/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal

>>191854
That's a hit. Posey's fluffy white fur stands on end, and she winks and shudders as the electricity tickles her dead nerves.
"Lightning magic...? This is going to be fun! UwU" she says, with a giggle
>Posey is of course flatfooted for purposes of AC
It is to be expected. Posey's main job is to draw fire right now.
>what
The ki technique I've been using for a while now. If it's not flat footed, it doesn't matter.

I'm going to have to drive home from work soon, which means I will be gone for ~30 mins. If my turn passes, Possy will throw her bolas to trip the monster, throwing with a +5 bonus and tripping with a +3 bonus

>>191855
You can't trip a flying thing!

Kira's turn

>>191854
Kira squints at the creature, thinking it might just be within the optimal range of her bow. She pulls a couple arrows, takes in a deep breath, draws her bow, and as she lets it out she lets both arrows fly in quick successive draws.

[1d20+13 = (10+13) = 23]
[1d8+3 = (1+3) = 4]

[1d20+8 = (18+8) = 26]
[1d8+3 = (6+3) = 9]

Is Silver not getting involved?

If not, Cavaliere will let loose two more shots. Undead or not, Posey probably does not appreciate the noise of gunfire from right over her head. After firing, he taps her on the withers, points to her, and points behind himself. This is in case she can't hear, "Miss, it would be better for you to get behind cover."
[1d20+7 = (2+7) = 9]
[2d6 = 10]
[1d20+7 = (1+7) = 8]
[2d6 = 7]

>>191858
>>191856
There's not a whole lot Silver can do at the moment, other than to get the rest of the ponies moving. "Come on, it will not be long now before Spetsnaz are crawling all over this lighthouse. We need to move!"

Is Posey still here?

How the hell do you trip something in flight?

>>191858
Cavaliere seems to miss

>>191859
Is he trying to make them repell down?

>>191860
I just got home from work.
>How the hell do you trip something in flight?
Throwing a bolas at a flying creature would be the most common way. That's why I brought one, to kill Luminous in case he tried to fly away.

I won't contest your ruling, but I would like to clarify this in the future, since 1/3 humanoid enemies can fly, and almost all of my spells are touch range.

>>191858
>"Miss, it would be better for you to get behind cover."
"I am the cover. Do your thing, Garv." Posey says, reassuringly
If the electricity ray to the chest bothered her, she doesn't show it.
>>191856
I was pretty sure I can, but for the sake of convenience I'll just shoot my bow...
[1d20+5 = (8+5) = 13]
[1d8+3 = (4+3) = 7]

>>191861
Let's just say that between the fact that this creature is several times the size of a hippogriff or griffin, and it has clearly demonstrated that it can fly stably even with at least one set of wings disabled, Posey does not believe that such a venture is likely to succeed against this particular kind of enemy, at least with only a single successful attack.

>>191863
>several times the size of a hippogriff or griffi
Oh, size bonus. I guess tripping is a bad idea then.

Posey's turn is over after she fires her bow.

Kira's turn

>>191862
Posey's arrow hits the creature's thing belly at an angle, and does not beak through the hide, but partly sticks in, turns downward, and falls out with gravity.

The creature turns in air, banking and rotating in a relatively small circle. When it comes back around, it aims its mouth-beak at Posey again, and lets loose a small bolt of lightning.

Touch Attack:
[1d20+4 = (14+4) = 18]
[2d6 = 9]

>>191865
"That one actually hurt a little..!" Posey says, biting her lower lip as she shudders like a salted frog on a dissection table
Gives the monster a cocky smile, looking right at the Traveller through its eyes, taunting it.

>>191865
Kira draws another pair of arrows. She can't really see how effective she's being right now, but she repeats what she did previously hoping that it has some positive effect on the first.

[1d20+13 = (12+13) = 25]
[1d8+3 = (7+3) = 10]

[1d20+8 = (12+8) = 20]
[1d8+3 = (6+3) = 9]

>>191860
Probably not a good idea with the flying monster around. Braving the hail of bullets going out the front door is probably a better idea right now.

>>191866
In the reflection in its eyes, Posey sees... Darkness. But there are lights in the darkness, like so many lit windows in distant houses, shining through in a snow storm

>>191867
As the creature turns in air, Kira lands one shot into its belly, and then another into the central "shoulder" of the second set of wings.

At first, it seems nothing has happened. Nothing seems to have affected it. But all at once, a black tear forms down the center of the creature, and it disintegrates like an ashen pinata, tearing into two, and each side decaying into ash that soon enough scatters in the seaborn wind before it reaches the ground.

It is done

>>191868
No one can hear it as she isn't currently on the radio. But Kira looks first in astonishment at where the creature once flew and speaks a quiet, "I did it..." before looking down at her bow and repeating it just a bit more loudly, "Heh, I did it!"

Silver notices that the creature is no longer there, and lets out a sigh of relief. "Okay, let us get these ponies out of here before another shows up."

Cavaliere finally yanks Posey by the shoulders to pull her inside.

He calls out behind them, "Are you ready to abseil? We need to leave now before this lighthouse is stormed by the soldiers or obliterated by their ship's guns."

>>191868
~Yay! Victory!

>>191870
Posey takes a moment to fix her frazzled mane, still twitching a bit from the electricity
"Ready!" she replies

Outside, a chang chang chang of repeated automatic fire, and as great a growl as a voiceless beast can make, until the latter sound stops.

>>191873
"We must move swiftly! The GRU will be here soon. What direction did the last airpony go in?"

>>191874
The white pony answers,

"The docks, I think. Something like that."

>>191873
>>191875
Kira turns towards the source of the sound, before quickly getting on the radio again. "Guys, they just took out the other monster. You need to move, NOW!"

Silver speaks up. "No more lollygagging. I will carry them out if I need to but we need to move. We will figure out where they are after."

>>191875
"Then to the docks we shall go. No pony left behind! Giddy up!"

>>191876
Posey follows Silver

Cavaliere gets the rope ready and instructs the others to hold onto the rope. He taps Day Chaser on the shoulder.
"You don't mind if we lower you first, do you?" he asks.

To his companions he remarks, "If they still have door covered, simply walking out may be a bad idea."

>>191879
Day Chaser scrunches

"Careful with my shoulder and belly"

>>191880
Assuming there's enough rope to make a harness for Day Chaser, Silver gets to work getting him harnessed around his hindlegs and his chest.

Posey uses her horn to help with whatever menial tasks (tying knots, etc) are necessary to get the party moving.

"Hey, watch it!"

With more complaining, Day Chaser is on his way down the side of the lighthouse, on the side opposite the soldiers.

Presumably, he is let down first

>>191881
>>191882
Cavaliere already made the checks.
>>191883
He remarks, "Somepony should help him down at the bottom. Winged creatures need to leave this lighthouse last since they won't need to be lowered."

