The SSRS Kostroma lies idle in the southeastern bay of Mended Horn Island. Only the front portion, the two forward masts and the front of the superstructure that sits in the center of the freighter's hull, is illuminated by a pair of dim lights that glow orange-red, a sure sign that the boilers of the Kostroma are dying, and the lights will soon go off. The remainder of the ship's funnel, and the mast behind the superstructure are visible only in silhouette. The gibbous moon and starry night that would have provided a clear backdrop to the black hulk of the Kostroma have been smothered by the overcast skies and light rain.
A sound comes, not from the Kostroma, and indeed, not from anywhere at all. A low, vaguely tinnitus-like sound that drains out the sound of silence. It calls to you. It calls to everyone.
"Come to the Kostroma, good soldier. Join us here. Come."
1320 replies and 59 files omitted.
>>193337>>193338The torpedo boat is damn near a submarine, with a central hallway dominating much of the boat. It's towards the bow, just two rooms past the center
>>193339"Out of the line of fire? Eliminating raiders is a part of the job description." The pony replies
>>193340Silver checks Mala to see that the flak jacket contained the shot. Mala is not wounded, though he was from an earlier stab by a creature.
>>193341Silver lets out a sigh of relief. "Who got finishing shot? That was certainly crazy amount of gunfire we heard."
>>193342Mala raises his paw and the Unicorn raises his Bits Gun
>>193341Cavaliere stops outside the room. Are there any friendlies around? Can he hear anything inside?
>>193344Silver, Posey, Mala, the Green Unicorn, and Blackheel are inside of the room. He can just look in
>>193343With a chuckle, Silver turns to investigate the fallen griffons. "I guess we will call it half-kill for both of you. They have anything of note on them? Anything useful?"
>>193346"A shotgun" the Unicorn responds
>>193347They turn to see Cavaliere
"Yes, that's exactly what it was,"
>>193349Mala:
"I dissuaded this one" looking down at the griffin whose head has been blown off.
>>193349>>193348Silver takes the shotgun and whatever ammunition the griffon has, before turning to address Cavaliere. "Pirates are interested in two things: money, and living to spend that money, in that order. To get them to back down, you would need to convince them that neither we nor Kostroma has anything of value, and that their lives are in immediate and grave danger. It would also help to convince them to overlook us killing several of their comrades, even if it was in self defense. But I fear it may already be too late. Most of them have no doubt already been taken by Traveler and turned into more Petrushkas."
>>193350He glances down at the grisly scene.
"A great kirin general once said, 'The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.' We have the upper claw here, and it would help to have fewer holes in the boat.">>193351"On the Kostroma, that is most likely. I talked with the prisoner we have topside and other than the lack of activity aboard that ship, he did not notice anything unusual despite being here for the greater part of an hour. It could be that griffons are more resistant to the Fellow Traveler's influence, that the metal in between acts as a sort of shielding, or simply that it takes more time to manifest. The creatures down here will have their wits about them." >>193352Both Mala and the pony look over to see if the shots have shot holes into the side of the boat. They don't seem to (it's a shotgun and a submachine gun), but he made them look.
>>193351>>193352The green unicorn speaks
"They all know we're here. Let's be grateful we got these two before they rigged explosives to blow up the whole boat. You know we haven't even
looked in the Magazine yet."
>>193352>>193354"Maybe...maybe not. If peaceful solution can be found, I am all for supporting it. But another great saying also exists: if you want peace, prepare for war." Turning to the green unicorn, Silver nods. "You make fair point. Though, unless these pirates are actually privateers hired by Haukland government or some other interested party, they may not have same policies as Stalliongrad or New Mareland about scuttling vessels and containing information. Still, let us clear rest of vessel, then we will clear it of valuables before we board Kostroma."
>>193356>>193357Silver lets out another chuckle, as he puts his rifle away and draws his sword. "Not all of us are so one dimensional in combat."
>>193358The green unicorn is surprised by this. Blackheel nods
"Nice and quiet. They won't hear you snuff the next one."
>>193359Silver nods in agreement, before motioning the group to follow. "Let us go do exactly that."
Is there more to explore in the bow of the ship, or is it time to go towards the stern?
Cavaliere moves to the side of the doorway of the next uncleared room.
