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

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Pros of Accepting Smiles' Offer
- One additional level Velvet Edge
- Sacrament Benefits
- Save 100 Bits and 1 AP
- gain Edge 6 Heart 3 Cat Horse and his AP
Cons of Accepting Smile's Offer
- Lose Edge 6 Moth 3 Guard Pony and his AP
- Lose whatever AP is needed to deal with his network (Scries, Assaults, Defenses)
- Lose whatever bits are needed to deal with his network (Scries, Assaults, Defenses)
- Adds a Biedde Summoning Doom Clock
- Could get utterly ruined by fucking up once (Rarity or Jade getting assassinated)

Pros of Coward's Way Out
- Keep Edge 6 Moth 3 Guard Pony and his AP
- Gain Edge 6 Heart 3 Cat Horse and his AP
- Save whatever Bits and AP would be needed to fight Biedde's network
- Competitive Silky Spoiling
- No risk to our Followers
Cons of Coward's Way Out
- Lose 100 Bits to summon Smiles
- Lose 1 AP to summon Smiles
- No Sacrament
- Lose Free Social AP or 2 Follower AP to keep these two apart

So we could trade Biedde AP for Smiles AP, or we could trade a Risen and Servants AP for Smiles AP.

I think Biedde's AP is worth more than Risen + Servants AP. And if we loot the rescued Smiles' cost is halfway covered already.

 

[Sveta08]

full disclosure, we don't KNOW for sure that he's befriendable without joining his side/taking his Sacrament, AND it comes with the added cost of having to pay more in general.

We need to summon Smiles (100 bits + reagents + AP for summon), we'll need to pay his maintenance later unless we befriend him quickly enough (extra follower APs), we need to pay for Biedde's Maintenance (Bits or giving him free turns to do what he wants), AND we need to pay the ap cost to NOT have them meet ever.

Potentially worse, but it might make it unfeasible to give Biedde "free time", because... we can't control where he goes during free time, so I'm not 100% sure we can stop them from meeting in that case. We PROBABLY can, but I'm not sure.

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Yes, yes, and yes.

But that's the thing.
We don't know and can't know what his befriending requires. He is expensive and complicated both time wise and economy wise. Action and bits.
But we do not know if Biedde would seek out Smiles should he be given time. We do not and cannot know.

But it may be a risk we want to take.

I see this as a lesson, an opportunity for this thread to actually understand that risk is necessary and unavoidable sometimes instead of something that makes us twist ourselves into a pretzel trying to keep it from existing.

Sure we shouldn't be completely reckless, but accepting that some things are beyond our control is a must at this point.

Besides, high risk tends to bring more rewards.

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Risk is unavoidable. That is true.
This risk is avoidable however.
And should the fear of an economic pinch be too much, we can refuse to summon Smiles. I don't think we should do that, but that is beside the point.



Fundamentally, what was the purpose of the Edge Sacrament?
It was to further knowledge in Edge in a way that we can take and have assistance with All In, and protect enough so that we can reach that point.

Taking Smiles Sacrament is not something I will fight you on much. I kinda like the idea of it.
But I think that is a risk we may not need to get what we want.

And considering how... Mothy Biedde is, and out record of figuring out Moth things before they punch us in the face?
I don't find that a good risk to take, when we don't have to.

 

[Arrkhon]

So when did we learn that Biedde has a sizeable and dangerous cult out there anyway? Because everyone sure is taking it as a granted

 

[DelightedOne]

We don't know and can't know what his befriending requires.

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I mean, isn't that obvious?

He is not like Biedde, he can be befriended, so just like the other Names his friendship is locked behind his timer.

-Smiles is willing to extend (reset) his summoning if you agree to "do some favors" for him. (He will ask for an increasing number of Follower action points. One action point per additional turn he is asked to stay in the Wake.)

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So just throw the most followers at him that we can. Not sure how that would work exactly so I guess we wait till we summon him.

I just hope this is like Baldomare where we can give her books anytime. If we can lend followers every turn it becomes quite easy, maybe even something that goes by 3 turns.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Honestly the biggest thing that worries me is that Biedde is Edge and Moth, which to me screams stealth ambushes of critical assets, and we only have one big Lantern gal to spot any such murderers with three locales to defend (Jade's residence with the music ponies, Rarity's home, our home).

