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

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Give me glorious AP.

We could really slam the Snakemare Sacrament with that extra AP. I need to math out the AP.

[AP]!!!

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

For the use of the public....
251 Bits to start our turn. 60 for Medicine. 3 days for Copper Mission (5*5*3) for 75 Bits. 4 days soft planned for Grave mission (5*2*4) for 40 Bits.

Expected end Bits of 76.
Monthly Salary of 160. Expected earnings from Rarity of 40

Expected starting total for turn 21 of 276 Bits.

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Ah, thank you. I like to keep the character sheet "live" updated, which is why I add clear messages of "X and Y were added/removed from your inventory". But I forgot to do that on Selene's expedition. I'll update it to reflect the 75 bits for Copper's assault.

Thanks again for the reminder!

 

[spiderhellian]

@OurLadyOfWires I know this isn't really something to sort out now, but would it be feasible to have a Baldomare take an action akin to: "Tell me something I already know about these peculiar objects (Learn the properties of 4 artefacts of Level (YOUR LORE LEVEL-1) or below. No scraps will be gained."?

 

[BritBiscuit]

Give me glorious AP.

We could really slam the Snakemare Sacrament with that extra AP. I need to math out the AP.

[AP]!!!

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I mean it is Servant AP, isn't that the AP that has no lore/bonuses so we only used it for book searching or whatever?
I'm not really up to date on how follower votes go as I don't really participate in them but have servant actions been buffed?

 

[Pittauro]

But more importantly, today you woke up feeling… better. Not great, not well enough to stay up and about for too long, but better. Better than you were yesterday, better than you were before that. And most importantly, you feel good enough to get out of this damn bed.

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Yeah, when you're sick enough you REALLY can't get out of bed, that moment where you can finally wake up for real is... Not sure what words to use for it.

But more importantly, you tell yourself that your body already had plenty of time to at least stitch those wounds. In fact, just yesterday, you spitted out a clot that you were sure was lodged inside your head for the longest time. And for all that you are sure that having a blood clot in your brain is not the kind of thing a pony should survive, you still spit it out eventually, and you are still alive.

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wow, Heart is surely some strong stuff!

Stormchaser, whose face you can barely see through the darkness, seems to be looking at you wide-eyed and surprised. You didn't really want to wake him up, but you are still glad that he did.

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can BARELY see through the darkness. So she has not yet recovered her lore Realizations...

"Fiiine, fiiine, I promise. If I need to do anything crazy or illegal, I'll ask you to do it instead," you say.

Although, for all that you meant it as a joke, you can't help but notice that Selene lets out a small sigh of relief, before giving you a thankful nod.

"Thank you, mom. And yes, please. Let me know if you need anything like that to be done."

Dear heavens, what have you been teaching this filly?

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oh, you know, a bit of this and that and something or other...

"Why… why do you…" she says, but her youthful expression once again shifts into a kind of hesitation no filly should rightfully have on their face. "No, forget about it," she finishes.

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Why do we tolerate Mareinette? Why do we pursue Glory and/or power?

But still, she claims these items are yours to claim. And you will oblige her:
[The following items have been added to your inventory]
-5x artifacts, UNSTUDIED, of the following levels:
--Heart 1
--Secret Histories 1
--Moth 1
--Moth 3
--Winter 4
-A book, with no Lore levels. "A pile of reports, letters and maps. No doubt containing a wealth of information about the less reputable places of Manehattan. And perhaps of the treasures they hide."

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well, we now have... 7 artifacts to study.

Presumably 4 whole actions.

Lantern 4, Winter 4 and Moth 3 are obvious priorities, and cover 3 more Lores for confidants and summon to do rituals in our place!

...actually, what are we missing?

Knock 2 (unstudied)
Lantern 4 (unstudied)
No Forge
Edge 3 (studied)
Winter 1 (no need to study) and 4 (unstudied)
Heart 1 (unstudied) and 3 (studied)
No Grail
Moth 1 and 3 (unstudied both)
Secret Histories 1 (unstudied) and 3 (studied).


So we're only missing something for Forge and Grail.

Well, we should try and study the Winter 4 and Lantern 4 artifacts soon, as they're likely to be REALLY useful. The other ones would be nice too, but we probably won't have the actions for it... then again, maybe we'll have a few spare followers for Cover Your bases in a couple turns?

oh, and the book is obviously about a Manehattan expedition site. Probably some criminal organization with loot to be had!

You have found BLACKMAIL MATERIAL on a number of rich, influential and powerful ponies. Part of you wants to burn all of this, and then cut it away from your memory. But you realize this is just too good of an opportunity to simply waste.

