Welcome back to thread number like 5 or 6 of Occupied Equestria, a My Little Pony RP based heavily upon the Equestria at War mod for Hearts of Iron 4, and using the mechanics of D&D 3.5, and set in South-East Equestria after it has been conquered and split between the Changelings and a foreign fascist power
Onyx is cleaning glasses, Spark has secured a contract to clear a quarry of Zombies for a real estate developer, Silver is eating meat, Ash and Iron are trying to raid what they believe to be a gangster's den, and Dark Star is holding hooves.
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>>74889He perks his ears up at the third conversation, trying to listen in further.
[1d20 = 10]>>74901Iron rushes inside the room and looks for anything that could do a loud enough noise for Ash to hear.
>>74903The dog follows shortly behind, followed by Sister Ash.
>>74904>>74903Yep. Two ponies standing before him. Several more standing around. They must have been alerted by the shotgun sounds, because they were ready at the door
"Who the fuck are you?"
>>74903The dog follows shortly behind, followed by Sister Ash.
>>74902This conversation comes from two diamond dogs, one of whom is charcoal grey, and the other a white. The charcoal dog is angry. Yes, their voices are unusually high pitched for a creature of that size
"They want to say it was 'self-defense' or something. He had the weapon out first"
"That shopkeeper must have lied to the police"
>>74905"We came here to fetch somepony." Iron states as he slowly backs up, shield facing towards the ponies. "I have no clue who you are as well."
>>74905"...Just a couple poverty volunteers.." Sister Ash replies meekly
"And who are you?"
>>74908There are five of them visible. Two have shotgun, another has a sawed off rifle, and the two closest have crowbars
"We are the ones who are supposed to be guarding this place. Who are you?"
>>74909"And you went right through several shotgun traps? How are you... This is private property. It is off limits"
>>74910"Private property? It looked abandoned to me." She says, sternly, although she's only barely peaking past her shield.
"We came here looking for someponie. A several foals, and a nun by the name of Sister Sage."
>>74910"I may only tell you until you tell me who do you work for. " Iron still moves backwards, also ensuring to protect Ash with his shield. "If you tell me, I will tell you who I am."
>>74907He puts this collected knowledge into the expanding mental notepad he's keeping, and attempts to see if he can catch the tail end of the first conversation.
>>74894"theres one more thing of interest i forgot about in the heat of battle. the guns were being guarded by members of the waterfront gang. the muscle i hired on seemed to know the zigger guarding them. i dont know if ill be able to infiltrate the zigger saw my face."
>>74914If you say my name to this guy, I'll punch you in character when he finds out.
>>74911One of the ponies levies a shotgun at Ash. The one speaking says. "I don't know who a 'sister sage' is"
>>74912"Mr., you are on
our territory. We set the terms here"
>>74913"Shit, this changes the war significantly. With the fleet defeated, New Mareland rules the waves"
"I wouldn't say that, they took a beating as well. They will be out of commission for a while"
"Still... this is a significant set back"
>>74914"Did she see you shooting ponies or acting hostile? Because if not, she might think you were just another pony that was attending and fled the scene or left early."
>>74916>>74915Blue Skies alone among the Blackhooves knows who the party members are
>>74918Ash seems unconvinced
"Are you by any chance associated with the Waterfront gang? We came on the hint that several abducted foals had been brought here."
*Ducks behind shield cover*
>>74919"Yes. Yes we are. What foals are you looking for?"
>>74918Iron places himself on the left flank of Ash, protecting from any attacks diagonally left with his shield. He does not respond, opting for Ash to do the talking.
>>74920>>74919That is, until he picks up the word "Waterfront Gang. Iron drops his shield. "I am a friend of Black Cauldron."
>>74920"The ones from the orphanage, on the hill." She conty, still behind her shield
"They've been foalnapped. I came to negotiate a ransom."
>>74918"no she did not see anything of the sort. I Did tell her i was a communist, so maybe she would think im with them."
>>74922Most of them look at him with a "are we supposed to know who that is expression." But one says: "Oh yeah, I know her. She's a made mare of the east side" This definitely calms them. Two put down their weapons from the ready position
>>74924One of them interjects
"You mean the foals from the Order of the Sisters of Saint Prancis?"
