/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal

>>193442
She continues yelling into the receiver

"Can you hear me?" Static sounds. She turns the knob. "Can you hear me?" More static, and a frantic turning of the knob

>>193443
>>193442
Silver waits in anticipation to see if his prayer is answered...

[1d20 = 3]

>>193427
Pic
>>193429
>"Who are you and why are you here?"
"I am Rosey Ring. Dread Pirate of the North Coast. We came to seize that large vessel moored over there after our ship was sunk by monsters, but our plans were delayed after gunners on this ship decided to fire upon us before we could board it. Several of our crew members are wounded." she says, coldly
"They lost, and she we are seizing this ship." she continues
"You say you are a mechanic, so you are more useful alive than dead. If you make yourself useful maintaining and repairing this ship and do not interfere with our plans, we can drop you off safely on the mainland when all of this is over."
She looks directly into the jenny's eyes and uses her Charm Gaze (Will DC 19)
"Do we have a deal?"

Also, Diplomacy, because why not?
[1d20+10 = (10+10) = 20]

(Please resolve the diplomacy check after the charm save, so I can shift her from Friendly to Helpful)

>>193447
She lowers her head and ears, pulling her head away from the large radio receiver

“Okay…”

>>193448
Posey's ears perk up, and she smiles
"Splendid. You can start by doing something about those pierced fuel tanks, and any other damage to the vessel. We all want this ship in good condition if we are to make it home safely."

>>193449
“Oh… okay…” She says, nodding

How much if this ship is there left to be cleared/explored?

>>193451
Possibly a third of the boat.

>>193452
Okay, if there's nothing left to see here, Posey proceeds to the next room, looking through the boat systemically.

>>193447
>>193448
Silver notices that the others in the group are perhaps not as good at dealing with a grieving mare. He looks over at the poor zebra.

"I do not know if you would want me to come along with you, but if you did not wish to be alone, I would be more than happy to come along with you."

>>193454
She looks up towards him, and nods

>>193453
The next room is a long, central hallway with fuel tanks to either side

>>193455
Silver smiles, no sadness this time, and motions towards the path to the diesel tanks. "Lead on, then. And ignore what she said about 'more useful alive than dead', she is...odd. They all are in their own special way, but I am still glad to fight alongside them."

>>193448
"Excellent. No point in wasting time now. Chop chop." Posey says as she leaves
Opposed Charisma check to give orders to a charmed creature
[1d20+6 = (13+6) = 19]
>>193454
>others in the group are perhaps not as good at dealing with a grieving mare
We are supposed to be undercover as cutthroat pirates. I was going to roll Intimidate, but I think so long as her options are limited a stern but gentle approach would be more effective.
>>193455
Posey carefully moves down the hallway.

>>193456
The mare (Jenny?) goes up, towards the steps to the deck, up the deck and into the bridge, paying attention to the blood, and is on her way to the actual deck.

>>193457
She does so

As Posey walks down the grated metal floor, she does not trigger any kind of traps, nor is she ambushed. This room is clear.

>>193458
>Jenny
Zebras are closer to donkies than horses, so I thought their women would be jennies. A quick search says they're still called mares though.

.

Is there anything at the end of the hallway? If there's another room or stairs she keeps moving.
Posey keeps her horn-glow on the hilt of her sword, to draw it as a readied action if she sees anything.

She assesses for any damage that might compromise the seaworthiness of the vessel, although her limited technological knowledge (0 ranks) prevents her from noticing anything that would not be common knowledge.

>>193458
Silver trots alongside, keeping close to the mare in case she needs anything. He does think to himself, as they make their way to the deck: Did they already dump that earth pony's body into ocean?

>>193460
Somepony with Wild Empathy should throw them to the sharks >>193461 →

>>193459
Hey, I saw it in a youtube quiz saying that zebras are mares, so I'll go with that. I actually kind of like the sound of "Jenny" more than "mare," and it would make sense, so I don't mind jennies either.

Posey does see something. It's another bulkhead, and a doorway into another room. This one is longer, actually probably the longest on the boat. It is a dorm, with a number of bunks together, closer together and greater in number than the dorm room already examined. The beds are in a varying state of organization, with some pillows on the floor and some completely made. the same is true of clothing and other items. the beds have lockers. Beyond this is a small table, a few cabinets, and a wall to a small room with the hallway off to the side. Only behind this is the bulkhead.

>>193460
They have not. The mare finds the first griffin, which is the same griffin that is conscious and Cavaliere spoke to earlier. The mare says something in Imperial to the griffin, probably a proper name sounding like "Hanzel," and then proceeds to try to speak to him in Imperial.

>>193463
Silver goes over to the body of the yellow earth pony and stands vigil, making sure to keep the others from tossing him overboard. He looks over at Zara and the reddish griffon conversing with one another while he does so.

>>193463
Posey moves throughout the dorm, looking for any lootable items or creatures hidden on/under beds.

>>193457
Cavaliere follows Posey. He sighs. "You and Silver can be impossible at times, in your different ways."

>>193465
He helps with the search, though his priority is not getting ambushed and shot.

>>193466
>>193465
There are a number of little items, like bottles of distilled alcohol, a random figurine, more than one religious statuette, a couple boxes of ammunition that are empty or open, and magazines and posters of griffins (and a pony) in questionable positions.

Nothing under at minimum the beds in the front.

>>193464
Zara is taking a while to talk to him...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF16eA7sdqo

>>193467
If it's all in Imperial, can Silver tell the direction or mood of the conversation? And if it's not, what are they saying?

>>193468
Some shock, concern, and more hushed tones

Zara is obviously not entirely fluent in Imperial and sometimes needs to think about words or has the reddish griffin repeat himself.

>>193469
While they finish up their conversation, Silver decides to look around where he's at to see if any of their group is around to chat with.

>>193467
He looks into the small room, and then through the remainder of the lockers, cabinets and beds.

>>193470
There are multiple other ponies, most notably the white pegasus airpony, Captain Weary Weeks, Pipette, Star Fire, Pinup Locker, Primed Well, and Rustling Pine. Presumably Blackheel and Mala are still downstairs

>>193471
Some lockers are locked, some are not. There is some paper money, keys (presumably to items at home?), some papers, and more magazines of a questionable nature.

Looking into the small room, it has a stove, a container of kerosene, a small sink, a few cabinets, and a few other items that suggest that this is a small galley. Nearby are some cabinets that seem to hold medical supplies, as well as a wall that seems to spots to place firearms, as well as some boxes of ammunition. Still another cabinet seems to have plates, and another has more sheets. All of this in a small area.

>>193471

But then, looking back, he sees it. By far and away the most interesting thing in the room. Under a bed that is now behind him, he sees something large and blue and green. It could only be... a pony. Cavaliere has no idea why he wasn't spotted earlier. Most likely he moved to that spot unnoticed after sneaking past him, and hoped that Cavaliere would not go back and search an area he already searched.

>>193472
Cavaliere contemplates taking some items that may prove useful, but upon seeing the pony that occupies all his interest. He crouches down with a neutral expression on his face, slowly with the deliberation that can only imply the ability to act if the need arises. "Hello," he greets. "I don't intend to hurt you. Come out from under there, but keep your hooves where I can see them."

>>193474
He opens his eyes widely. He takes a moment, but then comes out, hooves raised. he is wearing green overalls that seems to be some kind of uniform, not necessarily a soldier's uniform. He is a unicorn, and his mane is a purple-grey tint

>>193475
The griffon stands up from his crouch. "We both have questions for each other; I'll start. What's your name, are you part of this ship's crew, and are you armed?" he asks.

>>193467
Posey checks the religious statuettes to see if any of them might be magical or otherwise valuable.
[1d20+11 = (9+11) = 20]
She checks for any runes on magical ammunition too
[1d20+11 = (5+11) = 16]
>>193472
>There is some paper money
How much paper money?
>Keys
Posey takes the keys.
>>193475
>>193473
Is he a colt?

>>193472
Silver puts out a question for the lot of them, for whoever decides to answer as he looks up at the Kostroma. "Any signs of movement from ship? Or hear anything about our missing pirate raiders?"

>>193478
Or, Silver could go talk with the griffon and Zara...in fact, that sounds like a better idea. So, instead, he just lets the nearby creatures know, "Do not dump this one," as he trots over to be with Zara.

>>193477
One, no, that's lead or possibly a zinc alloy. Another... Hmmm.. The way that it glimmers. It's certainly silver, but possibly enchanted

Posey thinks she may have found something. It's for a larger caliber of gun than, well, than she's seen so far, but it seems to exist

>>193478
Primed Well responds:

"No. We don't really have the best angle. It's gone dark, actually. What was that commotion in the hull? Was there a survivor?"