>>191883
Silver chuckles and jokes, "Turn your head and cough," as he's working on getting Day Chaser's hindlegs harnessed up.

>>191884
As they let Day Chaser down, Silver replies, "Actually, it would be ideal for you to go next. You can fly down and help him as we prep next pony to be lowered down."

>>191883
Posey guides the airponies to the rest of the group, letting the ponies from the airship explain the situation.

>>191885
Cavaliere nods, reminds them to keep an eye out, and climbs down. If he fails his climb check he can just glide down with his wings.
[1d20+4 = (18+4) = 22]
>>191886
Wait, we were exiting via the window one at a time to be stealthy. Presumably you are all stuck in the lighthouse until then.

It is apparent, one, that it would take a while to get everypony down from the lighthouse, longer than it would take the soldiers to get to the lighthouse without something in their way, and two, trying to dart back behind the hill risks exposure to line of sight

>>191888 (trips)
"We do not have time to dally!"
Posey takes a standard action to heal a couple points with her Charnel touch, and then follows after Cavalier, scaling down the tower with her vampony hooves, less than concerned with how uncanny she looks...
[1d20+9 = (9+9) = 18]
If she falls, she falls

If any soldiers approach the tower, she'll just have to engage them herself.

>>191888
Kira calls out over the radio, "Hey, if someone could grab the arrows I shot before you leave, it would be greatly appreciated. I shot four, they should be on the ground below where the creature disappeared."

Silver makes a note of Kira's request, and ushers the rest of the ponies down the stairs to exit from the front. "If we are to be seen regardless of what we do, then it is better to be fast."

>>191890
"I have a spare quiver." Posey says
Nevertheless, she uses her horn to snatch up any arrows she sees on her way.

>>191889
>>191890
>>191887
And suddently,

Chang chang chang chang
The sound of automatic gun fire, thuds, and then the shattering of glass. The window that Posey was just hanging out of shatters. Then the great light itself - previously unharmed, shatters and fades. Bullets pepper the side of the structure.

At the base of the lighthouse, two soldiers approach the door, though this is not exactly the side the ponies are being lowered onto.

>>191890
>>191891
The arrows are more or less in the location where the monster that the GRU just killed was.

>>191892
Posey ushered the airponies onwards, and stays in the rear of the group, drawing her sword.
"I may need to hold them off. Get the air ponies to safety. I can catch up later if need be."

>>191892
Cavaliere quietly reloads his revolver as he guards Day Chaser. He motions to keep quiet.

>>191892
Kira calls in over the radio before Silver and the airponies get to the door. "They're outside the door!" Hearing this, Silver backs the airponies right up to where they were.

Silver: "Well, fuck. No other way out but window. Come on, climb out on rope, and hurry! Others will try to catch you if you fall."

He holds the rope for the airponies to climb down on.

The success of the evacuation is probably best determined by dice rolls...

I'll let you try to see what applies

>>191896
What kind of roll is that? A dexterity check to evade a pursuit? Can I add my initiative bonus?

>>191897
Wait, Posey is outside of the lighthouse, not inside with the ponies trying to Frequent Wind them. What is she doing exactly?

>>191896
Let's start with Silver making a Strength check to see how well he can hold onto the rope with ponies climbing down it.

[1d20+3 = (7+3) = 10]

>>191898
She's getting ready to defend against potential approaching hostiles and draw their attention away from the group, since it looks like we won't escape in time.

>>191899
Not...not the greatest, but it could be much worse.

>>191900
The soldiers are going into the lighthouse to get the ponies that are in the lighthouse. Posey is outside of the lighthouse at the bottom, presumably out of the line of suppressive fire. She can't exactly defend from that position.

>>191902
Okay, where does she need to be to do her job defending the airponies?
Most of her attacks are touch range.

>>191902
>>191903
Since Posey is with Cavaliere, the two of them will at least be able to fight together. However they do have to help get the non-pegasi out of the harness.

>>191904
>>191903
The soldiers are laying down automatic fire in the direction of the lighthouse, and then entering it in an attempt to clear it

>>191905
Okay, she'll guard the entrance. She's melee.

>>191903
>>191904
>>191905
Silver angrily shouts out, "Вот почему ты, черт возьми, не покидаешь свою позицию, когда ждешь спасения!" before looking to the the airponies in the lighthouse. "Just climb down already, идиоты!"

>>191906
From my understanding Posey is already outside the lighthouse, at its foot opposite the entrance. If she went around she would expose herself to fire. Whichever angle she covers, Cavaliere will cover the other side, while also keeping an eye on the ponies as they descend to help catch them if needed.

Well, if everypony has already left through the window of the Lighthouse...

>>191909
So all of the airponies have left through the window of the lighthouse?

>>191896
>Evasion And Pursuit
>In round-by-round movement, simply counting off squares, it’s impossible for a slow character to get away from a determined fast character without mitigating circumstances. Likewise, it’s no problem for a fast character to get away from a slower one.
>When the speeds of the two concerned characters are equal, there’s a simple way to resolve a chase: If one creature is pursuing another, both are moving at the same speed, and the chase continues for at least a few rounds, have them make opposed Dexterity checks to see who is the faster over those rounds. If the creature being chased wins, it escapes. If the pursuer wins, it catches the fleeing creature.
>Sometimes a chase occurs overland and could last all day, with the two sides only occasionally getting glimpses of each other at a distance. In the case of a long chase, an opposed Constitution check made by all parties determines which can keep pace the longest. If the creature being chased rolls the highest, it gets away. If not, the chaser runs down its prey, outlasting it with stamina.
So, I guess this can be determined as a group Dex/Con check?

Day Chaser is the first out, directly lowered. Cavaliere jumps out through the window and glides down. Then Posey leaves next, spider crawling down the side of the lighthouse, an action that would draw significant attention were it not for the dim light and obvious other matters that draw attention. Then the green unicorn, who presumably repels down. The white Pegaus jumps out and glides, but he goes relatively far, and seems to be both seen and draws fire from the soldiers. Silver is (presumably) the last one out. If any pony is drawing fire, it's Silver, who must repel down the side of the lighthouse after its central stairwell is being climbed by GRU forces.

>>191912
climbs down*
Is the back of the lighthouse easily visible or is there an incline they could scramble down before too many shots can be fired?
Also, Cavaliere gestures to one of the ponies to carry Day Chaser. If he absolutely has to (he has only bipedal weight limits) he'll carry him himself, but he would be slowed down a lot.

>>191912
How far away are the GRU forces right now? I need to know when we get within line of fire or charging distance.
If they get within 120-240 feet, I may need to enter melee with them with a Run action.
Posey takes her next standard action to use her Charnel Touch on herself, conspicuously touching her chest where the last electricity ray hit her, the singed fur returning to its pristine white color.

