Esquestria: The House of the Sun - A pony cultist experience

[Greymere]

It's not free choice, and in a way her alukite nature DOES make her do it.

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But she doesn't regret it or wish she could do otherwise either. And that, more than anything else, is what makes her a monster.

Especially since there is, canonically, an alukite who iirc explicitly doesn't want to eat her kid in The Lady Afterwards.

 

[Rafuki22]

they are instead... trying to make her seem like a nice person?

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Who is trying that?

Having some depth and being possibly reedemable, to an extent, doesn't make someone good.

I'm pretty sure everyone knows that Mareinette is a monster.

But it is better to have the monster on our side than not having it, we summoned her, so we will use her, the same she will use us, because that's what friendships/relationships are all about

...

Also, being nice and being good are different things, the former is more pretending for fear, formality, expectations or other reasons while the latter is genuine, atleast that's what cinema therapy told me.

But she doesn't regret it or wish she could do otherwise either.

Click to shrink...

She can't regret it.

Do we blame someone turned into a vampire for acting like one? People overestimate willpower and underestimate instincts.

If little amounts of sunlight can change the chemicals of a person what would a metaphysical law of reality do?

an alukite who iirc explicitly doesn't want to eat her kid in The Lady Afterwards.

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Maybe she is an exception, is not like we know the full story.

 

[Greymere]

She can't regret it.

Do we blame someone turned into a vampire for acting like one? People overestimate willpower and underestimate instincts.

Click to shrink...

As though there aren't plenty of stories out there of people angsting over their supernatural transformations because they hate some aspect of it or another.

Mareinette being turned into an alukite doesn't suddenly make her incapable of self-awareness and self-reflection.

Edit:
Also, to address your point about being "redeemable"...

If she is, as you claim, categorically incapable of regretting her actions or wanting to change her foal-eating ways, what exactly is there to redeem?

 

[DelightedOne]

Also, being nice and being good are different things, the former is more pretending for fear, formality, expectations or other reasons while the latter is genuine, atleast that's what cinema therapy told me.

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And isn't that what she is doing? Being nice because she wants something from Velvet?

I meant that people are trying to find characteristics that can be considered to belong to a "nice" person, to gather sympathy for Mareinette or at least make her seem more "acceptable" to have as a friend.

She can't regret it.

Click to shrink...

Of course she can't regret it. She doesn't care that what she did is wrong because she enjoyed it.

People don't regret doing what they consider to be good or fun things, they regret things that went wrong or were bad(mostly in their opinion, people are weird). She will never regret doing something she wants and she will never stop doing what she wants, that isn't Grail and that isn't Heart and she is the Name of both of those Principles.

 

[Pittauro]

Unless Glory or Harmony give us the power to change Mareinette back into a not-Alukite, she's MAYBE redeemable in the sense that, as her friend, we MIGHT be able to aim her at "evil" ponies instead of the good ones.

Or, in other words, she can be a "tamed" monster, to a point.

Even that is a maybe, because one of her favourite things is EATING CHILDREN, and that is not acceptable in any way.

MAYBE eating criminals could be accepted as a compromise. MAYBE. And even that is extremely unlikely, though I suppose if anyone could convince the powers that be (the princesses) to allow it to avoid a worse confrontation, it would be the Name of Grail.

But neither Mareinette NOR the Princesses are likely to be fine with it. Its very likely this wouldn't work long-term.

It's basically a worse version of how ponies had to tolerate Discord's chaos to befriend him in the show, at least to a point. Fluttershy explicitly ENJOYS his chaos later on... At least when he's not being mean about it

To befriend Mareinette is to share and respect her monstrous tastes. MAYBE there's a compromise to be reached, in that she wouldn't eat "good people and children" but she could eat criminals and villains, and enjoy all others not-harming-the-innocents pleasures.

It's honestly unlikely to work, but it's the only way I can see Mareinette coexisting long term with a not-evil Velvet, unless she can manage to purify her of her Alukite's instincts .




That said the road to such an admittedly very unlikely reformation WOULD have to begin with her sacrament, because simply put Mareinette is right now just humoring Velvet our of a mix of interest, gratitude and maybe a bit of respect and fondness. But from her point of view...

...well, what does this mortal think she is, to deny me such pleasures? PLEASURES SHE DOESNT EVEN KNOW herself? she knows not what she asks of me!

Such a request MIGHT have more weight coming from a friend who understands , at least a little, and to understand Velvet would need to get her Sacrament I think.

---

Now keep in mind that what I write above is basically what I imagine the BEST CASE SCENARIO for a friendship with Mareinette would go like.

It's not easy. It might actually be harder than a serious attempt at befriending the Master would have been, which likely required us to either deliver Luna to them, make much faster progress on Glory ending to make the alicorns no longer NECESSARY (assuming he knew of the blood of the outsiders thing), or, in the end, allow him to proceed with his plans of being reborn as Cadance's son.

If you want to befriend a monster, you need to compromise and allow some of their monstrosity to remain, allow them to indulge, at least to a point.

With Mareinette, there's no realistic way we befriend her when she does not go on to eat people. At best we might be able to nudge her to eat the "right" people.

---

Uh, I have two appropriate songs

What a Velvet slowly becoming a Monster would look like

From EPIC THE MUSICAL, Odysseus first killing a small child to avert a prophecy of doom to his loved ones, and later deciding his mercy has costed him too much


View: https://youtu.be/b-wQQwMLK7Q?si=aASMygX4ImxQcOiY


View: https://youtu.be/qYDms9Z-02A?si=8QrbPc2_f3TZ3o1i

 

[Waela]

[X] Plan Lightcatcher V2

 

[Pittauro]

...you know, I just had a realization.

The road to befriending Mareinette is OBVIOUSLY to introduce her to Cozy Glow.

I'm sure they'd have a delightful little dinner together!

 

[Greymere]

In regards to All In. In addition to the already-planned Name-befriending and getting Sacraments, I think we should strongly consider actively going after Level 6 or 7 artifacts. Even if each member can only wield one artifact at a time, we can fill out the ranks with lesser spirits to act as meatshields and artifact-carriers.

...if only we had a three circle site so that we could summon Mares-in-the-Light :-/

 

[DelightedOne]

I think we should strongly consider actively going after Level 6 or 7 artifacts.

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Maybe the Heirlooms? They sound powerful enough.