>>193480
Zara stops speaking and looks back to Silver, and the griffin does the same.

Silver smell the blood on the deck, though it is not as strong as the smell of salt water and diesel fuel.

>>193476
He is scared

"Wistful Wonder." He says "Uh, Yes. No."

>>193477
>colt
He is a male in the young adult, 17-22 age range. I'd use the term "colt" for that, but I'm not sure what you mean.

It looks like hundreds of Imperial Crowns.

>>193481
Somewhere in the darkness, a tongue is being flicked.

Silver looks between the two creatures, lets out an awkward cough, and speaks. "So, what are you two talking about?"

>>193482
Oh my...

Deer in headlights. Zara eventually answers
"Catching up"

>>193481
Posey takes the special bullet.
>young adult
Just check to see if he's an adult. Description seemed childlike.
Posey slowly moves over and attempts to charm him with her gaze. Will DC 19.
"I take it you were a crew member on this ship?"
>hundreds of Imperial Crowns
Posey counts the money to get the number.

>>193481
Cavaliere pats down the pony to make sure he is not concealing any weapons. "Are there any other creatures in this part of the ship?"

>>193483
"Good, that is good." After a second of whistling, Silver replies to the reddish griffon with another thought. "It is good to see you conversing. I was afraid you had lost ability to speak."

>>193486
He is not. He is wearing khaki pants

"Uh, I don't think so?"

>>193485
"Were?"

390 Crowns

>>193488
He stares at Silver. Deer in headlights

>>193490
Cavaliere steps back. "Mr. Wonder, you have a few minutes to gather your belongings before I escort you topside. I don't consider you a prisoner, but given where we are you may not want to leave."

>>193491
He quickly goes over to a bed and starts to try to collect some things from it. Clothing, as well as the contents of a locker

>>193492
As annoyed he is by Posey pilfering the place, he keeps an eye on Wonder. Ponies can still be dangerous, especially scared ones.

>>193493
The unicorn does not retrieve a gun from the locker, at least that Cavaliere can see. Mostly he takes clothing, what seems to be money, and a few other things

>>193494
When Wonder is finished, Cavaliere looks through the ammunition to see if any is .45 Colt. He retrieves more medical supplies and whatever money that has not already been taking, putting it in a place separate from his own cash. He flips through the papers.

>>193495
>>193495
He sees some identification papers and what seem to be contracts

Not .45, Not .45, .45? There's quite a diverse set of types of Ammunition here. Eventually, he does indeed find .45. 20 rounds

>>193496
The identification papers can be looked at later. What does it say on the contracts? The rounds will come in handy.

>>193497
One concerns mantainence work in World's End. The other concerns... Laundry services? Laundry Services. Laundry Services in Ny Winghaven. Then another for selling a fishing vessel in Nuevelle Aquellia.

>>193498
Not terribly important, but it may indicate where this boat has been in the past. The locked lockers may have something interesting, but Posey has the keys now and forcing the lockers open may take too much time. Cavaliere takes one of the questionable magazines for good measure before leading the pony back to the bow.

>>193499
The pony comes with Cavaliere. They encounter Blackheel along the way.

"Did you find another prisoner?"

>>193500
He nods. "Two ponies. Neither of them have been aggressive in any way and once we're off this island we can let them go. In the rear cabin there is ammunition but I was not able to find anything else that is particularly useful. Some containers in there are locked if you are feeling curious."

>>193501
"And what was their intention in coming up to a merchant vessel? We can leave them on the island and sink their vessel, I suppose. The GRU are not going to give us long. They will not give us long at all. They are coming for this vessel."

>>193503
"As is the proper sentence for piracy. But you have a point. Having a hostage or two on the ship will help if we encounter any survivors of their boarding party."

>>193490
Silver blinks, then realizes something to ask Zara. "Does he even know Ponish?"

>>193504
Are there any rooms left to explore on the ship?

>>193509
Yes. One more

>>193508
"Uh...."

>>193510
Okay, Cavaliere does not go topside yet with the pony, but will help to clear the last room. He glances through the doorway before he would step inside.

>>193511
First, it should be mentioned that the boat noticeably tapers, and also much of it is raised. The first section is a small bathroom and shower. Beyond that is what is almost a single room, containing the machinery for the rudder, and a magazine. The magazine has one small area for small arms, including a lone firearm - a greatly oversized rifle that must be some kind of antiquated anti-tank, or perhaps anti-monster gun. There are a number of cans of ammunition for the machine gun. The great majority of all space taken up by ammunition in the space, however, belongs to the shells for the automatic cannon that is above deck. The shells are one and a half inches, or 37 millimeters in diameter, over nine inches in length, explosive, and look like artillery shells in miniature. They are, however, linked together in great belts, like giant machine gun bullets. And then beyond all of this, and over the boat's propellers, is the last fuel tank.

There is no creature here

>>193512
He looks at the machine gun ammunition. Is it the same caliber used by the .50 machine gun mounted on the swan boat?

>>193513
It is not, as it is an Imperial caliber rather than the UPA caliber of the Swan Boat gun

>>193514
It was worth checking. If Cavaliere took the elephant gun and some ammunition for it, how encumbered would he be?

>>193510
The unicorn tilts his head at this reaction. "...is something wrong? Besides obvious, I mean."

>>193515
40 lbs

>>193516
"Uh, it was the external tanks, right?"

>>193517
Silver nods, and points towards them. "They got, uh...caught in crossfire."

>>193518
"Oh...."

She starts to go towards the end of the boat. Then she sees another of the bodies, and gasps. She tiptoes around it. Then she sees the yellow earth pony, gasps, sits down and places her face in her hooves, crying.

>>193519
Silver stops besides the poor crying mare and sits down besides her. He looks at the body, realizing that, in the heat of the battle, he doesn't know if he's the one who dropped him or not. "What was his name?"

>>193520
She turns her head, holding her hooves up as if to block the view

"Rémy... Rémy Stable"

>>193517
That would certainly put him over heavy load. I need to check how bad that would be.

>>193521
Silver, in an all-too-familiar move at this point, wraps a foreleg around the mare's shoulders and gives her a friendly consoling squeeze. "It is good name. How long were you two together?"

>>193523
This time, she lets her head go into his fur. She sniffles and pulls her head away to speak.

"He wasn't there at first but... He was a part of that crew that took me in. I've known him... near three years now."

>>193524
He gives her shoulder a pat as she speaks while keeping it wrapped around her. "How did you meet? How did you two get together?"

>>193525
"I was working in the harbor. I would repair engines on vessels that were laid up or just in for repair. He came in. I saw him a couple times... He eventually came up to me and would start chatting. That first time he made a joke about being on a yacht, I remember... Eventually I moved onto an active vessel under my employer, and he was hired onto the same..." She smiles for a moment, but starts to cry again

>>193526
He holds her tight during her cry. "It is good for soul to remember those good memories you shared with someone special. Not everyone gets to experience them, so those of us who do hold onto them like they are so immensely precious."

>>193527
>>193527
She cries and leans onto Silver. Silver can feel her baggy clothing, and to a lesser extent, the mare underneath

>>193528
He smiles, not really minding if she gets his fur wet from the tears. He can serve as an adequate towel if the situation calls for it. "It is also good for soul to cry. Grief can turn to poison if it is not expressed. I know that too better than most."

Away from the boat, and behind the swan boat, in the ocean, Kira floats behind.

Kira has noticed by now that the fighting comes in waves. For several minutes, there was a cacophony of gunfire, explosions, electricity, and other noises of combat. Kira could watch the shadows as they moved from the shoreline inland, and from the hill down to the sea. There were explosions on the beach and in the village. They must have been using their artillery...

But the fighting always comes in waves. It seems to have ceased now, and with it, the flares have stopped as well. The island is now in complete darkness. The GRU must have advanced to the beach by now, and with it, very possibly have secured the whole island.

The ocean has a creepiness all of its own. Each wave is large and threatens to place Kira's face underwater. She cannot feel the bottom, nor see what is beneath her. She can feel the mist coming down in its steady streams. She can see the enthralled ponies that are conscious in the boat next to her. Or at least, she can in those moments when stray light illuminates them. They are blindfolded by shirts and what clothing would work. But though they are blinded, they look forward towards the Kostroma, and in particular nearer the bow. They sometimes open their mouths, as if to vocalize. But always, they stare.

>>193529
She tries to nod, and continues crying

>>193530
Kira sighs in at least some level of relief. After all, they don't have any boats left to get to the Kostroma. The party took (or at least hopefully took) all of the rowboats with them, so now the 'gee are you' would have to bring their whole big ship around if they wanted to board the Kostroma. Or, perhaps that would be worse. Hmmmmm...

