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

[Pharohman777]

Welcome back! I missed this quest. It's so fun to read.

 

[BritBiscuit]

Its kinda fitting that someone writing about Heart and posting it here kinda caused the resurgence in this quest, after all Heart is the Lore of continuation.

Also good ol' Lady Velvet Covers a perfectly normal pony who no one should ever be scared of. The perspective of Whacky Amor and her view of Velvet really kind of parallels Velvet's encounters with powerful beings like Names, it really shows that compared to the normal pony with no Lores or a baby cultist who likely only has one or two levels in their natural Lore, she is terrifying especially with the Stains.

But yeah its nice to have OurLadyOfWires back and feeling inspired for this quest, it has been such great fun reading and participating in it over the years.

EDIT: forgot to also talk about the vote options i'll just put a list and my feelings for the options.

Inspiration - Not sure I like the narrative effect of our Daughter being one more step Wolf even if its not mechanical, it just seems like she would be diminished personality wise to be more like our Sons, always waiting and eager to please.

Tools - Giving rituals doesnt seem as bad at first glance but then you realise that this is another group who could contest Names, another group who could cast End is Beautifuls and Summon Windigos and as they are a Wolf Cult they would be rather inclined to summons beings that are so linked to their friend/leaders mothers patron. So it would get out of hand quickly.

Influence - Not much to say other than giving a Wolf Cult control of a town is a bad idea as they are either self destructive or destructive in general, also the Mayor being "negatively affected" if not a close friend shows the lengths they would go to make Ponyville a "good town" and it wouldnt just be the mayor, others offscreen would be affected too, so not a town I would want our daughters to live in.

Freedom - takes another action but gives us control and we can both mitigate/direct the harm and use them (likely teaching them more in the process making them more of a problem long term)

Nothing - I dont remember what the consequence of failing the promise was but its bad parenting to not fulfill a promise to your child and also it sets a bad example and as we have seen with our sons, they are very eager to follow the mothers example as she is so much worse.

So all in all im leaning to Freedom so far.

 

[Arrkhon]

[-] Gift her tools.
-"Whatever it is you desire to do, these are the means to do it."
-Soft Sweeps (and through her, her congregation) will learn all the usable rituals you currently know.
-Rites that can no longer be used, or that have not yet been fully researched, will not be taught.
-You will not give her any directions of what to do, exactly. And she will understand that you trust her, and that this is a test.

Click to shrink...

Hmmmm

"The Forge's Redemption"
-CD: GRAIL 60, FORGE 100
-Cost: 20 bits on simple materials.
-Duration: Permanent.
-Effect: Permanently removes a "Lasting Wound" or other body-affecting malus.
-Failing this ritual risks you suffering a Wound.


"The Incision of the Heart"
-CD: EDGE 60, HEART 100
-Cost: 20 bits on simple materials.
-Duration: Permanent.
-Effect: Permanently removes a "Lasting Mental Debuff" or any other mind-affecting malus.
-Failing this Ritual risks a non-permanent Mental Malus.

Click to shrink...

I can only wonder, could they fix themselves in a way that makes them Understand or would they fail?

 

[ses]

Incredibly exciting! So hyped for this to be back!

 

[Maer]

IT IS BACK!!!

I was also kinda worried this would end. Now I need to get working on my Omake's again... I think I fixed the last one, 'To Comfort in Spite', so I'll post that as well here, but man. I should've been doing that already. Ah well. No time like the present!

---

To Comfort in Spite V2.0

You are Ashen Weaver.

Right now, you are in your office- a new accommodation- and absently rubbing at your Hoof- no, no… your hoof. Sighing, you push it aside. The ache had been there for a full month already, and had merely dulled enough for you to get back to work in at least some capacity.

The first week after that encounter, you'd ended up having to visit the Hospital as every step seemed to make the-... the pain worse. The Doctors had been horrified, and… well, that was the past. What mattered now, was how it had impacted your work. Every day, you pushed through, focusing on your breathing and your Heartbeat to keep from going mad with pain. Honestly, scratching and biting at it had helped for a short time, before making it worse.

You signed your name on the latest setup for the scheduling, trying to ignore the phantom itch around your neck from where the collar had been strapped. The temporary relief wasn't worth the long-term worsening of the pain. At least now, you had definite proof of that. It would be months and months… maybe even years, but. It had already gotten mildly better. As long as you held steadfast, you knew you'd be fine. Getting up stole a wince from you, and you forced it down with uncomfortable ease. Practice made perfect, and this was something you'd been practicing daily for almost a month now. Walking made the trip to your door both easy, and painful, but that was life these days. It was rare to see your smile in the last month, and it had made it very clear how isolated you were after the Tragedy.

Thankfully, your boss had come through. He'd shifted you into management and fast-tracked your training. Knocking on the door to his office, you hesitated and looked around. Zoning out to escape the pain was… not the worst option, but you hated the lost moments. It was… it was supposed to be something to savor. Life was meant to be full of wonder, and sweet joys… what had happened to that old ease you had with finding it? Slipping inside after hearing the brusque tone of your bosses voice, you spotted him. Iron Nail was a Stallion in good standing, part of a proud clan of Irons who had done some kind of crafting since before the Apple family established their Orchard.

He claimed his grandfather had been an old fling of Granny Smith's back in the day, though most people laughed it off as ridiculous.

The office itself was fairly simple- plain tan walls, a simple dark-brown tiling, and a basic desk with a pair of chairs- one in front and one behind. A few shelves held some empty space that had once held pictures and trophies, the patterns in the dust showing where they used to sit. Filing cabinets were behind him, a pair that were never full, but always close to being so. Smiling at him, you hid the pain of walking over and set the schedules on the desk, sitting and looking at him. He hummed, looking over your work and nodding to himself as he slowly began to smile more and more.

"Ah, these are...? Yes, they are. Good. That helps immensely. I was worried you wouldn't make it today, but you pulled through... You've been reliable the past few weeks. You make me glad I moved you up, honestly- you've been a great help compared to some of the other slackers that got in on nepotism or investor demands. You're a fine Stallion, Ashen. You remind me of my own Colt sometimes, really- pushing on even with that injured leg. Just like him in that way, he's so…"

Iron Nail paused, his mood plummeting as he glanced at a calendar, today's date the only one with writing on it- his smile dying at the sight. You glanced over, seeing the name 'Iron Hoof' written in crayon, the hoofwriting different from Iron Nail's own, with colorful balloons scribbled around it. Nail seemed more somber and soft spoken when he continued, and you couldn't help but feel what little good mood you'd developed dampen alongside his own. "... he adapted. Used to adapt. He… I'm sorry, I shouldn't be talking about... Listen, Ashen can you grab the new contracts from Straw's desk? He should have them, and I need to be sure no one is trying to screw us over."

You paused, the pain in your hoof flaring as you felt something almost rise up inside of you, but then you realized... Why didn't you feel like… like you cared as much? Were you really THAT distracted by your own pain that you couldn't be a half decent Stallion and FEEL something? With Nail in front of you and feeling so clearly hurt, you were sitting here and feeling... nothing. Not even nothing, or numbness, just exhaustion and pain. It was disgusting and awful, and you felt... wrong. Like you had since you escaped that Nightmare, with that Wolf.

But maybe that was it. Maybe that was the reason it was so easy to zone out. Not feeling at all was easier, less painful. It was a way to bite at the wound, to scratch and rub at it. Feelings, Empathy... they'd be like alcohol on an open wound, wouldn't they? After all, you'd always believed that to empathize and help others, to offer service, was the best way to heal from a soul-deep hurt. And if your hoof was acting up only when you tried to empathize with other ponies… "Hey Nail? Would you like to go get drinks after work tonight? I… I have my own sorrows to drown, a-and I… hear that misery is… is easier with company."

You winced as you finished, your leg having started feeling like it was on fire during the question. You almost lashed out to attack it, hit it and make the pain go away, but… but spite fueled your refusal to let it steal away this part of you. You calmly lowered the hoof you'd raised in that initial flare-up, and massaged the Agonized leg, letting out a shaky breath as you tried to relieve some of the painful pressure that was cutting at you underneath the skin. Then you forced a smiled up at your boss, hoping he agreed.

