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

[Pittauro]

"I will be taking my leave now. But I understand you will be requesting an assessment this month, yes?"

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so he's leaving? I suppose he has to do his thing with our uncle...

well, nothing we can do about it.

"I know they said that… but c'mon, you don't think the secretaries know? I mean, somepony has to know, how else would she-?"

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they don't know yet, so shut up!

Her presence was palpable in a way that even his academic mind could almost measure.

Her eyes were sharp, to the point that he knew at a glance that she could see into his mind, or perhaps into his dreams.

And her words were commanding in a way… in a way that scared him, yes. But also in a way that made him want to follow her.

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you know, this is actually the second time we bring an EDGE Velvet to the Bureau... I wonder if they feel weird when she goes back to being "normal".

and this time she's Edge AND Lantern. Double no-mercy!

"Ah, lovely to see you, nephew. How is the date going?"

"D-date? What date? Don't be ridiculous, uncle! I… I just had to hire her to escort me here, because you picked such a faraway and dangerous place for this!"

"Yes, of course," Steppes nodded, feigning belief in his nephew's obvious lie. "And the good mare wouldn't be caught dead riding a train, so you two had to trek your way here."

He said that, and then he started the more methodical task of learning how his young nephew's date went. Because he can't think of any reason as to why a sheltered young stallion like Pride would ever go on a camping journey if not because of that mare.

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seems like we skipped on a pretty interesting meeting...

"-sure that you don't want to come in, Selene?"

"It's okay mom. The letter did say it was something private, didn't it?"

And in came his niece, together with her adopted filly.

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uh. I thought we wouldn't make it, considering we didn't vote for his fleeting action...

Right after that, a middle-aged pegasus, healthy-looking but already sporting a few grey strands on his mane, entered the bar.

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oh? the famous pegasus brother? Intriguing!

It would take patience, and it would take skill, and it would take every last ounce of guile he had. But Steppes vowed to himself that he would make that meeting work.

He owed it to them.

Besides, they didn't call him the "facilitator" for nothing. And if this would be his last act before leaving the stage for good, then having carried that title for his entire life would have been worth it.

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So his last act is to facilitate the reunion and reconnection of distant siblings?

For all that he's a ruthless criminal, this is quite admirable.

He left with nothing but a small bag, with a few bits and a letter he had finished writing the previous night.

He wouldn't really need anything else.

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Goodbye, Uncle Steppes.

You have quite the checkered history, but all in all you were a decent uncle to Velvet, and she'll remember you.

and who knows... If we get godhood, well, Hours have long memories... Maybe we'll be able to trade you back from Biedde.

Diamond Tiara did not like Silky's mom.

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hey, look, more eldritch misery!

At times, she felt angry at Silky's mom. Of course, she rarely saw the mare to begin with, but on the few times she saw her she couldn't help but feel a little angry. Something about the way she fawned over Silky and Selene made her feel…

Well, it was hard to describe. Diamond didn't have a problem with the two sisters, but she definitely did not like it when she met their mother.

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well, jealousy is understandable, and mostly Spoiled's fault.

...as for the terror and dread...

well, that's also our fault, I suppose

"Spoiled Rich! But please, call me Rich. Any friend of Lady Velvet is a friend of mine."

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...Don't you usually tell your "friends" to use your NAME?

She truly is spoiled, even when trying to be nice...

"Y-you don't understand, l-last time she took us t-to-!"

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...what did we/she even do to Sweetie Belle specifically "last time"?!

And their guardians would do anything to stay in the Lady's favor.

So, it was no surprise that the filly pageant, impromptu and sudden as it may have been, was a great success.

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Mareinette has quite the self-control.

From her point of view, this is probably the equivalent of going to a 5-star restaurant, see and smell the most beautiful and tasty dishes, and not take even a single lick.

[Roll = 46 98 + 60 (Name focus) + 30 (Grail, Level 6) = 188]

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well, Spoiled is ready for Moth...

Velvet Steppes has left your estate, with no word of where he would be going next. Nopony has heard from him since, either in the Velvet Manor back in Canterlot, or in his other places of residence. But a letter, postmarked with the date of his departure, arrived just a few days later, suggesting you to contact somepony for a "mutually beneficial business".

Uncle Steppes has gifted you the Fleeting Opportunity "Contact somepony?". This Fleeting Opportunity will not truly decay, but the passage of time might make an eventual contact more complicated.

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a contact? interesting. We'll have to try and fit it in our AP budget. Who knows, maybe this is a route to the auction house to sell/buy interesting items? or where we can buy "temporary" followers (so trade bits for follower APs?)

Furthermore, Filthy Rich will become a Confidante if you save his marriage. Or perhaps he will fall into your clutches if his marriage is ruined, and you are there to catch him when he falls. A "Write-in" may be offered to specify how you would like to go about that come next turn.

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Is it even possible to save his marriage while taking the Moth Sacrament? I seriously don't know.

Maybe some kind of "Velvet was never on your side, the only one who you could ever trust is Filthy Rich" revelation?

I notice we have a Grail aspect female minion who would do anything for us. And is already the successful Socialite spoiled wishes she was.

Not a serious suggestion but its certainly a funny idea.

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You know, it's not out of the question to use Rarity to nudge Spoiled back to Filthy AFTER the Moth Sacrament, I suppose.

Especially if we bring her to Grail 4.

No idea what this means.

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well, Biedde will now take our Uncle for who-knows-what, and this is his final gift, which we COULD have used an AP on a fleeting action to shape to our liking. Instead we get his "default" gift.

