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

[Shaper47]

That not-cult is getting sus, and while they're potentially dangerous NOW that they're mostly "random" ponies following an only partially corrupted Soft Sweeps..

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You do remember that we/I had a plan to find out more about our daughters fan club?

Nobody here except for two of us were for it so clearly the thread doesn't really think it's important.

That is about four times as many combatants as last time, one of which we know completely outclasses DoA, one of which kind of compares, and one of which refuses to let us see her combat stats but seemed to treat a 3v1 as a buffet more than a fight. Honestly I'm more worried about non-combat Hurdles

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"Remind yourself that overconfidence is a slow, and insidious killer."

Let's not underestimate what a Name can do.

 

[DelightedOne]

Hubris is definitely Velvet's deadly sin.

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I don't really feel like hubris applies to Velvet, she is not really confident in her abilities she is just so competent/lucky we never really had her try to do anything that challenged her.

I feel like something along the lines of "denial" or maybe "delusion"(sloth?) is more like her. No pride at all in that one, just self loathing masked by false confidence, she lies to everypony and to herself that everything is fine and ignores things that aren't urgent in the "now"(player influence for sure, because Velvet is definitely ruled by Anxiety).

Probably the Wedding choice for checking on Twilight. Bit of sunk-cost fallacy there.

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I'm surprised you didn't say Rarity making the dress, that sounded much more wasteful to me.

mh... pragmatically, maybe. Though to be fair we've yet to see the full results of Cadance's action.

We know she went there, we know she at least partly failed, but still Twilight is NOT yet Wolf-tier material, and that might very well be due to that choice.

and, before you say otherwise, I think keeping Twilight out of the wolf-cult is very much a good thing. That not-cult is getting sus, and while they're potentially dangerous NOW that they're mostly "random" ponies following an only partially corrupted Soft Sweeps... Putting Twilight, the element of magic and once-fated-to-become-alicorn under the more direct influence of the Wolf would be extremely worrying.

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Well said, that option was a "???" for a reason.

Also, hah. "getting sus" they were sus from the start, at least for me(nothing Wolf-like is safe).

The Magic of Friendship falling to the Wolf... Legion of Doom, with Wolf colored sprinkles.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

You do remember that we/I had a plan to find out more about our daughters fan club?

Nobody here except for two of us were for it so clearly the thread doesn't really think it's important.

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Yeah, and I thought it was wildly ooc since per Word of QM Velvet doesn't think about Starry much at all, so why would she be grieving her? She didn't lose anybody in the Catastrophe either, which is what the group was founded to help with.

 

[Shaper47]

I'm surprised you didn't say Rarity making the dress, that sounded much more wasteful to me.

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It was an act of friendship so narratively it made sense.

It also helped boost Rarity's career and influence. Which is a useful investment in the long run.

 

[DelightedOne]

It was an act of friendship so narratively it made sense.

It also helped boost Rarity's career and influence. Which is a useful investment in the long run.

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But doesn't that apply to helping Twilight too? On Cadance's side at least since telling your friend somepony she loves might not be there for long if you don't talk to them looks like it fits(and if the worst happens, at least they would see each other one last time).

The long run investment argument can also be used on Twilight, since we still have no idea what happened and the only information we have came from Cadance spiraling after a nightmare.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

"Remind yourself that overconfidence is a slow, and insidious killer."

Let's not underestimate what a Name can do.

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I'm not. That's I've strapped as much Heart to the party as is possible. Because she's probably going to throw an arctic storm down a hallway at their faces.

And also let's not underestimate what 4 Names can do.

 

[Rafuki22]

"Remind yourself that overconfidence is a slow, and insidious killer."

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I alredy quoted him man.

 

[Pittauro]

You do remember that we/I had a plan to find out more about our daughters fan club?

Nobody here except for two of us were for it so clearly the thread doesn't really think it's important.

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I honestly don't remember your plan.

"Remind yourself that overconfidence is a slow, and insidious killer."

Let's not underestimate what a Name can do.

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and would you look at that, we're sending FOUR of them (and Selene, which is the next best thing we have)

Also, hah. "getting sus" they were sus from the start, at least for me(nothing Wolf-like is safe).

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well, sure, they WERE sus from the start.

