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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>>93507"I don't mean to be intrusive... but I was curious. You are skilled with a halberd, but that is not really what I picture a soldier using most often. How did you come to be so skilled with that weapon as opposed to a gun?"
>>93506Two little colts block ur path
>>93507Just let that lonesome whistle blow his blues away
>>93504“Why would changelings do it?”
>>93509"eh? where did you 2 come from?"
>>93510They don’t respond. Each looks at him sternly. Then, they erupt into green flame, revealing chitinous black creatures with pure blue eyes: Changeling drones
“Hiss!”
“Hiss!”
>>93508"No no it's fine. I've actually got two reasons, the first was my position in the military. It was better for me to be skilled with more conventinal weapons than firearms. The second was some advice I got. See, when I was just a baby my momma told me "son, always be a good colt don't ever play with guns." Something about "You'll get involved in gangs and shoot a stallion in Reino just to watch him die" Or something. As weird as she could be I did decide to follow her advice, and here I am."
>>93511"OH HORSE HOCKEY"
Dark Star reaches for his pistols
>>93512"Interesting..."
Spark just sits there and wonders what the crystal horse is talking about.
>>93514I’m’a get you
>>93515The two small drones leap closer to Dark Star, and when they land, he can see a stream of his own joy being sucked straight out of him, replacing it with a deep feeling of dread. Loneliness. Sadness. Emptiness.
>>93516Honestly Onyx wonders the same thing sometimes
"Now what about you? Where are you from?"
>>93517Not if I get myself first
>>93517"Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. Buck off or I'll shoot!"
Dark Star kicks at them
>>93518"Canterlot. Just a student from magic school."
>>93519It hisses more, then sucks more from him
>>93520Onyx nods
"Interesting, what was that like if you don't mind me asking?"
>>93521Dark Shoots at both of them
"Then Die"
>>93522"It was gorgeous, but I wasn't exactly a star student."
>>93525Onyx smirks a little bit
"Yep, I know how that goes"
>>93527One dies in a pool of green blood. The other hisses, and then flees out of the room
>>93530"ugh,what the buck?"
Dark Star goes down stairs
>>93531It's strangely empty downstairs. The sun is still out
>>93532Dark Star heads up and checks Silver's room
[1d2 = 2]>>93533>>93533It's not immediately obvious if any pony is in the room
>>93535Dark Star is feeling a little spooked
"Hello?"
>>93548Whatever. He arrives at the weapons store, and is greeted by the same pony he saw last time. I think it was a yellow Earth Pony named "Happy Hunting." Or maybe he was a pegasus. I don't remember. This, by the way, was the meaning of the 'alright' posted 4 hours ago, for the record.
>>93550Sorry, that particular meaning was lost on me. Thought you were just acknowledging what I had said.I know I've said this before, but I'm sorry for all the trouble we've given you since this started. I know we are probably the most aggravating group of players you have ever had the misfortune of DMing for, and I am grateful that despite this you are taking the time to craft this game for us. I've been having fun with it.Hooray for not being trapped in the void. As he enters, Silver gives Happy Hunting an apologetic look. This kind of work Silver has been asking of him can't be very pleasant. "Hello. I have couple more weapons I am wondering if you could help me with."
>>93551This is my first game ever to DM"Alright, what have you go here for me?"
>>93552In that case, I'm sorry we're your first players. I think you've been doing an excellent job so far despite all of us fucking it up, though.Silver maintains his apologetic look as he places the Bits Gun, Combat Knife, and Canterlot Sword on the counter. At least he keeps the rusted sword wrapped up to avoid getting rust in Happy Hunting's store. "I was hoping you could help me with maintenance on these weapons, cleaning them and getting them back into fighting shape."
>>93553He looks at the Bits gun, and then back to Silver, with a definite look of concern
"You know this gun is illegal to own, right?"
>>93554Definitely news to Silver, from the confused look on his face. "I am not even certain one could say I own it."
>>93555You've been fine, don't worryHe continues staring at him
"Fully automatic submachine guns are not legal to
possess for any civilian"
>>93556Silver maintains his confused look. "That...sounds odd. It is not as if I plan on doing anything illegal using it. But alright, if you can not do anything to it." He takes the Bits Gun off the counter, slightly worried he's going to get kicked out of the store and possibly banned for something he didn't even know was apparently wrong.
>>93557Silver is
not kicked out, yet, and he looks over to the Canterlot sword
"This is quite a piece of equipment. It appears to have been dulled though"
>>93558Thank goodness for small miracles. If he can make things up with Blue, by some other significantly larger miracle, he might have to ask her about it, see if he could do something or if there's something she can do that would make it no-so-illegal. "Unfortunately. It has been around since late 8th century, at least, though it has been exposed to elements and underwater for most of that time. Found it inside catacombs underneath Curwhinny farm."