Might be a way to recruit followers for work, someone that could buy or sell stuff for us, maybe an information broker or someone who could give us places to do rituals in... Many possibilities.

Her fate is sealed.

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Still much better than being sealed, though.

Great update!

Steppe's dream is a very sad ending for him. But I think a fitting one. I'm sure we'll fit in a fleeting, we love fleetings.

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wait, I misunderstood that. Was that what would have happened IF we took his fleeting action, and instead it didn't happen? Or was he just remembering?

I suppose the contact in the first case might very well just be our last brother then. Who is supposed to be a bit of an adventurer I think?

I care, very much in fact. And if there was any sound here you all would hear me scream a lot.

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I'd like to scream too. And still... needs must.

Yes, of course. The FO is the "send letter, receive guest" kind of social activity that you would have comboed through if you had picked Steppes' FO. But as it stands, he gifted you the possibility of reaching out.

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So he had Pride and Wings meet, and now we have a chance to meet Wings ourselves?

Also, if you like Commissioner Velvet, you're gonna love what comes next. I hope I can finish it by today.

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Bird, tell me... Will Edge-Velvet fighting Biedde be the most badass she's ever been?!

 

[Greymere]

Im a little confused @OurLadyOfWires it says we advanced a step with both ponies but Filthy was already a Close Friend? Is getting told "you need to fix his marraige" considered advancing a step even though we already knew it? Cause it'll be hard to justify an AP on sealing the deal with Filthy next turn with 3 Sacraments on the itinerary and we dont really understand what Moth sacrament will even do to Spoiled other than that she will refuse to talk to Velvet which makes coming up with a plan harder

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I don't think that's what we're being told. Rather, the Confidant Event(tm) will be happening next turn, and what we get to decide is how that will play out re: what we tell Filthy to do. Whether that's saving his marriage, convincing him to divorce her, or otherwise.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

I'm still hoping the Moth Sacrament instead just reveals to Spoiled that Mareinette, not Velvet, was her friend the entire time and she was just pretending to be Velvet to avoid making everyone panic, thus locking Velvet to acquaintance because interacting with the real deal after becoming best friends with the disguise is rather awkward and uncanny.

 

[Arrkhon]

Ah, these Mareinette snippets make me wish ever harder for the Moth/Grail sacrament, alas

[LANTERN]
-This Lore has been properly taught to the Lunar Bureau
-Currently at Level 2 (applying Secret Library level).
-Leaps of logic become more evident. Less details go unnoticed in cases. The Lunar Bureau as an institution will operate with the maximum Lantern level available.
-No further abilities can be gleaned yet.

[FORGE]
-This Lore has been properly taught to the Lunar Bureau.
-Currently at Level 2 (applying Secret Library level).
-Armor and gear becomes particularly reliable. Explosives, handled by a select few experts, are fielded more frequently. The Lunar Bureau as an institution will operate with the maximum Lantern level available.
-No further abilities can be brought to bear yet.

[EDGE]
-This Lore has been properly taught to the Lunar Bureau.
-Currently at Level 1 (applying Secret Library level).
-Ponies picked for "assaults" will always be at least Edge 1. And some Constables will have Edge 1 for combat encounters.
-Greater levels of Bureau Edge will increase the overall competency (and Edge level spread) among its fighting members.

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Huh Edge is on level 1 while others are on level 2, still good to see them ever more useful
Also

[FORGE]
-This Lore has been properly taught to the Lunar Bureau.
-Currently at Level 2 (applying Secret Library level).
-Armor and gear becomes particularly reliable. Explosives, handled by a select few experts, are fielded more frequently. The Lunar Bureau as an institution will operate with the maximum Lantern level available.

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Explosions so shining they count as Lantern lmao

 

[jason1stlegion]

Haven't kept up with the thread the last few months, are there any plans underway to get our Moth Sacrament and/or find and defeat/sacrifice Discord in the next few turns?

Celestia is still learning Lantern, and I dont think her RAGE is in a place where she'd believe us about Selene before she kills us.

 

[DelightedOne]

Wait a bit, Edge is still level 1?

EDGE: Level 1 ( [1/1] + [3/2] )

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Shouldn't it be 2? The Secret Library uses the scrap mechanic to level up.

The members of the Outer Circle obey the "Scrap of Lore" mechanic, so they all start at Level 0 (thanks to the Master's presence) and need the required amount of scraps of Lore to advance on levels.

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-You gain an additional scrap of Lore for every two levels a source is above your current corresponding Lore level.

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So a level 3 book should give 2 scraps to level 2, making it actual Level 2, right? Or am I up too late and confusing myself again?

Haven't kept up with the thread the last few months, are there any plans underway to get our Moth Sacrament and/or find and defeat/sacrifice Discord in the next few turns?

Celestia is still learning Lantern, and I dont think her RAGE is in a place where she'd believe us about Selene before she kills us.

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Spoiled is getting sacrificed for Moth Sacrament next turn if we can help it.

All In is still being planned.

We put Selene to explore her Winter Realization and how she can help stop Daybreaker.

 

[Greymere]

Shouldn't it be 2? The Secret Library uses the scrap mechanic to level up.

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Ssssort of. How the Library works is that it wants X^2 lore 'points' per level.

So for Level 1, you just need a single source of that Lore. But tor Level 2, you now need an additional 4 points separate from previous level(s). So you could fulfil that with a Level 1 + Level 3 book, two Level 2 books, or a single Level 4+ book. Or four Level 1 books.

