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

[Zxzx24]

The last time some weird shit happened around Fluttershy he DID come find us.

 

[DelightedOne]

To be fair, all the lores are dangerous in their own ways and Winter was actually pretty chill(heh) from what I remember in Velvet's progress. Winter 3 was one of the Realizations that didn't even have her panicking.

What is really worrying me is her not having a minor lore yet(or us not knowing it), it could be bad for her mental health if she just has Winter since we know what that means.

But forget all of that, if Fluttershy really wants to go deeper in the lores she will ask us for help first and after we say no she may ask why and that is what I think will make or break everything, because if we can/choose to tell her about our deal with Comet it might end up with Fluttershy confronting him about it... and that is a good thing.

No, think about it, Comet confessed to Stormchaser he is struggling with communicating with Fluttershy and knowing her she thinks the silence is normal and not Comet freaking the fuck out having no idea how to treat her well. Making decisions for your girlfriend/blocking her access to certain information is something I think all of us agree is not supposed to happen in a healthy relationship and it could be how those issues are brought to their attention.

I don't think things will end up bad because it is Fluttershy we are talking about here, she is literally Kindness ponified.

As far as I remember she hasn't even had the "Dream" yet

Click to shrink...

I think the Dream happens the same night a pony learns of the Occult(or when they go to sleep) so she probably already had it.

 

[Cochimetl]

I think the Dream happens the same night a pony learns of the Occult(or when they go to sleep) so she probably already had it.

Click to shrink...

I'm pretty sure you need to do one of the right rituals. Cut a lock of your mane before sleep. Sleep in a room freshly painted white. Inflict a small wound on your hooves. Swallow ash from a beloved object you've burnt.

 

[DelightedOne]

I'm pretty sure you need to do one of the right rituals. Cut a lock of your mane before sleep. Sleep in a room freshly painted white. Inflict a small wound on your hooves. Swallow ash from a beloved object you've burnt.

Click to shrink...

I based it on how Rarity had the Dream right after Velvet gave her the first taste of Grail so you might be right.

 

[Pittauro]

What is really worrying me is her not having a minor lore yet(or us not knowing it), it could be bad for her mental health if she just has Winter since we know what that means.

Click to shrink...

eh, she's Winter 1. the "balancing roll" would be lvl 0.

There's not THAT much to balance. And to be fair Fluttershy was never the most stable of the Main 6. At her worst she was only surpassed in breakdowns (she once had mega panic attacks over helping Dash and the other Pegasi) to Twilight twilighting (lesson zero, when she's tardy with a friendship report) and Pinky (when she thinks everyone hates her and basically go depressed and relying on imaginary friends (like Madame Le Flour. a sack of flour)

If she was Winter 3 I'd be more worried

But forget all of that, if Fluttershy really wants to go deeper in the lores she will ask us for help first and after we say no she may ask why and that is what I think will make or break everything, because if we can/choose to tell her about our deal with Comet it might end up with Fluttershy confronting him about it... and that is a good thing.

No, think about it, Comet confessed to Stormchaser he is struggling with communicating with Fluttershy and knowing her she thinks the silence is normal and not Comet freaking the fuck out having no idea how to treat her well. Making decisions for your girlfriend/blocking her access to certain information is something I think all of us agree is not supposed to happen in a healthy relationship and it could be how those issues are brought to their attention.

I don't think things will end up bad because it is Fluttershy we are talking about here, she is literally Kindness ponified.

Click to shrink...

Also true.

All in all what I imagine will happen is that at some point Fluttershy MIGHT ask if we can teach her a bit more, or at least ask why we didn't teach her anymore.

if it's just a light question, we can simply tell her she doesn't need more.

Which is true.

IF SHE INSISTS we can eventually tell her Comet asked us not to, and that if she REALLY cares that much about it she should talk to him first. While also STILL making it clear that she doesn't NEED this knowledge, so she should only insist if she actually cares about it.

I based it on how Rarity had the Dream right after Velvet gave her the first taste of Grail so you might be right.

Click to shrink...

yeah, it was kind of implied she accidentally into the "Grail" method of getting the Dream.

 

[Sveta08]

To be fair, all the lores are dangerous in their own ways and Winter was actually pretty chill(heh) from what I remember in Velvet's progress. Winter 3 was one of the Realizations that didn't even have her panicking.

What is really worrying me is her not having a minor lore yet(or us not knowing it), it could be bad for her mental health if she just has Winter since we know what that means.

But forget all of that, if Fluttershy really wants to go deeper in the lores she will ask us for help first and after we say no she may ask why and that is what I think will make or break everything, because if we can/choose to tell her about our deal with Comet it might end up with Fluttershy confronting him about it... and that is a good thing.

No, think about it, Comet confessed to Stormchaser he is struggling with communicating with Fluttershy and knowing her she thinks the silence is normal and not Comet freaking the fuck out having no idea how to treat her well. Making decisions for your girlfriend/blocking her access to certain information is something I think all of us agree is not supposed to happen in a healthy relationship and it could be how those issues are brought to their attention.

I don't think things will end up bad because it is Fluttershy we are talking about here, she is literally Kindness ponified.

Click to shrink...

If Fluttershy asks, it will be dealt with then. Likely by informing her "I agreed with Comet I would not." And discussion and so on can move from there if things are truly needed.

But, I do think that Fluttershy will be able to tell the difference. Comet thinking of himself as a "Thing" versus Comet thinking of himself as "Maybe more than that" is... going to be noticed by the one person who spends the most time around him, I think.

I'm not saying it will go well. The one pony who doesn't feel like other ponies starting to feel that way for Fluttershy is.... a change to be certain. Don't know how she will react to that. But, I believe she will at least notice.
Stormchaser noticed after all.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

I still feel so bad for Starry. Reading Comet's story and realizing that we might have finally saved him has me feeling so terrible about the others. I sincerely hope that Windy has just hit a metaphorical brick wall and can't quite Wolf because Soft and her cult are stealing the spotlight.

 

[Venerable Ro]

Windy was always the most opaque member of the Cult to us, and we to him I suspect, given the whole "I sent an undead horror to nail all of your furniture to the ceiling, and also nice art piece" conversation.

The Moth flutters eternally.

 

[AuthorTransient]

1 2 3 4 J R 5 S​

Spoiler: Author's Notes

Realized I missed a few things in my earlier posts, so I've went back and edited them.

PATCHES:
1. Mareinette now suffers from the Outnumbered malus.
2. The trait [PUPPET OF THE RED SANDS] now appears on THE WIRE MOTHER's sheet.
3. Combat Rolls have been appropriately labelled.
4. Part 4 has been updated to include an updated THE WIRE MOTHER sheet (which will be the case for combat parts going forwards) and its name.

I'm planning on finishing the writing of this series of apocrypha by Halloween and editing them in time to post weekly.

Now, with all of that out of the way... wait, only 300 words? Whoops.

