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It's an entire economic spiral that we've managed to entirely elude, along with attendant legal attention such as that investigator who turned up back when we were with the Cult and promptly never did anything because we kept our hooves clean. We've been commendably disciplined throughout this quest, and I for one think it's saved us a lot of headaches by keeping us out of mundane trouble.
Not to harp on it, but we also have the trust of the Princesses. Something that is more than valuable, and loosing it for extra bits now is...
More risky than it feels worthwhile
In terms of "saving the world blind with two hooves tied behind our back" our methods have gotten us level four in Lores across the board, a Mareinette, three Names, a wonderful daughter who has managed to charm all of those names, a wolf perfectly normal daughter, an adoptive alicorn daughter and another alicorn pseudo-confidante, a position as the head of the secret police, a clear understanding of how to open the Crucible-Lock, and more besides.
I'd say things are going pretty well, Knock-Velvet has a hole-in-the-wall apothecary with a basement lab, a minion, and one less Cadance than she had earlier.
There's a few things we missed out on, Mainly Twilight due to a series of mistakes AND unlucky rolls with her, and relationship with the other cult advisors, but yeah, we did fairly well all things considered.
We don't know if her going for Fake-Celestia again was a failed roll/chance, or was always going to happen once we picked that. We were then ALSO unlucky in our post-saving-attempt roll, both her initial condition (she didn't trust us) and the latter roll (we were so close to being able to tempt her with Redemption of the Forge! If only we didn't lose the grail influence against Mareinette in the Red Church...)
That's basically our main regret.
And Velvet has not exactly killed that many people outside of strict necessity. There were the ones stopping us from saving Twilight ,the changeling sacrifices which were doomed to die anyway, and the guards that were sent to death for a decision WE did not make (as in we the voters).
The rest was mostly unintended consequences... for which Selene forgave us.
well, that's ignoring everything REGRETTABLE, of course.
What if biggest amount of treasure would be in Royal Vault?
I think if we want to do it criminal way but without killing anyone then only someone competent and moral would be able to do so. Send master thief Phantom Moon to rob corrupt nobles.
I am sure Luna could leverage some of her awesome abilities for the task of royal taxation.
I'm going to assume we can ask for something like "lost/abandoned treasure outside inhabited centers" or something like that. Basically not a bank or the castle vault, but more abandoned temples/cities, clichè buried pirate treasure and the like.
and really, if I wanted to use Selene I'd be more interested in trying to leverage her dreamwalking abilities. Not quite sure how though.
You can't just mix and match philosophical aesthetics like the contents of a lunchable, that's not how this works at all. And you definitely can't call the multiple compounding errors with Twilight an example of deontological ethics, if anything that's the consequentialism you're looking for right there.
"Don't screw around with people or you'll screw them up."
That's not half hearted indecisiveness, that's taking responsibility for one's actions by making sure you don't repeat the same dumbass mistakes. Namely chasing easy results without considering the consequences of those results. We are doing things differently and that's drawing attention from our audience of Names. Baldomare and Biedde both commented on it, if it's important enough for Lantern and Edge to notice then it's important enough to follow through on. I for one am not going to burn that kind of narrative potential for 80-something bits and cheap Hobbesian vindication.
I'm going to assume we can ask for something like "lost/abandoned treasure outside inhabited centers" or something like that. Basically not a bank or the castle vault, but more abandoned temples/cities, clichè buried pirate treasure and the like.
and really, if I wanted to use Selene I'd be more interested in trying to leverage her dreamwalking abilities. Not quite sure how though.
Guarding dreams is her duty, no need to bend it to criminal activities. Moth and Knock on the other hoof are convenient for breaking and entering.
Sure we probably can come with better actions for Luna to do, like summoning MitL but if we are considering strictly money gaining I would say that she is one of better options. Have her steal some documents too, so we can nail those nobles if it comes to this. And if there is any strange rumors about midnight robbing then changelings are first suspects and it can be a reason to delay Changeling expedition if people actually want to do so. Personally I would not risk tarrying and provoking Celestia with our inaction unless we manufacture some distraction first.
[X] Plan Pittauro, With Changeling Detectives -[X] Axe, yes! (Costs one VELVET action)
-[X][DETECTIVES] (FOLLOW UP) There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them. (One of the chief expectations of the Bureau. Avert a future Catastrophe)
-[X][CONSTABLES] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN one VELVET action for the next phase)
-[X][COMMISSIONER] The Bureau is more than an institution, it is a gathering of dedicated ponies working towards a unified goal. Ingrain yourself with them. (Establish, increase, or salvage the loyalty of the Bureau towards you personally.)