He seemed concerned at first, until you smiled and he relaxed. His concern would be touching if you could feel that more easily or regularly. But once his concern for you passed, he hummed, thinking over your question. He seemed hesitant, some vulnerability showing for the first time since you'd met him, and he seemed to flip flop for a minute before slowly nodding. "I… you know what? Yes. I think I'd like that. I could use a night to just... get away from the house, and the... Thank you." He was silent for a moment, collecting himself. Then he sucked in a breath and spoke up again, his eyes snapping back into their normal firm pseudo-glare.

"Now get your tail in gear and go get those contracts. On the double!" After accepting, the vulnerability was hidden behind a wall of iron slammed shut with an unyielding demand. Nodding, you stood up, unable to hide your wince, or your limp this time as you started moving, refusing to let the pain slow you down. What good was Earth Pony strength and stamina if you couldn't push through a little pain?

---

You sipped at your ale as Iron Nail lay slumped against the bar next to you. In your state, you didn't trust yourself to get drunk- the pain didn't dull with the rest of you, as you'd found out when the Morphine left your thoughts sluggish and everything except the pain numb. It had remained as sharp as ever, leading the doctors to suspect it was somehow cursed or affected BY a curse. At least until they brought in specialists. No curse to be found, they claimed, though there was something. Nothing they could specifically identify though... So you sipped your ale, listening to Nail as he sobbed and weakly smacked the counter.

"He was young... J-JUST A COLT! How… why...? Why did they have to… t-to…" His whimpers made your insides ache, every flicker of sympathy and pity brutally burned by the aching of your leg. As he sobbed out his sorrows, you just felt off. Something inside you felt broken and the burning of your leg made it so hard to focus on him and FEEL like you normally would. Still… there was that familiar niggling tingle in your flank, the gentle push that said someone needed you, needed a shoulder to cry on, a nudge in the right direction… something to pull him out of this awful darkness he found himself in.

And since you couldn't find the words right now, you stood up, tossing the bits to cover your drinks onto the counter, nodding to the bartender and pulling Nail with you. Every step was like walking across broken glass laced with fresh pepper juices, but you couldn't stop- you WOULDN'T stop. He stumbled after you, confused and dazed, needing your help to stay upright as you pulled him out into the street, the cool night air swirling around the both of you.

"Wh-wha… wha's happ'nen… why're we goin'?" The tearful stallion sniffled, looking in your general direction in dismay, and you gave him a smile that was dragged straight from your cutie mark, every ounce of your control going into hiding your pain for your… your boss. Your friend. He'd helped you even when he could've laid you off, and he had agreed to spend time with you. He was a friend now, and nothing was going to change that.

It was a fair question, and one that you had given a decent amount of thought to both earlier, and just now before you'd left. After all, words seemed to be failing you lately, everything coming out subtly Wrong. So instead of talking, you'd act and try to soothe his mind through movement, rather than the simple sounds you could make."I'm taking you to a club. Not to find a mare- it is far too soon for that. But Clubs have dancing, and singing, and laughter. So, we're going to give you a night to forget. Forget about everything, even if only for one night. Yeah?"

Nail seemed hesitant, less invested in the idea, but he was drunk. More, he was sad, and broken, and lonely. His Wife had been out on an expedition when the Calamity hit, and there was no telling if she was even alive or dead. He feared the worst. He was so afraid of so much... you'd realized as he sobbed into his drink that every part of him was riddled with memories and loss, pain and sorrow. More than that, he was an aching wound that just refused to close. So much hurt and pain had been pushed into him for so long that he was just tired. Still, he couldn't give up entirely until he knew about his wife. He'd know in only a few months... so he was holding on for her. You Mark tingled more at the thoughts, burning softly against you in a way so impossibly different to your hoof- this didn't hurt, for example. More like sand just shy of being too hot, than the... other pain.

"Mm… nn'kay…" So, you took him down the street. You weren't sure which club to head into, and each one felt… bad. Nothing was clicking, nothing was feeling right to your mark, and you were feeling Nail get worryingly impatient, until… you felt it. A Beat. It only lasted a moment, and your hoof flared in Agony right after, but… but you felt it. You led your boss into the place, shivering as you actively avoided stepping on the burning limb, and looked around. Everyone was dancing, or singing, or both, and there was a single person in the mix, looking exhausted and drained, utterly mentally wrecked.

The poor Mare looked like it was her last day on earth, and she planned to live it to the fullest. Her hoofbeats… they reminded you of that Secret that had been forced into your mind, and you felt it… well, ache, but less. Like somehow, this was the real truth. A real factual truth of that secret, not the partial truths told by that being. It was more. More than the broken shards of glass rammed into your mind and soul, more than the splinters still sticking out of your brain... The way she wove through the crowd was magical, and she seemed to delight everyone she met with barely a few words that seemed to enthrall her every conversational partner, her every motion adding more and more to your understanding and realization of the truth.

So you gently led your boss onto the dance floor near that Mare and started dancing. You took him from group to group, person after person, dancing and joining in the laughter and upbeat atmosphere filling the air- that sense of giving up and indulging in a moment of revelry and reckless abandon. Each person, you got closer, and the closer you got, the more your heart pumped and your limbs felt energized… and the more the burning was pushed back.

The connections were still forming, still building, and the pressure from the dance beating back the pain made it easier and easier to form this web of connection and interconnections… until you finally reached her. The Mare dancing on her own and with tears down her face. So close, you realized your missing piece, that painful last limb being forced into the Dance as you felt… something. A rhythm that simply felt... right.

A piece in your mind shook, an awareness of some fundamental truth being revealed as a falsehood. More than merely that, the lens had been fogged with Ash, and now you could finally truly see. It did not progress anything, but… but as you danced, that feeling was made… real. Though she seemed to be looking at you. Really, truly looking at you. Her grin slowly spread, and she laughed, spinning away to follow some unknown grander part of the Beat. You breathed, looking at Nail as he danced.

It was… off. But you had the rhythm in your hooves now, and you KNEW what to do. So you gently stopped him, looking at him and grinning. His body looked tired, his eyes dull, his mind stuck in the tar and honey of the recent past. He was haunted, and looked it. He was not a happy pony, but... well, neither were you. That was the whole point of coming out here tonight, wasn't it? "Hey, Nails… I think I learned a new dance. Would you care to dance with me?"

He paused, looking at you and looking flustered, like he had seen a ghost. He hesitated and seemed to debate with himself. You smiled, gently nudging you and making him look up at your face. You winked and then adopted his favored expression, the one you remembered from when he 'promoted' you. "You need to move on and get some progress in you, hmm? Ain't never been a pony that was healthy when they was stuck in life. I'll set you up something nice, just make me a promise, yeah?"

You paused, giving him a very pointed look to go with your false smile. He had made you promise to help around the office again, to bring people together and give people an outlet. A way to feel something again after the Calamity. A promise to help foster connections and bring people together. To do what his Cutie Mark said he was always meant to do. Shaking that away, Iron Nails scoffed, then chuckled and sighed. "Very well… though I think I'll head home soon. This has been… nice. But I can't... I need to just be alone for a bit after this."

You nodded, smiling more softly- a feat made easier by the pain pulling back at that pulsing Beat in your hooves and heart. "Alright Nails. I'll take you home after this."
Though you could tell he wasn't exactly eager, you slowly led him through the dance you'd learned, watching him follow along and slowly speeding up until you both reached that right speed, and then… the he felt it. The beat in the air, the earth, your hooves… with a pulse, you started dancing with him, and your cutie mark seemed to come alive, almost burning as that awareness, the feeling of the Beat, started to spread through your connections.

Slowly, those you had spoken too started to match the dance, their hooves beginning to tap out a pattern of an unfamiliar Dance. This felt Wrong, but also so very Right, like his veins had been hijacked to carry liquid magic instead of blood, but for his cutie-mark. Whatever was happening, he knew it was NOT how things were meant to be. But… but did it matter?

As the dancing continued, Nail became less and less sad, or rather… he was more and more distracted, memories of the past and visions of a dark future overwhelmed by the reality of the here and NOW. The Dance in his limbs, the Beat of his heart, the Rhythm in the air… Everything felt so terribly right and good, and it hurt to know that this was somehow Wrong.

Time passed, people came in and joined, the web spreading and growing on it's own in ways that had never happened before. You felt names, tasted stories, and smelled their eagerness to join. More and more the feelings grew, the night thickened, and the dancing intensified. Above and beyond it all, the smile of that Mare continued to flash at you from around the room as she danced.