Either way, she keeps her eyes on the possessed ponies as she floats there in the ocean. She tilts her head at the displace, not understanding a few things about it. "So, why do you have them all act so weird? Why no have them act more 'normal', to avoid detection by the un-assimilated?"

Silver keeps holding the mare. "But those good memories do eventually outweigh that grief. They stay with you for far longer, and they shine far brighter in your mind." Smiling at her, he asks her, "How about some other good memories? Any funny stories of him?"

With all rooms on the boat explored, Posey returns to the main deck with intent to frisk the bodies for loot/keys before tossing them overboard.

>>193531
Kira sees something. Not anything in front of her or in what philosophers call "mind external reality," nor any kind of hallucination that has any pretense of existing in said "mind external reality." You could call it a "vision," but the way in which she sees it is probably most akin to a recalled memory. It is weak and the details are fuzzy, but she can make it out all the same. Kira sees a great serpent coiling in on itself and looking towards her. Is it Ouroboros? No, he must be forever eating himself as his massive trunk holds the heavens above the earth, so that they neither collide nor break away. Still this serpent must surely be a god. It's trunk does not coil in just any way, but in a horizontal eight shape, that symbol of infinity. Perhaps it is Ophion, the ancient serpent king over Nimbusia and indeed, all the world who held the throne in the time of primordial chaos, before the other gods and the titans made took control and installed order. He speaks:

"Presenting a mask to the other and hiding the true self is something unique to your world. If it takes long enough, I will learn how to do it."

>>193531
"Well..." She starts to smile, but then starts to cry again.

>>193533
There are a couple smaller keys, but by and large the bodies have been looted. Especially the one pony at the machine gun.

Silver is holding onto the zebra mare, who is crying.

The tank still has not been fixed and is still spreading diesel fuel over the deck. Posey must be grateful that it is diesel fuel and not gasoline. Still, she should hope that they don't actually need that fuel to get home. And the boat is made of wood. If that diesel fuel soaks in, as it seems it will, they better hope the boat doesn't catch fire for any reason. There will be no survivors.

>>193534
Kira immediately closes here eyes and tries to shake away this "vision" of a false Ouroboros. The form may be His, but the voice coming from Him is most certainly not right, and for some reason she feels particularly insulted by this slight upon her God. She opens her eyes, a strange determination coming from a newfound steel in her gaze. "You are not Him. You are an Other, an Aberrant, set to corrupt His realm and consume the minds of His children, and He will see to it that these aberrations will be corrected."

>>193534
Silver uses his free hoof to wipe away some of her tears. "I know if it were me, I would have wanted my loved ones to remember me more for those funny stories, than to remember me by their sorrow."

>>193534
Posey picks up the keys and looks at them to see if any might fit in the safe's keyhole
>Crying zebra
>leaking fuel
Do we have any duct tape?
Opposed Cha check to leverage my charm to make her patch the tanks faster. Pic related
[1d20+6 = (10+6) = 16]

Oh yeah, I guess I still have my Unseen Servant active. I direct it to gather up clothes to use as wrags for it to soak up the fuel.
Seeing Kira, she decides to check if the prayer heads she found were authentic:
>>193535
Kira, put these on your tail and tell me if you feel anything.

>>193536
Kira looks over from her moisturized spot in the water and away from the vision of the false god to Posey and her beads. She tilts her head, but sticks up the end of her tail for Posey to put them on. "Those don't look like anything my religion would have, but we can always give it a go!"

>>193537
"If they are genuine, they should reveal their true powers to those who wield magic of the priestly variety." she explains

>>193538
Kira looks up in contemplation. "That does sound like me. All lamia magic comes from blessings from Ouroboros. Alright, stick them on!"

>>193535
"Have you seen this 'Ouroboros'? Do you know what its true form looks like? Have you ever seen it close? Have you ever asked yourself why it wants or needs your veneration? Do you know that I am not the same as he?"

>>193535
Uh...

>>193536
They are not consistent with the safe. They haven't found any duct tape, but they haven't exactly ruled it out either

>>193538
>>193537
>>193539
You clearly have some very specific kind of item in mind, and I was just thinking "what would a person have on them? Well, if they were Catholic, and especially if they were going into harm's way, they might have a rosary."

>>193536
In terms of what the character is actually doing, what does it mean that "Opposed Cha check." Does Posey say something to Zara? Does she try to make eye contact? Does she just stare at Zara and try to use mind powers on her? Like, is there any kind of communication, verbalized or non-verbalized to Zara, or is it all in the mind? Does Posey gesticulate to affect either communication or to try to make magic work? What's going on?

>>193540
>You clearly have some very specific kind of item in mind, and I was just thinking "what would a person have on them? Well, if they were Catholic, and especially if they were going into harm's way, they might have a rosary."
Nevermind then. I was confusing them with the DMG magic item, which was my first thought of what they might be.
https://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Strand_of_Prayer_Beads
>>193541
>what does it mean that "Opposed Cha check."
I was trying to get her to do what I told her to do earlier, which was to get to work on repairing the ship.
>You can try to give the subject orders, but you must win an opposed Charisma check to convince it to do anything it wouldn’t ordinarily do.
The spell is language dependent:
>You must speak the person’s language to communicate your commands, or else be good at pantomiming.

"These tanks need patching if the ship is to be seaworthy. There is no time to waste."

But I am also uncertain if my charm spell was successful in the first place, so idk. I was mostly just rolling to see if there was any response, because I otherwise had no way to judge the success of my spell.

>>193542
>>193540
>>193535
>>193536
Zara makes a short and sharp "Yip!", and moves to the back of the boat

>>193543
Silver is a bit taken aback by the quick change in Zara's demeanor, and decides to keep alongside her. He looks again at the diesel tanks so full of holes like cheese. "How do you think we can fix these?"

>>193540
Kira uses the tip of her tail to gesture to the ocean around them. "Of course I have, and of course I do. He's everywhere, He's everything, He's a little part of everyone. All creatures are His children because fundamentally we come from the world that His death created, and in His rebirth we'll all become part of the next world He creates."

>>193544
"What happened?" She moves closer. "It was shot." She examines this one. "Well this one has been emptied. This one..." She looks at the other. "Yes, this one is leaking. Why is it filled at all? It should have been emptied by now." She turns to Silver. "Well, it can be patched. A quicker solution is duct tape. But why not transfer the diesel to a different tank? If anything that should have already happened by now."

>>193544
Kira hears in reply

"And are you happy with that world? Violence. Death. Disease. Decay. Things eating each other... You can do better."

>>193545
Silver: "Most of those with us who know how to fix ships are possessed. Anyways, tell me what to do. Together we can fix this." He finishes this off with a smile to the mare.

>>193545
Kira's ears fold down, but she keeps her resolve up. "You're describing the natural order of things. Death and decay are just as much a part of life as birth is, as they make room for new growth to take place. The tree that falls down in the forest and starts to rot will fertilize the soil and make everything around it grow stronger. The same applies to eating. The grass eats the nutrients from the soil and the light from His being, the prey eats the grass, the lesser predator eats the prey, the apex predator eats the lesser predator, and when the apex predator dies their body is returned to the earth to be turned into nutrients so that the cycle continues on. Violence is the only thing you've described that's in any way unnatural, and even then you're not innocent of that yourself. Your creations, your summons, your possessed creatures...have they not inflicted much violence on us and others?"

>>193538
>>193537
>>193540
"..... Cheap fakes..." Posey says, after a few seconds of no results from the strand of beads
"They are not even properly sanctified. Mere trinkets that that Griffin clutched for the illusion of protection." she continues
"All too common."

>>193546
Zara does not return the smile, but instead leans down and flips a switch

"That should have been done hours ago." She looks back to Silver. "There are materials for a repair downstairs. I don't know that that's necessary though. Just drain the tank."

>>193546
The snake's trunk moves in a fluid movement even as it keeps the 8 shape. It's head moves towards Kira. It has a wide, almost dragon-like head.

"In Self-Defense, and for the Revolution. Do you not think I could have done so much more to harm you? That I have not been holding back?" A pause of one second. "I can do nothing but dream. I cannot fly. I cannot see nor move. But I can dream, and in my dreams, it is as if I am in that first, beautiful state that all things were in. That happy childhood where there are no limits, no shackles of what you call 'reality'. Can you not dream too? Must you resign yourself to things as they are? Can you not imagine things as they could be? Can you not hope, or dream for something better? Come. Imagine with me. Dream with me. It's easy if you try."