>>74926"Well, for the time being, they all should, which is what we want. You should be safe among the communists for at least the next few days, probably much longer"
>>74918A war? Between New Mareland and Skyfall? This is the first time he's heard about such a thing. He wonders how many of their forces are split between trying to keep order in East Equestria and fighting in this foreign war, and how much of an effect it's having on their security operations.
>>74928Iron nods. "I suppose we are, right?" He looks to Ash when saying that.
>>74928"Yes. Those foals precisely." Sister Ash replies, still not budging from behind her little wooden fortress.
>>74931>>74928"Do you have any idea where they are?"
>>74930Iron hears two weapons above him set down from a ready position. This room, it turned out, had a railing on the second floor the same as the last room, and there were two ponies with rifles above them and to their left. There are 7 in the room in total.
>>74929>>74929From his basic background knowledge, he knows that virtually all decent forces are overseas on Griffonia, with native recruits and non-pony garrisons being the majority of the garrisons of East Equestria. There is almost nocreature to oppose a Changeling invasion, with New Mareland's greatest security being that an invasion of East Equestria would start a war the Changelings could not end without superior naval power. It is very bad for their security.
>>74931>>74932"Those foals were taken because the Order did not pay what they owed. One ran away, 5 have been sold, and 6 are here"
>>74933"Sold?! To whom?!" She replies, a wisp of smoke rising up from behind the large shield
>>74928"i will stay in their 'good graces' for as long as i can."
>>74934>>74933Iron is a bit perplexed by this. Who would let their children to be taken just like that? It didn't make sense. He still had a mission. "We come to take the 6 remaining children as well as the name of the buyers for the remaining five."
>>74933>7How far apart are they, precisely?
Is this a big room?
>>74933He grimaces. Why the Changelings haven't yet invaded, he doesn't know, but he starts to get the feeling they would quickly take over all of Equestria if they did.
>>74934Another speaks
"'Sold' isn't necessarily accurate. One was placed with a Manehattan family for a fee. They wanted to adopt but couldn't get around certain regulations. Two of them were sent down to mademares in the Eastside as laborers, with the intent of inducting them into the gang. And two went to... well, there is this a, big individual. Big in politics, if you will. And he likes foals. And let's leave it at that"
>>74938Officially, New Mareland, The Griffionian Empire, and the Changling Hegemony form a three part alliance
>>74937It is a very big room, sort of the mirror of the last. But the 7 here are pretty close, at least within a 30 ft circle
>>74935"Well that is very good. Is there anything else we should know? Some information you have?"
>tfw you realize Call Lighting also works indoors
>>74939Iron feels this is not going to end well. He slowly picks up his shield and readies it casually.
>>74939Despite this, he gets the feeling the Changelings will not be satisfied with this arrangement forever.
>>74939"i think i have told you everything,sir."
>>74939*Smoking intensifies*
"This.. big individual.. what is his name?" She implores, her tone growing venomous
>30 ft circleThey'd all be dead by now if I weren't trying to be a pacifist
>>74942Well, he's not really alone in this belief
>>74944"Aldermare Comte Burgher. Well... Alder-stallion"
>>74943"Alright, I guess you are free to leave if you like. We'll have Blue Skies here contact you when there are new jobs that
need to be done, and you can take the day off"
>>74944The two holding crowbars backup from the position
>>74945"...
Thankyou..." the dragonmare replies, her tone now alarmingly polite, despite the smoke which has not stopped
".. and these 'Mademares', as you call them.. Who were they..?"
>>74946*Smoking intensifies, with a few cinders and ashes*
>>74945"Thank you,sir. ill be at the eastside tavern if i am needed."
Dark Star looks longing at blue for a second then gets up and leaves
>>74945>>74947Iron is fully ready to strike at any of these ponies, shield on his armored off-hoof.
>>74945He sighs, knowing full well where that train of thought will lead, and he doesn't want to think about anything related to the war or politics or these short-sighted New Mareland occupiers right now. He has a quality meal to look forward to. Speaking of, he looks in the direction of the kitchen, wondering when the roast will be ready.