And slowly, you began to notice other quirks about her dance, the way she moved, and twisted, the way she seemed dazzlingly beautiful and breath-takingly sweet in her every word and motion, each throbbing quaver of the music- when had it changed? How did it match the Beat so perfectly…?- perfectly in time with her steps and breaths. A living, breathing dance, made flesh. This was more than a Cutie Mark, this was something that was beginning to edge in on the Divine… or so it seemed. It just… felt so Wrong…

You tried to breathe in and found it difficult, and not because of exhaustion or exertion. The air was thick and heavy, the newborn senses in your mind telling you that something enormously big was beginning to happen, and you couldn't tell if you'd want it to finish or not, part of you recoiling at the idea… which was enough. A tendril of focus wavered, the web trembled, and Nail saw a young stallion, One who looked like his lost Colt, in the flashing lights of the Club- and you both stopped.

The feeling of the web snapped, the Beating Pulse suddenly ceasing from the shock as it unraveled and everyone was suddenly disconnected from one another, leaving the entire club feeling heavy and hot and empty. As you listened, and felt, the presence of that weighted gaze faded until it was but a whisper of a memory. Nail was right in front of you, panting as groups all across the club slipped almost seamlessly back into their own dances, laughter and cheering coming from across the building as everyone congratulated everyone else on how amazing that experience had been.

You stopped dancing as well, panting and blinking as you looked at him, and he looked at you. And then, slowly, in those eyes full of pain and tears and sorrow… you saw him really see you. And he smiled, a broken Stallion in a broken world- but for a brief moment, he'd felt alive again, and that lingered in his mind. You saw his hooves twitch, the same beat that echoed through your own hooves… and you smiled back, the aching burn of your hoof miles away in the dull warmth of your Heartbeat.

You weren't sure you could mimic what had just happened again, not without that Mare to help get you started- though you noticed she wasn't anywhere to be found anymore- but… but you knew you could dance. You could dance, and you knew your heart would answer and beat for you when you did. And you were fairly certain he knew it now as well.

You helped steady him as you started to leave the club, stopping and chatting with a few people throughout the club about getting a party started, something to celebrate the memory of those loved ones that had fallen in the Calamity, and the lives of those who had survived it. The reception was mediocre, but you got people to agree. Especially to just meet up again in a few days to discuss the idea and workshop it.

As you stumbled out into the night, you felt… lighter. The splinters in your mind seemed to have lessened, and you could FEEL again. Something other than ache, and pain, and spite. It was such a relief to feel… sad, again. Because you DID feel sad. This was not how you should've handled your Bosses grief. It worked out better than it could have, but… but you regretted it. Hopefully he'd forgive you after this. At least you shared a secret now, though.

Though you wished you knew why you'd gotten the feeling of two different tastes from that Mare. It wasn't only her Beating Heart that you'd sensed, after all. You'd noticed something oddly… Sweet. But it eluded you, for now. Maybe… maybe you'd figure it out on your own? Or the next time you were ready to try and face off against that Thing, you'd hear it's poison dripping more secrets into your mind.

For now, you just helped your boss get home, and then headed back to your own apartment to rest. You weren't ready to head back yet, there was something more to do first, but… but you were getting there. Already one secret had had the poison run its course and fade, so the other would as well, given time. You just had to trust in that and hope for the best.

So you slept, and Dreamed, and wandered the Crossroads, exploring as you ever did.

---

The next morning, as you looked through the news paper while getting ready for work- with more energy than you had since that encounter- you paused on a certain section. A picture of that Mare from last night, being led away by men dressed in that uniform of those new Lunar Cops. The Lunies had been after her... and there was even mention of some kind of magical ritual nearly being cast last night at... at the bar. They were trying to interview and figure out what had happened, but... but there was no one who could remember the names or faces or even Cutie Marks of most people they'd met last night, very well... Thankfully, that included you. Though you weren't sure if that was wholly a good thing.

At least you were ready to keep trying. There was that much going for you.

 

[Shaper47]

So 5 Velvet AP and Velvet has a level 4 Lantern and Edge Influence.

On the to do list is:

1 AP - "Soft Sweeps' Request"
1 AP - Biedde blood price (unless we want to go wolf)
1 AP - Artifact study (lantern and Winter level 4 artifacts)
1 AP - Book study (level 5 Moth book)

Which gives one free unassigned AP, one mansus AP and one social AP.

Given how we have a level 4 lantern influence I suggest we spend our personal AP on a visit to the mirror garden and studying Baldomare's beacon in the hopes of getting another lantern scrap (would bring us up to 4/4 lantern).

Probably somewhere guaranteed to not be dangerous for mansus exploration (Biedde fight is probably happening) so the Ashen Wastes.

For social I'd prefer Caddy or Selene or our sons.

 

[jelloloaf]

At least you were ready to keep trying. There was that much going for you.

Click to shrink...

Lovely omake, Maer! Thank you for sharing.

The Dance in his limbs, the Beat of his heart, the Rhythm in the air… Everything felt so terribly right and good, and it hurt to know that this was somehow Wrong.

Click to shrink...

he must be somehow mistaken dancing can never be wrong dancing is the purpose and cause of life yes he must be wrong somehow

 

[Maer]

Lovely omake, Maer! Thank you for sharing.



he must be somehow mistaken dancing can never be wrong dancing is the purpose and cause of life yes he must be wrong somehow

Click to shrink...

Thank you! I took advice from Our Lady, and reduced the amount of Lore use and even the amount of Lore present, and it turned out... better. Darker, sadder, but overall better. He has tricks and reasons for being able to access Lores beyond the two most have, but he's FAR slower at it than Lady Velvet. There'll probably be another timeskip as he digests and processes Winter, but then he can explore more of The Mansus again.

As for why it is wrong...

Spoiler: There's reasons why it felt wrong to him.

Lady Velvet is far more attuned to Lore than most, while Weaver is far more in tune with Harmony. Heart feels like an aspect of Harmony in many ways, but is also distinctly darker and more visceral, a far more fundamental and practical thing than Kindness, Loyalty, or Generosity. It feels wrong because he's used to seeing things from the other direction. And here, he's seeing Lore in its purest form, almost entirely untouched by Harmony.

Plus there was a Cultsist of the late Copper's Cult attempting a ritual, so the Heart and his own talent were being Hijacked by someone more powerful and knowledgeable who had 'goals'.

 

[Alan975]

On what to give, why not all of the above?

The risks are not important, anything and everything is better than Nothing.

Also- @Shaper47 remind me, are you still keen on Wolf sac instead of Biddies? Don't remember us being quite so pressed for time that we can't save those wounds for something more juicy.

 

[Shaper47]

Also- @Shaper47 remind me, are you still keen on Wolf sac instead of Biddies? Don't remember us being quite so pressed for time that we can't save those wounds for something more juicy.

Click to shrink...

I don't trust Biedde.

After what nearly happened to Comet, having ourselves placed in the Colonel hoofs seems like a bad idea.

I don't like a character building implications of our personal Winter Sacrament (it's the foels bit, that just crosses a line unleashing a wolf son doesn't to me)

I really like the idea of a Wolf Sacrament, it just fits you know. It's seeking power to protect her family, it's an act of love. Character development wise it clearly has Velvet putting those she loves above her morals which I feel is an important step for her/us to take.

Just being clear through I only want Velvet to have three stains. No more, no less.

So I don't really feel like spending the Stains on anything juicy in the future.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

Tally

[X] Plan: Prisoner Chomping
-[x] (Free) Sell Edge 3 artifact
-[x] (Detectives) Follow Up: Dodge City
-[x] (Constables) Follow Up: Tall Tale
-[X] (Commissioner) Introduce Lore: Forge
-[x] (Director) Lantern
-[x] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Spoiled Rich & Filthy Rich
-[x] (Biedde) Channel an Edge Influence
-[x] (Baldomare) Channel a Lantern Influence
-[x] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[x] (Rarity) Focus on her work
-[x] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry x 2
--[x] Target: Easiest Level 7 book to acquire
--[X] Target: Easiest Forge 6 reagent to acquire
--[X] At Jade's old house
-[X] Acquire a prisoner, preferably not an innocent civilian
-[X] Build a prison
-[X] Obtain a dead body
-[X] Perform the Attention of the Laws (Edge) (x2)
-[X] Cover your bases (-2 Follower AP, +1 Velvet AP)

You are Velvet Covers.

And this... is one of the rare moments you have where you can think about things.

And you really mean think about things.

