Set six years after season 6, Occupied Equestria presents an alternative history where the Changelings have conquered half of Equestria, while a former Equestrian colony - soured to Princess Twilight's notion of harmony with all creatures thank to their dealing with griffins - Invaded and took the other half. In Baltimare and the Equestrian Southeast, the magic of friendship has weakened, as Communists, Changeling infiltrators, Fascists, gangs, and corrupt creepy politicians threaten the city. 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.
Half of the party - Brie, Onyx, and Spark - are on a train to far off Bales to try to cross the border into the Changeling Lands. the other half remains in Baltimare, where Silver is searching catacombs seeking books filled with long buried dark secrets, Dark Star is having luck with his marefriend, and Iron aiding in trafficking exotic animals
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>>93194Well, is this not interesting room. Silver first looks through the jacket's pockets, if it has any, for any notes or letters. He also looks at the sword, as it's a bit of a change from the muskets he's seen.
>>93203She gives a scrunchy frown, and has a look of sort of surprise. At least she isn’t annoyed
“We are fully inducted members of the syndicate. Our job is to carry out money making operations. With the approval of the Underboss, of course”
>>93204An older version. A Canterlot sword. There is indeed a note
which will have to wait because my parents want me to drive them or something It appears there is also more to this room than originally seen upon entering
>>93205Iron nods, snickering at the scrunchiness in display.
"So you are a sort of business mare? I think that makes sense. I am rather surprised how calm this place is, comparing to the other mademare's location. No guards, no thugs. Just you and Rays."
(Did I ask her name? I do not remember...)
A slight frown is made at the possible forgetfulness Iron may show if asked.
>>93195"Pegasi are ponies just like the rest of us, yea i was thinking it was about that time as well."
>>93204The note:
“Wildfire, we have been following Joseph Curwhinny for some time now. His strange behaviors have made him the source of many rumors, and only his near monopoly over the import of many rumors have kept him within the good graces of society. Recently, we’ve come in contact with one of his confederates. One Cinnamon Corn, has revealed much about his secret activities, and I fear we’ve found the truth is worse than the speculation of any old mare. His crimes range from grave robbing to Dark necromancy to probable mass murder, or at least grave mistreatment of his Zebra slaves.
To know the extent of his crimes makes his marriage to my Midnight Maelstorm all the more unbearable. She was the light of my life. When he took her from me last year, I was heartbroken. I was certain that it was only though coercion that her father approved the arrangement, and I determined myself to dissolve this unlawful union. Simply seeing her with him was painful. To know with certainty that he is a monster makes it utterly intolerable.
We will put an end to him, and to his dark magic. He has caused enough suffering.
-Whipperwill
December 17, 769”
>>93208“And some are better than others” she says, nodding
She summons the waiter, and asks her to bring the check, which runs at Perhaps 25 buts, mostly because of the wine
>>93207“Not every pony advertises their true nature for all to see, as if it were a badge of honor. Some mares prefer subtlety.”
>>93209Iron nods.
"Understandable. While I cannot be too subtle with my body and all, I do get that it is useful in many situations."
He solidifies his point by stomping the floor with one of his front hooves.
>>93209Dark Star drops the correct amount down and 10 bits as a tip.
>>93211She looks down at Iron’s hooves, and with a half frown, nods
>>93212The waiter expresses surprise at the large tip
“Thank you.”
What remains of the wine belongs to Dark Star
>>93210The letter is fine. The issue is the severe disparity between this letter's date and last letter sent from Curwhinny to Corn. Unless that's intentional.>>93209Hmm. Well, it seems as though things did not end well for Whipperwill. It also seems as though Cinnamon Corn told them about what Curwhinny did, one year prior to his note to her. Silver gives the sword a couple swings to see if it could be recovered while he trots around the room. Why does this room seem so odd to him?
>>93213Iron nods.
"So, do you have any friends in the gang?"
>>93213Dark Star Stashes the wine bottle in his satchel
"Ready to Get Going,my sweet?"
>>93214It was because I didn’t bother to check the old threads to make sure the date was correct before making the last post. It should be rectified to something like October 769The sword is definitely rusty, and the rust has dulled the blade.
