Occupied Equestria: set six years after season 6, it presents an alternative history where Chrysalis chose a different approach to her second attack on Equestria. The Changelings have conquered half of Equestria, while an Equestrian splinter colony - soured to Princesses notion of harmony with all creatures thank to their dealing with griffins - Invaded and took the other half. In Baltimare and the Equestruan Southlands, the magic of friendship has weakened, as Communists, Changeling infiltrators, Fascists, gangs, and even ancient necormancers and dark gods threaten the city and the surrounding regions. This role play is based in large part upon the Equestria at War mod for Hearts of Iron 4, and uses D&d 3.5e mechanics.
In this latest episode, the crew has united once again, and returned in full to the catacombs under the Curwhinny farm. What old secrets they will unearth, whether they will survive without being turned into undead monsters... whether Silver will ever get paid... will be determined in this thread.
/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal
1870 replies and 59 files omitted.
>>81817
So long as Onyx isn't playing, we may as well tie him up in a bundle and carry him around wherever we want, until he gets back.
So long as Onyx isn't playing, we may as well tie him up in a bundle and carry him around wherever we want, until he gets back.
>>81818
"Sometimes a bit disruption is necessary, for the growth of a herd."
I was going to say "a people", but herd seemed more appropriate.
"Sometimes a bit disruption is necessary, for the growth of a herd."
I was going to say "a people", but herd seemed more appropriate.
>>81820
Iron leans on Ash and whispers. "How should we deal with the mademares? I got some information on their interests that could potentially increase the odds of negotiation for the foals."
Iron leans on Ash and whispers. "How should we deal with the mademares? I got some information on their interests that could potentially increase the odds of negotiation for the foals."
>>81818
>Imperialism
"The Changelings' reckless expansionism is certainly cause for concern. In recent decades, they've been as tenacious as Formians, and frenzied as locusts, casting aside their nature as infiltrating parasites and swarming over vast regions of land. Many creatures and environments have suffered from this trend, and their insustainable methods are sure to cause turmoil for their own hives within their occupied lands as well." she
"They are unable to nurture the land for resources. They need, creatures, particularly ponies, to survive. If they continue expanding at this rate, they'll find that the sustenance they're able to extract from their tortured captives is no longer enough to cover their empire.. And then.." her tone grows dark
"They'll be attacking and swarming their neighbors even more viciously; waging greater wars not merely for the greed to their queens, but for survival..." She says, her voice serious
"If the trend does not reverse, continental wars may be inevitable."
>Imperialism
"The Changelings' reckless expansionism is certainly cause for concern. In recent decades, they've been as tenacious as Formians, and frenzied as locusts, casting aside their nature as infiltrating parasites and swarming over vast regions of land. Many creatures and environments have suffered from this trend, and their insustainable methods are sure to cause turmoil for their own hives within their occupied lands as well." she
"They are unable to nurture the land for resources. They need, creatures, particularly ponies, to survive. If they continue expanding at this rate, they'll find that the sustenance they're able to extract from their tortured captives is no longer enough to cover their empire.. And then.." her tone grows dark
"They'll be attacking and swarming their neighbors even more viciously; waging greater wars not merely for the greed to their queens, but for survival..." She says, her voice serious
"If the trend does not reverse, continental wars may be inevitable."
>>81823
Iron does not understand. "Why should they attack ponies directly? Will that not just deplete love reserves for them to feast upon?"
Iron does not understand. "Why should they attack ponies directly? Will that not just deplete love reserves for them to feast upon?"
>>81820
She gives her her smile
"Like a forest fire that clears out the old growth, to make room for the new?"
>>81822
"Its a question that won't need answering until after the backbone of their military has been broken. You'll have plenty of time to consider it."
>>81823
"I do not think you give Hymenoptera Proteus Succuba enough credit. Their breeding is the most strictly controlled of any creature on the planet. They know not to exceed their carrying capacity. Where you are terribly right is that they fully believe and intend to increase that carrying capacity by Imperialism over greater host populations. We've already seen Continental wars. What you must prepare for, is a World War.
>>81824
"That's only the first assault. They lull the host into a false sense of security thereafter. That, and love is not so easily banished from the heart, as it manifests in times of great danger just as surely as in the most tranquil peace"
\r
She gives her her smile
"Like a forest fire that clears out the old growth, to make room for the new?"
>>81822
"Its a question that won't need answering until after the backbone of their military has been broken. You'll have plenty of time to consider it."
>>81823
"I do not think you give Hymenoptera Proteus Succuba enough credit. Their breeding is the most strictly controlled of any creature on the planet. They know not to exceed their carrying capacity. Where you are terribly right is that they fully believe and intend to increase that carrying capacity by Imperialism over greater host populations. We've already seen Continental wars. What you must prepare for, is a World War.
>>81824
"That's only the first assault. They lull the host into a false sense of security thereafter. That, and love is not so easily banished from the heart, as it manifests in times of great danger just as surely as in the most tranquil peace"
\r
>>81835
"Duke Erebus Haygle, former professor of the Philosophy of History at the University of Sunset, elected first president of the New Mareland Commonwealth after independence, and granted lifetime executive powers by the congress of the New Mareland State. The leader of the Blackhooves. By extension, the highest authority over all of the Baltimare Autonomous Region."