It's basically a worse version of how ponies had to tolerate Discord's chaos to befriend him in the show, at least to a point. Fluttershy explicitly ENJOYS his chaos later on... At least when he's not being mean about it

Click to shrink...

At least with Discord he had a good excuse: He dies if he doesn't do Chaos god stuff.

Before Fluttershy he basically had no sense of empathy and no care on how he fullfiled his need for chaos, after understanding friendship for real he just does confusing stuff for good natured fun or to annoy ponies he doesn't like.

And of course since Velvet hasn't got a drop of Harmony or the Magic of Friendship in her reforming Mareinette would be almost impossible.
Remember that Kindness saved Comet from the Colonel, not Velvet, she has no Harmonic influence/traits/abilities at all even the Heartsongs left her.

 

[Greymere]

Maybe the Heirlooms? They sound powerful enough.

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Well... maybe? We don't really know what they are

 

[Sveta08]

[X] Plan Lightcatcher V2

Dialogue is indelicate and irritatingly important. Working on it.

 

[Rafuki22]

Being nice because she wants something from Velvet?

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Isn't that also what we do? But it is okay, Filthy totally deserves it.

I'll be honest, i don't think she is reedemable, but i'm also not the author so i wouldn't know, i just want the Sacraments for extra benefits, i would choose the Personal Grail Sacrament but nobody would choose it and it doesn't befriend a Name.

From EPIC THE MUSICAL

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Yes! I knew that someone would see it too.

 

[Pittauro]

At least with Discord he had a good excuse: He dies if he doesn't do Chaos god stuff.

Before Fluttershy he basically had no sense of empathy and no care on how he fullfiled his need for chaos, after understanding friendship for real he just does confusing stuff for good natured fun or to annoy ponies he doesn't like.

Click to shrink...

Also frees multiple villains so Twilight might gain some self confidence by beating them again...

Not one of his best moments, really.

---

Hey, remember how I often say I believe the quest won't end once we reach Glory and that maybe we'll turn Long or there will be more obstacles?

Another reason why: we've yet to see even a single heirloom, or LVL 7 artifacts/books!

Surely bird didn't tease their existence just for them to never appear at all?!




...mh... On that note actually, let's assume just for the sake of argument that reaching Glory is not the end of the quest.

That implies that, unless we gain enough power to make Daybreaker a non-issue, the countdown would NOT stop.

That means that helping Luna comes up with a solution to deal with her sister is a bit more important, at least if we assume that reaching Glory isn't a "all problems solved" buttons.

 

[jelloloaf]

[X] Plan We Can Be More + Edge (no Prison)
[X] Plan Lightcatcher V2

Busy, will get into the debate later.

 

[des-pair-2]

That means that helping Luna comes up with a solution to deal with her sister is a bit more important, at least if we assume that reaching Glory isn't a "all problems solved" buttons.

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We agreed to let Luna come up with a plan on how to deal with her sister. I believe she will tell us what she plans once she finishes her training.

 

[Pittauro]

We agreed to let Luna come up with a plan on how to deal with her sister. I believe she will tell us what she plans once she finishes her training.

Click to shrink...

We still want to enable her, to give her the means for such a plan.

Thus far that's mostly the coming LVL 4 lessons and maybe Memory of Light research. We'll see what else she's going to ask of us.

Also does Selene KNOW that we're on a countdown to sun eruption?

...wrong question. VELVET JUST found out, after all.

I imagine she's going to tell her this same turn though, so that Luna might understand the new URGENCY of it all...

 

[Limabot]

We still want to enable her, to give her the means for such a plan.

Thus far that's mostly the coming LVL 4 lessons and maybe Memory of Light research. We'll see what else she's going to ask of us.

Also does Selene KNOW that we're on a countdown to sun eruption?

...wrong question. VELVET JUST found out, after all.

I imagine she's going to tell her this same turn though, so that Luna might understand the new URGENCY of it all...

Click to shrink...

Well, Selene was the first one to discover the existence of Daybreaker and Celestia's struggle to prevent her from taking over her life, so I would think Selene would already be pretty antsy to find a cure. Granted, the lore thing probably isn't something she knows yet.

 

[Zxzx24]

I'm honestly just frustrated with this "Mareinette is redeemable" talk because I can see it is all a way to justify taking her Sacrament and befriending her to take her to All In.

However instead of just saying "we need her, let's do her Sacrament and get it over with" they are instead... trying to make her seem like a nice person? That just doesn't seem right to me.

Click to shrink...

I don't think the redemption is the goal there. So much as a simple alliance, and perhaps friendship is.

 

[Solace2117]

[X] Plan Focus and Set up
-[X] (Detectives) Follow Up: Changelings
-[X] (Constables) Follow Up: The Gardeners
-[X] (Commissioner) Beyond Reproach
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X] (Baldomare) Channel a SH Influence
-[X] (DoA) Knock lesson
-[X] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[X] [JADE] Research "A Memory of Light" (Current progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)
-[x] [BIEDDE] Scout Tall Tail
-[X] You would like for somepony to search for books…
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE)
-[X] Cover your bases (-9 Follower AP, +3 Velvet AP)
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing


Plan for Velvet's Phase, I agree mostly with spiderhellion.
4 DOA Sacrament actions, over commit and then vote if we finish early
Forge Redemption
Family FO
Friends FO
Honestly would rather put off Selene's lesson's till next turn so we can fit in Uncle Steppes, but everyone has wanted to speed run it, so it is what is is. Don't really care for most of the plans. Most of them are fine, just not feeling them.. I don't really want to leash Filthy, I don't see the point. Memory light cause it may be pointless, may help with Daybreaker, but I want to know what it is. Biedde scout Tall Tail to run it next turn, though I'm good with Scouting Canterlot instead. Mareinette search for heart books. One Selene action, Fluttershy, Servants, and Rarity for cover you bases. Connect with Beyond Reproach to secure the loyalty of our best Detective and do Midday Dew next turn

 

[Nevermort]

In current plans Bieddie digs prison, looks for books, covers our bases and plenty of other staff instead of say directly helping Velvet with his influence. Whatever happened to plans to get as much influences as possible before tackling DoA sacrament?
Well, since Windigo's Urns have not gathered much interest so far here is another version of my plan. I'll also support plans that have at least few influences channeled.