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Good, Velvet, let's not be too hasty!

-[] What of the merchant, who engaged in bribery?
--[] Ask for a small "donation" (gain 100 bits)
--[] Ask for a few favors (gain TWO "servant actions", on turn 21 only)
--[] Just give this low hanging fruit to the Bureau (gain a small amount of respect from the Bureau)
--[] Have Mareinette deal with it (unpredictable result, that will still benefit you)

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mh... servant actions is actually tempting, IF it would allow us to get an extra Velvet action through "Cover Your Bases". We have a LOT of stuff to do after all, between Fleeting Opportunities, likely 3 actions on Axe Knock Sacrament, and two lvl 4 artifacts I really want to research as soon as possible!

I'm kind of tempted to let Mareinette do it though.

-[] What of the public servant, who needed a pony to "disappear"?
--[] Remind him that nothing is free (gain 200 bits)
--[] Have him work for his misdeeds (gain FIVE "servant actions", on turn 21 only)
--[] Equestria will be better off without him in power (gain a reasonable amount of respect from the Bureau)
--[] Have Mareinette deal with it (unpredictable result, that will still benefit you)

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...damn, FIVE actions OR 200 bits?!

...or, again, Mareinette... tempting...

-[] What of the great noble, who conspired against the Crown?
--[] Wring him (gain 400 bits)
--[] Give him a list of tasks, and a short time to get them done (gain NINE "servant actions", on turn 21 only)
--[] Put him behind bars, where he belongs (gain a great deal of respect from the Bureau)
--[] Have Mareinette deal with it (unpredictable result, that will still benefit you)

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ok, this is a bit bigger than the other ones.

THIS ONE I might actually want to put in jail.

Some small amount of bribery is expected. The occasional disappearance is bad, but it's kind of beneath our attention.

But a traitor to the country and crown? THAT is actually part of the Bureau's duties to deal with...

...on the other hand, 9 actions or 400 bits...

That said, actions have diminishing returns due to escalating costs to convert in "Cover Your Bases", and limited things we have to do for "unskilled" servants...



Part of me is tempted to go full Mareinette on all 3 just to see what happens though.

...Not even the 4th wall can protect me from her then?!

The next memory you have is waking up on Stormchaser's guest room, after yet another "short nap". And Selene tells you that, despite her misgivings with the Grail-mare, nothing out of the ordinary happened during your conversation.

… or at least, you privately think, nothing she could sense.

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Never underestimate Our Lady Of Wires...

Money. Time. Trust.

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Or the mystery box

IT could be ANYTHING! It could even be Money, Time or Trust! or a boat!

I'll read the rest of the discussion tomorrow

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

@OurLadyOfWires , can we go beyond +3 Velvet Actions from covering our bases?

Also wait a second. The big one is conspiring against the Crown. Velvet's daughter is a Princess. That fuck is conspiring against Velvet's daughter! Get them! They're lucky we're not going forth to kill them!

 

[spiderhellian]

I mean it is Servant AP, isn't that the AP that has no lore/bonuses so we only used it for book searching or whatever?
I'm not really up to date on how follower votes go as I don't really participate in them but have servant actions been buffed?

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They can be used to cover our bases. 2 servant actions = 1 Velvet AP, 5 = 2 Velvet AP, 9 = 3 Velvet AP.

Taking 7 (2+5) or 9 would let us get 3 AP pretty easily. Otherwise it's very hard to get past 2, and even that is quite the investment.

@OurLadyOfWires , can we go beyond +3 Velvet Actions from covering our bases?

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Yeah, the pattern continues. I.e. 14 actions for 4 AP, 20 for 5...

 

[BritBiscuit]

I wonder what the conspiracy actually was though, its not important if it wasn't brought up in the story but now im curious because it could be anything especially after the whole Crown ordered takedown of the Bluebloods and the end of noble title inheritance.

EDIT: thank you for answering my question about servant AP, I havent been keeping up with the mechanics of follower votes as i dont participate in those but yeah cover our bases sounds good.

 

[LieutenantSpirit]

Yeah, as it stands, I'm not comfortable with doing anything with the noble other than locking him up. He was conspiring against crown, and with everything going on, the crown is basically us.

 

[BritBiscuit]

the crown is basically us.

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This one constables, this is the one whom in their arrogance dared to suggest that rather than being a servant of our Princess that she was on the same level as her, take them away to the pyre!
None shall replace our God-empress!

 

[spiderhellian]

Just thinking through what we do with Servant AP (assuming Noble isn't used for it):

Public servant gives 5 actions. Add servants/Rarity/Jade/Fluttercomet we get our 3 Velvet AP. Can sub a Luna AP in, can also just go for 2 AP if we want.

