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

Reader mode
Welp, I know what I'm going for:

[X] You gave him an ultimatum.
"He will think his conversation with you was a dream, but that does not matter to you. The next time he steps upon the ashes will be his last."

[X] Open it.
 
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ses said:
Agreed! Plus we've got 3 Wrong Keys on us.
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Wait we have Wrong Keys? Fuck yeah, lemme check how they work again...

...

Okay we have 3 Wrong Keys, each one makes 1 Wound on a summoned creature and Windigos have 3 Health... We can actually kill it pretty easily, but then we lose the priority, bonus and lower cost to call DoA back to the Wake, so we should only use 2 and fight the last Health out(if we choose to fight of course).

If Greymere is right we actually have a very good chance on winning. And getting more reputation with the Bureau wouldn't hurt.
 
It's unclear if using a Wrong Key replaces our chance to punch them in the snoofle or if it's one of those "Between round actions" like "Escape" is, or if it's a free action to blow as many as you want.

DelightedOne said:
Okay we have 3 Wrong Keys, each one makes 1 Wound on a summoned creature and Windigos have 3 Health... We can actually kill it pretty easily, but then we lose the priority, bonus and lower cost to call DoA back to the Wake, so we should only use 2 and fight the last Health out(if we choose to fight of course).
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Eh, we're never going to blow all 3 on it: Probably we just start spending them if the Windigo manages to get a wound on Velvet?


[] Open it.
-Velvet Covers and a team of 6 (six) Lunar Bureau Constables will fight against a Windigo. You will first move the jar to a safer place, and make preparations to ensure the creature cannot easily escape during combat, and that it will have no choice but fight to the death.
-Pros: Success will greatly improve your standing with the Lunar Bureau, and will deal with this issue.
-Cons: Combat is always dangerous.

For context just a couple of turns ago the thread chose to give up 400 freaking bits for the sake of "Greatly improved standing with the Bureau". If this fight is worth even half that then we're getting paid hella dosh-equivalent to boop the icy snoot.

Man if we had free reign to take the jar for ourselves we could have sacrificed the Windigo for +50 to a Calling of Influence(Winter), but uh, I don't think that would fly with the whole "evidence" thing. So cowabunga it is.
 
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Agent - Constible Covers... I hesitate to ask, by why have you called so many agents all to one place all in battlegarb?

Velvent Covers - Because the penalty for being outnumbered stacks, so I figured 100 on one is reasonable odds. Try not to die <kicks open windigo jar>
 
Greymere said:
Okay, did a quick skim through the update to check if there's anything super important, bcuz it's very late where I am and I'm tired and I'll read in full detail later, and I see that we found a Windigo jar. @OurLadyOfWires how does the "outnumbered" penalty scale (iirc from the Twilight Jailbreak, that's a thing), if we're going 7 vs. 1? Since as far as I can tell, Windigos don't have anything that excempts them from that sort of thing.
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Greymere said:
Which implies that for every 1 extra opponent, the outnumbered individual takes a -5 penalty. So in a 7 vs. 1 fight, the Windigo should be taking a -30 penalty, bringing its combat bonus down from +55 (very bad) to +25 (bad, but manageable). We've got a +29, our agents probably have like +15, and there's seven of us.
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You got the right of it on the second vote (Edit: ) post. Windigo will have a -30 due to facing seven enemies.

Also, I am not big on doing "gotchas" with surprise mechanics. So you can trust that a Windigo doesn't have any skill you are not aware of, since you have knowledge of its full sheet and it doesn't have any "multicombat" skill (something like No Holds Barred that lets you target multiple enemies).

spiderhellian said:
@OurLadyOfWires Do we know the combat bonus on our constables :V
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Anywhere from 10 to around 20ish. Not decided the upper limit yet. But definitely under 25 since Shining only has that becasue he is a hero.

DelightedOne said:
☹️. I like knowing the rolls. No lores basically guarantees we are not getting anything that good though.
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Agreed. And I like giving the rolls. But sometimes I don't want you guys to know how much you succeeded or failed, since that tends to poison your interpretation of what happens next.

Letting you know you rolled a 100+ and giving you a good result is good at making you guys understand "this was good". But sometimes, like here, that is not warranted.

Roaming_Guardian said:
Shame we can't stack the deck here and just have to fight it. So many things we could do for a properly prepared battlefield.
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You will "stack the deck", so to speak, by taking the Windigo somewhere it will have an absurd disadvantage to "escape" rolls. You also will stack the deck by having six ponies behind your back, all ready and willing to fight.

But given how I want Edge to be the greatest differentiator in combat, I REALLY do not like adding mechanics like "personal gear" or "armor" to combat. Because if you can just spend bits to gain a total of +15 combat two things happen. First, EVERYONE ELSE can do it, and it becomes just an extra hurdle of preparation before combat, and second Edge levels become less impactful.

So, this is my way to mechanically nudge the world into what I need it to be.



That seems to be all the pings. I'll clock out for the night.