[X] Plan Stacking up Influences v2
-[X] (Detectives) Follow Up: Changelings
-[X] (Constables) Follow Up: Tall Tale expedition
-[X] (Commissioner) Get your hoofs dirty. Tall Tale expedition
-[X] (Grail-Leash) Filthy Rich
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X] (Baldomare) Channel a Lantern Influence
-[X] (Mareinette) Channel a Grail Influence
-[X] (Bieddie) Channel a Edge Influence
-[X] (DoA) Knock lesson
-[X] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[X] (Selene) Spy on Windy via dreamwalking
-[X] (Jade) Research the Memory of Light ritual (Stage 1 Progress: 0/100)
-[X] Cover your bases (-9 Follower AP, +3 Velvet AP)
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing

[X] Plan Spreading Ourselves Thin Always Gets Us Punished

[X] Won't Someone Think of the Fillies?

[X] Plan Stacking up Influences and Raiding with SH influence
-[X] (Detectives) Follow Up: Changelings
-[X] (Constables) Follow Up: Time to raid the mountain of Tall Tale.
-[X] (Commissioner) . Get your hoofs dirty. Join the "Constables" in a raid/Expedition
-[X] (Grail-Leash) Filthy Rich
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X] (Baldomare) Channel a SH Influence
-[X] (Mareinette) Channel a Grail Influence
-[X] (DoA) Knock lesson
-[X] (Selene) Attack your foe, or defend yourself. Deal with Windigo's jars
-[X] (Selene) Scout Windy's dreams
-[X] (Jade) Scry for Windigo's Urns
-[X] (Biedde) Ask for an Edge Influence.
-[X] Cover your bases (-9 Follower AP, +3 Velvet AP)
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing

[X] Plan We Can Be More + Edge (no Prison)

Don't remember if I already said so or not,but Grail Influence can be extremely useful this turn. Especially if we need to explain Manuscripts.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Also frees multiple villains so Twilight might gain some self confidence by beating them again...

Not one of his best moments, really.

---

Hey, remember how I often say I believe the quest won't end once we reach Glory and that maybe we'll turn Long or there will be more obstacles?

Another reason why: we've yet to see even a single heirloom, or LVL 7 artifacts/books!

Surely bird didn't tease their existence just for them to never appear at all?!




...mh... On that note actually, let's assume just for the sake of argument that reaching Glory is not the end of the quest.

That implies that, unless we gain enough power to make Daybreaker a non-issue, the countdown would NOT stop.

That means that helping Luna comes up with a solution to deal with her sister is a bit more important, at least if we assume that reaching Glory isn't a "all problems solved" buttons.

Click to shrink...

Hey he almost got those villains to buy into the whole Friendship thing, it could have gone great!

All-In literally says to only go for it when you are ready to reach one of the Endings, Pit. It's not the start of a Long Phase, it's gunning for a Victory.


Plan We Can Be More disgusts me. We're Leashing a Friend just so what, Biedde can dig a prison? We're putting Diamond Tiara through another visit by Mareinette, whose marriage counseling kind of sucks while literally drooling all over the poor filly? We're being evil out of convenience for things we don't need. If we need someone gone we have Bureau Prison Cells and we have unmarked graves. At least have Biedde do something interesting or useful. Like get us a dead body so we can have a Risen for Cover Your Bases, or something. A Risen and a Servant gives Velvet +1 Actions, after all.

 

[Maer]

Edit: Might help if I specified.

Omake

1. Background

You are Velvet Covers.

It's a harrowing thought, one that inspires fear in those around you who know of your reputation, your name, your accomplishments and your deeds. The trail of improbable and downright impossible acts that had rendered you a hardened, impossible Mare of fire, determination, and Spite. At least, the public persona you had crafted so painstakingly carefully followed such. None knew who you were on the inside, nor should they- that was a cold, lonely place with space reserved for but a few people- your beloved Stormy, your sweet Silky, and dear Cadence. You had begun carving out another pair of sacrosanct alcoves for one 'Twilight Sparkle' and Cadence's beloved Shining, but this... as things stood, that had more time before they could truly be considered to have a place wholly in your heart.

It started in a Bar, when a single Mare spoke to you, and offered you a secret. Not just any secret either... a Secret. A thing of whimsy and foals-tales. And yet... Moth. No... not Moth... Moth. It was a frightful, worrying and devastating thing, and it had seemed so innocent. A few meetings, a few acquaintances, a 'book club'. But then... well, Stormy asked a question one morning, and you realized you lied to him. It was so easy, so startlingly, frighteningly easy... and it rankled something within. To know that you could so easily mislead your beloved after everything he'd done for you... some echo of Love seemed to tickle at you and tell you that this was NOT the right thing to do. So you'd stepped back, told him everything including the Lores... and left the cult. You'd maintained your connection with Copper, though. After all, you'd had so few friends, and it was so comforting to have Copper as a friend.

For her part, Copper kept you abreast of the Cult's growth and general goals- the Worms... they worried you. You offered bits and aided in expeditions where you could, but your main focus remained on Silky and Stormy. Lantern to do your duty a bit better, Moth because it held a... special place in your heart... Secret histories because it was needed on the expeditions and searching for books and Artifacts. And just a hint of Winter as you offered Windy's establishment patronage and had somewhat befriended him.

Then Luna fell, and the world slipped into Chaos. You tried to help, and when no one could manage things, you delved DEEP into your Lantern and Moth, Sneaking past the guards in your way, Stepping sideways through places that should have been blocked off, but weren't for you, and once you reached the tent where your skills were needed, you considered Lantern, but decided that your daughter's friend demanded a purely Pony effort for this. At least where others could see... so you grabbed your knowledge and experience as a Mother and you bent the stallions in that into shape. It was your first scraps of Edge and Forge at once.

Winter grew with practice as you delved into it to resist fatigue and remain calm and clear-headed. You slowly fell more and more into the Lores that bound you like chains, your Sacraments untested as of yet- but you finished that trial of your Moth during the search, in the worst possible way, after so closely befriending a secretary you would never meet again... You had your regrets, but it gave you that extra fluttering insight to guide your whimsy in ways that led to fewer deaths, some connection to the darkness allowing you to guide the other ponies away from the tripwires and pitfalls within it. Still, it was a struggle every single day, and you ended up begging Copper for lessons in Grail to help you manage things better. You rapidly grew to nearly the third tier, your own realization growing as she sent you manuscripts and you sent them back with your own version of the relevant level scrap written down. You refused to leave debts unpaid, after all.

