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1450113__safe_artist-colon-evomanaphy_oc_oc-colon-night skies_oc only_oc-colon-starfall_bat pony_b.png
Occupied Equestria
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81000
81004 81006 81341
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.
1770 replies and 59 files omitted.
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81413
81417 81418
>>81411
"I might have to read more of these. Were you planning on selling these or turning them over to the authorities?"
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81414
81415
>>81411
>>81408
Dark Star looks inside for what silver needed
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81415
81416
>>81414
Right inside his bag is a large first-aid kit, almost fully-stocked, containing what else but a bottle of headache medication.
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81416
81419 81423
>>81415
Dark Star passes him the tylenol
Druid Dragon-Lion-Deer-Horse
7aT9u
?
No.81417
81420 81421 81427 81430 81433 81435
tenor.gif
>>81413
Sister Ash spits at the mention
"Selling them would only put them in the hands of a Wizard who was interested in the same things Curwinney was. Turning them over to the authorities would lead to the same thing, only with more steps." She growls
"There's no reason for something such as that to exist. It's best thrown away."
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81418
81420 81421 81438
>>81412
She sits up firmly
"No. I've never read any of these books. But it looks like they are valuable histories. And I will tell you now. Knowledge is not evil. The Truth, is not evil. And hiding from it, or trying to destroy it, is an offense to the Great Mother"

>>81413
Shimmer has absolutely never read this particular history
"The authorities, or course"
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81419
81422
>>81416
"Спасибо…" He greedily takes it and pops it into his mouth, barely managing to open his canteen and take a drink of water to chase the pill down his throat.
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81420
81423
>>81418
"Ah. A little disappointing. I would have liked to study some of these."
I offer the book back to Blue Skies.
>>81417
"That is for you to convince her of. It is her loot after all."
Iron
41OWR
?
No.81421
81423 81438
>>81418
>>81417
"I believe what she said will be true. While knowledge is not evil by itself. The ability to cause harm to others may lead ponies to do evil."
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81422
81424
>>81419
Dark Star puts the canteen to Silvers lips

Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81423
81425 81428 81430
>>81416
"Help me here Dark Star. Your Country needs you" Blue Skies tells him

>>81420
She takes it

>>81421
"Iron, is strength something that can cause harm and do evil?"
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81424
81440
>>81422
He seems thankful, taking a couple large gulps, to both swallow the pill and to quench his thirst.
Iron
41OWR
?
No.81425
81426 81428 81436 81440
>>81423
"Yes, but strength is gained from training and dedication of the pony in question. This is knowledge that needs little to no training in order to accomplish evil, so it increases the chance of someone doing evil, because it is accesible."
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81426
>>81425
"Iron, do you honestly think any pony can learn history or magic without training or dedication?"
Iron OOC
41OWR
?
No.81427
>>81417
Ash, point out the filly who tried to summon hellhounds.
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81428
81429 81431
>>81423
>>81425
>the fascist is saving books
>the neutral/harmonists are burning books
What happened? I'm confused.
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81429
81434
>>81428
"Shimmer, if you value arcane knowledge, help me out"
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81430
>>81423
>>81417
"Blue is right. the books should not have been burned until spark or silver looked over them. there could have been a journal or something you burned."
Dark Star has a disapointed look on his face as he looks at ash
Iron OOC
41OWR
?
No.81431
81432
>>81428
Well, if these books are spread, the methods on how to commit evil will spread. That is not good for the world.
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81432
81441
>>81431
Say it in character. No metagaming
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81433
81435
>>81417
"so all the books you burned where on how to create zombies?
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81434
81440 81441
>>81429
"Blue Skies hasn't made a choice so far that we have regretted. She knows the harm they can do, and yet is assured that they are safely kept under the authorities. It also stands to reason the counter to the undead may be found in the study of the books."
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81435
81437 81440
>>81433
>>81417
"Oh please, she burned history books"
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81436
>>81425
"Iron, let me ask you a question. Who do you trust, or rather who do you not trust, with the ability to start fire?"
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81437
81439 81440
>>81435
"history books?"
Druid Dragon-Lion-Deer-Horse
7aT9u
?
No.81438
81439 81440 81441
>>81421
>>81418
Sister Ash gives a snort
"A Wu ge-.. a Wizard's tomb collection is more than just knowledge: It's a tool. It's a culmination of magical practices synthesized for easy duplication. It is not merely a book meant to help those who seek to educate themselves, but a manual for what it was used to practice."
She snorts again, trying to clear the smoke out of her body
"Magical don't help ponies seeking to better themselves, or their understanding of magick. They're merely shortcuts; recordings of lucritive practices that ponies should spend years planning to perfect. A borrowed tomb does little to make a better mage; it only serves to let cocky young ones believe they know even the first thing about magick because they happened to read it in some manuscript."
She points at the book
"The secrets in that book are useful to two kinds of ponies: the pony who write them, and a pony seeking to haphazardly immitate that pony. They are not unique secrets. An ambitions magi could naturally develop the same powers on their own, without needing shortcuts."
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81439
81443 81444
>>81438
"Ash. How do you know what you burned were magical tombs. Do you think that he really needed 1000 tombs? Wouldn't just one do the job?"

