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

[spiderhellian]

Hah! Just getting Marinette to hang out with Cadance more is not going to stop people from arguing for cannibalism. As long as it's an option, people will argue for it. Like the Wolf Sacraments.

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I guess that's true. I do wish we did take it as the vote, just to save us all the pain later down the line. It would be nice to have it settled. Though I get that, in practice, this vote doesn't necessarily mean that.

 

[Shaper47]

How would we have had the bits for that? Biedde performing religious duties would only have netted us another 60 bits, that's not even the cost of the Forge 4 Reagent.

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Total cost is 190 bits (reagent + purification).

With another 60 bits we'd have 165 bits currently.

This is before Rarity's dividends which which would probably pay for the remaining 25 bits.

 

[Earth-Destroyer]

It's less effort to just create it.

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And less valuable a Forge 6 reagent is not going to be the only thing in an expedition to retrieve it. We have firmly established that Expeditions pay off big time.

 

[Shaper47]

And less valuable a Forge 6 reagent is not going to be the only thing in an expedition to retrieve it. We have firmly established that Expeditions pay off big time.

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Maybe, but it's so much quicker just to throw 190 bits, a free reagent action and one Velvet action to befriend the Name as soon as possible.

We're already wasting one extra Forge Name action by not befriending her straight away due to this self sabotage deal the thread has going on. Let's not waste even more potential Forge Name actions.

 

[Flaregamer82253]

Rarity's Big Surprise

Rarity hummed a little tune as she began to skip her way back from the bank, saddlebags full of bits jingling to the beat.

She found it hard to believe that not even two years ago she really was the small-town mare with a passion and the dream to make it big, but every time she cashes her cheques in for her contract and commissions, it felt like she was still having the same out-of-body experience that she first had when Velvet told her she believed in her.

She was in loved it. Yes.

Dressmaking as an art was all about understanding what ponies wanted, and that required listening to what they don't say as much if not more than what they say to her. More important than that, it's about crossing the gap from there to what they need so much that it becomes a roaring flame that shapes their world. There was a time when Rarity wouldn't have been able to see that special light that sent all of the colors in the world into a whirlpool until only what was important remained. These days it was a fact of life more unfailing than the way the sun and moon rise and fall.

Velvet Covers gave her the chance to be that mare, and her blood screamed at her to be even more than that. Every little step will get her closer to that. Patience is an old friend of hers that will guide her to the next diamond as long as she keeps trotting towards it.

Coming upon her home, Rarity stopped for a moment to take it in. Ponyville has been growing lately with more ponies moving here in the aftermath of the catastrophe. This also meant that she's had a new influx of customers coming to the Carousel Boutique. Moreover, there has been a heavy surge in business for carpenters and builders in recent months as Ponyville needed to build new homes and infrastructure to accommodate its growing population. It's been years since she moved out of her parents' home and had the place renovated for herself, but she has the funds, opportunity, and reason to expand the building. With a small nod, she moved towards her front door and decided that she ought to start drafting blueprints and strike while the iron is hot.

Walking inside, she was met with her favorite surprise.

"Oh! There you are Rarity," Velvet Covers smiled at Rarity, one in which she matched in perfect sync.

"Velvet, darling! How wonderful to see you!" Not even putting her bags down, Rarity made her way over to give a short hug. It wasn't unusual or unexpected for Rarity to come home to Velvet already inside the Carousel Boutique. She had a spare key made for her a while ago in case Velvet came by while she wasn't around. What was unexpected was the foal-sized earth pony with a white coat, mane, and tail standing to the side looking at Velvet's spare horseshoes in the shoe rack.

"Hello dear, what is your name?" Rarity asked with a friendly smile to the foal, who upon turning to look at her with a quiet tick, she was able to see that it was a colt with bright blue eyes and a happy smile.

"Hello," he spoke with a quiet ring, walking up to you and Velvet like water whistling down a river, "I am Rare Item."

"I'm sorry that I have to make this quick, Rarity, but I needed someone to look after Rare for the week while I'm in Canterlot, and you're the only pony I can ask that may be available." Upon a closer look at Velvet's face, Rarity realized that she looked a little stressed, as though even being here right now was a time crunch that she could barely afford. "I know this is a last-minute request, but I know you have a guest room that Sweetie Belle often uses, and it's better that I not leave him in my house without my supervision after last time. If it isn't too much, could you take him in until I get back?" she asked with a hopeful smile on her face.

Rarity didn't even have to think about it. It was a request from Velvet Covers and any pony that was vetted by her was someone she would be willing to take in indefinitely. "Of course, darling! It would be an honor to take him in- as long as he would have me of course?"

"It would make me happy to stay here for the week," Rare Item replied in perfect sync to your question. He even gave a little bow with a slight whir while doing so. Internally, Rarity squealed at how adorable he was.

"Well then, I ought to be off then," Velvet interrupted with a grateful look in her eyes. "Rare isn't very fussy, and he's quiet too. He doesn't need too much, and he enjoys being helpful to others, so don't be afraid to give him a few chores or ask for his help around the place."