Then Celestia appeared. The pain in her eyes, the loss, the exhaustion... you knew that feeling. It was one you had worn yourself in the past, when Silky had gotten lost in the market on a day out and had stayed missing for hours thinking it was a game of hide and seek. You refused any repayment. You couldn't... not with that. Not with... that. Even you weren't so horrible a being as to demand payment for something like this. And Celestia... she... she saw you. That shook you to your core. She saw you, broke past your weak Winter and shallow grail, the sincerity in it bypassing the Moth you wore as a mask. It was too honest, too pure. Too... too horribly relatable. It burned the shriveled wretch you knew you were inside with the warmth of compassion and gratitude you didn't deserve.

She thanked you, and left. It hadn't been long ago, and now you had managed to find the time and place to personally scry the location of the lost princess, your Lantern and SH enough that you could easily slip there ahead of time. You brought Stormy with you, his awareness having only grown as he'd delved deep into the Lore of SH, and dabbled in Grail for... more intimate reasons. But together, it was enough. It was expensive and difficult, but you found... her. And together, you had met the parents who asked you to help her, save her... be gentle with her. You had promised. You knew how Celestia would be if she found Luna like this, so you hid her, and brought the girl home... and began to fall for her. Another trembling space carved and etched into the cold embrace of your heart without you even noticing. Until it was far, far too late to be concerned about it.

You had begun studying the Lores more proactively, fixating on previously uncared for avenues of growth and power in earnest; determined to aid your new daughter in her recovery, though it was slow-going thanks to the simple need to collect the manuscripts and then study them, and then return them with repayment on the investment. You had asked Copper if she knew what had caused Luna's disappearance, and she'd been... sick. A few words of comfort, and she explained. Your horror mingled with her own doubts, and together, you set up something of a separate Cult. A place where she could work on righting her wrongs. But it wouldn't be enough alone, and you trusted her to build relations between her, and yourself, and the other Inner Circle members.

For a time, that had been enough. Comet was softening as he gave lessons of Sharpness to your daughters, Windy was feeling more and more present as he gave lessons of Calm Acceptance to them, and Starry was like the sister you never had while she doted on your girls and played lessons of Hide and Seek, though you had to spin the second Cult as a surprise gift for her Master. The dance was difficult and unsettling, and that was before Copper asked to introduce you to someone, shortly after you completed your Lantern sacrament, having had the time and... available targets, now you had others from the Cult in your life and helping to teach Silky and Selene. As Baldomare stepped into your tea-party, your eyes met, Light recognized light, and... your Histories sang together.

It was that moment that left you playing in a dance with another Velvet, one who was further ahead than you, for now, and who needed your help. How could you possibly say no? Which... well. Which led you here. To this place. This time. This History. A History where Copper was dead, having tried to murder your family. 'Uncle Windy' was missing, 'Auntie Starry' was dead, Comet hated you and was dating some Mare named Fluttershy- maybe that was a bit of good you could bring back?- and The Master... well... you were glad you had never met them outside of occasional lessons in Moth. Never spoken to them enough to care that they were dead... Yet.

----------
The meat of the matter:
----------

You were Velvet Covers. That thought... it resonated with you this time like it rarely had before. After all, now you were Velvet Covers... but you weren't YOU. That was a stunning feeling, a realization that was... shocking. You could be yourself, without being what you thought you were, without being that wretched creature you saw within yourself. The liar, trickster, recalcitrant daughter, Vile and unworthy friend. Yet here... with the outside perspective on this Velvet's life... you were simply Velvet Covers. A Mare trying her best under impossible weights and with impossible strain on her self. Clawing against death and Regret to drag what happiness and Light she could from the Nowhere that felt so all-encompassing.

It was the most roundabout, impossibly convoluted form of self-acceptance you had ever conceived of, but it soothed you. It resonated with you, with what Moth you had gained Insight under. Still... there had been a note for you. Simple. Begging you not to worry her family even more. And if her silky was anything like yours, and the ache in her body told the stories your Lantern said it did... well. You may not have the depth you normally did, but you could recall the nuance of Light and Shadow as they danced through your veins, Moth desperately chasing after the light while Heart beat a weak drumbeat in the silent, still portions of time where you stopped and just... breathed. She had nearly died, you could feel it, and it ached within as she shook without.

You had a small accounting of details, a journal she had kept to catch you up to speed- apparently she felt that her visitors being wholly lost was worse than having some idea of the circumstances. She'd saved Jade, here... Oh Celestia, she'd saved Jade... and killed Copper and Starry. Had plans to kill Windy if he was too dangerous, or tainted by... a dark thing that was avoided in the text, but reeked of Regret and agony. This Velvet was far from a happy Mare. So, to avoid setting off too many concerns... you called Pon Pon, and informed her that you would be taking a nap. After all, maybe you could collect the Heart-aligned Drum that Copper had mentioned finding? If this frighteningly competent Velvet hadn't done so already...

You weren't one to visit the Mansus often. It was frightening, intriguing, but... it did not feel safe or welcoming. Copper and Starry spoke of how they felt welcomed in its branches, but though you yearned to climb, you found the Wood rarely accepted you in any way but begrudgingly, curious like some sickly predator slowly limping around you while waiting for the moment to pounce... and as you clipped the lock from your mane and slipped under the covers, you closed your eyes thinking it would all be the same. Another night of suffocating weight and mild fear of what might be hiding from you in that darkness that whispered so seductively of the great and terrible Unknown... But no.

It was worse.

You opened your eyes and found yourself standing in ash. Slowly looking up from the faint traces of ashen refuse dusting the crossroads under your hooves, you saw... Tartarus. You found yourself walking closer, unable to stop yourself. Eyes wide, you looked around, approaching and arriving in the ashy wastes quickly. You trembled, looking straight up at Glory. It was so bright, and shone so ruthlessly down on this sea of horror. Every step sent echoes of pain and agony through you, countless deaths, secrets lost, Histories erased... step after step, more and more of the ash clung to your hooves, until you found the pawprints of a wolf. You shook, realizing the suffocation was still there, but... distant. Sharper. And it welcomed you, with bloody arms of broken glass and thorns. Loving licks of sandpaper and salt, and playful nips of biting teeth and serrated obsidian. Every step burned, but... you were not who it thought you were. The Mask of HIS Velvet Covers was enough to let you hide under the terrible gaze of that creature, that... that SON.