Then for Level 3 you need nine 'points' of Lore, which could be three Level 3 books, a Level 4 + Level 5 book, and so on and so forth.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan: IM FROM PONYVILLE AND I SAY KILL EM ALL
-[X] (AotL) Edge
-[X] (Knock) Explore the Ashen Wastes
-[X] (Social) Fleeting Opportunity: Soft Sweeps
-[X] Study (2x), by priority: Moth 5 book, Lantern 4 artifact, Winter 4 artifact, Manehatten book
-[X] Join the Assault on Tall Tale
-[X] Sacrament: Challenge Biedde

[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)

Thunder rumbles in the background, shaking the thick walls of the tent in uneven intervals. Even from this distance, you can still feel the chill of the concentrated storm, and smell the wetness of the downpour it is causing.

Everywhere around you, and everywhere you look, you can see and hear ponies going about their duties. Focused, sharp-faced, working efficiently and silently. What few words are spoken here and there are quick and to the point.

And you know that outside this tent, in the temporary camp under the midnight-purple flag of the Lunar Bureau, nearly every last constable of the Bureau is preparing for the coming raid.

You are Salt Rope, chief officer of Operations of the Lunar Bureau.

You are the one who planned and executed the Blueblood Raid. You are the one who translates the Commissioner's directives into strong-hoofed action. And you are the highest ranking Bureau officer in Tall Tale, overseeing preparations for the upcoming raid.

And to be honest? You feel right at home. This may be the single most important thing you have ever done in your career, and this certainly is the most complicated operation you ever took part in. But by the mark on your flank, this is what you live for.

Although you do wish you were allowed to focus exclusively on operational matters. Because unfortunately, your rank also comes with… other concerns.

"Sir, he's here," an armored mare says as she peeks into the tent, her equipment damp from the accumulating fog outside. "Shall I let him in?"

You let out a small sight. And not for the first time, you consider meeting the stallion in a more "professional" place. But once again, you decide that having this meeting here, where he can see everypony working and focused on the task, might help drive home how important this is.

"Bring him in," you say. Already mustering your administrative experience as an officer, rather than the harshness you learned in the Guard, for what comes next.

Because sure enough, a few moments later your tent is graced by a pony who very much does not want you to be here.

You are graced by nopony other than the governor of Tall Tale.

"Governor," you say, your voice polite but serious. "Good evening to you."

"Evening? Is it evening already? I wouldn't know! I haven't seen the sun in so long, because you ponies won't take off this damn storm from over my city!"

The governor, a thin-looking and frail stallion by your regards, almost yells those words at you.

No, you won't sugarcoat it. He actually yells at you.

"I can assure you, governor," you say, as you said every other time you talked to him, "that the storm we gathered over the mountains are necessary for out matters here. And they will be removed as soon as we are done here."

You say that politely, like you did every other time. And like every other time, you refuse his unspoken question of when exactly you will be leaving.

And to be honest, a part of you does not blame the stallion. This is his city, and taking care of it is his job, and the storm over the mountains have been there for a few weeks now.

But by Celestia and Luna, could it hurt him to tell his citizens to toughen it out a bit?

"Oh really? Is it necessary for whatever you are doing out here? Because I don't see a lot of doing going on. Besides, do you hoofs-for-brains know how gravity works? Do you realize all this rainwater goes downhill? Tall Tale's drainage system has been overloaded for three days now! I have streets getting flooded!"

The stallion is even angrier than he was during your last few meetings. And even more disrespectful. He rolls his eyes, stomps around the tent, and every last word he spoke so far has been yelled out of his mouth.

But you let him do that. You let him vent his anger. A less experienced pony in your shoes might have thought he was "disrespecting you in front of your troops", given the audience inside the tent. But you know better.

You are the commanding officer here. You are in charge. Your sole mission is to prepare for the raid which, the governor does not know, will be launched tomorrow.

And most importantly: the governor can't really do anything about this.

Receiving the governor, and letting him yell at you, is a kindness you are extending to him. It's an institutional decision, more than anything. So he can tell his citizens he tried everything in his power, and so the Bureau can be known to at least listen to the ponies that are troubled by its actions.

But ultimately, just like you think the governor should, you just weather this storm. Knowing what awaits you and your ponies tomorrow is more than enough to chill whatever anger you could feel towards him.

You will keep ponies like him safe, even he hates you, and even if it kills you.

However, unlike the last few meetings you had with the governor, something interrupts his berating of your competence.

"… and… and what the hay is going on out there?" the governor says, as the sound of… well, as several different things happen on the outside at the same time.

You hear chariots. You hear armored hoofs moving. And you definitely hear way more activity than you have the horsepower to produce, given the size of your camp.

So, you wave for the governor to wait, and you get up from your chair. But of course, as you expected, one of your aides is already re-entering your command tent with a report before you make it halfway towards the exit.

"Commander, we have a… well, a situation outside," she says. But your lieutenant has worked with you for long enough to know what you will ask her next. "Something good. Reinforcements, or a very big escort. Armored carriages of the Royal Guard, and the pullers said the Deputy is in the convoy."

"The Deputy? I see," you say, holding back from sighing in relief.

The only two ponies who outrank you in the Bureau are the Deputy and the Commissioner, they are your direct superiors after all. So, having a superior here means they will be stuck placating the governor.