This is not one of the quiet periods you have in your office, back at the Bureau, where you can ruminate on the decisions you should make. This is not one of those peaceful afternoons, usually during the weekend, where you can relax without a care in the world. None of that.

Instead, this is one of those rare moments where you can ponder the... the depth of what you are doing. The profoundness of the things you want to, have to, get done.

And for better or for worse, the only conclusion you can reach is that...
...well, you just need more power.

But "power" is such a broad term, isn't it? Because what gives a pony more power? And when you think about it, what doesn't give a pony more power?

Bits can make a pony feel powerful. Having friends, or servants, can make a pony feel powerful. The ability to kill somepony. The means to ensure that somepony stays alive.

All of those things are, in a sense, a manifestation of power.

So yes, you need more power. But so does every maid and butler in your estate, and every pony you ever saw in the streets, and even your youngest daughter. Everypony wants to be able to do something, and once that's done they realize they want to do more.

So what is it that you really want?

...

You ask yourself that, as you look down at the empty scroll parchment you have in front of you.

You know that writing your thoughts down is a little foolish. After all, magic and other means exist to restore even destroyed paper. And if you have the means to spy on others through the Lores, then those same means could be used against you. Still, you couldn't resist the urge to pick a scroll and a writing pen. You couldn't pass on the opportunity to get this multitude of thoughts out of your head and onto somewhere you can look at.

But when you ask yourself what you really want, and light up your horn to try and figure out an answer, the only word that you manage to write is...

GLORY​

... but of course. What else would it be?

...

Not long after, you begin to write other things on your scroll.



- - -

"I have a new guest, in my house. Or should I say that an old guest has turned into a resident?"

"She is callous. She is rude. And quite frankly, I think she goes out of her way to be unpleasant."

"... but my daughter likes her. And more importantly, despite my misgivings, I am coming to believe she likes my daughter back."

"And ever since she moved here more... permanently-"

"-or at least I cannot really feel binds between us anymore-"

"-she has been more... amenable to my requests. Even if she remains as unreasonable as ever."

"Or, if nothing else, she has made me more promises in the last few days than she had in the prior months."

"And given her abilities, I cannot help but think that... cannot help but wish that..."

"I need more of that."

"Even if only so that the others who are like her will commit to not becoming my foes."



- - -



"The old stallion terrifies me. Not because I fear him, but because I can't bring myself to fear him."

"The greatest part of me insists to think of him as a tool. As a knife. There to be used when needed, and ignored when not."

"But that is the thing. He is not a knife. He thinks, and he wants, and most of all he acts."

"The fact that I do not fear him just means that he has learned to hide his deadliness so well, that I can't help but be calm around him."

"And what better trait could an assassin have... than the ability to seem entirely harmless? To be able to get as close as needed, and then some more?"

"Perhaps it would be better for me to think of him as a knife. If only because that would remind me his only purpose is to cut."

"As long as I do not forget that he is a knife, yes, but one that does not belong to me."

"..."

"I have made financial arrangements, to keep his services for a little longer. But only until the end of the month. And I have made plans to learn his lessons this month, as dangerous as that may be."

"I have not yet decided if that is the best, or even the sanest, option."

"But I must be ready for the case in which he is no longer around... or if he turns against me."

"It is either that, or to remain stagnant with the Cutting Lore."

"I just hope I do not make a decision I will come to regret."



- - -



"The other guest, the one that I have forbidden from entering my house..."

"I suppose I do not want to write her name either."

"Still, she is..."

"..."

"I want to think of her as a problem. I want to think of her as wrong."

"Because problems can be solved. Wrongness can be avoided."

"But as I think about her, I can't help but wonder..."

"Am I the problem?"

"Because she has not caused me any problems."

"She has not done anything wrong."

"The only thing she has done so far is offer me to do something with her."

"If I was biased against her, perhaps I would say she was tempting me."

"If I was enamored by her favor, perhaps I would say she is instead presenting me with gifts."

"But at the end of the day, she remains a question."

"And over the last few days, I must admit that I... I have thought a lot about that question."

"For a moment, I even considered... inviting my own father, to partake in her invitation."

"..."

"Whatever I will do, I should decide quickly. Her demands for my attention have become more voracious, even if they remain subtle."

"And we both know that, come the end of this month, she will once again ask for an... offering, or a guarantee that our relationship still remains."

"Still, despite all that, I can't help but entertain the thought that maybe, just maybe, she is more eager for me to accept her invitation that I could ever be."



- - -



"My other guests are no less complicated, but I also think they are a little more straightforward."

"Cherenkolt is, by his very nature, a problem to be solved. I have yet to spend enough time with him to form an opinion. But to be blunt, I know him inside and out."

"Or at least I did while I was assembling him."

"Still he has made his wants and needs clear. That being that he has no wants, and needs more adequate fuel."

"Even if the cost to acquire it is prohibitive."

"As for Baldomare..."

"Well, we both know you are reading this. Right now."

"Not a single word can be penned in this house that you are not aware of."

"Your opinion on these matters would be greatly appreciated. But I can already hear you sighing in your room, and reaching for another bottle."


​

- - -



Unsurprisingly, Baldomare never appeared in your room to give you her opinion.

Still, you read over your notes, three times over, and then you got rid of them. You burned them, you separated the ashes into small piles and mixed each of them with the ashes of different substances. And you put them all aside to dispose of them in separate locations. And even then, you knew that would not be enough if somepony really wanted to retrieve them.

But that helped you center yourself, even if only a little bit.

...

Well, you have other things to take care of, now.

Your uncle would still like you to make some time for him. You promised to do something with Soft Sweeps. And of course, you have a cute-ceañera to plan.

Time to get to work.



- - -

VELVET'S PHASE​

This turn's available bits: 105


You have FOUR personal actions, ONE (free) social action, and ONE free Mansus Exploration action. (Four personal actions, plus one from "Cover your bases," minus one for summoning Cherenkolt).

Spoiler: Things to keep in mind

Additional notes:
-All your Fleeting Opportunities this turn may be performed with your free social action.
-Please check your character sheet's "Inventory" for the list of summonings that will expire at the end of this turn. (There are quite a few of them).
-If your followers successfully dig a body, you will automatically turn it into a Risen (since you have no other uses for dead bodies).

"My sister… Celestia, that is. I visited her dreams the most, and I saw…"

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.

Click to shrink...

-You must not let Celestia's Lantern level reach your Moth level.

-[] Do something about your opponents

Spoiler: Opponents

"They might not be your enemies, but they are definitely not your friends."
(Knowing, or at least suspecting, an opponent's location is vital for a non-ritual action to succeed. Otherwise, the pony sent will spend their action investigating an opponent's whereabouts)

Windy Flakes (possible location unknown)
--[] [WINDY] Participate in an assault against this opponent
--[] [WINDY] Try to locate or spy on this opponent
--[] [WINDY] Perform a ritual aimed at this opponent (WRITE IN which)
--[] [WINDY] Attempt to contact or parlay with this opponent this opponent (WRITE IN what to talk about, if you locate them and they are willing to talk)

You also have the free time to…

Spoiler: This won't take long

These personal, non-Mansus actions are free.

-[] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of [SPECIFY LORE] (This is a free action to summon "The Attention of the Laws")

-[] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about… (WRITE IN)

-[] The delights of subservience (Leash currently targeting: NO TARGET)
--[] Change Leash to another target. (Write-in who)
--[] Un-Leash the current target.

Pick ONE social/teaching action, for your free time at home.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Cheerilee, your daughter's schoolteacher.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Mayor Mare, the de-factor ruler of Ponyville.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Filthy Rich, a well-to-do and wealthy businesspony.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Spoiled Rich, who seems awfully interested in spending time with you.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Applejack, daughter of the Apple Clan and older sister to your daughter's friend.
-[] [SOCIAL] Go into town and try to meet somepony interesting.

-[] [SOCIAL] Teach Rarity, and make her a Seeker.
-[] [SOCIAL] Teach Jade. (Already a Seeker)
-[] [SOCIAL] Teach Fluttershy, and make her a Disciple. (Forbidden)
-[] [SOCIAL] Teach your family the Lores. (Requires "all Lores" to be Level 4 or higher, affects your entire family)

No more running, no more hesitation. If you don't do this, somepony else will, and that thought sometimes terrifies you.

Spoiler: The Dreams come, whether you like it or not

You must pick a single action. You will suffer a malus if there are no new locations to explore.
Using this action to change Ash's focus risks aforementioned malus.