Rarity pondered that for a moment. While the boutique itself was always kept in perfect condition, her living space has become messier over the past few months since the royal wedding. Having to travel so often for commissions hasn't left her much time to keep her living space in good condition, and she distinctly remembered Sweetie Belle grumbling two weeks ago as she helped Rarity dust the guest room off. Idly, she wondered if she could make a small butler outfit for Rare Item since he seemed to have the personality for it, and she's been meaning to experiment with suit tailoring anyways.

"Just leave it to me, Velvet. There won't be any problems throughout the week. Goodness, I think I might enjoy it!"

"I'll be going then. Thank you so much, Rarity!" Velvet walked through the door at a quick pace. "And make sure to be good for Rarity, Rare Item!"

"Yes, Mother," Rare Item replied as the door closed with a smile lifting further on his face-

-as Rarity's composure dropped faster than her bags fell on the floor.

"M-M-MOTHER!?" Rarity blurted out without a thought, turning to look at him so fast that she heard her neck crack. In response, he turned to look at her with an inquisitive look on his face. She started thinking furiously.

Velvet hadn't said anything about adopting another child when she visited over a week ago for their monthly tea time, but why else would Rare Item call Velvet mother if she wasn't his mother. This means that Velvet just asked her to watch over her son for the week. This was much more important than she thought it was two minutes ago. Rarity knew very well how much Velvet's family meant to her. Never before has Velvet asked her or any of her friends to look after her children for a time. In layman's terms, Rarity had been given the highest trust she could imagine. The fact that she was requested this meant that for one reason or another Velvet believed that Rare Item was utterly safe and cared for here in a Way that he needed that her own home couldn't provide for him in her absence.

Taking a deep breath in to calm herself, she gave a weak smile to Rare Item, who blinked with his blue eyes…

…blue eyes…

…blue eyes kind of like her own…

…and a white coat like her own…

…and Velvet Cover's white mane and tail…

…

…his name is Rare Item-

-and Rarity's thoughts exploded.

"I-WH-BUT-I-YOU-VELVET-HOW-I-" Gibberish started falling out of Rarity's mouth as she wrestled with the possibility that her thoughts could be real, but her mind was connecting dots faster than her mouth could keep up with.

Of course Velvet would bring Rare Item here, because Rarity should care and nurture him in her absence.

Of course he looks like the both of them, BECAUSE HE'S THEIR SO-

Waitwaitwait! That can't be true! Velvet and I have never even… done that, so to speak! Rarity thought… And then she thought some more. But there was that one time-

NO! How would that even work?! We're both mares! I know neither of us have the… equipment for that!? Rarity bargained for an answer. An answer her mind was all too ready to give her.

He's not a newborn! And the timing doesn't match! I did NOT miss Velvet Covers being pregnant, right?

Rarity stared Rare Item in the eyes. He was still patiently waiting for her to say something.

RIGHT?!

Rarity gulped. The same answer applied here too.

"And make sure to be good for Rarity, Rare Item!" SHE NAMED HIM AFTER ME!

"Is everything alright?" Rare Item finally spoke up after an appropriate number of ticks had passed.

Rarity immediately regathered her composure. "I-WELL, never let it be said that your FATHER-" her voice cracked, "-can't step up to the plate! Now! Let's go get you settled in Sweetie Belle's room until we can prepare something better!" Rarity mentally moved her home expansion plans to her top priorities. If this was going to be more common after this week, she needed to expedite a bigger house to better care for him.

Rare Item blinked after her statement, but he gave a happy smile. "Yes, father."

Rarity's heart soared. That feeling she was having earlier was back and stronger than it had ever been.

But in the back of her mind, she couldn't help herself from whining:

I was going to name my firstborn after you, not me!

Spoiler: Author's Notes

Much like Rarity, I feel I must strike while the iron is hot. I did not expect to be writing today, but inspiration really does come when you least expect it. To that end, thank you @DelightedOne for giving me the idea for the name and @ses for giving me a prompt for this.

I took a couple liberties with his appearance given that we weren't told anything definitive about it, but I couldn't help my impression that much like his lesser lore, his appearance was is very modular and adaptive, so I think it still fits regardless.

Rarity has always been one of my favorites in and out of the quest, so I'm always happy to give her a little more love and attention.

That said, please support the name of Rare Item! A vote for this is the greatest respect we can give our only favorite money making pony!

 

[spiderhellian]

Rare Item

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Alright, yes, this is amazing, we must do this.

And you see Rarity, I simply need you to work commissions month after month and give me all the bits you get from them, Rare Item has such expensive tastes...

 

[ses]

Alright, yes, this is amazing, we must do this.

And you see Rarity, I simply need you to work commissions month after month and give me all the bits you get from them, Rare Item has such expensive tastes...

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He's a growing boy and he's hungry for plutonium, that stuff is expensive but he's growing up big and strong

 

[Greymere]

Thanks for being easy to befriend, but why do you have to be so expensive?! I need to go do some math now...

Anyway. I suggest Daedalus for the name. Why not name our Forge Name after a mythological inventor?

 

[Earth-Destroyer]

Since we are being allowed to sell off our artifacts I think we should agree to sell off the bundle of level 1 artifacts for bits. So we can fund everything we need done.