"I'm afraid we will have to pause our meeting, governor," you say to the thankfully quiet stallion. "But I am sure Deputy Shining Armor will make some time for you whenever he c-"

"Salt! Salt Rope!"​

-but your very polite answer is interrupted by, well, the one pony in this camp who can yell your name like that.

And moments later you see the first thing in the entire day that actually makes you worried.

Because you are an experienced officer. You have seen your fair share of fights, you are currently camped at the hoof of a mountain that is infested by shapeshifting monsters, and you have spent the last few weeks preparing to breach it and take it back for the Princesses.

But that's the thing about experience. Despite all the dangers and tension, you were always able to do those things calmly. You always kept yourself in control. And the discipline needed to do that is one of the first things you learn when you join the Guard. The same discipline you have kept throughout your entire career, to show your subordinates you knew the way and that they should follow your lead.

So, it is no exaggeration to say that one of the things you have learned to fear is…

… a tense superior.

"Salt Rope! There you are," Deputy Shining Armor, your direct superior, quite literally gallops towards you. Four officers of the Royal Guard are following him with the same speed, and they all look just about ready to run somewhere else as soon as possible.

"Sir? What is the matter? Did something else happen and we need to relocate?" you say quickly, sharply. Finishing your salute almost as an afterthought.

Because you would be the first to know if, say, the changelings tried to sally out from the mountain and attack your ponies.

So, if you didn't hear anything, and if the Deputy is this worked up with so many guards at his back, it must mean an emergency happened somewhere else. And they are passing by Tall Tale just to conscript your forces with new orders before you move out.

Calculations of how many ponies you would have to leave behind to break camp, and how much material you could move immediately, began to run through your mind. But the Deputy shakes his head before you can elaborate on that.

"No, no. It's not that. If anything, something is about to happen here," he says. And you have to bite three more questions, that almost ran out of your mouth, as your superior continued to speak. "The city will be placed in lockdown. I have half the Guard of Canterlot heading down here, Princess orders-"

"My city will be placed in WHAT?!" the governor yells from behind you. But both you and the Deputy ignore him.

"-and I'll be in charge of that. I just came to warn you that she is coming here. Directly. To take charge of the assault."

The moment he says that, your blood runs cold. Because you know who "she" is. Of course you know.

He is referring to the Commissioner herself.

And for all that you thought she was just a civilian who had no idea what she was doing, your opinion changed radically when… well, you report directly to her, so you have already seen her when she is in a foul mood.

And what is more, you also oversaw the raids on Manehattan. Which means you personally debriefed the ponies who were in charge of executing the capture monster. The thing that was denominated a "Windigo".

So, you can say you have recently reviewed your opinion on the Commissioner.

"The brunt of my ponies will be arriving via train, but these Royal Guards are here to bolster your numbers," the Deputy continues, hurriedly, as if he wanted to be anywhere else but there right now.

And the reason for his rush becomes apparent when he says his next words.

"I also have a message for you. From the Commissioner."

You nod at him, pursing your lips for what would come next.

And although it does not make any sense, you swear you can hear the words that come out of his mouth as if they were in her own voice.

"Prepare for my arrival."



- - -



You feel her before you see her.

In the near distance, the mountains of Tall Tale dominate the horizon. Heavy clouds filled with lightning pour a constant barrage of rainwater on the mountains, in preparation for the upcoming assault.

That way, the monsters can't try to escape by going up. Nothing can go through those storm clouds unscathed.

And more importantly, if the bastards could feel cold, then they will be shivering and miserable by the time you raid the place. That is, if some of them don't die first if part of the cave complex gets flooded.

But you are not concerned about the mountains, right now. Or about the rivers that, true to the governor's complaints, are flowing down the mountains. Or by the damp fog that is slowly creeping up everywhere from the constant storm.

No, you are worried about the night sky. You are trying your damned best to see a purple-dark carriage against the pitch-black night sky.

Because you know she is coming.

You can already feel her.

The fog, that thin and hoof-tall carpet that is flowing down from the mountain, becomes colder.

The air, somehow, becomes sharper.

And for all that she is your superior, and on your side, you feel a palm of dread descending over you.

Moments later, you finally spot the cause of this chill on your spine.

Suddenly, a silhouette appears in front of the moon. A flying carriage, being pulled by two pegasi and escorted by four, makes itself intentionally visible. And you can see, clear as moonlight, that it is making its way towards your camp.

You are currently at the center of your camp. Right in front of your (or rather, her) command tent, on the ad-hoc mustering field where your ponies could gather for briefings and preparations. All around you, like a constellation of stars, are the other tents for personnel, gear, and everything else.

This clear field is meant for your ponies to muster and prepare. This open field, at the center of your camp, is the place where you would gather all of your ponies for the final steps before the assault.

But right now, under the shining moonlight, you feel like you are in a parade ground.

Behind you, your officers are standing in attention. And your junior-most officer is even carrying a banner of the Lunar Bureau, his stance straight out of a guard's manual.

To the side are your assault teams, lined up and stern-faced. All of them armored and ready, as if expecting an inspection from the Commissioner the moment she steps hoof out of the carriage.

And behind them, your support personnel, constables, and every other pony who was not (quite literally) on duty at this exact moment.

The scariest part is that you did not really call for a reception like this. You did not warn everypony that she was coming. You did not give the order for something like this to happen.

But you didn't really need to.

Everypony just started moving the moment they heard the news.

And you knew better than to stop them. Hay, you are thankful for this.

Finally, pulling pegasi touch down on the ground. The escorting pegasi assume an open formation on the sky, and the magical winds around the flying wheels whirl in protest as they sense the approaching soil.