\r
"Duke Erebus Haygle, former professor of the Philosophy of History at the University of Sunset, elected first president of the New Mareland Commonwealth after independence, and granted lifetime executive powers by the congress of the New Mareland State. The leader of the Blackhooves. By extension, the highest authority over all of the Baltimare Autonomous Region."
\r
>>81837
"He values strength and purity of the national spirit first and foremost as the vanguard of all else of value. He has been strong thus far in protecting his people. Is he as strong as Chrysalis... Well, that remains to be seen."
"He values strength and purity of the national spirit first and foremost as the vanguard of all else of value. He has been strong thus far in protecting his people. Is he as strong as Chrysalis... Well, that remains to be seen."
>>81839
"Him? Personally? No. He is much too old for that, and in any case he is a bone head. That does not matter, because he does not believe that strength lies in the individual.
After all, how strong is an individual? As an infant, could you fight? Could you even think properly? No. You needed your mother to nurse you, parents to feed you later. You needed ponies around you to learn how to talk and how to reason, and you need them still as friends and family. And even after all of that, you are still mortal.
You see, really, the individual is not the base unit of ponykind. That title belongs to the Nation. The Tribe, if you will. It is the Nation that is weak or strong. It is the Nation that has a long history and a long future. It was here before your birth, it has shaped you since your birth, and it ought remain long after you are gone.
None of this is to say the individual has no relevance. Quite the contrary, the nation is nothing without the individual, and they must assume many distinct roles within society for the nation to function properly. When individuals are weak at the roles for which they are required, the nation as a whole is weak. And that is why every individual must be strong in their own particular role, though it would be foolish to think that one role alone could a society make.
And now, is his Nation strong? Yes, it has gone up against many, and fallen to none. They are damned fine fighters. Ask anypony around here."
"Him? Personally? No. He is much too old for that, and in any case he is a bone head. That does not matter, because he does not believe that strength lies in the individual.
After all, how strong is an individual? As an infant, could you fight? Could you even think properly? No. You needed your mother to nurse you, parents to feed you later. You needed ponies around you to learn how to talk and how to reason, and you need them still as friends and family. And even after all of that, you are still mortal.
You see, really, the individual is not the base unit of ponykind. That title belongs to the Nation. The Tribe, if you will. It is the Nation that is weak or strong. It is the Nation that has a long history and a long future. It was here before your birth, it has shaped you since your birth, and it ought remain long after you are gone.
None of this is to say the individual has no relevance. Quite the contrary, the nation is nothing without the individual, and they must assume many distinct roles within society for the nation to function properly. When individuals are weak at the roles for which they are required, the nation as a whole is weak. And that is why every individual must be strong in their own particular role, though it would be foolish to think that one role alone could a society make.
And now, is his Nation strong? Yes, it has gone up against many, and fallen to none. They are damned fine fighters. Ask anypony around here."
>>81840
"Makes sense. No group can shrvive if they are not proficient at their jobs." Iron scratches his muzzle. "Say, can I get into a hooffight with some stallion from your party? I want to see the strength of said ponies. This does not mean your group is not strong. I just want to see for myself the strength of your best fighters in a simple hoof-to-hoof combat. It is not asking much, is it?"
"Makes sense. No group can shrvive if they are not proficient at their jobs." Iron scratches his muzzle. "Say, can I get into a hooffight with some stallion from your party? I want to see the strength of said ponies. This does not mean your group is not strong. I just want to see for myself the strength of your best fighters in a simple hoof-to-hoof combat. It is not asking much, is it?"
>>81850
"To drag and tie me up to be used as a punching dummy by some of your friends. What else?" Iron deadpans at Skies.
"To drag and tie me up to be used as a punching dummy by some of your friends. What else?" Iron deadpans at Skies.
>>81851
Her look changes to one of contemplation.
“Hmmm.... I will admit, that is s big more substantive than just leaving you drugged and in a ditch”
Her look changes to one of contemplation.
“Hmmm.... I will admit, that is s big more substantive than just leaving you drugged and in a ditch”
>>81852
Iron smiles. "See? I knew you would like it." Iron looks to his sides "Do you let Star fight me, then?"
Iron smiles. "See? I knew you would like it." Iron looks to his sides "Do you let Star fight me, then?"
>>81856
"Ah, so you do not let him. Well, I guess that is reasonable." Iron strokes his chin. "So who is this Fillipe, apart from being a minotaur?"
"Ah, so you do not let him. Well, I guess that is reasonable." Iron strokes his chin. "So who is this Fillipe, apart from being a minotaur?"
>>81858
"Would he accept the fight all willy-nilly? I am unsure that he can leave his post if he guards something." Iron pops his back bones, elicting a small pleased sigh.
"Would he accept the fight all willy-nilly? I am unsure that he can leave his post if he guards something." Iron pops his back bones, elicting a small pleased sigh.
>>81860
Iron is excited. "When is that? Where could I meet him? Will he be tired after his shift to fight?"
Iron is excited. "When is that? Where could I meet him? Will he be tired after his shift to fight?"
>>81824
Sister Ash seems to have finished her funeral services for each of the individual jars.
"... Changelings.. are peculiar creatures. Native to the wastelands North East of the Crystal Empire, they're a breed of creatures that are capable of sustaining their bodies without food or water; Sustenance.. it is a capability similar possessed by many living creatures of the outer planes, like the Formians, but by few in this world. I studied it for the sake of immitating it myself one day, and have found that it is possible for certain creatures to sustain their bodies through.. intrinsic sources.." she clears her throat
"The Changelings however do not possess such a perfect ability. Their Sustenance is derrived parasitically, in a manner that is in appearance similar to the life-draining powers of certain undead, but different on a profound level, and much less sinister. Changelings sustain themselves on 'love', not love of the land or love of eachother, but the love of loving creatures. Ponies, in particular have been a primary source of sustenance for their hives, and have been for eons.."