Alternatively, merchant gives 2 actions. Add servants/Rarity/Fluttercomet we get 2 Velvet AP.

How valuable is that 3rd AP? Probably depends on how much you care about the Snake. And/or how much of a fleeting hurricane there will be.

Velvet actions next turn...
1) Forge's Redemption
2) Teach Luna
3) Probably at least one fleeting (even if we use social AP on family, we might want one for Cadance?)

Having 3 AP gives us three stabs at the Knock Sacrament, which feels like okay odds. Whatever it is
4 AP probably secures it? Or gives us flexibility for fleetings, a go at our SH sacrament, etc.?

 

[Limabot]

In my personal thoughts, I would either want to squeeze the merchant for cash or for actions, am willing to do basically anything with the public servant (albeit weighted to money), and want to send the noble in the Bureau's cells.

 

[Shaper47]

Wouldn't the detectives not have the safe at the scene, crack it and see whats inside way before we'd be able to do anything about it?

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Against a Forge and Knock made safe?

Not mention the difficulties of getting to it in the first place.

First they have to get the safe which was buried under a whole lot of rubble. With the added difficulty of keeping it in house.

Then they have to open the safe without damaging what's within. Which is going to be a whole lot harder then just destroying it.

but yeah cover our bases sounds good.

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The issue is basically

That said, actions have diminishing returns due to escalating costs to convert in "Cover Your Bases", and limited things we have to do for "unskilled" servants...

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Along with bits being something we need that are a lot harder to get.

 

[Alan975]

Just to add my voice to the choir, lets throw the noble behind bars.

Don't particularly care if it bits or actions with the other two, but big rep bump I feel is best.

...I'd much prefer to prosecute all 3 of 'em, but that's not likely to pass the post here, I think.

 

[Arrkhon]

Personally I feel that jailing the traitor against the crown and letting Mareinette do whatever with other two would be for the best, though I will also vote for letting her handle all three since I believe her loyalty and excellent service deserve a reward

 

[BritBiscuit]

Against a Forge and Knock made safe?

Not mention the difficulties of getting to it in the first place.

First they have to get the safe which was buried under a whole lot of rubble. With the added difficulty of keeping it in house.

Then they have to open the safe without damaging what's within. Which is going to be a whole lot harder then just destroying it.



The issue is basically



Along with bits being something we need that are a lot harder to get.

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I mean the DC is still 60 to open so that is definately something a decently skilled locksmith or detective could do. Especially on days worth of time.

Also I wasn't saying cover our bases is good for this vote I was just saying that it sounded like a good change to how servant actions were done as i was just learning about it now, my thoughts on the vote are in the last page of the thread which is bits,bureau/anything but mareinette,bureau

 

[Shaper47]

And/or how much of a fleeting hurricane there will be.

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Nothing we can't handle with our free AP.

And I'm just going to remind everyone here that if we want to do the Beneath the Royal Castle expedition anytime soon we should probably get the bits.

And that being able to bring Jade for that expedition would be really good for her.

Base cost: 8 bits (you must have at least 120 bits per creature sent)

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[spiderhellian]

Along with bits being something we need that are a lot harder to get.

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So I love bits. I loooooooooove bits. I still think of those 500 bits we turned down sometimes, and a tear comes to my eye.

But thinking about it, what do we need them for immediately?

Next turn we have 40+20=60 bits for the Forge ritual. And that's it. I'd love a MitL, but doubtful we get that next turn, and even then it's only 55 bits?

The only big expense coming up is BtRC pt.3, which is 240 (DoA + Velvet)... I guess if we want a 3rd person on it (Mareinette)?

With 160 income, and Rarity, and the possibility of a commission... I kinda think we're okay?

 

[Shaper47]

I mean the DC is still 60 to open so that is definately something a decently skilled locksmith or detective could do. Especially on days worth of time.

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No it's not.

It's DC of 60 to destroy not to open.

 

[DelightedOne]

How valuable is that 3rd AP? Probably depends on how much you care about the Snake. And/or how much of a fleeting hurricane there will be.

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Two Sacrament actions sound safe enough. On the general side I think 6 actions for next turn should be enough(4 regular+2 covered)if we don't have anything for the Constables then 7.

Also please consider using 1 Selene AP and letting Jade do her special research... we might need it.

 

[Shaper47]

But thinking about it, what do we need them for immediately?

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It's more long term, i.e. a few turns from now mainly. Stuff like Forge Sacrament.