But ultimately, the carriage comes to a stop.

The tension grows to a crescendo.

And one of the pullers unclips himself from the carriage and makes his way to the door.

!!!!!​

The Commissioner is not a Princess. Nopony here, in the capacity of a guard or constable, can truly bow to her. No fanfare or band may be used to declare her arrival. And no crier is here to proclaim her name.

But by her presence alone, she might as well be one.

Because for some reason, you can't help but think that…

Clip- you hear a hoofstep walk out of the chariot.​

… you can't help but remember that… all of those things. The bowing, and the bands, and the honors. They are not there to make the Princesses look good.

Clop- another hoofstep, hitting the ground. You wouldn't know. You haven't dared to look up yet.​

They are there to make the onlookers feel less ashamed, from being in such an august presence. They are there to remember everypony else of their place.

Commissioner Velvet Covers was not a Princess.

But everypony, yourself included, presented such a sharp salute that she might as well be one. The movement so strong and fluid that even the fog was pushed back by the sudden breeze from your forelegs.

"Salt Rope," she says, her words cutting through a tinnitus you had for so long you even forgot about it. "Report."

You undo your salute, finally daring to look into the eyes of the mare who now at the center of the field.

"Sir! Commander Salt Rope, reporting as ordered! We are ready to assault at first light!"

You say that, part ceremonially, and part because you wouldn't dare disobey her. Even if she ordered you to report on everything, secret information included, right here and now, in this open and unsecured location.

But you said enough. You told her enough, and you are sure she knows much more.

She knows that the stormclouds have enough water for the rest of the night.

She knows that, since the mountains are to the west, it is best to assault on sunrise so the sun will be on the best angle to illuminate the mountain.

And she knows that, at this exact moment, Deputy Shining Armor is enforcing her Princess-given authority to lock down an entire city. Forbidding passage to anypony, in our out, regardless of circumstance or urgency. With troops levied from the Capital, no less.

Still, you can't help but… shiver and think you will be found wanting. As her eyes pass over you.

Because she looks at you, and then she glances at your officers, and then she turns her attention to the troops paraded to the side.

And for all that she has not moved an inch, you can see her judging every last imperfection, criticizing every piece of equipment before her, as well as the ponies wearing them.

Until finally, to the unspoken relief of everypony else, she once again looks at you.

And then, she begins to walk. Towards you, and then past you, and further on towards the command tent at your back.



"Sufficient," her words cut through the air.

And nothing more, you feel the unspoken words, like a knife against your gut.



"Brief me in-chambers. Everypony else, as you were," she finishes, before she disappears into the tent.

By the end of the hour, she was fully appraised of the details of your ongoing mission.

By the end of the night, she had taken complete control over the operation, and made several adjustments to it. Her adjustments, you could tell, had no consideration for Tall Tale, and made full use of the additional guardsponies she had brought.

And by sunrise, she was at the front of your assault teams, giving them and the gathered troops her final orders before the long trek up the mountains of Tall Tale.

"Salt Rope has operational command once again," she says to the gathered assault teams. "I will be in there with you. Now, listen closely to these instructions."





The Commissioner has brought new specialists and equipment for this mission. She will also lead the assault herself.

And everypony knows better than to question her on that.


[Vote in plans. A plan MUST contain two picks, one for "Troops" and one for "Lores"]


There will be changelings in there. There will be fighting, and there will be killing. The Commissioner has made it clear where she will be during all that.


-[] (TROOPS) "I will take point."
-Commissioner Velvet Covers will take direct control of Red Team as it assaults the proto-hive.
-Velvet Covers will always have seven (7) more trained soldiers with her for all combat encounters. At all times.
-Velvet Covers will be able to direct them in how to infiltrate the hive, and will consequently introduce the Lore of Moth to the Lunar Bureau (and will create the related Institutional Knowledge manuscript upon debriefing).
-Velvet Covers will not have any chance to manipulate, scout, or take "first picks" on whatever is found in the proto-hive. Everything will be witnessed by Bureau agents, and will be acted upon under an institutional lense.

-[] (TROOPS) "I will be in close range."
-Commissioner Velvet Covers will accompany Red Team as it assaults the proto-hive, but ordered them to act independently as needed.
-Velvet Covers MIGHT be able to call for aid during combat, if/as needed.
-Velvet Covers MIGHT have some chance to manipulate, scout, or take "first picks" on whatever is found in the proto-hive. But there is always the chance that Bureau assault ponies will be close enough to interrupt her, if she decides to do something strange.

-[] (TROOPS) "I will be in there. Watch for imposters."
-Commissioner Velvet Covers will warn all operatives of her presence, but will otherwise enter the proto-hive on her own.
-Velvet Covers can expect not to have any reinforcements from Bureau ponies, unless the successfully retreats from combat.
-Velvet Covers will most likely face more dangers, and will basically "soften" the proto-hive for the assault that will be behind her.
-Velvet Covers will have every chance to manipulate, scout, or take "first picks" on whatever is found in the proto-hive. If there is anything worth the hassle in there (which there are no guarantees).
-This option greatly decreases (but does NOT fully denies) the risks of using all your personal Lores in the "Lores" vote category.


These tools and ponies are cutting-edge. Do not speak of them outside of Bureau settings. And if the experts tell you something, you are ordered to act upon their words.