"It's not in accurrate to say that the Changelings fill a niche similar to wasps. They live in hives, surrounding a fertile queen. Hive members fly far out into Equestrian territory to collect love for their queen and her offspring, the same way bees collect nectar from flowers. Ponies, so radiant, charming and gentle natured, and so unconditionally loved by creation, are an irresistible source of love for the hungry Changelings. The Changelings would fly to great lengths to collect love for their hives, blending into pony society for years on end to build up love within their bodies, their loyalty to their queens never waning, returning to the wastelands when they'd built up enough power. The Changelings, through extensive deciet, are loved by ponies, and the Changelings share their love with their queens; the queen is able to grow stronger, and the health and safety of the hive is secured.... Or that's how it should be.."
>>81824
"Greed." She says flatly
"The Changelings are only able to survive as a race because all members of the hive unconditionally love their queen. The Sustenance they are able extract from ponies is only barely enough to sustain them; their bodies are full of holes, emaciated by starvation, Despite this, the hive is able to live on because Changelings give their unconditional love to their queen: their mother. Changelings obey their mothers with utmost loyalty, following her commands precisely, all individuallity stripped away by the necessity of the hive to share enough love.."
"This lawful, Formian-like hivemind has a downside, however. If the Queen of a hive is rash, greedy, or naive, all the members of the hive will follow suit. Chrysalis is a prime example of such a queen: greedy, naive, power-hungry and completely willing to sacrifice the safety and sustainability of her hive to collect more love from her loyal hatchlings and burn it for the development of her own powers..." She says, her voice growing ever darker.
"Her aggressive actions in the past have only led her to humiliation and loss, but the fleeting rewards of what she gained in those minutes of success were enough to feed her ego and naivity. Her first for sustenance is far more predatory than the average wasp: it is a voracious as a spider-eater. By capturing ponies bringing them back to their hives, Changelings are able to extract greater bursts of 'love' through forced contact and feed it directly to their queens. It is an avant garde and unsustainable method. Ponies, in prolonged states of despair, do not produce love in the same richness that Changelings are able to collect. The ponies that they capture grow detracted quickly, and the Changelings are forced to capture more ponies to sustain the greed of their queen. Similarly, ponies in the state of war become far less suitable as hosts for the Changelings: war-battered ponies grow paranoid, bitter, and vengeful, making it all the more difficult for the parasitic Changelings to extract enough love to bring back to their queen. The fact of this only encourages even more violence, the war-starved Changelings needing to capture even more ponies to maintain the sugar high of their queen... The wars they start create the need for even more war. They're able to swarm quickly, and attack in shocks, but their current lifestyle cannot sustain them forever. It was in Chrysalis's nearsighted greed and arrogance that she did not realize that the most abundant source of Sustenance for her hive lied in a happy and peaceful population of nearby ponies. She has ravaged her own race's primary source of food, and now she has doomed them all to go to war forever, until there is not enough left to fuel them... It won't happen immediately, but it will eventually, and the entire world will despair from the catastrophe caused by those who disturbed the harmony of nature."
Sister Ash seems to have finished her funeral services for each of the individual jars.
"... Changelings.. are peculiar creatures. Native to the wastelands North East of the Crystal Empire, they're a breed of creatures that are capable of sustaining their bodies without food or water; Sustenance.. it is a capability similar possessed by many living creatures of the outer planes, like the Formians, but by few in this world. I studied it for the sake of immitating it myself one day, and have found that it is possible for certain creatures to sustain their bodies through.. intrinsic sources.." she clears her throat
"The Changelings however do not possess such a perfect ability. Their Sustenance is derrived parasitically, in a manner that is in appearance similar to the life-draining powers of certain undead, but different on a profound level, and much less sinister. Changelings sustain themselves on 'love', not love of the land or love of eachother, but the love of loving creatures. Ponies, in particular have been a primary source of sustenance for their hives, and have been for eons.."
"It's not in accurrate to say that the Changelings fill a niche similar to wasps. They live in hives, surrounding a fertile queen. Hive members fly far out into Equestrian territory to collect love for their queen and her offspring, the same way bees collect nectar from flowers. Ponies, so radiant, charming and gentle natured, and so unconditionally loved by creation, are an irresistible source of love for the hungry Changelings. The Changelings would fly to great lengths to collect love for their hives, blending into pony society for years on end to build up love within their bodies, their loyalty to their queens never waning, returning to the wastelands when they'd built up enough power. The Changelings, through extensive deciet, are loved by ponies, and the Changelings share their love with their queens; the queen is able to grow stronger, and the health and safety of the hive is secured.... Or that's how it should be.."
>>81824
"Greed." She says flatly
"The Changelings are only able to survive as a race because all members of the hive unconditionally love their queen. The Sustenance they are able extract from ponies is only barely enough to sustain them; their bodies are full of holes, emaciated by starvation, Despite this, the hive is able to live on because Changelings give their unconditional love to their queen: their mother. Changelings obey their mothers with utmost loyalty, following her commands precisely, all individuallity stripped away by the necessity of the hive to share enough love.."
