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 because of their encounters 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.
For those on the train. The train goes along at high speeds through the darkness past farmland, trees, and other trains... until it starts to slow down, and comes to a halt.
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>>97994Might as well, while Star's gone.While he waits for Skies to come up with a decision, Silver sits back down onto the couch. He looks over to Skies. "Blue? I am wondering, what do you know about changeling feeding habits? I will admit I do not know as much as I should."
>>97995Cauldron hoofs over the bags
"Alright, I'll follow"
>>97996She briefly smiles with "ha," then answers
"I know a little. What do you want to know?"
>>97997With the bags on his barrel, with all belongings, he starts to cross the shallow parts of the river towards the other side.
He was intent on finding out what happened at that archeological site.
(I am pretty sure somepony wants the dog idol back. Maybe. We shall see who is still there, if there is anypony to begin with.)
>>97997"Couple of things, actually. Maybe more if I can think of them. First, can they feed without direct consumption? Second, can they eat real food?"
>>97998The crossing is more or less uneventful. The water pulls at Iron's legs, but the water is too shallow. Cauldron is able to hop and prance from rock to rock fairly effectively
>>98001Iron nods at Cauldron's dexterity from her hopping from stone to stone, smiling.
(Mares are quite elegant in movement.)
"Nice moves, Cauldron."
He turns towards the path, slightly anxious to see what is the deal with this dog idol being so far away from its temple.
Remember the god's name? I know it's an aztec-like name and started with an O >>97999"Hmmm... Well, to your first question, I'm not entirely sure what you mean, but love from a host is ingested through either the mouth or the horn. This process still works even when in a form without a horn. If the rate of ingestion is low enough, then no part of the process will be visible to an observer. And they don't have to take the love directly from a host. They can consume it in the form of a honey produced by worker changelings.
As for your second question, 'can they eat what you refer to as 'real' food,' well, yes and no. Changelings are by nature obligate vampires. They must necessarily consume love from another source to survive. It's a lot like how many animals don't produce any of certain kinds of essential proteins or amino acids, so they have to consume it from other animals or plants. Changelings have a natural deficiency of an essential sort of magic, so they must take it from one or more hosts. They cannot live without love.
They can sort of eat 'real' food, which I take as meaning non-magical food. However, the Changeling digestive system has a serious drawback in that does not have the careful microbial ecosystem of bacteria and micro-organisms that a pony has. A pony has a symbiotic relationship with a literal trillion bacteria, viruses, and fungi in its gut, which help to break down and digest foods. Changelings have a digestive system that is shorter than a pony's, and which systematically breaks down and absorbs the life force of all living things, making it hostile even for micro-organism, and the ones that do survive don't have quite the harmonic relationship with the host as do, say, the bacteria that help to digest the cellulose in a pony's cecum.
They can eat some foods that are very high in carbs and many proteins, although they cannot digest them particularly well. These foods can partly substitute for a changeling's energy needs, and help in growth in adolescents. However, food allergies are common, as are intolerance. Lactose intolerance, for example. One of the best material foods for a changeling is the honey that comes from bees, since it is pure sugar and is basically sterile."
>>98002Roll die
>>98000What do you want to do?
>>98004Iron hears something in the bushes shortly on the other side of the river. Evidently Caludron does as well, because she is alert and pointing her ears towards the bushes.
>>98005Meet up with the others or...?
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[1d20 = 12]>>98006So something seems to be following us.Iron's ears perk up, rather surprised but ultimately understanding something's behind them.
He slowly turns his head around to see what the rustling is about as he keeps walking forwards.
Rolling spot to see what's following Iron and Cauldron.
>>98003If he had a notebook on him, he'd be taking notes. As it is, he'll just have to make do with his memory. "I think that answers my questions. Thank you."
He considers some other questions he could ask her. "I have got one more, unrelated to changelings: do most Nimbusians have traditional Nimbusian names in addition to standard Ponish names? For instance, if you were talking to another Nimbusian, would they refer to you in different name?"
>>98008Looks like a pony, a yellow pony in green dress
It’s on the same side of the river as they currently occupy, further in the brush
>>98007It doesn’t look like it
>>98009“The same thing but in Nimbusian: Μπλε ουρανοί (Ble Ouranoi)”
>>98010Silver smiles. "So, little bit like how mine is just 'Silver Sword' but in Cyrillic: Серебряный Меч (Serebryanyy Mech)"
>>98010Iron cocks his head at the sight. He decides to go closer to where the pony currently is to get a better picture of him or her. It seems rather... odd-clothed to be a native, with that dress.
At least, I'm assuming she's like a lost city mare or part of the expedition team from the dress mention. >>98012She comes out of the bush, revealing a lemon yellow earth pony with strawberry colored mane. She is wearing a round hat and green vest
“He-hello? Who are you?”’ She asks with definite uncertainty in her voice
>>98011She smiles back
“I’ll remember that”
>>98014"Feel free to, I'll remember yours in turn. Most of very few friends I had back in Severyana just called me Серебро (Serebry). You are fifth non-Severyanan pony I have ever given my Cyrillic name to, I think."
