaps in the moving air, it generates only a periodic sound of pops as it moves. The entire structure is massive - even in its deflated state it is fifty feet or more in height - and with a volume more akin to that of a ship, like a frigate or even a destroyer. Before reaching the underslung car, Cavaliere can see a metal cylinder on the ground that appears to be some kind of bomb. Past this is the broken remains of some kind of landing gear - a rubber wheel on an aluminum strut
But it is the car that is the most interesting. It must be thirty feet long. The port side engine nacelle is still attached on its outrigger to the car, even as the propeller blades are broken. The car has its windows, still closed and intact, and its doors, presently closed. From the center of the car, a machinegun barrel protrudes.
>>190197Can Kira see or hear any activity?
Spot:
[1d20+8 = (20+8) = 28]Listen:
[1d20+8 = (5+8) = 13]
>>190198Gonna wait for tht reply to this before I post my action, but I intend to trot ahead of the herd to parlay with the airponies.
>>190197With how colossal the craft is, no doubt they have only minutes to spare, even with the approaching dusk.
Not wanting to attract unwanted attention, to signal to the rest of the party Cavaliere picks up a small pebble and tosses it behind him to designate a location. If there is a pony behind that machine gun, its intention will be suspicious at best. He will, however reluctantly, let Posey go first.
>>190198The scene is almost silent, with only the flapping of the envelope providing any distinct noise, besides the distant cracks and that ever-present tinnitus ring. The barrel of the machine gun seems to move, but so do a few other, smaller objects that move with the gentle wind.
>>190197>>190201Posey trots ahead of the herd (at least 100 ft or more, preferably with most creatures out of sight), her white flag raised clearly atop her longspear.
She orders Monstro to stay behind with the group, and for her Dreads to carry her equipment, ready to fly it over to her should she need it.
She does not conceal herself as she approaches in line of fire. She walks calmly and confidently, puffing out her chest in her usual coquettish manner, unfazed by the vulnerability of potentially putting herself in direct artillery fire.
"~Yoohoo! Are there any survivors there?" she calls towards the car
>>190198>>190202No response; at least, not immediately.
>>190203Posey walks right up to the car and taps on the to glass with her spear
"Oh come on now. Captain Waters is going to be really disappointed if you are all dead." she says
>>190202Cavaliere sighs, wishing he had gone up instead. He looks to see if it's possible to circle around the blimp without being spotted.
>>190205Being seen is the point of a parlay. If we sneak up on them, they would think we are trying to attack them.
>>190205It may be possible, although the craft is backed against the hillside so it is not clear if it may be entered that way. At least, without being noticed.
>>190202>>190204As she nears, she can finally see that there seems to be a figure inside holding the machine gun on a side mount.
"Not a step further. Who are you, and where did you come from?"
>>190206>>190207And yet, Posey's safety….
Cavaliere stays within concealment and intently watches the exchange.
>>190207Posey looks towards the sight beyond the gun barrel
>Who are you, and where did you come from?Posey whirls her cape and puffs out her chest, striking her usual extravagant pose
"I am Rosey Ring, the Undying Sorceress. I am an freelancing warmagus, and an adventuring mercenary sent by Captain Waters from New Mareland to retrieve the crew of this airship." She says
"My team and I arrived thinking it would be simple, but recent GRU and monster activity has complicated our escape plans. If you would be so kind as to cooperate, we should all be able to get off of this desolate rock soon enough."
>>190208>And yet, Posey's safety….Professional airponies wouldn't shoot an unarmed mare waving a white flag.
If I get shot, I get shot. It is a risk I am willing to take.
>>190209Is now the part where I roll diplomacy?
Kira flicks her tongue as she watches the encounter, waiting for a moment where she can say hello to the new ponies.
>>190209He lowers his side of the machine gun, which raises the barrel. He peaks over through the open window. Posey can see that the figure is a hornless stallion of indigo color, wearing a leather cap of some sort.
"Fuck me, 'Captain Waters'? Now I don't know what the fuck a 'womaggus' is or a GR you, nor why they'd send a single mare, but damned if I'm not glad to hear that name."
>>190212Alright. I guess I have been talking for more than a minute. Looks like they're unfriendly rn. With my mod, I have no chance of making things worse, so I may as well roll. Let's see if I can get them to Indifferent or Friendly.
[1d20+10 = (9+10) = 19]
>>190215>>190216Much warmer if a bit unsure and confused. He reacts very positively to the name.
>>190215>>190217As soon as Posey has line of sight, she attempts to charm the pony with her gaze.
"Yes, yes... Captain Waters was willing to pay through the nose to get you back, so let us not disappoint him. I am not alone though. I have half a dozen other mercenaries with me. We also came to a temporary truce with some of the Stalliongrad fighters, who are positioned in the far rear: they still think we are pirates, and you will be posing as hostages we are ransoming to New Mareland. I will explain it in detail later. First thing is first though: how many of you are there?"
>>190215>>190217Kira decides now is a good time. She pokes her head up and waves to the stallion while keeping her tail hidden. "Hi! There's more of us, we're just trying to keep hidden because of the 'gee are you' and the demons all across the island."
>>190218His pupils visibly become larger, and then he blinks three times in quick succession.
"They uh, uh, - there are six of us in here. We have wounded. They need medical attention, and uh, there's some kind of madness. I got a couple tied up in here."
>>190219"Another mare?" He says, looking over
Posey gestures to the group, giving the signal for the mercenaries (and only the mercenaries) to approach.
"Dust, tend to the wounded. Silver, keep the Stalliongraders from getting too close, so we can salvage some plausibly deniability for this covert operation."
>>190220"It appears as though your airponies have fallen under the control of the psychic monster that is on this island. We have encountered it before. We will soon be embarking on a mission to destroy that monster, which should hopefully end their condition."
>"Another mare?""Something like that. Do not fret. She does not bite."
"But I do OwO"I have to sleep soon. The party can freely enter dialogue now.
>>190220Kira: "Yup! Good thing too. I mean, I imagine
some males from the tribe could survive this, but others..." She trails off, before shaking her head and smiling at the stallion. "Anyways, yeah, that's the Traveler. Apparently he's some kind of eldritch extradimensional deity? He's on the ship you were following. We're gonna go stop him! The important thing is that none of you fall asleep or fall unconscious by any means, that's how he gets ya!"
Silver, meanwhile, looks back to the commie ponies. "Похоже, они дружелюбны. Видимо, некоторые из них тоже попали под влияние Путешественника."
I'm assuming Dust would go to the ship to tend to the wounded if his player was here. Can we assume that's what Dust is doing?
>>190222>I'm assuming Dust would go to the ship to tend to the wounded if his player was here. Can we assume that's what Dust is doing?It doesn't cost him anything to roll the Medicine skill, so we can just assume he's doing it. I have a bunch of spare med packs. If he takes 10 all of the wounded can heal 1d4 HP.
>>190220Cavaliere approaches the airship quickly.
"If only these were better circumstances," he greets the stallion with a nod.
"My name is Cavaliere. We will have to evacuate ASAP to get your ponies to safety. What's the condition of your wounded, and can they walk?"
I gotta sleep. Work tomorrow.
Cheers to the group for finally finding out charges. Now we just need to destroy the travellers so we can escape this place.
>>190220"How many in good condition? How many wounded? How many mad? Have any airponies perished?" Posey inquires
"We can tend to the wounded, and carry the prisoners. For now, we need you to evacuate the ship, because Captain Waters hired us to torch the systems so that the technology does not fall into enemy hooves. We have a boat talisman for our extraction, and I have conjured a minion that can transport a couple of creatures through the air."
>>190222Posey addresses, Silver, taking 10 on innuendo
"Remember, we are posing as pirates. I already told Blackheel that we came here to take the airponies hostage. Tell them that these are our prisoners that we intend to ransom for profit, and that we are not working with or for the Fascists. Whether or not Blackheel believes it will be in question, but we need to maintain plausible deniability in contested territory."
>>190222How far away is Silver?
>>190236Hmmmmm...not super far away, they're still within the bounds of the group. He's with the commies, who are likely at the very back of the group to prevent any misunderstandings.
>>190236I think we agreed on him being in the rear with the Stalliongraders, which should at least be out of earshot, so we can negotiate with the airponies while tricking the commies into thinking that we are taking the fascists hostage.
Idk the exact distance, but far enough I hope.
>>190236>>190237>>190238Does anything else need clarifying?
Posey addresses the pony in the blimp
"Evacuate quickly. We have not much time. Be sure to extract anything of value, essential equipment, magic items, implements, weapons, munitions, and other things of worth."
She pauses
"Might I ask your name?"
>>190197>Cavaliere can see a metal cylinder on the ground that appears to be some kind of bomb.Oh good, another one. How big is it? We could make use of that.
>>190239It would be nice to hear what Dust Defiant intends to do, since you're cued up for about the next 3 minutes worth of skill checks, declared actions, etc.
I would hope that Dust helps treat the airponies' wounds with his medicine skill when his player decides to check in, but I guess I cannot really speak for him.
Frenly reminder, the longer you take (taking 10s and what not) on all this, the longer Brie gets to play Metal Gear: Solid
>>190236Can Posey see anypony else past the window?
Glad to see everyone's still up to their antics, for better or for worse. What's actually going on, as far as I'm aware Posey raised a whale but I don't actually know what's going on nor do I have time to back read.
>>190245We just found the airponies. They are wounded. We are currently explaining the situation to them.
>>190245We raised a flying whale, snuck across the island, and now we're at the airponies. Some of them are injured, some have been possessed and tied up.
>>190245>I don't actually know what's going on nor do I have time to back read.Other than what we just described, not very much happened since the skeleton was raised.
Oh yeah, we snuck past some GRU fighting abominations.
>>190245>nor do I have time to back readThen you wake up in the Entertron
Do I have to say it?
>>190249>off by 1 second for a time gets
Oh, also, just for posterity's sake: can Silver tell in what state the airship is in? He has his suspicions, but he feels like he owes it to Brie to at least consider whether the airship can by very quickly patched up.
>>190252Don't, stick to the mission
>>190253Fine, jeez, I won't.
>>190236In that case: where's the airship's propulsion systems located?
>>190252It it's still bouyant enough to hang in the air, we could potentially have Monstro drag it through the air, but we are being paid to destroy it. We should still consider it as a potential option for our distraction.
Monstro can drag 48,000 pounds. Possibly double or triple that if buffed with the right spells (such as the lvl 2 Cleric spell Lighten Load).
>>190257>Monstro can carry 24 tonsYou might wanna run that past GM
>>190257>distraction*extraction
Though he speaks, he doesn't seem to want to come outside, at least not yet.
>>190222The pony looks over and speaks. Kira can only see his blue-purple head, and the leather cap.
"Hey no. No. I know what you are. You're some kind of monster. Like s sea monster. That gets me to come outside, ride on your back, and then you eat me or something."
>>190224His expression suggests possible surprise at seeing a griffin, but it isn't enough surprise to vocalize or to rise to skepticism.
"No standard uniform? Uh, hello. We have two that can't walk, and two I wouldn't let walk. One is severe, and the other still needs attention. There's a third that has something wrong but we didn't see any bleeding."