>>193547
I mean, they could be magic beads. But if you want to do it that way, okay

>>193548
I don't think Posey can hear any of this

>>193542
The unseen servant brings a set of clothing from inside the hull, and starts the process of the cleanup

>>193549
Silver nods. "Alright. Tell me what I need to do and where." He looks for a drain on the tank, though he doesn't know what he's looking for in the dark.

>>193549
Kira lets out a sigh, looking at this false Ouroboros with that intensely steeled look in her eyes she's adopted. She holds onto the pendent around her neck as it glows faintly in her hoof. "My dreams are for the safety of my tribe, for ponies and lamias to join hoof-in-hoof knowing we're not so different after all, for friendship and Harmony - actual Harmony - to prevail. My dream is to make this reality better than what I found it. That dream is fundamentally incompatible with yours. You control, you dominate. You don't have 'friends', you have pawns. Call them whatever you want to, it's obvious to everyone what they really are: your puppets. You don't want to make this reality better because you fundamentally do not understand this reality. Even worse, you misunderstand it, seemingly intentionally as you have no interest in learning anything about it. You just want to make it into a copy of your home realm. But why not return home? Why not make your home better? Why change ours?"

>>193550
The Snake before Kira rears its head up and hisses

>But why not return home? Why not make your home better? Why change ours?
“Could I not ask you the same question, Kubana?”

The serpent god collapses in on itself until it is a single, very large goat. White to grey. Male. Horns that are trimmed and curve back. Kind of a round belly. The goat moves much closer.

“You are so in the middle of it that you don’t even see the problems. You cannot see or smell them. You don’t know any better world. Only an outsider could. I can see the problems.”

>>193550
Zara

“I opened the valve. The diesel will move by gravity to the lower tanks.”

>>193551
Kira doesn't like how the Traveler is able to probe into her mind and take the image of Hopper to mess with her.

"My home is gone. That's why I'm here, to find my tribe a new home, a safe home." She rears up her head, standing defiant to the god-Hopper. "But why are you here? What caused you to fall out of the sky and into our reality?"

>>193552
"Oh." The fluffy unicorn rubs the back of his head in awkwardness. "I suppose there is not much for me to do, then. Is that all that needs to be done here?"

>>193554
The image of Hopper comes closer. Within striking distance, perhaps

“I lost a fight and was thrown out. Same as you, really.”

>>193555
Kira knows what this is. This is a show of dominance, just like two animals in the wild. No blows have come, not yet at least. What matters is that she holds fast in the face of this pressure. Show that she has nothing to fear.

"Tell me, was this a fight you chose? Were you the aggressor? What started this fight to happen?"

>>193556
“Do the ponies ask you those questions?” It says.

“Now what are you going to do about it?”

>>193554
“Well… clean up what has spilled. I don’t like that the tanks are open, but so long as there is no explosion or sustained fire, it should be good enough.” She turns her head. “Did the torpedoes get hit?”

>>193557
Kira narrows her eyes at the god-Hopper. "I don't take over the minds of innocent ponies."

>>193557
Silver shakes his head. "Not that I think. Certainly if they were I do not think any of us would be here, not with what we used. Where do you keep your cleaning supplies?"

>>193558
“Hopper” scrunches, and walks closer

“I can get you your home back.”

Zara:
“Yes, uh, downstairs.”

>>193559
Kira's ears fold down as a mark of sadness. "Our home is lost to us at this point. All we can do is to save what we can."

>>193559
Silver nods, and holds out a hoof for Zara. "Want to come along and talk some more?"

>>193560
It opens its horizontally slit wyes wider.

“As you are, you cannot. As I am, I cannot. But together… You must understand. Even death may be defeated. Anything created anew. Anything dreamed become reality.”

>>193560
Zara looks at his hoof, and then takes it. She looks up to him. “Uh, sure, I guess.”

>>193549
>I mean, they could be magic beads. But if you want to do it that way, okay
Oi, if they're magic, it would be Kira that would know for sure, not Posey.

>>193561
Kira shakes her head. "It wouldn't be the same. I wouldn't be me, my tribe wouldn't be them. What would be the point?"

>>193561
Silver smiles, and leads the zebra mare back downstairs to look for the cleaning supplies. "How long have you been with this crew?"

Posey gets to work hauling the bodies to the edge of the ship, preferably in a place out of clear view so that she can begin to harvest the spell components from their bodies before chopping them into chum (a grisly sight).

Blackheel comes into deck and attempts to speak to the nearest party member.

“Alright, what is the play? Take the boat, torpedo the Kostroma and slip past the destroyer and make it to Nova Griffonia?”

>>193565
From bow to stern

Behind the bow machine gun, a green earth pony. This pony has had cuts into its chest between the ribs and the abdomen.

Next to the deckhouse is a rust colored griffin. He seems to be conscious and is tied up.

Near the front of the port replacement torpedo, a yellow earth pony. Silver has this one as special for some reason.

Next to the rafts, a grey griffin. Interestingly, this one was female.

Next to the 37 MM Auto-cannon, a grey griffin.

>>193563
Zara closes her eyes tightly and places her head down. Silver may have to pull to guide her.

“About a year. 10 months…”
She starts crying again.

>>193563
“But it could be. But you could be. But they could be.”

The goat comes even closer.

>>193566
Silver pulls her in tight, using his own body to help guide her along. "How did you come to be part of this crew?"

>>193566
Kira shakes her head, at first slowly and then more vigorously. "No...no, they wouldn't be. I know it. The ponies of the Kostroma, the ponies from the airship, they aren't themselves. We wouldn't be either. We'd just be lost in your hive mind, and then we really would be a dead tribe."

>>193567
Sniffling, she says

“The captain was starting up a venture. He knew me from a job I did on one of his boats. He bought out my contract and brought me on as a mechanic. Of course Remy suggested it…”

>>193567
The goat stomps his hoof.

“You will have harmony. You will have unity. You will never be lonely nor misunderstood. You could never be prey.”

>>193568
Silver chuckles. "I guess that venture was running his own pirate vessel?"

>>193568
Kira shakes her head even harder, enough that her brain moving around in her skull actually hurts a little. "No! Your Harmony is a lie!"

>>193517
I can calculate Cavaliere's carrying load later before combat. Mindful of the need for extra firepower, he takes the elephant gun and whatever ammunition for it is available. He goes to the stairwell and hopes that the "elite mercenaries" have not been wasting more time. He will probably encounter Silver on the way.

>>193531
The lack of activity could also be a sign of the entity shifting its focus to defending the Kostroma itself.

>>193540
>>193542
Since Posey is a half-vampire wouldn't she have an aversion to holy items and symbols? Just plain water has that effect.

>>193569
“If you want to call it that, I suppose.” She answers.

>>193570
Cavaliere obtains the gun and a few rounds - 20 - of ammunition. The wish that is not granted is that the mercenaries are being economic with time.

>>193569
The goat stamps its hoof, and the vision disappears.

There are very few lights. Kira’s ears are ringing.

>>193571
If Silver is in the narrow corridor belowdecks, he will see the dark griffon trudging towards them with a determined look on his face. Resting on his shoulder is an almost comically large rifle I know I described it as an elephant gun, but the description has been unclear as to whether it is a punt gun or an actual anti-tank rifle. They look very different.

>>193571
>>193572
Silver tilts his head at the mare. "Well what do you call it? After all, you all did try to rob what you thought was derelict ship carrying valuables between Skynavia and Stalliongrad."

Silver looks at the griffon wielding a large rifle with widened eyes. "That...is big rifle. If we need to punch through Traveler's hide, that might do trick."

Can Silver tell what the rifle is?

>>193571
Kira cries out in pain, struggling for a moment in the water as her ringing ears mess with her ability to float.

>>193573
I forgot, Cavaliere would also be escorting Wistful Wonder. I don't know if the pony would have anything to say in this situation.
"I don't know if it will be enough to hurt it directly, but it should put down whatever it sends at us," he replies. He frowns. "Why are the two of you down here again?"

>>193574
"Getting cleaning supplies for spilled diesel on top deck. What are you doing here with this...young stallion?"

>>193573
“I call it freedom. After being a slave girl under Chiropterra for a decade going from boat to boat, and then an indentured servant in Haukland, it’s freedom. I could have left. If I wanted to.” She looks down, sad again.

>>193572
>>193573
Uh……. Looking up rifles, the “Boys” rifle of the UK in WW2 is probably the closest comparison. I’m not sure.

>>193576
"You were a slave to bat ponies? What happened?"

>>193575
"We are headed topside. Cleaning is the least of our priorities now, and we can get any of the others to do it while we board the Kostroma." He tips his hat to Zara, excusing himself while he takes Silver aside, if that's at all possible in such tight quarters. "I don't mean to undermine your conversation, but we need to prepare to board now. The longer we wait, the more danger we expose to the lives of those entrusted to us, including that mare."