>>98014Iron blinks once, rather intrigued by the new appearance.
"You do not seem like you belong here. What are you doing here?"
He does stop in his tracks just in case walking even more towards her would cause her to panic and run away. The intimidating visage of a large native Earth Pony would make anyone wary.
>>98015>>98015She blinks, then tilts her head on its side
“After Storm Warning, Spectral Streak, Silver Rain, and White Light I take it?”
I think I got at least one of those wrong, but pretend she said them correctly >>98016“... I, I’m from the university. Who are you?”
>>98017"Unless I am missing somepony else, that is right." He scratches his muzzle a bit in thought. "No, I can not think of anypony else."
Congrats, ya got all of them correctly. >>98019"Have you really not heard from any of them since the war began?"
>>98018Iron cocks his head.
"'Yuh-nee-ver-see-tea?' A strange place where you come from."
He nods, seeing how non-threatening and scared she probably is of her current situation.
"I am Iron. I mean to you no harm."
>>98020He shakes his head no. "Nothing at all. I have no idea what has happened to any of them. Most contact I have had from them, any of them, was that letter from Rain, and I only found that after War was over."
>>98021Her eyes go big
"Oh, you must be a native. Great to finally see another pony, I was worried you might be a bandit for a moment. I mean, you looked like a native, but I was afraid to presume. And you have a Zebra..."
"Who are
you" Black Cauldron says to her skeptically
"My name is Pear Faucet. I was with a group of archaeologists, but we were attacked by bandits."
>>98022"And what is he doing?"
>>98023"Unsavory work he wants out of, from what I've gathered. Something to do with gangs in Las Pegasus, maybe even mafia work. That, or I am just misinterpreting things. He is one I am most worried about, with what Changelings did to city during war."
>>98024"So he's like a gangster?"
>>98023Iron nods, a little confused at her worrisome demeanor, as if she didn't want to offend him by presuming he was a native.
(Strange habits that civilization brings.)
That's when the mention of archeology is mentioned, causing his mind to click and his eyebrows to rise.
"I think we have met them not too long ago."
He rummages through the bags to pull out the dog idol he took along with the bandidos' possessions. He presents it to her, standing proud on the frog of his hoof.
"I assume this seems familiar to you?"
>>98025"I believe so. It would certainly match with that picture I have of him, and how he was before he left. I can show you letter he sent, if you so wish. It is back in my bags, though."
>>98027"Sure"
>>98026By presuming he wasn't a banditHer eyes widen greatly
"Is that... an idol of Xolotl?"
>>98028Silver gets up once again from his couch seat. "We can also see if we can't find Star while we're at it, if you wish."
Do you need the letter's post number, or do you remember what it's generally about? >>98028Iron nods.
"Yes. After some roughening up, they claimed they ransacked an archeological site not too long ago and that was where they took it. I presume you are one of the victims of said attack, correct?"
>>98030“Alright, let’s see if Star is still in that hallway”
I remember enough>>98029Soon
>>98031“Yes... I was away at the time. I was looking at a set of ruins. But I saw bandits ransacking our camp. I fled. You two are the first I’ve seen that haven’t been bandits”
>>98032"You lead, I follow. I do not want to accidently wander someplace I should not be."
Alright then. >>98032Iron nods yet again.
"I understand."
He ponders for a moment.
"Were your group cooperating with the natives of the area or was it considered abandoned?"
>>98033She starts waking to a nearby door, which it turns out is the center door to the main lobby. She then walks in the left hallway (right, from this perspective) and past the turn towards Star’s last known location
>>98029Assuming Star is in the same approximate location, he sees both Skies and Silver waking towards him
>>98034“It was an older site, abandoned, or at least no known inhabitants for the past few centuries”
>>98036Iron nods.
"We were going to look around on that location, actually. Do you know if there is still any bandit presence there?"
>>98038Iron nods, then simply stashes the idol in his satchels and turns to Cauldron, whispering to her.
"I think she could come with us. It should be easier to spot flowers with three ponies and she should knows the ruins' layout most likely, and we ensure her safety in exchange. What do you think?"
>>98039“... Sure. Since you seem to want to run into bandits anyways. But I’m not enthusiastic about sharing any loot”
>>98040Iron chuckles light and silently, keeping the whisper.
"You know me. I always look for a fight."
He maintains a little composure, whispering some more.
"Like she would want to fight. I can see her trembling like a leaf. She definitely will not be interested in the loot. There is always the simple explanation on how a 2 to 1 fight is a bad idea."
>>98041“Starry?”
>>98042She smiles and nods, appreciating his plan
“Alright”
>>98043Nodding to her, he breaks the impromptu meeting and faces Pear Faucet.
"Seeing how you are all alone with no other friends around, you should probably stick with us. We could use your help as you know the site's layout."
Are Star and Silver kill?
>>98044“Sure. I just hope no more bandits show up”
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