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

So when did we learn that Biedde has a sizeable and dangerous cult out there anyway? Because everyone sure is taking it as a granted

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Well he recruited Steppes quite literally from under Velvet's nose. We have no idea who else he could have nabbed off-screen.

 

[Sintonir]

Well he recruited Steppes quite literally from under Velvet's nose. We have no idea who else he could have nabbed off-screen.

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Which is exactly why giving him even more time to recruit his cult is bad
Let's be real: we will want to befriend Smiles. And it would like 90% require becoming enemies with Biedde
Best case scenario, we do it the turn before All In. If we give Biedde enough time he can prepare contingency plans to activate immediately. He will know Smiles is around, he will be preparing for our eventual betrayal, if he hasn't started already.
So it's not like the doom clock isn't ticking already. It is just that we can't actually do anything about it right now and it doesn't harm us directly yet.

 

[Pittauro]

But it may be a risk we want to take.

I see this as a lesson, an opportunity for this thread to actually understand that risk is necessary and unavoidable sometimes instead of something that makes us twist ourselves into a pretzel trying to keep it from existing.

Sure we shouldn't be completely reckless, but accepting that some things are beyond our control is a must at this point.

Besides, high risk tends to bring more rewards.

Click to shrink...

true. and you can't really become a GOD without taking risks.

Now, there's still valid reasons to take the Coward's way out... but I'm still leaning Smiles.

Smiles is objectively better than Biedde in every single way (including guarding. just use the normal action for that, and the free action for expeditions), it doesn't cost us maintenance for the first 3 turns, and after that it's manageable for a couple more at least.

And finally he can be befriended, which is relevant both for All In and to remove another source of costs.

Damn, Biedde could have at least sweetened the pot a bit by removing the maintenance cost if we took the Colonel's binding... or, you know, warned us what we were going to get into.

SURELY he knew Smiles would try this. WHY did he not at least try to explain things first?!

Is it the Moth in him that stopped him? Can't he imagine anyone choosing Lionsmith over Colonel when given the chance?

Wait

I am like 90% sure that this will do something in the hive
Anyway it's pretty funny how everyone entirely disregards the sacrament itself due to the one we have not doing anything yet, it's like everyone disregarding lore levels as worthless after we got Moth dark vision

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The annoying thing there is that... Hive is likely to be a Long Expedition.

those require 3 APs from Velvet if she goes.

It's not cheap.


and yeah, I had the same thoughts about Sacrament.

Darkvision was, mechanically speaking, kinda useless, with the first mention of it doing anything being Tall Tale.

but OTHER THAN THAT ONE, each and every single Realization has been plenty useful!

Spoiler: how each realization helped us

KNOCK

free mansus exploration, basically half an extra AP per turn

LANTERN

faster studying of books and artifacts (twice the artifacts, or 50% more books, or a mix...) and it let us slack off on farm administrative work in pre-bureau days.

FORGE

Reagents have allowed us to get far more consistent results with our rituals, if at a decent bit cost.

EDGE

can't be ambushed. Not sure where it made MECHANICAL difference thus far, but narratively it's been mentioned a LOT.

WINTER

anti-cold, and Risen. We haven't used them THAT much, but they have been a decent help in some cases. Also remember the Master summoning? Sure, it was a changeling, and we eventually sacrificed them anyway, but still... at the time it was a fairly big deal!

HEART

Dance with Death. it LITERALLY let us survive once, and in general it makes some risks more affordable

GRAIL

the Leash has allowed us to Save Rarity's life by stopping her from going after Twilight, AND to deflect suspicion from Shining Armor, AND it's about to allow us to Moth Sacrament with Spoiled

MOTH

...ok, this one was the mostly useless one (mechanically at least).

SECRET HISTORIES

Better books, which helped us raise our lores a bit faster in early game.

As for Sacraments... we saw ONE. which we've had for... not even a full turn.

We don't know what it does exactly, we don't know how valuable it is... but again, it's been ONE TURN.

And the implications of it are that it will help in expeditions. It might be some kind of obstacle-skipping power, or a "find-extra-loot" power. We quite literally don't know, but we CAN find out by... well, going on expeditions with Velvet.

Maybe Canterlot Part 3, or the Old Hive. Or, hey, All In is in a pretty INTERESTING place, as is the "outsider juicer". It's likely it might help there.