"This lawful, Formian-like hivemind has a downside, however. If the Queen of a hive is rash, greedy, or naive, all the members of the hive will follow suit. Chrysalis is a prime example of such a queen: greedy, naive, power-hungry and completely willing to sacrifice the safety and sustainability of her hive to collect more love from her loyal hatchlings and burn it for the development of her own powers..." She says, her voice growing ever darker.
"Her aggressive actions in the past have only led her to humiliation and loss, but the fleeting rewards of what she gained in those minutes of success were enough to feed her ego and naivity. Her first for sustenance is far more predatory than the average wasp: it is a voracious as a spider-eater. By capturing ponies bringing them back to their hives, Changelings are able to extract greater bursts of 'love' through forced contact and feed it directly to their queens. It is an avant garde and unsustainable method. Ponies, in prolonged states of despair, do not produce love in the same richness that Changelings are able to collect. The ponies that they capture grow detracted quickly, and the Changelings are forced to capture more ponies to sustain the greed of their queen. Similarly, ponies in the state of war become far less suitable as hosts for the Changelings: war-battered ponies grow paranoid, bitter, and vengeful, making it all the more difficult for the parasitic Changelings to extract enough love to bring back to their queen. The fact of this only encourages even more violence, the war-starved Changelings needing to capture even more ponies to maintain the sugar high of their queen... The wars they start create the need for even more war. They're able to swarm quickly, and attack in shocks, but their current lifestyle cannot sustain them forever. It was in Chrysalis's nearsighted greed and arrogance that she did not realize that the most abundant source of Sustenance for her hive lied in a happy and peaceful population of nearby ponies. She has ravaged her own race's primary source of food, and now she has doomed them all to go to war forever, until there is not enough left to fuel them... It won't happen immediately, but it will eventually, and the entire world will despair from the catastrophe caused by those who disturbed the harmony of nature."
>>81863
>>81826
(Fuck, I wish I had my computer so I could respond more quickly)
Sister Ash turns, unconvinced.
"It is the Changelings that give themselves too much credit, particularly Chrysalis. She believes that Changelings are capable of surpassing their natural niche, when they've only changed their tactics: she believes herself to be a predator, when she can never be anything but a lowly parasite. Even if she were a predator, she could never safely outnumber her own food supply. Her power and greed are unsustainable, and her entire race will suffer for it."
She continues
"She arrogantly believes that she is suited to rule the entire world alone; And if the way she's regarded the safety and well-being of her own hive in the past is any example, she is by no means a competent ruler. She takes the unconditional love of her hive, the foundation of her tribe's survival, to be a testament to her own supremacy. She does not love them the same way they love her: she only continues laying at increasingly monstrous rates with the state of mind that she's only producing more slaves for her war machine; she'd gladly sacrifice a hundred swarms for a mere tactical victory. Her pathetic aggressions on ponykind in the past are only a glimpse of how vain she can really be."
Sister Ash's eyebrows have once again started to glow
"Her rapid burst of power in recent years is far from legitimate. It doesn't stem from competant leadership or wise governance, but senseless greed. She has somehow finally managed to get the other Changeling queens of the wastelands to adopt her foolish practice, getting them high on short-lived bursts of sustenance, delivered by the bundle. Changelings we're always strongest when they fought and fed in numbers, and the recent advances to modern warfare made it all the more easy for their United powers to cause enormous amounts of damage at once. Now they've all grown fat, reclining on their thrones, having sustenance delivered to them by the bulk as their overies go into overdrive to increase their , all the while their armies die off by the swarm in battles that slowly but surely destroy their tribe's only supply off food!"
>More smoke
"The current expansionism of the Changelings has the potential of a plague of biblical proportions. They've taken up the niche of a swarm of locusts: usually semi-solitary creatures, on rare occasions they swarm; their horemones raginging in an ever-growing frenzy of food and sex, depleting everything the land has to offer, until eventually their swarm collapses and they die off by the millions. Changelings are the same; as soon as their queens find themselves unable to maintain their perpetual sugar-highs, it will don on them how dependant they've become on war. At that point, global war will be inevitable, for the Chrysalis and her possy will for the first time in their race's history, find themselves genuinely desperate for love."
And now, another perfectly fine nun's habit has been burned to dust. Only an angry black dragon-pony, with shiny golden armor (the spell), and a collum of ghostly fire
"The state of the Changeling empire is more than just a threat to ponies and their livelihoods. It supercede politics, for it has the potential to become an existential threat to all life in this world!"
>>81826
(Fuck, I wish I had my computer so I could respond more quickly)
Sister Ash turns, unconvinced.
"It is the Changelings that give themselves too much credit, particularly Chrysalis. She believes that Changelings are capable of surpassing their natural niche, when they've only changed their tactics: she believes herself to be a predator, when she can never be anything but a lowly parasite. Even if she were a predator, she could never safely outnumber her own food supply. Her power and greed are unsustainable, and her entire race will suffer for it."
She continues
"She arrogantly believes that she is suited to rule the entire world alone; And if the way she's regarded the safety and well-being of her own hive in the past is any example, she is by no means a competent ruler. She takes the unconditional love of her hive, the foundation of her tribe's survival, to be a testament to her own supremacy. She does not love them the same way they love her: she only continues laying at increasingly monstrous rates with the state of mind that she's only producing more slaves for her war machine; she'd gladly sacrifice a hundred swarms for a mere tactical victory. Her pathetic aggressions on ponykind in the past are only a glimpse of how vain she can really be."