Hanging in the room are several portraits. There is also a door way leading into another room
>>93215“But of course I do”
>>93216She nods
“I am”
>>93217"I suppose that is private business?"
Iron looks at his body so far, trying to gauge how long until the healing process is done.
>>93218“Not... really. No.” She’s about done now
“After all, it is like a large family”
[1d20-1 = -15]>>93217Okie dokie.Give it good cleaning and sharpening, maybe it will serve well. Silver decides to keep it, wrapping up the rusted weapon in cloth to keep it from accidentally causing damage to any other of his possessions.
Search:
Who needs this many portraits in one room? Silver investigates them for anything unusual, or to see if they are hiding any compartments or the like.
>>93219Iron nods.
"Ah, like what Cauldron said. 'Camaraderie' and all. Is it really true?"
>>93217Dark Star Stands up a little slower than usual,
"heh that wine is pretty strong. it really crept up on me."
He Holds out his hoof to hold hooves with blue
>>93221She nods, though still not smiling
“Camaraderie is the best word for it, I suppose. It’s born of a sort of common interest, and is based upon a duty to each other.”
>>93220There is a large portrait of what seems to be a family together. There is a young ashen grey unicorn stallion cozied up to a valise looking unicorn mare. Both are wearing fancy dress of a much older clothing model. Beneath them are four smaller unicorns, a pink female, a white male, a grey fillie and a little green colt. To the right of this portrait is an aged ashen grey unicorn stallion. To the left is a portrait just of the mare. Further to the left of that is a monocled white unicorn stallion with a black mane. The portraits on the left and right most seem a bit further away from the wall than the center two
>>93222Her ears, which had been angled down slowly go up, and she smiles as she accepts the hoof
>>93224Iron nods, a little frown appearing yet again.
"I suppose. You do not sound so... eager about it."
>>93224"Even your hooves feel nice. you truly are an amazing mare."
Dark Star Leads her towards the exit and then to a taxi.
>>93222>>93224I didn't know Blue was into such degeneracy.>>93224Hmm. I wonder if there were any issues between ponies in those two portraits. Not finding anything else about the portraits, Silver moves on to checking the desk and drawers in this room.
Onyx looks for some shotglasses to clean on the train
>>93227I meant to say that they looked raised away from the surface they were hanging overI’m shocked you haven’t tried it with herTwo simple notebooks in the desk, and a quill
>>93225She shrugs
“It can be a tough business, but I don’t know where I’d rather be”
>>93226Her hooves do feel somewhat soft. Certainly she has fluffy fetlocks
>>93228Unfortunately, there are no shot glasses in his room. At least Brie should be back in his room by now
The griffin waves them as they go out, and a taxi is hailed quickly
>>93229Onyx decides to go check on Brie, doing the special knock on the door.
>>93229"Jugendliche, ich werde etwas zu trinken holen. Möchtest du etwas? Wasser? Saft?" Brie says to the Lings.
>>93229Okay, rereading it, I did indeed just read it wrong. Honestly thought you were just describing their position compared to the other portraits. Forget Silver said anything about that, then.Silver looks through the notebooks to see if they have anything in them the Black Hooves would want.
>>93229Iron's lips extends, even more confused.
"You mean you do not know where to go if not for the gang of all things? You seem fit to do whatever you want."
>>93232These notebooks are business records. One contains the destinations and routes of ships, the other logs contents and imports
>>93231“Ja” Wesley says, not actually giving a specific answer to the “or” question. Kerr nods likewise.
There is a knocking on the door in the described pattern
>>93233“There are none that make as much money as I can here”
>>93234"Okay, ich komme bald wieder. Denken Sie daran, die Tür und 2 Schläge zu verriegeln, Pause und 1 Schlag." Brie says in his horribly compromised jewgle translation, heading out for the main lounge bar.
>>93234Could be of some use. Silver takes it anyways, before looking to see what could be behind the two portraits.
[1d20 = 13]>>93234Iron nods yet again.
"Of course."
Another check on his body is done, maybe sneak a look over to the unicorn to see if he finds anything of note or out of place like any scar or abnormality.
>>93234>>93235Strike that, I missed this post.