>>191914
>>191913
>Is the back of the lighthouse easily visible or is there an incline they could scramble down before too many shots can be fired?
There is an incline. It's maybe 30 degrees, increasing immediately by the water. Anything on that slope a little ways is not within line of site of anything a little ways down the slope on the opposite side.

The soldiers have evidently left a machine gun and a fire team on that slope to provide covering fire as a fire team advances to the lighthouse. They are entering the lighthouse to clear it. When they go in through the door, because the door to the lighthouse is in the center and on the ridge, they may see and would have line of site with creatures on the opposite slope, and especially, next to the lighthouse. They would also be very close, certainly melee range. Of course if any party members were on the ridge line, they are in line of fire to the soldiers further down the slope.

>>191912
Climb: Silver tries to repel down the lighthouse once everyone else is down as best as he can without being turned into holey cheese.

[1d20+4 = (9+4) = 13]

>>191915
>The soldiers have evidently left a machine gun and a fire team on that slope to provide covering fire as a fire team advances to the lighthouse.
Iirc, most machine guns are AoE burst fire weapons, so we can use this to our advantage. If I enter melee with them, they won't be able to shoot me without shooting eachother. I can use that opportunity to disarm or trip them with my halberd, buying us more rounds to escape.
Are they within running distance?

I will distract the enemies using my fear abilities for long enough for the wounded to get to safety. I would appreciate some cover fire from anypony with Precise Shot though.

>>191919
I can back you up. We should all be on board with a plan as a team before we try anything, however. We could alternatively run down the slope at an acute angle to the ridgeline, such that the soldiers will have trouble getting a bead on us unless if they move around, by which time we will be far away enough for them to start taking range maluses. They may give pursuit however. Even if we all stay behind it would be a suicide mission to fight them head-on, and the more ponies we send back the worse the odds for the rest. We also need at least one pony to carry away Day Chaser.

The advantage to fighting the enemy is that if we defeat them we'll have significantly better leeway when it comes to tracking that last pony.

>>191919
>>191920
It sounds risky to me. My plan was to flee while tactically placing grenades and explosives between us and our pursuers. The explosions would slow them down enough to allow us to disengage, and the dust, dirt, and debris kicked up by the explosives going off would provide a smokescreen in the darkness of twilight that will cause them to lose sight of us.

>>191921
How many of those do we have, and why couldn't we just use the grenades on the enemies?

>>191923
Throwing grenades behind you also doesn't necessarily slow down the enemy.
Perhaps with one minute of work (or a full round action, at a penalty) and a DC 15-20 Survival or Craft (Trapmaking) check it could be incorporated into a simple booby trap though, such as on the door.

>>191923
Creating corpses out of GRU soldiers will increase the amount of heat on us.

>>191924
I mean, it should unless they want to get filled with fragmentation.

>>191925
>Creating corpses out of GRU soldiers will increase the amount of heat on us.
They're too busy fighting monsters and trying to kill us for them to count their casualties right now. It won't cause alarm for at least a few hours, by which point we should be off of this rock.
Besides, I want to sink their ship anyways, so it can't gun us down as we're leaving. Plus its good pony points for Destruction cult affiliation.
>I mean, it should unless they want to get filled with fragmentation.
The grenade only slows them down as far as you can throw it (~30 ft). Our group is encumbered by carrying the wounded, which means we can take Run actions, but they can: They would close that 30-60 ft distance in less than one round.

Melee fighting is the only real option to get them out of running distance. If I can hold them off for three rounds, the party should be able to get to safety.

>>191926
The problem with melee fighting is that they just have to make a tactical retreat while calling in danger close mortar fire on our position as they move back. We don't need to hold or slow them down for very long, just long enough for us to get some distance and make pursuing us just that little bit too dangerous for them. If they give chase, they'll overextend their position leaving holes for summoned monsters to burst through their positions and potentially getting them caught out in the middle of nowhere with no support while surrounded by enemies.

>>191925
>Creating corpses out of GRU soldiers will increase the amount of heat on us.
Any armed enemies already represent a threat to their containment operations and fighting back will not change their stance. Fighting back will weaken this squad and limit their ability to chase us.

>If I can hold them off for three rounds, the party should be able to get to safety.
Even Posey's durability will not last three rounds of concentrated fire. I don't think the ponies with guns will willingly stay in melee range of a swordsmare either. Also, we should either put distance between us and the enemy or use the natural cover of the lighthouse to fight them. Going into the open to fight is pure suicide. If we injure or kill a few of them, we can escape more easily.

>>191928
If we start killing them, they'll start seeing us as a greater threat compared to the monsters which seem to be fairly ineffective against them. Being a greater threat means more squads and heavier weapons used against us.

>>191929
That doesn't change the issue of how we'll get away without being shot to pieces. It would be a bad idea to use up all our explosives now when tougher threats are guaranteed to appear later.

>>191930
It's possible that there's an armory on board the Kostroma, and there may be more grenades there. In the meantime we can just chuck the grenades we have and use the time when they're ducking for cover to escape behind the landscape. Once we're out of sight they'll likely break off pursuit for fear of running into a trap or, yet again, leaving a gap for monsters to attack their landing base.

>>191930
>>191931
Also, forgot to include this argument: it's not as if the GRU squad is going to be an easy fight anyways. We may not even be able to win it if we get into a pitched battle as we are. Whatever may come we can handle, but not if half or more of our group gets cut in half by machine gun fire. Now is a good time to use the grenades.

>>191931
>>191932
Alright, let's go with that then.

>>191932
Whatever you say then.

Take your time in deciding how you want to approach this. I don't think I will be able to respond tomorrow.

Okay, so the plan is apparently to run while throwing grenades. I will be in the rear to engage in melee if that fails.
Who's going to throw?

>>191950
Doesn't throwing apply a dexterity modifier? Our high-dex characters, like Cavaliere, should be doing it.

Cavaliere has listened to have a good idea of where the enemy machine gunner is.
Listen: [1d20+3 = (18+3) = 21]

A point of clarification if anyone is unsure about the layout of the situation:

The land in question is basically a hill, with the lighthouse at the summit, some of the soldiers on the eastern side, and the party on the western side. It isn't a singular hill, but a north-south ridge line, so you can't just go around it, you have to go over the summit. Some of the GRU soldiers, at least two and no more than one four pony fire team, are at the top of the hill by the light house. The eastern slope of the hill, where the other GRU soldiers are, faces the northern bay of the island, which is where the GRU ship is located. The western side of the hill, which is more or less where the party is located, faces the Rocky Sea, which expands out to the horizon. The party does not have line of sight with the main part of the GRU group, as they are on opposite sides of the hill. However, the soldiers that have made it to the top of the hill would easily have line of sight with the party and the rescued ponies, which is why they are dangerous. They could directly attack the party and the airponies, and also alert other forces of the party's presence. The soldiers that have come to the lighthouse are intent on entering it. The soldiers on the other side of the hill have a light machine gun in place, and at minimum one fire team and also some support soldiers. They are shooting at the light house, above it, and around it. They are almost certainly just shooting their weapons so as to encourage any hostile targets near the fire team that is approaching the lighthouse to stay in place. These weapon bursts are not in line of sight and do not threaten the party. Were any party member to go onto the ridge line, near the GRU soldiers, they would be in line of sight and thus line of fire to the soldiers. It is probably true that the GRU would not want to shoot a machine gun at their own soldiers, though at least some of the enemy soldiers are armed with more precise rifles and may be willing to engage targets closer to their fire team. The current gap in action is before the fire team at the light house has the chance to spot the airponies and party members just on the other side of the light house from the GRU soldiers on the slope. The party members are near the top of the hill, but the lighthouse completely covers them. The party is close to the fire team approaching the lighthouse.