>>193360>>193361There is one more room
It has a toilet, a shower, a storage for the anchor chain, and generally is the actual bow of the ship
>>193362There aren't any hidden enemies or other oddities in this bathroom, are there?
>>193363Not in that one, no.
They do at least have soap. And Aquellian shampoo. And a luffa. And a sponge. And one razor. So there's that.
>>193362>>193364Cavaliere looks inside the anchor room storage.
>>193364Hmmmmm...Silver swipes the pirates' toiletries like he's staying in a hotel room.
>>193365There is still chain in the storage. The anchor is not deployed, the boat is weakly tied to the
Kostroma>>193366Oh my...
He's stealing from
Pirates. Thieving from thieves.
>>193367Silver can't think of many more fitting cases of justice in the world. Perhaps besides a murderer himself getting murdered, or a healthy and fertile female being bred by her stallion. In either case, unless Cavaliere has some plan for the anchor chain, Silver will lead the group towards the stern.
>>193368Silver will backtrack through the dorm, then past the radio room and the captain's cabin, then past the fuel tanks
The next room has two massive engines. Both are off.
>>193369Cavaliere sneaks around the starboard engine. Can he see anything?
>>193370A took box, a couple oil cans, little drops of water on the floor, a wrench that implies some kind of fresh maintenance, and especially a cover.
But that isn't what Cavaliere is interested in, is it? No. Cavaliere thinks he sees brown and black moving
>>193371Survival: Silver looks for any signs of someone entering and hiding somewhere in the room, such as hoof/clawprints.
[1d20+5 = (18+5) = 23] >>193372Someone stepped in oil and left a trail leading out of the room. It's very fresh. It's like they left in a hurry.
>>193373"Either they heard fighting from outside and ran out...or something in here spooked them."
>>193371If Cavaliere is visible to Silver, he holds up a talon to his beak. He follows where he thinks the blur went.
>>193375The next room
This room has a single large engine in the center, and walkways to either side.
>>193376Can he see any signs of flight, movement, or tracks?
>>193377A mark of oil on the ground near the engine
>>193377Silver silently keeps behind Cavaliere, sword at the ready.
>>193378Cavaliere holds his hat and slowly extends most of it just beyond the edge of the engine.
>>193380Yip!There is a clanging, and clearly someone trying to run away on the opposite side of the engine, going towards the bow of the ship
>>193381That was strange noise... Silver thinks to himself, as he moves to block the exit out of the room.
>>193382And Silver is in a good position to intercept the creature
>>193381Putting his hat back on, Cavaliere circles around the engine so the creature cannot back out.
"At least he didn't shoot," he mutters.
>>193384Cavaliere can thus block off the path to the stern
>>193385Silver decides to call out to this mystery creature, trying to sound friendly, or perhaps even fatherly. "You can come out, little guy. We are not trying to hurt you, we just want to know what is going on."
>>193386Come out? He's running right for Silver, or may even beat him to the door
>>193387Then Silver goes full speed to fill the space in the door before the creature can beat him there, even if it means he hits the doorframe.
>>193388Silver dives and is physically hit by a creature that bounces off of him
"Yip!" >>193389Moving from behind, what can Cavaliere see?
>>193389Does the creature bounce back towards the engine, or out towards the bow?
>>193391Towards the engine
>>193390>>193391Knocked to the ground is an equine figure, small in size and thin in form, wearing a brown uniform that covers almost the whole body between overalls, pants, and a brown cap. A black muzzle and grey coat.
>>193392"Calm down, we're not going to hurt you," Cavaliere tells the apparent pony as he approaches, now more slowly.
>>193392Silver, getting up while still blocking the doorway, blinks and stares at this mysterious small equine. "Huh, you really are little guy. I am sorry if you got hurt from that." Smiling at the creature, he offers a hoof for him (or her) to get up with. "I am Silver. Who are you?"
>>193393>>193394>>193393The pony places his hooves over his (either a colt or a mare. Definitely not an adult stallion) head, shaking
>>193395Silver's smile turns slightly sad, but he understands this reaction. "I get it, we are mysterious creatures you do not know, after you heard gunshots, covered..." He stops there and skips to the next thing he has to say. "We really do not mean you any harm."
>>193396"Please don't hurt me"
Definitely female, and accented to something more exotic
The hooves are grey attached to darker grey. She has oil on her hoof that is getting on her cap as well. She is trembling.