---

In Which (S) Collide - Interlude Jade

Jade: Sans Sanguine


You are Jade Whistle and you are currently -

You are currently comparing what is happening in front of you to one of the old book club meetings with the Master, but worse.

As long as you kept yourself into a tidy little box for the Master, they tended to be satisfied – well, you won't lie... there was always a chance that the Master would randomly decide that you or one of your precious ones would make a good pawn in the game to sacrifice. And you couldn't really go against the Master. Not as you were.

But for Your Lady of Wires... you understand that one cannot really appease Her. The desire of Hers is beyond Her own ability to control. She may play and pretend that She can, that She has a veneer of sensibility over Her whims – but She cannot.

So there's really only one outcome.

But as much as you trust Velvet Covers and... Her Royal Highness Princess Luna, you know that fighting something as great as Your Lady of Wires will not be as simple as blasting Her in the face over and over again. Your Lady of Wires is a being of the Lores – and She is One Who is Very Great in Grail and Heart, which, even without you simplifying their characteristics as 'being difficult to kill', a pony that has reached such a high understanding and survived for so long is very, very dangerous.

Hence, you turn to them and say: "Rarity, Fluttershy... you need to get all the bearers of Harmony together."

Rarity startles, but Fluttershy raises a hoof, her voice firming as she goes. "Okay... but what about everypony else?"

"Sorry," you respond, "but you will have to figure that out yourselves. Evacuate the town too, but... Harmony is more important."

Fluttershy nods, accepting that you are going to stay. Then she turns around and goes. You admire her ability to master her own inner conflict.

Rarity gives you one last wide-eyed look before she quickly chases after, but you're already bending down to carve a ritual circle into the world.

1 2 3 4 J R 5 S​

 

[Iustus Vitea]

-snip

Click to shrink...

My man's out here writing a fic with in a fic.

Anyways it's short but decent, I'm just annoyed by the constant My/Our Lady of Wires thing.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan Pittauro, With Changeling Detectives
-[X] Axe, yes! (Costs one VELVET action)
-[X][DETECTIVES] (FOLLOW UP) There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them. (One of the chief expectations of the Bureau. Avert a future Catastrophe)
-[X][CONSTABLES] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN one VELVET action for the next phase)
-[X][COMMISSIONER] The Bureau is more than an institution, it is a gathering of dedicated ponies working towards a unified goal. Ingrain yourself with them. (Establish, increase, or salvage the loyalty of the Bureau towards you personally.)
-[X][RARITY] Take a commission. (Gain at least 100 bits immediately, will "fail" her career roll)
-[X][SELENE] Realize something about Edge. (Unlock her Edge skill) (TRAINING ACTION)
-[X][SELENE] Realize something about Knock. (Unlock her Knock skill) (TRAINING ACTION)
-[X] One extra Velvet action! (Costs 2 follower actions)
-[X] You need somepony to perform this ritual… (Reflection of the Tapestry, search for "The Key that Only Opens" the Daughter of Axe wants)
--[X] To be performed on the safe place Baldomare directed you to. (Will expire at the end of turn 20)
-[X] You need somepony to perform this ritual… (Reflection of the Tapestry, search for "the easiest lvl 6 book we can get for Baldomare")
--[X] To be performed on the safe place Baldomare directed you to. (Will expire at the end of turn 20)
-[X] WRITE IN: Canterlot part 2 expedition
-[X] Attack your foe, or defend yourself. In war, there is no other option.
--[X][GUARD] You would very much like to keep this safe. (Your home)

[X] Plan Betterer Biedde
-[X] (AotL) Edge
-[X] (Forge) Edge 3, Knock 2 Edge 1, SH 1
—[X] Gift used on Knock 2 Edge 1 retroactively
-[X] (Steppes) Ask about any rumors and general perceptions of us, Fair Trial, and our respective institutions, among both nobles and the commonfolk.
-[X] (Social) Level up Jade
-[X] Summon Biedde
--[X] Sacrifice Edge 3 and Knock 2 Edge 1 reagents
--[X] To be performed on an inconspicuous place, located by Baldomare
-[X] Fleeting Opportunity: Comet Feet
-[X] Study: Forge 3, Forge 3, Mystery Book
-[X] Explore the Mansus
--[X] Find a new location in the Ashen Wastes
--[X] Explore the depths of the Ruined Church
-[X] [BIEDDE] Ask for an Influence of Edge.

Silky Stream knows a secret.

A secret that almost nopony else knows.


"Like this?"
"No, dear. A bit wider. Don't try to make it a circle. Try to make it something that should be an egg, but that accidentally turned out like a circle."
"That doesn't make any sense, auntie."
"But the smile I see on your face tells me you get it anyways."


It is not really a well-kept secret. In fact, it's not a secret at all.

It's just that nopony would really believe it, even if she were to tell them. Everypony would think she was lying, or making it up, or just that she was too young to understand what she was talking about.

And the secret is…


"Like this?"
"Good enough, good enough. Now, stand right in the middle of the circle, and repeat what I'm about to tell you…"


… the secret is that auntie Baldomare is actually a bit of an airhead.

Not because she is a dummy or anything. Silky Stream knows that's not the case. Silky knows that Baldomare is very, very smart. In fact, that is probably why everypony would think this secret is not really true.

But still, what nopony else realizes is that… auntie Baldomare doesn't really pay attention to things. She is sometimes dismissive, although never in a mean way. She doesn't really put a lot of effort into things, unless you really ask her to. And even when she doesn't smell like grape juice, she still looks like she is only half-there with you.

Still, Silky doesn't really mind any of that. She knows that auntie Baldie is not a bad pony.

However, she can't help but feel like… she can't help but feel like auntie Baldomare is living through life with her eyes closed. Like everything she does, she is doing with her eyes closed, and that she only manages to do it because she knows everything. So, she can afford to live like that without bumping into anything.

Although, Silky Stream still wonders every now and then… why is she doing this?

What is it that Baldomare doesn't want to see?


"How… I'm sorry, can you repeat that part again?"
"Of course. It's Cryppys. C-R-Y-P-P-Y-S. And it's very important you don't steal any of the letters while you say it. Now, start that whole phrase from the beginning, dear."


She doesn't know the answer to that, of course. And she realizes it would be rude to ask.

So, Silky Stream does the second-best thing she can think of. She keeps auntie Baldie company whenever she can.

And in return, every now and then, Baldomare asks her to do fun stuff like this!



[Reflection of the Tapestry, CD 60]

[Roll: 71 + 50 (Baldomare) – 50 (Incompetent Celebrant Cutest Assistant) + 60 (Secret Histories Level 6) = 131]

[Success]



"Wow! It… it's glowing pink!"
"That's right. That means you did it correctly, dear. Now, pay attention to what I will say next. Do you see that mirror next to you? I need you to…"


Right now, Silky and Baldomare are in the middle of the farmlands. Surrounded in all directions by walls of tall crops, with nopony else in sight. Auntie Baldie used some magic to flatten the ground, so Silky could draw on it better, but she promised Silky that it wouldn't cause problems to anypony.