-[] [KNOCK] Focus your hatred. Give Ash new instructions.

-[] [KNOCK] The Ashen Wastes
--[] [KNOCK] Tarrying in the Wastes is always a poor idea… but there is no other way to discover what this place holds.

--[] The Blank Plains (Blank Plains fully explored)

-[] [KNOCK] The Shattered Stairways
--[] [KNOCK] A labyrinth of stairs. A monument of a gone age. A sprawling ruin. See where the many paths might lead you.

-[] [KNOCK] The Ruined Church
--[] [KNOCK] Explore the depths of the Ruined Church (Mansus Expedition)

-[] [KNOCK] The Summit (Summit fully explored)

-[] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus. (Actions towards your possible Sacraments)

Spoiler: Sacramentum means a Solemn Oath

--[] Towards that cold Winter that awaits us all
---[] Investigating the End (Costs 30 bits. May be done multiple times per turn. Somepony, somewhere, will die.)
---[] Beg for knowledge of the End, so that you may learn of its necessity. (Will also provide you with an Edge Sacrament) [THIS IS A REGRETTABLE ACTION]
---[] Invitation? No Winter Names summoned

--[] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 1/3) (THIS IS A DANGEROUS ACTION)
---[] Follow Baldomare, towards a place Beyond the Map's Edge (This is an Expedition action) (this requires Baldomare to be set "to participate in an expedition", ONE Velvet action, and 40 bits)

--[] Take that terrifying leap, into the abyss we call change
---[] Don the mask, shear your mane, pick the only pony who will notice it. Snip snip snip (WRITE IN a CONFIDANT to be permanently lost) Requires Moth 4/4
---[] Invitation? No Moth Names available

--[] But what might we learn, when we fulfill out desires?
---[] "The Act" (WRITE IN three minion-equivalent ponies) Requires Grail 4/4
---[] "An invitation to dinner" (WRITE IN a minion-equivalent pony, or a prisoner, to be destroyed)

--[] You must learn more. Always, always more. The higher you rise, the more you see!
---[] "The Conversation" (WRITE IN a minion-equivalent pony, or a prisoner, to be destroyed) Requires Lantern 4/4
---[] Pay Baldomare her fee. (WRITE IN FOUR followers, or equivalents, for Baldomare's expedition) Requires Lantern 4/4

--[] Learn of that bright Edge, that lives within us all
---[] "I see you my enemy" (WRITE IN who you will challenge)
---[] Be blessed by that Wound, which never ceases to grow. (Will also provide you with a Winter Sacrament) [THIS IS A REGRETTABLE ACTION]
---[] Challenge Biedde to a spar… this will surely hurt.

--[] Reach for the skills that permits one to enact change
---[] Experiment, Craft, Create (Costs 50 bits per action, current progress 0/300) (WRITE IN if any reagents or sacrifices will be used) Requires Forge 2/4
---[] Set up a Workshop, under the direction of Cherenkolt (Costs 200 bits) Requires Forge 4/4

-[] A fleeting opportunity (rumor mills spin, opportunities come and go. These actions might never be available again)

Spoiler: Another moment, and they will be gone

-[] As promised, you will let Soft Sweeps help you. So, you will accept her invitation for... (Not picking this option risks "Dire Consequences" from Soft Sweeps' side)

-[] Uncle Steppes has been... distant, this month. But now, he asked for a moment of your time. "Just making sure everything is in order" he said, saying he has a gift for you. (Not picking this option will still net you his gift, but without your imput)

-[] On the treasures that bits may buy (actions where you search for things to purchase)

Spoiler: Bits and Buyings

--[] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them.
---[] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE)
---[] In the great libraries of Canterlot… the ones that are open to public access, that is (LANTERN, GRAIL, SECRET HISTORIES)
---[] In the many small bookshops that dot the side streets of Manehattan (MOTH, EDGE, KNOCK)
(Due to SECRET HISTORIES 3, now you have a better idea of what you are more likely to find in each city)

--[] Although you are personally judicious about such habits, you are still a noble. Searching for "peculiar items" to "add to your collection" is certainly not out of place… right? (Search for an artifact to buy)

--[] You have ingratiated yourself with the merchants of Ponyville. Tap into your sources and procure an artifact. (Specify LORE and LEVEL, up to Level 3. It will be added to your available list, but will be more expensive than normal)

--[] You haven't forgotten about it, you just put it on hold until a more convenient time. (Purchases done here will arrive/be completed at the end of this turn.) (Does NOT cost an action)
---[] NO ARTIFACTS AVAILABLE

On furthering your interests

Spoiler: In Ponyville

-[] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should… (Forge-aligned ponies are better suited at attempting these tasks)
--[] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
--[] You might need a place to… "store" your enemies. Alive. Dig a small prison under her house.

On planning an Expedition.

Spoiler: Out into the World

(All options involve a test, and can fail, Secret-Histories aligned ponies are better suited at attempting these tasks)
-[] [EXPEDITION] Equestria is full of undiscovered places. You must learn their secrets…
--[] [EXPEDITION] Search for a place that is recent in its ruin, whose History is decided. Mundane as it might be, it might still bear treasures. (Search for an "easy" expedition)
--[] [EXPEDITION] Search for a place that is old in its History. Where the influence of the Mansus is but an echo, but that can still be heard in the wind. (Search for an intermediary expedition)
--[] [EXPEDITION] Search for a place that should be better left forgotten. According to the powers of this Era, at least. Finding it will be hard, though, and uncovering its secrets even harder. (Search for a very hard expedition)

-[] [EXPEDITION] Sally out and lead an expedition (will open an "Expedition planning" vote later this turn, with you as the leader)
-[] [EXPEDITION] Scout out a known expedition yourself. (Write in which)

On furthering knowledge. Yours, or somepony else's.

Spoiler: The allures of Power

-[] [TEACH] Write a Manifest. It will not benefit you directly, but it will certainly benefit anypony else with whoever you allow into your library. (WRITE IN Lore)
-[] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Seeker.
-[] [TEACH] Teach Jade. (Already a Seeker)
-[] [TEACH] Teach Fluttershy, and make her a Disciple. (Forbidden)
-[] [TEACH] Teach your family the Lores. (Requires "all Lores" to be Level 4 or higher, affects your entire family)

(You may study three books, OR two artifacts, OR one book and one artifact. Studying/developing a ritual costs an entire action.)

-[] [LEARN] There is something about this… thing, and you must learn what it is
--[](Write in which Artifacts

-[] [LEARN] It doesn't have to be just during a leisure weekend evening, you can fit a few minutes of reading even when walking between rooms if you really get into it!
--[] Write in which books

-[] [LEARN] It all fits together, somehow… or so you hope.
--[] [LEARN] "Unknown Ritual – A Memory of Light" Step one (Progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)

On scaling the Mansus (Pick TWO options for every action spent)

Spoiler: The House without walls

-[] [MANSUS] The Wastes

--[] [MANSUS] You hate him, and he loves you so. Visit Ash, and tell him who else you wish to suffer. (Give Ash new orders)

--[] [MANSUS] Stalk the Ashen Wastes. The alternative is to be stalked.
--[] [MANSUS] Visit the Hunting Grounds, and pray that tonight you are the huntress rather than the hunted.
--[] [MANSUS] Tarrying in the Wastes is always a poor idea… but there is no other way to discover what this place holds. (Search for a new area)

-[] [MANSUS] The Blank Door
--[] [MANSUS] Explore the Blank Plains, the first afterlife of ponykind.
--[] [MANSUS] Visit the Lodge of the Sage Pony. You may not be able to talk to Baldomare, but you surely can listen very well.
--[] [MANSUS] Visit the Garden of Mirrors, where the Mares attend the glassy flowers.
--[] [MANSUS] Explore what lies beyond the Garden of Mirrors, behind that pale veil of fog Requires a Winter Sacrament
--[] [MANSUS] Reach for The Tower, at the impossible edge of the Blank Plains, and meditate on what you are lacking. (Gain one scrap of Secret Histories Lore) This option will not net you any gain.