the twilight provides enough light to see even if not in the best of detail or color. The wind is fairly strong and is blowing from east to west. That is to say, from the party towards the GRU soldiers. The other NPCs, including blackheel, the petrushka hostages, the other airponies, and Mala, are further sound some hundreds of yards away. Unless I suppose Silver has ordered Mala to come, but he assumes that his role is to [-]prevent the hostages from escaping[/i] protect the rescued Kostroma crew members.

>>191958
>However, the soldiers that have made it to the top of the hill would easily have line of sight with the party and the rescued ponies, which is why they are dangerous. They could directly attack the party and the airponies, and also alert other forces of the party's presence.
Okay, so that's the group that Cavalier has to grenade before we escape.
>>191957
Grenade them, Cavalier.

>>191967
That sounds like a better idea than targeting the machine gunner. What does Silver's player think?

>>191968
Yeah, that's the group I was thinking of focusing on, sorry about the mixup. The machine gun will also have the disadvantage of needing to be set up before firing, which will slow it down especially.

>>191958
Is the ridgeline group in easy range of a thrown grenade or is the sling necessary to reach?

>>191968
Grenade one, then grenade the other. The closest ones are the immediate priority, but I want to take out the machine gunners too. If we defeat them, we can look that gun, and any healing items magic ammo/armor they're carrying (because elite special forces should be fully-equipped for their level).

>>191957
The wind and the lighthouse make listening to a precise location a bit difficult, but cavaliere has a guess, some tens of yards down, and slightly north of the lighthouse.

>>191970
They are very close, and that is the problem. If anything, they are close enough that collateral fragmentation might be an issue.

>>191974
>The wind and the lighthouse make listening to a precise location a bit difficult, but cavaliere has a guess, some tens of yards down, and slightly north of the lighthouse.
That's easily within Slinging range.
I think Cavalier should sling a grenade at them on his surprise round, and then immediately sling another one at them once initiative begins; then all shooters in the party should pick off the survivors. Focus all our AoE attacks on neutralizing the machine gunners. Then
>They are very close, and that is the problem. If anything, they are close enough that collateral fragmentation might be an issue.
Then I think I should just melee them. I can draw fire and absorb damage while I debuff them with my Frightful Presence and Demoralize checks. Then after Cavalier takes out the machine gun crew the other martials can support me (if that can't be done, I think I can handle it).

>>191975
I'll wait for Cavalier to sling the grenade before I move into melee. I will use the explosion as a distraction, so I can guarantee a surprise round for myself and some flat footed targets.

Posey sheaves her sword, keeping a magical grip on the hilt as she charges it with destructive energies, preparing to cut her opponent in half on the strike. She shuts her eyes for a moment, clearing her mind before she smiles
She gives a manic grinning sneer
"Enemies approaching from right behind the tower, with our charges in . Overwhelming artillery mounted on the northern hill, ready to fire upon us as soon as we move."
She gigglesnorts, suppressing a deranged cackle
"It reminds me of my days serving on the borderlands of Farbook." she whispers, with a smirk of excited nostalgia, biting her power lip

>>191975
>>191976
>>191977
Silver frowns. "Is my authority as leader so weak that you would just ignore this plan to charge in and do your own thing? These are not some mindless skeletons or tribespony levies, these are highly trained special forces soldiers equipped with best equipment available. Think, even if we by some miracle we seem to start winning, they will call over radio for artillery barrage on our location and we will be blown into bits rather than them letting us win. We also still have one missing airpony to think about, and we have to worry about high tide causing Kostroma to become unmoored. We can not afford to get into fight with these soldiers."

>>191979
"They already have our location. Simply walking away is not an option."

>>191979
Silver may wish that he had Mala by his side at this moment. Mala would look up to Silver - literally, with his head at the height of his humped shoulder, but also metaphorically, always respecting him as an authority even when he could not understand Silver's reasoning. And Mala would need no persuasion that the easier, less dangerous course of action was the correct one.

But instead, Silver has Posey.

>>191982
Okay, fine, I'll do what he said. Let's just advance the plot already.
I'll get my revenge on these dicks when I sink their ship later.

ki jutsu stops
"Oh well... Let us leave then. Immediately."

>>191983
I just wanted to mention Mala. I like Mala...

>>191987
I like Mala, too. He's top qt.

>>191986
>>191983
>>191985
Silver lets out a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

He makes sure that Posey is given a rifle and Cavaliere is given the grenades, and gets everyone ready to make their tactical retreat to rejoin the others.

>>191990
How many grenades are we talking about? And can Posey use a rifle without penalties?

>>191990
>>191991
"I do not use boomsticks."
(I'm not proficient in firearms, and I do more damage with my longbow anyway. I can throw/sling grenades though.)

>>191992
Silver still keeps the rifle offered to Posey. "Can you shoot arrows while you keep moving?"

>>191991
Hmmmm...to be honest, I've forgotten how many grenades we were given.

>>191994
I am seeing in old posts two fragmentation grenades and two smoke grenades That seems rather low...

>>191995
It does, but I think we can make it work.

>>191991
Silver: "Throw them in this order: smoke, frag, frag, smoke."

>>191997
If we're not trying to fight them, why do we even need to throw the frag grenades?

Whatever, let's just move.

>>191995
In hindsight I would have packed at least half a dozen frag grenades, weight limitations or not.

>>191997
Cavaliere whispers, "Give me your sling. If we land one near their machine gunner, they'll be in a state of panic."

>>192000
You could have four characters sling at once: one team slinging smoke grenades, the other slinging frag grenades. Blinded enemies take a -4 penalty on reflex saves, so they are more likely to be killed. The AC to hit the square is 5, so anypony could do it, and there's no penalty for throwing a grenade into smoke.

Then by the time the smoke clears and they assess their casualties,, we will be gone.

>>192002
This is our best bet. We can do it all in one turn and get out with a minimum of fuss.

>>192003
Alright.
I have to sleep. Whenever you guys decide to finally make the attack rolls, you can roll for Posey with a +5 attack mod.

