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

Rafuki22 · Feb 2, 2026

Earth-Destroyer said:
We should be preparing to win, not trying to not lose.

Celestia is a timebomb that we don't want to go boom, we can't prepare to win if we are dead, or about to be.

ses · Feb 3, 2026

Turn 24 is really the minimum viable All In, as we don't befriend Forge Name and Smiles until then. We can't bring Name Influences into All In unless the Name is befriended (Name influences expire at end of turn, and All In is "between turns" we can only get +40 influences by having the Name actually join the expedition)

Not being forced into All In is an excellent use of our AP, as we really can't accelerate Smiles/Forge befriendings any further than we already are.

There's really no better All In preparation we can possibly be doing than buying ourselves Turn 24 to get an extra two Names (and an extra two Sacraments).

Next turn we need 4 combined mareinette/velvet AP, 2 selene AP, and 3 mortal ponies, which shouldn't be too hard. We can Lantern/SH sacrament, befriend Forge Name, and still have 2 Velvet/Mareinette AP left over. If we're lucky enough to find exactly a level 5 Heart book we could even hit Heart 4 via Influence+Book study. Otherwise we probably study whatever stuff we get from the Quarry, plus maybe a Heart lesson or something.

spiderhellian · Feb 3, 2026

dcoconeo said:
Influences expire at the end of the turn, so they don't matter.

Nah, an influence we call ourselves lasts 2 turns — ie would apply to All In.

It's totally valid to say we've bet on not needing to go All In at the end of this turn. But I agree that's probably a bet worth making.

Greymere · Feb 3, 2026

spiderhellian said:
Nah, an influence we call ourselves lasts 2 turns — ie would apply to All In.

It's totally valid to say we've bet on not needing to go All In at the end of this turn. But I agree that's probably a bet worth making.

Because of how the timing works out, Called Influences will only apply to All In if we call them the same turn we commit to All In. Namely because All In actually happens between turns.

So if we Called an Influence this turn, it would expire at the end of T24... right before the "between turns" phase where All In actually happens.

Unless things go massively, irrecoverably pear-shaped, Calling an Influence this turn wouldn't really do much, in terms of getting to Glory.

dcoconeo · Feb 3, 2026

spiderhellian said:
But I agree that's probably a bet worth making.

Well, rolling a top tier influence is probably about the same difficulty (or harder!) than outright defusing the meltdown, or at least delaying the meltdown, so yes it is a bet worth making?

ses · Feb 3, 2026

I do notice that if we roll "No lore progress" this turn and can plan for a turn 25 All In, we don't actually need to burn Mareinette/Velvet AP and instead can befriend Smiles via Mortal followers.

Turn 23: Smiles 1, Selene 6, total 7
Turn 24: Smiles 1, Selene 6, Fluttershy 2, Servants 2, Filthy 2, Cheerilee 2 total 22
Turn 25: Smiles 1, Selene 6, Fluttershy 2, Filthy 2, Cheerilee 2, Velvet 1, total 40

Considering how use-impaired non-Lore'd up mortal ponies are, this would be a much cheaper version that would let us get a lot of Lore advancement and sacrament progress or expedition progress if we don't need to worry about getting Smiles befriended on turn 24 for All In.

Shaper47 · Feb 3, 2026

It would be nice to be able to have Velvet focus on investigating Stalking and working on Sacraments along with Mareinette grail lessons.

Talon Tiger Dino · Feb 3, 2026

Nah, Mareinette Heart lessons. Need that All-4 for sure.

Pittauro · Feb 3, 2026

I really hope we can buy this extra turn or two... We're so close to getting a bunch of Name friendships and Sacraments! Even Neighnia is not impossible!

Each extra turn we get is AT LEAST one more sacrament. And we should keep in mind how they have not only mechanical but narrative value too.

Otherwise I don't see how the Sacraments we know of could have helped with the Master.