Sister Ash's eyebrows have once again started to glow
"Her rapid burst of power in recent years is far from legitimate. It doesn't stem from competant leadership or wise governance, but senseless greed. She has somehow finally managed to get the other Changeling queens of the wastelands to adopt her foolish practice, getting them high on short-lived bursts of sustenance, delivered by the bundle. Changelings we're always strongest when they fought and fed in numbers, and the recent advances to modern warfare made it all the more easy for their United powers to cause enormous amounts of damage at once. Now they've all grown fat, reclining on their thrones, having sustenance delivered to them by the bulk as their overies go into overdrive to increase their , all the while their armies die off by the swarm in battles that slowly but surely destroy their tribe's only supply off food!"
>More smoke
"The current expansionism of the Changelings has the potential of a plague of biblical proportions. They've taken up the niche of a swarm of locusts: usually semi-solitary creatures, on rare occasions they swarm; their horemones raginging in an ever-growing frenzy of food and sex, depleting everything the land has to offer, until eventually their swarm collapses and they die off by the millions. Changelings are the same; as soon as their queens find themselves unable to maintain their perpetual sugar-highs, it will don on them how dependant they've become on war. At that point, global war will be inevitable, for the Chrysalis and her possy will for the first time in their race's history, find themselves genuinely desperate for love."
And now, another perfectly fine nun's habit has been burned to dust. Only an angry black dragon-pony, with shiny golden armor (the spell), and a collum of ghostly fire
"The state of the Changeling empire is more than just a threat to ponies and their livelihoods. It supercede politics, for it has the potential to become an existential threat to all life in this world!"
>>81862
Iron is not convinced. "Well, prove it to me. Make Skies give you permission and then we shall fight hoof-to-hoof."
Iron is not convinced. "Well, prove it to me. Make Skies give you permission and then we shall fight hoof-to-hoof."
>>81861
She sighs slightly
"His shift varies by day, but today I believe it should end at 6 PM, and he could be found at the Grand Baltimare Hotel as he leaves. I must say that I have never stalked him, so I could not tell you his routine after that."
>>81862
*pats*
>>81863
>>81864
>All of this about changelings
Alright, there is no conceivable way I could be silent on this
She sighs slightly
"His shift varies by day, but today I believe it should end at 6 PM, and he could be found at the Grand Baltimare Hotel as he leaves. I must say that I have never stalked him, so I could not tell you his routine after that."
>>81862
*pats*
>>81863
>>81864
>All of this about changelings
Alright, there is no conceivable way I could be silent on this
>>81865
"Exactly." She hisses
"She cackles in bliss as she crushes her enemies, but she stands, it is own tribe that faces destruction in the long run." She says, the combined light of her armor and fire looking like a miniature sun
>>81868
That's really just an accumulation of what I've gathered from details of the show, what I've gathered in game, a few mlp/bug/ general headcanons, and what little lore I've read surrounding the Hearts of Iron mod. It's supposed to reflect Sister Ash's beliefs and understanding of the situation; she could be wrong...
"Exactly." She hisses
"She cackles in bliss as she crushes her enemies, but she stands, it is own tribe that faces destruction in the long run." She says, the combined light of her armor and fire looking like a miniature sun
>>81868
That's really just an accumulation of what I've gathered from details of the show, what I've gathered in game, a few mlp/bug/ general headcanons, and what little lore I've read surrounding the Hearts of Iron mod. It's supposed to reflect Sister Ash's beliefs and understanding of the situation; she could be wrong...
>>81872
"So... Looks like either my diplomacy skills are decent, or we just have really good friends. Now to ask Silver."
I walk over to Silver.
"So... Looks like either my diplomacy skills are decent, or we just have really good friends. Now to ask Silver."
I walk over to Silver.
>>81873
Iron squints at this amount of light. "Yes, can you stop the fire already? I cannot see anything."
>>81874
"Eh, it is more for my safety than your pride, Star. I would rather not give her any incentive to do bad stuff to me." Iron shrugs.
>>81876
"Yeah, friends." Iron is unsure to call this group a couple of besties.
Iron squints at this amount of light. "Yes, can you stop the fire already? I cannot see anything."
>>81874
"Eh, it is more for my safety than your pride, Star. I would rather not give her any incentive to do bad stuff to me." Iron shrugs.
>>81876
"Yeah, friends." Iron is unsure to call this group a couple of besties.
>>81876
Silver seems to have been lost in the conversation about changelings that had been taking place, but he notices Spark trot up to him in time to hear what he has to say.
Silver seems to have been lost in the conversation about changelings that had been taking place, but he notices Spark trot up to him in time to hear what he has to say.
>>81879
._.
It's a 15 DC save.. to resist catching fire.
... Roll a touch attack to see if you actually touched the fireball, because she would have tried to avoid it.
._.
It's a 15 DC save.. to resist catching fire.
... Roll a touch attack to see if you actually touched the fireball, because she would have tried to avoid it.
>>81884
Silver looks a bit thankful at how straightforward the question is. "I am still technically in your employment. Until this business at quarry is finished, what you do, I will do."
Silver looks a bit thankful at how straightforward the question is. "I am still technically in your employment. Until this business at quarry is finished, what you do, I will do."
[1d6 = 6]
>>81883
o_o
"Wait,W-What are yo-"
Iron, in touching the raging blue fireball "to see how hot it is", has now caught fire, and takes 1d6 fire damage.