>>93230 Hmmm. How about just as Brie is leaving when the knock occurs? 8D
>>93230I think onyx would basically run into Brie coming out
>>93236Indeed there are. Two books, each in a cavity behind the two portraits. Smaller books, more like note books
>>93237Small scar, on the front leg under the shoulder
>>93238Sure
>>93240These Silver most definitely checks for anything related to alchemy or Curwhinny's experiments.
>>93239"Oh, splendid you're here! Come, I need a drink, and the little ones need water,... or juice. They didn't specify. Come come!" Brie urges Onyx toward the main lounge.
>>93240Potato potato, same difference.
>>93242"Er... Okay?"
>>93240Iron slightly widens his eyes at this newfound discovery.
"How did you get a scar under your shoulder?"
>>93244"Splendid!"
>>93240Brie leads the way to the main lounge.
>>93246The pony shaped rock is dragged along, suspiciously crystal and suspiciously smelling of whiskey
>>93241One is under the portrait of the white monocled unicorn. It looks as if it includes a number of family secrets for various families in the Baltimare area. The other book is under the portrait of the old ashen grey unicorn, and seems kind of dark and mysterious
>>93246It is so.
>>93245She looks down at the scar.
“In such a dangerous trade, I am content to have gained fewer scars in several years than you have in less than an hour”
>>93248Iron shakes his head, chuckling.
"You are right. Still, I thought your role was a of a business owner. How did you manage to get a scar to begin with? Did you have to do thug work like I am doing?"
>>93248Approaching the bar,... is it open now?
>>93248The first book is most definitely of interest to the Black Hooves, even if it's not about Curwhinny's research. The second...well, Silver thinks it might be. It looks like the kind of tome Curwhinny would have learned dark magic from, at least.
I wish I was more skilled in magic, at times like this. Like White Light, or even Spark. I could tell if there was any magic from this or not. After a few moments of back-and-forth arguments in his head, he slowly opens the book to get a peak at it's contents. Of particular note, he avoids using his magic to do so, using only his hooves to interact with it.
>>93251It
definitely pertains to necromancy, though it is smaller than the book Silver found the last time
>>93250Indeed it is. There are a few more ponies there, as well as that same stallion from earlier
>>93249She raises her leg, and looks at the scar again
“Beware when handling some of the magical items” she says
“But I earned my position
>>93252Perfect.
"Come on Onyx, I'm buying. I've got much to tell you."
>>93252He quickly closes it up and takes it, along with the other book. They will definitely want this.
Alright, so if I were to guess, I would say next room must be bedroom... Silver carefully steps through the doorway to the next room.
>>93252Iron's lips curl downwards, disliking the thought of a mare getting hurt, even if it was her choice.
"I see. You do seem to keep track of everything around here."
Another check at his body to see if the process has been accomplished, his face looking forwards, lost in thought.
(I am not sure what to do now that Ash's job will be over after this visit. I suppose there is always Cauldron to give jobs for me. Maybe the unicorn as well. What to do. Should I try to pick a fight with that Fillipe fellow or just go to Cauldron, maybe have a little chat and a hug?)
>>93254You better not make the Black Hooves evil lich monsters with those books. >>93253"Well if you're buying...."
>>93256"Indeed"
Brie addresses the bartender. "A triple whiskey, neat. Make it two."
>>93257"So what is it you want to tell me?"
>>93258Assuming their drinks are served, Brie wanders to a table away from the bar so they can talk less auspiciously.
"Surely you've deduced by now that we're
not just going on a sight-seeing tour, yes?"
>>93259"I figured as much, so you're gonna tell me where we're going?"
>>93260Looking around to make sure no one is listening. "The Changeling Hegemony." He says with a wink.
>>93261"..."
Onyx's coat instantly goes dull and his eyes just about pop from their sockets
"The fucking WHAT"
>>93254The first thing he would notice is that there is a large set of wooden planks on the ground, which evidently must have been blocking the door at one point. There is a red "X" on the wood. To the right is a dresser and a bed - although the covers and the like look quite molded, dust covered, and disrupted. To the left in the front is a table, and further back is a stone trunk, or something to that effect.
>>93255"I wouldn't be terribly good at my job if I did not, now would I?"