-[] [MANSUS] The Shattered Stairways
--[] [MANSUS] Wander through the maze of broken stairs. Perhaps you will stumble upon something.
--[] [MANSUS] Reach for the Valley of Keys, where the snakemare of the Mansus once toiled for her freedom.
--[] [MANSUS] Seek audience with the Wolf-Divided (you will be given a useful gift. Gifts will always be increasingly more precious and useful. There is no risk of receiving any maluses or wounds) [This is a Regrettable Action]
--[] [MANSUS] There are other markings to be followed within this maddening labyrinth of stairs. Follow them. (Search for a new area)

-[] [MANSUS] Beyond the Tribal Door
--[] [MANSUS] Explore the depths of the Ruined Church (Mansus Expedition)
--[] [MANSUS] Visit Biedde on his post, and gaze upon the Worm Museum
--[] [MANSUS] What remains of the heart of the Mansus is but a tortured maze of glass and dead ends. Wander through its corridors.

-[] [MANSUS] The Summit
--[] [MANSUS] Ponder upon the Final Gate.
--[] [MANSUS] Ponder upon that ruined Workshop, where Cherenkolt's remains lie scattered.
--[] [MANSUS] Ponder upon the Broken Gate of hateful glass.

On more personal matters

Spoiler: Home and heart

-[] Of course you love your family very much, but you could always spend a bit more time with them.
--[] Just another pleasant day that you will spend with them. Perfect for cooling your head off.
--[] WRITE IN (other ways to spend time with your family, or anything else)

-[] Go into town and try to meet somepony interesting.

-[] Much to your own satisfaction, you now have a personal life outside of your maids, immediate family and business related meetings. You could choose to spend some time with…
--[] Cheerilee, your daughter's schoolteacher
--[] Mayor Mare, the de-facto ruler of Ponyville
--[] Filthy Rich, a well-to-do and wealthy bussinespony.
--[] Spoiled Rich, who is so very glad you are here today.
--[] Applejack, daughter of the Apple Clan and older sister to your daughter's friend
--[] WRITE IN (arrange to take your daughter to meet some of your younger acquaintances, or plan something else entirely)

On invoking the Lores (see RITUALS for more information, as well as CD and cost. SPECIFY if you will offer SACRIFICE)

Spoiler: The old ways

Write-in any sacrifices you plan to use.

-[] [FORGE] It's actually a lot simpler than it sounds, now that you know what you are doing (produce a reagent, write in which Lore/combination of Lores.
(You cannot produce a reagent with a Lore level superior to your own.) (Producing a single reagent is a FREE ACTION, producing 3 costs 1 action, 5 costs 2 actions, so on.)
--[] [FORGE] Level 1 reagent (5 bits)
--[] [FORGE Level 2 reagent (20 bits)
--[] [FORGE] Level 3 reagent (45 bits)
--[] [FORGE] Level 4 reagent (80 bits)

-[] It's grim work, but needs must.
--[] Acquire a dead body from the local cemetery.
--[] Acquire a live pony. (You have no place to keep live prisoners)

-[] "The proper things, in the proper manner, in the proper order. God help us all." (Perform a Ritual)
--[] "The Attention of the Laws" (specify Aspect)
--[] "The Forge's Redemption"
--[] "The Incision of the Heart"
--[] "The Path Through Nightmares" (specify target)
--[] "The End is Beautiful" (specify target)
--[] "The calling of Influence" (specify Aspect)
--[] "The Reflection of the Tapestry" (specify subject)
--[] Invoke a Risen (SPECIFY dead body used as source. ONE Risen is a FREE ACTION)
--[] Create an Ash-Ghoul (Write in how many sacrifices)
--[] Invoke a Windigo
--[] Invoke a Mare-in-the-Light
--[] Invoke Baldomare Already summoned
--[] Invoke the Daugher-of-Axes Already summoned
--[] Invoke Mareinette, Our Lady of Wires
--[] Invoke Biedde Already summoned

--[] To be performed at your own home, where you will... hopefully not leave many trails
--[] To be performed in Jade's old house (only up to Two-Circle rituals)
--[] To be performed on another location (you do not yet know or own any such location)

-[] Something else? (WRITE IN. Anything, but I will have to consider it, and it might make the voting period a bit longer)





Remember that write-ins for anything may be suggested. I'll do my best to answer if they are reasonable in a timely manner.

We just got back from a very long pause, and I am sure there are options here that are either missing or incorrect. Please observe a TWENTY-FOUR hours moratorium. For people to get the message, get their bearings, and then get to bashing me to fix things.

I hope you are all doing well.

 

[ses]

Time to go reread my own comments, I already had my vote for this phase basically locked in but I need to refresh lol.

 

[ses]

[Social] Soft Sweeps

This is already committed to.

[KNOCK] Tarrying in the Wastes is always a poor idea… but there is no other way to discover what this place holds.
It's a choice between "Explore the Wastes" and "Explore the Shattered Stairways". The Stairways gives rewards we're more likely to want but requires 3 explorations to fully explore a zone... and LANTERN and EDGE influences we'll be wearing this turn are highly likely to be useful exploring the Wastes anyway: we might find that maze zone that Eclipse is exploring trying to make their way to the Blank Door and get scraps or rewards from it. Compared to a guarantee of nothing useful this turn exploring the Stairways and only making a bit of progress for later.

(VELVET)
--[] Learn of that bright Edge, that lives within us all
---[] Challenge Biedde to a spar… this will surely hurt.

We're already committed to this from our previous plan.

-[] [LEARN] There is something about this… thing, and you must learn what it is
--[](Lantern 4, Winter 4)

We're extremely committed to studying the Lantern artifact this turn so Selene can scry

-[] [LEARN] It doesn't have to be just during a leisure weekend evening, you can fit a few minutes of reading even when walking between rooms if you really get into it!
--[] Moth 5, repeat until completion, ???

The only real decision here is to commit to reading the Knock 5 book if we oneshot the Moth book or not. On one hand the Knock 5 book is our lifeline for Baldomare. On the other we could actually use the rewards from the Knock book and needing that lifeline is really unlikely (and we have emergency options even if they're ugly if the turn ends and we need the lifeline re-established. Giving Baldomare bits is basically the intended emergency option to get a level 5 book on short notice)

If we dont want to risk our lifeline, that leaves not much in the way of options. We can read the Knock 2 book or one of our level 1 books for Library scraps for the Bureau as a very low value consolation for our AP. Or if we're lucky enough to read the Moth book in 1 shot instead of 2 we can study the Moth 3 artifact which is at least a good consolation use of AP.

This leaves one flex AP left over: The three options here are [Steppes FO], [Teach Rarity], and [Social Cheerilee]
I'm by far the most partial to teaching Rarity. Getting her the Grail reroll is a massive jump in her average roll that she's using every turn to make us bits, and we wont have the opportunity to do this again for a long time.


Making it more readable:

(SOCIAL) Soft Sweeps
(KNOCK) Wastes or Stairways
(STUDY) Lantern 4, Winter 4
(STUDY) Moth 5 book, Moth 3 artifact if very lucky, low level book or Knock 5 book if slightly lucky
(SACRAMENT) Biedde's Invitation
(FLEX) Teach Rarity, Social Cheerilee, Steppes FO

For a total of 3 x 2 x 2 = 12 possible combinations, consolidating the various low level books into a single option for our counting purposes.

If only we were allowed to go to Tall Tale. I'm so sad that we're not going to get to have Velvet go full badass on the changelings because we voted for efficiency in getting our cult set up instead. I'd totally spend a Flex slot on it if we weren't 5 bits short of the train ticket. Sad we aren't allowed to spend our normal AP on commissioner actions.

The ability to kill somepony. The means to ensure that somepony stays alive.

Click to shrink...

"I will even learn to stop people from dying." — Anakin Skywalker, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

 

[Shaper47]

[] Follow the Plan
-[] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of [Edge]
--[] [FORGE Level 2 reagent (20 bits)
-[] The delights of subservience (Leash currently targeting: NO TARGET)
--[] Spoiled Milk
-[] [SOCIAL] Soft Sweeps Fleeting Action
-[] Invoke a Risen
-[] [KNOCK] The Ashen Wastes
--[] [KNOCK] Tarrying in the Wastes is always a poor idea… but there is no other way to discover what this place holds.
-[] Learn of that bright Edge, that lives within us all
--[] Challenge Biedde to a spar… this will surely hurt.
-[] [LEARN] There is something about this… thing, and you must learn what it is
--[] Level 4 Lantern artifact then level 4 Winter artifact
-[] [LEARN] It doesn't have to be just during a leisure weekend evening, you can fit a few minutes of reading even when walking between rooms if you really get into it!
--[] Level 5 Moth Book x 3
-[] [MANSUS] The Blank Door
--[] [MANSUS] Visit the Garden of Mirrors, where the Mares attend the glassy flowers
---[] Study the flowers
--[] [MANSUS] Visit Baldomare's Beacon
---[] Study the Beacon
-[] [MANSUS] The Summit
--[] [MANSUS] Ponder upon the Final Gate.
--[] [MANSUS] Ponder upon that ruined Workshop, where Cherenkolt's remains lie scattered.