Beside the +5 and the sacrament power itself, each level is simply much more narratively valuable than the previous ones

DelightedOne · Feb 3, 2026

Talon Tiger Dino said:
Nah, Mareinette Heart lessons. Need that All-4 for sure.

Yep, All-4 and Family lessons so we can see Silky's affinities.

I mean, we did get a whole thing in "The signs are there" that made it clear Silky's potential had been achieved to a certain point. So it is not that out there to think we are going to see what she can do with the lores, especially with that Cutie Mark.

And there is also how it will benefit Soft Sweeps. More successful Wolf subversion? Better awareness of her cult? Daughter-self not being in control as often?

I NEED TO KNOW!

Pittauro · Feb 3, 2026

I'm just a bit sad we can't go for all 5 (even just all Selene 5. Though for those we only need Winter, so maybe...)

Wise Wolf · Feb 3, 2026

ses said:
I do notice that if we roll "No lore progress" this turn and can plan for a turn 25 All In, we don't actually need to burn Mareinette/Velvet AP and instead can befriend Smiles via Mortal followers.

Turn 23: Smiles 1, Selene 6, total 7
Turn 24: Smiles 1, Selene 6, Fluttershy 2, Servants 2, Filthy 2, Cheerilee 2 total 22
Turn 25: Smiles 1, Selene 6, Fluttershy 2, Filthy 2, Cheerilee 2, Velvet 1, total 40

Considering how use-impaired non-Lore'd up mortal ponies are, this would be a much cheaper version that would let us get a lot of Lore advancement and sacrament progress or expedition progress if we don't need to worry about getting Smiles befriended on turn 24 for All In.

That's very efficient unless something else happens on Turn 24 that forces an All-In. Bad Soothe roll, or some unknown issue like Windy or the Wolf cutting our timelines.

There's something to be said for rushing our Smiles friendship just to hedge our bets.

Sveta08 · Feb 3, 2026

I need not. And I believe it is already said. But I am slowly somewhat more awake and tired at once. I apologize I could not and did not speak more. But was by most, unneeded.

[X] Plan: The Princess of Love's Chosen Has to Make an Effort

My thoughts are too much on what may yet be. I'll make something soon.

Shaper47 · Feb 6, 2026

Thinking about Bureau actions for next turn.

We really need to be doing our job regarding the Changelings. Don't want to fail Celestia's test if she does a checkup. So investigation on solutions to fighting, kinda want to have Smiles Consult on this.

With that covered we can abuse our position for personal benefits.

I'm thinking about sending Velvet on Bureau paid trip to The Choked City.

Seems like fun and would be useful for our Forge Sacrament.

jason1stlegion · Feb 6, 2026

[X] Plan: The Princess of Love's Chosen Has to Make an Effort

When does Baldomare's countdown expire again? I want to get her the level 7 book as soon as we can so we can stop feeding her Wound and get her full support guarding against Biedde (plus any other benefits it would give to her Sacraments).

DelightedOne · Feb 6, 2026

jason1stlegion said:
When does Baldomare's countdown expire again? I want to get her the level 7 book as soon as we can so we can stop feeding her Wound and get her full support guarding against Biedde (plus any other benefits it would give to her Sacraments).

Right at the end of this turn. But we already planned on sending DoA, Cherenkolt and Velvet with support from the Bureau to get it so there isn't much worry on that front.

dcoconeo · Feb 7, 2026

DelightedOne said:
Right at the end of this turn. But we already planned on sending DoA, Cherenkolt and Velvet with support from the Bureau to get it so there isn't much worry on that front.

If something somehow goes wrong there ~~we crash and burn~~ panic and then use the Level 5 book as backup.

Shaper47 · Feb 7, 2026

OurLadyOfWires said:
-Mareinette, Our Lady of Wires (Permanent summons) (~~Obedience bindings to expire at the END of turn 22~~ "[MOTH]!")

Interesting...