-[] (LORES) "Lucky Brush and Steady Step will be our on-the-grounds expert."
-Velvet Covers will not use ANY personal Lore levels other than Edge for personal combat.
-However, for any Lore-related roll, you will ONLY use the Lore levels of the Lunar Bureau.
-Due to your well-known combat against the Windigo, it will not be suspicious for you to display your combat prowess.

-[] (LORES) "We have cutting edge equipment. Watch carefully."
-Velvet Covers will apply her personal Lore levels ONLY to the Lores that have already been taught to Eclipse (including Moth, if she teaches it now).
-That means that for any Lore-related rolls, the Bureau will apply its own personal level, as well as Velvet's level as if she was a participant of an expedition. But ONLY for the Lores the Bureau knows.
-There are some risks that Eclipse will hear, even if tangentially, about any "strange feats" that take place today.

-[] (LORES) "Try to keep up."
-Velvet Covers will apply all her personal Lore levels to any situation that arises during the assault.
-Velvet Covers will teach one random Lore to the Lunar Bureau (random as in, depending on how things develop), and will create the related Institutional Knowledge manuscript upon debriefing.
-This has the highest chance of Eclipse catching wind of any "strange feats" that take place today. But you cannot quantify how risky this is.





Think of it this way. You have two big concerns.

Your first big concern is your personal safety versus your ability to collect any (possible, and by no means promised) loot. That concern is tackled by the "Troops" vote.

Your second biggest concern is that having so many ponies witnessing your use of the Lores might leak to Eclipse. The Bureau is loyal to you, but most of them don't know (and have no reason to suspect) that they SHOULDN'T be cavorting with Eclipse. So, your use of Personal Lore is covered by the "Lores" vote.

Regardless of your "Lores" pick, the Bureau will always use its own Lore levels (Lantern, Forge and Edge), without any risk of suspicion by Eclipse. The Bureau Lore levels are low and sparse enough (and your personal Lores are comparatively big enough) for this vote to matter.

And of course, if the assault goes catastrophically bad and you are wounded or have to retreat, all rewards and opportunities will be lost.

Twenty-four hours moratorium.

 

[Shaper47]

If we go solo I think try to keep up is pretty safe.

Ambush tactics are go.

We put Selene to explore her Winter Realization and how she can help stop Daybreaker.

Click to shrink...

"how she might possibly be able to effect Daybreaker." Not can help.

Nothings confirmed or really even hinted at that it might help.

It's a random shot in the dark if it will do anything except waste an ap.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Alright, that's enough writing for today.

I'll address all previous pings later. And I have extended the moratorium to twenty-four hours, because I don't think I'll be able to catch up and answer questions within twelve hours, and I don't want the voting to start before people can get their questions answered.

Thank you all for your patience, and I hope you are all doing well.

Good week everyone!

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Oh boy, I am sorely tempted to just try and go solo with Max Lores. But then I remember how brutal the Outnumbered Bonus and Malus are, and find the idea of having reinforcements at least in calling range to be worthwhile.

 

[ses]

Soloing Tall Tale was entirely viable a choice without the Bureau even taking part in the assault, im really not too concerned about the danger there.

Teaching the lore of Moth is very tempting though. It may just be worth giving up the chance at loot. And I dont think the troops vote would interact with our Knock Sacrament if that's a thing that can happen here.

If we take point and use full lores we can accelerate our cult getting online by a FULL TURN

 

[Solace2117]

I think I'm leaning full lores and solo. If we take point I'd restrict our lore use. It's just not worth the potential hassle of tipping of Eclipse. Going solo is the riskiest, but I think between our lore and influences we should be okay. While not directly useful in combat, the other lores should help keep us from walking into an ambush or getting overwhelmed.

 

[ses]

-[] (TROOPS) "I will be in close range."
-Commissioner Velvet Covers will accompany Red Team as it assaults the proto-hive, but ordered them to act independently as needed.
-Velvet Covers MIGHT be able to call for aid during combat, if/as needed.
-Velvet Covers MIGHT have some chance to manipulate, scout, or take "first picks" on whatever is found in the proto-hive. But there is always the chance that Bureau assault ponies will be close enough to interrupt her, if she decides to do something strange.

Click to shrink...

When it says "might" does that mean "random table", or "as feels right narratively", or "Moth roll"?

I ask because if its the 2nd option then presumably Velvet would put more effort into where the best payoff opportunity is and we should expect to get less overall but still be likely to get whatever the headline most important find is, since Velvet will engage in a push and pull with risks as befits her best judgement

If its the 3rd option and we roll Moth or maybe Knock we should have faith in our reroll and Lore mastery to provide better odds of this being the best of both worlds.

-[] (LORES) "Try to keep up."
-Velvet Covers will apply all her personal Lore levels to any situation that arises during the assault.
-Velvet Covers will teach one random Lore to the Lunar Bureau (random as in, depending on how things develop), and will create the related Institutional Knowledge manuscript upon debriefing.
-This has the highest chance of Eclipse catching wind of any "strange feats" that take place today. But you cannot quantify how risky this is.

Click to shrink...

Does risking Eclipse hearing of strange feats require that we actually do strange feats? That is to say that information leak risk is hand in hand with us having actually seen a hurdle that used impressive Lore work and therefore would have been a bad time for the Bureau if we had held back? In other words if we're leaking info does that mean we had been in a situation where the Lore usage had been genuinely needed? Similar to our old convo about artifacts not being in danger in an expedition where you sailed through the hurdles except the opposite where info leak being a danger means you had dangerous hurdles and had to use Lores and therefore would have failed stuff if you hadn't been using lores.