 

[Greymere]

Since we are being allowed to sell off our artifacts I think we should agree to sell off the bundle of level 1 artifacts for bits. So we can fund everything we need done.

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We've got the study them first, in which case it'd be most efficient to go ahead and study the Moth 3 and Knock 2 artifact since those combined should get us 300 bits (Lv. 3 -> 200 bits, Lv. 2 -> 100 bits), which should be enough to cover the costs of alchemizing uranium blue gold and then some.

 

[spiderhellian]

Level 1 artefacts also have a purpose now! They're great for fuel!

 

[ses]

I don't think we can refine the Iotic Essence next turn, because we almost certainly want him luggage sized for the Great Book Hunt. That means Turn 24 making the Iotic Essence and Blue Gold in the same turn, followed by immediate FR

Since we are being allowed to sell off our artifacts I think we should agree to sell off the bundle of level 1 artifacts for bits. So we can fund everything we need done.

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I agree but they also need to be studied to be sold.

I unfortunately see the wisdom in skipping Edge Sacrament for the sake of studying Moth 3 and Knock 2 artifacts. We can keep the Moth 3 and sell the Knock 2 for 100ish bits less sales commission. So at absolute minimum 50 bits worst case.

 

[Earth-Destroyer]

We've got the study them first, in which case it'd be most efficient to go ahead and study the Moth 3 and Knock 2 artifact since those combined should get us 300 bits (Lv. 3 -> 200 bits, Lv. 2 -> 100 bits), which should be enough to cover the costs of alchemizing uranium blue gold and then some.

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We get no scraps from level 1 artifacts and we certainly don't need to study them to sell them. Or did you forget we bought a number of artifacts, that did not come with a how to use guide. It been long established artifacts don't need to be studied to be sold.

 

[ses]

We get no scraps from level 1 artifacts and we certainly don't need to study them to sell them. Or did you forget we bought a number of artifacts, that did not come with a how to use guide.

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We have to study artifacts in order to sell them. Rage against it as a game mechanic if you want but thems the rules.

 

[Greymere]

We get no scraps from level 1 artifacts and we certainly don't need to study them to sell them. Or did you forget we bought a number of artifacts, that did not come with a how to use guide. It been long established artifacts don't need to be studied to be sold.

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Sigh.

You can only interact with artifacts that have been studied.

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Edit: And before you try to wriggle out of this even with a quote, this was in direct response to me asking for confirmation if we needed to study artifacts before we can sell them.

Edit 2:

I don't think we can refine the Iotic Essence next turn, because we almost certainly want him luggage sized for the Great Book Hunt. That means Turn 24 making the Iotic Essence and Blue Gold in the same turn, followed by immediate FR

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I believe we should still be able to make the Forge 6 reagent next turn; it only requires the Name be active (has fuel) and be summoned (not destroyed), not be full-sized. But better to double check @OurLadyOfWires?

Edit 3:
If we're doing an additional study action for the sake of bits, and therefore can't take the Edge Sacrament this turn, we could always bump up Cover Your Bases to +2, do the book scrying ourselves, and have either Selene (w/ mini-Forge) or the Forge Name itself scry for an easy Level 6 reagent to acquire. Considering that we managed to locate a Level 6 book for basically pennies, I don't think it's implausible that a Forge 6 reagent could be obtained via expedition without being too onerous on the wallet. Or vice versa (Selene/Forge on book, us on reagent).

 

[Shaper47]

Now that we know how things have turned out it's time to start preparing for next turn.

First the practical prudent must have's:

Cover bases - Filthy Rich and Risen (1 extra Velvet AP)

Servants - search books Ponyville

Selene - Smooth Nights indulgence, get corpse for another Risen, get Silver Key

Fluttershy and Risen - 2 lantern Aotl for Velvet

Jade - Scry level 7 Book [Failed]

Mareinette - prepare Spoiled

Velvet Axe - knock lesson x 2

Rarity - focus on work

Velvet free social - Rarity teaching

Velvet free Camelot social - Caddy time

Velvet - Soft task

Velvet - Study lantern artifact

Velvet - Read Moth Book with Aotls

Velvet - birth Forge Name Daughter [Successful]

Now for the hard part.

We have Biedde, Baldomare, [insert cool name] Forge Name and one Velvet action.

Now we need a prison built but aside from that we have decide which Sacraments/befriending to focus on.

Our options are as follows

Biedde - create prison or edge influence (aiming for edge sacrament)

Baldomare - SH Sacrament or scry level 7 book

Velvet - SH Sacrament or Winter Sacrament action

Forge Name - Forge lesson or build prison

So Plan: Yay Morals!!! (While planning to mentally traumatize and eat somepony next turn)

Biedde - Edge influence
Baldomare - Scry level 7 book
Velvet - Winter Sacrament 1/3 and try for Edge Sacrament
Forge Name - build prison

Or Plan: Finally getting an SH Sacrament

Biedde - build prison
Baldomare - SH Sacrament
Velvet - SH Sacrament
Forge Name - Forge lesson

 

[ses]

Doing a reagent scry+expedition is indeed cheaper than making one ourselves assuming the the expedition is soloable by Axe or Selene.