>>192002
>>192003
That's a good idea for effectiveness, but it won't keep them stalled for long if we blow our load all at once.

>>192005
It should seriously wound them, and also blind them for some 3d4 rounds. In that time we can get out of encounter range, and be no closer to them than the various wandering monsters and therefore not be worth pursuing.
We should do it all at once, so they don't get a chance to return fire, plus we want them all to be flat footed so that they can't act on the surprise round and also take a penalty to their saves. Also, it's simpler and quicker to do things in s single round than it is to go by initiative, and I'm tired of waiting.

>>192005
If a character throws grenades one at a time, he's limited in his move actions for every round and the enemy will have twenty seconds to figure out what's going on. If we throw them all at once, we can run so that even if they start shooting at us they'll get range penalties.

>>192007
This.

We could be out of their maximum range by the end of the surprise round, and moreso when the fog dissipates.
We are in a hills biome. In gentle hills, spot checks begin at 2d10 x 10 ft away, and in rugged hills they begin at 2d6 x 10 ft away. If we take our maximum movement after the surprise round, plus one additional round for the minimum duration of the smoke cloud, we would be outside of their encounter range and they would not be able to pursue us without track checks (which means moving at tracking speed). This encounter can be evaded in two rounds.

Let's do it. Two PCs throw smoke, two throw frag. Have Silver and Kira sling the smoke, because the smoke is the most important part. Cavalier and Posey can sling the frag grenades. Posey will throw the grenades at the nearby targets because she does care about taking frag damage herself.

Silver's player, please roll to sling the smoke.

>>192007
Doesn't a round last six seconds?

>>192009
Yes.

>>192009
No matter what we do, we'll have to start running after we throw the grenades, so let's do it. We can cover ground quickly if we spend full round actions running, and we have a minimum of two rounds to run before the enemy can respond at all.

Please toss the grenades.

>>192011
>>191995
How far would the creatures at the lighthouse have to run to reach the safety of being out of line of sight?

>>192012
Probably 2-3 rounds, full round run actions.

Cavaliere will sling a grenade at the machine gunner, but doesn't he need a sling?

>>192015
I have slings.
Slings cost 0 GP and have negligible weight: You can have as many of them as you want. Just like mistletoe.

Silver, please make the attack rolls so the two of us can follow.

>>192012
300 feet to the area behind the higher hillside, but even this area isn’t necessarily out of line of sight from the hillside

>>192018
And obviously, the group is already not within line of sight to the slope of the hill

>>192018
We should be able to clear that in a few rounds, accounting for the reduced speed of the wounded ponies. The smoke grenades should buy us all the time we need, unless there is a sudden wind.

>>192020
There is a definite, reasonably strong wind. It is blowing directly in the faces of the enemy.

>>192021
It should still work then. Even with severe wind, the smoke lasts a minimum of one round.
I'll throw my grenade when Silver's player does.

>>192015
>>192019
>>192020
Alright, but if we die Silver's ghost is gonna haunt all of you.

Pulling the pin on his smoke grenade, Silver chucks it at the group of Spetsnaz soldiers (Kira is too far away to throw one).

[1d20+10 = (13+10) = 23]

>>192023
Which group?

>>192024
The closest one, at the door to the lighthouse

>>192023
>but if we die Silver's ghost is gonna haunt all of you.
Pic.

(Playing ghosts is fun)

I think throwing downwind could be a +1 circumstance bonus, but the AC is super low anyway.
>Kira is too far away to throw one
Fuck, I forgot. Someone else throw the smoke bomb at the machine gunners.
>>192025
Throwing the grenade right after, as soon as the smoke hits (so that they are blind and take -4 to the save)
[1d20+6 = (11+6) = 17]

What's the damage dice for a frag grenade?

>>192026
Last I checked it was 4d6 slashing with a DC of 15, but GM said it should be more last time I shitposted Posey sitting on one and blowing out her organs, so idk what the damage is.

I think Cavalier should sling the other smoke grenade.

Just gonna roll 4d6 and add more dice later if GM calls for it
[4d6 = 13]

>>192023
Cavaliere takes one of Posey's slings and a fragementation grenade from Silver. Wrapping it in the sling, he quickly pulls the pin and starts swinging the sling around his head. It goes around once. Then twice. On the third swing, he lets go, aiming the explosive at a spot adjacent to the machine gunner.
Dexterity modifier I suppose? I have no idea what else to account for.
[1d20+3 = (12+3) = 15]
Anyway, I will be busy for all of today and most of tomorrow.

>>192032
You should be adding your base attack bonus as well.

Also, someone needs to sling the smoke bomb at that group. Maybe one of the airponies can.

Should Posey just sling the second smoke bomb?

>>192035
Kira or another character should do it so we don't lose turns. We want to throw and move on the same turn.

>>192036
Silver said Kira is too far away. Maybe one of the air ponies can.

"Wh-who is slinging the other smokebomb?"

Cavaliere throws the second smokebomb in the designated position.
[1d20+3 = (15+3) = 18]

"Good. That will distract them for about a minute. So now we RUN!" Posey says, galloping away

Posey continues to run indefinitely, unless called back to defend the charges in melee.

We've thrown all of the bombs. Are we able to escape?

>>192031
>>192026
>>192027
>>192023
>>192047
>>192046
Over the hill and in the distance, lights move upwards in strings in the twilight as the destroyer evidently fires its ant-aircraft guns at unknown targets. Much more closely, the fire team moves to enter the lighthouse. They can be heard speaking to each other in low, foreign voices.

Then a grenade is lobbed. Then another. Then another. And then one more.

>>192056
[1d4 = 3]

[1d20 = 20] [1d20 = 2]

[1d20 = 5] [1d20 = 3] [1d20 = 9]

[4d6 = 13]

[1d20+1 = (1+1) = 2]
[1d20+2 = (6+2) = 8]
[1d20+3 = (8+3) = 11]

[1d20+1 = (19+1) = 20]
[1d20+1 = (14+1) = 15]
[1d20+2 = (9+2) = 11]
[1d20+3 = (18+3) = 21]

>>192057
>>192057
One Spetsnaz soldier yells,
"Восточная сторона холма!"

But none on the ridgeline make it to the ground before the grenade goes off. The smoke grenade follows quickly, but the slow pace of the smoke combined with the placement of the grenade in the group rather than upwind means that it isn't especially effective.

Down the slope on the other side, "Граната!" is yelled, followed by a bang, followed by a number of bullets. They couldn't possibly be aiming anywhere near the party.

A couple spetsnaz soldiers on the ridge line fire shots towards the party, but not with the greatest effect, dazed but at least vaguely aware of the location of the party.

[1d20 = 5]
[1d20 = 15]

>>192058
>>192059
One air pony appears to be hit. But more than that, it is the already wounded Day Chaser
[2d8 = 4]

>>192060
Does he make it?