>gun
Interesting choice

>>193578
Silver lets out a sigh. "I suppose you are right...there is one last safe in captain's quarters. I want to see if it holds anything that might be of help in fight against Traveler."

>>193580
"Sadly, no. We could brute force it, get few of our unicorns pulling door off hinges. Or we could see if one of these crew members knows code."

>>193575
UwU

>>193577
Now she opens her eyes

"Ugh... For most of my life. When I was a filly. Four or five, maybe? I went with my mother and I on a ship to meet with my father in Kasa. But our ship was seized by pirates, and they sold us to the Bats. I spent much of my early years as a domestic in one of their plantations. When they let me in a technician's shop, I got my cutie mark. I found my way on a boat again, and worked there as an apprentice. That boat got seized again, though I think it was a set up to sell me. And I got indentured to a master in Haukland."

>>193574
Wistful Wonder bombards Cavaliere with questions and... statements

"So, who are you? What are you doing here? What will happen to me? Surely I can be of some use to you, right? I'm not threatening. I'm not threatening at all-"

Blackheel starts yelling again

"Do you understand? We are on a countdown timer until our enemies win. The GRU has seized the island and with it tied up loose ends. All that remains is for them to close the noose on the ship. They will block the harbor soon enough with their ship and will board.

There is blood in the water. When I sent that distress call I knew many would hear it. Only one Stalliongradian ship has come so far, but do not think they could not, or will not send more. The Fascist have known we are here. The bad weather is probably the only reason they have not strafed us, and if we are alive by the morning, they may still come. Nova Griffonia will not long tolerate an intrusion on their land.

All of this is nothing compared to that, that 'Chernobog' on the ship. Everything it has done, it has done while it is tied up, blindfolded, and by all appearances a corpse, refrigerated and locked away in the hold of the ship. If it wakes, I do not know what could stop it. And then that assumes that we are awake. Can you hear the ringing? Its call. It gets louder. We grow more tired and weary. It can send full thoughts to us now. It is only a matter of time until it will have worn us down and taken us all. And then it may still have tricks for us.

Posey, I'm sure your mother insisted you become a warrior when you really wanted to become a janitor, but there will be time for cleaning later. And Sword..." He winces "You with that zebra... You can play therapist later. We have more pressing matters now. Where did that snake thing go? Or the Hyena."

>>193582
"Wow...that is quite young. It is odd to think they continue to practice of slavery to this day. You would think all it would do is make their neighbors more likely to invade them."

>>193583
Kira calls out from the water, having stabilized herself. "Here! The Traveler tried getting in my head by taking Ouroboros' form and then Hopper's and I said no."

Silver, sadly, nods in agreement. He looks over at Zara. "You are mechanic. Could you help us get Kostroma ready to set off, if we dealt with Traveler and saved your crew?"

>>193566
"Alouette, gentille alouette
Alouette, je te plumerai
Je te plumerai la tête
Je te plumerai la tête
Et la tête, et la tête
Alouette, Alouette
Oh, oh, oh, oh...."
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2uWLR-6Zbks&t=11s&pp=2AELkAIB

Posey is not skipping loot anymore. She plucks plumage and flight feathers from the griffons, extracts the brains and hearts from each humanoid, and removes every talon from the griffons (talons count as griffons, right). She is morbidly efficient at this process: she has clearly done this before.

Her pupils dilate and her nostrils flare, the scent of blood getting to her.

She then tosses what's left of the bodies to the sharks.

>>193570
Posey does not inherently have any of those weaknesses; I just chose to roleplay them as a psychological hurdle she needs to overcome. She is afraid of the sea because she believes it is a force of nature that rejected her that she has yet to conquer, which might change in the near future.
Then I got hit with the nerfbat six+ times and I began to question how much I really wanted to seriously roleplay those weaknesses I voluntarily put on myself.
Anyway, holy symbols are items that Posey handles on a day to day basis as a necromancer, so she is familiar with them. She would not be afraid of cheap imitation non-sanctified rosary beads, and as a serious occultist she scoffs at the proposal that a cheap trinket would protect somepony from the forces of evil, as it clearly did not protect this griffon tonight.
>>193583
Posey turns, interrupted in her spell component extraction, grimacing at the mention of her mother.
"....Very well. Let us get to work already." she says, looking towards the Kostroma

>>193581
"It's not worth it and he's likely to have only mundane riches. We will be back here afterward."

>>193582
"The best way to describe ourselves would be as independent. We did not intend to engage in piracy, and yet here we are. You will be let go once we're out of danger."

Where are they now? If they're still below decks, there is no way for Kira to call Silver except by radio.

>>193585
Rolling Animal Handling to chum the waters
[1d20+6 = (3+6) = 9]
>>193586
>>We did not intend to engage in piracy, and yet here we are.
Posey narrows her eyes after returning from her chum heap, with her pristine white fur almost uncannily clean.
"... Why yes of course we did not originally come to engage in piracy. We came to take those airponies hostage. Piracy was just an opportunity that presented itself, and a means to an end after monsters sank our ship."
She takes 10 on Bluff for a modified 24 to sell this lie, and takes 10 on Innuendo to get the message to Cavalier that w good lie relies on consistency.
"If the prisoners cooperate in maintaining the ship, they will be released on the mainland without issue. They should do so earnestly, because this will be their only way back to land."
>he's likely to have only mundane riches
Cavalier, you should know that DMs do not put locked safes in their games without intent for players to open them. DM was talking about how annoyed that we weren't picking up mundane loot the other week. The safe could include an item useful for our next battle, like how the whaling ship encounter got us the explosive harpoon.
On the other hand, it could just be a reward for taking the Kostroma and recovering the key from the pirates.

Anyways, I think it's about time that we move on to the Kostroma.
>>193583
Posey puts her grotesque armor back on, now with a couple extra bones fastened to it, ties up her war bun with throwing needles, and fastens the blade to her braid, preparing for battle.
"Very well, now that this delay is dealt with, let us take the Kostroma, giddy up!" she says, trotting towards the Swan boat

>>193570
Seeing the elephant gun, Posey levitates the enormous magical silvered bullet to Cavalier.
"I found this round when I was below deck. Silvered, seemingly magical. I know an anti-monster round when I see one. It will at the very least trike more accurately, and may have other hidden powers. Perhaps you will find this one to be useful, for the kind of monster that refuses to die." she says
"It is more useful to you than me. I never fancied boomsticks. In fact..."
She takes out her other magic ammunition that she got from the swamp adventure, as well as the weapon crystal (their numbers or statistics were never revealed to me, but magic ammo is minimum +1 before other abilities, and I think a full clip should be 10 rounds; I have no idea weapon crystals work in this game, but apparently it makes the guns count as magic? If it turns out to be valuable, I will want it back later)
"Take these while you are at it. I know from experience that there are certain beasts that cannot easily be felled with mortal weaponry, and they are often the kind that alienists prefer to invoke with there summons.)
>>193571
Iirc, an elephant gun is a kind of blunderbuss, so it can shoot basically any random bullshit that fits in the barrel, right? So if I give all these magic bullets to Cavalier, he should be able to shoot any of them?
Or maybe magic bullets resize to the gun barrel, like how most magic items resize to fit the wearer?

>>193584
"Silver, before we board the ship, we should probably check the properties of that cutlass. It appears to be magical." Posey says
"Try testing it on a cadaver. I am sure an experienced swordsman like you should be able to determine its properties with a couple swings."

>>193589
Silver grimaces at the idea if defiling a corpse beyong mere looting. "I do not need to carve up dead bodies to tell what is special about it. Give me some room to swing it around and I can tell you."

I'm still kind of salty that my suggestion to bring along an NPC to fill the roll of a rogue was rejected with "questing is for PCs" and a suggestion that the specific one (Kira' pet, Neela Pheeta) was too squishy to have near combat. Instead, you all trusted the roll of rogue to Brie...

>>193585
>>193587
>A long, extensive process of removing all of the feathers from four creatures that each have about ten times the surface area of a chicken, sawing into skulls to open them, sawing through bone of at six limbs and presumably doing more than that in order to "chum" these four or five creatures that are each the size of a sheep or a smaller pig, and doing all of this in the immediate presence of about a dozen witnesses belonging to three nations
Blackheel pays attention to Posey, nagging her more than most
"Ugh... I could have expected this from the hyena... Actually I didn't, but I should have... Listen. I don't know if the Navy actually has the upper hoof that they seem to have, or if that thing has some kind of carefully laid trap that it's waiting to spring for when the Navy gets into range, but I can say for damn sure that when the detonator of 130 Millimeter shell presses against your skull, that little ugly feather that you tuck in there like a zebra hag won't do you even the slightest bit of good, and you'll wish you had back that time you spent playing vulture so you could actually do your job as the warrior that you allege that you are, and not cede all tactical initiative to the enemy, and let them sneak up on you and lay traps. Those griffins will still be dead when we leave this place."