But not they're becoming sus-er!

 

[Shaper47]

Yeah, and I thought it was wildly ooc since per Word of QM Velvet doesn't think about Starry much at all, so why would she be grieving her?

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I got the impression that was because her death was caused by Ash, and Velvet tries really hard not to think about her sons.

Of course now that she doesn't have the lores to hide behind her sons are on her mind.

She didn't lose anybody in the Catastrophe either, which is what the group was founded to help with.

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Pretty sure it's loss in general.

 

[spiderhellian]

and, before you say otherwise, I think keeping Twilight out of the wolf-cult is very much a good thing. That not-cult is getting sus, and while they're potentially dangerous NOW that they're mostly "random" ponies following an only partially corrupted Soft Sweeps... Putting Twilight, the element of magic and once-fated-to-become-alicorn under the more direct influence of the Wolf would be extremely worrying.

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No, come on! This would be so much fun.

Don't you trust Softy? She's never let us down before!

This would be so great to read. Terrible, yes, but great.

Every update would be such a delight. And then imagine if we die for real! The ensuing quest would be way better than the quest sans Twilight.



(Yeah yeah, I know this is crazy. But I do love the Softy chapters, and I do think reading her interacting with Twilight would be so much fun.)

 

[LieutenantSpirit]

My personal worry is that no matter how strong Names are, we're doing the equivalent of sending three (plus one) Generals to a fight without any lower level troops.

I'm also expecting at least one of them to take enough injuries to be de-summoned. My money is on DoA disappearing here. (Baldomare should be safe since she's a non-combatant).

 

[Greymere]

My personal worry is that no matter how strong Names are, we're doing the equivalent of sending three (plus one) Generals to a fight without any lower level troops.

I'm also expecting at least one of them to take enough injuries to be de-summoned. My money is on DoA disappearing here. (Baldomare should be safe since she's a non-combatant).

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Why? Literally everyone involved except Baldomare is, quite literally, supernaturally good at combat, even when compared to a low-level Edge adept. DoA, at her lowest, rolls a +45, which is better than Selene's +35, and DoA can channel a +20 Influence if she starts getting too low.

As odd as it sounds, the alicorn is the squishiest member being sent that isn't literally someone who just refuses to participate in combat.

 

[Shaper47]

I'm not. That's I've strapped as much Heart to the party as is possible. Because she's probably going to throw an arctic storm down a hallway at their faces.

And also let's not underestimate what 4 Names can do.

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Preparations are also a thing. Like, Velvet could pull a ton of ridiculous hax when the cult was backing her. What could a Winter Name pull?

I've mentioned necromancy malarkey before, such things are not to be underestimated.

My personal worry is that no matter how strong Names are, we're doing the equivalent of sending three (plus one) Generals to a fight without any lower level troops.

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Basically this expect except I half expect a couple hundred buffed Shattered Risen equivalents.

 

[Pittauro]

My personal worry is that no matter how strong Names are, we're doing the equivalent of sending three (plus one) Generals to a fight without any lower level troops.

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eh, BALDOMARE might be a "general" in some ways, but Biedde is very much an assassin.

we're sending basically the best diplomat/survivalist, the best assassin (and either best or second best warrior in existence), the best secret finder and the best lockpicker in existence.

and Selene, because why not.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Preparations are also a thing. Like, Velvet could pull a ton of ridiculous hax when the cult was backing her. What could a Winter Name pull?

I've mentioned necromancy malarkey before, such things are not to be underestimated.



Basically this expect except I half expect a couple hundred buffed Shattered Risen equivalents.

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I think that is an entirely unreasonable expectation. First off, one would have to secure a couple hundred dead bodies without arousing too much suspicion. Second off, one would need to warehouse a couple hundred ambulatory dead bodies in order to not arouse suspicion. Third off, none of our own Names can just conjure up a couple hundred summons like that. It would place Neighnia sillily far beyond the other Names we have interacted with in terms of power (except for maybe Mareinette, since we cannot see her full sheet).

eh, BALDOMARE might be a "general" in some ways, but Biedde is very much an assassin.

we're sending basically the best diplomat/survivalist, the best assassin (and either best or second best warrior in existence), the best secret finder and the best lockpicker in existence.

and Selene, because why not.

