Welcome back to Occupied Equestria, an RP set in a conquered Equestria, using D&D 3.5e mechanics, and based in large part on the My Little Pony mod for Hearts of iron 4, Equestria at War
The party has successfully stopped the Communists of Baltimare from importing guns and foreign advisers in preparation for a revolt. They have also raided a Griffin freighter involved in arms trafficking, and are prepared to leave and end their long night.
>>74343"wow thats quite the story. im sorry things didnt work out like you wanted."
Dark Star places his hoof on her shoulder
"tell me a little more about the apoge"
>>74341That looks decent enough.
[kirin noises]
*Pets doggo*
>>74348"The Agoge is the formal citizenship test. It consists of a few steps. The first is sword fighting, or sort fencing. The second step is a speed and agility flight competition. How fast you can fly relays, how well you avoid obstacles, fly in danger... The final part was to break into the homes and shops of helots and steal specific items. Now, I barely passed sword fighting, and am an okay flier. Not great, but I passed by a decent enough margin. But I came back with the objectives of several other ponies besides myself on the stealth missions. That's not really in the rules, but they didn't care. I became a citizen. I was also a part of an intelligence gathering association, to spy on the Helots to see if they are planning rebellion. What I heard... I think I got more than one. Maybe that's why that tailor helot was so pissed off at me"
And did I mention that she likes being touched?
>>74347And thus she finds passion fruit, mangoes, and starfruit. A little far north for some of those as well
>>74346"Can you believe what happened last night?
"Let's be real, they can't stop crime anyways
"Hey, did you talk to that girl?"
"Yeah, but I don't think she likes me"
"Like how does that guy think he's going to ever clear that property?"
"I can see why he thinks the police will help but this clearly is not their jurisdiction"
"Well, let's see if the city council will want to give up on the plan to develop that area, or do something different"
>>74341Pass
>>74344What kind of lead is he looking for?
>>74352I move closer to where the third conversation is taking place.
>>74352Is that a yes on the "walk to this direction" thing or not? You kinda left it muddy for some reason. In other words, do I reach the camp or the hut?
>>74352"Say blue what do you do for the Black Hooves?"
>>74354I'm sure you did. He only had to retrace his steps.
He returns to find that Sister Ash as set up a hut, with a large dog sitting outside it like a sentry.
>>74353Our little eaves dropper hears this conversation coming from a pair of office workers returning to the zoning commission office after a lunch break.
"Well, it's hardly a normal occurrence, but he got the permits for it even after the archaeological surveys."
"Well, no shit. How many ponies can't develop their lot because of monsters left behind from an ancient burial ground?"
"I'm pretty sure that's not that rare"
>>74354Yes
>>74355"My official title is 'anti-subversive activities.' Practically speaking the vast majority of what I do is following Blackhooves employees or civilian officials and seeing if they are taking bribes, stealing weapons, actually sympathize with the rebels, and so forth. I've done more than a little infiltration into communist groups around here, which is why I was a part of the team last night. Besides that, I have more than a little bit of knowledge about changelings and how to find them, since we have those in the East as well. So I help with the identification. Your friend, 'Onyx' I think his name is, was arrested on suspicion of being one and I was called in to certify. I found he wasn't one after a chemical we apply to try to disrupt their magic, well, he didn't turn into a changeling. So he was cleared. Not that I have seen many in the field. So yes, I am a sort of general purposes anti-subversive activities officer. We're a bit short staffed, so I work a lot of overtime and jobs I'm technically not required to do"
\r
>>74357>>74356Iron goes towards Ash. "Alright, when shall we go to the location of the lost child? I am ready for it."
>>74358He walks in to find her peeling a mango.
"Oh, you're back. How was your trip?" She says, grabbing her shields (all 4 of them).
>>74357"Theres still something worrying me. Why Do you think a changeling was impersonating mareques? "
>>74357I walk to the front of the office and try to get their attention. "Hello."
>>74359Iron grimaced. "I prepared for the mission. Nothing more than that." He clangs the shield and armor with his armoured hoof. He then approaches some more and sits next to her. "May I have a slice of that mango?"