>>93559"Well, as it is it will need to be sharpened upon a wheel. It looks strong enough to still be usable, but the outer layer of steel has rusted
>>93560"I think I can find place to sharpen it, sometime later. For now, clearing off rust would be good."
>>93561"As for this combat knife"
he takes a look at it, and balances it
"It doesn't appear to be
too badly corroded for use even know, though you may still want to sharpen it"
Wait, if I'm using UK weapons laws, shouldn't knives and swords be illegal? >>93562He nods, a little surprised by this. Being underwater with that lake ghast since the Great War, he figured it would be more corroded than that. "I suppose I will take care of that along with sword.
>>93565I would figure a combat knife intended to be employed in jungle fighting would be stainless"Do you need anything further?" he asks
>>93566"No, I think that would be it for now."
>>93567"Well then, have a nice day"
>>93568"You too." He grabs the wrapped-up sword and the knife, and leaves the store. With that taken care of, he makes his way to the Grand Baltimare Hotel. Just before he gets into view of the building, however, he makes sure to stash the Bits Gun in a safe place in a nearby alleyway, where nopony else
should find it while he's inside. After all, he doesn't want it to be found on him when the guards search him at the door.
>>93569When he enters, a guard seems to recognize Silver
"I take it you are concluding some essential business?" He asks
>>93570He smiles that grand ol' satisfied smile of when you get finished with a task. "Indeed. I have many important things that need to go to Blue Skies right away." This much is most definitely obvious from how his bags are practically overflowing with books, notes, papers, jars, and little pink crystals, and the large amount of jars that still have to ride alongside him in the grasp of his telekinetic field.
>>93571He briefly waves some sort of wand over Silver, then nods on,
"I think she's through the door in the center, second door on the right"
>>93572"Thank you." He promptly trots to the designated door, jars following him. He knocks on the door when he arrives. "Blue, are you in here?"
>>93573"Who is it?" he hears in reply
>>93574"It is me, Silver. I am back from job. It went exceptionally well, much better than I expected." His voice still sounds strained from the damage it took in his battle earlier. As Silver waits for Blue, he wonders to himself about how long he'll be hoarse like this.
>>93576He does so, bringing the jars with him inside. He starts scratching at an itch he
just can't
quite reach underneath the bandages around his neck.
>>93577She is in the room, sitting behind a desk. Her eyes widen as the materials are brought in
"So, what did you find?" she asks
>>93578"See for yourself." He starts pulling out everything he found from his bags and putting them on the floor. Every book, notebook, note, paper, and jar that pertains to Curwhinny's research, as well as the pretty pink crystals. He also hands her a few books he found directly. "In addition to all of that, I found these: book with knowledge on kinds of dark magic Curwhinny used, tome containing various old and dark secrets on influential Baltimare families, and logbooks from Curwhinny's shipping business back then. I should say that I found note from Curwhinny to his former friend, Cinnamon Corn, which mentioned that he never truly succeeded in his ultimate goal of reuniting body and soul. He could bring one back, or other, but not both."
>>93579I'm really sorry buddy. I really am. >>93581She is fascinated by the haul Silver brought in, and spends a minute just looking through it, diving for the books
>>93582There's that warm, almost prideful feeling from a job-well-done in Silver's heart. "If I had brought cart, I also would have brought back various books that Curwhinny had in his library. Turns out there is another on opposite side of catacombs, still untouched, and there are some from library that got torched that could still be recovered."
On a more somber note, he pulls out Private Green Basin's dog tags and campaign medals. "I, uh...I also found New Marelander soldier in quarry. Private Green Basin, pegasus, 19th Infantry underneath General Ironwood. He had apparently got himself caught by ghast or something of that sort, and had been turned into some form of lake ghast, hiding underneath surface of artificial lake inside quarry. I put him to his final rest, figured Black Hooves would be best ponies for making sure his tags and medals got to his next-of-kin, so they might know he died with honor in service to his country and his people." He pats the bandages around his neck. "Gave me one hell of scratch. Took couple significant chunks of flesh from my neck during fight."
>>93583She looks up to him with her bright, glowing green eyes
"There's more?"
It takes her more than a moment to register the other things Silver said
"Oh yes, a soldier died and you got hurt. Try not to have too much fun with the local wildlife"
>>93584He's...a little upset, at the apparent lack of empathy. But, he reminds himself that she's Nimbusian, not New Marelander. It's unlikely she would have much remorse for a fallen soldier from New Mareland. "Yes, indeed there is. Books of same stock as what you had recovered previously. I would have brought them back, had I more storage space."