-[X][RARITY] Take a commission. (Gain at least 100 bits immediately, will "fail" her career roll)
-[X][SELENE] Realize something about Edge. (Unlock her Edge skill) (TRAINING ACTION)
-[X][SELENE] Realize something about Knock. (Unlock her Knock skill) (TRAINING ACTION)
-[X] One extra Velvet action! (Costs 2 follower actions)
-[X] You need somepony to perform this ritual… (Reflection of the Tapestry, search for "The Key that Only Opens" the Daughter of Axe wants)
--[X] To be performed on the safe place Baldomare directed you to. (Will expire at the end of turn 20)
-[X] You need somepony to perform this ritual… (Reflection of the Tapestry, search for "the easiest lvl 6 book we can get for Baldomare")
--[X] To be performed on the safe place Baldomare directed you to. (Will expire at the end of turn 20)
-[X] WRITE IN: Canterlot part 2 expedition
-[X] Attack your foe, or defend yourself. In war, there is no other option.
--[X][GUARD] You would very much like to keep this safe. (Your home)
[X] Plan Betterer Biedde
-[X] (AotL) Edge -[X] (Forge) Edge 3, Knock 2 Edge 1, SH 1
—[X] Gift used on Knock 2 Edge 1 retroactively
-[X] (Steppes) Ask about any rumors and general perceptions of us, Fair Trial, and our respective institutions, among both nobles and the commonfolk.
-[X] (Social) Level up Jade
-[X] Summon Biedde
--[X] Sacrifice Edge 3 and Knock 2 Edge 1 reagents
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare
-[X] Fleeting Opportunity: Comet Feet
-[X] Study: Forge 3, Forge 3, Mystery Book
-[X] Explore the Mansus --[X] Find a new location in the Ashen Wastes
--[X] Explore the depths of the Ruined Church -[X] [BIEDDE] Ask for an Influence of Edge.
You are Velvet Covers.
And right now, you are very high in the Mansus.
Every time you get this high, you can't help but think about how strange the trek here feels.
Because no matter how many times you do this, you always think you will be daunted (or maybe even bored) by having to climb all the way here. Every time, before you go to sleep on nights like this, you carry with you a small measure of dread, as you picture yourself having to walk all the way from the Crossroads to here. Every night, you wish there were ways to "start" climbing the Mansus from a higher point.
Sure, that might be the height of a mortal's hubris, to wish that the Mansus was accommodating to you. But still, you are but a pony, so you can't help but think about those kinds of things.
However, there is a second part to these thoughts of yours. Because every time you reach the Mansus, and begin making your way to the Glory… you always relish it.
The journey, if you can even call it a journey at all, is never stale. It is never boring.
You always feel thrilled while doing it. And setting your sights on Glory, and performing the Climb, is always something you relish. Every time. Without fail.
Or at least, that is what you thought tonight, as you made your way here.
But now is not the time to wander and wonder. Now is the time to act.
You are currently in the… entrance, of the Ruined Church. If the broken mosaic window that you must climb through can even be called that.
And for all that you were thinking about the thrill of the Climb, you can't help but feel trepidation whenever you reach this point.
Maybe it's because, in very practical terms, you cannot see the Glory while inside the Ruinned Church. Not directly, at least. But most likely, you feel like this because this place feels like a living thing, and you invariably feel like you are climbing into a giant's mouth, whenever you enter this place.
Even when you are just passing through this place, taking the path you have very carefully plotted and mapped, you still feel nervous. Especially since, every now and then, the paths you are used to seem to shift ever so slightly.
But more than just that, tonight you are especially nervous because, well…
"Time to find out what you are hiding," you whisper.
Although you are not sure if you are saying that to the Ruined Church, or to yourself.
After all, if any place is meant to reveal a pony's deepest secrets, it has to be this.
Time to get to work.
[Mansus Expedition: The Depths of the Ruined Church]
You stalk through the upper corridors like a mouse in a forest. Because even though you have already been here several times, you know better than to be careless within these walls.
But soon enough, you find one of the passages you always avoid. A particular twist in your mapped path that, you know, eventually leads deeper into the Church.
Under normal circumstances, you would stalk right past this place. And in some nights, when you can hear or smell or even taste things coming from that place, you will avoid this path altogether. Either doubling-back to take an alternative route, or just giving up on that night's dream altogether.
But tonight, this particular cross on the road seems to be safe… or at least safe enough for you to dare explore it.
Out of the beaten path you go, and into an unfamiliar tunnel you reach.