>>74360And she has a look of worry as well. "Well, that's kind of what I want to find out as well. I grabbed what must have been her briefcase, since hopefully she had some documents in there. They are magically enchanted though, so we'll need some time to get a wizard to open those. Anyways, there could be a number of reasons. Maybe the Changeling Empire wants to keep track of the Communists in south east Equestria, and so replaced a Stalliongrad spy they intercepted. Maybe that changeling was actually a Stalliongrad agent. The simplest answer is that the Changelings want to destabilize South East Equestria in advance of an invasion, or to prevent the use of these provinces for resources. And maybe it's something worse..."
>>74361"Hello"
"Hello"
>>74362She hands him the whole thing, cut in pieces
>Already had time to eat"Off we go then." she says, visinly weighed down by the wooden panels.
>>74363"I shouldn't be getting into other ponies' business... but I couldn't help but hear something about monsters."
>>74363Dark Star touches his hoof to his chin and starts thinking.
"Hmmmmmmmmmmm"
>>74364Iron snacks on all the mango pieces. "Let me carry those shields you are holding. You seem overloaded." Iron attempts to take off some of the smaller shields Ash is carrying.
She gives him the off-hand shield, and leads the way towards the cannery.
>>74368Iron recieves it and follows Ash along the way. "Do you know what will we face off?
>>7436 →"Nope." She says flatly
"I'm going to investigate that now." She continues, adjusting her shawl
Late dinners are late.>>74352Primarily, he's looking for a lead into if the Waterfront Gang has had anything to do with the massacre at the pier, preferably listening from a member of the gang itself. Though with what little he knows about the gang, he's decides to just ask around to see if somepony can lead him in the right direction.
>>74370Iron nods. He prepares his shield, holding it with his armoured off-hand
>>74373He did get a tower shield, right?
>>74366"Well, there's still time in my lunch break if you want to do something together"
She tries to look cute
>>74365And thus Spark learns the benefit of being a government employee, as they do indeed have the time to just talk to strangers rather than doing work
t. public sector"Yeah, so in North city there was this area of lots that were cleared to allow for multifamily and some businesses by this business pony named Glass Horizon, and one of these lots had an old house on it with what was always believed to be a flooded quarry. And all this required a change in zoning in that area, because there was a plan by the city to develop new business over there, and well, gentrify a blighted area. But when the excavated around the old house they found grave sites, which was okay because they were native graves, too old to be protected by law, but when they drained the quarry... well, it wasn't a quarry, because whoever made that rocky set of crypts did not have good intent. It's hardly a severe infestion because the necromancer that must have done that has been gone since before Equestrian settlement, so most of the dangers are gone, but it is enough to keep crews off the area"
>>74368Where is the cannery?
>>74372>Asking around for gang membersWell that's some sketchy shit. After three ponies of asking, he gets to a Stallion with a beard and a grey suit
"Who wants to know?" he asks
[1d20+12 = 32]>>74376On the East shore, I thought.
Rolling survival to navigate there.
>>74377Also fullplate
>>74378Holy moley, leave the dice rolls for combat.
>>74376"Do you want to get something to eat? like a date."
>>74378Well, she definitely can find her way to the East Shore, a mile to the east and another mile to the north, like 1.3 Diagonally
>>74380She smiles ad wags her tail
"That would be nice"
>>74379That's an AC of 22
"Did you keep that hide by any chance?"
>>74381She makes her way there, leading her companions
>>74381"i had a big breakfast this morning. but i can eat some more. being shot really gets you hungry."
>>74376"Necromancer? Sounds cool. Is it off limits to go sight see?"
>>74382"I think I still have it, just not equipped and missing the head." Iron points at the wolf head helmet.
>>74383Iron follows
>>74376He seems a bit confused by the question. "Me. I heard rumor gang was involved in incident on pier. I wanted to learn from proverbial 'pony's mouth'."
>>74386".. Would you mind if I borrowed it?"
>>74388"Of course not." He passes the wolf armor to Ash. "You seem to be readying for a fight."