>>190226"I am the only one here in proper good condition. Two are properly wounded, but one is unconscious and one cannot stand. Two are mad. I don't think any are dead but I ain't a doctor and I haven't checked since... I don't know when. I've never heard of a 'tailsman' in my time in the navy nor do I know what kinda craft a minion's supposed to be. Is that foreign speak for a skipper or something?" A pause, "Just get us out of here."
>>190239"Heh heh, magic items? Sure, we'll get those along with our gold bars, diamonds and champagne bottles."
The bombs has an approximately tear drop shape and fins along the top, thinner end. However, it has metal rings around both the front and the back, giving it a psued-cylindrical shape and allowing it to store upright like a barrel.
>>190244No. It's a reasonable sized car, and anypony else doesn't seem to be near windows, or at least, there isn't enough light to see inside.
>>190252Sort of like the Sea Rover, it's mostly intact. The most obvious damage is that the starboard engine nacelle has broken off of its pylon and detached from the craft. Both propellers seem to be destroyed. There is some damage to the car and its windows which suggest it would not be water or airtight, though it doesn't seem to have been designed to be air or watertight to begin with. The envelope is partly deflated, probably having lost a third to half of its gas volume. There is a leak somewhere, though whether this is in damage to the envelope, where it connects to the car, or perhaps some kind of intentional release is hard to say. One of the fins and corresponding rudders, the one on the bottom, seems damaged as well. Landing gear has ripped off.
>>190255On the ground, evidently. One nacelle is still connected to the car.
>>190278>Though he speaks, he doesn't seem to want to come outside, at least not yet.I can't blame him. This island is fucking spooky.
>"I am the only one here in proper good condition"You are a formidable warrior, sir... What was your name? It is commendable that you alone were able to maintain control of the situation, and for that you have guaranteed the survival of your crew."
"We will be assisting you and your crew shortly. Please open the doors so that we may tend to the crew and torch the systems like Captain Waters ordered us to. In the mean time, you can tell us about what happened to get you in this mess."
Posey orders her Dreads to obey the verbal commands of anypony who requires assistance in doing mundane tasks around the ship.
>The bombs has an approximately tear drop shape and fins along the top, thinner end. However, it has metal rings around both the front and the back, giving it a psued-cylindrical shape and allowing it to store upright like a barrel.How big is it?
>The envelope is partly deflated, probably having lost a third to half of its gas volume. There is a leak somewhere, though whether this is in damage to the envelope, where it connects to the car, or perhaps some kind of intentional release is hard to say.I guess we will have to inspect it to see if it could float again after jettisoning the engines.
>>190278He blinks slowly when the pony refers to Kira as a sea monster.
"She is not. Forgive us for our motley appearance, but I can assure you that at no point will you be eaten by any sort of creature.""Your government wanted plausible deniability for this mission, as this island is disputed territory. That fighting–" he points to the sound of the weapons and explosions
"Isn't us. We'll need to stabilize your crew and carry them to safety before we're spotted."
>>190278Kira looks a bit saddened, pouting while she frowns. "I'm not a monster, though, I'm just a lamia. Think of me like a pony, just with a snake tail."
Silver: "Is that hydrogen or helium in there, you think?"
>>190279Maybe 400 pounds, likely less
>>190279The reticence and suspicion that the pony has, or seems to have, towards Kira and Cavaliere, does not translate to Posey
"I am Petty Officer Third Class Primed Well, radio operator and gunner. I uh, sure." He moves out of line of site, and a door that was previosuly firm to the cabin, opens. It will not, however, stay open without being pushed open, as the starboard list of the car means that a port side door will stay open only against the force of gravity.
"Colt, it's a long story." He says, peaking his head out of the door.
>>190280"Really?" He tilts his head through the door. "Then who is it?" A pause "Are you sure about the creatures?"
>>190281"You don't look like a llama. Wait, what?! Snake tail?"
He may close the door.
If Silver comes closer, he will look to him.
"Another? Uh, it's supposed to be helium admixture, but I know they've been mixing it up with the shortages."
>>190283Kira holds her hooves up and waves them in front of her. Her body automatically flicks out her tongue in the air. "Wait, don't close the door! I'm friendly! See, I haven't eaten anyone in the party and I never would!"
Silver tells the commie ponies to hold for the moment as he comes closer to the airship. "Yeah, do not mind her. She is honestly kindest, sweetest creature you could ever meet. She is named Kira. I am Sergeant First Class Silver Sword." Silver looks up at the deflated airship. "Think there is enough left in there to get it to float, if we dropped engines? If not...is there enough hydrogen in there to set this thing ablaze?"
>>190284He looks to Silver and answers,
"No, it's lost buoyancy. It's not exactly stable either and may blow away if the wind changes directions. It's supposed to be pure helium but we know they don't do that, not when they don't expect combat. Still, the hydrogen was likely the first to leak out. I haven't exactly tested if the gas is flammable."
Then he sees Kira
"Ah!" He closes the door and peaks through the window at the giant snake creature. "The fuck you haven't. What is that?" This may actually be the first time he's noticed that Kira is part snake.
>>190284Blackheel asks, or tries to ask Silver,
"How long will this stop take?"
>>190283>I am Petty Officer"A humble name for such a valiant warrior."
>It will not, however, stay open without being pushed open, as the starboard list of the car means that a port side door will stay open only against the force of gravity. Posey catches the door with her magic.
>>190284>I haven't eaten anyone in the partyTRUUUUUUUST IIIIN MEEEEEEE!
>>190285.
.
.
"Would anyone like a cigarette?"
>>190285Silver looks back at Blackheel to answer. "Not long at all." He then returns his attention to Primed Well. "Alright. We will get you and your soldiers well and ready to travel. After that we will need to move quickly, explosions tend to bring lot of attention."
Kira scrunches, lifting her pony half back up into the air and putting her forehooves on her "hips". "I said I'm a lamia. I'm from Zebrica. And if you're talking about the bulge in my stomach, that's a goat." She quickly qualifies this by saying, "
That I paid the farmer for and had a nice cup of tea with."
>>190286Silver does have cigarettes if Posey wants any. Oddly enough, he hasn't felt the need to smoke since the quarry earlier.
Okay even by spam standards that was terrible. You're on a website dedicated towards people who like magical technicolored quadrupedal equines, why do you think we want to look at pics of hairy naked women? Seriously, do some research and maybe you might actually get someone.
Who has the explosives and the camera? It's about time that we do what we came for. We need to torch the engine systems.
>>190286He smiles, even blushes. His ears go down. He stops trying to close the door and places his forelegs up on the door, pushing open somewhat.
"Thanks miss... It's a navy rank. Been flyin' for near two years now."
>>190286"I'll take one, if you don't mind" Primed Well responds. More than one of the communists comes closer after they whisper among themselves. Like offering milk to stray cats, Posey is likely to be swarmed by ponies soon.
>>190288"Uh, uh, okay. They aren't really able to travel on their own, but-"
Scrunching himself, Primed Well looks to Kira and nods "Mhmmm, sure you did."
>>190292>"I'll take one, if you don't mind"Posey passes him one of the vintage Victorian cigarettes from the petite antique box that she keeps only to make herself look cool (her taste for nicotine died when he lungs did).
>>190292>>190293To prevent Posey from getting swarmed, Silver pulls out his own pack of Old Guard cigarettes and offers some fags to the commie ponies. "Кто-нибудь хочет?" He also offers one to Primed Well, levitating it over to him using his magic. "That is why we have our zebra to help with healing. I am also trained with patching creatures up in field, if needed."
Kira scrunches harder.
>>190293He takes it, leaning out of the door. She can see his indigo wings coming out through a hole in a brown-green uniform. He looks down at the cigarette.
"Huh... Never seen one like this before."
He remains in the doorway, not quite outside but not really allowing anypony inside, either.
He looks up towards Posey,
"Happen to have a light?"
>>190295Silver is soon swarmed with communist ponies - three of them. All the same, Primed Well takes, or tries to take, the cigarette from Silver, leaning forward.
"A medic? Yes. Come here."
He does not look at the scrunchy-scary Kira
>>190296Silver lights up the cigarettes for the three commie ponies, and when he manages to get free from the swarm, he heads up into the airship. He also offers Primed Well a light as he assesses the current condition of the ponies on board.
>>190297Now we can tell once and for all of we have a hydrogen leak :)
>>190298Silver figures that this pony is the expert, and if he's not worried about a lighter, then it's probably safe to have a lighter to light up a cigarettes.
>>190298Kek
Well, none of the lights cause fire. Evidently the localized concentrations of hydrogen - if there is any - are not strong enough.
>>190297Finally, Primed Well moves out of the way and allows Silver inside.
The first and most notable thing that Silver sees is another pony, crouched silently and closer to the ground. He is white in color, evidently an earth pony, and is wearing a brown-green uniform that is stained in blood on the lower chest. He is holding wrench as a weapon, and has evidently been hiding out of view this entire time, making no sound. He looks up towards Silver with blue eyes and a leather aviator cap. To either side of the narrow way are various devices. Towards the bow from the rear are several desks next to large radios, and a map on another desk. There is a desk with dials and meters, and then at the very fore is a recognizable cockpit, raised above a sort of split lower level. Towards the back is the side turret of the machine gun, a set of valves and the like for what must be the engines, and a small door going out towards them, a sectioned off room that seems to hold... bombs? and beyond that, multiple beds in a bunk formation. At the very end is a large window for observation, presumably.
In two of the bunks are ponies, one with much blood.
Possibly the most interesting location is just before the cockpit, where there is a separate, lower room that must be some kind of navigation sight or turret or... something. There is a door to it that is closed, which has a window.
At the window of this small area, pressed against the glass, Silver can see the face of a pony. It's a bat pony stallion, pressing his muzzle against the glass, and both hooves to either side of the glass. He has a massive smile, and his lips, or sometimes his cheeks, distort against the glass. His pupils are dilated so wide that his irises cannot be seen. The way the light glistens in his eyes it's almost like stars, or snow in a snow globe. His fur is peppered grey and white, and he, too, wears a leather cap that ties around his head. His expression is almost like a small colt, full of wonder or excitement, who pears through a toy store display window before being allowed to enter.
>>190300Posey follows after Silver, looking around the cabin wordlessly. Her first order of business is to attempt to charm any pony that meets her gaze, as she always does to take control of a situation.
>>190300Okay, priorities: assuming the crouching pony isn't going to attack them with his wrench, Silver immediately goes to the bunks and assesses the conditions of the ponies therein.
>>190301The blue-eyed pony blinks thrice, and says
"Hello"
The bat pony in the Bombardier's chamber stares back at Posey with pupils that are not the split, snake eyes of bat ponies, but wide enough to consume the eye. She can see her own reflection in them, surrounded by white flakes that move like nascent stars in the primordial universe. He smiles widely and opens his mouth, which looks rather dried.
>>190302One is... asleep? Unconscious? Hard to say. The other has severe bleeding. There was a clear effort to stop the bleeding with town pieces of clothing. He is still breathing, and if he is conscious, he is unresponsive.
>>190303Heal: Well, let's see what Silver can do to ensure this pony is properly stabilized, at least.