"Y-y-youbaka fool!" She gasps in concern, stepping several paces back as she tries to put herself out.
>>81883
o_o
"Wait,W-What are yo-"
Iron, in touching the raging blue fireball "to see how hot it is", has now caught fire, and takes 1d6 fire damage.
"Y-y-you
>>81863
>>81863
>Native to the wastelands North East of the Crystal Empire
"Technically false, but I can see why you would think that"
>capable of sustaining their bodies without food or water
"Not entirely true, and certainly not true for developing hatch-lings, but neither is it wholly false"
>I studied it for the sake of immitating it myself one day
"Why would anyone want to suffer the life of a Changeling?"
> Hive members fly far out into Equestrian territory to collect love for their queen and her offspring, the same way bees collect nectar from flowers
"Indeed."
>all members of the hive unconditionally love their queen
"That I can tell you is false. The Equestrian government even sheltered defectors prior to the War."
>Despite this, the hive is able to live on because Changelings give their unconditional love to their queen: their mother. Changelings obey their mothers with utmost loyalty, following her commands precisely, all individuallity stripped away by the necessity of the hive to share enough love
"It is true that a Queen like queen Chrysalis is a queen in the sense that that is her biological sex, and it is true that Changelings have a devotion to their mother, their brothers, and their sisters. However, Changeling collective loyality is more abstract than that. They are perfectly capable of following a queen that is not their personal mother. That is how Chrysalis became queen not just of the hive she is the mother of, but off all of the hives on this continent. Really, Changeling collectivism is like pony collectivism, only stronger."
>war-battered ponies grow paranoid, bitter, and vengeful, making it all the more difficult for the parasitic Changelings to extract enough love to bring back to their queen
"This is not necessarily true. A combatant in action often fights to defend those he loves, and the country he loves. Indeed, it is a very strong form of love. Besides, the intent is not eternal love, it is to bring about peace under a changeling hegemony, which means ponies will go back to a sort of uneasy normalcy. What Chrysalis believes is that even if the ponies are less loving and more fearful under Changeling domination, then at least the Changelings can suck their love directly, which she thinks would be more efficient than sending 'honey bees'. Whether she is right of course, well, remains to be seen."
>Ecological collapse
"I... don't know. If it doesn't happen, do you think she would be content with what she has?"
>>81864
>A predator
"She is simply following the pattern of Colonialism taken up by other species. After all, it is how the Equestrians have dealt with the Buffalo and their own fellow ponies in the Crystal Empire and the Dominion. Changelings like to mimic the behavior of others, after all"
>she is not a competent ruler
"She defeated Celestia and the elements twice. Do not dismiss that offhand"
>She only continues laying at increasingly monstrous rates
"That I am... not..."
>She'd gladly sacrifice a hundred swarms for a mere tactical victory
"And a hundred swarms would gladly sacrifice themselves for their hives. When a bee stings, it pulls out its intestines along with its stinger. It sacrifices itself to defend the hive"
>all the while their armies die off by the swarm in battles that slowly but surely destroy their tribe's only supply off food
"It remains to be seen just how strong or weakened they will be in the war to come. But I will tell you this right now: you never, ever, win a war just by assuming that your enemy is weak and a pushover"
>They've taken up the niche of a swarm of locusts
"My dear, please stop for a moment to look at it from their perspective. They believe that they are engaging in Animal Husbandry. You raise cows for milk, don't you? And sheep for wool. That is what they think they are doing. Raising ponies like sheep and fleecing them, or like cows for milk. They are doing to ponies what ponies do to the other animals of the land."
>The state of the Changeling empire is more than just a threat to ponies and their livelihoods. It supercede politics, for it has the potential to become an existential threat to all life in this world
"Just so long as that means you are willing to cooperate with the Blackhooves"
>>81865
"No. Imagine a pony having its life force slowly drained from it forever. That is the future you face."
>>81875
>>81874
*narrows eyes*
>>81863
>Native to the wastelands North East of the Crystal Empire
"Technically false, but I can see why you would think that"
>capable of sustaining their bodies without food or water
"Not entirely true, and certainly not true for developing hatch-lings, but neither is it wholly false"
>I studied it for the sake of immitating it myself one day
"Why would anyone want to suffer the life of a Changeling?"
> Hive members fly far out into Equestrian territory to collect love for their queen and her offspring, the same way bees collect nectar from flowers
"Indeed."
>all members of the hive unconditionally love their queen
"That I can tell you is false. The Equestrian government even sheltered defectors prior to the War."
>Despite this, the hive is able to live on because Changelings give their unconditional love to their queen: their mother. Changelings obey their mothers with utmost loyalty, following her commands precisely, all individuallity stripped away by the necessity of the hive to share enough love
"It is true that a Queen like queen Chrysalis is a queen in the sense that that is her biological sex, and it is true that Changelings have a devotion to their mother, their brothers, and their sisters. However, Changeling collective loyality is more abstract than that. They are perfectly capable of following a queen that is not their personal mother. That is how Chrysalis became queen not just of the hive she is the mother of, but off all of the hives on this continent. Really, Changeling collectivism is like pony collectivism, only stronger."