>>192060
Does he survive?

"Are you going to make it?" Posey inquires with a look of worry on her face, still galloping

>>192061
>>192062
With a high-pitched yelp and an "ow," he is clearly still alive.

"Hang in there!" Cavaliere encourages as he runs alongside the group.

>>192063
>>192062
>>192064
Silver helps support the bat as they're galloping away if he needs to. With his rifle levitating in his magical grasp, Silver looks back and fires it on the run at the Spetsnaz soldiers shooting at them, though he's not really expecting it to hit and it's more to try to keep them pinned down.

[1d20+7 = (19+7) = 26]
[2d8 = 10]

I guess if we're not taking full round run action, I may as well lop off a shot. ..

[1d20+5 = (3+5) = 8]
[1d8+3 = (2+3) = 5]

We spend the next full round running, right?
Do we make it to safety?
Posey falls back partly and places herself in the rear of the group, to provide herd-style soft cover to the wounded airpony, and also to intimidate him if he feels like slowing down.

>>192065
>>192066
>>192067
>>192064
Silver's shot is well aimed and hits, or seems to. With the advancing seconds, the smoke coming from the grenade increases, and though more shots are heard, none seem to come close to the group. The group is given more time to move away, but the soldiers seem to know where they are.

Ahead, Mala and the other ponies see the party running towards them.

>>192068
Silver calls out both to the retreating group and Mala's group, "Zig zag! Squad, we need covering fire until we make it to safety!"

Silver adjusts the course of the group to bob and weave back and forth, ensuring that they are just that much harder to hit, even if it lengthens their path by just a bit.

>>192069
Posey follows after the herd, still maintaining a defensive rear position.

How much further do we need to run? Do we make it?

Cavaliere maintains evasive movement and looks to make sure everypony is staying together.

>>192069
>zig zag
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpNU3WumPFQ&pp=ygUXemlnIHphZyBnZW5lcmF0aW9uIGtpbGw%3D

>>192069
>>192071
>>192072
>>192073
More shots come out from on the hill and below it. But the soldiers seem uninterested in advancing towards the party, and their aim is not well - they don't seem to want to leave cover, nor the smoke. The party makes it to hill, where Mala is ready to move.

>>192074
Great.
Posey explains what happened to Maka and the rest, and indicates the next destination.

>>192074
Silver, meanwhile, asks Mala, "How were things over here?" as he checks on Day Chaser's fresh wound.

And Kira, who is now rejoined with the party again, sticks her tongue out at the Spetsnaz soldiers they just escaped.

Gun fire continues on the ridge line. Then on the downward slope by where the party was only seconds ago, an explosion kicks up dirt and leaves a plume of grey smoke.

>>192076
And where, my little pony, is the next destination?

>>192077
Mala replies,

"They are rowdy. The gun fire spooked them. Move them. They can't stay hidden. No way."

>>192078
Silver nods, and continues to help Day Chaser stand and move. "We need to keep moving, to whaling station. That is where last airpony is, since these идиоты decided to do a double split up."

Kira waves hello to the airponies they rescued.

>>192078
>And where, my little pony, is the next destination?
The place where the last airpony was.
>>192079
This

"We should leave quickly. Once we have all of the airponies, we can work on our extraction plan."

>>192080
Silver: "Our extraction plan has not changed. Once we get this last airpony, we go to village over near where Kostroma is stuck. One last group of Black Heel's soldiers is held up there, assuming Traveler or GRU has not gotten to them first. We join up with them, then board Kostroma."

>>192079
The white airpony jumps back, startled.
"Ah!"

The green unicorn tilts his head,

"Oh, a lamia. That's what the griffin was talking about."

>>192079
>>192080
>>192081
Mala picks up his Auto 8 and yells,

"Get moving! Now!"

The small herd makes its way along the coast towards the whaling station.

Across the water, the dark grey horizon shows no sun, but only a dark grey that makes no distinction between the water and the sky. It foretells of a coming fog bank.

>>192082
Posey trots ahead of the herd, employing her superior nightvision to spot any potential threats.

"Lovely weather we have here." Posey says, taking in the gloomy atmosphere

How far do we travel to get yo the whaling station?

>>192082
Kira blinks, then smiles widely and warmly. She starts bouncing as she slithers along with the group traveling to the whaling station. "You know about us? Who are you?"

Silver, meanwhile, maneuvers through the group to get closer to the communist pony Star Fire. "Как вы держитесь?"

Cavaliere explains to Black Heel, "Once all together we'll be strong enough to push through to the last objective. Under cover of darkness, if the GRU have set up a perimeter we should be able to take them."

Posey continues to gallop, resheaving her sword.

>>192084
Star Fire looks up towards Silver with his bespectacled, green eyes. He swallows, then answers,

"Всё это... Это довольно много. Но надежда заключается в том, что мы сможем выбраться отсюда. Я с нетерпением жду этого."

The green unicorn's eyes open wider, he takes a step back, and
"Uh... My name is Next Tour. Uh, I've read some books when I was younger."

He pulls his lips back, showing teeth in a smile.

>>192086
>>192084
>>192087
Posey presumably gallops ahead of the group, which cannot gallop as there are many, many ponies who cannot move under their own power and must be pulled by the other ponies.

There is no clear danger ahead, or at least, none that gives off noise. Fog trickles along the water but has not made it to land. Behind the group, there are the sounds of explosions. A great one, then another great one. The top of the big lighthouse slides off and falls onto the slope, coming apart with many concrete bricks and spreading across the hillside. Something, probably a piece of broken glass, falls from the sky near the party, hundreds of yards from the lighthouse.

>>192089
Silver lets out a hearty chuckle, and drapes a foreleg around the shoulders of Star Fire to bring him in closer as they trot along. "И ты, и я. Мне бы очень не помешал душ после всего этого, смыть с себя вонь от всей этой каши. На «Костроме» есть душ?" He then gives the smaller stallion a big, friendly smile.

Kira claps her hooves together excitedly. "Yay, there are books about us here! What did they say about us?"

>>192089
>no clear danger ahead
Alright. Good start.

Posey dutifully trots ahead of the herd, scanning the darkness for predators on the way to the whaling station.

>>192090
Next Tour's ears go back, then come back up

"Well, uh... That they are a set of mysterious pony like monster hybrid creatures that live in Southeastern Zebrica and menace or lord over the Zebra and the Kirin there. And sometimes the camels..."

Star Fire moves his head a little away, and briefly smiles showing teeth. He moves his eyes down towards the ground and his right ear (away from Silver) moves down and to the side before coming back up.

"Я, эм, предпочел бы держаться подальше от этого корабля, если уж говорить по правде. Душ был бы неплох, но мне хочется поспать."

>>192092
Between the rocky shore and the base of the hill, Posey sees the trash heap of bones and the northern most wooden structure of the derelict sealing station.