>>93585She has that malign grin on her face, and her wings pop up from her sides.
"Excellent! I was worried we had lost all"
>>93586He nods; Silver privately thinks to himself that he'll never quite get used to that unsettling smile, not in a million years. He also thinks to himself that perhaps showing some other member of the Black Hooves the tags and medals would be a more fruitful effort, after he's done.
>>93587She opens a booklet - the book behind the portrait, and gazes at it in awe
"I can't really say I understand precisely what powerful secrets these books contain, but we have magical experts who do. That library should
definitely be checked. The Ancestral Heritage division will take interest even if there is not much of value for Magical Studies
>>93588He pulls his last Hide From Undead potion out of his bags, showing it to Blue. "I still have one potion left, if you would like me to go back and bring those books."
>>93589She looks up at him, perhaps for the first time since he opened the sack
"
Can you get all of those?"
>>93590The smile Silver beams now just absolutely
oozes with confidence. "With my magic, my bags, and cart I have parked back at home? I am absolutely certain I can bring them all back in one go."
>>93591She looks pleased with herself as well, and she leans back. Her wings are still out-folded in evident excitement
"That would be quite the accomplishment"
>>93592"Indeed it will be. Should not take me long, either." He turns to leave the room. Before he does so, he pauses just at the door, looking back at Blue with regret clearly in his face. "And, Blue, about earlier...I am well and truly sorry, about all of that. I am ashamed at myself for what I did. It was terrible, and I...to be honest, I would fully understand if you did not even want to see my face after this is over, for what I did. But, I do value you, and your friendship. Not...any of that back there and then, but your actual friendship. Just...laughing at jokes, having simple pure fun together, discussing things from our past that bring us joy, consoling each other for things in our past that haunt us...occasionally having one-sided political arguments that are clearly in favor of one particular pegasus I know." He motions to Blue, smiling, if only for a brief second. "I know I am just some dumb, old pickle skull, who messed up so badly he has barely even come to terms with how badly he messed up, but, whatever it would take, for this silly bonehead to try to even just begin to make up for all of that...I would gladly do it in heartbeat, if you would allow it."
>>93593She looks at him still, and her expression changes. Greatly. The smile moves away and she becomes expressionless, then very serious
“Silver, what is it you want?”
>>93594He looks disheartened by the response, as his own expression falls, and his ears fall to the side of his head. Sounds like she does indeed want nothing to do with him, outside of this job. "Nothing."
>>93595“Let me ask the same in a different way. Do you love me?”
>>93596In Silver's mind, that is a
very different question, enough so his expression briefly changes to one of mild shock. "...In traditional sense, like I did with Storm, or how...Dark does with you? No, I do not think so just yet. I have only known you for three days, now. I feel as though I still have much to learn about you. Perhaps, over time as I learn more about you and decide that I like what I learn, that would change and I would develop feelings for you. Perhaps. But it would be extremely premature to say, explicitly, that I love you now. As friend, however, so far I would say so."
>>93509He shakes his head.
"That is why I am thinking I may be a little off my mind. But let us just say that the those ponies make enemies too easily with other political factions due to their 'If you are not for us, then you are against us' kind of rhetoric."
>>93597She blinks, and looks down, then back at Silver.
“Very well. I will have your payment for you after this load from the other library is collected”
>>93598“They can be sort of violent and stubborn. But I do not know what happened there”
>>93599Iron pokes his chin.
"Oh. Well, from what I remember they had a speech of sorts before that explosion happened. Something about pretending to be natives and attacking their political opposition, the cowards."
>>93599"I..." He sighs, now definitely disheartened by her response, and now definitely believing that she wants nothing to do with him after this job.
Great way to ruin everything, Silver. "...alright." He leaves in a dejected march, stopping at the front desk to speak with the pony staffing it. At the very least, perhaps he could find that the pony there is more willing than Blue to show some basic empathy towards Private Green Basin and his unfortunate fate.
>>93601“One little tip for dealing with friends and other assorted non-lovers. If they wanted what was underneath their tails to be violated, they would raise it for you on their own free will. They don’t need their tails to be aside with magic”
>>93602Silver looks around for whoever said that, the look on his face suggesting that it's the last thing he wants to hear right now.
>>93604Silver can get a pretty good guess of who said that
>>93605He doesn't say anything back into the room he just left. He hurts too much. He just heads for the front desk, seeing if there's somepony who can help him with Green Basin, at least.