>war-battered ponies grow paranoid, bitter, and vengeful, making it all the more difficult for the parasitic Changelings to extract enough love to bring back to their queen
"This is not necessarily true. A combatant in action often fights to defend those he loves, and the country he loves. Indeed, it is a very strong form of love. Besides, the intent is not eternal love, it is to bring about peace under a changeling hegemony, which means ponies will go back to a sort of uneasy normalcy. What Chrysalis believes is that even if the ponies are less loving and more fearful under Changeling domination, then at least the Changelings can suck their love directly, which she thinks would be more efficient than sending 'honey bees'. Whether she is right of course, well, remains to be seen."
>Ecological collapse
"I... don't know. If it doesn't happen, do you think she would be content with what she has?"
>>81864
>A predator
"She is simply following the pattern of Colonialism taken up by other species. After all, it is how the Equestrians have dealt with the Buffalo and their own fellow ponies in the Crystal Empire and the Dominion. Changelings like to mimic the behavior of others, after all"
>she is not a competent ruler
"She defeated Celestia and the elements twice. Do not dismiss that offhand"
>She only continues laying at increasingly monstrous rates
"That I am... not..."
>She'd gladly sacrifice a hundred swarms for a mere tactical victory
"And a hundred swarms would gladly sacrifice themselves for their hives. When a bee stings, it pulls out its intestines along with its stinger. It sacrifices itself to defend the hive"
>all the while their armies die off by the swarm in battles that slowly but surely destroy their tribe's only supply off food
"It remains to be seen just how strong or weakened they will be in the war to come. But I will tell you this right now: you never, ever, win a war just by assuming that your enemy is weak and a pushover"
>They've taken up the niche of a swarm of locusts
"My dear, please stop for a moment to look at it from their perspective. They believe that they are engaging in Animal Husbandry. You raise cows for milk, don't you? And sheep for wool. That is what they think they are doing. Raising ponies like sheep and fleecing them, or like cows for milk. They are doing to ponies what ponies do to the other animals of the land."
>The state of the Changeling empire is more than just a threat to ponies and their livelihoods. It supercede politics, for it has the potential to become an existential threat to all life in this world
"Just so long as that means you are willing to cooperate with the Blackhooves"
>>81865
"No. Imagine a pony having its life force slowly drained from it forever. That is the future you face."
>>81875
>>81874
*narrows eyes*
>>81888
Okay, I know I was totally overstepping my bounds in tying all those assumptions together, but how does Blue know all of this?
Okay, I know I was totally overstepping my bounds in tying all those assumptions together, but how does Blue know all of this?
>>81886
"I appreciate that Silver, but you are free to accept this or refuse without any penalty to your pay. It is your choice."
"I appreciate that Silver, but you are free to accept this or refuse without any penalty to your pay. It is your choice."
>>81887
"Ow! Your fire is not for show!" Iron exclaims as he gets burned by the fire. He is now rolling on the ground to stop the fire from hurting him more.
>>81888
"Does the process hurt like this?" Iron is currently rolling on the ground trying to put
the fire out while her counter speech was taking place.
"Ow! Your fire is not for show!" Iron exclaims as he gets burned by the fire. He is now rolling on the ground to stop the fire from hurting him more.
>>81888
"Does the process hurt like this?" Iron is currently rolling on the ground trying to put
the fire out while her counter speech was taking place.
[1d20+5 = 15]
>>81888
>"She defeated Celestia and the elements twice. Do not dismiss that offhand"
Tbh, she always seemed pretty naive and foolish to me in the show. Not to underestimate her, but she's a pretty greedy Butch, and doesn't seem to actually give a fuck about her hive: not a competent ruler to me.
Sister Ash would think the same, from stories she's herd.
>>81894
That requires another reflex save...
Caleb rolls Aid Another, to try to put out the flames with some of her spit.
>>81888
>"She defeated Celestia and the elements twice. Do not dismiss that offhand"
Tbh, she always seemed pretty naive and foolish to me in the show. Not to underestimate her, but she's a pretty greedy Butch, and doesn't seem to actually give a fuck about her hive: not a competent ruler to me.
Sister Ash would think the same, from stories she's herd.
>>81894
That requires another reflex save...
Caleb rolls Aid Another, to try to put out the flames with some of her spit.
>>81890
"It is fine. It does seem like noble cause, to at least make sure these foals are safe." After a couple seconds of silence, he sighs. "It is also that I...do not have much else to do until we head back into catacombs."
>>81888
"I see you have done your research."
>>81889
I'm about 80% sure that Blue Skies is actually a changeling. Whether or not she's a good or bad one remains to be seen.
"It is fine. It does seem like noble cause, to at least make sure these foals are safe." After a couple seconds of silence, he sighs. "It is also that I...do not have much else to do until we head back into catacombs."
>>81888
"I see you have done your research."
>>81889
I'm about 80% sure that Blue Skies is actually a changeling. Whether or not she's a good or bad one remains to be seen.
>>81901
I believed she was a multiclass ranger or something who had them as her favored enemy plus the knowledge ranks to know all the facts
It could be a plausibility though.
I believed she was a multiclass ranger or something who had them as her favored enemy plus the knowledge ranks to know all the facts
It could be a plausibility though.
>>81901
"Understandable. If you ever need things to do, I will help you scout out something worth your time. Hopefully I won't come across a legion of undead next time."
"Understandable. If you ever need things to do, I will help you scout out something worth your time. Hopefully I won't come across a legion of undead next time."
>>81902
I'm not underestimating her capabilities, I'm just saying she's not the wise leader that she thinks she is. She's not stupid, just vain.
