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

[LieutenantSpirit]

...knew I shouldn't have mentioned Windy though. Split everything up, and now it's a right mess.

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I've been worried about Windy for a while. I made a split plan from Greymere's solely based on that.

That being said, Time's Up: Rarity Searching seems to be the most "acceptable" plan for what people want, especially given how many other plans have fragmented off of it.

 

[Steady Gaze]

Thing is we are 0/4 on scraps for both Grail and Lantern, the two highly dubious sacraments that would require a prisoner. We also don't currently have a place to put a prisoner, or the proper arrangements to preserve one. It's just too much of a damn hassle to try and keep a high level Grail adept (one who hates us) imprisoned in a makeshift basement oubliette indefinitely while we wait to get enough scraps to do a Sacrament that might very well never come to fruition.

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While I'm still a bit partial to taking Copper alive, you make a compelling argument. Darn, that's disappointing. It feels like our rate of scrap acquisition was much higher early game when we had time to read books and mess around in the Mansus. Also, I wonder how Our Lady of Wires is going to model the risk of a prisoner breaking out or generating suspicion. If I recall, in Cultist Simulator, the prisoners just die (of ill health?) after a period. (See the wiki.) But then

Additionally, as of the Dahlia update, prisoners no longer expire after 600 seconds. This makes it viable to gather several prisoners at once in order to…

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So potentially they could just say prisoners get kept safely indefinitely just like the game. @OurLadyOfWires can you tell us anything about the prisoner mechanics you have planned? Or you could reserve your right to keep it secret of course.

Spoiler: Particularly grim considerations relating to prisoners

If we're worried about Copper using guile to escape or screaming, it's possible to cut a prisoner's vocal cords, causing them to only be able to whisper. She is an earth pony, or otherwise I'd suggest cutting off her horn or wings. There is always dismemberment, which might also be used to gain points with Mareinette by feeding them to her; heck she could do the dismemberment without involving any of our other followers. Mareinette as warden is even starting to sound appealing to my ear. This is assuming the sacrament sacrifices don't require limbs for some metaphysical reason. Hopefully these things don't disgust people in the thread too much. (I think if Velvet is able to keep her hooves relatively clean by making Mareinette do the dirty work, she would be able to stomach it.) And of course the old ball-and-chain, hoofcuffs, or other implements would be options as well.

@Steady Gaze Plan Take them Alive have Memory of Light (but not says that Jade is the one who must do it) and one Search for Outsider action.

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Fixed. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. EDIT: Although

Jade Whistle (3 health, LANTERN 3, HEART 1)
-[] [JADE] "You do you." (Let her do what she wants, and hopefully rest)
-[] [JADE] Research "A Memory of Light" (Current progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)
-[] [JADE] Something else? (WRITE IN)

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is under "Exclusive actions". So it seems like Jade is the only one who can do the research?

 

[Shaper47]

Snip

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There's no need to be needlessly edgy.

Mareinette can just take the Grail away leaving her a normal pony.

Then just stick her in a jar like she's Twilight.

 

[Limabot]

Something went wrong with your tally. Each approval voting list is showing as a unique vote.

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Yeah, none of my approval votes are showing up.

 

[Greymere]

Here's a better tally

Spoiler: Current Votes

Vote Tally : Esquestria: The House of the Sun - A pony cultist experience | Page 173 | Questionable Questing [Posts: 5284-5392]
##### NetTally 5.0.6

Task: 【NONE】
— Voters: 17

[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Searching
-[X] (Detectives) Investigate the Commissioner's attackers
-[X] (Constables) Guard the Commissioner
-[X] (Selene) Winter Realization
-[X] (Selene) Guard us and our home
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Filthy Rich and Spoiled Rich
-[X] (DoA) Wrong Keys
-[X] (Fluttershy) Ask Comet to lead an expedition: A Grave on a Hill
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider (x 3)
No. of Votes: 5

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Time's Up - Rarity Searching
[X] Greymere
[X] LieutenantSpirit
[X] Quaxotia
[X] Rafuki22
[X] Sveta08