As you walk down the unfamiliar corridor, you can't help but notice how deathly quiet this place is. You still think that, on the corner of your vision, the walls seem to shift and twist. But this feels more like the… it looks more like the slow movement of a pony's chest, as they breathe in their sleep.
You do your best not to disturb the ground as you walk. And soon enough you find what you are looking for.
To your right, behind a broken door made out of rich wood, you spot what seems to be a set of stairs. The beginning of a spiral staircase that seems to go downwards, and into darkness.
You sneak your way towards the staircase, checking every corner before daring to pass through them, and eventually you come face to face with the way down.
And for all that your dream body isn't real, you can't help but take a deep breath as you try to encourage yourself for what comes next.
"You can do this, Velvet…" you say under your breath.
And then you take the first step down.
…
The spiral staircase snakes its way downward, and you cautiously follow the only path down.
You would be lying if you said you weren't scared. After all, this place isn't just claustrophobic, but it is also as good as a death trap. You can't really see what lies in wait far below, since the staircase is an endless curve that blocks your sight. And you also can't see if anything is coming from behind you, following your tracks.
In short, you are stuck here, until you reach the bottom of the stairs.
And almost as if your fears had conjured up a challenge in your path, you suddenly come to a stop. Your hoofs freeze under you, mid-walk, as you narrowly miss noticing the thing you almost just stepped on.
"What…? Oh heavens…" you say, almost recoiling as you do.
Because as you look down the steps in front of you, you realize there is something on the steps that… no, it isn't just that. You realize there is something growing out of the steps. Like tiny protrusions, growing out of the stairs themselves.
And they are… you narrow your eyes, as you try to make sure. But sure enough, you quickly confirm it.
Those things are spikes. Spikes, or maybe thorns, or perhaps even fangs. Tiny, bone-white needles, that seem to be growing out of the bone-white marble of the steps.
They are so small, you think, that they probably won't hurt you too much.
But they are definitely sharp, and they might just hurt you enough.
And they are so very thirsty, you know. Like this entire place, and all the denizens it holds.
…
You will not enjoy doing this.
But you realize that, given the nature of this place, there is no other way to explore its depths.
A price must be paid. And knowing what was worshipped in this temple, that price will always be blood.
You take one step, the pinprick-pain piercing through the hoofs of your dream-body, and opening the paths for your blood to flow out of them.
You take the second step, and the pain more than doubles. As if the nearby spikes are also awakening, and eagerly awaiting for the coming feast.
The third step. You swear your blood is being sucked out, rather than just flowing out of your wounds.
You don't even have all your four hoofs on the spiked steps, and you have no idea how much longer the staircase goes, until it reaches the bottom. You can't know, because it simply curves out of your sight right in front of you.
But already the pain is too much, and you quickly retreat to the safety of the smooth marble steps behind you. Leaving bloody hoofprints that are quickly consumed by the very floor under your hoofs.
Maybe you are too weak to do something like this.
Maybe this was a mistake.
[Velvet Covers has lost one health]
[Velvet Covers has lost one scrap of Heart Lore]
[Velvet Covers has lost a health during an expedition. Will she continue?]
[Current health: 1/2]
[] Continue the expedition (the Expedition will continue as normal, and you will re-try the failed hurdle)
[] Retreat (you will safely retreat back to the Wake)
Author's note: Well, this is embarrassing.
No moratorium. Voting is open. Because I (and Velvet) believe she should just retreat. But this is not something on the "Velvet's Imperative" level for me to force an action. So here we are, voting on it. (And before anyone mentions it, Velvet could very technically have used her Edge AotL to double her Martial bonus, and gain the last needed +1. Trust me, I noticed that. But I noticed that only after I combed your file looking for SOMETHING that could help her. But the bottom line was that I wouldn't retroactively make her invoke a bonus she wouldn't normally use for this, so it's a no-go. And since I couldn't find any other forgotten bonus she could use, this is what happened.)
So… uh… I'll go write some interludes that I wanted to get done this turn. And Mareinette should ask you for her binding refreshments, unless we have any other interruptions. But your actions for this turn are pretty much over now.
Voting might close early, if things are clearly going in one direction. But voting shall remain open for at least twenty-four hours.
Ugh. God that's frustrating. Worst obstacle for us, Floor 1, no alternative lore. Blegh. Probably don't want to come back unless we have a Heart influence.
That's not half hearted indecisiveness, that's taking responsibility for one's actions by making sure you don't repeat the same dumbass mistakes. Namely chasing easy results without considering the consequences of those results.
Well. It is what it is I guess. No point going forward if we're halfway dead on the very first check.
And we lost a Heart scrap...