More importantly, Baldomare is currently standing outside a respectably large ritual circle, drawn by the filly. And the filly herself is currently standing at the very center of the configuration, watching in wonder as some of its inner sigils begin to glow with the color of paradoxes.


"Like… like this?"
"That's right… like that… Reflect the sunlight into the glowing spot and… There! Quickly, while its color changed, reflect it back on the outer circle!"


Doing that feels like a game, to the filly.

And who knows, perhaps good Baldomare took some liberties to make this activity possible to begin with. After all, that ritual circle is a lot larger than it should have been. Large enough to have room for mistakes, and certainly too large to work without her steady hoof on it.

However, as the filly dutifully follows Baldomare's instructions…



[Reflection of the Tapestry, CD variable]

[Roll: 31 + 50 (Baldomare) – 50 (Incompetent Celebrant Cutest Assistant) + 60 (Lantern Level 6) – 150 (??????) = -59]

[Negative result, ritual fizzles]



… the circle's glow suddenly fades out. And the shiny atmosphere that was gathering around them quickly evaporates.

"Huh? Was that supposed to happen, auntie?" the foal asks.

But Baldomare…

…

The older mare, she…

"Auntie? Is everything alright?"

Something which has not occurred in a very long time, happens.

"That… was very interesting…" Baldomare says.

Because for the first time in a very, very long time… Baldomare has been surprised by something.

"Silky, dear, can you run along back home? I'm afraid I'll have to continue this little experiment without you."

"Oh… okay. But it was really fun, auntie. Can't I at least stay and watch you do it instead?"

"I'm afraid not, dear. I wouldn't want to blind you."

She says that, and the foal quickly leaves, not really sure if the mare truly meant it or not.

And as Baldomare gets to work re-drawing the circle in the Wake, her true self narrows her eyes within the confines of her lodge.

Because for the first time in a very, very long time, the Name of Lantern is curious about something.



[Baldomare invokes a re-roll]





- - -

- - -

- - -





You are Velvet Covers.

And you are currently having quite an eventful afternoon, to say the least.

You are in the deep underground of the Lunar Bureau. In the section that is deeper than the hangar, and that is deeper even than the solitary cells where you kept the more important Bluebloods.

Yes, you are currently in the place where the real cells are located. The ones that need to be surrounded by iron, and then magical wards, and then solid rock in all directions. The kind of place that even an alicorn would have difficulty escaping from, and that will never see the light of Celestia's sun.

To be entirely honest, putting your current captive here is something that could be called "overkill". However, you understand the importance of symbolism.

Because this cell might be too secure for the one measly changeling your agents have captured.

But alas, this is still the first changeling ever to be captured. So, the circumstances call for the very best you have at your disposal.

Although, there is the detail that…



"He swears up and down he is one Gallop Field," one of your constables, a team-leader, says. "And we already dusted him several times, to no effect."

"That thing is a changeling, Commissioner," Beyond Reproach retorts, from a few hoofsteps behind you. "I tailed him for more than a week. And I saw him do things earth ponies shouldn't be able to do. I swear on my badge he's one of them."



… there is the detail that nopony else knows the pony you are staring at, currently chained and jailed in the warded cell, is a changeling. They don't know Reproach is correct, and that you have your very first catch in your hoofs.

"What should we do, ma'am?" Shining Armor asks, his tone more than just a little nervous.

There is a very small gathering of ponies here with you. A place as deep as this in the Bureau wasn't really made with comfort or space in mind. However, there is still enough space for a team of ponies to drag in a reasonably large prisoner.

So, as you inspect the prisoner who was brought in less than an hour ago from Tall Tale, you are being waited on by no less than ten ponies. With Shining Armor, Reproach, and several other constables and investigators waiting on your word.

And you understand why they are all so tense. After all, the prisoner you are looking at was one they captured in the dead of the night. During a very small window of opportunity, and based on evidence that can be described as shaky at best. So, as far as they know, they either captured a changeling and made a breakthrough in their investigation… or the Bureau just committed its first Very Big Blunder, that you will have to clean up.

But of course, they don't know what you know. And when they look at the chained and gagged prisoner, they don't see what you see.

So…

"Deputy," you say, your voice cutting through the mounting tension. "Have a runner contact Eclipse… or whatever nameless institution Midday Dew is in charge of. Tell them we will be sending them this prisoner. They will know what it is for. If anypony objects, tell them it's for Celestia herself, and that I'll have any delays sent to the Princess for an explanation."

You say that, without taking your eyes away from the stallion… no, from the monster, that is currently wearing the guise of a pony. Pretending to shiver and cry, as if it were an innocent pony who had just been caught in a situation beyond its control.

You say that, without taking your eyes away from that thing, and you feel nothing but hate towards it.

"Reproach," you say. And the hushed activity that was happening behind you, as Shining dispatched somepony to see to your orders, immediately stops. And the stallion you called for hesitates only for a moment before taking a few steps towards your back. "Prepare a thorough report on how you concluded this is a changeling. Omit nothing from it. Once the test returns its results, I will have your methods disseminated if you are proven right."

You turn your back to the captured enemy, and you begin the long trek that will take you back to the ground level. The small crowd of agents parting before you as you walk.

"We will gather in the conference room in an hour. Regardless of the results of the test, we still have the reports from the mountains to discuss. Prepare a briefing, explaining how bad the infestation in the city of Tall Tale is, and how we may go about remedying it."

You say that, and then you are gone. Several more pressing matters presenting themselves to you.

After all, you have other… concerns to keep in mind.

You need to plan when you will report this to Princess Celestia.

You need to verify how prepared the Bureau truly is to directly face the changeling threat.

And most importantly, you need to consider whether you will interfere with this occurrence, to further your own goals.

All in due time, of course.

For now, you need to show your agents that they have, indeed, captured a changeling.



- - -



Following their investigations, your agents have conclusively sighted changelings in the mountains of Tall Tale, a city located on the western coast of Equestria. Furthermore, a prisoner who was hastily captured during the investigation was proven to have been a changeling all along. The term "Freak Check" being whispered into existence by your agents, as the chained prisoner they delivered to Eclipse was returned to them, less than an hour later, with its disguise burned and its horrid form laid bare.

Your investigators are currently trying to discover exactly how much the city has been infiltrated. Although you do not expect much progress, given how unreliable their methods currently are.

However, and more importantly, your agents have reported to you that the mountains of Tall Tale itself are being used as a staging ground by the shapeshifting monsters.





You have discovered the expedition "The proto-hive of Tall Tale". As an expedition, this is a chance for you to raid that place with your own resources, so you can scout it, loot it, or even plant evidence on it before ordering the Bureau to make its move.