[X] Plan More Heart
-[X] (Detectives) Investigate the Commissioner's attackers
-[X] (Constables) Guard the Commissioner
-[X] (Rarity) Focus on work
-[X] (Selene) Winter Realization
-[X] (Selene) Guard us and our home
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Something else? (We intend to put on a performance in the near future, with Mareinette playing a central role. But we need a victim lead, would fair Mareinette be so kind as to seek out an ideal costar? For the Moth Sacrament we need a reprehensible pony to inflict a reprehensible fate upon without regret, Mareinette knows the sent of such all too well.)
-[X] (DoA) Wrong Keys
-[X] (Fluttershy) Ask Comet to lead an expedition: A Grave on a Hill
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
-[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.
No. of Votes: 4

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: More Heart
[X] Alan975
[X] Lorrie
[X] Maer
[X] Shaper47

[X] Plan Take them Alive
-[X] A tighter security detail, at all times.
-[X][DETECTIVES] (VENGEANCE) Somepony dared attack the Commissioner. Find their trail.
-[X][CONSTABLES] The Commissioner is just too important to leave unattended. Run security. (Order them to "Guard" you for this turn.)
-[X][SELENE] Realize something about Winter. (Unlock her Winter skill) (TRAINING ACTION)
-[X][SELENE] Guard her mother.
-[X][MAREINETTE] Channel an Influence. (GRAIL)
-[X] (AXE) Craft Wrong Keys. (She will give you three Wrong Keys, which will expire after five turns. Only once per summoning.)
-[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] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry.
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them.
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare.
-[X] Research "A Memory of Light".
-[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] Lead an expedition. (A Grave on a Hill)
-[X] Lead the assault on Copper.
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider.
-[X] (BALDOMARE) Prolong her stay by giving her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book.
No. of Votes: 4

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Take them Alive
[X] DelightedOne
[X] Lorrie
[X] Nevermort
[X] Shaper47

[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Searching, Selene Spying
-[X] (Detectives) Investigate the Commissioner's attackers
-[X] (Constables) Guard the Commissioner
-[X] (Selene) Winter Realization
-[X] (Selene) You need her to talk to somepony about…
--[X] Spy on Windy Flakes's dreams
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Filthy Rich and Spoiled Rich
-[X] (DoA) Wrong Keys
-[X] (Fluttershy) Ask Comet to lead an expedition: A Grave on a Hill
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider (x 3)
No. of Votes: 3

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Time's Up - Rarity Searching, Selene Spying
[X] LieutenantSpirit
[X] Limabot
[X] spiderhellian

[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Working
-[X] (Detectives) Investigate the Commissioner's attackers
-[X] (Constables) Guard the Commissioner
-[X] (Rarity) Focus on work
-[X] (Selene) Winter Realization
-[X] (Selene) Guard us and our home
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Filthy Rich and Spoiled Rich
-[X] (DoA) Wrong Keys
-[X] (Fluttershy) Ask Comet to lead an expedition: A Grave on a Hill
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider (x2)
No. of Votes: 3

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Time's Up - Rarity Working
[X] Bakkasama
[X] Greymere
[X] Limabot

[X] A tighter security detail, at all times.
No. of Votes: 2

Spoiler: Voters

[X] Greymere
[X] LieutenantSpirit

[X] Plan Outshine v2
-[X] A tighter security detail, at all times.
-[X][DETECTIVES] (VENGEANCE) Somepony dared attack the Commissioner. Find their trail.
-[X][CONSTABLES] The Commissioner is just too important to leave unattended. Run security. (Order them to "Guard" you for this turn.)
-[X][JADE] Research "A Memory of Light"
-[X][SELENE] Realize something about Winter. (Unlock her Winter skill) (TRAINING ACTION)
-[X][MAREINETTE] Channel an Influence. (GRAIL)
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book.
-[X] There is something in Canterlot that you simply must find. Look for it. (Progress 0/200, applies Intrigue and Secret Histories) 3 times.
-[X] You need this to be done. Send a pony on an expedition.(The Grave on the Hill)
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry(Copper and her Cult)
--[X] To be performed on the safe place Baldomare directed you to.
-[X][COPPER] Send somepony to attack this opponent.
No. of Votes: 2

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Outshine v2
[X] DelightedOne
[X] Limabot

[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Searching, Selene Spying, and Venerable Mareinette
-[X] (Detectives) Investigate the Commissioner's attackers
-[X] (Constables) Guard the Commissioner
-[X] (Selene) Winter Realization
-[X] (Selene) You need her to talk to somepony about…
--[X] Spy on Windy Flakes's dreams
-[X][MAREINETTE] Something else? (We intend to put on a performance in the near future, with Mareinette playing a central role. But we need a lead, would fair Mareinette be so kind as to seek out an ideal costar? For the Moth Sacrament we need a reprehensible pony to inflict a reprehensible fate upon without regret, Mareinette knows the sent of such all too well.)
-[X] (DoA) Wrong Keys
-[X] (Fluttershy) Ask Comet to lead an expedition: A Grave on a Hill
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider (x 3)
No. of Votes: 2

