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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>>93807Roll die!
>>93808She does ha e a sort of sad look on her, but she looks up at Iron
“Good. My brother is still painting, my sister has just started cosmetics school. And my father... well, he’s still him”
>>93809“Oh no, in fact, he should be bringing in even more books”
>>93810"Why did you grimace are you okay?"
>>93810"Tell me more about that painting your brother is painting. Is it like the one painting I saw at the restaurant of zebras winning against ponies?"
>>93812“Yeah, I’m fine. I’ve just had a few arguments with that Celestia worshiper that were a little sour. But his help with this shows he’s coming around.”
>>93813She tilts her head, and an ear falls down.
“I think it’s called ‘surrealism’ and ‘neo-expressionism’... it’s a more symbolic style of painting. Like he has a painting of the forest, but it shows the connection of zebra to nature. And he also has this painting of the bombing of Baltimare, which shows the horror of it. I think that’s Moselle can off of the famous ‘marenica’ by Peacocko. He takes quite a bit from foreign painters he has been studying”
>>93811Silver may wish he had this much luck controlling himself in the bedroom. He is able to swiftly enough grab a whole shelf
>>93814"what were those arguments about?"
>>93815Silver's story is that Blue is just that good with her muscle control, and he's sticking to it. At least in his mind.
He's starting to think he severely underestimated the number of books here, as he watches as his cart rapidly fills up with old tomes books.
>>93814Iron cocks his head at her facial expressions.
"Do you like his work?"
>>93817Now that's the kind of explanation even Blue Skies herself might be persuaded of
It does indeed look like there are many books in this library, even if some shelf spaces were empty to begin with
>>93818"Yes, I do. Even if I do not understand it. He takes a more literal approach to the material than the painters he takes inspiration from. In the bombing picture, for instance, I think he makes good use of reds and yellows."
>>93816"Oh, about the Blackhooves and their presence in Equestria. He is especially skeptical of their commitment to to fighting against the changelings"
>>93819He might need to make a second trip for the rest of these, Silver thinks, as he starts moving on to storing books on his person and in his poor, ripped saddlebags. At least Blue will be excited for the prospect of having an entire library wing's worth of rare books recovered.
>>93820Sorry. >>93819Iron's head pulls just a little bit.
"That sounds rather deep. Frankly, my drawings are simple stick figures still."
He chuckles a little.
"Do you think I can see a painting of his?"
>>93821At least there's the hope that these books are rare.
It's not a
massive library, but the Blackhooves will definitely have gotten their money's worth
>>93820Okay....
>>93822She laughs
"I only have one of his paintings, and it's a much older one, not his present style"
>>93823"Could you show me?"
His head is fully up, his curiosity peaking. Eyebrows raised and a little glint of wonder.
>>93823Not bad work, for 4,000 Bits.
Silver looks at how many more he has yet to gather, after grabbing some additional books in his magic.
>>93824"Maybe you'll appreciate this one"
She points for him to go through the hallway, and into the room on the left
>>93826Iron stands up, his expectations rising.
Clop by clop, he walks ever so closer to the painting's location, passing through the hallway and opening the left room's door.
>>93827Blue Skies smiles at Dark Star
"Were you going to take me on a date?"
>>93828This room is clearly a bed room, with a simple double bed that has on it a bed sheet of beige and pillows that are beige edged, white, and with pink flower designs on them. There is one plant - it sort of looks like a small palm tree - in the left corner. On the wall across from the bed in the direction it is facing, is a painting which must be the painting in question
>>93829He nods at how pleasing to the eye this room is. It reminds him of an actual palm tree with its hearts of palm in full bloom, ripe for tasting.
"Is this your room, Cauldron?" He yells at the living room.
With that, he closes the painting, ready to see its contents.
>>93830*Closes the distance between Iron ans the painting, awaiting
>>93830It's probably worth mentioning that she goes into the room before he does, standing to his left, deeper into the room
She looks at him, straight in the eyes, and says
"Why yes. Yes it is"
And now for the actual painting. It seems to be a sort of image of a pond with some sort of fancy building in the back ground, and a few zebras and trees in the foreground
To be a bit more descriptive, to the right of the foreground are leafy deciduous trees. The painter did not try to detail every leaf, as the trees themselves seem almost blured, blending in three different varieties of green. In the foreground, likewise, is the small lake, with various blues mixed in, with realism once again not being the main focus. There are several of what seem to be lilies, frogs, and koi in the pond, judging by scattered greens and oranges. Zebras along the grass to the left of the pond are a bit more detailed, and they seem to be wearing white drape-like clothing with golden trim. Some have fancy collars. Further in the back is a building that seems to be a few stories talk, with a tan or golden color brick exterior, and a small "tower" perhaps four stories tall on the left side of this building. The roof is vaulted with red brick.