Velvet Covers son.

Velvet Covers had done... this.

This devastation, this unholy Sin... this desecration of The Mansus, that House of Glory... Stripped it of dignity and stealth, rendered the light visible with nothing to blind or distract, save the pain of burning ash. A dangerous expanse, but an exposed one that hid nothing of Glory. Those who traveled here would not search to find the light, it was there in the open. They would not find desperation to Climb for the sake of escaping shadow, of escaping the dark to enter the light... they would climb in desperate fear, fleeing from danger and chasing that distant hope while exhaustion and Agony laced their limbs. This was no seeking of the light... it was escaping from the Ash. You yourself wanted to flee, to run away or run through, reach that door you had never quite reached before, and escape this horrendous, Agonizing place that stank of Regret and Loss.

You trembled, but noticed your hooves carrying you in another direction. Following old pawprints, ones that had faded from sight, but not from History. At the end, you found a body... Starry... your sister in so many ways... Clutched close, a dead seed. Familiar to you. There was... this was horror. Dread and Ruin, and all hope lost. Sucking in a breath, you felt the wisps of that Seed... the paths that could yet be, and had not been yet unmade in fullness. Not while this seed yet lingered... What once was dead could be reborn. Grail and Forge were secrets you did not specialize in, but Lantern colored through their perspective mingled with the Histories of those that HAD specialized in them, and sang secrets of what may yet be made of that frail hope. To plant the Wood again. But not now, not with ash to suffocate any forest that attempted to grow. There needed to be a place for it. It needed some... Element you did not know of. Heart maybe? So that it would Refuse to Die once planted. Against this Ashen nightmare, it may or may not be enough. You shivered, feeling tears on your face.

Your sister... holding that seed... you slowly lay next to her, hoof touching her face, as closing your eyes. You wished to comfort her... give her one last hope... even if it was not truly YOUR Starry. You Opened Your Eyes and Stepped To The Side. Blood and Fire surrounded you, Starry screamed and cried- she swam in Acrid Blood that eagerly chased itself down her throat, into her veins, through her body... a fluid that stripped flesh from her bones and unmade her organs. Her eyes were unfocused and gushing tears from pain, but mostly from the hopelessness that filled her. She was near death already. You were far, far too late to unmake this tragedy. But... you stood like a ghost on the sea, and knelt down, her eyes catching sight of you, hope lighting in the dying gaze. Her lungs were gone already, her pleas breathless and silent in this nightmare, but you heard them.

So you took the seed from her, the tears on your face clear. Her own tears turned joyous, and she smiled at you, thanking you one last time with everything she had... and closed her eyes. She finally gave in, her Heart Ceasing to Beat as she sank and was lost in the current. You held the seed close, watching as every drop of blood turned ash, and the Wood died. Standing vigil to the dying of that last, great defense of Glory, being replaced with barbed wire, venom, hate, and Evil. You... could not plant the seed here. No History where Ash claimed the Wood could support this seed, without effort that you did not have the knowledge or ability to offer. But... you could plant the seed back home. Give it to YOUR Starry... a final farewell, and a plea for forgiveness to a sister you had not wronged. So you wandered the Waste, growing to know your son a touch better and Regretting the action that led to his birth, even if you had not truly had any part in it. Then you left that place behind.

And when Velvet Covers came back to her home, you had left her a simple note, reminding her of Starry... that the Seed she tried so hard to save may be dead, but so were the Risen that grew new groves for the Wood. A ritual could bring it back, if she found the right one. It would be hard, it would take ages, and the effort would be immense, but... if she truly tried... maybe this Regret didn't have to be unfixable. Maybe- just maybe... she could soothe the fears of the Wake with the comforting darkness of the unknown once more, if she found some way to hide the terribly sharp teeth with new growth. Then again, what did you know, compared to her?

You were merely Velvet Covers... though maybe you could bear to try and climb now.

Now that you knew what you COULD have been climbing through, the darkness was downright welcoming upon your return home... or would have been, if you hadn't found that ashen waste there as well. Starry distraught and clinging to the Seed you had saved... The Master nowhere to be found. Maybe you could bring back the Wood. You would certainly try, given you knew how it had been affecting HER world... but, worst of all...

The Wolf welcomed you home. You were not his Mother, but you reflected her, and he 'loved' you just the same...
[/SPOILER]

These... don't feel terribly good? But the thought of that Seed has been tingling my brain for a while, and this felt... like a decent way to explore it. Nothing impressive or special, but I hope you guys enjoy it. None of it is terribly likely, and I didn't put a lot of though into that first part for how she gets where she is, but... still. Even though this will almost certainly not happen to us, I figured it could be interesting.

Tell me what you think, I guess?

Edit: minor corrections: There is only one Mansus, despite there being many Histories.
Edit 2: I have been informed by WOG of Our Lady, that these are both good Omakes, AND that they are, in fact, close to what she envisioned at the beginning of the Quest. So... that it a VERY big sense of pride right there.

 

[Rafuki22]

If we need someone gone we have Bureau Prison Cells and we have unmarked graves.

Click to shrink...

We need a prison for atleast 2 Sacraments and we can't use the ones from the Bureu.

Another night of suffocating weight and mild fear of what might be hiding from you in that darkness that whispered so seductively of the great and terrible Unknown... But no.

Click to shrink...

Aren't THE WOODS gone in every HISTORY?

 

[Maer]

Hey he almost got those villains to buy into the whole Friendship thing, it could have gone great!

All-In literally says to only go for it when you are ready to reach one of the Endings, Pit. It's not the start of a Long Phase, it's gunning for a Victory.


Plan We Can Be More disgusts me. We're Leashing a Friend just so what, Biedde can dig a prison? We're putting Diamond Tiara through another visit by Mareinette, whose marriage counseling kind of sucks while literally drooling all over the poor filly? We're being evil out of convenience for things we don't need. If we need someone gone we have Bureau Prison Cells and we have unmarked graves. At least have Biedde do something interesting or useful. Like get us a dead body so we can have a Risen for Cover Your Bases, or something. A Risen and a Servant gives Velvet +1 Actions, after all.

Click to shrink...

That's fair… maybe an influence for the sacrament.