Pros of Accepting Smiles' Offer
- One additional level Velvet Edge
- Sacrament Benefits
- Save 100 Bits and 1 AP
- gain Edge 6 Heart 3 Cat Horse and his AP
Cons of Accepting Smile's Offer
- Lose Edge 6 Moth 3 Guard Pony and his AP
- Lose whatever AP is needed to deal with his network (Scries, Assaults, Defenses)
- Lose whatever bits are needed to deal with his network (Scries, Assaults, Defenses)
- Adds a Biedde Summoning Doom Clock
- Could get utterly ruined by fucking up once (Rarity or Jade getting assassinated)

Pros of Coward's Way Out
- Keep Edge 6 Moth 3 Guard Pony and his AP
- Gain Edge 6 Heart 3 Cat Horse and his AP
- Save whatever Bits and AP would be needed to fight Biedde's network
- Competitive Silky Spoiling
- No risk to our Followers
Cons of Coward's Way Out
- Lose 100 Bits to summon Smiles
- Lose 1 AP to summon Smiles
- No Sacrament
- Lose Free Social AP or 2 Follower AP to keep these two apart

So we could trade Biedde AP for Smiles AP, or we could trade a Risen and Servants AP for Smiles AP.

I think Biedde's AP is worth more than Risen + Servants AP. And if we loot the rescued Smiles' cost is halfway covered already.

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I'd add a point that it's probably easier to befriend Smiles (and thus skip on his maintenance costs) if we're on his side, but that's admittedly speculation.

Also the summoning will be more than 100 bits, assuming we use reagents to help.

AND we still need to pay to maintain Biedde, though he's admittedly worth it IF we can afford it.

...the idea of servants AND Risen working together to manage the two old rivals is kind of hilarious though

Yes, yes, and yes.

But that's the thing.
We don't know and can't know what his befriending requires. He is expensive and complicated both time wise and economy wise. Action and bits.
But we do not know if Biedde would seek out Smiles should he be given time. We do not and cannot know.

Click to shrink...

All True.

friendship wise in general I think we can use previous names to estimate how difficult it's going to be.

Mareinette: Grail 4, dinner (so a prisoner).
Axe: Find Frangiclave, get Frangiclave
Baldomare: Lvl 7 book
Bienne: N/A
Master: N/A (maybe reaching Glory? But only if that's not the actual endgame, and it probably doesn't apply to the only "active" Name)
Cherenkolt: Forge 4 reagent into Forge 6 Reagent into Blue Ingot + healing from radiation poisoning.
Neighnia: N/A

all in all, I think on average the cost (once we know what to do) is 2 to 3 APs on average.

So it's probably viable.

I mean, isn't that obvious?

He is not like Biedde, he can be befriended, so just like the other Names his friendship is locked behind his timer.

So just throw the most followers at him that we can. Not sure how that would work exactly so I guess we wait till we summon him.

I just hope this is like Baldomare where we can give her books anytime. If we can lend followers every turn it becomes quite easy, maybe even something that goes by 3 turns.

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Well, if all he needs are many follower APs for a single turn, or a single goal that can be accomplished in one turn, we'll see if/when we can afford it.

Earlier is better, of course. friendship comes with double Name actions just to start, which is really REALLY nice.

Which is exactly why giving him even more time to recruit his cult is bad
Let's be real: we will want to befriend Smiles. And it would like 90% require becoming enemies with Biedde
Best case scenario, we do it the turn before All In. If we give Biedde enough time he can prepare contingency plans to activate immediately. He will know Smiles is around, he will be preparing for our eventual betrayal, if he hasn't started already.
So it's not like the doom clock isn't ticking already. It is just that we can't actually do anything about it right now and it doesn't harm us directly yet.

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true.

an admittedly near-implicit cost of choosing Smiles, is that we'll probably want to use a scrying ritual next turn (or not long after) to find and neutralize Biedde's assets in the Wake.

 

[Sintonir]

EDGE

can't be ambushed. Not sure where it made MECHANICAL difference thus far, but narratively it's been mentioned a LOT.

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At least in the assault on Velvet's home we neutralized the sudden assault. You could see how important it is if you look at how the Velvet's ambush went in the Tall Tale

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Which is exactly why giving him even more time to recruit his cult is bad
Let's be real: we will want to befriend Smiles. And it would like 90% require becoming enemies with Biedde
Best case scenario, we do it the turn before All In. If we give Biedde enough time he can prepare contingency plans to activate immediately. He will know Smiles is around, he will be preparing for our eventual betrayal, if he hasn't started already.
So it's not like the doom clock isn't ticking already. It is just that we can't actually do anything about it right now and it doesn't harm us directly yet.