>>81437
"Well, judging from a couple titles. Ancient and lost cultures a little on the occult side"
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81440
81443
>>81424
With a final satisfied sigh, Silver puts the canteen away, his headache reduced to a more manageable state. With the ability to think regained, the first thing that returns is his anger.

>>81425
>>81434
>>81435
>>81437
>>81438
Silver steps forward, facing the arguing groups. He looks pissed. He looks specifically at Ash as he begins to speak. "You can not burn knowledge as easily as you can books."
Iron
41OWR
?
No.81441
81442 81444
>>81432
Sorry
>>81438
"Well, that answers the whole 'any pony can learn history or magic question', now doesn't it? If there is no need to learn magic to replicate it, then that question is null and void."
>>81434
"Spark, do everypony here a favor and skim all books taken by Skies to see if any one of them contains methods to create any sort of undead, besides any other evil magic."
Iron
41OWR
?
No.81442
>>81441
*question', does it not?
Druid Dragon-Lion-Deer-Horse
7aT9u
?
No.81443
81445 81446
>>81439
"If you think a Wizard only uses one tomb, you've never met one." She replies
"Wizards write spells into all the books they handle simply out of habit."
Also, she was pissed of, and she had to burn something.
>>81440
"That's exactly my point." She says
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81444
81446
>>81441
>>81439
"Do you mind me looking though your books Skies as he suggests?"
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81445
81448
>>81443
"Then why!?" Her response only serves to make Silver even more mad. He takes a step towards the kirin. "Why did you risk our lives over burning few books!?"
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81446
81447 81449
>>81443
"Oh please. They don't need a literal thousand. Ash, do you know what these things are?"

>>81444
"go ahead"

She lets him see the books around her
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81447
81449 81454
>>81446
I skim though the books looking for parts related to undead.
Druid Dragon-Lion-Deer-Horse
7aT9u
?
No.81448
81450 81454
>>81445
Her ears droop, and she hangs her head
"That... was inexcusable.. I did not expect the smoke to spend so quickly, and I am to blame for any damages that may have been incurred.." she says with a bow
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81449
81454
>>81446
>>81447
Dark Star loooks at the titles
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81450
81451 81452
>>81448
At least that one hasn't served to anger him. It hasn't exactly calmed him, either, from the faint sound of his grinding teeth. "But. Why?"
Druid Dragon-Lion-Deer-Horse
7aT9u
?
No.81451
81452 81454 81455
>>81450
*Drooping intensifies*
".. I was reckless.."
Iron
41OWR
?
No.81452
81453 81455
>>81451
>>81450
"That is not the issue here at the moment. We need to ascertain that these books do not contain methods on how to do evil magic on them. Then we can discuss on the recklessness of Ash's actions."
Druid Dragon-Lion-Deer-Horse
7aT9u
?
No.81453
>>81452
Sister Ash's eyes slowly fade back to their normal state and she walks a good 10 feet away from the group and lays down.
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81454
81456 81459
>>81447
>>81449
Perhaps 9 books surround Skies. One relates to the legends of Kindokini. Another to the worship of Mar deep in the regions of Griffinheim. Another to the Va'kran cult of Zebrica. Another, the legends of the Nordlige Ponnier. Another 2 are like these, but 3 are different They are hoofwritten, not written by somepony else.

These three are definitely secret histories. One concerns a sorcerer in Sonambula in the middle kingdom, another the aforementioned sorcerer, another even older, dating to the period before the windigos in the Unicorn tribes of the north

Not a single one of the books look like it concerns Curwhinny's powers over life and death. All of them concern the occult, and creatures who were interested in strange things as well as myths. 6 of them were copies of something else made at that time. 3 of them look irreplaceable. It can neither be confirmed nor denied if any of them contain functioning spells, although it would be far from surprising if they did. None are by purpose magical tomes

>>81448
"Oh bow yourself. If you don't even have the foresight to know that fire in an enclosed space will kill everypony, then how are you a good judge of such philsophical questions of the value of knowledge?"

>>81451
"And you are reckless to destroy knowledge when you don't even know what it is!"
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81455
>>81451
"Indeed you were." Silver sighs, sitting down. The feeling of his gaze burrowing into her subconscious hasn't entirely gone away. "You are not stupid pony. I know this from just having watched you in there. Even if those books had contained forbidden, dark magic, you know destroying those books does not change fact that knowledge of these magics still exists. You did not even bother to check if they were indeed what you thought they were before acting, or gaining support from rest of group. Star and I were not even present for ordeal."

>>81452
"It is issue to me." A portion of his anger gets directed to Iron. "I have spent valuable time and money, sweat and blood, on this mission, and now I am not even sure if we will be able to finish it because she acted with impulse. I want to know why."
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81456
81457
>>81454
> dating to the period before the windigos in the Unicorn tribes of the north
Dark Star takes this one and flips threw a few pages
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81457
81458
>>81456
Dark Star can see that this book is written in cursive, and seems to relate the eyewitness accounts of a few unicorns who had been assistants of the court of Princess Platinum, who had a desire to contact the ones living beyond the stars
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81458
81460 81465
>>81457
Dark Star looks Very Interested in this book
"Princess Platinum?"
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81459
81461 81471
>>81454
"Most of these pertain to religions and cults already around. A few of these are from long ago. One of these is before Nightmare Moon's banishment. I really wish I could study them further now. But nothing directly related to raising the dead."


Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81460
81462 81465
>>81458
Dark Star can recall from his childhood stories that Princess Platinum was a leader of the Unicorn tribes of the north at around the time of the migration and Equestrian unification
Iron
41OWR
?
No.81461
81465
>>81459
Iron's will breaks. "Wait, that is all?" He looks down, stupefied. "So the burning was worthless?" Iron shakes his head and sits down. "I cannot believe it." Iron, dejected, leaves alone Skies and retreats to his armor pile and shield in order to equip them, cursing silently.

Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81462
81465
>>81460
Dark Star's eyes flash Recognition
"Wow, i had almost foregotten about her."
Dark Star reads some more about how she planned to contact them
Druid Dragon-Lion-Deer-Horse
7aT9u
?
No.81463
81464
Sister Ash wanders off to where she left the jars, trailing smoke as her body settles down.
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81464
81466
>>81463
I follow the Kirin.
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81465
81469 81470
>>81462
>>81460
>>81458
Without taking the time to carefully study the book, it's very difficult to say just what, precisely, is going on. It looks as if the book is saying that in those short years before the Windigos. Before Discord. Before Princess Luna, and Princess Celestia. There was a dedicated group of unicorns. They opperated under the assumption that beyond the lunar sphere, out in the either, there were creatures. You could call them angels, you could call them minor gods - but immortal god-like creatures that danced and played on their own. They wanted to... actually, what they were trying to do is hard to determine, again, without taking a full 10 hours to read it. They wanted to access the outer planes. Or bring what was in the planes here. Or merge them...

>>81461
"Not necessarily. Who knows what were in the books I couldn't save
Druid Dragon-Lion-Deer-Horse
7aT9u
?
No.81466
81467 81468 81471
>>81464
She gets to where the jars are, and sits upright cross-legged, completely silent before them.
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81467
81472
>>81466
They are equally silent to her
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81468
81472
>>81466
"You doing ok?"
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81469
81473
>>81465
"Gods? from Beyond the moon?"
Iron
41OWR
?
No.81470
>>81465
Iron still curses silently, strapping all his armor pieces and equiping his shield. He then follows Spark.

Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81471
81478 81482 81487
>>81459
Silver just sighs once more. He gets up from where he is sitting. And goes to where Ash is heading.
>>81466
"I still would like to know why." Silver's voice no longer carries the anger it once had, though it's clear he's still looking for an answer. "You are kirin. I have never heard of your people until now. It is clear you are gifted with fire...sometimes too gifted...I want to understand reasoning behind your decision. Why you made it, and why you made it so rash."
Druid Dragon-Lion-Deer-Horse
7aT9u
?
No.81472
81477 81478
>>81468
"... I am fine..." She says after a whike, visibly not on fire anymore.
>>81467
She's praying, silently
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81473
81474
>>81469
The text refers to them as "outer ones." They seem to be creatures that date from beyond creation. They are not monolithic, but rather are of diverse kind. Now he sees it. They wanted to talk to one under the light of a full moon. Or at least, that is what they did on one moonlit gathering - the unicorns all wearing their robes and prostrating themselves before the night sky
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81474
81475
>>81473
When is the next full moon?
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81475
81476
>>81474
Well, the moon last night was waxing gibbous, so definitely within one week. Like tonight or in two days, maybe three
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81476
81479
>>81475
Dark Star seems like he is considering something
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81477
81478 81512
>>81472
"You sure?"
Iron
41OWR
?
No.81478
81480 81481
>>81472
Iron, still angry, now stands next to the prone Ash, looking for threats.
>>81471
"Silver, as much as I would like to know her motives, I would suggest leaving some time for her to think it through." Iron states, fully armored except his good hitting hoof and shield equipped on his other hoof.
>>81477
"Spark, do not be a fool. She is clearly not fine. Leave her be until then."
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81479
81483
>>81476
Reading on... wait. Wait a minute. The author did try to get the incantations. He seems to stop to relate this part very carefully. He has at least two different versions of the same spell here, evidently coming from two different witnesses. He makes notes about translation issues. He talks also about what the subtleties could mean. He implies that he got this knowledge from "spirits" and at some point had to coerce the information out. It's obvious he doesn't know if the evocation permutations would work or not. He mere tried to write it down with as much detail as possible. That was a 5 page tangent as he describes the night
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81480
>>81478
"Sometimes a fool learns the hard way."
Iron
41OWR
?
No.81481
>>81478
*remove 'until then'
Druid Dragon-Lion-Deer-Horse
7aT9u
?
No.81482
81485 81489
>>81471
She speaks again after a few seconds
"... I was wandering through the lair of that stallion. I found the place where he kept his treasures. In the moment, nothing in that place seemed worth saving to me, nothing alive.. so I decided it may as well burn..."
She opens her eyes slowly
"... I cannot say what I did was the right thing to do, but it felt like that in the moment.. a room full of stolen masterpieces, all stolen from the ones who would have properly valued them, for the greed of a wicked pony willing to torture souls to amass his wealth and power... At the time, I only wanted it all to burn, perhaps not because the things in that room deserved it, but because it I felt they should..."
Her shawl gas finally stopped smoking
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81483
81484
>>81479
Dark star continues reading
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81484
81490
>>81483
Sources vary as to exactly what animals were brought, and what needed to be done for the ritutal, although the author clearly has his theory of what the components were, and he points out other details of the event that would be helpful should anypony reading it decide they want to come up with their own theory. Anyways, it seems as if it was successful in its first attempt with the unicorn contacting one of the Outer Ones. But the Outer Ones quickly filled his mind with a slew of negative emotions, causing him to break contact. This concerned the onlookers, but convinced them the process was working in part, and they committed to meet at the next full moon in an even larger session
Iron
41OWR
?
No.81485
81486 81488
>>81482
Iron looks sternly at Ash. "As much as I would like to forgive this transgression, it is a sign of something more problematic. You need to rein in your emotions or this will happen again, and maybe somepony will die for it next time you lose control again, and I can guarantee that you would feel devastated by killing somepony who did not really deserve it."
Ironic isn't it?
Druid Dragon-Lion-Deer-Horse
7aT9u
?
No.81486
>>81485
Yep...
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81487
81489
>>81471
"Silver. Psst!" Blue Skies comes up to him and whispers
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81488
>>81485
It's probably fair to say that if Ash hadn't set that warehouse on fire, those two police officers would not have been killed
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81489
81491 81493
>>81482
Silver nods. He understands, or at least, understands enough. "You are young, yet. You have not yet learned control of such feelings. It is not something I could blame you for, so long as you understand where you went wrong, and are willing to take steps towards controlling it." He gives her a pat on the back, no longer afraid of having his hoof catching fire from contact.
>>81487
Silver turns to her, wondering what she wants of him.
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81490
81491
>>81484
is there any notes on what it said to him?
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81491
81492 81494
>>81489
"Can we move away and talk in private?"