I think "close range" is a total nonstarter unless our Moth reroll applies to getting first picks in order to even be tempting. Otherwise we'd be giving up the chance to teach a Lore just to not even get the benefits of going solo.

Take Point is tempting due to the extra Lore teaching being genuinely tempting as an alternative payoff to the AP.

Im not really concerned about Go Solo danger. A Resolution and Edge 4 is just too scary, and Velvet's Moth and Edge realizations make her impossible to pin down or ambush, so im not concerned about being outnumbered. We can sail past any hurdles involving infiltration and avoiding an unfavorable encounter considering our Knock 5 and Moth 4. And the effing Splendour.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

I just don't want to be on the reverse end of a 7 vs 1 fight, eating -30 to your Combat Checks sucks. Though if we assume the Changelings have 0 Edge then we've still got a 39 vs a highest score of 25 in such a case...

Oh wait, we have 2 Edge AotLs to pop in the worst case scenario of staring down a Heroic Unit and 6 of his best Broodmates, nevermind then.

 

[ses]

I just don't want to be on the reverse end of a 7 vs 1 fight, eating -30 to your Combat Checks sucks. Though if we assume the Changelings have 0 Edge then we've still got a 39 vs a highest score of 25 in such a case...

Click to shrink...

Yeah but that's what our Edge realization and Moth 4+reroll are for. Velvet isn't going to aggro the whole dungeon unless she fails multiple rolls outside of combat itself. I dont think we will face more Outnumbered penalties than we saw at Crepuscule Jailbreak unless we massively fail Moth or lantern hurdles

Having 7 constables on hand should be assumed to be massive overkill even if we hadn't brought an Influence. The options are laid out in such a way that we'd be doing the same vote if we were edge 3 with no influence.

 

[Shaper47]

Oh boy, I am sorely tempted to just try and go solo with Max Lores. But then I remember how brutal the Outnumbered Bonus and Malus are, and find the idea of having reinforcements at least in calling range to be worthwhile.

Click to shrink...

I just don't want to be on the reverse end of a 7 vs 1 fight, eating -30 to your Combat Checks sucks. Though if we assume the Changelings have 0 Edge then we've still got a 39 vs a highest score of 25 in such a case...

Oh wait, we have 2 Edge AotLs to pop in the worst case scenario of staring down a Heroic Unit and 6 of his best Broodmates, nevermind then.

Click to shrink...

Ambush bonus is a thing and Velvet can presumably pick her fights and keep running away to regain her ambush bonus.

She can presumably also use forge and knock to sabotage traps and defenses.

Like, Velvet can just wait intill the Changelings are fighting the Bureau assault teams in order to flank them and hit them from ambush.

You've got valid concerns but I think we can trust Velvet to play it safe here and not get in over her head.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Alright, I'm convinced, Let Us Solo Them

 

[Sintonir]

I'm a bit torn between "Take Point"+"Watch Carefully" and "I will be in there"+"Try to keep up".
The first just to introduce Moth to the bureau.

 

[Alan975]

I haven't exactly been keeping up with the numbers y'all have thrown around, but going full throttle here is tempting

 

[ses]

Oh wait, we have 2 Edge AotLs to pop in the worst case scenario of staring down a Heroic Unit and 6 of his best Broodmates, nevermind then.

Click to shrink...

We have three Edge AotLs. And the third one is only like a 6% odds shift on Biedde Sacrament anyway so popping one in an emergency isn't even crippling.

Close Range really feels like the worst of both worlds. The extra safety blanket is NOT worth the extra info leak compared to Go Solo, and only having a chance at loot isn't worth losing a Lore Teaching compared to Take Point. Go Solo is less info leak and full pick of the loot at the cost of our safety net. But we came prepared for that anyway. We brought a level of overkill that would have been overkill for soloing this expedition even if the Bureau weren't sent here this turn at all.

Try to Keep Up seems worth it compared to Watch Carefully regardless of our troop choice due to the extra Lore Teaching to be honest. And like, Take Point/Full Lore is a full turn faster, while Full Lore is a no brainer for Go Solo. The extra lore teachings are so great. I'm really tempted to Take Point/Full Lore just for the teaching.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

I haven't exactly been keeping up with the numbers y'all have thrown around, but going full throttle here is tempting

Click to shrink...

Velvet rolls +29 to Combat at Base. A Resolution brings that to +69. That is higher than a Windigo's +55. For those without Lore Levels, the absolute highest a Pony can go is +25. Being outnumbered inflicts a -5 penalty per enemy outnumbering you. Let's say we royally screw up and somehow are stuck fighting the absolute pinnacle of Changeling Combat and their 6 Sworn Swords in a locked room with nowhere to run and hide; their big fighter would have a +25 against Velvet's now +39, uncomfortably close. And then we pop one of our AotLs to double our Edge Application Bonus and pop back up to +59 in order to try and paste someone to make things easier. Velvet is insanely dangerous right now.

 

[ses]

Velvet rolls +29 to Combat at Base. A Resolution brings that to +69. That is higher than a Windigo's +55. For those without Lore Levels, the absolute highest a Pony can go is +25. Being outnumbered inflicts a -5 penalty per enemy outnumbering you. Let's say we royally screw up and somehow are stuck fighting the absolute pinnacle of Changeling Combat and their 6 Sworn Swords in a locked room with nowhere to run and hide; their big fighter would have a +25 against Velvet's now +39, uncomfortably close. And then we pop one of our AotLs to double our Edge Application Bonus and pop back up to +59 in order to try and paste someone to make things easier. Velvet is insanely dangerous right now.