In the leeward of the structure, Posey thinks she sees a figure standing in the long shadow. A quadraped a little smaller than a pony, facing her. Or she thinks she sees that, anyways. Hard to tell.

>>192094
>Posey sees the trash heap of bones
"~Nice!"
>Posey thinks she sees a figure standing in the long shadow. A quadraped a little smaller than a pony, facing her. Or she thinks she sees that, anyways. Hard to tell.
Only one way to find out: get closer

Posey stops galloping and stalks forward furtively, using the fog as cover to hide her presence, like a ghost, carefully gliding over the sands on gentle hooves.
Move Silently:
[1d20+7 = (4+7) = 11]

>>192095
...Why do I compulsively roll on check I could just take 10 on?

>>192094
Kira tilts her head, and seems to consider this information from Next Tour. "Well, that's kinda true, I suppose. A long time ago, the zebra chiefs from the surrounding tribes would hire lamias to their warbands in exchange for money, land, property, and titles, but that all gradually came to an end as the Zeblu basically wiped out all of the zebra tribes in the region outside of the Roamans and the Zongo. Us savannah lamias don't have much interaction with kirins outside of the occasional traveler or merchant wanting to trade for our goods, and camels are just a bit too distant for us to have interactions with either. I know that fire lamias live down in Zaikiria, and the desert lamias nomadic routes cross into camel lands at times."

Silver gives Star Fire a gentle squeeze/hug and a pat on the shoulder. "Что ж, мы не можем позволить Путешественнику сбежать с острова, иначе это безумие распространится на материк. А «Кострома» — достаточно большой корабль, чтобы доставить нас всех в безопасное место под покровом ночи и тумана." Half-lidding his eyes at Star Fire, Silver's tone of voice changes ever so subtly to be just a bit quieter and more intimate. "Кроме того, после того как мы добьемся успеха, нам предстоит совершить еще несколько интересных «действий», прежде чем мы ляжем спать." With this new tone of voice, it's hard to tell if Silver is speaking straight or if he's trying to imply something.

>>192094
Spot: Can Kira see the figure more clearly with her keen snek eyes than a normal pony with their pony eyes could?

[1d20+8 = (5+8) = 13]

>>192096
>>192095
Posey moves along the waterline. She mostly succeeds in trotting along the grassy mud which is comparatively quiet, but her mass of various items carried jingles slightly. strangely she hasn't heard her coins cling very much.

The shadow is no longer visible. This may be because an illusion is no longer visible as she comes closer, but she's pretty sure she saw it move away.

>>192097
Kira thinks she sees a smaller creature. Quadraped. Prey animal. Possibly a small friend.

>>192097
The unicorn looks down at Kira's trunk, observing her body. It takes a moment for him to actually respond to Kira.

"Oh. Yeah. That makes sense."

>>192097
Star Fire's mane is kind of thin for how long it is.

"Да. Ха. Разве это не так? Пытаясь управлять кораблем так - если Чернобог не смог этого сделать, нам будет сложно. Не думаю, что мы действительно сможем это сделать, если честно."

Then his lips go down, and he looks concerned. He moves his eyes up towards Silver's
"Но если бы мы могли.... Что насчет разрушителя? Военные вмешаются, чтобы остановить нас."

>>192098
Survival: It'll be hard for Kira to pick out the scent of this unfamiliar creature and possible new friend from the scents of all of the friend-shaped creatures around her, but Kira flicks her tongue into the air and does her best.

[1d20+11 = (4+11) = 15]

Silver's hoof reaches for Star Fire's mane of seemingly its own volition, to see how it feels as he continues his conversation. "Созданию Поузи можно приказать протаранить их корабль, посадив его на мель на острове, не причинив вреда экипажу и не помешав им преследовать нас. Тем временем мы дожидаемся прилива и, используя влияние Луны, уплываем на свободу."

>>192099
flick flick
Diesel Fuel

flick flick
Rendered fat... just beginning to rot

flick flick
Hmmm... Is that sewage? Yes. Yes it is.

flick flick
Wait. Kira knows that smell! It's... Friendship!

Wait. No. That's just all of the ponies around her.

>Star Fire's mane
Kind of wirery, a little thin, and covered with tin foil over the head.

"Что. Эм... Конечно?"
His ear twitches one, two, three times
"Но я не думаю, что мы сможем управлять кораблем... А эта штука на нем."

>>192100
Silver chuckles, and goes in to scritch Star Fire's ear a matching number of times. "Затем мы избавляемся от «этой штуки на нем»."

Move Silently: Hmm, maybe the fog is interfering with her senses. Kira decides to use one of her special snek abilities, and sneak closer super sneakily to the figure/where it went to get a better idea of what it is.

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

>>192101
Trying to scritch the ears is awkward with the tin foil, but achievable.

Star Fires stops moving, closes his eyes, and smiles at the scritches. Then he replies
"Да... Удачи с этим. Я останусь сзади."

Kira moves along silently on the inward side of the line of buildings.

>>192102
D'awwwww. Even as tired and disheveled as he is at the moment, Star Fire still looks adorable making that face, which makes Silver wonder what other kinds of adorable faces he could get him to make as the ear scritches move down into cheek and chin scritches. "Ну, не оставайся слишком далеко. Я бы хотел, чтобы ты был рядом, когда мы отпразднуем победу."

Kira sings a stealthy tune inside her own head, something along the lines of "duh, duh, duh duh; duh duh, duh duh; do do doooo, do do doooo, do do doooo, do do". Where she heard this tune if anywhere she doesn't know, but what she does know is that she's entered sneaky snek mode as she follows the path the figure took or even possibly left behind.

Sorry for the delay.

>>192100
Might be Mary

"הנה כבשים קטנות." Posey calls

I'm assuming no sheep responds

Posey hunches down
>>192103
She addresses Kira
"Did you detect any airponies?"

>>192105
If Posey has sight of Kira, Kira looks over at Posey with the narrowed eyes of a super sneaky secret special ops snek, and puts a hood on her own lips to let her know it's hard to move silently will talking.

Survival: She will, however, stick her tongue out into the air to get another whiff. Maybe she's close enough to detect something through the fog?

flicks tongue

[1d20+11 = (13+11) = 24]

>>192089
Cavaliere strides past Silver and Star Fire, giving the former a hard look. "Gentlecolts. Let's stay focused on the mission. Any distraction out here could be deadly."

He will approach Posey and Kira. "Have you found any sign of him?" He can assist with any further rolls, but it looks like we have a track already.

>>192107
"There's something out there, but we cannot be sure it is the airpony yet."

Is Kira's survival check enough to find the creature?

>>192104
>>192105
If there is a sheep there, it doesn't want to reply to Posey's phrase.