Be well, everyone. And for the record, this update only really covered your Midday Dew chat, and the outcome of choosing to be called if a Windigo is found. Other things still need to happen, even if they will just be "reports from your followers".

Laters.
 
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Roaming_Guardian said:
Yeah, I say we just kill the thing.

Shame we can't stack the deck here and just have to fight it. So many things we could do for a properly prepared battlefield.
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The fight option explicitly states we are taking it to a new location, making that location incredibly difficult to escape from, and then jumping it with 6 other Agents. It's going to be pretty stacked.
 
Personally I suspect the "summoning priority" property of the Keys is now a lot less important than it used to be.

OurLadyOfWires said:
[UNIQUE]: The Daughter-of-Axes is a unique creature. She may refuse summons at will, and will refuse re-summons for three ONE full month should she be unsummoned for any reason (including if she is killed).
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She doesn't have to respond to a summoning, even if someone rolled perfect 100s across the board she is entirely within her rights to tell them to piss off.

Heck, she can tell us to piss off if we try to call her up before she's ready to come back.

It mattered before because she didn't care enough not to show up, and she had a vested interest in connecting with as many free agents as possible. A Key would just let her know that the summoner is someone she's already worked with. Now that she's free of her bindings she's probably got other things to do now for the immediate future.

Luckily Silky made such a firm connection though, eh?
 
Ha! Knew there the problem with Wendigos was going to fall out. Not crazy, for that at least.
Also, Curses! Wendigos.

I still need to think it over for what to say with Midnight Dew, but the Wendigo? That's easy.
Open it.

More than anything, the Bureau already knows and saw the ice when Velvet was attacked. They believe she knows how to handle these sorts of problems.
Prove it to them. Build the reputation and reinforce the lie.


Edit: Oh, and by the by.
Venerable Ro said:
Personally I suspect the "summoning priority" property of the Keys is now a lot less important than it used to be.
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I'd say you are quite right. We cannot bring her back if she does not so choose. Not even with the Wrong Keys.
After all, she has the Right Key, so she gets to pick what does and doesn't bind.
 
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Sveta08 said:
More than anything, the Bureau already knows and saw the ice when Velvet was attacked. They believe she knows how to handle these sorts of problems.
Prove it to them. Build the reputation and reinforce the lie.
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Wait a second, this introduces a problem, it doesn't solve one.

The Bureau thinks Velvet used the ice magic when she was attacked by thugs. That she's some terrifyingly competent cryomancer. Now they'll be fighting a foe who is clearly the one that wields it.

The obvious inference is that no, Velvet wasn't responsible for all that ice magic… it was the vicious creature. And it introduces the question of how on earth the Commissioner fought off what would normally require 6 constables and herself to conquer.

…I still think we should fight it. But this is a problem, not a strong point, I think.
 
Fighting the Windigo has some risks, but it's better than accruing more suspicion or the possibility of Eclipse getting a look at it.

As for what to tell Dew, I still have to think more, but I am leaning more towards either a Warning or Advice.
 
Thinking on it… I really want one of the bottom two options with respect to Eclipse.

The Celestia doom clock feels like one of the biggest threats we have, these days. Windy is a threat to Equestria, Neighnea… well she might be a threat to us, just highly unknown. (We're kinda treating her like the Master, huh? Disappears on unknown plan, okay we will not pay them any attention, we've got more important things.)

But Celestia is right there, and once we get Moth 5 we can't do much more (Moth 6 is very hard). And that's a clock we can't get around, can't outfight or outthink.

Advice or support, well, supports that. The other two slow it down, and buy us the precious resource of time. Maybe some people hope we can totally bring Eclipse around, but especially with Ash hounding their dreams, I'm not optimistic.
 
Combat is always dangerous, folks. Though a W*ndigo isn't really a worthy opponent... and also real Boggart mindwhammy there. Though now I'm paranoid if we should doublecheck if the Master is actually dead... ah, but the Glory is right there... decisions, decisions...

Remind me why we want to give an ultimatum to Midday Dew again? I thought it would be fine if we just give him nothing.

Lastly, it is Saint Patrick's Day, which is kind of funny because Axe isn't here right now.
 
spiderhellian said:
But Celestia is right there, and once we get Moth 5 we can't do much more (Moth 6 is very hard). And that's a clock we can't get around, can't outfight or outthink.
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It only costs 6 Moth scraps.

That only two turns of Selene actions on scrying and two turns of Axe on back to back short expeditions and 2-3 Velvet AP reading the books with a Lantern influence.

It's not that hard.
 
So does Windigo qualify as worthy opponent for the sake of Velvet sacrament? And if so would we need to fight 1vs1 against it to get it?@OurLadyOfWires can you comment on this?

Maybe we can even do it, as with keys we need to only hold for two maybe three rounds.

If not I am actually tempted to send him to Eclipse. Bet it's study would distract them from Lantern for at least few rolls.
Also it seems we were too late with connecting with Midday, he already become immune to subtle Lore effects like our other cult members. Well maybe his replacement would be someone we will be able to work with.