Spoiler: The proto-hive of Tall Tale

Location: Tall Tale is a growing city, surrounded on one side by a quickly-disappearing forest, and by tall mountains on the other. Those mountains, according to your agents, are currently infested by changelings. You could sneak in there, to either strike at the changelings yourself, steal from them, or maybe even PLANT something you would like your constables to find later. But unfortunately, this endeavor will not be without dangers.

(NOTE: This expedition will DISAPPEAR if the Lunar Bureau raids it before you do. But an expedition sent here will arrive before the Bureau raids it, if both actions are taken on the same turn.)

Expected duration: MEDIUM

Base cost: 7 bits (you must have at least 70 bits per creature sent)

Expected dangers: Sneaking past your own agents shouldn't be hard, since you know their every move. And there are changelings in the mountains themselves. Other than that, anything else is UNKNOWN (expedition not scouted)

Come next turn, your Constables will have the option to "Raid the Tall Tale mountains". This is a direct strike against the changeling threat that currently exists in Equestria. And performing this action will "destroy" the related Expedition.



- - -



The night turns into early morning when you finally return to your guest room in the Royal Castle.

You are sure it is already way past midnight, although you don't really know by how much. But still, you distinctly recall seeing the clock on the meeting room turn over to a new day, as Shining Armor and your agents fleshed out a draft of a plan on how to take action in the mountains of Tall Tale.

Granted, everything is still in the draft stage. But still, these are changelings you are talking about. Hunting them is one of the reasons-to-be of the Lunar Bureau. And you are planning on raiding a place that is, quite literally, a mountain. This isn't a mansion you can surround, and this isn't at the heart of an organized city. So, even this stage of planning is already… complicated.

But still, any true action is still several weeks away from reality. For now, you have given them orders to plan for a more permanent listening post, on the city and in the wilderness around the mountains, to keep a very close eye on the changelings. They should give you options to choose from, for those posts, tomorrow. And things should organically evolve from there.

Right now, all you really want to do is…

"… sleep…" you moan to yourself.

Although the pinch you feel on your chest makes it very clear that you will be forced to wake up on time tomorrow. After all, it doesn't matter if she only had less than four hours of sleep. It is completely unacceptable for the Commissioner to be late for her duties.

So, as you drag your hoofs into your guestroom and make your way towards your bed-

-you are immediately assaulted by the heavy presence of Knock, like the smell of snakeskin against your eyes.

You immediately let out a gasp, closing your eyes shut as you scan your room. Your tired body giving way… not to attention, but at least to some degree of alertness.

After all, you can't sense anypony.

But you can definitely feel that something happened here.

Or perhaps that somepony was here earlier this day.

"Wait, why is my bed so…?" you say out loud, realizing that the covers on your bed are completely disheveled. No, more than that, you realize your bed sheets are presently covering something.

And after you cautiously pull the sheets of your bed, you are met with a small trove of treasures.

Spoiler: Beneath the Royal Castle, pt. 2

[Expedition: Beneath the Royal Castle, pt. 2]

[Sole participant: Daughter-of-Axes, taking no artifacts]



"Finding her way to the discrete entrance, on a forgotten spot of Mount Canterlot, was not that hard. In fact, it was almost familiar. After all, she opened that passage herself."


[Day 1 - Finding a way through the cavern, cd 75]

[Roll: 12 + 50 (Expedition Bonus) + 10 (Diary entries) = 72]

[Failure]


"Unfortunately, the caverns of crystal were more confusing than expected. She spent a whole day going in slithering circles, and only realized her mistake when she reached the entrance, and realized night was already falling."


[Day 2 - Finding a way through the cavern, cd 75]

[Roll: 81 + 50 (Expedition Bonus) + 10 (Diary entries) = 141]

[Success]


"But eventually, she found a way forward. Or rather, she found a collapsed tunnel with markings consistent with the diary she had been given for reference. Progress."


[Day 3 – Forcing a way through, cd 70]

[Roll: 60 + 50 (Expedition Bonus) + 10 (Diary entries) = 120]

[Success]


"She wishes she had Firerage Powder. Or pack-hound grease. Mansus, she would even like to have that confounding stallion who made that request, if he had a pickaxe with him. But she had none of that. Still, she made due, and after hours of careful work, she had a way forward."


[Day 4 – Navigation]

[Journey-length hurdle, no CD involved]


"The farther one goes, the more careful one ought to be. And advancing at a crawl's pace takes time."


[Day 5 – Sustenance, cd 80]

[Roll: 69 + 50 (Expedition Bonus) + 10 (Diary entries) = 129]

[Success]


"The cold depths of the cavern were almost oppressive. But her body was more than enough to power through it. And her supplies were meant for far harsher places. The age-old drops of water dripping from the crystal above were not enough to push her back."


[Day 6 – But can you say "please?", cd 80]

[Roll: 4 + 10 (Antisocial) = 14]

[Failure]


This-ere caverns are mine. You 'ear me? MINE!

"A blind mole-thing, capable of speech and territorial to a fault, blocked her way. Her first, second and third reflexes were to cleave it, but she knew better than to challenge a ground-swimmer in the depths of a cave. That, she knew, was a very quick way to have the entire cavern collapsed over her head. However her fourth reflex -telling it to fuck off and insulting its entire family tree- was probably not the best way to go about it."


[Day 7 – But can you say "please?", cd 80]

[Roll: 80 + 10 (Antisocial) = 90]

[Success]


"She will never admit what terrible deals she struck with Ol'Mole Badgerson. But after both parties were able to calm down, and meet on the next day, they reached an understanding of sorts. Still, she hopes never to meet the creature, or any of its kind, again."


[Day 8 – Finding a way out, cd 60]

[Roll: 11 + 50 (Expedition Bonus) + 10 (Diary entries) + 30 (Knock total 6) = 101]

[Success]


"In the depths of the cave complex, a door. Locked and warded, and that knows the touch of the Lores. This, she knows, is what she was looking for. But she will not open it today. She knows better than to open locked doors without preparation, and there might be sealed dangers awaiting behind it. Instead, she looks for the thinnest wall. Or at least, for the wall that will give the shortest path to the face of the mountain."


[Day 9 – Making a way out, cd 100]

[Roll: 72 + 50 (Expedition Bonus) + 10 (Diary entries) + 30 (Knock total 6) = 162]

[Success]


"Mining a tunnel, without proper equipment, in absolute darkness, and in a place that might collapse at any moment, is no easy task. But the Name of Knock knows a thing or two about creating passages. Furthermore, she finds a small stash of items, probably used by whoever locked the door, entombed in her path. And after an entire day of careful toil, the forbidding cavern is once again touched by the breeze of an early morning. And the snakemare herself slithers away back to her summoner."