 

[Maer]

Just like before, except we have Beidde channeling an influence instead of building a prison. We'll need one eventually, but heading him do it was admittedly a waste of value- this turn at least.

[X] Plan We Can Be More + Edge (no Prison)
-[X] (Detectives) Follow Up: Changelings
-[X] (Constables) Follow Up: The Gardeners
-[X] (Commissioner) Midday Dew
-[X] (Grail-Leash) Filthy Rich
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X] (Baldomare) Channel a SH Influence
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Spoiled Rich + Filthy Rich
-[X] (DoA) Knock lesson
-[X] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[X] (Selene) Scout Windy's dreams
-[X] (Rarity) Take a commission
-[X] (Biedde) Ask him to channel an influence of Edge for us.
-[X] Cover your bases (-9 Follower AP, +3 Velvet AP)
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing

[X] Plan Spreading Ourselves Thin Always Gets Us Punished

[X] Plan Lightcatcher V2

[X] Plan Stacking up Influences and Raiding with SH influence

 

[Pittauro]

I don't think the redemption is the goal there. So much as a simple alliance, and perhaps friendship

Click to shrink...

To be friends with her, we have to redeem her at least a tiny bit though, don't we?

At least to the point she won't go around eating children except maybe Cozy Glow.

Unless we actually want Velvet to consider a child-eating cannibal a friend.

Well, Selene was the first one to discover the existence of Daybreaker and Celestia's struggle to prevent her from taking over her life, so I would think Selene would already be pretty antsy to find a cure. Granted, the lore thing probably isn't something she knows yet.

Click to shrink...

It adds a whole new level of urgency when Velvet goes "and by the way she's learning Lantern, I give it 4 to 8 months before she finds out my secrets and goes Sol Invictus on me"...

Biedde scout Tall Tail to run it next turn, though I'm good with Scouting Canterlot instead.

Click to shrink...

I have to wonder how scouting Canterlot would even work, narratively.

There's a sealed and warded door in a cave. How do you investigate what's beyond it without opening it?
Sure, a Name that's serious about it can probably just look and know, especially Baldomare, but still...

All-In literally says to only go for it when you are ready to reach one of the Endings, Pit. It's not the start of a Long Phase, it's gunning for a Victory.

Click to shrink...

the CS game also does something like this... and would you look at that, right after you get a "standard" victory you start an apostle run and can go for a MAJOR Victory...

We need a prison for atleast 2 Sacraments and we can't use the ones from the Bureu.

Click to shrink...

And of those two sacraments Lantern is just not worth it when we have a much easier alternative with Baldomare, and Grail is quite a few turns away EVEN if we decide to go for it, considering we don't have the scraps, OR the books and artifact to study for them.

Spoiler: Tally Results

Vote Tally : Esquestria: The House of the Sun - A pony cultist experience | Page 249 | Questionable Questing [Posts: 7453-7700]
##### NetTally 5.0.6

Task: 【NONE】
— Voters: 15

[X] Plan Lightcatcher V2
-[X] (Detectives) Follow Up: Changelings
-[X] (Constables) Follow Up: The Gardeners
-[X] (Commissioner) Midday Dew
-[X] (Grail-Leash) Filthy Rich
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X] (Baldomare) Channel a Lantern Influence
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Spoiled Rich
-[X] (DoA) Knock lesson
-[X] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[X] (Selene) Spy on Windy via dreamwalking
-[X] (Rarity) Take a commission
-[X] (Jade) Research the Memory of Light ritual (Stage 1 Progress: 0/100)
-[X] Cover your bases (-9 Follower AP, +3 Velvet AP)
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing
No. of Votes: 6

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Lightcatcher V2
[X] DelightedOne
[X] Greymere
[X] Maer
[X] Rafuki22
[X] Sveta08
[X] Waela

[X] Plan We Can Be More
-[X] (Detectives) Follow Up: Changelings
-[X] (Constables) Follow Up: The Gardeners
-[X] (Commissioner) Midday Dew
-[X] (Grail-Leash) Filthy Rich
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X] (Baldomare) Channel a SH Influence
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Spoiled Rich + Filthy Rich
-[X] (DoA) Knock lesson
-[X] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[X] (Selene) Scout Windy's dreams
-[X] (Rarity) Take a commission
-[X] (Biedde) Build a prison
-[X] Cover your bases (-9 Follower AP, +3 Velvet AP)
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing
No. of Votes: 5

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: We Can Be More
[X] jelloloaf
[X] Maer
[X] Rafuki22
[X] spiderhellian
[X] Waela

[X] Plan Spreading Ourselves Thin Always Gets Us Punished
-[X] Do not leash anypony.
-[X][DETECTIVES] The dangers in the dark come from outside of Ponykind as well. Listen to the rumors. Study the myths. Look for the threats from without. (Search for Expedition Sites for your later consideration. Additionally, keep an ear on the ground for other "foreign" threats)
-[X][CONSTABLES] (FOLLOW UP) Your detectives have given you a very long list, of ponies and places involved in the attempt against your life. Round them up and put them all in jail, before this trail goes cold.
-[X][COMMISSIONER] The Lunar Bureau is not the only recently-minted institution in Equestria. Try to contact the others.
--[X] Eclipse(?), and Midday Dew.
-[X][JADE] Research "A Memory of Light" (Current progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X][BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence. (Secret Histories)
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X][MAREINETTE] Channel an Influence. (Grail)
-[X][SELENE] Soothe the night. (Her Winter realization. Unknown effects, if any.)
-[X] You would like for somepony to search for books…
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE)
-[X] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)
-[X] Something Else (lend Heartifact to Comet)
No. of Votes: 4

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Spreading Ourselves Thin Always Gets Us Punished
[X] DelightedOne
[X] Maer
[X] Nevermort
[X] Talon Tiger Dino

[X] Plan Stacking up Influences and Raiding with SH influence
-[X] (Detectives) Follow Up: Changelings
-[X] (Constables) Follow Up: Time to raid the mountain of Tall Tale.
-[X] (Commissioner) . Get your hoofs dirty. Join the "Constables" in a raid/Expedition
-[X] (Grail-Leash) Filthy Rich
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X] (Baldomare) Channel a SH Influence
-[X] (Mareinette) Channel a Grail Influence
-[X] (DoA) Knock lesson
-[X] (Selene) Attack your foe, or defend yourself. Deal with Windigo's jars
-[X] (Selene) Scout Windy's dreams
-[X] (Jade) Scry for Windigo's Urns
-[X] (Biedde) Ask for an Edge Influence.
-[X] Cover your bases (-9 Follower AP, +3 Velvet AP)
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing
No. of Votes: 3