If it follows the previous pattern it's either going to be just the reagent for absurdly cheap and easy or a full expedition full of 1000 bits worth of other treasures for 150 bits total for ticket plus scry.

Also fun size Forge name is great for expeditions when we're so bits constrained. Pretty sure he can be taken on multiple ones too depending on how the narrative lines up.

In Grail configuration he gives Axe All3 via artifacts! Very helpful if she runs into random social hurdles again like that mole

 

[Greymere]

Hmm. I think I'm learning toward minaturizing the Name in Lantern Mode. It guarantees that Selene will roll a +60 on RotT Lantern regardless of whatever else happens, and if we have Rarity take a commission (either this turn or next) in addition to studying the Knock 2 + Moth 3 artifacts so we could sell them off next turn for 300 bits if we need it, we should have enough bits that we could comfortably also have her scry for something else, like a 3-circle site.

 

[ses]

Minaturizing is such a waste of an AP. We should just commit to the scry and accept the general bonus in the rare possibility that the Lantern artifact ends up horribly cursed. Seriously with the number of study rolls were doing this turn it's fine.

It's throwing away a Forge lesson or a prison for nothing. Even if the chance of being cursed is 5%, which seems unlikely, that's effectively spending an entire Name AP for the equivalent of +1.5 to her Lantern roll. That's absolutely insane, would be the worst Name AP spend in the entire quest, literally an order of magnitude worse then Biedde graverob or Selene bases last turn

We should take +2 bases AP, skip edge sacrament, and do moth/knock study plus a social action, probably for Cheerilee, as well as teaching Rarity with our free social to upgrade her income. Considering that Grail 3/forge1 seems to have given about +10 bits/turn I wouldn't be surprised if grail4/forge2 gives another +20 bits/turn on top due to reroll plus both lores applying.

 

[Greymere]

You know, since he can miniaturize into a Forge 6 artifact, this means that technically once he's "befriended" we can have him miniaturize and channel a max Forge Influence for us for our Forge Sacrament (+113 total). We'd lose out on being able to take advantage of our reroll, I think, but I haven't done the math yet to check whether a single reroll adds more value than an additional +20 per roll, if we Experiment twice on the same turn.

 

[Flaregamer82253]

Now that we know how things have turned out it's time to start preparing for next turn.

First the practical prudent must have's:

Cover bases - Filthy Rich and Risen (1 extra Velvet AP)

Servants - search books Ponyville

Selene - Smooth Nights indulgence, get corpse for another Risen, get Silver Key

Fluttershy and Risen - 2 lantern Aotl for Velvet

Jade - Scry level 7 Book [Failed]

Mareinette - prepare Spoiled

Velvet Axe - knock lesson x 2

Rarity - focus on work

Velvet free social - Rarity teaching

Velvet free Camelot social - Caddy time

Velvet - Soft task

Velvet - Study lantern artifact

Velvet - Read Moth Book with Aotls

Velvet - birth Forge Name Daughter [Successful]

Now for the hard part.

We have Biedde, Baldomare, [insert cool name] Forge Name and one Velvet action.

Now we need a prison built but aside from that we have decide which Sacraments/befriending to focus on.

Our options are as follows

Biedde - create prison or edge influence (aiming for edge sacrament)

Baldomare - SH Sacrament or scry level 7 book

Velvet - SH Sacrament or Winter Sacrament action

Forge Name - Forge lesson or build prison

So Plan: Yay Morals!!! (While planning to mentally traumatize and eat somepony next turn)

Biedde - Edge influence
Baldomare - Scry level 7 book
Velvet - Winter Sacrament 1/3 and try for Edge Sacrament
Forge Name - build prison

Or Plan: Finally getting an SH Sacrament

Biedde - build prison
Baldomare - SH Sacrament
Velvet - SH Sacrament
Forge Name - Forge lesson

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I generally like your shell @Shaper47 because it works towards how I think we need to be playing.

I think our priorities will remain based on two things for this turn no matter what. First, preparing the Moth sacrament. Second, Biedde's sacrament.

I'll explain my reasoning for both right now.

At this point, the Moth sacrament is becoming a necessity. That doom clock is running fast.

End of turn 19/Start of turn 20 to start of turn 22:

Princess Celestia has reached LANTERN 0.

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Selene has been keeping an eye on Princess Celestia. She has correctly informed you that Princess Celestia will have reached Lantern 2 by the beginning of Turn 22.

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I don't expect her to keep this pace, but assuming that she can, we will otherwise meet our end on turn 24. I would personally expect that it will probably take her two turns to level from here on out, and would absolutely take at least two turns to reach Lantern 5 if not more. For that reason, we need to act as though we must be ready by turn 26 or turn 27.

So we may need to slowly pick and choose what we can't afford to put time into. More than AP or bits, we need time. The Moth has to fire next turn no matter what. This means that we study the Moth book this turn until it is done and have Mareinette level up Spoiled.. Given that we can do one book and one artifact in a single AP, the Lantern 4 artifact is a good second for reasons that we've long gone over with opening up Selene for scrying.

On another note, I would like the Grail sacrament done next turn too, and will argue in favor more at that time. We may or may not need a prison for that. So I approve of having the prison built.