[Expedition successfully completed]

Spoiler: Results

[Beneath the Royal Castle, pt. 2, results]

"A small collection of items, a map to find the outside entrance, and a grudging note warning that the door she found was well-warded even by her own high standards. Whoever occupied the depths of Mount Canterlot has left few clues of his existence, but the Daughter-of-Axes was able to sniff what little there was to be found. All that is left, you suppose, is to find a way to open that door. But for now, these treasures are yours."


-Gained one Artifact (Lantern, level 4, unstudied) of unknown properties.

-Gained one book (Moth, level 5. Requires deciphering. Progress 0/100. From an Era that is Ancient Beyond History, "-50" to deciphering rolls.)

-Gained one book (Knock, level 5. Requires deciphering. Progress 0/100. From One Era Ago, "-30" to deciphering rolls.)

-Gained one Reagent (MOTH, Level 4)

-Discovered the expedition "Beneath the Royal Castle, pt. 3"

- - -



Your night, unfortunately, is no less eventful than your day.

Because you are here.

Of course you are here.

You are… with your son.

You are in the Mansus.

To say that you have been avoiding this place is an understatement. Ever since you understood, or perhaps realized, the true nature of this place, you have been avoiding the Dream. You have chosen, as much as you can choose with this kind of thing, to have sleepless nights. And on one occasion, to help with Selene's own request, you even fell asleep under her spell.

That… was the first time you had a normal dream in a very long while. In fact, you still recall that night fondly. After all, the sensation of falling asleep and having good memories about it is…

…

No, you shouldn't remember that night. You shouldn't even think about it. Not here, at least. Not right now.

Because a part of you thinks that, if you think about your good memories too hard while in this place, then they will somehow be corrupted.

So, instead, you go to work.

…

The Ashen Wastes, as you came to call them, stretch before you. It still has the same look it had last time, of a colossal ocean of ashes, with its waves frozen in place.

However, another part of you can't help but think of this place as being covered in fur. And as your hoof sinks into the lukewarm ash, you can't help but feel like a tick, or some other vermin, that is crawling on the back of a gigantic animal.

Still, you are not here for no reason. Quite on the contrary.

Maybe you are doing this out of morbid curiosity, like a killer revisiting the scene of a crime they committed. Or maybe you truly believe that it is useful to learn about this place, even if only to know what other adepts might suffer if they ever decide to wander here.

But still, the fact remains that you are here to explore this place.

Because there must be other sections to this place. Granted, it would not surprise you to learn that this is just one gigantic wasteland. However, it pays to be sure.

So, you pick a direction, and you begin to walk.



[Rolling…]



Up the slopes, down through the drifting slabs of burned Mansus-stone. Avoid the crashing waves like a plague, even if they appear to be frozen in place.

And whatever you do, don't look back.

You do not want to see the pawprints that you know are following after you, from a distance.

But eventually, your suspicions (or perhaps your fears) are confirmed.

You reach a place that seems to break off from the Wastes themselves. The change is not as violent as the one you saw in the Shattered Stairways, where the floating staircases seemed to lead into entirely different worlds. But still, this place seems to have a different feeling to it.

The ground is still made of burning ash, and the disgusting smell of pain and hopelessness still fills your nostrils. However, you cannot see any frozen waves made of ash here, nor do you see any signs of charred tree-trunks, or anything like that.

Instead, you see… what seems to be ruins.

There is a small forest of broken Mansus-stone here, all of it charred. Their surfaces red-and-black like the flames that licked them. But still, you see a lot more remains of the Mansus than you have seen anywhere else. These are not the broken pieces of stone slabs you have seen here and there, trapped between the ashen waves like the remains of a broken ship in a storm. Instead, the scene before you looks as if an entire castle had been torn from its foundations, and had its pieces scattered in all directions by an earthquake or a storm.

There are columns half-sunk into the dust. Crumbled walls leaning against each other and forming dark tunnels. Bits and pieces and chunks and broken blocks as far as your eye can see.

You do not want to dare and enter that place. You really do not want to do that.

…

But you have to.

…

As you make your way through the ruins, you can't help but wonder… what kind of structure was this, before the Woods burned?

Are these the remains of that grand Temple you had found? Is this something older, that only your former Master remembered?

Or are these ruins of Mansus-stone the remains of some upper level, that chipped off and fell from above thanks to the heat of that hateful fire?

You do not know.

And part of you doesn't really want to find out.

Still, as you walk through the ruins, you realize something else.

You… you are not alone.

You are being watched.

You are being watched by more than just the stalking presence that leaves pawprints on your wake.

But these sightless eyes that watch you, these disembodied creatures that stalk you from the shadows and the miserable wind… they do not look upon you favorably. As hard as it is to say that the Wolf-thing that follows after you is favorable to you, you can definitely say that the things in these ruins share no such preference towards you.

The things in these ruins, you know, can only hate.

The things in these ruins, you realize, were born from the fire and misery that came to be when the Woods burned.

Maybe they are the hateful spirits of the things that died. Maybe they are the smokes from the hungry flames that destroyed everything in their path. Or maybe they are something else altogether, like a pack of nightmares that came into existence as the old forest choked to death.

But still, whatever these things might be, they are here…

… and they can also be called into the Wake.

You wake up with you mind full of fresh horrors. And even though none of those creatures dared to approach you, you were still gifted with the knowledge of how to call upon them.

And you know that other adepts, who will certainly have a far deadlier encounter with them, will learn how to summon them as well.

That is, if they survive that encounter.





You have located the Hunting Grounds, that damned place where the denizens of the Ashen Wastes made nest. You have discovered, and learned how to summon, "Ash-Ghouls".

Spoiler: Ash-Ghoul

"This thing has no body to speak of. It does not even have a shape. However, the end result of its summoning is there for all to see. Blood-soaked ash leaks out of the corpses' wounds, and its movements are more alien the more bodies are used in its construction. And even though it has no will of its own, it can still hate as fiercely as any other echo of the dying breath of the Woods. It is best not to dwell on what happens to the essence of the ponies used in its sacrifice."

Ash-Ghoul

Summoning requirements: WINTER 50, KNOCK 50, EDGE 50

Summoning cost: 25 bits.

Summoning details:
-At least one living pony MUST be sacrificed to summon this creature. Ponies sacrificed in this ritual do NOT count towards the maximum number of sacrifices of a circle, but they do NOT give any bonus to this ritual (to a maximum of seven ponies).
-Due to your understanding of this creature's home, you have complete knowledge of its status file without having to summon it.
-This creature has no "Specific Bonus". Or rather, the specific action it would be good at is not useful to most summoners.

Health: ?/? (Minimum of 3)
General bonus: ?? (5x sacrifice)
Aspects: EDGE ?, WINTER ?
[ABOMINATION]: Ash-Ghoul's health and Lore levels are equal to the number of ponies sacrificed in its summoning ritual. (Although its health will always be at least 3). And its General bonus is equal to five times the number of ponies sacrificed.
[I STAB AT THEE]: A character who deals the killing blow to at least one Ash-Ghoul must, at the end of combat, roll (CD: 100 + 10x sacrificed ponies / using Martial + Winter) to resist gaining a stack of Dread. (But the same character killing multiple Ash-Ghouls will only risk gaining at most one Dread per combat sequence).