[1d20+5 = (19+5) = 24]
>>190304Silver can tell that the injuries are blunt force trauma, with ribs and broken bones puncturing lungs and causing internal bleeding as well as external. There's only so much that can be done, but Silver can sterilize the external wounds and also do as much as possible to reduce the bleeding. Silver has a potion to help coagulate the blood.
>>190303>"Hello""Good evening, sir. Congratulations on surviving this far. I am Rosey Ring, a mercenary hired by Captain Waters."
>bat"Another unfortunately enthralled. I see you have adequately contained him."
>>190305Oof, sounds like Constitution damage. That won't be easy to fix without magic.
>>190305Silver gives it to him to hopefully stop the internal bleeding, before turning his attention to the other unconscious pony in the bunks.
>>190291I believe Silver has the camera, and maybe the explosives as well. Cavaliere has neither.
>>190300Cavaliere quickly and silently retrieves a spare blanket and drapes it over the glass, blocking the bat pony from view. He whispers to Primed Well,
"How long has he been like this?"
>>190306>>190309Primed Well looks over to the bat pony, who has a full view down the center of the car with his wide, all-seeing eyes pressed against the glass
"Ah! He got loose. He's not supposed to be up like that." He says. He then answers Cavaliere's question,
"Since morning the morning. Maybe before."
>>190307This one seems to be alive. Probably. Signs of injury are not obvious.
>>190306The white earth pony stands up. He is trembling.
"Ensign Pinup Locker" He answers
>>190310Silver grabs onto the unconscious pony, and tries to shake him awake. "WAKE UP, SOLDIER!"
>>190310He turns to Pinup Locker
what a name!.
"Who is in acting command of this post?" he inquires.
>>190311The pony shakes his head and shoots it up, shaking as if cold
"Huh? What?"
>>190312"While the Captain is incapacitated and the Lieutenant is out... Primed Well, I believe."
I can change it
>>190313Pinup Locker is an officer, however inexperienced, and naturally outranks a petty officer, so he would be in command.
>>190314Okay, well then change the rank to 'Seaman', or I'll sort it out later.
>>190313>>190315Cavaliere talks to Primed Well softly.
"You made the right choice tying up the batpony. However innocuous he may seem, he is controlled by a nefarious entity that by this method instigated a mutiny on the Stalliongrad ship you were following. Unfortunately it's capable of much more than that. Those noises you hear are skirmishes between its creatures and a far stronger Communist complement that has landed. Both sides are looking for us."
>>190313Silver: "What is your name, soldier?"
How long does it take us to get all of the airponies outside the ship?
>>190320Well we have two injured ponies, one of which needs to be brought to before the Traveler gets him, and however many possessed ponies we need to capture.
Also can we not just speed through this at lightspeed? We're not going to take a week to get through the airship, obviously, but we don't need to blow through the scene in two posts either.
>>190327Alright. There's no hurry.
>however many possessed ponies we need to captureAnything I should do? I guess I could see if rolling Hypnosis works. Even if the Traveller has their minds, they might still be vulnerable to enchantment from outside sources, at least temporarily. Maybe try to catch their attention and keep them fascinated for long enough for Silver, Cavalier and Mala to restrain. Idk though.
>>190330>>190327Posey approaches Silver
"How should we go about restraining the quarantined thralls? I have some military background in capture assignments, but my track record in capturing resistant ponies alive is... hit or miss... Cadaver collection was more of my specialty. I suppose we could just try knock them out, but in their state we cannot guarantee that they would not injure themselves if we fought them."
She ponders for a moment
"Perhaps I could use a little bit of trick-magic to distract them and counter the Traveller's influence for long enough for the rest of you to capture. It would require precise timing and coordination though. How does that sound to you, Silver?"
>>190331Silver: "Hmmmm...that could work. We could also have Kira wrap around and subdue them."
>>190332"I am not actually certain I could hypnotize very many at once though... My skills in the art are limited." she admits, her ears drooping
>>190333Silver pats Posey on her head between her ears. "You have our support, Posey."
>>190313Silver looks over at Primed Well. "Are there supposed to be more of you? There are four of you here, one who is clearly possessed by Traveler...where are rest?"
>>190337Posey's ears shoot upwards as a grim realization dawns on her.
"Oh no... Do you think the Traveller might have marched them away? I was afraid that it could happen..." she says, with subtle glare of annoyed-worry as she nervously glances in the direction of the Kostroma
>>190316Primed Well:
"Nothing has been right since we started tailing that ship. Before then, really. No shit it isn't normal. I don't know if it's a demon, some secret experiment or whatever. It's messing with our minds."
He blinks, and there is a pause.
"We need to move, don't we?"
Another pause,
"Did you see a set of ponies as you came up here?"
>>190317He stands up next to Silver, facing perpendicular to him, and looks out a window. The window faces a set of rock, so there isn't much to actually see.
"Captain....." He closes his mouth and looks forward "Weary Weeks..."
"Father?" he says, looking forward. A smile slowly crosses his face. He slowly turns his head towards Silver.
"Father? I saw you. I feel you. I know you are close. You know, for so long I resented you. I was angry at you. I was angry at you for leaving me. Leaving little Tin Hat and mom and me while you went off with the Expedition. I was angry that you never came back. But now... now that I can feel you... again. Heh. Now that I know you are near... I can feel almost elation." His head is aimed towards Silver. it is unclear if he is talking to Silver or past him.
"Is that where you've been? The soft, green pastures of Elysium. It's gentle, nurturing sunlight. No. Where you've been had no light. But this will. We will. And not far away in the beyond realm. Not some 'other side,' but here. It's not a fairy tale. It's here. Heaven on Earth. Not material. Not immaterial. But all the best of both here. Can you feel it? It's coming here to us, and us to it. Father, I wish I had a mare to show you. But I was so afraid of doing like you, I... it seems silly now..."
He sits down and places his hooves on his head.
>>190345Silver gives the pony, Weary Weeks, a slap across the cheek. A light slap, not intended to hurt, but to jar him out of his stupor. "Listen, you just had demon from another dimension in your head, found in Skynavia and brought here on board Kostroma. It has taken over minds of multiple ponies on this island already with promises of 'True Harmony'. Whatever it showed you, whatever it promised you, fight against it. You do
not want this thing inside your head. Do you hear me, soldier? Fight it!"
>>190345>I don't know if it's a demon, some secret experiment or whatever. It's messing with our minds.""It is not exactly a 'demon', per say, but for all intents and purposes that is close enough to describe it. An otherworldly entity of chaos has been infecting the minds of ponies on this island." Posey says
>"We need to move, don't we?""We will soon, yes."
>"Did you see a set of ponies as you came up here?""We sat some communists fighting monsters on the way here. Are you referring to the rest of your crew? Did they wander off?"
>deranged ramblings"Oh, for the love of-...!"
Posey rushes over and pulls out a bone pendulum, waving it back and forth in front of the pony, attempting to counter the creeping silent influence with hypnosis as she did with Pipette
"Calm down. Stay with us now. Look into my eyes. Listen to my voice."
Hypnosis check
[1d20+8 = (8+8) = 16]
>>190346In the moment that Silver slaps him, his pupils dilate, and he seems to refocus, tending towards the then-closing in Posey. But it does not hold
"Fighting? Is that not what we've done our whole lives? Fight? Have you forgotten what you are fighting for? Harmony - Harmony, friendship, you can't get that in this body. You must transcend the self. Return to the Universe but do not lose the self. Sielu on vahvempi kuin luulet. Vaikka jumala söisi sen, se ei häviä, vaan sulautuu muiden kanssa. Miksi pelätä kuolemaa? Mitä sinulla oikeastaan on menetettävää? Etkö näe, mitä voisit voittaa?"
His eyes tremble and tick, as if trying to focus on the swaying bone, but not entirely succeeding. His pupils are massive, and see much.
>>190349>But it does not holdWell, that didn't work... What could bring him back to reality? Hmmmmm..
"Desperate times call for desperate measures..." Posey says, sighing as her horn glows bright
She telekinetically grabs him by the balls, and squeezes sharply.
Per the BoVD, this uses the Intimidate skill:
[1d20+15 = (20+15) = 35]
>>190350Even Silver reflexively reaches for his own sack on that one, slumping down as he gets hit with a wave of sympathy pain.
>>190350Haha... AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
>>190350His pupils do
not decrease in size,
"Он пришёл ко мне во сне. Он показал -
Neigh!"
He falls to the ground. "Oww..." And starts to turn over, on his back. "Oww..."
He breathes in through his teeth
>>190353Silver is slow to get up, himself. His balls ache now. "You back with us in world of sane ponies, Captain?"
>>190353"Pain is something I grew to appreciate as a warrior. The path of an Eldritch warmagus is one of loneliness and disassociation. Pain is what grounds the living in reality, lest they forget the dangers before them." Posey says, with a flat tone
She stands over the stallion
"Did that do it for you?"
>>190354>>190352In a high pitched voice,
"What is wrong with you..."
Primed Well:
"Did you just grab the Captain's balls?"
>>190356This post still applies to
>>190355
>>190356Silver: "Grabbed
and twisted." Silver looks out, and calls to the commies ponies. "По-видимому, достаточно скрутить гениталии одержимого существа, чтобы вывести его из этого состояния."
Turning his attention back to Primed, Silver asks again, "What did happen to rest of your group?"
>>190356>"What is wrong with you...""If you would really like to get to know me, we could talk about it over a drink when we get home, but for now we have more pressing matters at hoof." Posey say with a coquettish smirk that betrays the underlying storm of psychopathy, and a playful swish of her tail
>"Did you just grab the Captain's balls?""I do what I must." she replies, nonchalantly
>>190358>По-видимому, достаточно скрутить гениталии одержимого существа, чтобы вывести его из этого состоянияNow we know how to take them out, Commissar. Spread the word.
Primed Well's mouth hangs open,
"You let the commies over here? Why are you speaking to them? You... uh, uh"
>>190359"Gack..." He is still on the floor, wincing in pain
>>190360Silver: "We are all allies against Traveler and its summons. Also they are being hunted by Spetsnaz because of their knowledge about Traveler. Important thing is that you have not answered our question, yet. I count five ponies, there should be three more."
>>190361He stares at Silver, and loudly exhales. Then inhales.
"The Lieutenant went out with a few able-bodied ponies looking for help. Did you see them?"
He looks past Silver, towards the Captain on the floor
>>190360"It appears as though you are with us once more. If you feel yourself slipping away again, I will be here to bring you back to your senses." she says, with a cold glare
"Silver can explain the situation to you."
because I have to sleep
>>190362Silver blinks once, then twice, lifts his head up into the air, then...
"СЕЛЕСТИЯ, ТРАХНИ МЕНЯ СВОИМ РОГОМ И ОСТАВЬ МНЕ БЕСПОРЯДОК!" The outburst is loud enough to cause the ears of the creatures inside the airship to ring, with how it bounces and echoes off of the metal floor, ceiling, and walls. Even Kira from outside holds her sensitive ears in apparent discomfort.
After the ringing has gone down enough that he can be heard, the rather upset Silver looks at Primed with irises that have turned from their normal light blue to red. Their gaze feels like it burns straight through the stallion. "
In which direction did they go?"
