Still, if everything goes well, you will be able to go back to the Bureau next week, and return to work. Hopefully, this week will be the last one poor Shining has to come all the way here just to give you a report. Although you did hear he has been staying for a few hours more, after speaking to you. You wonder what he has been doing during that time…
"Well, I'm sure it's either something important, or none of my business," you say to yourself. "Or maybe it's both. Shining is already a grown stallion, after all."
cough cough COMET cough cough.
Seriously, Velvet will go CRAZY once she finds out...
Do not be alarmed, my beloved!
Rarity is, as usual, drunk on Grail. I wonder if we'd have gotten this message if she was Grail 4...
How I longed to have your company here, instead of hers, where not a pony can be seen all the way to the horizon.
[Roll: 36 + 50 (Expedition bonus) + 15 (Heart total 3) = 101]
and the Heartifact makes all the difference! NICE!
How I wish you were here, so we could both sweat under the sun together. So I could watch your coat glistening with the heat, as not even the dirt managed to sully your beauty. So that we could, once we reached the cool and covered destination that we had been looking for, finally-"
wow, Rarity! Thirsty much?
I don't know if I'll ever find the strength to fully give up on my dreams of introducing Rarity to Stormchaser and Velvet's...
activities...
In any case, done in TWO DAYS. that's a record!
and it also means we only spent... 20 bits instead of 50.
double nice!
We copied the writings on the walls with clay tablets, and we brought them back. We broke the originals, mind you. Axe said that… the dead wouldn't mind. And that it would be safer, that way."
Well, I suppose this is to ensure we can't just go back and get another copy after giving the story to Baldomare.
When you asked her for more details, she sounded unusually evasive. You think she mentioned having written something, perhaps a diary of sorts, while on the expedition. But she almost immediately said she shredded it into pieces, and then burned it, after re-reading what she had penned.
A pity, you think. But ultimately, you are sure she would have told you if something truly relevant had happened.
a real pity indeed...
well, we got an Edge 6 book. I'm a bit sad about giving it up, but... well, we all know what we went and got it for.
And second, because everypony knows that house isn't a "true" noble household. It is a very large house, yes, but it was built and maintained by bits rather than birthrights. And for all that the nobility of Equestria is a fading breed of sorts, everypony alive was still born and raised in a world where that difference matters.
fair enough. For how much longer though?
She may not be noble in blood. Or at least, not a noble by Princess Celestia's grace. But she is still noble in bearing, and noble in breeding, and perhaps even noble in older and greater ways.
definitely in older and greater ways, yes
Still regardless of what one might think about that visitor, it would be impossible to treat her as anything but an honored guest.
Spoiled Rich says that, her words coated with adoration and interest, as she entertains the latest (and perhaps most important) guest of her household.
I suddenly no longer feel guilty about our plans for her.
I wonder why
Because truly, this is the opportunity she had been waiting for. The opportunity she always knew that she deserved. Ever since her daughter became best friends with Lady Velvet's filly, she had been trying to ingratiate herself with the noblemare. But time and again, for reasons none of which were her fault, she was frustrated again and again.
But to think that the Lady would come here? Right after she suffered the most dreadful of accidents against her health? Just to speak to Spoiled herself?
On one hoof, this was the most pleasant of surprises. But on the other hoof, this is only natural!
After all, Spoiled knows this well, precious things are attracted to precious things. And the same way a diamond necklace would become uglier if a lesser gem was added to it, so to does it make sense for high-society ponies to prefer each other's company.
I truly wonder why...
Honestly, if we can manage a divorce for Filthy where she does not take away all his bits AND his daughter we'd most likely be doing him a favour!
It is the reason why her daughter became friends with such high-pedigree fillies. And it is obviously the reason why the Lady, who has gained the favor of alicorns, is now bringing Spoiled into her own grace.
Well,
we DO have great plans for her...
"Hush, Diamond. Our visitor asked for you to be here, so you will be a good little filly and you will stay quiet."
...Mareinette, watch yourself...
with her little Diamond Tiara neatly within the embrace of her forelegs.
I'm sorry Diamond Tiara, please hold on! She
should not will not do anything to you I think...