Sigh, I'm kinda wondering what we're going to have Jade be doing for the next few turns. Like, I know mechanically that studying our low level artifacts will provide minor bonuses for All In but in my heart I'm very interested in putting her on creating rituals.

If we get enough time being able to create and cast the "Wasn't now Will Be" ritual would be extreamly cool and useful. Especially for the final expedition into the Malleary.

Talon Tiger Dino · Feb 7, 2026

Shaper47 said:
If we get enough time being able to create and cast the "Wasn't now Will Be" ritual would be extreamly cool and useful. Especially for the final expedition into the Malleary.

What ritual is that?

Shaper47 · Feb 7, 2026

Talon Tiger Dino said:
What ritual is that?

It was from the old Velvet Ritual ideas.

"Baldomare will be a pegasus, unicorn or an earth pony. Velvet will be a unicorn for being a pegasus or earth pony were a wasn't for her. Yet there are several histories and they can be knotted together. Elements, strings of a past that could have been can become. If one knows the way and can cut a path."

"Wasn't now Will Be"
-CD: KNOCK 80, SECRET HISTORIES 120,
-Cost: 60 bits on materials
-Duration: Instantaneous
-Effect: The tapestry of Velvet though the use of Knock shall intertwined with past strings bringing a new branch to the current tree. Pick one trait to be added to Velvet's current character sheet. Mental traits may carry unforeseen consequences.

Basically a ritual inspired by Baldomare's body trick and Velvet's ability to pick up stuff from multiple Histories.

Super suspicious for some of it though but has really good rewards. Still that kind of suspicion isn't really going to be a threat to Velvet anymore anyways.

ses · Feb 13, 2026

Was playing a bit of Cultist Simulator today and came across this....

Remind me, who exactly chose to sit on the fence, and didn't want to serve the Master? And didn't want to just run to Celestia either? And didn't explore the Mansus enough to get the dedicated anti-changeling summons or otherwise help the cult out of fear of empowering it, but didn't immediately run away or act against it either, only doing the bare minimum?

Just thought that was a fun little detail to notice.

spiderhellian · Feb 14, 2026

That's a great catch

Wise Wolf · Feb 19, 2026

Well, I finally broke down and bought the game to play between updates, and...

I got my first win! Too bad I had to chop up Baldomare to do it, but... needs must.

Rafuki22 · Feb 20, 2026

Wise Wolf said:
I got my first win! Too bad I had to chop up Baldomare to do it, but... needs must.

She would understand.

OurLadyOfWires · Feb 26, 2026

Heyia!

All is well. Just wanted to give a life sign. Relative has a child recently and we are all scrambling a bit.
And before that happened, i had been introduced to the joys of Black Myth Wukong. So the monke was stronk for a while.

Quest is alive, and i'll write when I can.

I hope you are all doing well!

ses · Feb 26, 2026

OurLadyOfWires said:
Heyia!

All is well. Just wanted to give a life sign. Relative has a child recently and we are all scrambling a bit.
And before that happened, i had been introduced to the joys of Black Myth Wukong. So the monke was stronk for a while.

Quest is alive, and i'll write when I can.

I hope you are all doing well!

Very glad to hear that

Steady Gaze · 2026-03-17T22:45:56+0000

I may not be the ~~pony~~individual you wish to see, but I apologize for my absence nonetheless.

In classic fashion, once the backlog became unmanageably large, I just kept putting it off until, well…. Nevermind that; here we are now, with me all caught up.

@OurLadyOfWires I provide my usual list of suggestions (massive because of my backlog):

From "Turn 21 - Results, part 7" through "Turn 23 - Velvet's Phase":

OurLadyOfWires said:
You will signal to Mareinette that you are still interested in your ongoing relationship. She will hold you for that.

hold you to that

OurLadyOfWires said:
And in certain places, the mechanisms that operated the forges within its walls are jutting out of the walls, with the tightly-connected cogs of unsees machines doubling as the outer walls in certain sections of its side.

unseen machines

OurLadyOfWires said:
Near the side of the Malleary, so close to the ground that you might be able to climb in, the see a grand square-shaped entrance.

you see

there is seen

OurLadyOfWires said:
And you feel a little lighter when, right before you reach the front door, you hear the women getting up, and following after you.

woman

(it's just Axe in this case)

OurLadyOfWires said:
"Do you think she is onto us?" you ask, feeling your own trepidation rise inside of you. Spreading through your body like a crawling chill.