>>190364Primed Well sits down and leans back, eyes wide, ears down and back. He timidly raises a hoof, and points to his right and somewhat forward.
>>190365Silver raises his hooves towards the display in a show of "what am I supposed to do with this", before speaking out loud and authoritatively with "
Use your words."
>>190366"... D-down the hill. Somewhere. I don't know exactly where. They were looking for a plane that was passing by."
>>190367Silver closes his eyes, breathing in and out slowly. In and out. In and out. When he opens them, Primed can see Silver's red irises shift from red to purple and then back to blue. His voice returns to its normal level of volume and authority. "How long ago?"
"If there are airponies missing, it is plausible that they have been captured or enthralled by The Traveller. If that is the case, they would likely be at the Kostroma. Either that, or they may have sought out telecommunications devices and shelter in the lighthouse." Posey remarks
>>190362>>190364>The Lieutenant went out with a few able-bodied ponies looking for help. Did you see them?>"In which direction did they go?"Posey speaks up
"If they help during daylight, their trail should still be fresh. Travelling in a group, they would not be difficult to track."
She turns to Kira
"Kira, be a dear and use that tongue of yours to tell us what direction the Lieutenant went in."
>>190373>If they help*If they left
>>190373Kira: "I'm not a deer, I'm a lamia."
Survival: All the same, Kira flicks her tongue out into the air to try to get a whiff of the Lieutenant's trail.
[1d20+11 = (17+11) = 28]
>>190375The DC should have been 17-ish, so let's hope that works.
Cavaliere mentions, "Before you go off alone, Miss, I should accompany you on the way. The others are badly needed here."
That is unless anypony wants to go instead.
>>190377"We do not need to follow them just yet. We just need to know where they went off to so that we may plan our next move."
>>190375I'm going to roll to assist, in the unlikely event that 28 isn't enough.
[1d20+1 = (10+1) = 11]
>>190377Cavalier has the track feat, so he is able to follow tracks with DCs above 10. If he assists Kira's Track check in the same way a trained falcon would, he could provide a bird's eye view and more readily determine where the airponies went.
Knowing what direction the airponies went would let us determine what to do next, since we already decided to find them before we raided the Kostroma.
>>190405With Garv tracking from the air and Kira from the ground, they absolutely can find where they went!
Cavaliere frown at Posey's "treatment" but says nothing of it. To the captain he says,
"We're sorry about that, Captain, but you have no idea what kind of danger you and your crew are in. Please get yourself composed. You have three ponies missing, lead by your lieutenant. Do you have any information that can help us find them?">>190405I suppose I can roll now, but I hope we can get some feedback to help save their lives.
Track:
[1d20+3 = (4+3) = 7]
>>190411Does Cavalier have balls?>7Even if his check fails, he should be able to assist Kira's roll, or at least I think that's how it's supposed to work (I was looking at lines for having a pet bird assist a Ranger).
.
.
.
"Yes, any information would be helpful, particularly their colors, so that we may spot them at a distance."
>>190414Metaphorically or literally? It's up to Posey to find out for herself.
>>190415I guess Posey should know more about griffin anatomy by now. She did eat most of Luminous's body.
>It's up to Posey to find out for herself.Hmmm, that sounds like a challenge.
>>190375Silly Posey, lamias aren't deer. There's quite the difference...
Kira has a disadvantage in trying to find the Lieutenant: she doesn't actually know what he smells like. However, Kira can at least smell
ponies, given that they have a distinct smell from other forms of prey. They smell of...
friendship. This time, she's at least downwind.
flick flickNothing
flick flickHmmm.....
flick flickYep. There it is.
friendship.
Kira can smell it. Besides multiple hits not terribly far from her own location that could absolutely be the lieutenant, but could also very much not be the lieutenant, she can also taste several ponies on the opposite side of the bay - Yes, near the light house - as well as several more in the ninth century village on the southern bay, nearer the
Kostroma.
>>190416concern
>>190429Kira excited calls out to the others. "I can smell them! Should I go after them and bring them back before something happens to them?"
>>190429>>190430"Do we have anything here that belonged to the Lieutenant? Anything he handles daily? Flasks? Clothing? Hat? Coffee mugs? Toothbrush? Anything we may use to confirm a match on his scent?"
>>190431The captain is starting to get up, but it’s Primed Well who answers first.
“There’s a blanket he used. Then again I think Day Chaser also used it…”
Pinup Locker speaks:
“Day Chaser went too. But the lieutenant left his cap.”
>>190430Cavaliere responds,
"That should be enough to narrow down a direction. Can you make use of these, Ms. Kirafiki?"
>>190432"That might work. Bring them to Kira."
Posey pauses for a moment, as it reminiscing on something. She turns away and subtly smirks, wordlessly.
>>190431>>190432>>190433>>190434Kira: "I shouldn't need it, but maybe it wouldn't hurt to have it, too." Looking out in the direction in which she
thinks she smells the missing ponies, Kira frowns. "I need to hurry and find them, before something bad happens to them. The rest of you should stay here and get the airponies moving. Garv, would you come with me? You can keep a lookout from the air, and help me if we get attacked or we meet the missing ponies and they freak out."
>>190435He nods to the snakepony.
"I'll help you out. Let's cover what ground we can with the light that's left."I can't play for the rest of tonight. If you want to carry on, Cavaliere can help with any actions you want to take.
>>190436Kira smiles at the griffon, replying with a "Thank you, Cavaliere!" before slithering off in the direction of the scent, with her griffon companion taking off and following in the air.
Customary Spot and Listen rolls to be perceptive of anything out of the ordinary:
Spot:
[1d20+8 = (6+8) = 14]Listen:
[1d20+8 = (10+8) = 18]Okie dokie!
Also, just so there's no confusion: the direction Kira and Garv are traveling in is towards the group of ponies that are neither near the lighthouse nor in the village.
Wait, are Kira and Cavalier going all the way to the airponies, or just confirming where they are?
>>190439Kira and Cavaliere are going off in search of the missing airponies, before something bad happens to them like them getting captured by either the GRU or the Traveler. The rest of the group was asked by Kira to stay behind and finish getting the ponies at the airship ready to travel.
>>190440You do realize that it is plausible that the Lieutenant's group have been enthralled by The Traveller, right? It may turn into a fight if you find them.
I don't oppose stating behind though. Just don't kill them.
>>190442Don't worry, Kira's super stealthy. And if they're possessed and they come to blows, Kira will try to intimidate the ponies by making it out like she's gonna eat them. That might be enough to at least temporarily break them out of the Traveler's hold.
>>190444So, are they able to find them?
>>190444Oh! One more thing: Kira takes a radio with her to keep in contact. Okay, now we're ready.
>>190437flick flickKira can
taste the frienship. It's not coming from within the airship - to be sure, she can smell that too. No. It's not that far away at all, a few hundred meters or so. Down the hill. Kira slithers along her way, along the thin winter grass and across the rock and gravel towards her equine quarry. The sea fog continues to obscure her field of vision ahead, but her olfactory sense becomes more acute. Whereas before the stronger, sudden gusts of wind would blow away the subtler smells and hints, now, even the sustained flow of air up the side of the hill cannot blow away the smell of ponies - ponies who are relatively clean and of subtler scent - and of the rubber, cloth, wood, steel, and guncotton they carry besides. She slithers through the ill-defined grey until she descends from the otherworldly grey hilltop to the side of the bay.
As she descends below the cloud layer, she sees the rim of the great north bay, and more importantly, she sees her prey. Twelve of them. Twelve
friends. They wear thick rubber masks with goggles and filters that obscure their muzzles and eyes. They wear big, rounded, green-painted steel helmets over their heads, and where their manes and tails stick out they are tied up. They wear long, thick tan leather jackets, and beneath those, thick green nylon vests. Most carry long, wooden rifles, but one carries what must be bigger than a rifle, and another one - is it two? - carry a wooden device much shorter, while at least two have no visible arms at all. Two of them are mares, and the remainder are likely stallions, though it's honestly hard to tell with all of the clothing, and even the mares are distinguished only because of the thinner masks that show off the features of tan and white faces. The entire group proceeds upwards in a careful trot, up the side of the hill, and towards Kira's position.
>>190451Hide : Kira's immediate concern is making sure she's hidden from the view of these approaching ponies.
[1d20+13 = (1+13) = 14]Once she feels safely out of sight, she takes the Lieutenant's cap gotten from the airship and checks if the specific smell of friendship on the cap matches the smell of friendship of any of these ponies.
>>190452>14We can only hope...
>>190452The ponies look around, and one looks up towards Kira. He extends a hoof.
"Впереди. Ужасное явление. Рядом с"
Another speaks,
"Да, товарищ. Я это вижу"
He points out, and the ponies start to crouch and move out, advancing but more slowly, and one, now two rifles are leveled at Kira. This happens even as Kira may feel safe.
>>190451Cavaliere also attempts to hide, and silently move to the left of the group of ponies.
Hide:
[1d20+3 = (20+3) = 23]Move silently:
[1d20+11 = (20+11) = 31]
>>190455Aw yeah, sick double 20s!
>>190454Not good. Kira's an experienced enough hunter to know that these ponies are currently hunting her. And she's fairly certain that none of the ponies from the airship would speak that weird Severyanan language that Silver and the commie ponies speak. This must be a group of the GRU ponies. This is bad, especially with them being so close to the airship.
Kira very quickly weighs her options. She thinks she's been seen, and she needs to make a decision now. Seeing that they're weighed down with equipment, Kira quickly formulates a plan. She starts with trying to stall these ponies. Keeping the radio behind her and out of sight, Kira presses the transmit button with one of her forelegs so the party can hear her over the radio while she waves to the ponies with the other. She speaks fairly loudly to make she she's heard over the radio.
"Oh, uh, hi there! W-what are you fine gentleponies doing on this fine day? Do...do any of you happen to speak Ponish?"
>>190455This isn't
super easy as the group has spread out. However, they
are distracted, and Cavaliere seems unseen.
>>190457Speaking to each other, "Это первое мерзкое создание, которое говорит с нами?"
Replying,
"Это все еще чуждо, и оно говорит с нами на иностранном языке. Держи глаза открытыми. Никогда не было просто одного. Будь готов."
But they don't speak to Kira at all. They speak to each other.
Two ponies start to move towards Kira rapidly, prompting one carrying a thicker rifle to raise a hoof in the air:
"Стой! Нет, ты дурак. Он пытается завести тебя в засаду в тумане. Оставайтесь вместе."
>>190458Kira tries slowly moving away from the location of the airponies, drawing these GRU ponies away from her compatriots. She really hopes the others can hear all of this over the radio she's transmitting from.
"H-hey, you all kinda have me at a disadvantage here. You know, speaking all of that...Severyanan? I think? And...pointing all of those...
gulp...guns in my direction...I-I'm just a scared, lonely lamia, on an island full of monsters."
>>190458Cavaliere remains in his hiding spot, waiting to see what happens. If only he spoke Severyanan….