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Stacking up Influences and Raiding with SH influence
[X] AuthorTransient
[X] Nevermort
[X] Shaper47

[X] Plan: Knock and SH Sacraments with Friendship
-[X] Leash Filthy Rich (gain one follower action)
-[X] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)
-[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] (FOLLOW UP) Everypony heard what happened to your previous prisoner. Nopony wants to sit around and wait for what happens next. Time to raid the mountain of Tall Tale.
-[X][COMMISSIONER] [FLEETING OPPORTUNITY] Princess Cadance is in Canterlot. You are in Canterlot. Oh, and you nearly died, just a few weeks ago. Use your free time here to meet her.
-[X][JADE] Research "A Memory of Light" (Current progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)
-[X][BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence in Secret Histories
-[X][MAREINETTE] You need her to talk to Spoiled Rich
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X][SELENE] Comfort Jade
-[X] You would like for somepony to search for books…
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE)
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should… (Forge-aligned ponies are better suited at attempting these tasks)
---[X] You might need a place to… "store" your enemies. Alive. Dig a small prison under her house.
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing
No. of Votes: 2

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Knock and SH Sacraments with Friendship
[X] Maer
[X] Shaper47

[X] Dance with your beloved!
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[X] Artemis_Fowl_2nd

[X] Do not leash anypony.
-[X] Gift Baldomare your Level 6 book.
-[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] (FOLLOW UP) Your detectives have given you a very long list, of ponies and places involved in the attempt against your life. Round them up and put them all in jail, before this trail goes cold.
-[X][COMMISSIONER] [FLEETING OPPORTUNITY] Princess Cadance is in Canterlot. You are in Canterlot. Oh, and you nearly died, just a few weeks ago. Use your free time here to meet her.
-[X][RARITY] Focus on her work. (Guarantees she will "succeed" on her career roll)
-[X][JADE] Research "A Memory of Light" (Current progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)
-[X][BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence. (Secret Histories)
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X][BIEDDE] Ask for an Edge lesson.
-[X] You would like for somepony to search for books…
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE)
-[X] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)
-[X] Something else? (Be interviewed about what happened during the attack.)
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[X] Portec

[X] Head to the refreshments table
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[X] Artemis_Fowl_2nd

[X] Plan Focus and Set up
-[X] (Detectives) Follow Up: Changelings
-[X] (Constables) Follow Up: The Gardeners
-[X] (Commissioner) Beyond Reproach
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X] (Baldomare) Channel a SH Influence
-[X] (DoA) Knock lesson
-[X] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[X][JADE] Research "A Memory of Light" (Current progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)
-[X][BIEDDE] Scout Tall Tail
-[X] You would like for somepony to search for books…
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE)
-[X] Cover your bases (-9 Follower AP, +3 Velvet AP)
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Focus and Set up
[X] Solace2117

[X] Plan Stacking up Influences v2
-[X] (Detectives) Follow Up: Changelings
-[X] (Constables) Follow Up: Tall Tale expedition
-[X] (Commissioner) Get your hoofs dirty. Tall Tale expedition
-[X] (Grail-Leash) Filthy Rich
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X] (Baldomare) Channel a Lantern Influence
-[X] (Mareinette) Channel a Grail Influence
-[X] (Bieddie) Channel a Edge Influence
-[X] (DoA) Knock lesson
-[X] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[X] (Selene) Spy on Windy via dreamwalking
-[X] (Jade) Research the Memory of Light ritual (Stage 1 Progress: 0/100)
-[X] Cover your bases (-9 Follower AP, +3 Velvet AP)
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Stacking up Influences v2
[X] Nevermort

[X] Plan We Can Be More with Tall Tale Scenario
-[X] (Detectives) Follow Up: Changelings
-[X] (Constables) Follow Up: Tall Tale expedition
-[X] (Commissioner) Get your hoofs dirty.
-[X] (Grail-Leash) Filthy Rich
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X] (Baldomare) Channel a SH Influence
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Spoiled Rich
-[X] (DoA) Knock lesson
-[X] (Selene) Scout Windy's dreams
-[X] (Rarity) Take a commission
-[X] (Jade) Scry for the Manehatten W*ndigo jars
-[X] (Biedde) Send on an expedition to 1) destroy the W*ndigo jars and then 2) find and retrieve Neighna, if possible. If Jade's scrying fails, construct a prison instead.
-[X] Cover your bases (-9 Follower AP, +3 Velvet AP)
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: We Can Be More with Tall Tale Scenario
[X] AuthorTransient

[X] Plan: Knock, SH and Edge Sacrament
-[X] Leash Filthy Rich (gain one follower action)
-[X] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)
-[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] (FOLLOW UP) Everypony heard what happened to your previous prisoner. Nopony wants to sit around and wait for what happens next. Time to raid the mountain of Tall Tale.
-[X][COMMISSIONER] [FLEETING OPPORTUNITY] Princess Cadance is in Canterlot. You are in Canterlot. Oh, and you nearly died, just a few weeks ago. Use your free time here to meet her.
-[X][RARITY] Focus on her work. (Guarantees she will "succeed" on her career roll)
-[X][BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence in Secret Histories
-[X][MAREINETTE] You need her to talk to Spoiled Rich
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X][BIEDDE] Ask for an Edge Influence.
-[X] You would like for somepony to search for books…
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE) × 2
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Knock, SH and Edge Sacrament
[X] Shaper47

[X] Plan: Knock, SH and Edge Sacrament with extra Aotl
-[X] Leash Filthy Rich (gain one follower action)
-[X] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)
-[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] (FOLLOW UP) Everypony heard what happened to your previous prisoner. Nopony wants to sit around and wait for what happens next. Time to raid the mountain of Tall Tale.
-[X][COMMISSIONER] [FLEETING OPPORTUNITY] Princess Cadance is in Canterlot. You are in Canterlot. Oh, and you nearly died, just a few weeks ago. Use your free time here to meet her.
-[X][RARITY] Focus on her work. (Guarantees she will "succeed" on her career roll)
-[X][BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence in Secret Histories
-[X][MAREINETTE] You need her to talk to Spoiled Rich
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X][BIEDDE] Ask for an Edge Influence.
-[X] You would like for somepony to search for books…
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE)
-[X] You would like somepony to help you with a small ritual. Edge Aotl × 1
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Knock, SH and Edge Sacrament with extra Aotl
[X] Shaper47