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Because +15 to Moth is really useful for sneaking about, and +15 to Knock is good for opening things, and +15 to Winter is useful for numbing Grail BS, and +35 to Combat is useful for hitting things.

 

[Pittauro]

Because +15 to Moth is really useful for sneaking about, and +15 to Knock is good for opening things, and +15 to Winter is useful for numbing Grail BS, and +35 to Combat is useful for hitting things.

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I didn't mean it as a complaint, to be clear


More of a "we have four old style demigods, and a weaker demigoddes in the new style too just because why not!"

 

[Shaper47]

I think that is an entirely unreasonable expectation.

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Maybe but our Names are sandbagging hard.

A best she acts like an sandbagging Name like our Names.

At worst it's like facing the Master.

First off, one would have to secure a couple hundred dead bodies without arousing too much suspicion.

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There was the Changelings attack that provided at least a couple hundred dead bodies.

If a Winter Name and Grail Copper manged to get put in charge of cemetery arrangements... well I wouldn't put it beyond them.

Second off, one would need to warehouse a couple hundred ambulatory dead bodies in order to not arouse suspicion.

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Or be in charge of the cemetery arrangements. Maybe have a catacomb being built for the bodies.

Third off, none of our own Names can just conjure up a couple hundred summons like that.

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Our Names are sandbagging.

It wouldn't be a stretch to think that Neighnia given her nature could perform necromancy. Given how weak Risen are being able to go large scale would fit Name powerlevels.

It would place Neighnia sillily far beyond the other Names we have interacted with in terms of power (except for maybe Mareinette, since we cannot see her full sheet).

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Remember the Master, she might not be as powerful but she's in the Wake so I'd put her on accessing the same amount of power.

Other Names are sandbagging really hard.

Baldomare for instance can create some extreamly nasty rituals if she stops sandbagging.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

I don't think either of us is going to convince the other at this point, since we are arguing assumptions here.

 

[Shaper47]

I don't think either of us is going to convince the other at this point, since we are arguing assumptions here.

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Oh you might be completely right no doubt about that.

It's just that from an IC view Velvet has enough concerns around what I'm thinking is possible along with sending Selene that she should treat it as possible.

OOC I think it's better to not act with hubris.

 

[Quaxotia]

My personal worry is that no matter how strong Names are, we're doing the equivalent of sending three (plus one) Generals to a fight without any lower level troops.

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Since the clear priority is Copper rather than the lieutenants or the flock, I'm assuming the mission will be conducted more as a decapitation strike rather than outright war. Biedde's ability, which worked against us on defense, is much better suited to taking the head of a single target.

So while I can't discount the possibility of facing more resistance than expected, I do expect Copper's head at the very least. Unless she has become Neighnia's dear friend, I can't imagine the Winter Name being far more dedicated to her employer's defense than Biedde was to ours. And if that much proves to be hubris, I suppose I will call Biedde a fraud

 

[Alan975]

At worst it's like facing the Master.

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To add onto this, isn't that exactly what it could be?

Like, correct me now but wasn't motivation the only difference between what the Master could do and what normal names could?
The Master -because Moth was chosen as the principle of the cult- was the only one striving for Glory still while the rest wallowed in despair.

At least that is what I assumed, after all the talk of Names only doing the bare minimum and Marinette being so much stronger simply because of how she chooses to strut around the plase.



Now if I'm not wrong on that account, then answer me this.


What if Neighnia figured that there is a way, what with the cult -and the Moth leading them- suddenly kicking into full gear?
Wouldn't it be natural then, to restart the climb? To put in that little bit of extra effort?

Because the feeling that I got way back when, was that the only reason Baldomare didn't take over the show was because we'd befriended her.

Because Friendship is Magic, and all that.

 

[Shaper47]

Like, correct me now but wasn't motivation the only difference between what the Master could do and what normal names could?

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There's some hints that the Heir of the Moth was closer to an hour then a Name. Their lores levels were better then other Name. (disadvantages included being mostly stuck in the Woods and having a bad memory).

But basically yeah, picking a different starting lore for the cult would involve a different Master who would be one of the normal Names but motivated.

Because the feeling that I got way back when, was that the only reason Baldomare didn't take over the show was because we'd befriended her.