>>93832Oh whoops. Well, just pretend he only said it to her. Sneaky zebra that she disappears from sight.Iron is agape at the sight. In his primitive mind, nothing comes close to the feeling of recognizing the objects in question, even with the slight artist liberties. He comes closer to the painting still, admiring the blur effect on the leaves and the clothing of the zebras as if he discovered that he was blind the whole time and this paining opened his eyes to true reality.
"Gods. How can ponies be able to draw like this? This painting is so," he struggles somewhat to explain himself "real yet not. Is this what 'suh-ree-alism' is?"
>>93833She looks at him, and nods
"Surrealist? This painting isn't quite surrealist. It's an older one of his. The style he was going for was more... I believe it's called, 'Impressionistic'? It's a bit more realistic of a style, but the point of the painting is to capture how the scene makes you feel, more so than the actual scene"
She looks at the painting
"This is supposed to be the pond in the capital at Obodo Mgbaba, back in the old Zebrican Empire. It was a pond an old emperor had installed. He'd place exotic fishes he received as gifts in it. After a while it was opened to the public. foreign dignitaries would visit it. I've never seen it. Neither has my brother actually, but he's heard the description from our father... and maybe seen a couple photographs. So he thought he would piece together an image based upon what he heard about this place that he had never seen before, but as if he had seen it"
>>93834Iron nods in wonder.
"Amazing. I was not expecting such a good drawing."
He looks at Cauldron, his eyes showing a great deal of emotional high from seeing such painting skill.
"If Zebrica looks the same as this drawing, I would definitely visit there. Maybe I will try swimming there if there is no other option to go."
Is everyone else kill?
>>93835She laughs a little at this, smiles, and reaches her hoof in to lightly touch the painting
"I am glad that you can appreciate it. He has been trying to reach a wider audience for a while now"
She looks at the painting
"Growing up, as a fillie, Zebrica was a sort of wondrous place to us, a place we'd hear about, though never go. It was kind of nice to have a connection to it"
>>93825I just noticed I missed this post
Roll Die for success thus far
>>93838It looks like he has gotten a decent number, but a significant amount of time has passed
>>93836Iron nods yet again, a smile on his face.
"It seems so different and new. It just sounds like such an amazing place. Do you think you will visit there when you are older? I would, no doubt about it."
(Ah, that is the smile I was looking for. I am glad it worked.)
>>93839Dammit. Looks like he'll have to get more potions to finish this job off. He hopes to himself that he's got only two potions worth of work ahead of him, as he's only got enough money left for that many.
Still, as he looks at the book-laden cart, he's done quite a bit already, and that brings him a little satisfaction. Here is hoping it does the same for Blue. And, so he doesn't get himself eaten and disappoint Blue with his absence even further, he wastes no more time and makes his way back out of the catacombs, cart in tow.
>>93842Can he roll it without bumping into a ghoul and getting himself noticed? Can he work it around the corners without it getting stuck? Will it
break a wheel on a rock as he pulls it? Roll 3d20 to find out!
>>93841She nods
"Maybe. If I had children, I think I would like to take them. I would also like to take them to see the grand palace in Canterlot. It's a shame the Princesses aren't there any more to be seen"
>>93840She gets up, and rubs herself against him
>>93844Iron cocks his head.
"Canterlot? Is that on the same level of beauty as your brother's painting?"
>>93845Stop crying and roll those dice. You'll do fine. >>93844dark star Reciprocates the rubs,and nuzzles blue.
>>93846"I don't know. I've never been."
>>93845Oh come on >>93849She closes her eyes, and nuzzles him, with a cute *doo* sound
[3d20 = 49]>>93850Well, that answers that question. Prepare to type out three Fs for Silver.
>>93852Well... He avoids the ghoul, he is able to pull the cart around the corner just fine, and the axles are made of strong steel
>>93852There you go. Now stop crying. Your bad rolls are with Skies AND WILL HAVE EVEN MORE DRAMATIC IMPACTS!>>93850"You have listened your father stories about it as well?"
>>93854"No, my father never went to Canterlot. He traveled many places while in the Merchant Marine, but Canterlot... Well, it's further inland"
>>93853Whatdya know, Silver lives on. HI HO, SILVER, AWAY (to Blue Skies)!
>>93854And spiders. Don't forget spiders. >>93855Iron's torch ignites again as he remembers what Canterlot is.
"Is that the city that is on a mountain? I think the elders told us about it."
>>93856That was just unlucky. You can always avoid spooders, but not Skies. >>93851"What are you being so loving for?"
Dark Star says with a Grin
>>93856If he hurries his way back...
>>93857She seems a little surprised
"Are you not familiar with Canterlot, the former capital of your own country?"
then she backs up a half step
"Well, yes. It is the city on the mountainsides where the princesses used to live"
>>93858She smiles back with that grin of her own
"Why, so i can get even more love in return, of course"
Thought this group might like to know that changelings did nothing wrong and just want to be a part of normal Equestrian society