Didn't seem to be that Fleeting Action Soft Sweeps could be used in free social so instead it's Alicorn daughter bonding time.

Edit, was wrong missed the social actions can ne used for fleeting actions this turn bit

1 AP - Biedde blood price (unless we want to go wolf)
1 AP - Artifact study (lantern and Winter level 4 artifacts)
1 AP - Book study (level 5 Moth book)
1 AP - Mansus trips in the hopes of a Lantern scrap
1 AP - Masnus trips in jope of a Forge scrap

 

[Arrkhon]

Didn't seem to be that Fleeting Action Soft Sweeps could be used in free social so instead it's Alicorn daughter bonding time.

Click to shrink...

-All your Fleeting Opportunities this turn may be performed with your free social action.

Click to shrink...

 

[ses]

Does that mean the moratorium is over? I'm confused what this post means.

 

[Venerable Ro]

Fitting that the day this quest stirs I am beset with a million and one work-related vexations.

How, appropriate.

In any case I invite the peanut gallery to consider that in the absence of an overriding voice Soft's cult is the Wolf's cult. If we take charge we may do what we like with them, and if we do not take charge then he will do what he likes with them.

 

[Shaper47]

If we take charge we may do what we like with them, and if we do not take charge then he will do what he likes with them

Click to shrink...

I'm pretty sure that's she not he.

All the other options talk about our daughter running things afterall.

 

[Greymere]

Okay, time to actually read the updates now!.

[-] Gift her inspiration.
-"There is a reason why "Caput" is the first word in His invocation."
-Velvet Covers will gain the Trait [XVI:18-19], which will have the following effects:
Soft Sweeps will narratively begin to act as if she has "one more Stain than in the current counter". However, mechanically, she will continue to have the same number of Stains Velvet Covers has. -She will understand exactly what it is that you want. And you will be so proud of her.
-This is NOT a Regrettable Action.

Click to shrink...

[-] Give her nothing.
-"You regret this, you regret all of this."
-You will not be refunded your action point for this.
-"Dire consequences" will ensue, as if you had chosen not to spend time with Soft Sweeps and fulfill your promise.
-But oh, the inspiration this will give your daughter.
-This is NOT a Regrettable Action.

Click to shrink...

These two are just straight up out of the question for me. I really don't want Soft Sweeps to act even more Wolfy than Softy, and doing nothing is pretty much just shooting ourselves in the foot.

[-] Gift her freedom.
-"Now this is quite a fine group of friends you have made Softy. Would you mind if I joined you next week as well?"
-Velvet Covers will permanently lose one Action Point per turn.
-Velvet Covers will assume control over Soft Sweeps' nascent "gathering," and will be given options to direct it each turn.

Click to shrink...

This one is... almost a flat no for me too. I really, really don't know if we have the AP to deal with this, coming up on the endgame. Maybe it could balance out if they can summon things to feed us back AP, but in the end I just think this would be stretching us too thin to be feasible even if it's the best way to control the fallout.

[-] Gift her tools.
-"Whatever it is you desire to do, these are the means to do it."
-Soft Sweeps (and through her, her congregation) will learn all the usable rituals you currently know.
-Rites that can no longer be used, or that have not yet been fully researched, will not be taught.
-You will not give her any directions of what to do, exactly. And she will understand that you trust her, and that this is a test.

Click to shrink...

[-] Gift her influence.
-"Ponyville is growing. I would like the right hoofs to take the reins before it grows too much."
-Soft Sweeps (and through her, her congregation) will gain power and influence over Ponyville.
-Mayor Mare will be… "negatively affected" if she does not become a "Close Friend" to Velvet Covers by the end of Turn 23. (Leashing her from Friend to Close Friend is fine)
-You will tell her that you hope Ponyville turns out "the right way". And as much as it scares her to have this much responsibility, she will try her best.

Click to shrink...

Which leaves these two. I am also pretty reluctant to hand the Wolf cult the ability to summon Windigos and especially Ash-Ghouls. Even if Soft Sweeps is holding the reins, there's nothing stopping her cultists from doing things on their own. They're already murdering fellow cultists who get too obsessed w/ Soft Sweeps (rip to Whacky Amor, you're probably next once they find out) without her knowledge.

So... I guess that leaves Influence? It pretty much locks in socialing her w/ our free action and Leashing Mayor Mare next turn, once we're done with our Moth Sacrament. We get to change our Leash-target mid-turn if the initial target is no longer available, right? I'll have to go check later... But it's also the option that doesn't hand the keys to WMDs to a group of Wolf-touched ponies. Though I suspect that Mayor Mare will only not be negatively affected if she's a close friend because we could warn her away from certain things, which doesn't suggest great things about their potential methodology and/or goals. Which, of course it doesn't. They're a Wolf-cult.

...mm. You know, Maybe the freedom option is growing on me, typing this out. That -1 AP would hurt though.

On a side note, it would be kind of darkly funny if DoA ends up nabbing one of the Wolf cultist for Mareinette.


Let me go find my old posts to figure out what my plan was for this turn... actually I think I still have the google doc I plan these out on.

...yep! Didn't delete it!

[] Plan: That Bright Edge
-[] (AotL) Edge
-[] (Knock) Explore the Shattered Stairways
-[] (Winter) Raise a Torn Risen
-[] (Social) Fleeting Opportunity: Soft Sweeps
-[] Study (3x), by priority: Moth 5 book, Lantern 4 artifact, Winter 4 artifact, Moth 3 artifact, Knock 2 artifact, Manehattan book
-[] Sacrament: Challenge Biedde

To note, I don't actually expect everything in the studying list to get studied unless we get really lucky and one-shot everything. But Moth 5 book and Lantern 4 artifact need to happen.

Alternatively, swap out one of the study actions for something else; with a max Lantern Influence, we're pretty safe in the research department, I think. Teaching Rarity is an option, Grail 4/Forge 2 means she should be both generally better and more consistent at her jobs. If we want to go with gifting influence, we could squeeze in Mayor Mare here. Or we could go for Cheerilee as our only Close Friend and hope her personal character 'thing' won't be too onerous and get more AP fodder (and maybe someone who could help with that whole manuscript thing?). But we could also start on our Winter Sacrament (I think we have the bits to spare this turn?), or take a Mansus action in order to clear out that last spot in the Stairways. I'd be more inclined to do social or Winter Sacrament, though.

 

[Shaper47]

-[] (Knock) Explore the Shattered Stairways
-[] Sacrament: Challenge Biedde

Click to shrink...

Exploring new areas of the Mansus is dangerous and you want to do it in the same turn as fighting Biedde.

Sigh, remember what happened last time just a few turns ago.

I'd be more inclined to do social or Winter Sacrament, though.

Click to shrink...

We have a level 4 lantern influence.

So I'd really like a good reason to not be spending actions that take advantage of such an Influence.

 

[ses]

Oh SHIT I forgot about the manehattan book. You're right. That's an important read. Far more important than the Knock 2 artifact tbh.

I think we only do 2 study actions for the lantern/winter artifacts, the moth book, and probably the manehattan book. The third action is better spent on teaching Rarity or socializing.

Spending Mansus actions for stairways is viable, but if we dont spend our flex slot on the Mansus we should explore the Wastes instead for a chance at a Lantern scrap before next turn. There's no chance of getting a scrap this turn from the mansus if we explore the stairways and dont invest another full double action into stairways.

 

[DelightedOne]

You know, the worst part about a 6 months hiatus is that I don't remember anything. Went through my posts and managed to find this:

[] Plan Reminder
-[] [AOTL] Edge
-[] [KNOCK] Ashen Wastes
-[] [SOCIAL] Soft Sweeps
-[] [STUDY] Moth 5 book and Manehattan book
-[] [STUDY] Lantern 4 artifact and Winter 4 Artifact
-[] [STUDY] A Memory of the Path
-[] [ACTION] Biedde Sacrament

[] Plan Reminder, Uncle is gone
-[] [AOTL] Edge
-[] [KNOCK] Ashen Wastes
-[] [SOCIAL] Soft Sweeps
-[] [STUDY] Moth 5 book Lantern 4 artifact
-[] [STUDY] A Memory of the Path
-[] [ACTION] Biedde Sacrament
-[] Uncle Steppes FO

So I guess that was my strategy?