Although, she can't help but suppress a frown as her fool of a husband finally comes back into the living room.
And what is more, Spoiled Rich almost bristles as Filthy Rich makes to approach their guest.
"Excuse me, I am… very sorry, my Lady. But please, could I at least, you know…" he says, motioning towards the towel he is carrying on his hoof.
And sure enough, the magnanimous lady allows him to nearly touch her, as he moves to cover their daughter with the towel.
But why… how dare he do that, even?
If the Lady has chosen to drool over their daughter, as she keeps her between her forelegs, isn't that yet another show of favor towards their little Diamond?
...I'm so, so SORRY Filthy Rich... You don't deserve this OR your wife.
We'll try to make it up to you! Surely removing her from your life would be good repayment?
Whenever they think back to this day, they will only remember what was good about it. They will only remember what was pleasant. And as the fair Lady inflates their hopes, and string them along in their dreams, they will only be able to think back to the visit itself, and will barely remember the visitor at all.
Whatever good things that happen, they will attribute it to that Lady. Of course, that being "Lady" Velvet Covers. Because what other Lady have they ever met in their lives?
And whatever bad things happen that day, they… won't really think about it. In fact, they might not even remember it at all!
Because this was such a pleasant visit that it feels more like a dream than a waking day. It is the pleasant memory of an evening spent drinking, with no following hangover to mar it. It is a blur of laughs, and mirth, and pleasant sensations that are easy to feel, but hard to truly recollect.
It is, in the end, just a visit, from an Honored Guest.
And by the end of that day, everypony feels a little better about themselves.
"What… dear Celestia, Diamond. What did you do? Go take a shower at once! No daughter of mine is going to look like… like THAT!"
Well, almost everypony.
hopefully we didn't traumatize the poor filly for life.
Well, it's done anyway. If she somehow IS traumatized maybe we'll be able to offer an incision at some point in the future, but more hopefully she'll just... move on. Or maybe Selene can help with her winter realization.
I've yet to see which option Mareinette will pick. Let's see what I'd pick AND what I think Mareinette would pick...
[-] You told her that relationships are a commitment. And that even if she is going through a rough spot right now, that she should double down and make amends with he pony she swore to love.
-You will become Acquaintances with Spoiled Rich.
-You will encourage her to fix whatever problems she has with her husband. And she will listen to you, even if she needs a few nudges (or maybe some help) here and there.
-You would like her to become her best self. And perhaps, the two of you will grow closer as she reaches for that.
-This is, without a doubt, the healthiest option for everypony involved, in the long term.
definitely the healthiest option, but also the one we don't have the time to commit to... and DEFINITELY something Mareinette won't take.
[-] You told her that relationships are a pleasure… and an investment. And that she should not squander all the years she invested in her marriage over whatever growing problems they are currently going through.
-You will become Friends with Spoiled rich.
-You will encourage her to maintain her relationship with her husband. She might not love him anymore, but they need not hate each other. And besides, she has a daughter to raise.
-You will slowly, but surely, carve her into a sycophant. She will listen to your every word, eventually, but reaching that point will require a certain degree of care. (Spoiled Rich will more easily become a "Confidante", but will not provide any action points unless she becomes a Minion).
-This is, without a doubt, the most manipulative option.
so the option that would make her a minion in time. But we're not particularly interested in a long-term investment with her, so...
[-] You told her that her relationships are holding her back. She can't expect to climb the social ladder with weights dragging her down, can she?
-You will become Close Friends with Spoiled Rich.
-You will encourage her to look after herself, first and foremost. And your words will be more than enough to turn whatever ideas she has in her mind into actions.
-Her relationship with her husband will deteriorate, very quickly, and you can predict you will be asked to pick a side when it inevitably falls apart. You will "play both sides" until that happens, but you should act on whatever plans you have for them before you are asked which pony you will stand with.
-This is, without a doubt, the worst option for everypony involved. Everypony, except yourself.
...ok, I feel a bit guilty about this, but I'm pretty sure Mareinette will pick this, and pragmatically and mechanically speaking this IS the best option for us.
As long as we do Moth Sacrament before things explode.
Honestly... things were already moving in this direction. We're just accelerating the inevitable.