Edit: Time to keep fucking around in the lower reaches next turn, I guess?
By the way, @OurLadyOfWires, considering what the current tentative plans for next turn are, is DoA's Sacrament action dangerous? As in, do we risk getting another Wound if we're attempting it next turn?
I blame this on us burning all of Velvet's bullshit luck on the earlier rolls and the assorted good things that happened, that is the only illogical explanation. Now we have a reason to take Mareinette's Influence next turn and also to heal the scar already.
If you disregard the obvious consequences of an action then you're not making a decision based on morality, you're making a decision based on what you want to do and ascribing a justification after the fact. If the ends justify the means as I believe you intend to say then the ends also condemn the means if that end is destructive.
I'm fairly certain that you want to focus entirely on mechanical results that progress towards a stated victory condition, and I'm also fairly certain that that's a bad idea. If that's not what you want to do then I'm happy to admit confusion, chaos is a ladder after all.
(And before anyone mentions it, Velvet could very technically have used her Edge AotL to double her Martial bonus, and gain the last needed +1. Trust me, I noticed that. But I noticed that only after I combed your file looking for SOMETHING that could help her. But the bottom line was that I wouldn't retroactively make her invoke a bonus she wouldn't normally use for this, so it's a no-go. And since I couldn't find any other forgotten bonus she could use, this is what happened.)
is confusing. Have we used Edge AoTL on meeting with Comet or any previous rolls? If so then okay, but it is not clear from this statement. If not then where and when Velvet planned to use it? Сause we mostly finished with our actions this turn and potentially have AoTL unused. Or AoTL is not used in Mansus climbing at all?
It is a good reminder that we can't rely on luck all the time- While technically we understand that, we seem to have gotten used to things going relatively smoothly.
To be fair, not levelling the Lore that deals specifically with our risk tolerance was an odd situation in first place... Probably due to the situation not giving us a chance, but it would be a good idea to at least focus on it more.
is confusing. Have we used Edge AoTL on meeting with Comet or any previous rolls? If so then okay, but it is not clear from this statement. If not then where and when Velvet planned to use it, cause we mostly finished with our actions here and potentially have AoTL unused. Or AoTL is not used in Mansus climbing at all?
So far, Mansus expeditions entirely use Knowledge instead of Application. So under normal circumstances, we wouldn't expect to benefit from an AotL during a Mansus expedition, no.
Edit: Except during combat, that would use Edge Application.
is confusing. Have we used Edge AoTL on meeting with Comet or any previous rolls? If so then okay, but it is not clear from this statement. If not then where and when Velvet planned to use it? Сause we mostly finished with our actions here and potentially have AoTL unused. Or AoTL is not used in Mansus climbing at all?
AotL is unused, but using it here would be a waste if there is combat further in on this expedition. Which… there almost certainly is, because Bird does usually not hold back on something like this if there's no reason to not use it.
I'm fairly certain that you want to focus entirely on mechanical results that progress towards a stated victory condition, and I'm also fairly certain that that's a bad idea.
In context though I got the impression you were claiming our Edge Name with a secondary in Moth lore and a Grail Name would be sus in collecting bits. There more competent then that.
From a certain perspective, this is really funny. Velvet spent all that time climbing, all that time preparing herself to search the Ruined Church, just to get to the very first staircase she hadn't seen before and step on a nail.
"Whoops. Guess I should head back."
[X] Retreat (you will safely retreat back to the Wake)
(Of course, it's not one nail but a series of occult nails, but it's funnier if you ignore that.)
You can't just mix and match philosophical aesthetics like the contents of a lunchable, that's not how this works at all. And you definitely can't call the multiple compounding errors with Twilight an example of deontological ethics, if anything that's the consequentialism you're looking for right there.
"Don't screw around with people or you'll screw them up."
eh, I'm not 100% sure what's the lesson we should take from Twilight.
We made MULTIPLE mistakes there.
1) We didn't break her faith in Celestia, that resulted in her basically delivering herself to Chrysalis. I'm STILL not 100% sure that was a mistake and not more being unlucky.
2)We let her get a fascination that one time by not checking on her earlier. That's on us
3)We spoke of her to the Master, but in a way that painted her as a potential resource or leverage point against Celestia rather than a potential recruit, and he treated her as such. We should have tried to paint her as someone we could have recruited, and then she'd like have treated Twilight better. Maybe try to gaslight her into being loyal to us? Still better than months of torture and isolation.
4)I also think our parting words with the trapped Twilight were a bad idea too.
Beside that we also had Shining not believe her, we failed to get the "good" rolls for her "status condition rolls" on the saving trip and in our last meeting too.