[] You gave him an ultimatum.
"He will think his conversation with you was a dream, but that does not matter to you. The next time he steps upon the ashes will be his last."

[] Take it back.

Unless Windigo qualifies as worthy opponent of course.
 
Nevermort said:
So does Windigo qualify as worthy opponent for the sake of Velvet sacrament? And if so would we need to fight 1vs1 against it to get it?@OurLadyOfWires can you comment on this?
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Iirc we were explicitly told at some point that regular Mansus spirits don't count for it.

[] You gave him a warning.

[] Open it.

On a side note, perhaps with the opening of the jar and our agents seeing the Windigo themselves will have the knock-on effect of them taking the Lore materials more seriously.
 
Not!Guest said:
I'm pretty sure that Windigos feature in the historical record rather than being regarded as some kind of "spook".
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Ehh. My understanding is that in-universe they're considered something mythological, not as real creatures.

But I was more talking about how since the planted Windigo information proved itself true, and also the question of "how did these people get a Windigo", that the Bureau might end up interested in taking a closer look at some of the other odd stuff they found (i.e. the Lore primer).
 
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Why do I get the sneaking suspicion that "Eclipse"'s proper name is actually "Mirror of Glory"?

But yeah wow that Midday Dew was such a waste of a commissioner action. Lesson learned about trying to spend actions on social without a pre-existing "in". We could have used that action to work over Reproach and get him personally loyal or do Cadance's FO.


[] You gave him nothing.
"Success defines worthiness. If he wishes to Climb, let him.
"Success, and victory, are self-executing virtues."
Will probably end up voting for Warn/Ultimatum but wanted to post that quote in relation to gave him nothing. I think it's pretty evident that we're not going to end up making social links with Fair Trial or Midday Dew. We chose not to take their "ins" at the wedding, we didn't interact with them while the iron was hot either. Not the first time we've tossed valuable AP in the toilet trying to talk to social contacts long after the window of opportunity closed. Would not be the fifth time we've done that.

[X] You gave him an ultimatum.
"He will think his conversation with you was a dream, but that does not matter to you. The next time he steps upon the ashes will be his last."
[X] Open it.
-Velvet Covers and a team of 6 (six) Lunar Bureau Constables will fight against a Windigo. You will first move the jar to a safer place, and make preparations to ensure the creature cannot easily escape during combat, and that it will have no choice but fight to the death.
-Pros: Success will greatly improve your standing with the Lunar Bureau, and will deal with this issue.
-Cons: Combat is always dangerous.
 
[X] You gave him a warning.
"You are known to be trustworthy. So, even if he thinks you are a laypony, any discouragement coming from you ought to carry some weight. You think. You hope."
[X] Open it.
-Velvet Covers and a team of 6 (six) Lunar Bureau Constables will fight against a Windigo. You will first move the jar to a safer place, and make preparations to ensure the creature cannot easily escape during combat, and that it will have no choice but fight to the death.
-Pros: Success will greatly improve your standing with the Lunar Bureau, and will deal with this issue.
-Cons: Combat is always dangerous.

The Velvet, urging caution when it comes to Mansus matters? It's more likely than you think.
 
ses said:
We could have used that action to work over Reproach and get him personally loyal or do Cadance's FO.
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We already have a path to make Reproach "loyal"(as in not gonna tell Celestia Velvet is shady) by having all of the Bureau respect us, bringing Selene and maybe also getting Cadance to stand on our side while that happens. Of course having him be personally loyal would be nice but I don't think we can afford it at the moment so "loyal" is better than nothing.

And Cadance's FO in the Comissioner section was actually a lower quality version of the Velvet's Phase FO to check on our friends.

[X] You gave him a warning.
"You are known to be trustworthy. So, even if he thinks you are a laypony, any discouragement coming from you ought to carry some weight. You think. You hope."

[X] Open it.
-Velvet Covers and a team of 6 (six) Lunar Bureau Constables will fight against a Windigo. You will first move the jar to a safer place, and make preparations to ensure the creature cannot easily escape during combat, and that it will have no choice but fight to the death.
-Pros: Success will greatly improve your standing with the Lunar Bureau, and will deal with this issue.
-Cons: Combat is always dangerous.
 
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[X] You gave him your blessings
[X] Banish it.

Ok, the Wolves suck I mean they have one job and they couldn't even do that right.

Time to start passing out blessings to the Celestial faithful.
 
spiderhellian said:
Thinking on it… I really want one of the bottom two options with respect to Eclipse
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You hit my thoughts on the head.
An Ultimatum still feels too far for what Velvet would want to do. It's condemnation of, functionally, an innocent, for the mere fact they will cause her risk. Death is a tool she uses, but not freely or swiftly.

But a warning? That feels the right shape. Not quite a threat, not quite an offering. But a word of caution.

[x] You gave him a warning.
[x] Open it.
[x] Banish it.
 
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