As for Biedde's sacrament, it is because I genuinely believe that we will need to be combat ready when we undertake All In, and the moment is now or never because we're gonna have many other priorities going into next turn. Edge is a lore that often needs the individual to be strong rather than relying on group strength, as the assault on our manor showed. To this end we should ensure that Velvet is ready for that, and I expect this to be our last major chance at it. So perhaps we may want Fluttershy and the Risen to give us Edge AotL instead.



On other topics being spoken or considered in discussion in no particular order:
I dislike the idea of going on an expedition for a Forge 6 reagent since we have a more guaranteed method to achieve it that can be completely done next turn for 2 Velvet AP, 1 Name AP, and 200 bits. I would expect the expedition to be intermediate and take attention away from next turn where we can try to scrounge up funds for a LV7 book expedition for Baldomare.

I do like the idea of committing more study actions to study our useless artifacts. If we can sell them, then that will give us the funding to befriend our Forge Name and the LV7 book expedition.

I don't like your Selene actions since aside from Soothe the Night, she doesn't get much mileage out of these. Searching for a Silver Key area is not a priority at this point. I don't know what she should be doing either, but there is probably something better, even if that's sacrificing 2 of her AP and another's AP for an extra Velvet AP.

Velvet Axe is in a weird spot where we don't have much for her to do this turn since she shouldn't go on an expedition to save bits. Whatever she does, more Knock lessons won't do much for us at this point.

We have had Rarity take multiple commissions lately, but if she doesn't tell us another will interfere with her work this turn, then I say we have her do another. As many bits as possible as soon as possible. On another note, since we will probably be taking Rarity to All In with us and leveling her up improves income, leveling her up is a good use of our time.

 

[Greymere]

Velvet Axe is in a weird spot where we don't have much for her to do this turn since she shouldn't go on an expedition to save bits. I think having her search for a 3-circle site would take good advantage of her Searching bonus, and she would be better to get a risen than Selene since she has less to do this turn. More Knock lessons won't do much for us at this point.

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She... doesn't have a Searching speciality though? That's Baldomare.

Edit: Also, just to point out re: Shaper's plan, if you guys want to promise Spoiled Rich to Mareinette at the end of this turn, then we're going to need the Leash active on her so she counts as an available Minion unless you expect her to jump three(!!!) relationship levels with a single action. And even then that's hoping for a two-stage jump, which I'm only inclined to think might be possible due to Spoiled explicitly being easier to get to Confidant + Mareinette's ridiculous social-fu.

 

[spiderhellian]

Huh. @OurLadyOfWires I believe we once asked about follower studying low-level artefacts, and you said wait and see. Is there something we're still waiting on? Is it something you're still not sure of? Something you've thought through and deemed "leave it to Velvet"?

---

Hmmm. If we can fit in the Manhattan expedition book, I wonder if that could be DoA's actions. It's probably Medium or Short, and she could…. Probably? Solo it? Maybe that's a bit ambitious…

But it might be too conditional to send her expeditioning when we're reading the book in turn.

 

[Flaregamer82253]

She... doesn't have a Searching speciality though? That's Baldomare.

Edit: Also, just to point out re: Shaper's plan, if you guys want to promise Spoiled Rich to Mareinette at the end of this turn, then we're going to need the Leash active on her so she counts as an available Minion unless you expect her to jump three(!!!) relationship levels with a single action.

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Noted. I was conflating the two and updated accordingly.

It's a major reason that I want a prison. She's easier as a prisoner than a minion. Unless we can get a nice double-up bonus, this is just covering the bases.

 

[Rafuki22]

Fluttershy and Risen - 2 lantern Aotl for Velvet

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Didn't we have an agreement with Comet?

 

[ses]

Huh. @OurLadyOfWires I believe we once asked about follower studying low-level artefacts, and you said wait and see. Is there something we're still waiting on? Is it something you're still not sure of? Something you've thought through and deemed "leave it to Velvet"?

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Hmmm. If we can fit in the Manhattan expedition book, I wonder if that could be DoA's actions. It's probably Medium or Short, and she could…. Probably? Solo it? Maybe that's a bit ambitious…

But it might be too conditional to send her expeditioning when we're reading the book in turn.

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We absolutely can not send Axe on an expedition wr haven't even unlocked yet. Manehattan is next turn at the soonest. That said the expeditions inside are likely soloable by Axe easily enough, especially now that we are building an artifact roster.

 

[Nevermort]

Hmm. I think I'm learning toward minaturizing the Name in Lantern Mode. It guarantees that Selene will roll a +60 on RotT Lantern regardless of whatever else happens, and if we have Rarity take a commission (either this turn or next) in addition to studying the Knock 2 + Moth 3 artifacts so we could sell them off next turn for 300 bits if we need it, we should have enough bits that we could comfortably also have her scry for something else, like a 3-circle site.

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Why not have Forge Name scry for Book herself? Is it not the same bonus and saves Luna's AP?

I guess that's true. I do wish we did take it as the vote, just to save us all the pain later down the line. It would be nice to have it settled. Though I get that, in practice, this vote doesn't necessarily mean that.