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Time's Up - Rarity Searching, Selene Spying, and Venerable Mareinette
[X] Alan975
[X] Talon Tiger Dino

[X] Plan: Talon-Ro Wartime Surveillance
-[X] A tighter security detail, at all times.
-[X][DETECTIVES] (VENGEANCE) Somepony dared attack the Commissioner. Find their trail.
-[X][CONSTABLES] The Commissioner is just too important to leave unattended. Run security. (Order them to "Guard" you for this turn.)
-[X][GUARD] You would very much like to keep this safe. (Let Luna guard us)
-[X] You need somepony to perform this ritual… ("The Reflection of the Tapestry" seeking Copper Secateur's specific whereabouts)
--[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… ("The Reflection of the Tapestry" seeking information on Windy Flake's current activities and whereabouts)
--[X] To be performed on the safe place Baldomare directed you to. (Will expire at the end of turn 20)
-[X][COPPER] Send somepony to attack this opponent
-[X][FLUTTERSHY] Ask Comet to go on an assault/expedition.
-[X] You need this to be done. Send a pony on an expedition. (The Grave)
-[X][BALDOMARE] Prolong her stay. (Gifting her the level six book found in the Grave expedition, if the book is unavailable then her choice of level five books.)
-[X][SELENE] Realize something about Winter. (Unlock her Winter skill) (TRAINING ACTION)
-[X][AXE] Make Keys.
-[X][MAREINETTE] Something else? (We intend to put on a performance in the near future, with Mareinette playing a central role. But we need a lead, would fair Mareinette be so kind as to seek out an ideal costar? For the Moth Sacrament we need a reprehensible pony to inflict a reprehensible fate upon without regret, Mareinette knows the sent of such all too well.)
-[X] There is something in Canterlot that you simply must find. Look for it. (Progress 0/200, applies Intrigue and Secret Histories) X2
No. of Votes: 2

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Talon-Ro Wartime Surveillance
[X] Talon Tiger Dino
[X] Venerable Ro

[X] Plan Eliminate Threats. Setup for befriending 2 Names
-[X] A tighter security detail, at all times.
-[X][DETECTIVES] (VENGEANCE) Somepony dared attack the Commissioner. Find their trail.
-[X][CONSTABLES] The Commissioner is just too important to leave unattended. Run security. (Order them to "Guard" you for this turn.)
-[X][SELENE] This body is new to her, but it is old to the world. She must learn of its abilities and privileges. (Grain +5 to her General Bonus) (TRAINING ACTION)
-[X][SELENE] Something else? (Expeditions Grave on the Hill)
-[X][BALDOMARE] Scry Copper and her forces.
-[X][MAREINETTE] Channel an Influence. (Heart)
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X][Biedde] Lead the assault on Copper.
--[X] Priority 1 Unsummon/Flip the Winter Name, and retrieve the means of summoning ritual/Painting
--[X] Priority 2 Kill Copper
--[X] Priority 3 Retrieve all the valuables.
-[X][RARITY] Focus on her work. (Guarantees she will "succeed" on her career roll)
-[X][FLUTTERSHY] Search for the Outsider
-[X][Jade] Search for the Outsider
-[X][Servants] Equestria is full of undiscovered places. You must learn their secrets…
--[X] Search for a place that is recent in its ruin, whose History is decided. Mundane as it might be, it might still bear treasures. (Search for an "easy" expedition)
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Eliminate Threats. Setup for befriending 2 Names
[x] Earth-Destroyer

[X] Plan Let's Get That Outsider:
-[X] A tighter security detail
-[X] You need somepony to perform this ritual…(Reflection of the Tapestry, aimed at COPPER)
--[X] To be performed on the safe place Baldomare directed you to. (Will expire at the end of turn 20)
-[X] Attack your foe, or defend yourself. In war, there is no other option.
--[X][COPPER] Send somepony to attack this opponent
-[X][MAREINETTE] Social Filthy/Spoiled.
-[X] You need this to be done. Send a pony on an expedition.
-[X][AXE] Make Keys.
-[X][SELENE] This body is new to her, but it is old to the world. She must learn of its abilities and privileges. (Grain +5 to her General Bonus) (TRAINING ACTION)
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book from Hill Expedition
-[X] Explore for the Outsider x4
-[X][DETECTIVES] (VENGEANCE) Somepony dared attack the Commissioner. Find their trail.
-[X][CONSTABLES] The Commissioner is just too important to leave unattended. Run security. (Order them to "Guard" you for this turn.)
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Let's Get That Outsider:
[x] spiderhellian