"What the hay do you think? Of course she did," he says.

Of course she is

(because "she is onto us", not "she did onto us")

OurLadyOfWires said:
She gives you that missions, and she tells you a secret, and then… she lets you two go.

that mission

OurLadyOfWires said:
Your very best friends is here, yes. Your one and only friends lives in this place.

Your very best friend is here, yes. Your one and only friend lives in this place.

OurLadyOfWires said:
"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 by be calm around him."

can't help but be calm

OurLadyOfWires said:
Because if there is a painter behind these symbols, and if there is a hoof molding this clay, then what is the significance of that mark, that imprinted so auspicious a symbols upon such innocent a filly?

a symbol

OurLadyOfWires said:
The ravenous hordes of hungry, energetic, and sugar crazed foal that descended upon the food tables like locust was too much.

The ravenous hordes of hungry, energetic, and sugar crazed foals that descended upon the food tables like locusts was too much.

A phrase like "group of things" still pluralizes "things"; this is a "collective noun", or also see "term of venery" (never heard of that phrase before today).

OurLadyOfWires said:
Moments later the chef witnesses something that will certainly justify his next request for vacations.

vacation

vacation time

leave

time off

(unless he asked for multiple discrete vacations for this one incident, heh)

OurLadyOfWires said:
she fears that if she moves, the hatchlings might remember she exist and tackle her again

she exists

OurLadyOfWires said:
Silky's cute-ceñeara, as joyous as it was, also served you as a slap on the face, reminding your little filly won't stop growing and that you have been spending less and less time with her.

reminding you your little filly won't stop growing

reminding you that your little filly won't stop growing

OurLadyOfWires said:
There is also… there is also that thing that waits you, in your dreams… there is also GLORY and…

that thing that awaits you

that thing that waits for you

OurLadyOfWires said:
Fortunately, our [patron/enemy/other party of a contract]

Perfectly acceptable, although if you want something snappier, you may like the term counterparty.

OurLadyOfWires said:
You let out a small sight.

You let out a small sigh.

OurLadyOfWires said:
"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."

"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 is necessary for out matters here. And it will be removed as soon as we are done here."

OurLadyOfWires said:
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.

They are there to remind everypony else of their place.

OurLadyOfWires said:
-Velvet Covers can expect not to have any reinforcements from Bureau ponies, unless the successfully retreats from combat.

unless she successfully retreats

OurLadyOfWires said:
So, trying to single one, or a few of them, at a time will be key for your survival.

single out one

OurLadyOfWires said:
But the Commissioner herself was found unharmed, although the armorers reported some tear on the armor she was given.

some tears in the armor

a tear in the armor

Also, "tear on the armor" isn't necessarily wrong, and I can't find a reliable source saying this explicitly, but I have a feeling "tear in" is more idiomatic. Here is one example of "tear in", and I would say:

My shirt has a tear in it.
My shirt tears on the fence.
The tear in my shirt is from tearing it on the fence.

OurLadyOfWires said:
Maybe the changelings, emotion-feeders as you suspect them to be, feed too deeply on this one?

fed

Feed or Fed – What’s the Difference? - Writing Explained

What is the past tense of feed? Verb to feed. Learn how to use fed and feed with definitions, sentence examples, & quizzes. Feed fed past tense

writingexplained.org

OurLadyOfWires said:
Something happened, something that Smiles does not gets into details about, that turned their cold war into an outright brawl.

Smiles does not go into detail about

Smiles does not get into details about

OurLadyOfWires said:
You understand what makes Biedde ticks.