>>192106
flick flick
flick flick
Wait
flick flick
That's the stuff
flick flick
Those last two weren't necessary. Those were just to be cute. No, Kira has the scent. She knows what she is dealing with. She has tasted the scent of... Prey. And by "Prey" she doesn't mean friends. No. She means creatures you can eat, as distinct from creatures you make friends with. I mean... Technically speaking you can eat the creatures you befriend. They are after all, just the right size. The right shape. They would go down, I think. And tasty, evidently. But like, you shouldn't eat them. At least... You probably shouldn't? I don't know. Mom said not to. But grandma had different opinions. But that's besides the point. It isn't one of them. It's one of those things that doesn't talk. Well, at least they don't talk like the other prey does. But they do make sounds. Like "bahs" and what have you. And maybe that's their own secret prey language? Who knows? Now, both groups of creatures are prey in the sense that they are... well, they are ungulates. You know, hooved mammals of about a medium to larger size and plenty of fur. Actually, come to think of it, why don’t we refer to these creatures as “ungulates” if we mean “ungulates”? The ponies wouldn’t get spooked and think we might eat them. But.. ungulate has three syllables. Un-gu-late. Its long Say it three times. Ungulate ungulate ungulate. And… well I hate to say it but… it’s kind of an ugly sounding word. But “prey.” It’s short and sweet. But then… isn’t “prey” a more inclusive word? Like rodents. You can eat them. But who would eat a rodent? They are too small and kind of… ick. Well, I guess if you’re a snakelet, you’d eat rodents. And then capybaras are rodents… Also, you can befriend rodents, like Heather. Same as with ponies. Yeah, “prey” is a better word. The ponies will understand the meaning, surely. They know they can trust in me. But what is smelled is actual "prey" in the sense that you can eat them. I mean, in the sense that it's more normal and socially accepted to eat them. They are not friends. But... They could be, couldn't they? Like, you can befriend a smaller, non-talking prey, surely. Watch them run around. Listen to them scream. Knit little socks for them. D’awww! They can be so cute! They could definitely be friends. Actually, come to think of it, couldn't non-prey entities be friends? Like, a bird could. It definitely could. Except birds are scary... Okay, maybe not a bird, but like... Uh, a rock! Yeah, add little googly eyes to a rock, take it out to a tea party and you have a friend. Wouldn't it be so cute! But uh, yeah. That's a sheep. Kira has detected a sheep. There's a faint pony taste, but it isn't super strong and may be left over from a previous visitor. Now... To see if she can befriend the sheep...

>>192113
>>192109
A sheep! Perhaps they exist in this weird limbo between the two states of being for prey creatures, two states of being which Kira herself likes to classify as "friend-shaped" and "food-shaped". With each word being just one syllable and quite descriptive, it avoids both the inelegance of using just awkward and long terms like unguligate and the potential confusion from friend-shaped creatures like the term prey may cause. Of course, to some prey creatures of both the friend- and food-shaped variety, the subtleties of these terms may still end up be confusing. Being friend-shaped doesn't necessarily preclude that a creature is unfit for consumption, just as being food-shaped doesn't meant a creature is unable to be befriended, it simply means to describe the primary purpose a creature fulfills in the balance of nature. This is where the oddities that are sheep come from: they are delicious, but they produce a valuable resource in the form of wool should you not eat them that you can freely take without harming the creature. Thus, are they friend-shaped or food-shaped? Which purpose in their existence is the greater one? Some might say that being food is the greater purpose, as all creatures in nature are meant to eat or be eaten, but for advanced creatures like lamias or even ponies for that matter, making use of the resources sheep provide by befriending them is crucial for the existence of civilization. And as an aside, though related to her internal discussion of the subtleties of friend- and food-shaped creatures, the one next to her, Posey, is certainly an odd one. She is a pony, a clear friend-shaped prey creature, but the way she carries herself feels more akin to predator than even prey. It isn't even the same as Silver, which Kira considers to be the closest analogue. Silver is more akin to a friend-shaped prey that is too risky to attempt to make into food. Too tough, too able to defend himself, too...fluffy. But Posey, despite also being fluffy, very clearly belongs closer to the catagory of a straight predator (as opposed to a gay predator but Kira realizes that now is neither the time nor place to ponder the mysteries of the gay spheres). She walks with a confidence that mirrors the apex predators, and in her gaze Kira almost feels like Posey uses almost every opportunity to size up those around her for what they can provide her, like they're her prey. Would she understand the difference, between friend-shaped and food-shaped, Kira wonders? And of course there are other oddities, such as her smell. Just now, as Kira picked up the scent of sheep, she picked up something again off of Posey, something...odd...beneath the perfume that she quite obviously put on this morning. Perfumes are often used to hide something, just as disguising the smell of rotten meat or making otherwise dirty clothes or persons smell acceptable. What could that mean? Is Posey hiding something? Or is it just that Posey has a weird natural smell and she prefers the smell of her perfume?

Oh, wait, Posey is looking at her. She expects and answer about what she smelled. Uh...let's not keep her waiting. Kira replies to her quietly as to not be shouting out loud and spooking the sheep.

"It's your sheep! I'm gonna go see if I can make a friend out of it."

>>192113
Is this Mary, the same ewe we shorn earlier? I want to take her with us. I have some interesting plans for her.
>>192115
>"It's your sheep! I'm gonna go see if I can make a friend out of it."
"Not what we are looking for, but good job anyway, Kira. We can tie a lead to her and take her with us, but remember to not get distracted from the trail of the last airpony." Posey replies
>internal monologue
Interesting take. Not far from the truth.

>>192115
>>192116
The sheep has already disappeared from view. The whaling station appears still, save for the creaking sound of a door. It makes its sound more than once, presumably the result of wind moving it. But it is out of line of sight, and hard to tell.

>>192116
>Is this Mary, the same ewe we shorn earlier?
Posey hasn’t had a good view, and even if she did, it isn’t clear the sheep would be easy to tell apart. Maybe it’s the same sheep. Maybe there are several on the island. The whaling station isn’t very far from where the sheep was found earlier, however.

>>192118
>it isn’t clear the sheep would be easy to tell apart
Mary was shorn just a couple hours ago. Unless someone else is shearing sheep here, she should be easily identifiable.

Posey trots along in the direction the sheep was spotted, looking around for any signs or recent pony or sheep habitation.

>>192107
>>192118
Silver pouts his lips at Garv as he trots away. Looking over at Star Fire with a sigh, he decides to pop the question. "Полагаю, игра окончена. Правда, нам ещё многое предстоит сделать. Но, если позволите, я заметил, что вы, кажется, проявляете ко мне... «интерес». Когда всё это закончится и мы победим, не хотели бы вы...?" He trails off, looking to the side while perhaps even blushing slightly, hoping Star Fire understand what Silver is trying to imply.

>>192116
Kira gives Posey a super serious nod, flicks her tongue, and continues slithering super sneakily into the fog to look for their missing airpony and/or ewe, all the while continuing to sing her stealthy song in her head.