[The Dead Will No Longer Be Dead]: Summoning this creature does not require a ritual circle.

[MONSTROUS APPEARANCE]: Cannot be used for Social Actions.
[UNINTELLIGENT]: Will perform badly at Actions that require academic knowledge. (This creature is still cunning, and will not walk into traps or act foolishly)
[BURNING FUEL]: This creature must consume dead bodies (the same number of bodies currently applying its bonuses) every turn, or it will be immediately unsummoned.
[FADING FUEL]: At the end of every turn, this creature "loses" one of its bodies from the number of bodies used to summon it, for all relevant aspects.
[SPENT FUEL]: Ash-Ghouls may not be used as sacrifice in other rituals.

But perhaps, the worst part is the knowledge that any other adept, who reaches as far as the edge of the Crossroads, might learn about this as well.



- - -



You are about ready to get back home. You had enough news, both good and bad, for this week. Nay, for the entire month.

You just want some time off with your family, with no worries or duties weighing down on your back. You just need to be with ponies who want you to relax, and who aren't constantly demanding your attention to do this or that or something else.

With that in mind, you finally arrive at the train station. Your saddle-bag tied to your back, and your tickets ready for the first-class cabin that will take you home.

And by the heavens you can't wait to get to Ponyville.

However, as you avoid the hustle and bustle of the Canterlot Central Station, and patiently await for the call to board your train, you are suddenly surprised by…

"Baldomare?"

"Ah, there you are. I was hoping you to catch you here. There is something I would like to tell you. And it would be dreadful not to take the first class cabin with you to go back to Ponyville."

The bespectacled earth pony mare greets you, and takes the seat at your side, as if that was the most normal thing in the world.

But what…

"… what in the world are you doing here?" you ask her. Your curiosity quickly getting the best of you. "I thought you didn't need… well, several things? Like trains? Or tickets? Or to physically find me to tell me something?"

The Name-mare laughs a little bit, as if you had just told her a joke. And to nopony's surprise, she simply ignores your questions as she continues to talk.

"That is all technically accurate, sure. But none of that really matters right now. More importantly, Velvet, I would like to tell you about something I have found. From that little favor you asked me to do," she says. And naturally, she now has your full attention. Your ears perking up as you realize what exactly she is talking about.

You are only slightly worried about somepony nearby overhearing you. But you know Baldomare well enough for this. She can be discreet when she wants to.

"Now, tell me. Have you ever heard of a symbol called… no, the name would definitely not mean anything about you. But have you ever seen a symbol of a snake eating its own tail? More poetic ponies would say it is a symbol of Eternity, or perhaps an allegory to creation and destruction. But I always subscribed to the more literal interpretation. That being that snakes are always the cause of their own problems. Which leads me to…"

Baldomare tells you of what she saw… or rather, she tells you about what she couldn't see.

She tells you that the scrying ritual you asked her to do was so muddled, or perhaps so refracted, that she could barely see anything more than allegories and vague symbolism.

She tells you that the thing you are looking for, or rather the thing that the Daughter-of-Axes is looking for, is very far away… and yet, closer than anypony might imagine.

She tells you that, as these curses usually go, the snakemare already has access to a place where her coveted item may be found. But, as is the case with curses, she cannot go there herself.

She tells you all of that…

… and then she asks you one thing.

"With that in mind, tell me something Velvet. Has she ever asked you to go somewhere, in her stead? Has she ever asked you for a favor, or maybe asked you to do an errand for her? Has she ever offered you a deal?"

The stationmaster begins to blow his whistle, calling for your train to begin boarding, just as she asks you that last question.

And for all that the mare refuses to elaborate any further, even on the long trip back to Ponyville, she has still given you plenty to think about.





Under normal circumstances, I would have opened a vote to decide who would go on the expedition, and what would be taken. However, during the initial dice-rolling, Axe passed the one test that would have used an artifact you had available (Heart) without needing its help. And none of your other artifacts would have been useful. Furthermore, this expedition is a bit of an exception when it comes to expeditions in general. So, I skipped the vote.

Baldomare has given you an elusive (but according to her, interesting) report on the ritual you had her perform. Thirty bits have been removed from your inventory, for Baldomare's ritual.

The Daughter-of-Axes has successfully completed an expedition at your behest. Its items have been added to your inventory, and a total of 63 bits (nine days, at seven bits each) has been taken from your inventory.

Two new expeditions have been discovered, and added to the relevant list.

 

[angelsadvocate666]

…Oh that's just fucking mean. We really do need to do DoA's Sacrament.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

@OurLadyOfWires
Is allowing access to our Library a form of guidance (= banned under the agreement), or is it allowed (even if he probably won't be happy about it until he has some more character growth)

Click to shrink...

The only character who would treat your library as a "library" is (was?) Twilight Sparkle. As it stands, use of your "Library" involves you actively lending your manuscripts to your followers, whenever situation and convenience allows it.

So yeah, Fluttershy won't benefit from your Library, since (narratively) she will never go to your house, while you are not there, just to borrow something from your intentionally-out-of-the-way cabinet of Lore-writings. (Only Twilight would reach that level of book-obsession and weirdness).
Well. The bottom line is that Fluttershy won't be leveling up her Lores anytime soon, if ever.



And that's basically it. I hope you are all doing well, and good night.

 

[Greymere]

…Oh that's just fucking mean. We really do need to do DoA's Sacrament.

Click to shrink...

Well at least it's cheaper than an expedition!

And would you look at that! We're only one scrap away from 4/4 scraps which can be easily obtained be either reading that Knock book we just found or asking DoA for a lesson.

-Gained one Artifacts (Lantern, level 4, unstudied) of unknown properties.

-Gained one book (Moth, level 5. Requires deciphering. Progress 0/100. From an Era that is Ancient Beyond History, "-50" to deciphering rolls.)

-Gained one book (Knock, level 5. Requires deciphering. Progress 0/100. From One Era Ago, "-30" to deciphering rolls.)

-Gained one Reagent (MOTH, Level 4)

-Discovered the expedition "Beneath the Royal Castle, pt. 3"

Click to shrink...

 

[Shaper47]

-Gained one book (Moth, level 5. Requires deciphering. Progress 0/100. From an Era that is Ancient Beyond History, "-50" to deciphering rolls.)

Click to shrink...

Egh, level 5 gives 2 lore scraps and we're at 3.

Do we get both scraps at the same time or one from the deciphering and one when we read it?

With that in mind, tell me something Velvet. Has she ever asked you to go somewhere, in her stead? As she ever asked you for a favor, or maybe asked you to do an errand for her? Has she ever offered you a deal?