>>93257"Coming right up" says the black maned earth pony
in red uniform. He seems older than the other bartender, but still young
>>93255I mean, as much as Silver doesn't like that idea, I guess he'll have to trust that they have at least a bit of sense.>>93263That is...alarming... Silver cautiously proceeds to enter the room, naturally a little worried about how this room had been boarded up at one point. At least nothing has been on the bed in a long time, judging from the dust buildup.
The first thing he checks is the dresser, as it's the first thing he sees.
>>93263Iron nods, still lost in thought.
>>93262"Oh don't act so surprised. You didn't think they were going to be cooped up in a room the whole time did you? Where they will end up will be up to them, but I'm going to see to it that the Hive learns precisely what Comte and his goons have been up to. One of two things will happen. Either they will help us bring him down,... or we'll get strung up and eaten." Brie says with a smile, taking a sip of his whiskey,... as soon as its served.
>>93266"You're insane, you know that? Absolutely fucking insane."
Onyx slams his head into the table.
>>93263Spark attempts to go through to the next car forward on the train.
>>93267"Oh you, you're just saying that." Brie says blushing. "But I'm perfectly serious. For Comte to have amassed his wealth and stature, as well as a cadre of degenerate colt-fuckers suggests they have a means of avoiding the law. This means that they can't be brought down by conventional means, and sorry to say but I don't have alot of faith in the Black Hooves. There's 4 other ponies in addition to Comte who were in on his distasteful practices, and I'd imagine a dozen or more lackeys on top of it. Who could be better for infiltration than a Changeling?"
>>93269Onyx slowly picks his head up to look at Brie
"And you expect
me out of all ponies to show up at the changeling's doorstep begging for help?"
>>93266The dresser is very old, and starting to rot where it stands. It stands nevertheless. The lower drawers - which barely comeout at all, and do not go back in - contain the rotted remains of what appear to have been clothes. In the top drawer is a container of something - it's shaped as a cologne container - and two skinny books
>>93265"So, what is your role in the gang exactly?" she asks
>>93268It's going to take a while to pull the descriptions out of the old thread with this computer
>>93267"Are you okay sir?" asks a black maned brown earth pony in red uniform
>>93271For fear of bringing the whole thing down with them, Silver
very carefully removes the two books to give them a look-through.
>>93271"As far as gang hierarchy goes, I am but a simple thug. Only job I did was to escort Cauldron and act intimidating, maybe crack some pony skulls when they were being stubborn. Nothing much aside from that."
Iron shrugs, a grin on his face.
"Well, now I can add "Tiger Handling" to the list."
>>93272That's probably a good thing, because the dresser rocks as he removes them
One book details the outbreak of a plague in the early to mid eighth century. The other book seems to be a collection of love notes
>>93273She laughs
"Perhaps you should stick to smaller, softer creatures. Like ponies"
>>93268This is assuming he is heading from his car towards the front of the train
This car is a sleeping car, a “six bedroom, 10 roommate” car of dense greens: The “Everfree” car. The corridor remains on the left until it moves back into the center
>>93274Iron openly laughs.
"I will try to, but I will not back down if offered this job again. It is all about pushing yourself to the limit, after all."
>>93270"To be honest, not at all. I would HOPE you didn't wuss out, but I had expected that either you or Spark would have no stomach for it. But I planned for that. In fact, I need at least one of you to travel BACK to Baltimare and relay a message to both the rest of the group, as well as Blue Skies and her Black Hooves friends." he says that last part with a slightly dismissive wave of his hoof.
>>93275She laughs slightly, and then nods with a smile
"Indeed it is. 'Push it to the limit.'"
He continues. "I had thought to relay a message by mail, but it occurred to me that I can't trust the mail system with something of a sensitive nature such as this. No it has to be hoof-delivered by someone I can trust."
>>93271"Never better...."
>>93276"Wuss out my ass, I don't do business with changelings. I don't even like the fact I know two of them! But we'll talk to Spark about who'll head back."
>>93274Aww... Nothing the Black Hooves have need of, but Silver takes them anyways. It's sort of like keeping the good part of Curwhinny alive, he thinks.
Next up: the stone trunk. Silver inspects it, finding such a piece of furniture odd with everything else being wood. Could be there's something particularly important inside Curwhinny wanted preserved from the elements.