>>193397>>193399Hmmm, exotic? Does Silver recognize the accent at all?
"We will not, I promise you." He gives Cavaliere a look of "not now" when he mentions the group as the new owners of the vessel, before reoffering his hoof to the mare. "Trust in me."
>>193399She looks up and turns her head slightly towards Cavaliere. He can see a black stripe down her face and her light blue eyes. She takes one of the hooves that has been holding her cap down, and points behind her
>>193400No. Probably Zebrican, maybe mixed.
>Trust in meHey, that's kira's line!
"There was shooting..."
She's almost crying. Or actually crying.
>>193401Silver said trust
in him, not trust
inside him.
Letting out a sad sigh, he nods, even if the mare can't see. "I know. Our group was trying to board that other ship, stop something horrible from getting to mainland. They fired on us with no warning, we had to defend ourselves. We..."
Sense Motive: How much does the mare need a hug, and how willing would she be to accept one?
[1d20+3 = (15+3) = 18] >>193401Cavaliere nods sympathetically.
"There was, but we will do our best to keep you out of danger. We are not like the others." >>193402She is terrified. She both needs a hug and probably does not want one.
>>193403"What... What happened?"
sniffle "To them?"
>>193404Whether she wants it or not, a mare in need she is indeed. He goes in and wraps his forelegs around her, giving her as warm a hug as he can in this cold place.
>>193406"Are they dead?" She asks. Definitely crying
>>193405She resists at first. She's a bit bony but bulky, and covered in a very lose fitting set of cotton clothing
>>193407Silver keeps at it. Feel the fluff, little mare. Feel the warmth of kindness, and let it chase away the chill.
>>193408squeakShe's still trembling and crying, though. Silver mostly feels her clothing, which has some oil on it.
>>193409The trembling and crying is natural. She's lost friends, comrades, family. It's a feeling Silver can relate to, and he knows how quickly it can turn to poison if you don't let it out.
>>193412"It is okay to cry, little mare." He gives her a friendly squeeze to reinforce this point. "But if there is anything you can do to help us, to help your comrades here, please do so."
>>193413She continues crying, laying down on her belly and using her forelegs to cry into
>>193414Silver gently pets the mare's mare, his hoof stroking it slowly down its full length. Surely, the end of the world can wait for a moment, such that this mare can process her grief, sorrow, and fear at least a little.
>>193411What unfolds in front of Cavaliere is a scene of pure horror
Has Cavaliere seen, under a microscope, an amoeba enveloping and devouring a smaller organism? Could he imagine the same, but on the macro scale? What he witnesses does not need to be imagined, it is happening in real time, in front of his eyes, through the horror called by some “Alzughab.” A ball of sentient fur envelopes the poor mare on the ground. Little tendrils of fluff move around her uniform, then her cap, then down to her muzzle, under she is scarcely visible under the ball of floof.
What cannot be imagined is what becomes of the poor mare beneath.
Posey spends a few minutes convulsing and wretching ichor like in The exorcist before eventually regaining her composure, which is my way of fluffing absence during the last few bits of roleplay.
>>193415She follows Silver
"What did you find?"
>>193417Silver is currently busy hugging a crying mare wearing oil-stained cotton work clothes. In a way, it almost looks like he's trying to absorb her into the floofiness.
>>193416>>193414>>193419Posey enters the room after quickly redoing her mane and makeup and sees the mare.
"Who are you? A prisoner?" she inquires
She immediately attempts to use her Charm Gaze on the mare, as usual. Will DC 19.
>>193199>The grey griffin has... some kind of prayer beads?Ooh, those could be really valuable. Posey takes these.
"Prayer beads? Quite the find. These may be useful to Dust or Kira, or perhaps even a get-well gift for Agire..."
Rolling Religion to identify them for mystical properties.
[1d20+11 = (15+11) = 26]>knife with an ivory handlePosey also takes this if no pony else claims it. (Posey likes Ivory and other bone-like aesthetics).
>>193421Maybe I should try putting the strand on Kira's tail, to be sure.
>>193423"Probably another nameless monster." Posey says with a sigh
"It is important to clear it before the ship takes too much damage."
>>193420The mare is laying on her belly, and Silver is in part over top of her, trying to affect a hug. She moves her head up towards Posey. Posey can see her black muzzle, grey face, the black strip down the center of her face, and then the beginning of stripes on either side. Her icy blue eyes finally look up towards Posey. She shakes
"I'm a prisoner?!?!?!?"