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It was always a choice between accepting Mareinette's ways and fighting her on it. I think Cadance vote should be treated as bonus Harmony option similar to human Twilight vote. If people reject it we are just back to original dilemma.

There's no such thing as deserving it. I'd rather sacrifice her for the sake of a _lot_ of benefit than try and do some psycho Hannibal Lecter act of hunting down a criminal and deciding unilaterally caput gerat lupinum.

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So about using Spoiled for Grail Sacrament. I don't think anyone expect Mareinette to stop eating ponies after being befriended by Velvet. If anything Velvet accepting her ways is permission to do so. But in the best case scenario Velvet's choice of the victim may inform Mareinette on who is acceptable targets. In this case criminals are definitely better.
On the other hoof Velvet becoming a Hour known for eating bad mothers (or sending Mareinetee after them) is hilarious.

 

[Pittauro]

There's no such thing as deserving it. I'd rather sacrifice her for the sake of a _lot_ of benefit than try and do some psycho Hannibal Lecter act of hunting down a criminal and deciding unilaterally caput gerat lupinum.

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Still better to use someone we can rationalize better.

And better a serial killer than a bad mother than an innocent children.

Some are worse acts than others.

Wait a minute-

"Tags: cultist simulator, horror, my little pony"

(The way I see it is that we're gonna play judge, jury, and executor to somebody at the end of the day. If so, why not Scrappy Rich who is right there when we're under AP hell?)

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Because I'm playing the judge part more seriously apparently, and I think she doesn't deserve that much of a punishment to proceed to the executioner role.

Simply put, I'd like Velvet to be able to sleep at night (..I'm getting flashbacks to Epic the Musical when I say that!). Let her kill someone she wouldn't regret... Or at least regret LESS.

I don't deny that it's fucked up and bad at all, but we need to Befriend her so we need to sacrifice someone (the distinction between strongly encouraged and required is a joke)

I was specifically trying to argue about the whole "valuing Spoiled life" argument above: that's inherently arguing that a criminals life is worthless and that we can do it guiltfree. I'm saying that vigilantism isn't a ticket to a clean conscience so we might as well not. The ap gains of not doing vigilantism aren't the value of Spoileds life, the value is befriended Name, which yes I feel is worth it.

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The distinction between strongly encouraged and required is exactly that. We CAN win without doing it, but it's easier if we do.

and it's beyond naive to argue that all lives are equal, and sacrificing a remorseless pedophile is the same as sacrificing a bad mother is the same as sacrificing an innocent child.

All live are valuable, and all people would deserve to... well, not be sacrificed for eldritch rituals. But not all evil acts are the same, and I'd like to go for the LEAST evil act we can to accomplish our goals.

Or in other words: Being the Punisher is not the same as being the Joker.

The fact the act is not guiltfree doesn't mean it can't carry different levels of guilt.

and both acts result in befriending Mareinette, so yes, that IS the value you're putting on the difference between "the life of Spoiled Rich, the (bad) mother of a friend of our daughter", compared to "the life of a horrible criminal AND a stranger". Plus the value you put on the difference of the amount of guilt Velvet will carry in her own mind.

a scrying ritual, a Biedde action, and a binding renewal to buy time. Oh, and the extra Mareinette actions we get by befriending her earlier.

If you're arguing that this is too high a price to change our target to someone more deserving and less heavy on Velvet's conscience, that's fine. But I reject the premise of "both acts are wrong and evil, so it doesn't matter which we do".

Criminal lifes are not worthless. But subjectively they should be worth less to Velvet because they're strangers, and because they did things that make it easier for her to rationalize her evil away. AND YES, objectively they're worth less because they can be weighted against the evil acts we prevent by killing them. It does NOT make this act right... but I do believe it makes it LESS wrong (if still very wrong).

Though if we wanted to be moral for real, we should just not do this at all. This is a "villain/anti-hero holds herself back from doing the worst she can do by doing something less bad", nothing more, nothing less.

This vote is gonna leave a bitter taste in everyone's mouths someway isn't it?

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YES.

well, not everyone. Some of us don't have problems about playing an evil character (or a morally gray character doing evil acts when judged rewarding enough), and some are fine with either way things could go.

Me personally? I'm trying to find a balance point between "necessary evil" (or "evil too useful to not commit", I suppose, if we accept the premise this evil is not necessary, just "strongly encouraged") and "what I think is right to do, in Velvet's situation".

Basically I'm trying to play it as "If I was Velvet, and those were my goals, how far am I willing to go?"

Turns out, I'm willing to do a whole lot of stuff, because it's that important... but if possible, I'd like to lessen the evilness of my acts. Which means I'm willing to pay a price (in this case the time and actions spent in finding a sacrifice I feel less bad about) to go about it a way I think it's less bad.

Let me put it another way: If Velvet ever had to confess her crimes to her family, I think they'd all feel less bad about "and for the power to do what I must, I killed and ate a serial killer you never heard of that killed x ponies and was going to kill y more" over "and for the power to do what I must, I killed and ate Spoiled Rich, the mother of Diamond Tiara, because being a selfish mother and wife made her an acceptable target".

hypocritical? A bit, probably. I still think it's less bad in a lot of ways.