>>190460>>190459"Почему он говорит с нами?" Says one,
The one with the larger rifle, the one who stands taller replies:
"Имеет ли это значение? Ты и так хорошо знаешь, чего оно хочет. У него плохие намерения. Оно говорит только чтобы обмануть. Какой-то бедный иностранец, должно быть, стал его жертвой, и теперь оно лишило его способности говорить.Мы не будем молчать. Мы ответим звуком наших пушек. Будь на чеку, за туманом и под камнями притаились другие."
The group as a whole moves a bit to the right, away from Cavaliere but towards Kira, slowly and delibertely.
But then two raise their rifles, take aim at Kira, and
CRACK[1d20+5 = (17+5) = 22][2d8 = 8]CRACK[1d20+5 = (3+5) = 8][2d8 = 9]
>>190461Listen check, does Brie hear this?
[1d20+10 = (19+10) = 29]
Posey combs her mane and redoes her war bun, slipping back into spiky bone armor. She pins her mane with throwing needles and securing the blades to her braid and tail.
She takes time to make sure she looks fabulously terrifying, humming to herself merrily as she goes. She makes no effort to hide her excitement for battle.
>>190462Brie hears this crack. Brie hears lots of cracks. Brie has been hearing cracks off and on for twenty minutes now, and over a wide area as dozens of soldiers shoot at dozens of chimeras.
>>190463The sound of gunfire is nearer than before, but all she sees is grey.
>>190464Is this encounter going to involve me? I thought Cavalier and Kira were going solo. I do need to sleep soon, but I can stay up if I'm involved.
>>190464Without knowing what circumstances he is experiencing, I'll adjourn by saying that whatever situation he is experiencing, he was EXPECTING to hear gunfire, and is thereby in a position to not be distracted by and/or take advantage of any enemy movements and responses to the stimuli.
On the one hand, it gives him a prime opportunity to observe how the enemy force responds to unanticipated stimuli. Are they coordinated, like a unit of individuals? Are they more organic like those led by a hive mind?
I'll be happy to roll any requisite insight/wisdom checks to discern (if discernable) whether any reactionaries are thinkin for themselves.
On the other hand, it could afford him an opportunity to sneak,... closer
>>190461The second bullet misses, but the first...
"
HISS!"
There's a spray of blood as the rifle bullet hits Kira, punching easily through her leather lamellar armor that was never meant to stop bullets and goes through the side of her pony half.
She has one trick up her sleeve she didn't want to half to use already, but Kira feels like it's an appropriate enough emergency...
Putting the radio away, Kira offers up a prayer to Ouroboros and the spirits of nature. Putting her hooves together, she speaks to them, "Come on, guys...I really need you here...help me..." To her surprise and delight, her hooves start glowing with a holy light, getting her to chuckle and smile. Closing her eyes and yelling with determination she slams them into the earth below her, the light spreading from her hooves along the ground towards the middle of the group of Spetsnaz ponies.
Entangle: All of a sudden, the grass around the hooves of the Spetsnaz troops grows and wraps around their legs, holding them in place. Even where the ground is bare, new grass, previously asleep but now roused by Kira's magic, sprouts from the ground to aid their brethren in keeping the ponies from moving.
This spell affects a very large radius around the center of the group of commie ponies
(around 640 ft. (400 ft. + 40ft. per caster level)). The spell lasts for 6 minutes
(1 minute per caster level). For the duration of the spell, all of the commies in the area move at half speed, and the plants in the area will attempt to entangle all of the commies, requiring succeeding on a Reflex check or else becoming entangled
(I think the DC is 20? It doesn't say on the SRD.). Ponies who are entangled may take a full round action to break free by succeeding on either a DC 20 Strength check or a DC 20 Escape Artist check. Every round, the plants in the area will attempt to re-entangle anyone who either avoids entanglement or manages to break free.
With her standard action taken care of, Kira attempts to flee into the clouds, taking care to travel
away from the airship as to not lead the GRU towards her friends.
>>190461Cavaliere draws his revolver, aims at the large stallion who seems to be their leader…
But does not fire. When Kira entangles the enemy ponies, he circles around the enemy group, out of sight, opposite Kira. Best not to give away his position just yet, and he will act on Kira's lead.
>>190468>With her standard action taken care of, Kira attempts to flee into the clouds, taking care to travel away from the airship as to not lead the GRU towards her friends.Good call. If you take the Run action later, you should easily be able to outrun them, since you have woodland stride and should be able to move faster overland on natural terrain. Plus they're entangled.
>>190464>The sound of gunfire is nearer than before, but all she sees is grey.".... Do you think they have it covered?" Posey ponders out loud, to anyone around to hear
>>190468>>190469With the subtle glow of yellow-green light, grass moves outwards and upwards, wrapping around the hooves of the various ponies. Some ponies turn their heads downwards towards the intrusive blades of grass, while others look around at the surrounding environment, or to each other. Most chatter amongst themselves, though two seem to not notice until after the passage of several seconds.
"Что это?"
"Какое это колдовство?"
"Теперь у него есть магия земных пони"
"Вы удивлены, что у него есть фокусы? Переместитесь из этого положения; он спланировал атаку."
"Если это ловушка, разве не следует нам заманить её сюда? В тумане будет трудно направлять артиллерию.
The voices convey exasperation, fear, betrayal, anger, resolve, and in the latter-most case, calm. Most of the ponies try to move their hooves to free themselves from the grass, though the act of freeing a hoof all too often simply results in said freed hoof becoming entangled once it meets with the ground.
clack clack clackKira hears what she can recognize as gunfire, automatic gunfire. But it's shot into the ground, into the foliage.
Into the radio,
"На нас напали улучшенные местные растения. Возможно, потребуется дефолианты."
And to the group, "Убирайся!"
But, as Kira tries to move away,
CrackShe is shot at again
[1d20+3 = (16+3) = 19][2d8 = 11]CrackAgain, by a random pony
[1d20+3 = (13+3) = 16][2d8 = 7]CrackBy still another rifle pony
[1d20+2 = (3+2) = 5][2d8 = 2]
>>190474Kira is shot again, and again, small clouds of crimson aerosolized into the surrounding cloud banks reminding her that the primitive equipment of her people is not meant to stop bullets. She feels weak, and the edges of her vision start to close in, but adrenaline helps her barely manage to keep running...err, slithering as fast as she can into the clouds, hoping and praying that it obscures the vision of the GRU enough that she can escape.
>>190475As Kira proceeds onwards, into the cloud and haze, and past outcroppings of rocks that now are likely more than welcome, she can hear "whip" and "whiz," sounds she knows must be bullets flying past her. But the group of ponies seems to desire neither to drown her in bullets nor to chase her down, but rather only to move slowly and methodically onto a battle they surely must assume will be decisive, and they have no intention of losing.
Kira is surrounded by black and grey. But it's only the gravel, the rocks, and the fog.
is patiently rooting for Kira and Cavalier
>>190476Kira's running off more of instinct and adrenaline than active thought at the moment. As soon as there's a break in the bullets, she turns to move towards the airship.
Survival: The animalistic part of her that knows she's being hunted instructs her to cover her tracks as best as she can. She can't lead her hunters to her.
[1d20+11 = (16+11) = 27]
>>190474>>190476Anger kindled in his heart, and crouched in the grass behind the communists, Cavaliere lets loose two shots at the pony that ordered his comrades to attack.
[1d20+6 = (10+6) = 16][2d6 = 8][1d20+6 = (5+6) = 11][2d6 = 4]
>>190479If Kira was more coherent at the moment, she'd send a mental message to Cavaliere to flee rather than fight.
>>190479I think a new hide check is in order
Cavaliere can see that the pony, stuck in the grass, gets hit in the chest, almost from behind. His second shot, however, seems to hit the nylon jacket at an angle and fails to stick. There's an "uck," and then yelling,
"Сука Блять! петрушка в кустах, сто пятьдесят градусов"
Many of the ponies in the group, formerly focused in the direction of Kira, now look back towards Cavaliere.
>>190478Blood. Kira is trailing blood. More than once, Kira has wounded a great buffalo or gazelle, only to track the trail of blood it leaves as it finds the shade of a tree to die under. Now, it's her turn to be the wounded gazelle.
>>190481Cavaliere attempts to stay hidden.
[1d20+3 = (18+3) = 21]But he continues to shoot at the enemy squad leader.
[1d20+6 = (4+6) = 10][2d6 = 8][1d20+6 = (13+6) = 19][2d6 = 7]
>>190482The pony is hit, again, and coughs blood
"Огневое прикрытие, огневое прикрытие"
This pony ceases to take the effort of moving, and decides to simply embrace the grass, and crouches down.
Soon, more ponies follow, turning and crouching down.
Blindly, multiple ponies fire
[1d20 = 3][2d8 = 12][1d20 = 10][2d8 = 11][1d20 = 4][2d8 = 8][1d20 = 17][2d8 = 7][1d20 = 9][2d8 = 6][1d20 = 18][2d8 = 7][1d20 = 7]21 is pretty good, but there's supposed to be a -20 penalty hiding after a ranged attack
>>190481With the tip of her tail, Kira mixes the trail of blood she leaves behind into the rocks and earth, hopefully hiding her visual tracks. So far she hasn't noticed that the ponies have a particularly strong sense of smell...yet...
>>190483Oh, you're rightThe handbook also states: Concealment Miss Chance: Concealment gives the subject of a successful attack a 20% chance that the attacker missed because of the concealment. If the attacker hits, the defender must make a miss chance percentile roll to avoid being struck. (To expedite play, make both rolls at the same time). Multiple concealment conditions (such as a defender in a dog and under the effect of a blur spell) do not stack.Two of those attacks would have hit, so maybe roll for the miss chance?>>190484Hopefully a combination of her entangling spell and Cavaliere's distraction buys her enough time to escape.
>>190485Roll, and you can make it 50% for full concealment
>>190488>>190489>>190490I might actually die here. It's not looking good.
>>190491Well, it's Cavaliere's turn
>>190492>>190493The soldiers firing in Cavaliere's general direction mostly miss him, but two do not. He is winged–quite literally, as a bullet rips through his contour feathers. He might still be able to fly, but his luck is running low. A second shot hits him below the shoulder, missing anything vital but nonetheless leaving a painful exit wound.
It's certainly time to leave. He takes a move action to retrieve a smoke grenade from his belt, a standard action to throw it just in front of him, and a move action behind to get some extra space. If only he had a lethal grenade for those immobilized enemies….
>>190495
>>190496
I've been working under the assumption that Cavaliere has been prone this whole time. Wait…
I forgot to account for that. If Cavaliere had been prone he would have a ranged AC of 19. Maybe I should not have been declaring actions under a mental fog.
>>190494>>190497Hmmmm... Feels like it still needs a roll. Say move silently, to extricate himself from the situation
>>190498[1d20+11 = (7+11) = 18]
>>190499Cavliere hears cracks, bangs, and the tat tat tat of automatic fire. He hears whizzing and whistles as bullets pass by. But without the report of his own gun, nor the muzzle flash to betray his location, the enemy fire is inaccurate. While flying isn't safe quite yet, he can at least crawl backwards, and out of his position.
Does anypony want Posey to send her Dreads to back up Kira and Cavalier? Or join combat herself?
Posey doesn't mind being shot. The Dreads are expendable.
>>190501Posey's Dreads have a 40 ft fly speed with good maneuverability. They have +4 Racial bonus to spot and listen. They should easily be able to find the battlefield from the direction of the gunfire.