Also repeating this question @OurLadyOfWires can Wrong Keys be used to supplement Jade's Knock in studying A Memory of the Path?

Edited due to AP constraints. Also added variant plan.

 

[ses]

[] Plan Teaching and Learning
-[] [SOCIAL] Teach Rarity, and make her a Seeker.
-[] [KNOCK] The Ashen Wastes
--[] [KNOCK] Tarrying in the Wastes is always a poor idea… but there is no other way to discover what this place holds.
-[] As promised, you will let Soft Sweeps help you. So, you will accept her invitation for... (Not picking this option risks "Dire Consequences" from Soft Sweeps' side)
-[] [LEARN] There is something about this… thing, and you must learn what it is
--[] Lantern 4, Winter 4
-[] [LEARN] It doesn't have to be just during a leisure weekend evening, you can fit a few minutes of reading even when walking between rooms if you really get into it!
--[] Moth 5, repeat until complete. If beaten in one roll study the Moth 3 artifact, otherwise the Manehattan book if Moth book is finished in 2 rolls
-[] Learn of that bright Edge, that lives within us all
---[] Challenge Biedde to a spar… this will surely hurt.

Proposal plan, it explores the Wastes in hopes of getting a scrap from exploration, teaches Rarity to improve her future rolls by a crapton. Rerolls are real people and she rolls grail every single turn. Advantage is a huge chunk of extra bonuses to those rolls.

 

[spiderhellian]

Holy… shit?

It's back? It's back!

Wow, Jelloloaf, I've never seen an Omake make a splash like that!

And what a delight it is, I'm glad all has been well on your end Bird. And that we're starting off with, uh, some fairly weighty decisions!

Now, do I delve into planning? Or do I seek Velvet's demise because that glimpse into Softy!Cult was so much fun?

Anyone want to kinda summarize planning?

We were thinking of Mareinette sacrament, but chose the boring option of a prisoner? We were doing some reading? Maybe edge sacrament? Anything else?

 

[ses]

Holy… shit?

It's back? It's back!

Wow, Jelloloaf, I've never seen an Omake make a splash like that!

And what a delight it is, I'm glad all has been well on your end Bird. And that we're starting off with, uh, some fairly weighty decisions!

Now, do I delve into planning? Or do I seek Velvet's demise because that glimpse into Softy!Cult was so much fun?

Anyone want to kinda summarize planning?

We were thinking of Mareinette sacrament, but chose the boring option of a prisoner? We were doing some reading? Maybe edge sacrament? Anything else?

Click to shrink...

The top line plan is pretty much already set in stone of "Biedde duel, softy FO, at least 2 study actions to get the Lantern 4 artifact and the Moth 5 book"

Flexible parts of the plan are:
"Where do we explore with our Mansus action? Wastes or Stairways?"
"Exactly what are the details on the leftover bit of studying we have after handling Moth 5 book, Lantern 4 and Winter 4 artifacts? Options include Manehattan book, Moth 3 artifact, Knock 5 book, and shitty low level books"
"What do do with our one leftover AP: Options include Mansus exploration to fully explore a Stairways zone, Teaching Rarity to Grail 4/Forge 2, trying to raise Cheerilee to Confidante, Steppes FO, or a 3rd study action to make sure we get the Moth 3 artifact and manehattan book"

 

[Greymere]

Spending Mansus actions for stairways is viable, but if we dont spend our flex slot on the Mansus we should explore the Wastes instead for a chance at a Lantern scrap before next turn. There's no chance of getting a scrap this turn from the mansus if we explore the stairways and dont invest another full double action into stairways.

Click to shrink...

That's true. So I'll say my set of plans are:

[] Plan: That Bright Edge
-[] (AotL) Edge
-[] (Knock) Explore the Ashen Wastes
-[] (Social) Fleeting Opportunity: Soft Sweeps
-[] Study (3x), by priority: Moth 5 book, Lantern 4 artifact, Winter 4 artifact, Moth 3 artifact, Knock 2 artifact, Manehattan book
-[] Sacrament: Challenge Biedde

Prioritize studying while we have the Lantern influence to clear out as many artifacts as we can, on top of the necessary Moth 5 book and Lantern 4 artifact.

[] Plan: The Blade and the Crimson Quill
-[] (AotL) Edge
-[] (Knock) Explore the Ashen Wastes
-[] (Social) Fleeting Opportunity: Soft Sweeps
-[] Study (x2), by priority: Moth 5 book, Lantern 4 artifact, Winter 4 artifact, Moth 3 artifact, Manehattan book
-[] Level up Rarity
-[] Sacrament: Challenge Biedde

Prioritize just the Moth book and Lantern artifact, teach Rarity for better work rolls and hopefully more bits. Especially if we want to try and renegotiate her contract (I recall someone bringing that up before?).

[] Plan: An Assassin, an Occultist, and a Teacher Walk Into a Bar...
-[] (AotL) Edge
-[] (Knock) Explore the Ashen Wastes
-[] (Social) Fleeting Opportunity: Soft Sweeps
-[] Study (x2), by priority: Moth 5 book, Lantern 4 artifact, Winter 4 artifact, Moth 3 artifact, Manehattan book
-[] Talk to Cheerilee
-[] Sacrament: Challenge Biedde

Same as above, but spending a social action on Cheerilee instead. If we can get her to Confidant, then at worst we have an extra Follower AP we can spend on giving ourselves more AP and reducing pressure on the more valuable Name/Luna AP. And if I recall correctly, I also had some hopes that as a teacher, her 'special Confidant thing' might in some way make it easier for us to produce manuscripts for the Secret Library.


I was originally also going to suggest a variant with a Winter Sacrament action, but looking at our current Lore levels, we're only at Winter 4 1/4... so I'm inclined to hold off on that for now until we find an extra scrap somewhere on top of the one we'd get from studying the Winter artifact.

 

[Uruguayan spider]

The top line plan is pretty much already set in stone of "Biedde duel, softy FO, at least 2 study actions to get the Lantern 4 artifact and the Moth 5 book"

Flexible parts of the plan are:
"Where do we explore with our Mansus action? Wastes or Stairways?"
"Exactly what are the details on the leftover bit of studying we have after handling Moth 5 book, Lantern 4 and Winter 4 artifacts? Options include Manehattan book, Moth 3 artifact, Knock 5 book, and shitty low level books"
"What do do with our one leftover AP: Options include Mansus exploration to fully explore a Stairways zone, Teaching Rarity to Grail 4/Forge 2, trying to raise Cheerilee to Confidante, Steppes FO, or a 3rd study action to make sure we get the Moth 3 artifact and manehattan book"

Click to shrink...

Didn't we have an obligation to go on some dangerous expedition, Beyond the Edge of the World or something like that?
This is what Baldomare wants and should give us a Promotion for Secret Stories, right?

 

[Shaper47]

Spending Mansus actions for stairways is viable, but if we dont spend our flex slot on the Mansus we should explore the Wastes instead for a chance at a Lantern scrap before next turn. There's no chance of getting a scrap this turn from the mansus if we explore the stairways and dont invest another full double action into stairways.

Click to shrink...

Proposal plan, it explores the Wastes in hopes of getting a scrap from exploration

Click to shrink...

Isn't the Wastes a place for Moth and Edge scraps not lantern?

I'm pretty sure the Mirror Garden and Baldomare's Beacon are the places to study in hopes for a lantern scrap.

 

[spiderhellian]

Got it, that's really helpful, thank you. Did anyone do the math on how much we can expect to be able to study given 2 vs 3 actions, with some reasonable priority order?

…We are aiming for Moth sacrament next turn, right? And Grail sacrament as rebinding? Man I'll miss the Moth Grail wombocombo, it seemed like it would be such an interesting scene.

 

[Greymere]

Didn't we have an obligation to go on some dangerous expedition, Beyond the Edge of the World or something like that?

Click to shrink...

I'm guessing you're talking about "Beyond the Map's Edge", for Baldomare's SH Sacrament? Not this turn, and I don't believe it's exceptionally dangerous, based on its description. Baldomare's busy giving us a Lantern Influence this turn, so she can't offer us Sacrament, but it's a definite possibility next turn assuming Biedde doesn't completely curbstomp us.