Click to shrink...

If his contingencies take travel time to reach us then they'll be too slow to stop All-In. If the contingencies are rituals that have somehow been kept primed but unused then we break some Wrong Keys and proceed with All-In. It's not like he would have Names to drop on top of us, Neighnia is off doing her own thing, The Will of the Woods is gone, and the remaining 5 Names are with us in that situation. He doesn't know that Glory is on the Table here, so he can't intercept out attempt at it by placing pieces in our way ahead of time. He'd be preparing for the wrong move.

 

[Sintonir]

If his contingencies take travel time to reach us then they'll be too slow to stop All-In. If the contingencies are rituals that have somehow been kept primed but unused then we break some Wrong Keys and proceed with All-In. It's not like he would have Names to drop on top of us, Neighnia is off doing her own thing, The Will of the Woods is gone, and the remaining 5 Names are with us in that situation. He doesn't know that Glory is on the Table here, so he can't intercept out attempt at it by placing pieces in our way ahead of time. He'd be preparing for the wrong move.

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Or it might be some assassin ponies kept around our friends to strike when they get a signal. It wouldn't stop All In, but it would definitely sour our victory.

 

[Rafuki22]

If we are going to choose the coward way out we should pick the minion for extra AP, otherwise it becomes a little more difficult to micromanage some certain Names.

 

[Earth-Destroyer]

I do not see a point of keeping the map to ourselves it takes way to long to unlock. Let the organization we fully control handle the grunt work. We can always send a Name squad out to the location after getting the location without spending ultra valuable AP.

 

[Rafuki22]

How are the votes going?

More exactly, which plan is winning?

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

How are the votes going?

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Just tallied it:

Adhoc vote count started by OurLadyOfWires on Dec 26, 2025 at 10:10 PM, finished with 322 posts and 36 votes.

• ---

  21 people have voted

  [X] You will take Smiles' offer.

  • Potdl
  • Sintonir
  • Arrkhon
  • DelightedOne
  • Pittauro
  • Random Anon
  • Alan975
  • Nate700
  • Darkday
  • Cochimetl
  • Limabot
  • Anjaxis
  • Sylve()/.
  • Waela
  • SilentPencil
  • Diamondfiend
  • dcoconeo
  • spiderhellian
  • Sk1lz3r
  • Greymere
  • Quaxotia

  16 people have voted

  [X] You will take the coward's way out.

  • Sk1lz3r
  • Greymere
  • Quaxotia
  • Shaper47
  • des-pair-2
  • excedere
  • LieutenantSpirit
  • AuthorTransient
  • ses
  • Silent Symphony
  • Earth-Destroyer
  • Rafuki22
  • Wise Wolf
  • Sveta08
  • Solace2117
  • Talon Tiger Dino

  12 people have voted

  [X] Plan: The Mothy Path Forward
  -[X] (MAP) Take it for yourself.
  -[X] (PRISONER) Leave him.
  -[X] (LOOT) I will steal from the poor, innocent pony prisoners.
  -[X] (THING) Kill it.

  • Greymere
  • Wise Wolf
  • Sveta08
  • Shaper47
  • Quaxotia
  • Anjaxis
  • Sylve()/.
  • Waela
  • SilentPencil
  • Diamondfiend
  • Solace2117
  • spiderhellian

  8 people have voted

  [X] Plan: Don't Bother With the Small Stuff
  -[X] (MAP) Let the Bureau have it.
  -[X] (PRISONER) Leave him.
  -[X] (LOOT) I will do the right thing, and not steal.
  -[X] (THING) Capture it.

  • Potdl
  • Sintonir
  • Flaregamer82253
  • Greymere
  • dcoconeo
  • Arrkhon
  • Limabot
  • Rafuki22

  6 people have voted

  [X] Plan The Rich Path Forward
  -[X] (THING) Kill it.
  -[X] (LOOT) I will steal from the poor, innocent pony prisoners.
  -[X] (PRISONER) Take him.
  -[X] (MAP) Take it for yourself.