Click to shrink...

So it's through the Foggy Glass huh.

Well at least now we know to do our personal sacrament first before going after the key.

 

[angelsadvocate666]

Okay. So, that seems to solve most of our problems in the short term? No need to burn a shitload of money or actions on expeditions, because we both have enough books to keep Baldomare around for a while, but apparently the Frangiclave isn't in an expedition at all. It's in the DoA's Sacrament. If we use her action for a Knock lesson and then one of Velvet's to do that we're at least making progress. Biedde and Marinette aren't difficult to keep on leash either.

So… we should be essentially free to pursue the Outsider and Copper? As long as nothing else immediately concerning comes up. We might even use that Changeling hive to plant the Lores, though I haven't been paying too much attention to thread discussion so maybe y'all stopped wanting that after the Daybreaker reveal.

Or, well, if we wanted to go slower, we could plant something connecting Copper to the Changelings?

 

[Greymere]

No need to burn a shitload of money on expeditions, because we both have enough books to keep Baldomare around for a while,

Click to shrink...

Well, no need to spend a shitload of money on the Frangiclave expedition specifically, anyway. I'm sure we'll be spending plenty of bits on other expeditions. Like Beneath the Royal Castle Part 3

 

[spiderhellian]

Wow. Okay, awesome update. So much happened it's going to take a bit to wrap my head around.

I sure can see why Bird is so much more excited about writing DoA's Knock Sacrament then our personal one . I am so curious what it entails, especially with the key connected to it (?). Can we do a Knock lesson and a Sacrament attempt next turn?

---

Nice to discover a changeling. Well, for us, not so nice for the Changeling. I'm definitely interested in unleashing the constables for the expedition.

However, she can't help but feel like… she can't help but feel like auntie Baldomare is living through life with her eyes closed. Like everything she does, she is doing with her eyes closed, and that she only manages to do it because she knows everything. So, she can afford to live like that without bumping into anything.

Click to shrink...

This is just… really, really, sad. Especially if it's at the level where even Silky can notice it (admittedly, she is a perceptive filly). I really like Baldomare as a character, and maybe that's because there's so much pathos to her.

Reflection of the Tapestry, CD variable]

[Roll: 31 + 50 (Baldomare) – 50 (Incompetent Celebrant Cutest Assistant) + 60 (Lantern Level 6) – 150 (??????) = -59]

[Negative result, ritual fizzles]

Click to shrink...

I gasped!

And not even showing the reroll, suitably Merciless!

[Day 7 – But can you say "please?", cd 80]

[Roll: 80 + 10 (Antisocial) = 90]

[Success]

Click to shrink...

Could've been stuck here for a while! Nice time to get a good roll.

But perhaps, the worst part is the knowledge that any other adept, who reaches as far as the edge of the Crossroads, might learn about this as well.

Click to shrink...

Yeah… that's a hell of a summon. Not good for us. But 7 bodies for something almost Name-tier??? Definitely within Copper's capacity. Eep.

-Gained one Artifacts (Lantern, level 4, unstudied) of unknown properties.

-Gained one book (Moth, level 5. Requires deciphering. Progress 0/100. From an Era that is Ancient Beyond History, "-50" to deciphering rolls.)

-Gained one book (Knock, level 5. Requires deciphering. Progress 0/100. From One Era Ago, "-30" to deciphering rolls.)

-Gained one Reagent (MOTH, Level 4)

-Discovered the expedition "Beneath the Royal Castle, pt. 3"

Click to shrink...

Wow Expeditions have such good loot LOL it's wild how much we've ignored them. Knock and Moth Sacraments both very in reach! And that artefact lets Luna summon MitL quite effectively.

 

[Shaper47]

but apparently the Frangiclave isn't in an expedition at all. It's in the DoA's Sacrament. I

Click to shrink...

Well given how Baldomare's Sacrament options are expeditions it's looks like DoA's is too.

…Oh that's just fucking mean. We really do need to do DoA's Sacrament.

Click to shrink...

If we use her action for a Knock lesson and then one of Velvet's to do that we're at least making progress.

Click to shrink...

No we really shouldn't do DoA's Sacrament.

DoA's Sacrament is Velvet trading the Frangiclave for a Knock Sacrament. That's it, that's the deal.

What we/Velvet want is the Frangiclave. Because once Velvet has the Frangiclave she can free the DoA's in return for her friendship.

So if we want DoA's friendship we need to have Velvet do her own personal sacrament, go though the Foggy Mirror expedition, grab the Frangiclave, then free our new daughter.

 

[Greymere]

Also just to point out: whole I know we've been getting lucky with not scouting the Canterlot expedition and getting lucky brute forcing it via Name, we should probably consider scouting Part 3 considering it's a long expedition (read: VERY DIFFICULT) and the fact that heavily warded doors in the depths of the earth never are there for benign reasons, and I would like to know ahead of time if Biedde and/or Mareinette and/or Velvet needs to tag along.

On an unrelated note, no Frangiclave expedition costs means we have the financial wiggle room to summon MitLs! Also also, technically, if we study that Lantern 4 artifact, any of our Confidants would be able to cast RotT with reasonable chances of success.

 

[spiderhellian]

No we really shouldn't do DoA's Sacrament.

DoA's Sacrament is Velvet trading the Frangiclave for a Knock Sacrament. That's it, that's the deal.

What we/Velvet want is the Frangiclave. Because once Velvet has the Frangiclave she can free the DoA's in return for her friendship.

So if we want DoA's friendship we need to have Velvet do her own personal sacrament, go though the Foggy Mirror expedition, grab the Frangiclave, then free our new daughter.

Click to shrink...

I'm so confused where you're getting any of this from! And it seems a mix of wrong and confidently stating things we have no reason to be confident about.

1) Baldomare's lantern sacrament is stated explicitly as an expedition. DoA's is not. It's an action.

2) Bird has mentioned multiple times how uninterested he is in our personal sacrament. I don't think it's necessary in any way!

3) WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN THROUGH THE FOGGY MIRROR, or how it connects to either the Key or DoA's friendship! We just don't!

Maybe we have a choice between friendship and sacrament. Maybe we have a choice between friendship and keeping the artefact. Maybe we don't have any choice at all, or a totally different one. We don't know!

 

[Shaper47]

I'm so confused where you're getting any of this from! And it seems a mix of wrong and confidently stating things we have no reason to be confident about.

Click to shrink...

There's only so many ways to take Baldomare's information about the situation.

Besides even if I'm wrong having more Knock lore is explicitly called out as being beneficial for doing the Foggy Mirror expedition/actions.

Nothing says we can't do our personal sacrament first afterall.

Yeah… that's a hell of a summon. Not good for us. But 7 bodies for something almost Name-tier??? Definitely within Copper's capacity. Eep.

Click to shrink...

Actually it's surprising good for us.