It was a mix of mistakes and being unlucky. Now we played our last card with Cadance, and we have to hope she can fix this. And once the lores are made public SHE can probably bring up the Redemption of the Forge, and maybe Twilight can somewhat recover.
The journey, if you can even call it a journey at all, is never stale. It is never boring.
You always feel thrilled while doing it. And setting your sights on Glory, and performing the Climb, is always something you relish. Every time. Without fail.
And they are… you narrow your eyes, as you try to make sure. But sure enough, you quickly confirm it.
Those things are spikes. Spikes, or maybe thorns, or perhaps even fangs. Tiny, bone-white needles, that seem to be growing out of the bone-white marble of the steps.
They are so small, you think, that they probably won't hurt you too much.
But they are definitely sharp, and they might just hurt you enough.
And they are so very thirsty, you know. Like this entire place, and all the denizens it holds.
No moratorium. Voting is open. Because I (and Velvet) believe she should just retreat. But this is not something on the "Velvet's Imperative" level for me to force an action. So here we are, voting on it. (And before anyone mentions it, Velvet could very technically have used her Edge AotL to double her Martial bonus, and gain the last needed +1. Trust me, I noticed that. But I noticed that only after I combed your file looking for SOMETHING that could help her. But the bottom line was that I wouldn't retroactively make her invoke a bonus she wouldn't normally use for this, so it's a no-go. And since I couldn't find any other forgotten bonus she could use, this is what happened.)
I thought the AotL applies sort of automatically to what's most beneficial to us that requires that lore. In that case, as we did NOT use the edge bonus on anything else, that SHOULD apply here.
Or do we need to consciously decide when we use the ritual circle?
So… uh… I'll go write some interludes that I wanted to get done this turn. And Mareinette should ask you for her binding refreshments, unless we have any other interruptions. But your actions for this turn are pretty much over now.
Woods fate I'm not sure if it counts. I suppose we could have scried for the Master or brought the Names to the wedding, though we don't know for sure what options this would have given us.
and unless you're going to say we should have killed Luna, I don't see how the third point matters. We're working on the Outsider front, give it time.
ashen wasteland for more locations, maybe Malleary or stairways too I suppose. Definitely no Red Church retry until we heal the scar and the wound, and maybe also get the heart influence for it.
It is a good reminder that we can't rely on luck all the time- While technically we understand that, we seem to have gotten used to things going relatively smoothly.
eh, it was a calculated risk. If it had been ANYTHING but a heart challenge causing health damage we could have just moved on. I was hoping for more "pick your lore out of two" challenges like in previous church expedition.
we bet, we failed, and next time we'll know to come with a mix of "heart 4" "health 3" "heart influence", ideally all of them.
To be fair, not levelling the Lore that deals specifically with our risk tolerance was an odd situation in first place... Probably due to the situation not giving us a chance, but it would be a good idea to at least focus on it more.
eh, it just ended up being the lore for which we didn't have the right material. We need Heart Books, unless we're willing to commit THREE full Mareinette actions to bring it to 4, which I don't think we are.
With us doing more expeditions hopefully we'll find heart books or artifacts to research soonish.
From a certain perspective, this is really funny. Velvet spent all that time climbing, all that time preparing herself to search the Ruined Church, just to get to the very first staircase she hadn't seen before and step on a nail.
"Whoops. Guess I should head back."
[X] Retreat (you will safely retreat back to the Wake)
(Of course, it's not one nail but a series of occult nails, but it's funnier if you ignore that.)
So far, Mansus expeditions entirely use Knowledge instead of Application. So under normal circumstances, we wouldn't expect to benefit from an AotL during a Mansus expedition, no.
Edit: Except during combat, that would use Edge Application.
I meant it in the sense that if we have AoTL and have not used it so far, then not throwing it on the last action in turn is simply wasting it even if there is only like 0.001 % chance of it ever being useful. Unless it is directly ruled out as applicable for Mansus climbing (which is why QM statement is confusing for me, since it implies that it could have been used, if I read it correct).
The funny thing is that if we had Heart Four we wouldn't have even needed the reroll.
But yeah. It's about time we got slapped for, you know, trying to run through the Mansus with so little actual effort.
AotL is unused, but using it here would be a waste if there is combat further in on this expedition. Which… there almost certainly is, because Bird does usually not hold back on something like this if there's no reason to not use it.
We have actual Edge influence for the combat. If Velvet can throw AoTL on herself on moment notice during combat, then she could do it on DC check that involves it or so I suppose. Just to be clear I am not complaining I just apparently don't understand mechanic of this AoTL thingy.