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More she just didn't have the motivation to do the climb. Probably because it would involve leaving her beloved.

 

[Venerable Ro]

I told the site I wanted notifications-on-thread-reply, but noooooooo.

Bah, missed out on some perfectly good debate while debating not-John-Wick. Ah well.

There's some hints that the Heir of the Moth was closer to an hour then a Name. Their lores levels were better then other Name. (disadvantages included being mostly stuck in the Woods and having a bad memory).

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Considering how all of the Hours seem to have wandered off or otherwise faded, it's not hard to imagine that all of the Names were potentially heirs to their various patrons depending on who we picked at game start. Seven fundamental Lores, seven(?) fundamental Hours, and perhaps seven remnant Names to follow in their footsteps. Eh, it breaks down due to Edge shenanigans and uncertainty over whether there's a Heart Name skipping about.


Well they're probably not skipping anymore, in all honesty we'd better hope there isn't a Heart Name...

 

[Shaper47]

Well they're probably not skipping anymore, in all honesty we'd better hope there isn't a Heart Name...

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We've already met the Heart Name.

[HEART!]

 

[spiderhellian]

What if Neighnia figured that there is a way, what with the cult -and the Moth leading them- suddenly kicking into full gear?

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Eh, I wouldn't worry too much about that. I think like the other would have been Masters, she has her own reasons for not pursuing a Cult.

by choosing that they made it so that other actors didn't decide to actively interfere in the Wake.

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By choosing the Moth one, they made all the other Masters into Wasn'ts. Their circumstances became thus that they won't become Masters themselves, for their own particular reasons

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They can't be Masters, but they can still be actors

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She's still going to be quite the threat, but not Master level.

(Sometimes I think 1 RA was actually a pretty small price to pay to get rid of him…)

Seven fundamental Lores, seven(?) fundamental Hours, and perhaps seven remnant Names to follow in their footsteps

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Eh, Baldomare would have been SH/Lantern (mentioned in the Apocrypha above), Mareinette probably Heart/Grail (you think Bird would have passed up writing about his favourite name?)

I'm very curious if we'd have gotten Biedde or the other Edge name! My guess is the other one, but that's part of why I'm curious to meet them.

 

[Shaper47]

I'm very curious if we'd have gotten Biedde or the other Edge name! My guess is the other one, but that's part of why I'm curious to meet them.

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My guess is that their Edge 6, Forge 6 and have been ordered to keep the Forge burning. So their stuck in the Malleary bleeding to create children only for their children to be fuel for Forge. Imprisoned intill the Forge is cold.

 

[spiderhellian]

My guess is that their Edge 6, Forge 6 and have been ordered to keep the Forge burning. So their stuck in the Malleary bleeding to create children only for their children to be fuel for Forge. Imprisoned intill the Forge is cold.

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Could be…

But I think they're behind us in the Mansus, not ahead. I think we were sorta intended to find them to help us rebel against the Master, and then we didn't (lol).

Definitely could also be the Forge name though. Though that's hard to balance with thinking the Forge Name is in the Malleary, I know.

 

[Venerable Ro]

Definitely could also be the Forge name though. Though that's hard to balance with thinking the Forge Name is in the Malleary, I know.

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What I'm trying to figure is who they could possibly be. With the exception of Axe all of the Names have been canon characters, and even Axe has solid lore backing.

But Forge? It can't be Crucible, since he's, well... So who or what could it be? I'm honestly rather impatient to find out, especially since we'd be able to start building things with the eldritch personification of Industry on payroll.

 

[Shaper47]

What I'm trying to figure is who they could possibly be. With the exception of Axe all of the Names have been canon characters, and even Axe has solid lore backing.

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I think it's the Shaper.

 

[Cochimetl]

She's still going to be quite the threat, but not Master level.

(Sometimes I think 1 RA was actually a pretty small price to pay to get rid of him…)

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It was. I regret it happened, but put into the same situation again, I'd probably still vote for it even understanding what it means.

What I'm trying to figure is who they could possibly be. With the exception of Axe all of the Names have been canon characters, and even Axe has solid lore backing.

But Forge? It can't be Crucible, since he's, well... So who or what could it be?

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Maybe Hokobald managed to ascend to Name?