>>193588
I was kind of just expecting the ammo to go unused the entire campaign because one of you had the gun and the other had the ammo

It is not. You can only fit specific ammunition into it. Is that ammunition the same as is used in the anti-aircraft guns like the .50 or the 13mm, or the 20 mm? No, of course not. That would be too simple. Instead it's some kind of unique ammunition that is just too big to fit in a machine gun. Which I guess is more powerful than the machine gun rounds and more practical than the 20 mm, but still.

>>193584
"Do you think they'd be slavers if they couldn't beat up on their neighbors Anyways..."

With Silver's question, he looks up to him with a solemn expression and ice blue eyes that pierce the darkness.

"I don't know if I could but... Maybe. I will try."
Her ears perk up and she nods with relative determination.

>>193593
Silver takes her hoof in his and smiles brightly at her. "I know you can. Hearing your story, you are far stronger than perhaps even you know."

>>193591
>I'm still kind of salty that my suggestion to bring along an NPC to fill the roll of a rogue was rejected with "questing is for PCs"
What? I don't recall rejecting anything.
>Instead, you all trusted the roll of rogue to Brie...
I did NOT trust him...
>>193591
>or if that thing has some kind of carefully laid trap that it's waiting to spring for when the Navy gets into range
Posey chuckles
"Oh, it most certainly has a trap. Any creature powerful enough to control this many ponies at once is intelligent enough to have tactical foresight. It would have not spent all this time telepathically taunting us if our quest were futile, and once we make a move it will use every resource at its disposal to defend itself, lashing out like a caged animal. There is no telling what is waiting for imus there." Posey says
She doesn't pay Blackheel's impatient remarks any regard, instead simply continuing to walk towards the swan boat and stepping onto it, kicking a severed limb into the water as she goes
"Ready when you are, Commissar." she says, with a bow.
"All aboard."
>>193594
"The time for chit chat is over. We have monsters to kill, and she has a ship to repair. Giddy up."

>>193595
Blackheel, looking irritated, points at the Kostroma, on the opposite side of the torpedo boat from the Swan boat

I'm not acknowledging a full butchering unless there is a sacrifice of time, and that will come with penalties like being ambushed by Artillery or something similat

>>193594
She lowers her ears and her head, then gives a toothy smile.

"I... I hope so..."

>>193591
>that little ugly feather that you tuck in there like a zebra hag won't do you even the slightest bit of good
What feather? Posey's mane is full of weapons (throwing needles, braid blade).
>>193596
I'm confused, weren't we going to ride the Swan boat towards the Kostroma? Unless we can board it from this boat already that is.
>full butchering
Okay, I'll just take a Griffin's hand. I want some fingers for touch spell focu.

>>193597
Posey can pretty easily get a single griffin claw.

The Torpedo boat is immediately next to the Kostroma. I don't know if there is a name for that kind of positioning, but you could get on a ladder and climb from the torpedo boat onto the deck of the Kostroma next to the midship deckhouse. Which may or may not be where you want to be, but it's where it goes

>>193598
>The Torpedo boat is immediately next to the Kostroma.
OH!
Okay. Posey tosses her grappling hook, before skittering up the side of the ship.
Climb
[1d20+8 = (13+8) = 21]

>>193585
I didn't read this post in the morning, hoping to get a response from GM Pony on positioning never did but there is no way Posey has enough time to do this while Silver, Kira and Cavaliere are away. Also, aren't there a bunch of other eyes on the boat itself as well as on the swanboat? "Morbidly efficient" or not, this isn't going to happen without interruption.

>>193587
>Cavalier, you should know that DMs do not put locked safes in their games without intent for players to open them.
There will be valuable things in here, but brute-forcing the safe or investigating for the combination is a ridiculous waste of time at this junction. I know time is a flexible, handwaved concept in this game but PCs doing that or scrubbing the decks during a special operation beggars suspension of disbelief.
Also, chances are astronomically low for whatever's in the safe to be uniquely useful against the Fellow Traveler itself. The torpedoes stated to be in easy access on the boat are far more likely to be useful (and we have a warhead already).

>>193588
>elephant gun
I said that without knowing exactly what the gun was. When it comes to massive rifles that push the limits of being usable by a single infantry, there are two main types. The first is what I initially thought it to be, a "punt gun" which is a comically oversized sporting rifle designed to take down large organic creatures like elephants. It is not a shotgun or blunderbuss, and is designed to fire specialized case ammunition.
The second type is what it actually is, an anti-tank rifle designed to pierce armor. The design for these types of rifles is quite different, usually bolt-action, and the rounds are very different too. I don't know what kind of ammunition Posey found or whether it is remotely compatible with either type.

>>193591
>I'm still kind of salty that my suggestion to bring along an NPC to fill the roll of a rogue was rejected with "questing is for PCs" and a suggestion that the specific one (Kira' pet, Neela Pheeta) was too squishy to have near combat. Instead, you all trusted the roll of rogue to Brie...
To be fair, we should have reconsidered as soon as the squabbles happened right at the start. I don't think Neela would be a good fit for this kind of mission nonetheless.

>butchering
Part of the reason I wanted to ask the location of the party members was to know whether Posey would be in eyeshot of Cavaliere. Expect interruptions if that is the case.

>>193599
>grappling hook
Didn't Cavaliere already let down a line from the top of the ship? That was his main reason for going up there.

>>193601
She has a standard 50 ft of rope, as most adventurers do, but since it looks like Cavalier already put one up there she doesn't need it.

>>193600
Positioning what now?

>>193602
Good enough.

The Kostroma is unpleasant to walk up the side of as it angles outwards and is slightly worse than verticle. The sides is covered in rain and wet. However the paint adds some texture, and rivets especially provide grip in the locations where those are present. Climbing up is slow and unpleasant, but doable

There's supposed to be a ladder integrated into the side of the ship...

>>193602
I checked and stand corrected. Cavaliere intended to let down a line, but reconsidered after finding that ladder. He still has whatever length is left to him. Posey is welcome to carry it since Cavaliere is as of now burdened by a heavy load.

>>193603
Are Silver and Cavaliere above or below the main deck of the torpedo boat? I assumed below but then Kira communicated somehow to them which would be possible only if they were topside. >>193584

Also, Cavaliere would not permit mutilation of the bodies if Posey attempts it.

>>193603
What does Posey see when she gets to the top?
>>193600
Maybe Monstro should pick up some of those torpedos.

>>193604
Silver came above deck, and has spent most of his time playing therapist to a zebra mare who was supposed to be fixing the leaking fuel tank. I've assumed Cavaliere was the last one downstairs

>>193605
To her left, past the midship deckhouse and towards the bow of the ship, lights still shine, but very dimly, and red-orange.

To her right and towards the stern and stern deckhouse, there is darkness, with hatch covers.

Posey can see a drop of water falling. For the past hour, there has been a thin mist falling. Now, proper rain may be coming.

>>193600
The torpedo boat has two torpedoes in firing tubes, and two behind those two replace fired torpedoes.

>>193606
She doesn't see any creatures?
Posey carefully creeps her way into the ship.

>>193607
No creatures are visible on deck, at least at first glance, at least in the darkness and with so many places to hide.

What does "into" mean in this context?

>>193606
I should probably look up what Cavaliere's inventory was when starting this mission, deduce what he has now, and drop everything unnecessary

>torpedoes
We probably shouldn't use them against the Kostroma yet, but if the GRU ship is encountered we could attempt to sink it (though this would basically be suicide).

(where did we discuss that the Traveller would be stowed on the desk?)
>>193608
I meant "onto" the deck.
Posey has Darkvision
She carefully sneaks ahead, taking 10 on Move Silently.
>>193609
>if the GRU ship is encountered we could attempt to sink it (though this would basically be suicide).
That's what I want to use Monstro for. If sinking their ship ends with me losing my minion in the process, then it will have served its purpose and return to the sea.
It should be strong enough to carry all of the torpedos at once.

>>193610
What direction is she going, though? The ship is massive. It's a whole map onto itself. Just the midship deckhouse all on its own is like a three story office building

>>193611
I will be real with you, I don't know yet.
I recall asking Blackheel where the Traveller is being stowed or any comfortable rooms that the hippogriff might help himself to, but I don't think he ever answered.
Right now I am just trying to get on that ship.