You understand what makes Biedde tick.

OurLadyOfWires said:
He looked younger than it should be possible.

OurLadyOfWires said:
He looked younger than should be possible.

OurLadyOfWires said:
Not only because the situation is dangerous by itself, after all climbing temperatures are a hazard by itself.

Not wrong, but I would probably delete the first by itself to avoid unnecessary repetition.

Bonus suggestions for "In which Silky Stream is overpowered":

OurLadyOfWires said:
Usually by now you would be walking out of the front door with your sister, to meet up with Soft Sweeps (or more recently, uncle Steppes) so you could all go back home.

Uncle Steppes

Any title is capitalized when included before a name. So, Uncle Steppes, Aunt Mathilda, Reverend Greene, Mr. White, etc.

OurLadyOfWires said:
"Am I going nuts?! Am I the only one who can see what's going one?!" Diamond Tiara continues.

going on

OurLadyOfWires said:
She can be a clutz sometimes, but you know it's just because she's happy about stuff.

OurLadyOfWires said:
"Yeah, Silky can be a bit of a clutz sometimes..." she says, letting out another chuckle through a weak smile.

klutz

Clutz or Klutz: Correct Spelling, Meaning & Usage Guide

Wondering if it’s clutz or klutz? Learn the correct spelling, meaning, examples & how to use it in everyday writing.

thoughtgenic.com

It is in the dictionary, but I've never seen it spelled "clutz" before.

OurLadyOfWires said:
"Besides, what do you say we go talk to everypony? I'm sure they must be looking for us. And who knows, maybe uncle Steppes will take us all to Sugarcube Corner again!"

Uncle Steppes

And now, some reactions. I was not able to read all the discussion, so pardon any unoriginal thoughts.

OurLadyOfWires said:
(Looks at Silky's history of interaction with the Princesses. Two out of three in the bag.)

That would be a natural Extra idea. (Although it may end up falling more on the grimdark side…)

I'm glad the matter of us changing teams with Biedde and Smile was handled without any damage to Silky. I wrote before that update:

I must remind every~~pony~~one that Silky actually bears the mark of the Colonel unknowingly, because Biedde let her wear his hat. (I'm serious.) So we are on opposite sides of the war. Mother against daughter… how terrible. Hopefully this will only be for narrative flavor.

OurLadyOfWires said:
And you two can only watch as a white mare, her dark mane and tail tied into buns, goes from one door to the other with all the indications that she might as well be the busiest pony in Equestria right now.

RAVEN INKWELL MY BELOVED! Still no Moondancer sightings though; hope she didn't perish in the Catastrophe! Maybe she'd be a good budget Twilight if we need one.

OurLadyOfWires said:
"Steady Step. Maintenance specialist, from the equipment department, currently assigned to the armory."

A distant relation of mine? Hm…

OurLadyOfWires said:
The bald spot he has at the very top of his head, visible once he takes off his cap, almost makes him look like a kindly and caring grandfather.

Arrkhon said:
How does that even look with a pony

OurLadyOfWires said:
To the west, within the mainland but beyond the borders of Equestria.

For those unaware, several official maps of Equestria (wiki) have featured an area labeled "Undiscovered West". This might be what this is referring to.

Maybe I have some more thoughts in me on the overall direction of things, but this post has gotten long enough.

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

Anti-nihilist (maybe)

Experienced.

Araneae

In hell we live, lament

Not too sore, are you?

Experienced.

Experienced.

From the best dinosaur fighting game

Versed in the lewd.

Versed in the lewd.

Versed in the lewd.

Grinding the whiskey wheat

Shinning Glimmering and Dangerous

Experienced.

Observer

Versed in the lewd.

Not too sore, are you?

Experienced.

From the best dinosaur fighting game

Experienced.

Experienced.

Araneae

Grinding the whiskey wheat

Anti-nihilist (maybe)

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Experienced.

Sending good vibes and insights

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