>>74389".. Oh, you never know when a misunderstanding could occur.." she says
>>74390"I understand. Do not fret to use me as cover. I am here to protect you after all." Iron strokes her mane a little.
>>74381What kind of neigh-borhood does it look like?
>>74384"I would like that. We've been sort of thrown into the fire together, so we haven't really had much chance to, well grow accustomed. So this could be our first date I guess. Where do you want to take me on our first date?"
She walks past him with her sleek appearance, and rubs her long blue tail against Dark Star's face.
She gives him another devious look
"While I don't want to come off as well, 'loose,' I do like to kiss on a first date. I think of myself as a romantic"
>>74387"Again, I ask who are you? Are you with the police?" says the fancily dressed stallion
>>74385"Oh you can go up to the edge of the lot, that's open. The dangerous area is off limits, so going in there would be trespassing. That means Glass Horizons can't be sued if somepony goes in and gets killed"
>>74383Well, she can get to the east shore, which she finds is mostly seaport
>>74393She continues to look for the cannery, with a firm resolve.
>>74394She's found a shitload of industrial buildings and waterfront properties, that is for sure. So what does a cannery look like?
>>74393"Neat. Can you point it out on my map so I won't get lost? I tend to do that."
I pull out my map.
>>74393"My name is Silver. I am not with anyone but myself."
[1d20+12 = 21]>>74395Probably one that smells like fish, I guess.
Rolling survival to look for any clues that might lead us there.
>>74397"Sure" says the employee. She circles an area in North town on the map, with an arrow of the exact position.
"Actually though, I think what you want to do is go to a real estate office and ask about the property. When you go in, tell them you are looking to clear the Silver Springs quarry."
She circles a spot on the map
"It's this office right here you want. They might even pay you"
>>74399Ash can smell what smells like, well, Diesel fuel and gasoline. Unless there's been like a spill or explosion, this area seems like it isn't really fit for food processing
>>74398"Alright then, 'Silver.' Let me tell you that the Waterfront gang does not, and would not, rob a transaction like that. We-they value their reputation and repeat business. They would never attack a crew like that. But rogue elements... Untrustworthy members... Now they just might."
>>74393Whats the most romantic restaurant in baltimare?
>>74402>>74400"Maybe we should ask the locals. They may know where the 'cha-neh-rie' is." Iron is stumped like she is.
>>74400Spark smiles and thanks them for their help. He then goes off towards the real estate office.
[1d20 = 17]>>74403"That's a good idea."
Rolling to gather Information
>>74401Now that's a hard question. If you mean fanciest period, that'd be the Gramarecy. If you mean the fanciest that could be eaten at within what remains of an
extended lunch break, that'd be the Wobbly River Cafe
>>74403>>74406The Darrien Cannery, on the East Shore and kind of to the south. The Griffclaw cannery, on the North East of the bay on the peninsula. The Lunar Ocean Cannery on the North Shore in the city of North Point
>>74404"Well, you know, certain Underbosses and capos who don't really have any loyalty to the organization. Who want to run operations on their own. Who want massive piles of bits for themselves. Ponies whose actions most definitely cannot be linked to me in any sort of criminal conspiracy charge the DA can think of. Ponies who are a threat to the Waterfront gang and the public"
>>74408"I say we pay a visit to the Darrien 'cah-neh-rie' since it fits the description you provided the most." He whispers to Ash.
>>74408He nods, following along with the information he's gathering from this not-gang-member pony. "And you believe these 'rogue elements' are behind massacre?"
>>74408>>74409"That's what I was thinking."
The two proceed to said cannery.
>>74408>>74393"how about the wobbly river cafe?"
>>74410The pony pulls his cigar out of his mouth, because why the hell have I not already described him as smoking a cigar, and he moves forward.
"Now of course I'm not saying the gang was on those docks at all. But if they were... A certain specific underboss would be responsible"
>>74411>>74412This is a little south of the main seaport area, and away from the diesel smell, in an area that is more forested. A single road goes by the area
>>74413She looks back at him, wagging her tail so that the view from Dark Star's angle is rather nice
"That sounds like a good place to go"
>>74405The building is designed like a home, with white walls and a red tile roof. Horizon Reality it says
>>74414Dark Star gives her a smack on the plot
"lets head that way so we can finish before you have to go back to work."