>>81490
The unicorn who was the conduit of the activity was not one of the perspectives who relate the story. The unicorn seemed to have been filled with hate at the time, and after contact was broken, seemed to have this theory that the rest of the group were plotting against him. That is just the first time, anyways
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81492
81498
>>81491
As if Dark Star has been put under a compulsion spell, he continues reading.
Druid Dragon-Lion-Deer-Horse
7aT9u
?
No.81493
81494 81497
>>81489
Sister Ash nods slowly as her eyes shut and she resumes her prayer.
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81494
81496 81498
>>81491
Silver nods, standing up.
>>81493
"If you wish, we can talk more later. I do not know what help I can be to you, but I can try to help you on path of control, if you will allow me."
>>81491
With his talk with Ash concluded, he goes with Blue.
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81495
Well, with everypony busy, the sorcerer, glass by his side, trots back to camp.
Druid Dragon-Lion-Deer-Horse
7aT9u
?
No.81496
>>81494
"... I must finish this reposition.. These lost ones must have heir eulogy, if they are to rest..." She replies, before resuming her unintelligible prayer
Iron
41OWR
?
No.81497
>>81493
Iron stands by her side. He has composed himself from his anger and stands straight. He wonders how could someone be taught not to be angry.
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81498
81499 81500
>>81492
There was a debate among the unicorns of the circle. Some of them thought that the incident proved the outer ones were hostile, some thought them a mix of good and evil, and some of them thought that they could be placated. There was another session. In this incident, when they contacted the outer ones, one responded very clearly. The outer one seemed to think that everypony was... boring. Dreadfully boring and normal. He convinced the conduit that his quest for knowledge was futile because of the finite perceptual abilities and mental faculties of a pony. This revelation was said to visibly dull his coat and break him emotionally. But the effect was confined to the pony who had been the conduit, and everypony else began to believe that it may be possible to select who to speak to, or perhaps even to summon to the terrestrial plane

>>81494
She takes him over to the side, and whispers
"Did you pocket anything else?"
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81499
81501
>>81498
"so they're evil? hmmmm"
Dark Star continues reading
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81500
81501
>>81498
"There was not much, I am afraid. Most valuable thing I found was this." He pulls out Alabaster's silver locket; he tries to carefully remove the picture it contains. He also pulls out the necklace the native skeleton wore from yesterday. "It seems, if there was treasure, it was either burnt down, or in area of catacombs we did not search."
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81501
81503 81506
>>81499
In the third session, the conduit managed to contact a different outer one. This one was proper, well speaking, and at least seemed to be trustworthy. This Outer One seemed to have a problem with the ponies and their nature, finding them disorderly and in need of stern guidance. The conversation with the outer one continued for quite some time, but it is very clear that this one took a deep interest in the lives of ponies on the terrestrial plane