Click to shrink...

In a locked room? What is the sole Lore we are Sacramented in again?

I kid, I kid. But it is worth pointing out that +55 is the Windigo's bonus against ponies, not changelings. And last time that Windigos were unleashed on a Changeling Hive despite the fact that Windigos are only +45 against changelings it wasn't even a fight. It was apocalyptic cruelty like children squishing ants. Velvet is rolling +69.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

In a locked room? What is the sole Lore we are Sacramented in again?

I kid, I kid. But it is worth pointing out that +55 is the Windigo's bonus against ponies, not changelings. And last time that Windigos were unleashed on a Changeling Hive despite the fact that Windigos are only +45 against changelings it wasn't even a fight. It was apocalyptic cruelty like children squishing ants. Velvet is rolling +69.

Click to shrink...

Windigos do get a stacking bonus based on the number of Windigos present for an action. They were definitely rolling at more than +45 for that assault.

 

[Shaper47]

And last time that Windigos were unleashed on a Changeling Hive despite the fact that Windigos are only +45 against changelings it wasn't even a fight. It was apocalyptic cruelty like children squishing ants. Velvet is rolling +69.

Click to shrink...

To be fair it was multiple Windigos and they have increasing bonuses the more of them they are.

But Comet was auto succeeding with his max influence there and he doesn't even have Moth ambushing on his side.

Edit. Got mothed.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

In any case, I think we're pretty covered martially.

 

[ses]

	"Lucky Brush and Steady Step will be our on-the-grounds expert."	"We have cutting edge equipment. Watch carefully."	"Try to keep up."
"I will take point."	Risk free Moth teaching. No loot, no risks, save a Commissioner action later at the cost of a Velvet AP now.	Bureau doesn't really need the Splendor to crush the hive tbh	MAXIMUM LORE no loot FULL TURN FASTER Maximum Cult investment after we passed up Wolf Cult. Not sure if having passed up wolf cult makes this more or less attractive. Substantial infosec risk, but worth the rewards.
"I will be in close range."	No Moth bonus for stealing shit, no lores taught	No Moth bonus for stealing shit, no lores taught	Highest infosec risk, likely obtains all the loot we care about. Safety blanket but unlikely to be the difference between wound or no-wound
"I will be in there. Watch for imposters."	This is stupid.	Not totally suicidal due to Splendor but stupid.	MAXIMUM DANGER MAXIMUM REWARDS "I can take them" It's only hubris if we fail A pop tart is a sandwich

Okay I think everything that isn't Take Point/No Lore, Take Point/Full Lore, or Go Solo/Full Lore can be dismissed from initial consideration. There's maybe a needle to thread on Close Range/Full Lore if you're really really scared of getting wounded but not scared of infosec risks but can't abide at the possibility of no loot. But I think Take Point/Full Lore just plain beats that option.

I think the infosec risk of Take Point/Full Lore doesn't stop it from being a better option than Lawful Good. It's just too much of an accelerant to our takeoff.
I dont think Dancing With Death is a realistic possibility for this, we're just too overpowered right now. Getting wounded and needing to refund the Biedde duel is possible but unlikely, and like. It's not exactly the end of the world if that happens.

 

[jason1stlegion]

The highest priority here is for Velvet not to get injured. We have a Sacrament with Biedde this turn, and we'll need every HP we have to succeed. Given that, "I will be in there. Watch for imposters." is a hard no.
- Incidentally, as far as I can tell the limits on Lore use are only for the Bureau operation itself, not any sabotage / first-pick actions we attempt, which reduces the cost of giving up this option. @OurLadyOfWires could you confirm this?

Moving to the Lore vote for a moment, I don't think Selene's far enough along her fix-Celestia research to risk using all our Lores; if it becomes an issue, we'd need to deal with Eclipse next turn, meaning at most 2 turns before Celestia takes drastic action due to our suspiciously not answering their questions properly). On the other hand, limiting ourselves to the Bureau's Lore levels is both boring and just as risky as YOLO'ing the assault, w.r.t. compromising our Edge Sacrament.

That makes "We have cutting edge equipment. Watch carefully" the best option for Lore usage, given that it lets us use our skills to avoid injury / failure while still letting us explain away any strangeness.

However, I do think we'll need Moth for this as well, given we're assaulting an established enemy position: it's the best Lore for avoiding combat. Given the Changeling's Moth nature there may also be challenges we can only address through it.

That gives us the below vote as optimal, assuming the above is sufficiently complete+accurate over our preferences here:

-[] (TROOPS) "I will take point."
-[] (LORES) "We have cutting edge equipment. Watch carefully."


One thing I don't have good estimates for in the above is how likely we are to need the autonomy to interfere or take a first-pick action. Any thoughts on this?

EDIT:

Okay I think everything that isn't Take Point/No Lore, Take Point/Full Lore, or Go Solo/Full Lore can be dismissed from initial consideration.

Click to shrink...

Why disregard the "Some Full Lores" option? Given the Bureau knows about Edge and can be taught about Moth, it seems similarly useful as Full Lore for a combat assault while incurring less long-term risk.

 

[Shaper47]

Something to keep in mind is that I will be in there combined with Try to Keep Up is the combo that gets us the most bits.

We really really need the cash.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

@OurLadyOfWires , does the whole "I See You My Enemy," thing for Worthy Opponents count as a Strange Feat, or would it fall under the combat prowess umbrella of no concerns?