Though we're still guilty here, obviously.
Option picked:
[X] You told her that relationships are a pleasure… and an investment. And that she should not squander all the years she invested in her marriage over whatever growing problems they are currently going through.
...uh.
Oh, I suppose we didn't tell Mareinette about our Moth plans?
In that case yeah, it makes sense she'd pick this option.
...now that I think about it... SHE is a Minion I'd be fine using the personal grail option on, making her a PERMANENT minion. I wonder... That said, we don't really have another 2 potential minions I'd be comfortable using this on. I'm simply against using it on Jade or Rarity.
...I wonder if Mareinette chose this because she doesn't know about the Moth plan, or because she thought Velvet is not cruel enough to go for the third option...
"I just came back from Canterlot," she says without looking up from her cup, "and I think I found what we… what you are looking for."
We did it! Outsider action complete!
...and that
"we"... I wonder just what her feelings about all of this are...
"For starters, the place was dreadfully crowded. But thankfully, the entourage you lent me managed to do more than just carry my luggage. So thank you for that, Lady Velvet."
She mentions a few names, of the two maids you sent with her, as well as the several ponyservants you put at her disposal. And she even tells you how she encouraged them to "take some time off" and "visit some museums" while she didn't have need for them. As long as they promised to bring her back pictures of the current displays.
"I was planning to visit several places, you see. But the pictures and the stories from your servants helped me cross a few places off my list."
that explains how the servants helped narratively...
"Yes, yes. The colt you asked to come with me? As a bodyguard?" she says, idly mentioning Comet Feet. "Well, we happened to be visiting the Royal Zoo, one day, and… let's just say that manticores seem to have a particular dislike of him. One of them even managed to break free out of its cage, mind you."
...that's pretty funny actually
You have several questions. Most of them involve the details she seems to be glossing over. And quite a few of them are queries of how angry Fluttershy will be at you.
in our defense how were we supposed to expect THIS?!
Eh, what the hay. Given how lovestruck Fluttershy is, the idea of Comet getting hurt will only make her situation more dramatic and…
… and what kind of friend are you, if the first thing you think is that? Good heavens, you must be spending too much time with Rarity, and not enough time with Jade.
...I kinda think Comet will be happy enough with the result if THAT is the direction things will move towards though
. A place that is old, but that has been touched by something younger. A place… that a very important pony took great pains to erase from a lot of maps."
She tells you that.
And then, she explains to you where you can find a bound and chained Outsider.
My first thought is the place where the Tree of Harmony is.
The second is Tartarus, but I think Bird mentioned that one, together with the place where Grogar's Bell is, and a third one I don't remember, as potential false trails we might have had to go through if we tried the scrying ritual on the Outsider instead of going for Baldomare pick at the wedding unlocking this search.
Well, in any case, it seems we unlocked an expedition? Let's see...
[The Search, progress 0/200]
[Baldomare's Roll: 51 73 + 50 (Baldomare, searching) + 30 (Secret Histories 6) = 153]
[Comet's Roll: 1 + 10 (Intrigue) = 11]
[CRITICAL FAILURE, rolling malus… Comet Feet suffers 2 wounds]
[Servant's Roll: 79 + 10 (Velvet's unmodified intrigue) = 89]
[Total progress: 153 + 11 + 89 = 253]
[Success]
...
the fuck, Comet rolled a ONE?!
and damn, the Servants overdelivered!
well, all in all it went well enough. We'll have to remember to NOT put Comet in danger next turn. He's a big boy with I think 4 or 5 health, he can take it...
This is the next step, for you to reach the very top of the Mansus.
This is the way towards GL-
"Mooooooom!!!"
-but suddenly, the entirety of your Glory-seeking and ambition-driven flame is snuffed out, like a candle on the wind, as you hear Silky Stream's voice coming from nearby.
Reminder that Glory is not QUITE the most important thing to Velvet.
Copper didn't understood her as well as she thought.
"Wha-… uncle Steppes?" you say out loud, as you get up from your seat.
yay, he's here!