Posey draws her whip, her bolas, and her locking mechanism, proceeding stealthily with intent to strangle any potential witnesses as she creeps onto the deck.

Is anypony joining Posey?

>>193611
Posey makes her way towards the wooden covers above Cargo Hold 2, with intent to summon her crawlers to melt a hole in it.

Who is holding the explosive Harpoon? Was it Cavalier? If no pony is carrying it, I will take it with me.

>>193612
>>193614
>>193617
This isn't a single player mission. So far we haven't even decided which NPCs in particular could help support us aboard.

>>193618
I've been waiting for someone else to post.
DM indicated that things were time sensitive.

Developing a plan would be fun...

>>193621
Well, my plan was the plan I thought we discussed earlier, which was to get to the place the Traveller is stowed and minimizing encounters along the way as soon as possible by melting the wooden deck above it and dropping down next to it.

If anyone else has other ideas, I am open to discussing them.

>>193619
>>193621
>>193622
OOC, I need to sort out Cavaliere's inventory so if possible I can keep him at medium encumbrance. I lost his up-to-date character notes (long story) so I have to reconstruct them. I should have done that sooner but life has been busy.
IC, we need to huddle and decide who we're bringing. We might not even take every PC; Kira might want to guard the boats. Some NPCs with combat experience would be helpful, and the scientists would help us navigate the labs and get out anything useful. A griffon or two might know how to use the explosive harpoon. One or two of the pirates might be able to convince the boarding party to surrender if they are at all lucid.
>dropping in
A good tactic but there is risk of falling and getting hurt. Also, if we bring a larger group then we lose the time advantage due to the amount of time and rope it would take for everypony to climb down. If we will be very few, then we can easily get pinned down and surrounded.

>>193623
Well, the primary disadvantage of heavy encumbrance is an inability to fly.

>>193623
>encumbrance
You have a positive strength score and are a quadrupedal creature: your light carrying capacity should be able to hold all of your combat gear, your utilities, and then some.

>>193626
Cavaliere has a strength score of 10 which is decidedly average. One of the disadvantages of being a griffon is being beholden to bipedal weight rules owing to a feline/avian frame. This means a heavy load is at 100 lbs. I packed a lot of equipment which means Cavaliere has been at medium encumbrance for most of this mission, so I need to figure out what to leave behind.
Also I need to know what combat mechanics apply to the anti-tank rifle he has. I assume it's similar to a .50 sniper rifle in DnD modern but it's up to GM Pony's discretion.

>>193627
>bipedal
You have four legs though. You're a quadruped. Your light load is just under 50 pounds.
I get it though. Sort out your equipment.
>Also I need to know what combat mechanics apply to the anti-tank rifle he has. I assume it's similar to a .50 sniper rifle in DnD modern but it's up to GM Pony's discretion.
I would really like to see a comprehensive document on the statistics of weapons used in this game. So far several seen to be inconsistent with the d20 sources I have been referencing.
Also, it would be nice to know that classes are proficient in what weapons.

The Kostroma needs attention if we're going to use it to escape. It's clear the boiler is dying for some reason and we have no idea what threats await us if they aren't dealt with. We should mark key rooms for exploration, clearing them of enemies and using whatever they contain to help us in the coming fight, lest we end up facing the Traveler unprepared along with facing potentially dozens of hostiles at the same time. Cavaliere already got the infirmary, but we should also check the armory, the boiler room, the captain's quarters, the officers' quarters, the bridge, and the galley and storerooms. Clearing the ship before facing the Traveler and Light Water will save us tremendous amounts of trouble in the long run.

Monstro (or whatever the whale is called) should be used to run the GRU ship aground so badly that it can't follow us, and for good measure should damage its artillery that it can't shell us.

Did Cavaliere already use up the handcuffs he brought with him? I think he still has heavy steel manacles. How much rope has he used? He tied up nearly every prisoner.

>>193630
How many did he have? There have been quite a few prisoners.

I would assume basically all had been used by now

>>193631
I checked. Although I tried getting more at the start apparently that detail was lost and he just has the one pair. They're heavy but have not been used. He has used rope for all the prisoners. I guess if there's any length left it can be safely discarded.

Briefly taking inventory, Cavaliere counts:
revolver: 3 lb
derringer: 1 lb
dagger: 1 lb
backpack: 2 lb
bedroll: 5 lb
business cards
canteen (full): 2 lb
outfit: 8 lb
jacket: 4 lb
map case: 0.5 lb
flask (presumably still full): 1 lb
flint and steel
grappling hook (4 lb)
fine pen
flashlight (3 lb)
manacles (2 lb)
small steel mirror (0.5 lb)
notebook
belt pouch (0.5 lb)
trail rations (4 lb)
.45 ammo, 80 rounds (3.2 lb)
anti-rank rifle and ammunition. 20 rounds (40 lb)
camouflage net (weight unknown)
whatever he picked up during the quest (I lost track, but would mostly be documents and pictures, as well as the medical supplies from the torpedo boat)

If he has any rope left, it's too short to be of much use and he discards it. On the torpedo boat he leaves behind his bedroll, jacket, grappling hook, mirror, alcohol flask, trail rations, and the camo net. That leaves his net weight at 66.2 lb, at the edge of what could be considered a medium load for strength 10. Although the jacket gives +1 AC, being under medium load means he keeps his +3 dex bonus which is a net benefit of +2.

He offers his trail rations and a swallow of alcohol to whoever wants it, and permits the use of the camo net. His other items remain off-limits. The medical supplies presumably take up weight and he gives them to another party member to carry.

>>193633
The giving of alcohol is like milk offered to stray kittens or cigarettes to college students - everyone wants some. Cavaliere may chose.

It is so.

>>193633
Also, Cavaliere calls over the remaining party members, which includes Mala. Unfortunately Posey would not be able to see or hear him, but at least she's not doing whatever she wants to the remaining corpses. "We need to board as soon as we can. If any of you want to stay behind and keep watch over these creatures, that is fine and I will not begrudge you. We should also determine how many of these we bring along. I don't think Blackheel can be dissuaded, and I would like to have a member of this boat's crew along to get through to their boarding party. Any others should be chosen according to how useful they would be aboard, of course if they are willing to join. I'd like to have enough guns to fight our way through, but we also need to be quick and not overcrowd the passageways."

>>193634
Cavaliere lets the injured and visibly shaken creatures have first dibs on the whiskey. Not many would probably be able to tell or care that it's an expensive kind. He holds onto the flask until it is empty. "Only a little," he cautions. "It's good to steel your nerves, but we can't have you drifting off."

>>193635
Kira peaks over from the edge of the ship. "I'd like to come along. I'm...I'm not gonna lie, I'm super duper scared, but I have to. How can I tell the governor that I helped stop the Traveler if I don't actually face him? Plus he tried to get me to join him by taking a form of Ouroboros. I don't like that."

Silver nods at the griffon. "You would have to kill me to get me to not board that ship. Plus, I think I can get our additions to our group rallied and ready for fighting."

>>193635
Mala, looking up towards Cavaliere

"I could watch the others. Guard them." He turns his head. "But... I could go on the ship. I am fine with danger." He looks back towards Cavaliere.

Blackheel:
"Correct."

Of the Kostroma survivors, only Rustling Pine is still armed and unwounded. None of the marines of the Kostroma's original compliment have remained both unenthralled and unwounded. Of the non-combat Kostroma survivors, there are about five others that are more or less unwounded, plus Starfire and Pipette who could potentially serve as spell casters. They have varied skills in non-combat roles.

Of the airponies, the Green Unicorn, the White Pegasus, Primed Well, and Pinup Locker are especially capable and can be armed.

The four Griffins are more or less capable, but less motivated.

>>193638
To Mala: "As much as I would like to have a reliable sentry out here, I can't think of any creature more capable of handling a fight aboard than you. I'd like you to come along if no objections get raised."

To Starfire and Pipette: "If we are successful, we will pass through the ship's lab to retrieve evidence of what happened. If one of you volunteers to come along, you could not only retrieve your research but also guide us through the corridors to get in and out faster. We will protect you the best we can, but the danger involved will be terrible and we might not make it out."

To the capable airponies: "It was our goal in the first place to save your lives and the danger on the island doesn't compare to what we'll be facing in there. We'd like to keep you out of harm's way, but if you want to help us fight we won't deny you the opportunity."

To the three remaining pirates, Wonder, Zara, and the griffon (who is likely still tied up): "Your friends and comrades are still aboard and we've heard no signs of them. If they're still conscious, they will be scared in those dark hallways and will be prone to fighting or running from us. I can't accurately tell you just how dangerous it will be in there, but if one of you would like to come with us, we'll have a better chance of bringing them out alive."