She could order her Dreads to fire at the GRU, to harass them and draw attention away from Cavalier and Kira, which would give them cover to escape. They may also enter melee and use their Frightful Presence to weaken GRU morale.
If they're destroyed, I don't mind. They cost 1050 gp to produce, but I got them for free from a demon so it's a small loss on my part to defend the party and get past this encounter. I got some good mileage out of them this adventure.
Just say the words and I will send them out. I don't want to steal anypony's thunder unless they ask for it.
If you would rather Posey order them to obey Kira or Cavalier's commands, their stats are here:
https://www.realmshelps.net/monsters/block/Dread%7Calpha%7CD%7CUndeadSmall Undead
Alignment: Always neutral evil
Initiative: +3 (Dex); Senses: darkvision 60 ft., Listen +5, and Spot +5
AC: 16 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +2 natural), touch 14, flat-footed 13
Hit Dice: 3d12 (19 hp); DR: 5/bludgeoning
Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +4
Speed: Fly 40 ft. (good)
Space: 5 ft./5 ft.
Base Attack +1; Grapple -2
Attack: Longsword +3 melee (1d8+1/19-20) or claw +3 melee (1d3+1)
Full Attack: Longsword +3 melee (1d8+1/19-20) or 2 claws +3 melee (1d3+1)
Special Attacks/Actions: Frightful presence
Abilities: Str 12, Dex 16, Con -, Int -, Wis 12, Cha 1
Special Qualities: immunity to cold, undead traits, weapon use
Feats:
Skills: Listen +5 and Spot +5
Advancement: 4 HD (Small); 5-6 HD (Medium)
Climate/Terrain: Any
Organization: Solitary, pair, or gang (3-4)
Treasure/Possessions: None
Source: Lost Empires of Faerûn
Frightful Presence (Su): Any creature with 2 or fewer HD within 30 feet of a dread must succeed on a DC 12 Will save or become shaken for 2d6 rounds. A creature that is already shaken (by the frightful presence of a second dread, for example) becomes frightened instead. If the creature is already frightened, the dread's frightful presence produces no further effect. A successful save renders the creature immune to that dread's frightful presence for 24 hours. Frightful presence is a mind-affecting fear effect. The save DC is Wisdom-based.
Weapon Use (Ex): A Medium dread can use weapons sized for Medium creatures with no penalty, since its arms are roughly the same size as those of a Medium humanoid.
Skills: A dread has a +4 racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks.
Dreads attack relentlessly as ordered by their creator. The necromantic magic used in their creation surrounds them with an aura of supernatural fear.
A dread is a pair of animated skeletal arms created for use as an undead guardian. Like a skeleton, it is a mindless automaton that obeys the commands of its master, but it also carries an aura of supernatural terror. Each of a dread's arms is 2 to 4 feet long and weighs 10 to 40 pounds.
>>190500And so he does! Even if shooting the enemy leader does nothing but enrage him, it's enough of a distraction to serve its purpose. Mindful that the smoke will attract their attention, he slinks away, then makes greater haste through the fog, zigzagging until he is at a decently safe distance. Then, he will look for the wounded lamia's trail.
Okay, fuck it.
We will redo the scene of cavaliere attacking the GRU squad with a stricter, and more realistic application of the rules.
Cavaliere has stealth and is behind the group, who are trying to get out of the entanglement.
Cavaliere's turn
>>190568Cavaliere drops to prone and aims to shoot the enemy squad leader. Does he have to take a -4 malus when rolling to hit with a ranged weapon? In 3.5e that is intended to apply to bows, but he has a gun.
>>190572Hmmmm.... Given that most military firearms are meant to be shot from the prone position, it would make sense that they still function well in prone
>>190573Then a one-two shot is what happens.
[1d20+6 = (3+6) = 9][2d6 = 6][1d20+6 = (9+6) = 15][2d6 = 11]And of course he tries to stay hidden immediately afterwards. The direction of gunfire may give him away, but he is aided by the fact no eyes are in his direction yet and by the fog that pervades the area.
[1d20+3 = (1+3) = 4]
>>190574One shot hits the pony, who gags
"Там! В скалах!"
He turns towards Cavaliere, and takes two shots with his automatic rifle. He tries to move and adjust his position, but the grass gets in the way.
[1d20-1 = (10-1) = 9][2d8 = 9][1d20 = 20][2d8 = 7]Then several rifle ponies join in,
[1d20+1 = (3+1) = 4][2d8 = 13][1d20+1 = (18+1) = 19][2d8 = 14][1d20+1 = (12+1) = 13][2d8 = 6][1d20+1 = (8+1) = 9][2d8 = 10]And another, with a submachine gun, turns to fire towards Cavaliere
[1d20-2 = (14-2) = 12][2d6 = 9][1d20-2 = (10-2) = 8][2d6 = 5][1d20-2 = (18-2) = 16][2d6 = 7][1d20-2 = (19-2) = 17][2d6 = 6]Several rifle ponies continue to look forward, and the machine gunner goes prone, as does the assistant machine gunner
Uh, she zeeb on my zoob til I ziib?
No?
What's going on?
>>190578We found some of the wounded airponies. Several are wounded and need medical attention.
Kira and Cavalier went off alone to track down the remaining airponies. They have run into communist GRU forces along the way, and the battle is not going their way. It looks like they might die.
>>190579Hmmm, I see....
I guess Dust will check in on the injured airponies
>>190582There should also be a noodle coming into view, soon
>>190577Cavaliere has a decent position, and almost all the bullets miss by quite a margin or zing over his head. Unfortunately, two find their mark and hit him squarely in the chest, leaving him wheezing.
He takes a move action to retrieve a smoke grenade, and a standard action to pull the pin and throw it between him and his adversaries, then a five-foot crawl to get some distance.
Sorry for wasting everypony's time>>190578Welcome back
>>190582The interior of the of the blimp’s carriage is not radically different from the last two aircraft Dust was in: cramped and elongated, with various dials, knobs, chairs and the like strewn about an aluminum interior. In the far left from the entrance, there is a big glass above for the cockpit, with its two seats, and a flight engineering station behind. Below the cockpit is a split lower level, presumably the bombadier’s station, with a door with a window. At the window, with his muzzle pressed up against the window is a peppered bat pony. His pupils are not the split, snake eyes of bat ponies, but massive, black orbs that have nearly swallowed the entire eyeball, and leaving only a thin rim of purple iris at the edges. Inside of the big, entirely black pupils are visible little white marks. They move like detritus across the view of a camera on the deep ocean floor, or like galaxies, infinitely distant, against the gulf-void of space. The pony smiles like a foal looking into a toy store, told he may have one item of his choosing. Cavaliere wanted no part of this, and has since put up a blanket to block the view.
In the other part of the cabin is a white stallion named pin up locker, who is injured. There is a separate stallion lying on a bunk bed, who is unconscious, and who Silver has since determined has internal bleeding and has suffered blunt trauma. A third stallion, the Captain, has awoken suffering delusions. But he was… kicked in the balls, and is still recovering from that.
>>190585Cavaliere hears a crack, then another crack, then another. He sees the smoke rise. Quickly, but it could not possible feel quick enough. Then it becomes rapid. A half second later, and Cavaliere's eyes can distinguish that it isn’t his own smoke grenade, but a second source, moving outward very quickly in a circle, that envelopes the group of ponies in a thick fog, probably thicker than that up the hill. From within, Cavaliere soon hears a voice. It’s a mare. Singing. Her voice is rather nice, actually, though she sings loudly. Though she cannot compete with the sound of gunfire, she can at least broadcast her song in the lulls between shots. Though her voice cracks more than once at the volume, her song carries on.
“Полюшко, поле,
Полюшко, широко поле,
Едут ли по полю герои..”
The rifle cracks subside after only a few shots.
Fuck it.
Posey listens to the number of gunshots over the course of the rounds
"...Too many shots. It appears as though the trackers have failed to evade the marauders."
Posey addresses her Dreads
"Go out and kill whatever is attacking them. Enter melee with them to prevent the enemy from firing effectively, and flank them so that they group together. Use the archaic archaic weapons, to prevent suspicion of military activity. Once both Kira and Cavalier have escaped, continue fighting until the enemy perishes decisively retreats. After neutralizing the enemy, collect any item of value and report back to me."
Her Dreads both don polearms from Posey's equipment, abandoning their rifles, and fly towards the sounds of gunfire, taking the Run action until they find their targets. Each of them also picks up a weighted net.
>>190587He takes note of the bizarre nature of this phenomenon, but due to the danger he is in and his injuries he cannot dwell long on his. At first he moves in a straight line to avoid getting enveloped as well, and then takes a left to circle around. Kira's trail should not be very hard to find, and he looks to catch up to her.
Survival:
[1d20+3 = (8+3) = 11]
>>190588Oh, I thought someone was riding off Brie style?
>>190588But if they did advance down onto the hillside, beyond the grey veil of the cloud layer and onto the wide rim of the north bay, they’d see bellow them… what appears as if it’s another cloud, hugging low to the ground. It is a white cloud of smoke - Hexachloroethane and Aluminum Oxide - and of vaporous mist, moving gently in the direction of the dreads and the cloud level with the movement of the wind. The rapport of rifles has gone silent. But what they may hear is…
>>190589>>190588Within that mist, a young mare sings,
“Девушки плачут, и
Девушкам сегодня грустно.
Милый ли надолго уехал,
Эх, да милый в армию уехал.”
>>190588The dreads may see the black griffin Cavaliere loping, maybe limping, past the mist between it and the cloud layer.
>>190589Cavaliere knows she was on the opposite side. Dare he move past the mist?
She was trailing blood. Not a lot, but enough that likely another tracker could find it. He sees a trail going into the clouds.
>>190593Now is not the time for risks. Cavaliere limps as far past the mist as he needs before he moves back south.
>>190593>Within that mist, a young mare sings,>>“Девушки плачут, и>Девушкам сегодня грустно.>Милый ли надолго уехал,>Эх, да милый в армию уехал.”Awww, another mare who enjoys poetry. Now I feel a bit sad about killing her.
Then again, what's more poetic than death itself?
Posey also has no actual direct control over her dreads past this point, until or unless they get back within the range of her verbal commands. They will attack enemies on sight, with their polearms, using the same stats posted above. As mindless creatures, they have no tactics beyond the orders they were given in Posey's final order.
I need to go.
>>190593The dreads fly down and put themselves in between Cavalier and the smoke cloud. They take readied actions to charge the first creatures they see emerge from it, to catch the enemy flat-footed.
My character would have no idea what is going on beyond this point. You would be vindicated if you elected to take control of both minions.
>>190597Cavaliere is confident that nothing will emerge from the fog for now. He sends them ahead to scout, either for threats or to find Kira.
>>190598Technically, I did not order them to obey Cavalier, just to fight until the enemy retreats or dies. My bad.
>>190599Being unable to see the enemy through the smoke, they may move to follow the nearest living thing: Garv
>>190600No. She ordered them to kill what was attacking Kira and Garv.