  • Pittauro
  • Shaper47
  • des-pair-2
  • excedere
  • spiderhellian
  • Mage_of_Eyes

  5 people have voted

  [X] Plan: Compromising more than only a little
  -[X] (MAP) Let the Bureau have it.
  -[X] (PRISONER) Take him.
  -[X] (LOOT) I will steal from the poor, innocent pony prisoners.
  -[X] (THING) Capture it.

  • Shaper47
  • Random Anon
  • Alan975
  • Earth-Destroyer
  • Rafuki22

  3 people have voted

  [X] Plan: Open Source Lores
  -[X] (MAP) Let the Bureau have it.
  -[X] (PRISONER) Take him.
  -[X] (LOOT) I will do the right thing, and not steal.
  -[X] (THING) Capture it.

  • Arrkhon
  • DelightedOne
  • Mage_of_Eyes

  2 people have voted

  [X] Plan: Delighted Wants These
  -[X] (MAP) Destroy it.
  -[X] (PRISONER) Take him.
  -[X] (LOOT) I will do the right thing, and not steal.
  -[X] (THING) Capture it.

  • DelightedOne
  • Limabot

  2 people have voted

  [x] Plan Full Greed
  -[X] (MAP) Take it for yourself.
  -[X] (PRISONER) Take him.
  -[X] (LOOT) I will steal from the poor, innocent pony prisoners.
  -[X] (THING) Capture it.

  • Pittauro
  • Shaper47

  2 people have voted

  [X] Plan No loose ends
  -[X] (MAP) Take it for yourself.
  -[X] (PRISONER) Leave him.
  -[X] (LOOT) I will steal from the poor, innocent pony prisoners.
  -[X] (THING) Kill it, and burn its corpse.

  • Solace2117
  • Shaper47

  2 people have voted

  [X] Plan No loose ends with morals
  -[X] (MAP) Take it for yourself.
  -[X] (PRISONER) Leave him.
  -[X] (LOOT) I will do the right thing, and not steal.
  -[X] (THING) Kill it, and burn its corpse.

  • Solace2117
  • Limabot

  1 people have voted

  [X] Plan: Small or Big and Nothing Between
  -[X] (MAP) Let the Bureau have it.
  -[X] (PRISONER) Leave him.
  -[X] (LOOT) I will steal from the poor, innocent pony prisoners.
  -[X] (THING) Capture it.

  • Flaregamer82253

  1 people have voted

  [X] Plan The Right Path Forward
  -[X] (THING) Kill it.
  -[X] (LOOT) I will do the right thing, and not steal.
  -[X] (PRISONER) Take him.
  -[X] (MAP) Take it for yourself.

  • Limabot

  1 people have voted

  [X] Plan: Focused Small Loot Is Still Loot
  -[X] (MAP) Let the Bureau have it.
  -[X] (PRISONER) Leave him.

  • dcoconeo

  1 people have voted

  [X] (LOOT) I will steal from the poor, innocent pony prisoners.
  -[X] (THING) Capture it.

  • dcoconeo

  1 people have voted

  [X] Taking What's Interesting
  -[X] (MAP) Take it for yourself.
  -[X] (LOOT) I will steal from the poor, innocent pony prisoners.
  -[X] (PRISONER) Leave him.
  -[X] (THING) Capture it.

  • Talon Tiger Dino

Voting is STILL OPEN. And let's say it will be closed in around 18 hours from the time of this message.

I hope you are all having a wonderful holiday!
I have pings and DMs to answer, so I'll start working on those right now. Cheers!

EDIT:
Also, I am pleasantly surprised to see the turn is almost over. Most of the actions left are "administrative" or "reports" from your followers.

Granted, there are still a few Velvet actions left to happen. But the Ashen Wastes hold no dangers to you, given your company, and you can already guess the result of some of the background moves happening (for example, you used three AotL in this fight, so I already indirectly told you that you found a body and raised a Risen, etc).

And of course, a small update where Selene talks to you about her night-soothing activities.

Still, good stuff.

Also, I love these "hindsight" moments where I remember about some people complaining that "we should have been offered the book-reading option before the hive assault! What if we managed to give the Bureau a level up!" when I knew you had the chance to find a more interesting book in there. Ahh, the joys of "trust your QM"

Anyways, see you all alter.

 

[Sveta08]

How hilarious
There is not a single vote for Biedde's Sacrament.

 

[Witherbrine2671]

I gotta rep my man even if he won't win.

[X] You will walk into the shadow, and into bondage

However in the interest of not making an enemy of a Name I'll vote for being a coward.