>>193421Posey recognizes them as beads for the worship of the Griffonian Pantheon. More particularly, for Eyr
>>193425>"I'm a prisoner?!?!?!?""Are you?" Posey inquires
"Who are you?"
>beads for the worshipSo, like proper noun magical prayer beads, or just trinkets?
I guess we can test them later.
>>193426Prayer beads
"Am I?" Her ears go down, then back up. She lowers her head then raises it back up
"I'm... Zara Zama. Mechanic"
>>193425>>193426>>193427Silver looks over at Posey with slightly narrowed eyes. "
No, she is not our nor anyone's prisoner." Looking back at Zara, Silver smiles at her. "It is good to meet you, Zara Zama."
>>193428She turns her head to look straight up at Silver, and rotates her ears towards him. He can see her icy blue eyes, the black skin at the end of her nostrils, and can even make out small holes in her ears. She pulls her lips back in a kind of awkward smile, and he can see some teeth are imperfect.
"Nice to... Nice to meet you..." She tries to extend a hoof but can't really manage it from the angle.
"Who are you and why are you here?"
>>193429Silver perhaps relents just a bit, to give the mare a bit of breathing room. Just a bit though. He takes her hoof and gives it a firm shake. "As I said, I am Silver. Me and my comrades were attempting to board Kostroma to kill or destroy what they had brought back with them from Skynavia - extradimensional entity called either Chernobog or Traveler, depending on your preference. It consumes creatures' consciousnesses and absorbs them into hive mind, where it can then control them like puppets. It took over minds of most of Kostroma's crew, and it is trying to get to Equus so it can do same to everyone on continent." Looking sadly to the side, he continues. "Your comrades on deck fired upon us before we even knew fully what was going on."
>>193430She recoils back down and sniffles. her ears drop back down
"What"
>>193431Silver blinks as he realizes he
may have just dumped way too much on the grief-stricken mare all at once. "...your boarding crew would not happen to have radio on them, would they?"
>>193432"I- I think so? Short range." She sniffles. "The earth pony up there. The larger yellow one. Is he okay?"
>>193433Silver's sad look returns, though he doesn't look away this time. Instead, he looks right at the mare, meeting her blue eyes with his own.
>>193434She looks to his, then starts crying.
>>193435"I am so sorry, Zara. I am so, so sorry..."
If ever Silver's normal hesitation to go full lethal had a reason, it's this. Behind nearly every enemy combatant is a loved one, awaiting their safe return from dangerous places far afield. Or near afield, in this case. It was a do-or-die situation, he knows this. He knows that if he died instead in that firefight there would be many creatures who would mourn him, beyond simply the threat the world would be in at that point. But if the pirates had only stayed their hooves and claws for a second, had they only said
something before the hail of bullets had begun...
Silver wraps his forehooves around the mare's shoulders and pulls her into another hug. His fur is still soft, and still would be perfect for crying into if she wished. Or she could push him away and punch him, he would understand fully, perhaps more than most here.
>>193436She cries, but does not push him away, nor cry into his fur. Instead, she tries to press her face into the rusted, grated steel floor below her, and cover her face with her hooves
>>193437"I get it, perhaps more than you know. I have lost someone significant to me before and it nearly broke me. It
did break me. But I had others who depended on me, and I pushed through to do what I had to do, for them." He puts his hooves on either side of the mare, and helps her up, even if she's not quite ready for it. He shows her his radio. "It is same for you. There will be time to grieve, and his loss will be mourned, but do not let it be in vain. You still have others who depend on you. If there is any way you can reach them, if there is still time, please help us. Call your comrades, tell them to come back immediately. If Traveler gets hold of them..." He doesn't finish this statement.
>>193438squeakShe is pulled up, and forced onto four feet. She looks back to Silver and sniffles. Then she takes the radio almost forcefully, and tries to set it to a certain range
>>193439Silver smiles at Zara. It's still a bit sad, though less so. "Thank you, Zara."
>>193440She doesn't acknowledge Silver's statement, but with a hoof changes frequencies, and with the other holds the receiver to her face
"Tâche, are you there?" She turns the dial. "Tâche, are you there? Tâche?!"
>>193441Silver gives a prayer to the Goddesses that at least some of these pirates might be saved.