[X] Plan Relative calm before the Assault
-[X] A tighter security detail, at all times.
-[X][DETECTIVES] (VENGEANCE) Somepony dared attack the Commissioner. Find their trail.
-[X][CONSTABLES] The Commissioner is just too important to leave unattended. Run security. (Order them to "Guard" you for this turn.)
-[X][RARITY] Focus on her work. (Guarantees she will "succeed" on her career roll)
-[X][JADE] Research "A Memory of Light".
-[X][SELENE] Realize something about Winter. (Unlock her Winter skill) (TRAINING ACTION)
-[X][SELENE] Guard her mother.
-[X][MAREINETTE] You need her to talk to Twilight Sparkle, if vetoed then search Canterlot for the Outsider.
-[X] (AXE) Craft Wrong Keys. (She will give you three Wrong Keys, which will expire after five turns. Only once per summoning.)
-[X] (BALDOMARE) Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry.
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them.
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare.
-[X] (BALDOMARE) Prolong her stay by giving her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Moth 5 book.
-[X] Lead an expedition. (A Grave on a Hill)
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider. (x 2)
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Relative calm before the Assault
[X] Rafuki22

[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Digging
-[X] (Detectives) Investigate the Commissioner's attackers
-[X] (Constables) Guard the Commissioner
-[X] (Selene) Winter Realization
-[X] (Selene) Guard us and our home
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Filthy Rich and Spoiled Rich
-[X] (DoA) Wrong Keys
-[X] (Fluttershy) Ask Comet to lead an expedition: A Grave on a Hill
-[X] (Baldomare-Free) Give her the Level 6 book if the expedition is successful, otherwise give her the Knock 5 book
-[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] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry
--[X] Target: Copper and her cult. Their location, their resources, their defenses, anything and everything about them
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
-[X] Search Canterlot for the Outsider (x 2)
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Time's Up - Rarity Digging
[X] Quaxotia

---

Total No. of Voters: 17

The security detail vote is a bit of a mess, because some people are including it in the plans even though it seems like it's a separate vote, since it's not listed as a suboption in the update (has a [] rather than a -[]), but whatever. Everyone seems to be voting for a "A tighter security detail, at all times" anyway.

Edit:

While I'm still a bit partial to taking Copper alive, you make a compelling argument. Darn, that's disappointing. It feels like our rate of scrap acquisition was much higher early game when we had time to read books and mess around in the Mansus. Also, I wonder how Our Lady of Wires is going to model the risk of a prisoner breaking out or generating suspicion. If I recall, in Cultist Simulator, the prisoners just die (of ill health?) after a period. (See the wiki.) But then

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It was, actually. We'd get scraps for just going about our regular activities quite often (we got a Grail scrap for initiating Rarity, for instance), not to mention lower level books were both cheaper and more common than the kinds of books we need now. But that just won't fly now that we're more knowledgeable about the Lores. Plus, the number of scraps we need is just going to keep increasing the higher level we get.

 

[Cochimetl]

[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Searching
[X] Plan: Talon-Ro Wartime Surveillance
[X] Plan Relative calm before the Assault
[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Working

 

[Venerable Ro]

It seems we're pretty unanimous on the broad strokes, it's just the little details such as Windy or prisoners that're splitting the votes.

 

[HellFire666]

[X] Plan More Heart
[X] Plan Time's Up - Rarity Digging

 

[SolipsistSerpent]

Furthermore, a total of five legs, two intestines and one liver were missing. Given how all the bodies were found dismembered and scattered in a wooded area, and had to be pieced back together, it is possible that those organs and members were simply not recovered by field agents. Suspicions that all bodies were swallowed, chewed, and later spit out were easily dismissed by a reliable source. All cutie marks were relayed to the criminal database department for comparison with that of known criminals and…"

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Well, we're near the Everfree. Scavengers could easily have gotten at the bodies before they were found and made off with pieces. It's a simple and actually fairly probable explanation.