[X] You will take the coward's way out.

 

[DelightedOne]

I gotta rep my man even if he won't win.

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Thank you for proving me right.

Now someone will definitely vote for the Colonel. The Gloryjoke is right there.

Click to shrink...

 

[Witherbrine2671]

Thank you for proving me right.

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Listen I wasn't going to vote (because I knew that option wouldn't win) but as you said, the joke is right there

 

[Rafuki22]

Listen I wasn't going to vote (because I knew that option wouldn't win) but as you said, the joke is right there

Click to shrink...

You are then that voice in Velvet subconcious who is thinking "But it would be kinda funny though."

 

[des-pair-2]

However in the interest of not making an enemy of a Name I'll vote for being a coward.

[] You will take the coward's way out.

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Just to note, you forgot to X your vote.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

@OurLadyOfWires Did Smiles ever consider the very cheap and easy sweetener of "telling us what he would need to give us his full attention"? The price of his friendship?

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*Gasp*

You are a respectable married mare! You can't go out asking about Befriendment requirements on your first meeting

Mh... I think it depends. Maybe if we sent Smiles immediately on a short expedition/Assault to "capture/save" our uncle after scrying him? @OurLadyOfWires would that be at all possible?

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Uncle Steppes is not on the board, currently. Be it because Velvet has more pressing concerns, because she would not think about him being involved, or some other reason, this won't be addressed right now.

He is gone, like the Twilight and the Spike Dodo and the Dragon. So move on with what you have.

In Which A Monster Eats Another

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This was so, SO good. Thank you so much for sharing this!

I was almost tempted to offer this as an option. Really. But alas.

Still, this was so well written! Even down to the smallest details. For example, I always have fun creating skill names, because they need to be short but they can be clever, and "Shared Custody" is such a clever name. I loved it!

@OurLadyOfWires can Mareinette Honored Guest as Velvet's social AP and therefore micromanage by herself?

Click to shrink...

No.

Think of "Honored Guest" as giving Mareinette "administrator access."
It allows her to "step into" Velvet's social action in the sense that Mareinette can go console Stormchaser, or something personal like that.
But it doesn't make one Mareinette action the same as one Velvet social action.

One last thing I want to ask @OurLadyOfWires though, is what I've been chomping at the bit for this entire time - or maybe we've already done it and my brain is just addled with Christmas - can / have we dropped the Forge's Redemption to the Lunar Bureau here? Or is that part of the current Turn introducing Forge lore?

Click to shrink...

You have not yet introduced rituals to the Bureau.

Wait, is Smiles not a Branded? We didn't see no Brand.

@OurLadyOfWires was that on purpose?

Click to shrink...

I do miss the "Insightful" ratings from the previous site

@OurLadyOfWires Is Selene allowed to summon Smiles?

Click to shrink...

Yeah, sure.

If you choose the middle option, Selene can summon Smiles.

I prefer having Velvet summon the Names because the Name summoning rituals are just cool and unique. And because of that "first impressions" moment when they appear in the Wake. But Smiles is a bit of an exception, since you already had an honest chat with him, and his personality is specific.

But of course, Selene will give you his reins and whatnot, "loyal daughter" disclaimers and all that.

Hmm. I would like to vote for Coward's Way, just for the sake of additional Names, but I'm so chronically detached from thread activity - and voting for more or less anything else, including the results of the hive - that I feel it'd be somewhat discourteous of me to influence things in that direction for everyone else. So for now at least, vocal support.

Names for the Name Hotel! More uncles for Silky Stream!

This quest is a blast, I'm so glad it continues.

Click to shrink...

It is always a pleasure to hear from the master of the ancient cities!

My (unsolicited) two cents is that voting is always welcome and allowed. Why, the "more contentious" votes are precisely the ones that get people coming out of the woodworks, even if they go back to lurking after that. But really, if you read the story you definitely have the "right" to vote for it!

Anyhow, I hope you are doing well! And glad to see you.



That seems to be all. Let me know if I skipped something.

I hope you are all doing well!

 

[DelightedOne]

I was almost tempted to offer this as an option. Really. But alas.

Click to shrink...

D'oh!!!

Well, time to go work on "The Study of the Corrivality and its merits, contrasted by the Allure of Peace and its benefits."(temporary name).

And thank you for your compliments.

I do miss the "Insightful" ratings from the previous site

Click to shrink...