>>190594Even as the dreads wait, nothing seems eager to walk forward, out of the mist, and towards the dreads. Nothing save the mist itself, which along with the white smoke moves along the grass up the hill towards the dreads. Soon it will consume them, and become one with the clouds above. All the while, the singing of that young mares continues, though somewhat quiter:
“Только мы видим,
Видим мы седую тучу,
Вражья злоба из-за леса,
Эх, да вражья злоба, словно туча.”
Cavaliere moves along the trail of blood until it leads him back into the fog. But here the trail ends.
>>190583Spaghetti? Rigatoni? Ravioli? Fettuccine?
>>190586Well, priorities are priorities. Dust goes to the one on the bed, giving him a once (maybe even twice) over to determine what is actually going on.
>>190603Possibly even tortiglioni
>>190603She actually rather thick. More like udon. Maybe rigatoni… if she’s hollow on the inside.
Actually, if we’re being honest here, more like pool noodles.
The pony in the bed appears to have suffered blunt force trauma to his chest and head and is unconscious. Maybe he’s just asleep? Certainly it is not great.
>>190604Hmmmmmm, not farfalle?
>>190605Mmmmmm, udon....
Rollin a heal check on da pone, either to stabalize him or just get a better picture at what's wrong.
[1d20+13 = (15+13) = 28]
>>190602Alright, nobody who speaks like that isn't some sort of weird sorceress or cultist, and this island isn't big enough for both of us.
The Dreads both charge blindly into the fog, striking at the source of the chanting, as they were ordered to.
They have a 20-50% miss chance, based on the degree of concealment.
[1d20+5 = (4+5) = 9][1d10+1 = (8+1) = 9][1d100 = 97][1d20+5 = (12+5) = 17][1d10+1 = (10+1) = 11][1d100 = 53]
>>190607The dreads fly through the fog and mist, above yellowed grass blades that extend upwards to attempt to meet them. They find, at first, nothing. But they reach the end, closer to the source of the music until they move beyond the veil of the mist, beyond the grass, and find twelve uniformed soldiers in gas masks, flank jacks, steel helmets and uniform.
Roll initiative.
You may keep the current results for combat, or reroll.
[1d20 = 14]
>>190606Dust discerns that the area around the lung is punctured by a broken rib. Actually, two of them. There is decent internal bleeding. The left side of the head has hit an object, and is… not great. Still, Dust can set the pony in a position to minimize the impediments to breathing.
>>190607The mare’s voice picks up, and her singing becomes louder. Grander.
”Девушки, гляньте,
Мы врага принять готовы,
Наши кони быстроноги,
Эх, да наши танки быстроходны.”
>>190609Or, I suppose he could do this.
Dust begins to softly pray, his zebra chanting barely a whisper to anypony else in the room. His hooves very faintly glow green and orange, perhaps a trick of the eyes? After a minute he stops and raises a hoof to the injured pony's chest.
Cure minor wounds, it's only 1 hp, but perhaps it's enough to stabalize this pony until they can get him some actual doctors. Like a surgeon.
>>190608Initiative (gonna do same for both)
[1d20+3 = (11+3) = 14][1d20+5 = (1+5) = 6][1d10+1 = (5+1) = 6][1d100 = 92][1d20+5 = (5+5) = 10][1d10+1 = (2+1) = 3][1d100 = 69]>>190610The Dreads attack the potential Bard
>>190612>>190608As the Dreads enter melee, all combatants with 3 or less HD have to roll two saves vs the Frightful Presence of the Dreads. DC 12. Shaken Escalates to Frightened if they fail both saves.
>>190611With a glow, Dust feels a movement, and the pony's head shoots up, gasping for air. His eyes shoot wide open, with wide, bluish tinted pupils
>>190612The enemy is a brown earth pony mare with hazel eyes, a tied up black mane and tail, and a beige coloration on her muzzle, wearing a green uniform. The dread's polearm catches on a rock, and does not manage to hit the mare.
>>190613Sure
r
[1d20+2 = (20+2) = 22]r
[1d20+2 = (9+2) = 11]r
[1d20+1 = (8+1) = 9]r
[1d20+1 = (2+1) = 3]r
[1d20 = 12]r
[1d20 = 15]m
[1d20+1 = (4+1) = 5]a
[1d20 = 2]b
[1d20+5 = (6+5) = 11]
>>190614Looks like every roll except for the first one failed. They should all be Frightened (which means fleeing), except for the first one which would be Shaken.
The Dreads, possessing no minds to change their tactics beyond their orders, grip their weapons and ready to attack again on their next turn.
>>190614Wait... every one of those should have +1 added to their number. So four failures and not six
One pony with an automatic rifle starts to shoot at the lead dread,
[1d20+4 = (11+4) = 15][2d8 = 8][1d20+4 = (4+4) = 8][2d8 = 10]Followed by three rifle ponies plus the assistant machine gunner
[1d20+6 = (19+6) = 25][2d8 = 7][1d20+6 = (8+6) = 14][2d8 = 3][1d20+4 = (2+4) = 6][2d8 = 12][1d20+3 = (13+3) = 16][2d8 = 7]A pony with a submachine gun shoots at the second dread,
[1d20+2 = (2+2) = 4][2d6 = 9][1d20+2 = (15+2) = 17][2d6 = 8][1d20+2 = (10+2) = 12][2d6 = 6][1d20+2 = (6+2) = 8]Followed by three rifle ponies plus the second mare.
[1d20+4 = (9+4) = 13][2d8 = 13][1d20+6 = (1+6) = 7][2d8 = 9][1d20+6 = (5+6) = 11][2d8 = 9][1d20+4 = (20+4) = 24][2d8 = 9]The brown mare keeps singing, if somewhat disrupted, and the machine gunner keeps position
r [1d20+3 = (6+3) = 9]
r [1d20+3 = (19+3) = 22]
r [1d20 = 20]
r [1d20 = 12]
r [1d20+1 = (2+1) = 3]
r [1d20+1 = (14+1) = 15]
m[1d20 = 3]
a[1d20-1 = (13-1) = 12]
b[1d20+6 = (5+6) = 11]
>>190616[1d20+4 = (3+4) = 7]
>>190616Are you including the -4 penalty for shooting into a melee?
Unless they have Precise Shot, which would give me an indication of their power level.
The Dreads take attacks of opportunity at any gunners within 10 ft reach, preferably the machine gunners.
[1d20+3 = (7+3) = 10][1d10+1 = (8+1) = 9][1d20+3 = (18+3) = 21][1d10+1 = (2+1) = 3]
>>190616Note that every pony that failed it's save vs the first dread's presence has a -1 penalty vs the save of the second dread's presence, for being Shaken.
>>190619This is convoluted as all shit
without finding a third modifier, and in any case precise shot is the first (second technically) feat I would add to any ranged build. But then it would require the pointblank shot, and I haven't added that +1 bonus...
>>190620I gave them -2, which was too much evidently
Is it possible for Cavaliere to fly in his condition?
>>190622Tentative yes. What's his HP at?
>>190621>This is convoluted as all shit without finding a third modifier, and in any case precise shot is the first (second technically) feat I would add to any ranged build. But then it would require the pointblank shot, and I haven't added that +1 bonus...This is the issue with running humanoid NPCs. I sympathize with you, as my Sunday game is a pirate game with a bunch of NPCs. Also features a Bard as the main villain.
>multiple featsThis gives me meta knowledge that I will stay silent about.Anyway, how many attacks actually hit the Dreads? They have an AC of 16, DR 5/bludgeoning and 22 HP each. They should be able to take a few hits before they go down, hopefully long enough for Kira and Cavalier to get far enough away and to kill a few of the enemies.
>>190622Taking damage should reduce your ability to fly.
>>190624It looks like tiny scratches for both sides. Like 4 Hp lost on each dread, and then 3 HP lost on one rifle pony
It's the Dread's turn again, right?
The Dreads flank the Bard, attacking relentlessly with autonomous undead fury, intent on killing as many ponies as they can before they are destroyed or the enemy flees, as they were ordered to. It the bard dies from the first hit, the other goes for the next nearest pony.
I'm including flanking bonus on the roll:
[1d20+5 = (8+5) = 13]
[1d10+1 = (10+1) = 11]
[1d20+5 = (15+5) = 20]
[1d10+1 = (3+1) = 4]
>>190625This might be a long fight. Hopefully their morale will die when their buffer does.
>>190626pew[1d20+4 = (17+4) = 21][2d8 = 8][1d20+4 = (7+4) = 11][2d8 = 14]Followed by three rifle ponies plus the assistant machine gunner
[1d20+6 = (8+6) = 14][2d8 = 5][1d20+6 = (20+6) = 26][2d8 = 12][1d20+4 = (5+4) = 9][2d8 = 10][1d20+3 = (7+3) = 10][2d8 = 10]The second mare, a white unicorn, shoots a blue bolt at this dread
[1d4+1 = (2+1) = 3]A pony with a submachine gun shoots at the second dread,
[1d20+2 = (3+2) = 5][2d6 = 4][1d20+2 = (17+2) = 19][2d6 = 9][1d20+2 = (4+2) = 6][2d6 = 6][1d20+2 = (20+2) = 22]Followed by three rifle ponies,
[1d20+4 = (7+4) = 11][2d8 = 6][1d20+6 = (13+6) = 19][2d8 = 3][1d20+6 = (2+6) = 8][2d8 = 10]The second mare, a white unicorn, shoots a blue bolt at this dread
[1d4+1 = (2+1) = 3]
>>190628The dreads both takes attacks of opportunity at the white unicorn, it she is within 10 ft
Unless she also has a red mane, in which case they avoid her entirely.If not, they attack any creatures that they have already wounded
[1d20+3 = (9+3) = 12][1d10+1 = (7+1) = 8][1d20+3 = (11+3) = 14][1d20+1 = (17+1) = 18]
>>190630Let me fix that damage roll
[1d10+1 = (6+1) = 7]
>>190628This needs a damage roll on that submachine gun bullet
[2d6 = 9]
>>190628If either of the dreads successfully hit the mage, she needs to make a concentration check or lose her spell.
Also, it's very difficult to keep track of which Dread is taking damage from what source. It looks like there were 5 hits? Doing a total of 18 damage between the two of them?
"Пусть же в колхозе
Дружная кипит работа,
Мы - дозорные сегодня,
Эх, да мы сегодня часовые."
Between both rounds:
4+3+7+3 Damage on the first dread
7+4+3+4 Damage on the second dread
4 HP damage on the bard
3 HP damage on nearby rifle pony
>>190630I don't think keeping the mage within 10 feet of melee combat after two rounds is really how it would go down.
Anyway, the dreads should still be animate. They are going to charge and flank the mage.
>>190635Great. That means she's far enough for them to charge
[1d20+7 = (3+7) = 10][1d10+1 = (9+1) = 10][1d20+7 = (16+7) = 23][1d10+1 = (3+1) = 4]
>>190630Not quite enough to penetrate the thick layers of nylon.