>>81500
She examines it
"This locket is much too old to have belonged to that foal"
Druid Dragon-Lion-Deer-Horse
7aT9u
?
No.81502
81505
Sister Ash remains in prayer position before the jars for as long as the rest of the party remains outside, not moving from her position even once.
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81503
81504
>>81501
He seems interested in this particular bit of information. "Are you sure it was not just gift to him?"
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81504
81507
>>81503
"Look at the attire on this unicorn mare"
She shows him the image in the locket
"This looks older than 930"
Iron
41OWR
?
No.81505
>>81502
Iron stands besides her, also not moving from his position as a guard.
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81506
81508
>>81501
"He contacted another one? wow!"
Where in Equestria is this set?
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81507
81508
>>81504
He examines it himself, even if he's unsure about his own knowledge on the styles of attire for different time periods.
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81508
81509 81512
>>81507
A style of bun that looks particularly old, with ornate red dress. The locket it heart shaped and silver

>>81506
Still another one responded as well. This one was not quite as enthusiastic as the previous: the outer one liked the freedom of the outer planes, and the creativity it allowed, and did not want to loose that. But neither was the outer one indifferent to the land of ponies

This is set in the northern lands north of Equestria, in Dream valley of the kingdom of the Unicorns, prior to the migration
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81509
81510
>>81508
"Hmm. That is odd. What do you think this means, if anything?"
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81510
81514
>>81509
"That this isn't Alabaster's locket. That, or somepony gave him a locket far older than his grandmother. I think he had it in his hoof or something"
Druid Dragon-Lion-Deer-Horse
7aT9u
?
No.81511
81513
Okay, it's getting really late for me.

Sister Ash will be praying for each jar individually. It may take her more than an hour, while the of the party does whatever.
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81512
81515
>>81477
>>81508
"Hey Spark. come check this out."
Iron
41OWR
?
No.81513
>>81511
Good thing I have to wake up early as well, then
Iron just stands guard near Ash, not intent on moving anywhere else except to follow Ash.
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81514
81516
>>81510
"Hmm..." Silver thinks more on this. "Do you think it could have been part of larger horde?"
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81515
81516
>>81512
Would I be able to hear this from the camp? I'm not entirely sure where it is in relation.
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81516
81517 81518
>>81514
"What do you mean?"

>>81515
He he specifically went to find him, then yes
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81517
81519
>>81516
yea sure, Dark Star goes up to him.
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81518
81520
>>81516
"Could it have been part of personal treasure or collection of keepsakes Curwhinny kept? What if this is his locket? And this picture is of his late wife?"
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81519
81523
>>81517
"Yes?"

Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81520
81521
>>81518
"Plausible. Where do you think the foal got it from then?"
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81521
81522
>>81520
He thinks some more, before it hits him. "...Son of bitch. It came from cavity behind wall. One with book in it that Star took."
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81522
81524
>>81521
"That could be. Why would we find the cavity exposed as it was though?"
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81523
81525
>>81519
"hey i was reading this book, you gotta read this."
Dark Star Gives him a quick rundown
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81524
81526
>>81522
"That is less clear. Perhaps militia ponies, as they were attacking catacombs, disturbed bricks in that room. We did find skeleton of one not too far away from room."
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81525
81527
>>81523
"I always wondered about ponies... or whatever they are beyond the sky with the story of the stars aiding in her escape. Interesting stuff. How does it end?"
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81526
81527 81528
>>81524
"I'm not so sure they would have attacked bricks. I am even less sure they would have just ignored that book. Weren't there a number of dislodged bricks and fallen rocks near the stairwell?"
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81527
81529
>>81525
>>81526
"i dont know yet, i thought it was incredible i had to tell some pony."
Dark Star Continues Reading
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81528
81529
>>81526
"Yes, there was. Perhaps...what if mining operations in quarry caused both? That downstairs area was directly adjacent to quarry, and connected with quarry tunnel. And mining operations occurred far after than militia assault, and occurred before foal found their way into catacombs."
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81529
81530 81532
>>81527
There was concern over the unicorns of the circle, as while they were successful in contacting several of the outer ones, and these outer ones had various responses to the questions asked them, none had offered promises of power or pacts. But of course that was a petty issue to others, as they did not care for any favors in the terrestrial realm. They wanted to reach the divine. They wanted to become like the outer ones. The outer ones for their part took various interest in the terrestrial plane. Some had no interest at all in it, one took an interest in its magic, one in its little ponies and kingdoms, another only as a source of entertainment... And of course there were mixed feelings about which of these were dangerous. The response, naturally, was that the process could be controlled. So a unicorn who had studied along side Star-Swirl the Beared proposed a way to try to gain limited access to the outer planes. The ponies themselves, perhaps, could go over and touch the outer realms.