Velvet is very conflicted about a lot of things, news at 11

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To be fair, a not-conflicted Velvet would be much less interesting.

Ah, "need", such an interesting word. Something that you can't live without, something that if you could not acquire your very self would waste away and rot, THAT is need... befriending Mareinette isn't a need.

It is a Desire.

No, no, don't try to deny it, you want that skeleton horse as a friend and there is nothing wrong with that. But you have no reason to deny it behind a word like "need" as if you were someone who lacks the knowledge we have been gifted with already.

The reasons don't matter, your goals don't matter, all that matters is WHAT. YOU. WANT. And again, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, just please be honest(with yourself and us) and enjoy the Feast.

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I'll argue that there's plenty wrong with that

(IC, I'm not shaming a player for liking the "immoral" option more!)

Does Velvet even know that Spoiled is a bad pony? She's never had a social action with the mare, so I just thought that all she knows is that the Riches are in a rough patch marriage-wise.

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I think she does. a bit from first hoof experience, a bit more from Mareinette's reports I imagine.

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UPDATE!

On a rare surge of Noble-like behavior, you have contacted the merchants with a list of excentric demands, with the requisite bits to fund them, much to their delight. Screws, metal plates, and intricate pieces of bespoke clockwork have been delivered to your house, with not a single comment on how strange this was being whispered anywhere. 438 bits have been taken from your coffers.

20 bits have been taken from your coffers, and you have used your free-per-turn Reagent crafting action, to produce a Forge 2 reagent.

A Forge 2 Reagent, recently crafted, has been consumed to aid a ritual.

A Wrong Key has been consumed to aid a ritual.

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mh... our largest single DIRECT investment in something, really. Especially in raw bits

INDIRECTLY, we invested more in bureau loyalty and YES, in Twilight I suppose. but we're talking investments spread among many turns there.

oh, actually we spent nearly as much for the Edge 3 Artifact, we paid 400 bits for that (in hindsight too much, really. We shouldn't have done that)

...Did we ever use the Edge 3 artifact in any way that could justify that extravagant expenditure?

It was… beautiful. But only in the most clinical and intellectual of senses. It did not evoke the breathlessness of a sunset, or the joy of sunrise. But it was beauty nonetheless.

It was… a clock. A timer, counting down the endless days, tuned precisely to ring at the end of an Era. The ticking of its internal clock acting like a heartbeat of sorts. And for all that it did not resent you or its purpose, it also understood it would stop with the Glorious thrum of its trumpets.

It was… a companion. One that would keep your company, and learn from you what needed to be learned, and teach you the skills you would eventually need, and obediently pass you the tools you asked for as you labored over your next creation.

It was everything you wanted…

But it would never be what you needed.

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...Velvet is really reliving the experience of the Forge of Days here.

She made a child, and she doesn't love it, even as she doesn't hate it.

You are Velvet Covers. And like Her before you, you are now looking down at the foal you made, but not at the foal you wish to give your husband.

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A shame. But a lack of love does not mean a lack of happiness for the foal, at least. Not necessarily.

I wonder what our DAUGHTERS will think of it, though.

You pick up the delicate key, that you prepared just for this occasion.

You insert its tip at the center of its heart, right between the most important cogs of its internal clock.



And then you twist it.

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That is NOT what I thought we'd use the Wrong Key for... but damn, it fits.

"Hello, mother," it says, with a voice of metal and copper, but that also sounds innocent and jovial like the song of a bird.

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Well, he's no Silky or Selene or Soft, but he's also not THAT. So... SUCCESS!!!

However, the only thing you could think of, during your entire conversation with it, was that…

It loves you, yes. But only because it was created to do so. The same way a lock is supposed to fasten itself and not yield, and a hammer is supposed to press whatever it strikes. It loves you, and it called you its mother.

But you… do not love it back.

It will never resent you for that, and it knows that perfectly well.

But still…

This is not the foal you wish to give your husband.

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A bit sad on its part... but still, he knows what it was made for.

(You may not name it "Velvet [Something]". Because you do not hate him, but this is not the foal you want to give to your husband.)

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mh... how about, as a compromise, we use something SIMILAR to Velvet, but that it's not Velvet? A mark of it being "kinda" like a son, but not the same as our daughters.

Something like, instead of using Velvet, we use "Cotton" or "Silk" or "Denim".

...or, as he's artificial... "Polyester"? Then again it's unclear if ponies have plastic.

Spoiler: Temporary fuel optionsPermanent fuel solution

-The Name of Forge operates under special rules, regarding his summoning period.
-The Name of Forge is capable of CHANNELING the highest intensity of a Forge Influence, and gifting it to you for a full month.
-The Name of Forge is considered to be a Minion, and does not mind being sacrificed for Rituals.
-The Name of Forge is only considered to be "unsummoned" if its body is completely destroyed. Either by reaching 0 health, or by being sacrificed.