>>190636Did you forget something? The enemy has a say in that
[1d20+4 = (13+4) = 17][2d8 = 10][1d20+4 = (9+4) = 13][2d8 = 3]Followed by three rifle ponies plus the assistant machine gunner
[1d20+6 = (13+6) = 19][2d8 = 10][1d20+6 = (19+6) = 25][2d8 = 9][1d20+4 = (4+4) = 8][2d8 = 7][1d20+3 = (6+3) = 9][2d8 = 7]A pony with a submachine gun shoots at the second dread,
[1d20+2 = (12+2) = 14][2d6 = 10][1d20+2 = (4+2) = 6][2d6 = 7][1d20+2 = (5+2) = 7][2d6 = 8][1d20+2 = (6+2) = 8][2d6 = 7]Followed by three rifle ponies plus the mage, returning to her carbine.
[1d20+4 = (17+4) = 21][2d8 = 8][1d20+6 = (8+6) = 14][2d8 = 9][1d20+6 = (9+6) = 15][2d8 = 14][1d20+4 = (19+4) = 23][2d8 = 14]The bard sings,
"Девушки, гляньте,
Девушки, утрите слезы.
Пусть сильнее грянет песня,
Эх, да наша песня боевая!"
>>190636Looks like at least one of them hit
Also, I was mistaken. The shaken condition really is -2.>>190637>The enemy has a say in thatAre those attacks of opportunity? I thought they all had ranged weapons.
>>190638It looks like I mistook the attacks of opportunity for the Dreads' round. Anyways, that's the squad's round.
The mage takes 4 HP of damage, but I think that downs both dreads
>>190637The Dreads both take attacks of opportunity at the mage as she fires
[1d20+5 = (17+5) = 22][1d10+1 = (1+1) = 2][1d20+5 = (2+5) = 7][1d10+1 = (5+1) = 6]I expect that they will be destroyed next round though.
>>190639Ah, rats. I was hoping to at least take out the one who could counterspell.
Does that last AoO hit though? 6 HP might be enough to put her in the ground.
>>190640A seven does not hit. In fact, I think it would be the Mage's shot from her carbine, which does 12 damage, that kills the second mage.
As to whether the first AoO hits... it's an order of operations matter. I don't think so, since I believe an AoO is after the attack and that attack would have killed the dread. But if it goes ahead, that would be 2 HP of damage to add up to 6 damage to the mage across multiple rounds.
>>190642Okay. Does the mage die from 6 damage? A lvl 1 Wizard wouldn't have very much health.
Well, I guess my character has no way of knowing if it died or not...
".... Multiple gunshots... Automatic weaponry... I think I heard some evocation... It is likely that the enemy has engaged with my servants... They likely will not last long..." Posey observes as she listens to the fog.
That's my contribution to this fight. I'm off to bed.
>>190614Dust tries to calm the pony, softly shhhh-ing and trying to get him to lay down again. He feels the pony's chest for a heart beat to make sure it isn't racing and to see how much it still hurts.
>>190646He breathes in rapidly, and his pupils are massive. Dust can feel that the heart rate is elevated though not to an extreme degree. He doesn’t need to be told that’s bad when there’s likely internal bleeding.
Also it’s worth mentioning that multiple party members are… low.
>>190622It seems Cavaliere has no choice but venture through the mist on his own.
>>190648Hopefully your HP increases soon.
>>190647Check Mala's haunches, perhaps Brie slipped his healing potion when no one was looking
>>190649I hope so too but I don't see how. I think GM Pony screwed us.
>>190651I wouldn't say that. The dice gods screwed over Kira with a nat 1 on her Hide check. And
maybe it would have been smarter for Cavaliere to run away while the 12 special forces ponies were distracted and he still had the advantage of nat 20s on his hide and move silently rolls. Also the dreads really should return to Posey before they get destroyed.
And also hopefully Kira gets back to the airship before she bleeds out.
>>190648No special impediment meets Cavaliere once he reenters the clouds. The soldiers seem... preoccupied. Kira has moved off, but otherwise things seem clear between him and the Airship.
>>190653Kira has done her best to make her moves untraceable. It's only perhaps a thousand feet back to the airship. The ground is left soft than desirable, with so many rocks, but compared to what she has just experienced and what she still feels, it's an easy journey. Nothing arises to stop her.
>>190655Is it normal for Kira's vision to be reduced to pinpricks? And should she be able to hear her heartbeat so well? And should it sound so strained? These are questions that runs through Kira's mind as she makes her way up the rocky terrain with great effort. She slips a couple times along the way, scratching at the rocks with her forehooves to find purchase, pulling herself back up and continuing her arduous journey. When Kira finally sees signs of the crashed airship through what's left of her vision, she lets out a sigh of relief and can't help but laugh to herself. She stops laughing quickly, however; laughing hurts right now.
Kira slithers up to the airship itself, looking in serious condition and holding her wounds. She cries out, "...b-b-bullets hur-hur-hurt!"
>>190647Well, no cardiac arrest at least, and if it's racing that doesn't mean it's slow which means most of the blood is still where it should be. Good. Dust seems fairly content with his work-
>>190656He hears something, not something loud, but something nevertheless. His ears pivot around a little, and he slowly leaves the room, pace quickening after he's out and on his way to the source of the noise.
>>190662Mission accomplished.
But Zoobinator sees something new. Something dire. He sees the giant, yellow brown colored noodle (which is what most of them are colored, to be fair) in a... not at all desirable condition, slithering close by. She is bleeding, staining her leather jacket, and with danger of dirt getting into the several wounds.
>>190662>>190668Kira looks at Dust (is that Dust? It's getting hard for her to see) and pouts her bottom lip out. "The gee are you shot me..."
>>190668Oh. Oh dear.
Dust is shocked to see Kira in such poor condition, and starts to boarder on scared. He can heal much, and he's seen grevious wounds on the savannah. But he knows his limits, and if anything important is missing....
He quickly decides it's better for him to close the distance with a gallop. Kira is a.... Well it feels weird to call a noodle of legend that he's barely gotten to know a friend, but it's the closest to a friend he's had since leaving home. Regardless, he closes the distance as quick as possible and begins to soothe the poor noodle.
>>190677He shushes her a little, gently or as gentle as he can manage.
"There there my little mare,
Entrust me fully for your care.
Relax now in my embrace,
And wipe your fears from your face."
He smiles, knowing patients appreciate a caregiver that seems confident as he gives her a one over. He needs to make sure there's no long cuts where something may have stole an organ or left ones dangling.
Heal check to evaluate how poor the poor noodle is.
[1d20+13 = (7+13) = 20]
>>190678Hearing Dust's words and the attention he's giving her is enough to calm her nerves. She sniffles, smiling at the friend she's so grateful to have.
>>190678Kira has been shot through in the chest and trunk one, two, three times, with likely damage to internal organs including the respiratory system.
She's at 2 HP
>>190678Dust, how many spell slots do you have left? Do you have any wands or scrolls?
>>190679Dust pets her head a little, smiling to calm her.
>>190683Well through is probably the best we can hope for. Dust doesn't have a lot of experience removing bullets. One or two broken lion's teeth, a few arrowheads, and he did some slight practice at the recommendation of some elders when he was given this mission, but now is not the time for puting theory into action.
Dust very gently steps slightly back, and plants all four hooves on the ground. He prays, and all though Kira may possibly recognize a few words, he is speaking so fervently that she may have trouble in her current state. Dust definitely (not defiantly) takes on a very slight glow now, one that even Kira can recognize while outside. As he finishes praying, his now opening eyes appear very faintly green. He then makes a decision to maximize the surface area between them, purely to facilitate the transfer of magical energy, and gives the very poor noodle indeed a hug. She can feel herself become heavier, almost more solid as the pain starts to fade. Well, is it fading or is she getting stronger to face it?
Burning a lvl 3 spell slot to cast Cure Serious Wounds on Kira
[3d8+6 = (8+6) = 14]>>190684Do I look rich?
>>190685It's not ideal - perhaps his magic is having issues figuring out her lamia biology - but at the vary least the most serious damage seems to be at least partially healing. Some of Kira's vision has returned, though there's still a black fog at the edge of it, and she can still faintly hear her own heartbeat.
>>190685>Do I look rich?You're wearing plate armor, right?
>>190687Splint mail.
>>190686Dust holds on a little longer, making sure she isn't going to start reacting violently to the magic. He then backs up a little and looks at her to see how she's reacting.
>>190689Kira doesn't
seem to be having any kind of negative reaction to the magic. She looks around at her partially healed wounds. "...still hurts, but...it feels a lot better, too. Thank you, Dust!" Smiling, she reaches down and wraps her forelegs around Dust in a hug, wincing a bit from the pain. "...sorry if I get any blood on you."
>>190683Kira has an idea, as she looks to the airponies still at the airship. "So...do you know if there are any usual members of the group that left? Like, unusual species or subspecies that might smell different from the rest?"
>>190695Posey approaches Kira
"Did you confirm visuals on the enemy? How many were there? Their weapons? Their powers?"
>>190699Kira nods. "They're not far, just over the hill. 12 of them, I think. Most of them had those big long wooden things, rifles I think they're called. There's a couple of them with a really, really big gun. Maybe mages, too? I mean, a couple of them didn't have guns, so maybe they used magic instead? They're all really tough. I used the last bit of magic Ouroboros granted me for the day to escape." She holds out her forelegs, which attempt to glow with a golden light but the light sputters and dies before anything can happen.
>>190695"Well, Pegasi. An earth pony. There's that one bat pony." Primed Well answers
>>190703No, there will be no presence of bat
>>190703"If one of them is an earth pony, that means the group traveled on hoof. That narrows the plausible number of places they might be."
>>190703Kira immediately brightens up upon hearing this. "A bat pony? Great! I didn't see any bat ponies among the 'gee are you', so maybe this will tell me exactly where they are!"
Survival: Flicking her tongue into the air again, Kira looks for that ever-more familiar scent of friendship, but this time bat-flavored.
[1d20+11 = (12+11) = 23]
>>190707Use the equipment that the ponies left behind to match their scent precisely, so you don't just stumble into another encounter.
>>190655Cavaliere wanders into the cloud, seeking the other side which might have safety. The airship is not far away.
>>190712Cavaliere encounters the airship, the folds of its envelope still waving in the wind. He may even see Defiant Dust aiding the wounded Kira.
>>190712>>190713"Oh, you survived." Posey remarks as she sees him
She peers past him into the fog
"It appears as though my faithful servants have not returned... Which would also mean that the enemy has not retreated either... They may be upon us soon." she says, her brow furrowing in subtle disappointment
"Very well. It is a small loss. Recover while you can." she says, turning away with a swish of her tail
>>190713>>190715Cavaliere limps, anguish and desperation touching upon his stoic face, to the huddling party. Focused on his steps, he does not immediately see Kira.
"Did Miss Kirafiki make it?" he asks as soon as he is close enough.
>>190716The bloodied Kira waves at Cavaliere in acknowledgement of his presence, but is otherwise more focused on trying to catch the scent of bat pony.
>>190717His expression softens and he nods back, but within just a moment he turns to the others.
"We encountered a squad just on the other side of the hill who were approaching this way. I tried to buy some time, but they may arrive any moment. We will need to evacuate and destroy the valuable equipment aboard immediately," he warns.
>>190718"Very well. Let us begin immediately."
What have the Stalliongraders been doing in this time?
>>190713Posey approaches Blackheel
"You would not happen to have a Fireball prepared today, would you?"