>>81528
"Yes... that would explain much of the damage to the catacombs. Many of those rooms look as if they had been boarded up, but the boards came down"
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81530
81531
>>81529
"Do you think, perhaps, there is more treasure there underneath well that has not yet been uncovered? Or elsewhere in catacombs, exposed by explosions from mines?" He rubs the back of his neck. "I suppose, it does not matter, unless we have way of surviving down there. Some kind of magic spell, or gas mask, or something of that sort."
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81531
81534
>>81530
"There are dozens of magical spells that allow you to breath in difficult conditions. We also have gas masks and oxygen tanks back at headquarters. Personally, I would recommend trying to remove all of that rubble from the cave-in you caused so there can be a breathing hole again. But who knows. There is definitely something down there in the areas never visited. And it's neither unmoving nor forever sealed away.

I can tell you I would like to see what hasn't been burned"

She gives her smile, and wags her tail slightly
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81532
81533 81536
>>81529
"the unicorns wanted to be like the outer ones?
Dark Star keeps reading"
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81533
81535
>>81532
"Just asking for trouble, as usual. Things really don't change do they?"
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81534
81536
>>81531
Silver nods as well, getting a similar look on his face. "Sounds like you and I have same idea, here."
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81535
81539
>>81533
"the never do it seems."
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81536
81537 81539 81542
>>81532
They assembled again. It seems that the timing of the sessions was important because of the positioning of the celestial bodies, which natural affect the planes of the realms because the planes are determined by the bodies that inhabit them. The "outer ones" are actually not necessarily inhabitants of the outer most planes, but certainly always above the terrestrial plane.

They assembled together at a sight of many runes, and positioned the stones just right so that they aligned with the Celestial bodies. When this was accomplished, a portal was opened, and at least one unicorn was able to pass through it. He reports later that he saw the land from far above, and saw the angels as they danced in the outer planes.

>>81534
She smiles still
"Tell me though. What precisely do you seek? What do you seek to avoid?"
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81537
81538
>>81536
"In this moment in time? Bits, work, something to give purpose to my life beyond just living. As for what to avoid...failure, mostly. I would say death, but I no longer have such fear of it. As long as I succeed in my duties, I do not care what happens to me."
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81538
81540
>>81537
"Do you know what the ponies who employed you for the catacombs wanted?"
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81539
81541
>>81536
>>81535
"Does the book say anything about how the pony acted once he got back?"
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81540
81541
>>81538
"As I understand it, they want undead cleared so they may continue work to fill in quarry without issue, turn land into real estate. I imagine if they only wanted tunnel sealed, they would have done so already."
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81541
81543
>>81539
That pony was filled with glee, for he had pranced with Angels.

They thought to expand the effect of the spell, to allow easier communion between the planes. The pony met with an outer one directly, and the outer one seemed amiable enough to allow to visit the terrestrial plane, nevermind the stated intent of domination of ponykind

>>81540
"Wait, they want this for real estate?"
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81542
81544 81545 81546
>>81536
>domination of ponykind
"what?"
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81543
81546
>>81541
"As far as my knowledge goes." He thinks some more on what he heard. "Perhaps it was for development. But those are fairly similar in purpose."
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81544
81545
>>81542
"Remember the different pony races didn't get along very well. Keep reading. I got to see how it ends for them, and how they swear to try again someday. Cults always swear to try again someday."
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81545
81547
>>81544
>>81542
Reading Intensifies
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81546
81547 81548 81549 81552
>>81542
The outer one walked straight through the portal and into the terrestrial plane, and ethereal angel. It spoke with the unicorns and is reported even to have sat down for dinner with a few of them. As a sign of good faith, the outer one returned to the outer planes after request by some of the unicorns, with the obvious desire to return.

But this incident heightened tensions between members of the unicorn circle, as some wanted to go to the outer planes themselves, or did not like the assumption of the outer one that they would be its servants.

More so, there was tension in the court of Princess Platinum, as one of the ponies had been chosen to be Starswirl's apprentice alongside Clover the Clever, causing jealousy in at least one pony

>>81543
"Then it sounds like they might dig into these areas for basements or tunnels. If not this year then in ten years or in a century.

Let me ask you a different question. What is it I could do that would make you stop willing to help me or work with me? What will you not help me do?"
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81547
81548
>>81546
>>81545

Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81548
81553
>>81546
>>81547
It's the same response either way, as that is the next part of the story
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81549
81550 81551
>>81546
I assume what she meant was "What is it I could do that would make you willing to help me or work with me?"
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81550
81552
>>81549
Nope. She meant 'what lines are you not willing to cross'
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81551
>>81549
'what is it I could do that would make you not willing to help me or work with me'
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81552
81554 81555
>>81550
Ah. Okay, I see it now.
>>81546
"I am mercenary, no matter what my personal preferences are. When I work, I am loyal to contract first, Bits second. There is only one line anyone could ever or has ever tried to cross that would make or has made me not willing to fulfill job: an active attempt to bring end to my life."
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81553
81555
>>81548
Dark Star Reads some more
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81554
81555
>>81552
"In other words: there is very, very little I would not do to fulfill contract." His voice has a twinge of regret as he continues. "In fact, there has been very, very little I have not done."
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81555
81556 81557 81559

>>81554
>>81552
>>81552
She gives him her smile

"Good. Then we shall have no issues working together going forward. I know where my loyalties lie, and I can't say i can help you much with your contract with the developers. but as for bits..."