As director of the Luna Bureau we could totally get a ton of corpses. Just say the Bureau (actually Velvet) wants all recent dead bodies so they can be checked to make sure they're pony corpses not Changeling corpses. So upkeep isn't really something Velvet would need to worry about.

Getting the living sacrifices would be harder. Still there's options there. Depending on how traitors are executed we might be able grab them. We can always send Biedde or Marinette or Luna after our Uncle's criminal rivals and use them if needed.

 

[Limabot]

In the light of this new information, I think we should read the new Knock Book, study some of the new Artifacts we have, try to launch the expedition for the Level 6 Book for Baldomare, and possibly fit in a second Sacrament action if we can.

 

[Greymere]

So, uh, something just clicked for me.

[The Dead Will No Longer Be Dead]: Summoning this creature does not require a ritual circle.

Click to shrink...

The Ash-Ghouls don't require a circle. Just sacrifices.

Who do we know that has Winter, was becoming increasingly interested in the Wolf the last time we saw him, most definitely has access to (and would be interested in, considering their nature) the Wastes, and would be very likely to be a-okay with killing people?

Edit: Or, to put it another way: hey guys I really think we should ask someone to go find out what Windy's been up to lately

 

[Steady Gaze]

Spoiler: Copyedits for Turn 19 - Results, part 9

@OurLadyOfWires the latest copyedits:

And the secret it…

Click to shrink...

is

If anypony objects, tell it's for Celestia herself, and that I'll have any delays sent to the Princess for an explanation.

Click to shrink...

tell them

Hunting them is one of the reasons-to-be of the Lunar Bureau.

Click to shrink...

If you want to be fancy, you could always reach for raisons d'être.

[SPENT FUEL]: Ash-Ghouls may not be used as sacrifice in other rituals.

Click to shrink...

as sacrifices or as a sacrifice

I didn't have anything super insightful to say for this update. The wheel of time keeps turning. A few reactions:

– 150 (??????)

Click to shrink...

SCRIPTED!!! AGH!!! /j

Because for the first time in a very, very long time, the Name of Lantern is curious about something.

Click to shrink...

When I read this, I felt scared, and very intrigued.

Just to spell it out, when Baldomare says

"With that in mind, tell me something Velvet. Has she ever asked you to go somewhere, in her stead? Has she ever asked you for a favor, or maybe asked you to do an errand for her? Has she ever offered you a deal?"

Click to shrink...

she means the Daughter of Axes' Knock sacrament:

KNOCK
Actions of your own: "Jade Whistle already did it before, with only a noose and a chair, so you are sure that you can learn how to do it properly. To spare her from having to ever do that again, if nothing else."
-Fully research the "To cut the skin of the world" project.
-You do NOT yet know how many actions this will take, or what will be its costs or demands.

The Daughter-of-Axes' invitation: "Ae sppose ae can wash yer hoof, s'long as ye wash mine as well. Ae need ye te run me an errant. Do tha' an' ae'll make et worth yer time. Bu' get sum'more Knock on ye farst, or else ye won' survive th' trip."
-Successfully complete her request on the "Through the foggy mirror" action. You do not know how many actions this will take.
-Your forays into the "Through the foggy mirror" action may be spaced through however many turns you wish, and you may invest however many actions per turn you wish into it. But the Daughter-of-Axes must be summoned every time you want to try it.
-You must reach 4/4 scraps of Knock before taking this action.

Click to shrink...

I suppose we could've just accidentally freed the Daughter of Axes by doing the sacrament anyway without knowing and saved Baldomare's action, but we did get the information we sought.

The only character who would treat your library as a "library" is (was?) Twilight Sparkle. As it stands, use of your "Library" involves you actively lending your manuscripts to your followers, whenever situation and convenience allows it.

Click to shrink...

(Only Twilight would reach that level of book-obsession and weirdness).

Click to shrink...

Oh… my heart . I miss reading about her in happier times. When I first binged the whole story, the appearance of any of the mane 6 was a treat.

 

[Shaper47]

In the light of this new information, I think we should read the new Knock Book, study some of the new Artifacts we have, try to launch the expedition for the Level 6 Book for Baldomare, and possibly fit in a second Sacrament action if we can.

Click to shrink...

We're so close to the Moth sacrament though.

Just have Marinette Grail bomb Cheerilee for a turn or two before having Velvet leash her.

With the one Moth scrap from deciphering the Moth Book we'd be ready for our sacrament.

The Knock sacrament options on the other hoof work best when we can dedicate all of Velvet's actions in a turn to take advantage of an influence.

 

[Cochimetl]

Nothing says we can't do our personal sacrament first afterall.

Click to shrink...

Really? I was under the impression a Sacrament was a 'you reach a deeper, personal understanding of the Lore in question' kind of deal. I don't think you can do that twice for the same Lore.

 

[Greymere]

Wow Expeditions have such good loot LOL it's wild how much we've ignored them. Knock and Moth Sacraments both very in reach! And that artefact lets Luna summon MitL quite effectively.

Click to shrink...

Somehow managed to miss this part of your post, but:

Oh yeah, that's true! Especially once we get her to Knock/Moth/Winter/Edge 4, since she'll be running a +30 general bonus at that point.

Really? I was under the impression a Sacrament was a 'you reach a deeper, personal understanding of the Lore in question' kind of deal. I don't think you can do that twice for the same Lore.

Click to shrink...

Your impression would be correct. It's one Sacrament per Lore.

 

[Shaper47]

Really? I was under the impression a Sacrament was a 'you reach a deeper, personal understanding of the Lore in question' kind of deal. I don't think you can do that twice for the same Lore.

Click to shrink...

Just because you can't shape yourself via the action doesn't mean you can't perform it.

So like just because Velvet gets painted in Wolf-Divided Blood for her Edge Sacrament doesn't mean she can't go and kill Comet Feet in a challenge. Sure she won't get an edge sacrament but she'll still get Comet dead.

So Velvet going though the Foggy Mirror wouldn't shape* her understanding of the lore but she'd still get the Frangiclave.

*It might not even be the trip that gets the Sacrament anyways that just might be the cost like it is for Baldomare's lantern Sacrament.

 

[Cochimetl]

Just because you can't shape yourself via the action doesn't mean you can't perform it.

So like just because Velvet gets painted in Wolf-Divided Blood for her Edge Sacrament doesn't mean she can't go and kill Comet Feet in a challenge. Sure she won't get an edge sacrament but she'll still get Comet dead.

So Velvet going though the Foggy Mirror wouldn't shape* her understanding of the lore but she'd still get the Frangiclave.

*It might not even be the trip that gets the Sacrament anyways that just might be the cost like it is for Baldomare's lantern Sacrament.

Click to shrink...

But what's the advantage of getting our Sacrament first, then? Do you think it would be better than DoA's? More importantly, do you think it would be better than DoA's to be worth the opportunity cost of having to pay for DoA's anyway?