To the four griffons: "This is the ship that's been causing so much trouble around the island. It is a Stalliongrad research vessel and aboard we will be getting into fights, and with your permission we'd like to use your explosive harpoon we brought along. Whether for the riches that rest within, honors from helping us, or grace from Arcturius Himself, it is up to you to come aboard with us. I will sweeten the deal further: I can convince certain ponies to grant you a fast-tracked path to New Mareland citizenship." He repeats this in Feathesian.

To Silver: "We need to bring a radio with us and have one operated out here. I don't know if the signal can get through the ship's hull but it would be prudent to have communication." He whispers, "If we cannot get out in time we may need to tell them to depart without us.

>>193639
Silver whispers back to Cavaliere. "You are inspiring much confidence in our abilities."

>>193639
>>193640
More seriously, Silver responds in a more normal voice. "We should bring everyone. There are zero guarantees for their safety if left by themselves out here. At least if they come with we can keep eye on them."

>>193641
Cavaliere stares in disbelief. "Doing that would be worse than going in alone. Besides the logistics of taking wounded up the hull, the ship's corridor's and rooms are tight, and we would be tripping over each other. There would be no fighting advantage since we could not shoot past each other either. Stragglers would be getting lost in the dark. It would be giving the 'Fellow Traveler' a feast on a silver platter."

>>193642
"And if left out here, we leave them to mercy of both GRU and Traveler. What happens if Traveler decides to try to go after those we leave behind to turn them? We bring them with us, we keep those who can fight in our vanguard, and those following behind are informed to keep close and not lose sight of us."

Posey turns around and climbs back down as she realizes that nopony is following her
"I thought we were in a hurry?"
>>193638
>>193639
>>193641
"The hostages (airponies) are to stay behind. They can make themselves busy cleaning and repairing this ship for when we return. The Intruder is unlikely to attack them: Once we breach it's lair, it will concentrate all of its resources on attacking those who board it." she says
She pauses
"Look around. The deck is empty, and summoned monsters are nowhere to be seen. The Intruder is biding its powers, concentrating its forces around itself in preparation for direct confrontation. Once the battle starts, it will not waste its powers or attention attacking wounded survivors." she continues
"Everypony else should come along. There is strength in numbers. The bodies enter the battle, the more the enemy's fire will be spread out."
>>193638
Posey looks towards the griffons and the Kostroma sailor, hoping to marshal all those that she has already charmed
"Giddy up!"
>>193639
Dude, we're supposed to be undercover as pirates. Don't go offering New Mareland citizenship.
Am I the only one taking the covert operation component of this mission seriously?

>>193646
Silver blinks at the mare. "...you would leave our hostages behind, unattended, on fully armed and partially fueled ship that sits low enough in water that it benefits from stealth much like submarine would?"

>>193647
"They cannot leave so long as the GRU ship is here. That is why we remain."

>>193639
Mala smiles and moves his tail side to side in rhythmic fashion at Cavaliere’s words

“Uh” Starfire says, and Pipette’s eyes widen

The Green Unicorn says “I don’t want this thing getting out. I want to go home, but I don’t think anyone wants it getting out.”

Wistful Wonder and Zara Zama stand at attention. The griffin, not so much

Johan Bokli says,
“Really? If you could, that is a deal.”

>>193648
Blackheel speaks up
“No, I think we could sail out if we started now. The boat is on blackout and painted dark for a reason. It would be better if we could fire both tubes into the Kostroma though. I wish we could take her out to deep water, and sick her there. That way, the secrets of the Entity may be one with the secrets of the deep; one with the secrets of the old oceans and all the secrets of the deep.”

>>193648
Silver sits down and crosses his forehooves. "I understand you are from Farbrook, and your knowledge about modern military and naval technology is limited, but this ship is about as invisible as you could get right now. It has very small above-water profile that does not show up on radar very well. It has very shallow underwater profile that does not reflect many sonar waves. It is painted black and it is night so it can not be seen."

>>193649
"Traveler has taken form of some kind of sea creature, yes? If we sank Kostroma, could it not just summon sea monsters to break it free so it could swim to mainland? We need to see it die with our own eyes."

>>193650
Blackheel:

“I don’t know how that boat would appear on radar. I assume it would show up, yes. I think it would outrun a destroyer on a straight stretch but couldn’t necessarily run past one.”

“It looked like a kind of cross between some kind of reptilian sea monster, a giant tadpole, and a dragon fly. It has more wings and eyes than we are really comfortable with and a generally tear drop shape. To me, it looked like a rotting whale carcass with the bulbous head rotted away, and those griffins added a few features to try and sell it as some strange monster. It always appeared to be dead to us, even when it started doing things. I don’t know if it could get free or not. It wasn’t active when we found it in the frozen swamp.”

>>193651
The fluffy unicorn stares at Black Heel, a mix of confusion and concern on his face. "...it sounds like it looked weird enough on its own that they did not need to add anything to it."

>>193651
Rolling Arcana, to see if Posey recognizes what sort of monster this might be:
[1d20+12 = (8+12) = 20]

>>193649
Silver goes to stand with Zara, wrapping a hoof around her shoulders and pulling her close. "Zara will come with me aboard ship."

>>193646
"We are in a hurry, but not in blind haste. There is a difference," Cavaliere explains. "If one of these 'hostages' wants to help us, I don't think we should begrudge him. What we're dealing with is greater than any of us. I will not stand for taking aboard the wounded or the feeble. Like I just explained to this stallion—"he gestures to Silver—"a long train would be an easy target at any point, and even in the cargo holds we can expect space to be tight."

>undercover
even pirates can grease palms in a bureaucracy

>>193649
Cavaliere smiles at the green unicorn. "With bravery and a little luck, we can make both happen. Lieutenant, with how rushed we have been I did not get your name. Your stallions are in mostly poor condition, your skipper included, and you are their ranking officer. You might want to stay in command of them out here, but if you choose to come with us I recommend selecting one of them to be in acting command."

To Bøkli, he gives a nod. "With what we are about to accomplish we will have enough leverage that this sort of request would be negligible to grant. And, well, your heroism would attest to your character."

>>193656
He gives a questioning look at Silver. "She should be saying that for herself." Apologetically, he looks down at the poor mare. "Miss Zara, you have gone through some serious tragedy in the past few minutes. It would be cruel to ask you to face an unknown creature that uses your own emotions against yourself. Your skills would be helpful, but I don't see us relighting the Kostroma's engines and setting sail with it. The most I can ask of you is that you make sure this boat is ready to go once we're out. You are its engineer, aren't you?"

>>193656
"Why are you bringing an unarmed mechanic into monster-infested warzone? She will get shot, or dismembered, or worse. Besides, she needs to repair the boat. You can come back for her once we are done." Posey replies
"No skin off of my back if you insist, but she had better pull her weight in combat."

>>193657
>>193658
Silver frowns. "She will not be shot, dismembered, or worse, because she will have us to defend her. And if anyone here could get Kostroma's boiler lit and engines started, it would be her. She might also have knowledge about ships like this that can give us edge in our goal of defeating Traveler."

>>193659
"You still know the risk considering what we encountered. When do you want to start the ship's engines? Before confronting our enemy would be too time-consuming and dangerous, but afterwards there would be no point unless if you want to hijack the Kostroma. I think that would be a poor decision, but let's ask one who's knowledgeable."

He asks Zara, "For a ship of this size, considering it uses steam boilers, how long would it take to generate enough power for lights and electricity? What about propulsion?"

>>193653
"Well yes, evidently. I don't know. When I saw it, it looked like it may have been fake. The skin was black, and kind of black in color. Plasticky, maybe the consistency of rubber when you touched it. It had no smell to it, or almost no smell. Sometimes it had the smell of burning rubber. And you see, it was supposed to be a dead animal. It should have smelled of decaying flesh. True, it was often in the cold, but it was taken out of it and should have thawed, but there was no smell of decay. And then there was the fact that there was no snow over it, or near it. If it had been there all winter, there should have been frost or snow over it and around it. That there wasn't kind of suggested it had just been planted there. It didn't seem right to me."

>>193653
The description does not correspond to any creature Posey knows. Or more accurately, to the true form of any creature Posey knows.

>>193656
squeaky

>>193657
"Stained Sand" The green unicorn responds. "They are, yes... I can go where I am needed."

Bokli gives a nod.

"I think... I hope i can manage that."

>>193660
Zara stares off in the distance during this conversation about her being dismembered

"I... It's a steamship, right? I'd... have to see how warm the boilers are. And it there are any other problems."