But if people want to pay Biedde...

The only big expense coming up is BtRC pt.3, which is 240 (DoA + Velvet)... I guess if we want a 3rd person on it (Mareinette)?

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I want to bring Jade and Selene.

Jade because it will be good for her and Selene because of the hints her old mentor made the place.

 

[spiderhellian]

I imagine the safe will work out something like:

Some chance, the safe hasn't been found. We can launch a Short expedition to locate and destroy it.
Some (higher) chance, the safe has been found, but not opened/its contents not examined. We have a dangerous fleeting action to try to destroy its contents.
Some chance, the safe has been found and opened, and Velvet has a problem. We... have a problem, and possibly some fleeting actions to address it.

Either way we're planning without definite knowledge. More AP offers that flexibility.

Two Sacrament actions sound safe enough

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Really? 2 AP for a Knock Sacrament + befriending DoA? Feels a little unlikely...

Jade because it will be good for her

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I can see bringing Selene. But what makes you say this?

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Also, if I stop memeing for an instant I would also wish to lock up the guy making a pony disappear. I don't like murder, I don't like people getting away with it either. Self-defense and war are different, obviously.

 

[Shaper47]

I can see bringing Selene. But what makes you say this?

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Jade wants to go on adventure and find special things to collect.

She's also not the most mentally stable.

Having her be useful and go on adventure with Velvet will mean the world to her.

Also for the bits you have to consider Biedde. If people want to pay him, well 600 bits only lasts 10 turns.

 

[spiderhellian]

Also for the bits you have to consider Biedde. If people want to pay him, well 600 bits only lasts 10 turns.

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Ah fair that is an expense I hadn't considered. It might be a question of how badly we want to do BtRC pt.3 turn after next... And how many other errant expenses there are (e.g. Heart 3 books)

 

[LieutenantSpirit]

Also, if I stop memeing for an instant I would also wish to lock up the guy making a pony disappear. I don't like murder, I don't like people getting away with it either. Self-defense and war are different, obviously.

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As much as I want to agree, I fear that getting the servant actions from him will be necessary next turn.

 

[Shaper47]

And how many other errant expenses there are (e.g. Heart 3 books)

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And Heart 4 books and Forge 4 books.

be a question of how badly we want to do BtRC pt.3 turn after next

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I want to do it the turn after that (lantern sacrament turn after next) but I also want to send Velvet, DoV, Jade and Selene. So 480 bit cost.

Also, if I stop memeing for an instant I would also wish to lock up the guy making a pony disappear. I don't like murder, I don't like people getting away with it either. Self-defense and war are different, obviously.

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Taking the bits means there're free valid targets for sacrifices for our sacraments.

So I wouldn't say we have to let them get away with it.

 

[spiderhellian]

Going from what Sveta wrote:

For the use of the public....
251 Bits to start our turn. 60 for Medicine. 3 days for Copper Mission (5*5*3) for 75 Bits. 4 days soft planned for Grave mission (5*2*4) for 40 Bits.

Expected end Bits of 76.
Monthly Salary of 160. Expected earnings from Rarity of 40

Expected starting total for turn 21 of 276 Bits.

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T21 start: 276 bits.
T21 expenses: 40 (Forge 3 reagent) + 20 (FR) + extend Biedde (60)
T21 end: 156 bits.

T22 start: 156 + 160 + ~50 = 366.
T22 expenses: 360 (BtRC). Which doesn't leave us enough to extend Biedde . Though we should be able to get a commission in here.

We could maybe squeeze it in, but it's not leaving any flexibility or chance for other expenditures (Shining FR, scrying rituals, Heart 3 books, other expeditions).

So yeah, if we want to do BtRC with 3 people turn after next we probably need at least 100 bits. Unless we commit to having basically no other expenditures.

 

[Earth-Destroyer]

Mareinette is the right call here, this is the turn she really started offering friendships to Velvet. And friendship is super important to get, it eliminates having to rebind her, and gain us more actions per turn which is the most valuable thing. Imaging getting 2 super social actions a turn, free max Heart, or Grail influence every turn.

Going from 1-2 respect points to 4-5 in a single turn with Mareinette will pay out big.

So yeah, if we want to do BtRC with 3 people turn after next we probably need at least 100 bits. Unless we commit to having basically no other expenditures.

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Shining is married to Cadance an actual princess they can front the bill for any ritual the want.

 

[spiderhellian]

Man, I know the arguments for Noble to the Bureau, but I'm so tempted by the prospect of giving him to Mareinette...

I feel that could go unimaginably well.

(Or yeah, sorting out money issues for the foreseeable future)