"Of course I am, kiddo. I got your letter, and how could I say no to an invitation like that?" he says, moving to give you a heartfelt hug. "And what's this happy business about Selene calling you mom? She let that slip out, while we were on our way here. You gotta tell me your secret, kiddo," your uncle whispers in your ear during his hug.
However, he definitely "whispered" that loud enough for everypony else to hear, and you can only watch as Selene's complicated smile turns into a full blush.
sorry, if we told you our secret we'd then have to kill you.
...it's scary how that's actually so damn close to NOT being a joke...
also yeah,
how could he say no to an invitation like that? funny how that sentence can have multiple meanings... Most of them going completely over Velvet's head!
Shame Biedde is not present to welcome our new guest though
"Ah, and is that Baldomare? Good Sun, it has been so long! How have you been?" your uncle says, looking at the mare who followed after you as soon as he lets go of your hug. And moments later, he is planting a kiss on Baldomare's hoof, mentioning how she looks so beautiful that she is almost dazzling to look at.
dazzling... he picked an incredibly appropriate word...
"Hold on, have you two met before?" you ask, watching as the two ponies clearly treat each other like ponies who need not be introduced to each other.
Because it would make sense for your uncle to know her name if, say, Silky mentioned it while they were coming back home. And sure, you realize how suave your uncle usually is. But still, the way he is treating her right now feels like…
"Why, don't you remember?" Steppes answers, "Baldomare was there on your wedding ceremony! That's where we met. And I was glad to meet one of the friends you made in college. But I must say, you look even younger than on that day. It's almost as if you are made out of magic!"
"Oh, Steppes, you old charmer. You are going to make me blush," Baldomare says, holding back her laugher as your uncle continues to woo her.
But you…
… you…
How did she… she couldn't possibly…
...we DID see her in some old photos I think... but damn,
she's good.
I also forgot Steppes never met her before in his previous visits.
And the Name answers your unspoken question not with words, but with a rare and knowing smile.
bullies! ALL OF OUR NAMES ARE MEANY BULLIES!
Axe, Baldomare, Biedde...
only Mareinette treats us properly, and isn't that the scariest thought of them all...
Your uncle Velvet Steppes will be staying at your home, during this coming month. He will not be available to "help you" as usual. And despite his pleasant demeanor, after the initial joy of his arrival passes you can see that he looks shaken. You might want to talk to him, if you have the time.
...I wonder if he'll end up (maybe accidentally) coming clean about his criminal business.
And maybe, just maybe, Velvet could potentially recruit him. In theory we could even make a cult out of his criminal organization, though that's redundant with the Bureau.
Then again having Velvet indirectly control the criminals of Manehattan while directly controlling the secret police... It's not like it's unusual for police or similar organizations to make "deals" with criminals, often to keep more unreasonable criminals under control.
Like Japan and the Yakuza, at least in the past.
Location: There is a reason Princess Celestia pays so much attention to Canterlot's growth. And this is it. She did not build this vault, that rests on the higher peak of Mount Canterlot, but she certainly improved it. Baldomare told you about walls that are not walls, and of things that are ancient to this world... but familiar to her. You have no idea how deep it goes, or how the Princess herself enters it. But now, the roundabout and confusing routes that the train-tunnels take through the mountain make a lot more sense. As does the Princess' edict that Canterlot may only carve out sections of the mountain with her permission. But still, this... is where you will found your Outsider.
Expected duration: IRRELEVANT (This expedition will always happen "between turns", and will not cost any action points from any characters.)
Base cost: FIXED, at 100 bits (this expedition will not cost more, or less, regardless of how long it takes, or how many creatures participate)
Special considerations:
-This expedition may not be picked during a Turn Planning vote. Instead, QM will ask if you wish to "commit" during the gap between turns, if Velvet Covers fulfills the requirements to perform this expedition.
-Scrying this expedition, or otherwise scouting it, will either be hard, perilous, or both.
-Velvet Covers and Selene MUST participate in this expedition.
-Only Names who have been BEFRIENDED may participate in this expedition.
-Only characters who Velvet Covers considers a MINION may participate in this expedition.
-You may only attempt this expedition AFTER discovering a way to extract an Outsider's "Blood".
-You should only attempt this expedition when you are ready to reach one of the Quest's possible Endings.
ok, going point by point
1)Interesting, a secret vault hidden deep in the mountaintop.