She opens the top of Dark Star's bag, and briefly pulls out a non-descript leather bound book, then the two booklets
"These here... These are worth something. I want to find more like these, if they exist"

>>81553
It was time to visit the outer planes again. And a unicorn was selected. Not just any unicorn, but the same who had been selected before by Star swirl the Bearded. And beneath the moonlight, he waltzed with an outer one, with now two of them intent on on coming to the terrestrial realm.

However, a stallion named Fortis Equus in particular took offense to this process. He did not like other unicorn evidently courting Outer Ones. So he told Princess Platinum about the affairs of the circle
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81556
81558 81562
>>81555
Silver nods. "Curwhinny's notes. Indeed, I can see where Bits would exist, where these are concerned." He considers it for a couple seconds, before offering to shake on it. "If there are Bits in this work, then I shall take job."
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81557
81558
>>81555
"There is only so many ways this can go down. I'm shocked we lived at all when we were tempting powers beyond our understanding to interact with us."
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81558
81560 81561
>>81556
>>81557
Telling Princess Platinum proved catastrophic. Several of the members were arrested and charged. In particular, the stallion who had consorted with the outer ones became the target of suspicion, as it was believed that the outer ones he had talked to intended to take Princess Platinum's place. This was conspiring with foreign forces against the crown. As there was no proof that outer ones even exited, there could be no actual charge of treason. Still, it was enough to cause him to lose his position in the court

What remained of the circle met a last time
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81559
81560 81562
>>81555
"This is getting pretty good."
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81560
>>81558
>>81559
"Very good. I can't wait to see how it ends."
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81561
81563
>>81558
Reads more
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81562
81563 81565 81566
>>81556
"Excellent. Now don't let them take any more books and booklets, and don't let them know. Name your price, and you can have it. Just help me find more"

>>81559
It was a windless night with no moon. Probably half of the circle was not there, either because they had been arrested, or because they were afraid of being caught. No pony knew it had been Fortis who had informed on them to the Princess. All knew, however, that they must accelerate their plans, as their time had run out. They tried their best to make the incantations, and to draw a larger circle. When this was accomplished, the portal was established once again. The Outer One whom they had been in most contact with - the 'co-conspirator' according to Platinum, came through, bringing along another outer one who was more so conscripted into the scheme than a wholly willing participant. The Unicorn approached the two and addressed them as their servants.

At this point, Fortis Equus could not stand the sight any longer, and called out, demanding why the unicorn alone had travelled. After consideration, the unicorn himself decided that Fortis had a point, and let Fortis come to the portal.

When Fortis went through, he was accompanied by the two outer ones, and they pranced through the moonlight, and saw the stars as they hung. He was allowed to touch the ethereal coats of the outer ones, and to see the planet as it looked from the outer planes
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81563
81564
>>81562
>>81561
"Well... I actually didn't see that coming. What happens next?"
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81564
81566 81567
>>81563
After some time of prancing in the outer planes, they returned to the circle. As they stood in the circle, Fortis turned to the Unicorn, his heart forever cooled by the experience of the heavens. He told the unicorn what he had done in telling the princess, and apologized for it, saying he had not known he would have been invited along himself if only he had asked. And all of this as they stood along the circle itself

Exactly what happens next is not entirely clear, as one of the perspectives cuts off very shortly thereafter, but this seems to be what occurred. At the moment Fortis told the Unicorn, the latter's heart was over come with a rage and hatred. The portal had been easy enough to control so long as your mind and heart were still, and you knew what you were looking for, but the hate in his heart attracted something...

Not an outer one. An other one, a lesser denizen of the sphere just beyond the terrestrial. Drawn as if summoned to this emotion, they came in herd, and flocked through the portal en masse, killing the Unicorn, Fortis, and all but one of the members of the circle, who later related part of this story
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81565
81568
>>81562
"1,000 Bits, to cover cost of supplies, and 50% of value of what I find for you. That is my price for this mission."
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81566
>>81564
>>81562
"B-Buck."
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81567
81569
>>81564
"Well then... that ended worse than I thought. Not sure why everyone was shocked the angry one demanding to be part of the travel was the snitch, but oh well. Apparently we can't be angry beyond the sky or else you die."
Spark takes a second to ponder all of this.
"Technically... those things that murdered the circle could still be around here. They probably would have gone back if they could, but with the circle destroyed, the portal could have collapsed."
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81568
81571
>>81565
"If we're doing this, I supposed I should stop lying to you. I am not selling these books. I am buying, as an agent anyways. How much do you want?"
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81569
81570
>>81567
"this didnt happen here. it happend in Dream valley."
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81570
81572
>>81569
"I mean here as in our world. They could have traveled around, or stayed there looking for a way back, assuming they are still here."
Spark is lost in thought for just a second.
"I really wish we could keep these, but we need to return the book to your marefriend now."

Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81571
>>81568
Trying to figure out a good price to request is difficult when you're tired as fuck. I think I'm gonna sleep on it, come up with something once I wake up. Goodnight.
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81572
81573
>>81570
"maybe we could buy this one from her. im willing to put in half."
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81573
81574
>>81572
"She said it needs to go to the authorities. We can't buy it. Come on now. Let's go give it back."

Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81574
81575
>>81573
"Alright, i guess."

Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81575
81576
>>81574
I head back to where I last saw Blue Skies.
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81576
81577
>>81575
"Yes?"
She's been talking and dealing with Silver
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81577
81578 81579
>>81576
"Dark Star was just showing me one of your books. It was very fascinating, something about creatures beyond the sky and other creatures that came and killed everypony but one that witnessed it."
I motion for Dark Star to return the book.
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81578
81579 81580
>>81577
"Charming. That will do nicely"
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81579
81581
>>81577
Dark Star looks a little hesitant
>>81578
"its a very interesting book."
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81580
81581
>>81578
"Will the authorities study the books, or will they lock them up with the war going on?"
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81581
81582 81586 81588
>>81580
"Oh I can tell you that the war has made them far more interested in things such as creatures from beyond the sky that kill everyone"

>>81579
"Good to see something of value survived the purges"
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81582
81583 81585
>>81581
"Well, if they attempt it, they will kill themselves quicker than the enemy, I can guarantee that."
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81583
81584 81585
>>81582
She shrugs
Shimmering Spark
katog
?
No.81584
>>81583
"Have any suggestions on what to do to get back in the tunnel? Would there be a way to open it up to vent out all that smoke?"
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81585
>>81583
>>81582
"only if they are angry."
Anonymous
Pvx4Q
?
No.81586
>>81581
Dark Star Gives her the book
l1ONq
?
No.81588
81589 81590
>>81581
*Burns internally*
Iron OOC
41OWR
?
No.81589
>>81588
Oh that's hot. That's hot.
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81590
81591
>>81588
*Dies of Carbon monoxide poisoning and smoke inhalation internally*
Druid Dragon-Lion-Deer-Horse
l1ONq
?
No.81591
81592
>>81590
I'll take that into account next time I want to destroy something.
Iron
41OWR
?
No.81592
81593
>>81591
Please do. I don't want to see a foal die due to your... 'passion'
Druid Dragon-Lion-Deer-Horse
l1ONq
?
No.81593
81594 81595
>>81592
I didn't expect that much smoke to spread in only two rounds. I have spells that can serve as precautions.
Iron
41OWR
?
No.81594
81596
>>81593
Alright, it's not your first D&D game by your knowledge of it, so I'll trust you OOC, but Iron will be a little harder to convince.
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81595
>>81593
>Only two rounds
>Only two
>
Oh please. She started by setting the rug on fire (if that's wool, expect a relatively high concentration of Hydrogen Cyanide in the smoke) then lit a book on fire. Then another. Then another...
Druid Dragon-Lion-Deer-Horse
l1ONq
?
No.81596
81597
>>81594
I actually read the rules for smoke and suffocation hazards just a couple weeks ago, because I figured there might be a time I wanted to trap some targets in a burning building at some point during the game.
I just didn't get the timing right last time... I'll be more careful...

Iron
41OWR
?
No.81597
>>81596
No need to feel sorry for this blunder. At least not OOC.
bdwcn
?
No.81598
81599
[2d20 = 5]
[1d20+10 = 24]
Rolling
Iron
41OWR
?
No.81599
>>81598
Uh, what are you rolling for?[/spoier]
Silver (OOC)
C3j7I
?
No.81600
81601 81603
Well, I'm back. Still don't know what the value of those books might be.
Iron
41OWR
?
No.81601
81602
>>81600
Knowledge is valuable, so go for 500 to 1000 bits per book.
Silver (OOC)
C3j7I
?
No.81602
>>81601
I was thinking something like that yesterday, but I was too tired to really think any further than that.
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81603
81604
>>81600
"4000 bits, you don't ask questions, I take all of them, and you open up about your wife and children to me later"
She tells him
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81604
81605
>>81603
After a couple seconds of silently considering it, he nods. "It is done deal."
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81605
81606
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLaXJ1R8R2s

>>81604
"Excellent"
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81606
81608
>>81605
"All this leaves now is matter of reentering catacombs."
Druid Dragon-Lion-Deer-Horse
7aT9u
?
No.81607
Sister Ash is still praying.
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81608
81609
>>81606
"Do you have any plans, or think anything needs to be done first?"
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81609
81610
>>81608
"Besides acquiring way to breathe down there? There is not much else I would need to do to become ready. There is one issue I should mention, about idea of clearing rubble from quarry tunnel..."
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81610
81611
>>81609
"Rubble from which location?"
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81611
81612
>>81610
"Quarry tunnel. You saw quarry, earlier? There was tunnel, leading from there to lower area of catacombs. Before we knew there was fire set, we decided to seal off tunnel to stop undead from potentially wandering outside."
Anonymous
bdwcn
?
No.81612
81613
>>81611
"Huh... I would have figured that any undead that entered the quarry couldn't get out of its walls"
Silver
C3j7I
?
No.81613
>>81612
"Perhaps. At time, both Star and I believed it to be good idea, either way, from just shear amount of undead in lower area. Of course, again, we did not know there was fire."