>>93280long, rectangular, stone. There is writing on the wall in big, ponish letters above it
>>93281Silver decides that it's probably a good idea to read the lettering above it first before doing anything to it.
>>93277"Next time, I hope the thing being pushed is not my meat out of my body."
What follows is written in bright white block letters, and remains perfectly visible on the wall:
THIS IS A WARNING TO ANY WHO MAY COME UPON IT, AS WHAT LIES BENEATH IS A DANGER EVEN TO GENERATIONS YET UNBORN
THIS IS NOT A PLACE OF HONOR
NOTHING IS COMMEMORATED HERE, NOR IS ANYTHING OF VALUE SEALED HERE
WHAT IS SEALED AWAY BENEATH THESE WORDS IS BOTH DANGEROUS AND DISTURBING TO US
SEALED AWAY BENEATH THESE WORDS IS A LICH, AN EVIL MAGE WHO HAS TRADED HIS SOUL FOR IMMORTAL LIFE
HE IS AS DANGEROUS IN YOUR TIME AS HE WAS IN OURS
HE MAY BE UNLEASHED ONLY BY THE PHYSICAL DESTRUCTION OF HIS SARCOPHAGUS
There are arrows point down to the stone trunk
>>93283She's a little disgusted by the suggesting of a pony being physically butchered
"Yeah, you should probably try to avoid that
>>93279"Where IS Spark anyway? He'll want to hear all this."
>>93280Oh yes, the first part of
>>93284 is for Silver
>>93284Iron shakes his head.
"Sorry. It is the after effects of being clawed and bitten at."
He chuckles.
"Well, do you need anything else while I am here? Even with my injuries, I may be of help. You never know when you need to carry a heavy crate."
>>93274>>93285I continue on until I find Brie or Onyx.
>>93284... Yup, it was a good idea to read that first. Silver promptly nopes away from the sarcophagus, at least for the time being.
Is that Joseph Curwhinny? Did those militia ponies actually capture him? How? What happened to him and Midnight Maelstrom? These and many other questions come to mind as he finishes off his search by getting on the ground and looking underneath the bed for anything, like a safe or a lockbox.
>>93290That was actually a different sarcophagus to a different undead sorcerer>>93289Well, there is a note on the ground. It's not on a desk, it's not inside of a leather jacket, it's simply folded up and lying there, as if dropped
>>93288Brie is one car over, past a lounge area, past what seems to be a barbershop, is a bar area, where both Brie and Onyx can be sitting
>>93292Never know what you might find hiding underneath beds. Silver grabs time long-lost note and, you guessed it, reads it.
>>93295"Ah! There you are! You're just in time! Order yourself a drink, on me, and pull up a chair. You're going to love the next part!" He smiles, taking another sip of his whiskey.
>>93296I pull up a chair and sit down. Tipsy rests on the counter.
"What next part?"
>>93297"What do YOU think about changelings?"
>>93298"Dangerous to say the least."
I look around to make sure no pony else is listening.
I whisper to Brie "But darn cute. If these ones were evil, they would have attacked everypony on this train by now."
>>93299"This train isn't going on a sight-seeing tour. This train is taking us to their Hive of origin." Brie whispers back.
>>93300"Why did you lie to me? Are we even prepared to go there?"
>>93301"Would you have come if I hadn't? Relax, I've got this all planned out. You can back out if you're squeamish about the idea, but yes, that's the plan." Brie gets serious for a moment. "You saw the dungeon, how do you think the Changelings will react hearing what went on down there?"
>>93302"I would like to hear this plan, unless that's another secret."
>>93303"Its really quite simple. I plan to petition the Changelings for assistance in taking down Comte and his cronies. The Lings have told me that there were 4 others in on his,... perverse habits, and one can assume they would be well connected. I hope to enlist a hoof-full of Changelings to replace Comte and his associates, and from there go through their underground pony by pony and eliminate them. Comte is too well connected to be brought down by the standard authorities, and the Black Hooves don't seem to have the mettle to spill blood where its necessary. So, I plan to make a deal with the Changelings. Their help or mine, now and going forward."
>>93304"And when they double cross?"