I'm not underestimating her capabilities, I'm just saying she's not the wise leader that she thinks she is. She's not stupid, just vain.
File (): E6E1CE547A10F4982658B5027FC3DE30-308319.png (301.1 KB, 520x678, _worried laughter.png)
I was making a character sheet for Discord as a deity. Would you like to see it once it's done?
>>81902
"It is not as if I would expect every member of Black Hooves to know expert's level of knowledge on changelings. Give yourself some credit, in that regard."
>>81904
"Speaking of legions of undead, I am fairly certain one could call what is in lower area of catacombs 'legion of undead'."
>>81908
For shits and giggles, hell yeah.
"It is not as if I would expect every member of Black Hooves to know expert's level of knowledge on changelings. Give yourself some credit, in that regard."
>>81904
"Speaking of legions of undead, I am fairly certain one could call what is in lower area of catacombs 'legion of undead'."
>>81908
For shits and giggles, hell yeah.
>>81902
>>81905
Iron, after putting the fire out, chuckles at his own stupidity. "Well, I guess that answers that. Hoo I was not expecting that." He turns to Ash, thinking more stupid shit. "Check if you are not standing in anything that can easily burn and then scream with all of your rage and anger! Do it! Unleash your raw power!" He is clearly too pumped with adrenaline to think straight.
>>81907
I would like that if it meant Iron can meet up with changelings tbh.[/spoielr]
>>81905
Iron, after putting the fire out, chuckles at his own stupidity. "Well, I guess that answers that. Hoo I was not expecting that." He turns to Ash, thinking more stupid shit. "Check if you are not standing in anything that can easily burn and then scream with all of your rage and anger! Do it! Unleash your raw power!" He is clearly too pumped with adrenaline to think straight.
>>81907
I would like that if it meant Iron can meet up with changelings tbh.[/spoielr]
>>81909
I used hit dice for an ancient Concordant Dragon (chaos dragon), and gave him the Dragon's ascentant PrC to make him a literal god.
I used hit dice for an ancient Concordant Dragon (chaos dragon), and gave him the Dragon's ascentant PrC to make him a literal god.
>>81909
"I'm tempted to try and move that undetonated bomb close and blow it if that is the case, but with our luck, it will blow up when we touch it, or simply unleash the hordes upon the city. How are we supposed to clear..."
I ponder this for a minute.
"I'm tempted to try and move that undetonated bomb close and blow it if that is the case, but with our luck, it will blow up when we touch it, or simply unleash the hordes upon the city. How are we supposed to clear..."
I ponder this for a minute.
>>81909
"Well no, you shouldn't, I'm just in a role that requires more than an ordinary amount of knowledge. You see, the activity I do that takes up the largest amount of my time is loyalty testing of Blackhooves employees, NMAC reservists, local government officials, an so forth. Mostly this means looking for officials who are willing to take bribes, or who may help saboteurs, but because the possibility of Changeling infiltration is a serious one, I am studied to handle that as well"
>>81912
She leans her head into it, and her wings spread apart somewhat
"Well no, you shouldn't, I'm just in a role that requires more than an ordinary amount of knowledge. You see, the activity I do that takes up the largest amount of my time is loyalty testing of Blackhooves employees, NMAC reservists, local government officials, an so forth. Mostly this means looking for officials who are willing to take bribes, or who may help saboteurs, but because the possibility of Changeling infiltration is a serious one, I am studied to handle that as well"
>>81912
She leans her head into it, and her wings spread apart somewhat
>>81913
"We are most certainly not going to mess with bomb. I do not want to explode just yet. However, it would be good idea to set up some sort of firing line. Perhaps pour oil on ground and light it on fire. Create killzone in hallway just after stairs."
>>81914
"It is difficult to find changeling infiltrators without proper spells, or without electrical shock. Especially if changeling comes from hive that specializes in disguising themselves and hiding in plain sight."
"We are most certainly not going to mess with bomb. I do not want to explode just yet. However, it would be good idea to set up some sort of firing line. Perhaps pour oil on ground and light it on fire. Create killzone in hallway just after stairs."
>>81914
"It is difficult to find changeling infiltrators without proper spells, or without electrical shock. Especially if changeling comes from hive that specializes in disguising themselves and hiding in plain sight."
>>81914
"I cannot say that I am versed in military tactics, but I understand Changelings well enough as creatures. They're definitely dangerous to the existence of nations, but they can be just as dangerous to themselves in the long run if they continue on their destructive path." She says, crossing her forehooves,having ceased flaming
Plus, in the Hearts of Iron mod, they seem pretty shock-trooperish. Their main strength seems to be that they're able to assemble for war pretty quickly, but they don't look really good at holding ground long term.
"I cannot say that I am versed in military tactics, but I understand Changelings well enough as creatures. They're definitely dangerous to the existence of nations, but they can be just as dangerous to themselves in the long run if they continue on their destructive path." She says, crossing her forehooves,having ceased flaming
Plus, in the Hearts of Iron mod, they seem pretty shock-trooperish. Their main strength seems to be that they're able to assemble for war pretty quickly, but they don't look really good at holding ground long term.
>>81915
"I like your thinking. We will do that once this rescue is over. We should make it a point to stay far back from them as much as that is possible, and keep the flammables away from the Kirin, just in case."
"I like your thinking. We will do that once this rescue is over. We should make it a point to stay far back from them as much as that is possible, and keep the flammables away from the Kirin, just in case."
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