Health: 5/5
General bonus: +30
Specialized bonuses: NONE
Aspects: FORGE 6, SECRET HISTORIES 3 (VARIABLE)
[NAME]: There is, or was, a hierarchy within the Mansus. He has reached high within its ranks.
[ONE WHO IS VERY GREAT]: It is willing to offer you Sacraments in the Lore of Forge, should you fulfill its requirements.
[WEIGHT OF PRESENCE]: It grants a full level up to the Secret Library for its preferred Lore.
[MINIATURIZATION]: The Name of Forge can spend one action point to be treated as an "Artifact" of the same intensity for the duration of a turn. When doing so, it will not spend fuel for the duration of said turn.
[RECALIBRATION]: The Name of Forge can, at the beginning of every turn, be ordered to change its lesser Lore aspect as a free action.

[PROUD]: Will refuse to cast any rituals that do not involve either of its Lores (Forge or its lesser Lore).
[UNIQUE]: The Name of Forge is a unique creature. It may refuse summons at will, and will refuse re-summons for three full months should it be unsummoned for any reason (including if it is killed or sacrificed).
[ENERGY CONSERVATION MODE]: The Name of Forge is currently without a viable source of energy. It has enough "fuel" for three full turns, upon summoning. If it runs out of fuel, it will "deactivate", making it unable to act and will have all its Lore attributes brought down to "nonexsistent". But it will still be considered "summoned" for all other purposes.
It can be fed fuel by consuming artifacts, under the following rules:
Spoiler: Temporary fuel options -Level 1-3 artifact: extends its summoning for 1 turn.
-Level 4-5 artifact: extends its summoning for 2 turns.
-Level 6+ artifact: extends its summoning for 3 turns.
-Forge artifacts will always extend its summoning for an additional turn, on top of its level-based period. The Name of Forge can be given a viable source of power by being gifted "An ingot of Blue Gold".
Gifting the Name of Forge "An ingot of Blue Gold" will also increase its lesser Lore to Level 4, and will be the equivalent of "befriending" it.
Spoiler: Permanent fuel solution "This body lacks the functionalities for it, but it holds the requisite knowledge to assist in this."

-"An ingot of Blue Gold" can be produced by taking a Forge 6 reagent, and spending one action from both Velvet Covers and the Name of Forge on its purification. This action will give Velvet Covers the malus "Poisoned Blood", which reduces her maximum health by 1 and can be healed by Forge's Redemption.

-A Forge 6 reagent can be either found somewhere, or created by taking a Forge 4 reagent and having Velvet Covers spend an action point on it and 110 bits purifying it. This action must be taken while the Name of Forge is summoned and activated, so it can properly instruct her.

-A Forge 4 reagent can be produced by Velvet Covers via usual means.

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...ok, a few thoughts

1) First of all... befriending him is reassuringly simple.

one forge 4 reagent (80 bits), 1 AP + 110 bits, and then 1 AP + 1 Forge Name AP.

oh, and one Forge's Redemption AP too, to heal, but HE can do it for us later using one of his two actions, so I won't even count it in the cost, as it's taken from its reward basically.

So, total, we need the free reagent action, 2 APs, 190 bits and his action.

We could in theory do it on turn 23 if we wanted. The only reason we can't do it now is that we're short on bits AND that we basically have no free APs at all.

2)...Blue Gold... that's just Uranium, isn't it? So we're giving Velvet radiation poisoning.

3) he gives up the specialization bonus for in exchange getting a mutable "lvl 3 (4 after friendship)" lore. A good trade all things considered, and it makes him a very good ritualist and VERY flexible in general.

4)the "can turn into a forge 6 artifact" should be mostly irrelevant to us I think.

well, it's very good. Now it's only a matter of saving the 180 bits for turn 23 to befriend it I think.

Also... hey, HE would be a good source of bits eventually! Make it Forge 6 and Grail 4, he can probably make works of art for us to sell. Basically become a second Rarity. Or build other valuable stuff in general.

We can even promote him through Velvet Pride. We'll just tell him we adopted this orphan with artistic talents or something.

@OurLadyOfWires you still have to add the Name Forge Sacrament by the way

 

[Shaper47]

Searching for a Silver Key area is not a priority at this point.

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Umm, by get Silver Key I mean get the Silver Key herself not search for Silver Key area.

So Selene level up to Knock 5.

As for Biedde's sacrament, it is because I genuinely believe that we will need to be combat ready when we undertake All In, and the moment is now or never because we're gonna have many other priorities going into next turn

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Yeah, basically it's time to pick our edge Sacrament type.

Either we're doing Biedde's now or we're going to the Wolf.

The poisoned blood thing means we kinda need to do Biedde's Sacrament now if we're still going for Biedde's Sacrament.

Shaper's plan, if you guys want to promise Spoiled Rich to Mareinette at the end of this turn, then we're going to need the Leash active on her so she counts as an available Minion unless you expect her to jump three(!!!) relationship levels with a single action

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It's end of turn so I'm pretty sure we can reassign the leash but we might need to wait till next turn.

We need her for our Moth Sacrament afterall.

Though I think we can prebook our actions if we have the prep (moth 4/4 and prison ready) done.

Didn't we have an agreement with Comet?

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Comet might sub in. It's still technically a Fluttershy helping action and she does have the required skills.

 

[DelightedOne]

So Selene level up to Knock 5.

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Can she even do that considering we don't have access to that level up mechanic yet?