So he was most likely dragged to Namehood without a Brand.

 

[Earth-Destroyer]

Got to say I do not see the appeal of Smiles he is an Name of the Hour of Betrayal. Even Befriended I would never trust him.

 

[DelightedOne]

Got to say I do not see the appeal of Smiles he is an Name of the Hour of Betrayal. Even Befriended I would never trust him.

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Well, the nature of the Lionsmith is not exactly betrayal.
The Nature of the Lionsmith is to be stronger; to be seamless; to make monsters.

The Colonel is Cunning and the Lionsmith is Strength.

Sure he is an Edge Hour and Edge has betrayal as one of its principles, but at his core he is a rebel and every rebel needs a cause, something to make them want to act.

Smiles wouldn't be against us if we befriended him, because he would have no reason to.

In fact I'm pretty sure the association of the Lionsmith with betrayal is because of that secret he was told, not because of anything he regularly preaches as sacred. Like, I'm sure he believes you should have the right to betray someone, but you are not forced to. That would be more of a Colonel thing if their roles were swapped.

 

[Pittauro]

Also, I love these "hindsight" moments where I remember about some people complaining that "we should have been offered the book-reading option before the hive assault! What if we managed to give the Bureau a level up!" when I knew you had the chance to find a more interesting book in there. Ahh, the joys of "trust your QM"

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now if only you told us, say, what the Knock Sacrament we didn't pick would have done, or if Twilight was always going to be captured after we didn't break her faith, or what happens to not-ponies that reach the Branding Door...

How hilarious
There is not a single vote for Biedde's Sacrament.

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I'm kinda tempted to vote for him, I feel bad for him!

...but seriously, Biedde not trying to at least sell us on his patron is such a FAILURE on his part...

Truly, he's a soldier, but not a thinker. Or at least that's what it looks like.

Sure he is an Edge Hour and Edge has betrayal as one of its principles, but at his core he is a rebel and every rebel needs a cause, something to make them want to act.

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And every rebel who wins eventually becomes the new status quo, for better and worse.

In fact I'm pretty sure the association of the Lionsmith with betrayal is because of that secret he was told, not because of anything he regularly preaches as sacred. Like, I'm sure he believes you should have the right to betray someone, but you are not forced to. That would be more of a Colonel thing if their roles were swapped.

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yeah, it's more like... Lionsmith would support FREE WILL, I think, which CAN be betrayal or anarchy, but doesn't have to be.

While the Colonel supports the Status Quo, and that can be good (like a healthy democracy or an enlightened monarchy) or bad (take your pick of dictatorships or corrupted governments)

 

[Proteus]

[X] You will take Smiles' offer.

 

[DelightedOne]

...but seriously, Biedde not trying to at least sell us on his patron is such a FAILURE on his part...

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It is almost like this is a test...

I think this is a test.

And every rebel who wins eventually becomes the new status quo, for better and worse.

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That is one of the lesser reasons I want the Lionsmith to win the Corrivality.

What will the eternal rebel do when his eternal Foe is dead? Will there finally be peace? Will Chaos reign forever? Will he follow the steps of his old man?

The possibilities are so intriguing.

 

[Arrkhon]

I feel nothing but sadness at the fact that people want to kill the beautiful flower blooming in the changeling hive, I'm sure Celestia would get better with more esoteric arts to study that show off positive sides of living rather than being stuck solely with one that shows her every single thing she did wrong in her life as well as all of the flaws of the ponies under her
The biggest shame is that it doesn't have any Forge aspect of note, though I could see it's transformation giving some of it's scraps

 

[Sintonir]

In fact I'm pretty sure the association of the Lionsmith with betrayal is because of that secret he was told, not because of anything he regularly preaches as sacred. Like, I'm sure he believes you should have the right to betray someone, but you are not forced to. That would be more of a Colonel thing if their roles were swapped.

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He literally ascended to his status through a betrayal. Double betrayal even, both his direct superiors in the Wake and the Colonel.
A lot of Hours are like that. The Horned Axe, for example, doesn't have separation as one of her Natures, but it is exactly the point where she conflicts with the Twins.
They all are more complex than their three Natures imply. Except maybe the Crowned Growth. If we ever learn its natures.

The Colonel, on the other hand, is not necessarily Status Quo either. His ascension to the Hour status was through a rebellion against a God-From-Stone, when he have overthrown the Seven-Coils