2)DURATION IRRELEVANT AND BASE COST AT 100 BITS?
IS IT OUR BIRTHDAY?!
3)... Only BEFRIENDED Names... yeah, that might be a bit of a problem. Axe and Baldomare MIGHT soon count? Together with all our artifacts, Velvet, Selene, Rarity, Jade and Comet, it's actually not a bad squad...
4)WAIT, ONLY MINIONS?! FUCK!
That's... Velvet, Selene, Rarity IF we don't train her to Grail 4 Forge 2...
...ok, yeah, the squad is becoming smaller fast. Right now it's basically only Velvet and Selene. HOPEFULLY Baldomare will count after lvl 6 book and Axe after her Sacrament. If they count, I think I'd be ok in trying it.
ah, we need the Outsider's Blood extraction method first... AND it will probably immediately lead to the ending...
Ok, here's my thoughts
Turn 21: we do Axe's Sacrament, and hopefully manage to find the Frangiclave. We also do Outsider's Blood thingy, and teach Selene to bring her to all 4. We also study the lvl 4 Artifacts if we can, maybe even the lower level ones if we can delegate it.
Turn 22:
IF, and ONLY IF, we have Axe AND Baldomare befriended, we try this. Otherwise we need to buy more time. Get lvl 7 book and Frangiclave mostly.
We really need Axe's general +50 to help us, and Baldomare's Lantern and SH could likely help a lot too.
I'm not sure if we want to scry. I think we risk setting off an alarm of some kind and make things worse, and it's not like we can prepare much better even if we know the obstacles.
HYPOTHETICAL SQUAD:
Velvet, Selene, Baldomare, Axe. Maybe some Mares in the Light?
Potential Bonuses if we study all artifacts (we can give them to everyone to basically use them all.
| VELVET | SELENE | AXE | BALDOMARE | ARTIFACTS | TOTAL |
| KNOCK | +20 1 reroll | +20 1 reroll | +30 1 reroll | | lvl 2 to Baldomare, +10 | 50+80= +130 with 3 rerolls |
| LANTERN | +20 1 reroll | X | X | +30 1 reroll | lvl 4 to Selene, +20 | +120 with 2 rerolls |
| FORGE | +20 1 reroll | X | X | X | | +70 with 1 reroll |
| EDGE | +20 1 reroll | +20 1 reroll | X | X | lvl 3 to Baldomare, +15 | +105 with 2 rerolls |
| WINTER | +20 1 reroll | +20 1 reroll | X | X | lvl 4 to Baldomare, lvl 1 to Axe, +20 | +110 with 2 rerolls |
| HEART | +20 1 reroll | X | X | X | lvl 3 to Selene, +15 | +85 with 1 reroll |
| GRAIL | +20 1 reroll | X | X | X | | 30+20 = +50 with 1 reroll |
| MOTH | +20 1 reroll | +20 1 reroll | +15 | X | lvl 3 to Baldomare, +15. lvl 1 can't be used unless we bring someone else | +120 with 2 rerolls |
| SECRET HISTORIES | +20 1 reroll | X | X | +30 1 reroll | lvl 3 to Selene, lvl 1 to Axe, +20. | +120 with 2 rerolls |
and we'd want to boost Grail and Forge as the lowest rolls... Grail we can get an influence from Mareinette, Forge maybe an influence from Ritual.
Also edge influence from Biedde for Combat, and Knock and Lantern/SH Influence from Axe and Baldomare.
....uh. We can ho with basically everything (except Grail) above 100 in, if we're lucky, 2 or 3 turns!
but yeah, my general thoughts are that we
TURN 21:
Befriend Axe and Baldomare (lvl 6 book and Sacrament), train Selene, heal scar, study artifacts, make preparations for other sacraments if we can.
TURN 22: if Baldomare not befriended, lvl 7 book search. If Axe not befriended, continue that. Probably finish SH and maybe Edge Sacraments. Influences if we're going
END OF TURN 22: potentially go for dungeon.
TURN 23: if we were not ready, more preparations. Edge Sacrament, Moth Sacrament, Winter Sacrament, Influences...