>>74414He smiles to himself. "And I don't suppose certain 'upstanding citizens' like yourself would know where one such as myself could perhaps find this underboss?"
>>74415She can see a subroad that goes down to a west entrance, and a center subroad that goes to a loading area. Behind the building are large docks where a trawling vessel is parked at the docks. A more regular entrance, evidently for workers, is on the East
>>74416'Why hello there" says a mare from behind a nice white counter
>>74420And this gets him suspicious
"For what purpose?"
>>74417"Ooh! hehe. Well, let's go then"
Blue Skies puts on a green scarf before she goes. They walk out of the room, outside and down the street.
>>74421Dark Star leaves without his coat because its covered in blood at this point
>>74421I walk up to the counter.
"Hello. I was told this is where I need to go. I am here to clear out some sort of problem in the Silver Springs quarry."
[1d20 = 17]>>74415>>74421Iron decides to spot from here how many ponies there are for a possible firefight.
>>74421He remains perfectly calm to the pony he's speaking to. "To see what this underboss you speak of has to say on matter."
[1d20+5 = 12]>>74421She creeps closer, silently.
Rolling Spot to see how many workers there are.
>>74427Nah, I didn't see that you had already rolled.
>>74422"I'm sorry about that coat. Just another piece of equipment lost in the service of the cause I guess. We'll get you some more equipment soon enough. I can't say I know that much about bloody clothes because I almost never wear clothes, but I did lose a flak jacket
>>74424>>74426Pretty sure Iron wins this one. It's kind of hard to say. No ponies seem to be outside the loading bay, but ponies are inside. Two ponies stand outside the east wall, but it isn't immediately obvious if they are armed. Several are on the dock, but they aren't in line of sight, as they are behind the building
>>74423She is a bit surprised by this
"Well, I guess I'll ask around to make this happen"
>>74425His eyes narrow
"You can speak to my lawyer"
>>74426>Silently>With no rogueIf only you hadn't thrown out the rogue NPC
>>74429And with that, Silver goes back to confusion. "What does your lawyer have to do with this?"
Iron approaches Ash. "There are two ponies on the east wall, I cannot see if they have weapons. Many are on the docks, so if we are going for stealth, we should not go there." He whispers to Ash.
>>74429"Thank you."
I wait for her to return.
>>74428Questing is PC-only business.
>>74432Tbh, I was cleaning all day, and I'm terribly tired right now.
>>74429looks at the corner where my Destroyed flak jacket is in
>>74436We can stop if you want. It is your quest, not mine. You are the mastermind here.
>>74430"And what do I have to do with 21 counts of first degree murder, eight counts of attempted murder, and numerous weapons violations? Nothing. Nothing at all"
>>74437"We'll get you a new one...." she says with a kind of 'sorry'
>>74434She comes back. "Well, Glass Horizon is willing to make a contract, if you know somepony willing to clear the quarry
>>74436Did you mis-link that post and made it trying to be a dick?
>>74439"its not your fault its the communists, ill send the bill to them."
>>74438>not mine>You are the mastermindAwwww, don't say that. Your input is just as important. It's a party.
I am really tired though, so I think I'll turn in for the night.
Goodnight.
>>74439His confusion is joined by annoyance. "I did not accuse you of these things. I am merely asking for directions."
>>74442Night then. I'll go out with you since I am basically on pause until you come back. Night everyone else.
>>74439"Of course. Do I need to meet with Horizon, or do I just need to fill out information?"
>>74441"Hell, I'll send those bastards the bill myself"
There's the bitchy mare you know
They are able to walk down to the cafe in a short enough time
>>74443"Oh I see. If I know where he's located, then that means that am a part of a criminal conspiracy. Well, you can find him yourself"
>>74448"Well, definitely fill out this information here"
>>74451I fill out the form with my information.