[X] Plan: Knock, SH and Edge Sacrament with extra Aotl (Jade on light)
-[X] Leash Filthy Rich (gain one follower action)
-[X] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)
-[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] (FOLLOW UP) Everypony heard what happened to your previous prisoner. Nopony wants to sit around and wait for what happens next. Time to raid the mountain of Tall Tale.
-[X][COMMISSIONER] [FLEETING OPPORTUNITY] Princess Cadance is in Canterlot. You are in Canterlot. Oh, and you nearly died, just a few weeks ago. Use your free time here to meet her.
-[X][JADE] Research "A Memory of Light" (Current progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)
-[X][BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence in Secret Histories
-[X][MAREINETTE] You need her to talk to Spoiled Rich
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X][BIEDDE] Ask for an Edge Influence.
-[X] You would like for somepony to search for books…
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE)
-[X] You would like somepony to help you with a small ritual. Edge Aotl × 1
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Knock, SH and Edge Sacrament with extra Aotl (Jade on light)
[X] Shaper47

[X] Plan: Knock, SH and Wolf Sacrament
-[X] Leash Filthy Rich (gain one follower action)
-[X] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)
-[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] (FOLLOW UP) Everypony heard what happened to your previous prisoner. Nopony wants to sit around and wait for what happens next. Time to raid the mountain of Tall Tale.
-[X][COMMISSIONER] [FLEETING OPPORTUNITY] Princess Cadance is in Canterlot. You are in Canterlot. Oh, and you nearly died, just a few weeks ago. Use your free time here to meet her.
-[X][RARITY] Focus on her work. (Guarantees she will "succeed" on her career roll)
-[X][BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence in Secret Histories
-[X][MAREINETTE] You need her to talk to Spoiled Rich
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X] You would like for somepony to search for books…
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE) × 2
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should… (Forge-aligned ponies are better suited at attempting these tasks)
---[X] You might need a place to… "store" your enemies. Alive. Dig a small prison under her house.
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Knock, SH and Wolf Sacrament
[X] Shaper47

[X] Say hello to Celestia
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[X] Artemis_Fowl_2nd

[X] Won't Someone Think of the Fillies?
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[X] Nevermort

[X] Won't Someone Think of the Fillies?
-[X] Do not leash anypony.
-[X][DETECTIVES] The dangers in the dark come from outside of Ponykind as well. Listen to the rumors. Study the myths. Look for the threats from without. (Search for Expedition Sites for your later consideration. Additionally, keep an ear on the ground for other "foreign" threats)
-[X][CONSTABLES] (FOLLOW UP) Your detectives have given you a very long list, of ponies and places involved in the attempt against your life. Round them up and put them all in jail, before this trail goes cold.
-[X][COMMISSIONER] The Lunar Bureau is not the only recently-minted institution in Equestria. Try to contact the others.
--[X] Eclipse(?), and Midday Dew.
-[X][JADE] Research "A Memory of Light" (Current progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X][BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence. (Lantern)
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X][MAREINETTE] Channel an Influence. (Grail)
-[X][SELENE] Soothe the night. (Her Winter realization. Unknown effects, if any.)
-[X] You would like for somepony to search for books…
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE)
-[X] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)
-[X] Something Else (lend Heartifact to Comet)
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[X] Talon Tiger Dino

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Total No. of Voters: 15

I haven't voted yet, but I'm thinking either Lightcatcher V2, or maybe a slight variation of it (which might already exist) that does not leash Filthy Rich.

I'm also reconsidering the Biedde action. Edge Influence COULD help

 

[spiderhellian]

Whatever happened to plans to get as much influences as possible before tackling DoA sacrament?

Click to shrink...

I feel if combat was required, DoA would not have made the point that it's not likely to be dangerous, just time-consuming.

Also We Can Be More disgusts me. We're Leashing a Friend just so what, Biedde can dig a prison? We're putting Diamond Tiara through another visit by Mareinette, whose marriage counseling kind of sucks? We're being evil out of convenience for things we don't need.

Click to shrink...

Oof, strong words.

I'm happy to vote for alternative Biedde actions or focusing Mareinette on Spoiled.

I think it's worse — because I think we may want the prison for one or two sacraments, and I think we do want to get Filthy to the level of a real confidant — but I'm okay with it.

I don't think we have the luxury of time. I don't think we have the luxury of power. I think we need to be ready for All In soon.

I don't think a Doom Clock would be introduced if it wasn't going to be relevant. I know we're training Luna. I don't trust that will be sufficient.

 

[Zxzx24]

Unless we actually want Velvet to consider a child-eating cannibal a friend.

Click to shrink...

Same, but at the same time...?

The other names?

I'm pretty sure the only one with an ironclad proscription against child murder is the DOA.

And Baldomare but she seriously considered ripping Selene to pieces in front of us and going to the glory.

 

[Rafuki22]

[X] Plan Lightcatcher V2

[X] Plan We Can Be More

[X] Plan We Can Be More + Edge (no Prison)

The other names?

Click to shrink...

Yeah, maybe they aren't as bad as Mareinette, but i really doubt that any of them is squeaky clean, is just that their really bad actions are less in our faces.

 

[spiderhellian]

[x] Plan We Can Be More

If people really really don't want to build a prison, I'm okay with using Biedde for corpses… A risen is useful eg for Baldomare Lantern sacrament.

[X] Plan We Can Be More + Corpses
-[X] (Detectives) Follow Up: Changelings
-[X] (Constables) Follow Up: The Gardeners
-[X] (Commissioner) Midday Dew
-[X] (Grail-Leash) Filthy Rich
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X] (Baldomare) Channel a SH Influence
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Spoiled Rich + Filthy Rich
-[X] (DoA) Knock lesson
-[X] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[X] (Selene) Scout Windy's dreams
-[X] (Rarity) Take a commission
-[X] (Biedde) Ask him for some corpses.
-[X] Cover your bases (-9 Follower AP, +3 Velvet AP)
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing