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

In my assumption (the fact that it is bird confirmed that there is no risk of the moth sac victim leaking any info and what it implies about the victim when we are done (imho: Twilight level of mindbreak from the whiplash of dropping from Confidante to moth-sac-victim)) the cruel thing is doing personal moth sacrament at all.
What Bird said before was "Because mechanically, the target of your personal Moth Sacrament would simply stop interacting with you and become a non-factor in the quest."

I think the relationship is shattered, the person is not. Pretty bad, but not Twilight-level, I think.
 
[X] There has been an attempt against the Commissioner's life.

[X] Freedom


I think that we should stop dragging our feet. The capital G goal is in sight, our family is -as we just saw- in danger and so only a scant few lines should not be crossed by this point.
What are a few lives worth, when weighed against the safety of our loved ones?

Why not do the dirty deeds now, before we're backed into a corner and only The Wolf is left?

The clock is ticking.

And I do not like our odds, I do not like how the board is laid out.
 
Is there a particular extra action that Velvet can be useful at without lores? Are we looking for an extra social here?

I do have a concern about the currently winning option of Time, namely that we are spending time with Marinette without any Grail lore in our corner. On the other hand we are already likely to take a Heart influence from her to recover our wounds, so that may be a moot point.

[X] There has been an attempt against the Commissioner's life.
 
[X] Nothing happened. You are just ill.

Very divided on this. On one hand, I think it'll help even more with Cadence and the Bureau. On the other it may further crack Celestia and really scare the family. I think the family aspect could be a bigger issue than you all think. I could go either way. At some point we have to loop them in fully and thankfully we've focused on the Bureau social the last few turns, but if we go for it, things could get dicey if we don't take care of Copper and the manuscripts first and even if we do, we hired the best, Beyond Reproach will probably realize something is off if nothing else

[X] Time

So I'm assuming we don't have to pick a different option each time, but this will get interesting in a few more bindings.
 
@OurLadyOfWires

If we send the detectives to hunt for Copper, does that count as scouting action, for Velvet launching an attack with her people?
We'll cross that bridge when (and if) we get there.

Who knows, it might even be in the Expedition Planning vote.

Because wanting a Copper attack to happen before or after the Bureau starts sniffing around Manehattan (or wherever Copper is) is indeed relevant.

But that involves so many uncertainties that it's only worth discussing it after the Follower's Phase.

@OurLadyOfWires
Is there anything forcing us to either sic bureau on Copper now or leave it be?
Or could we go "It must have been a distraction, kill the Commissioner to make the Bureau unable to act so the city changelings can disappear. I put my life, and the lives of my family, in your worthy hooves (constables guard action), but we can't give the citychangelings a chance to run and restart, Detectives need to stay on lookout on the city until the constables can bust it. Then we can follow the leads from there/from the attack on me." (giving us time for our names to discuss this issue with copper)
No.

The known consequences are already written in the choices.

If you choose to tell nothing, nothing happens.

If you choose to tell what happened, the Bureau will want to guard you, Selene will want to guard you, and you will not be forced to take any of those actions.

I mean. Selene will defer to your decision, even if grudgingly. And you are the Bureau's boss. People will grumble if you tell them to go do something else (such as, you know, assaulting the changeling proto-hive), but that's why it's called a morale/trust loss. They will still do it, and your hoof won't fall off if you pick that option.

Will there be unexpected and unpredictable outcomes to these decisions? Of course there will be. But that applies to all decisions, all the time. The same way that not socializing Copper eventually made her an enemy.
I mean, this quest is nothing but moving pieces. How will Cadance and Celestia react? How will Copper react? What diabolical curveballs do I still have in storage? You can't know.

So rather than stressing over the unknowns, decide on the few certainties that you have.

Well, sorry for the rambling. This isn't in bad spirit or anything, just saying what's in my mind.

The bottom line is, no. You won't "have" to do anything if it's not clearly stated.

Giving Mareinette one turn will "force" you to spend a turn on her. But deciding to say you were attacked won't force you to do this or that.

So what the deal with Shining Armor and Cadance @OurLadyOfWires, need that information to really plan things.
I fail to see how that would impact the current vote (attack narrative and Mareinette boon) :V

And you couldn't possibly be asking me information about the future, could you? Why, you just don't know about that yet!
 
O_O

Uh, people... Shouldn't we have Axe craft Wrong Keys this turn instead of having a Knock lesson? We currently have no Lore levels. We are super vulnerable to rituals.

Heck, @OurLadyOfWires can we even sense if there is a ritual aimed at us if our lore levels are unexistent? It sounds like that would be something a normal pony would be unable to do.
 
[X] There has been an attempt against the Commissioner's life.

[X] Time


Getting keys just seems prudent, and I feel like we need to do it sooner rather than later all things considered.
 
Nothing good comes from the Wolf? More like nothing good comes from the Ruined Church. It's where we also got a Wound from Mareinette after all.

[X] There has been an attempt against the Commissioner's life.

I just think it would be more interesting to read everyone's reaction to an attempt on Velvet's life.

[X] Time

Is it me or does most of our long-term plans never seem to come to fruition because something that happens on the current turn?
 
Hrm, would admitting that there was an attempt on the commissioner make it easier or harder to do the ritual to heal the scar? I could see it going either way.
 
[X] There has been an attempt against the Commissioner's life.

I find it perfectly understandable to have reservations and prefer that nothing happen. For me they are outweighed by the many ways we can spin this to our advantage and use the new resources we'll be given. See my previous post, but basically this is a prime lore laundering opportunity. We already know (out of character) that the Celestia doom clock has started ticking; why not take some control of the process of revealing the lores? And yeah, reading this will be far more interesting. (Who knows, maybe Cadance teleports over here and pumps us so full of her magic that we get insta-healed? Ok I guess that isn't possible or she would've done that to Shining, but yeah.)

I'd be happy to pay the cost of delaying the Changeling proto-hive assault to have the Constables guard us and even letting Selene guard us if she wants. And having the Constables raid the remains of Copper's cult will only come up next turn, when we've had a chance to clean up, or even plant things.

I'm also hoping that guarding us increases the Bureau's loyalty? Since they get to come over and interact with us and our family in a different context.

[X] Time

It's oddly perfect to give Mareinette one of our actions when we're in this partially incapacitated state. Maybe we time when we do risky things and/or almost get killed to every time we need to renew Mareinette's bindings. (EDIT: Forgot to add :V)

…Uh. Hey guys. Not that I really expect it to happen, unless Windy's been doing shit or something, but it might not be the best idea to put Selene and Bureau constables on guard duty at the same time? Just, you know, in case there actually is a fight?
I think it might be worth asking @OurLadyOfWires; we won't really know how they think about it otherwise. But I think there are many ways it could be handwaved away. Selene perhaps has some other moth-form she could use, although it might be annoying for her to have to fight as a non-alicorn. Or she might sneakily assassinate some attackers rather than overtly fighting. "Don't reveal yourself too early" is definitely on her mind already. And I mean, we could also worry a similar amount about the Bureau agents noticing Biedde is way better at fighting than any mortal should be.
 
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Heck, @OurLadyOfWires can we even sense if there is a ritual aimed at us if our lore levels are unexistent? It sounds like that would be something a normal pony would be unable to do.
Your family (namely Stormchaser) is leveled up enough, and close to you frequently enough, to feel an incoming attack. So even in this state you will have an early, beginning-of-turn warning for you to plan around.

I think it might be worth asking @OurLadyOfWires; we won't really know how they think about it otherwise. But I think there are many ways it could be handwaved away. Selene perhaps has some other moth-form she could use, although it might be annoying for her to have to fight as a non-alicorn. Or she might sneakily assassinate some attackers rather than overtly fighting. "Don't reveal yourself too early" is definitely on her mind already. And I mean, we could also worry a similar amount about the Bureau agents noticing Biedde is way better at fighting than any mortal should be.
Most of the time I prefer that narrative trump over mechanics. But this is one of the points where-
[MOTH SKILL]: Selene will be able to retain her "Selene" guise, without raising any suspicion, for as long as she wishes. Her guise will remain undetected until she chooses to reveal herself.
-I won't make it a problem. Selene went through all the trouble to have this as her Moth realization, so "Selene being ousted as Luna" isn't really something that is on my books. Unless you, or her, actively decide to reveal her identity.
EDIT: Yes, even if she is guarding you at the same time as the constables. She will figure something out.
 
We need at least one Social action to fulfill the Moth Sacrament somewhere in the next 2 turns.
Whatever people's reservations about it, with the Master dead we won't get an alternative, and it's the only semi-reliable path around Celestia's doom timer other than just reaching Glory.

For the turn or two after we recover Outsider and Sacraments is likely the best work allocation, with the Bureau focusing on the cult or the changelings (and possibly a Name Hit Squad if we can afford it).
The Outsider pushes us towards our longer term goals, while Sacraments are fun eldritch goodness that almost certainly contribute to our success post- the Tricuspid Gate, as well as giving us powerups against the Outsider and our enemies in the Wake.
Plus, once we free Velvet Axe we can fillify her!

Relatedly, not sure if this matters but the Wolf is currently as high as our Heart Lore.
I get the feeling having Lores below our Wolf level is a very not-good thing for post-Tricuspid-gate narrative challenges.

EDIT:
Seeing the immediately above discussion, @OurLadyOfWires can Mareinette give us social maluses or manipulate Velvet's personality if we don't have Winter to counteract it?
 
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Let's get to the Glory before we worry about what comes after. I really don't think we should be thinking about that all, or letting it affect our decision making.
This sounds like our reasoning back when the Master asked us to pass the Branding Door. Once we pass a Door we immediately have to deal with the fact that we've passed it, which means different things for different Doors.

I doubt the Tricuspid Gate (which canonically was the end of a Cultist's climb) will be a standard "pass-then-explore" situation given there likely isn't anything to explore past it. It's more likely an immediate narrative encounter with high Lore checks.
 
I doubt the Tricuspid Gate (which canonically was the end of a Cultist's climb) will be a standard "pass-then-explore" situation given there likely isn't anything to explore past it. It's more likely an immediate narrative encounter with high Lore checks.
Huh. I think that what happens after the Tricuspid gate is that the game is over, and we get a narrative epilogue. With choices to be made.

From a mechanical PoV, there are four ways the Quest ends in not-defeat, and I'm pretty sure attaining the Glory is one of them.

From a narrative, PoV, man, how do we go from breaking a lock that's stood for eras and attaining the goal of everyone who has ever climbed the Mansus to… anything else?

Sure we don't know any of this for sure. And I know @Pittauro has some great Hopium about us becoming a Long :V. And to be sure, I would be sad to see this Quest come to an end. But I can't imagine it going any other way.
 
[X] There has been an attempt against the Commissioner's life.
 
EDIT: Yes, even if she is guarding you at the same time as the constables. She will figure something out.

"I just flit into their subconscious and cut out their fighting instincts! Then the guards roll them up easy."

(Please imagine flit is in Moth colors and cut is in Edge)

From a narrative, PoV, man, how do we go from breaking a lock that's stood for eras and attaining the goal of everyone who has ever climbed the Mansus to… anything else?

The gates stand open. The mortals climb. But now the first things they learn are of misery and hate, of death-fueled monstrosities that must be sent to kill with haste, of agony and endless marring. What will happen when they reach the top? How will you shape the Climb so the next Hours aren't all Wolves with Equine faces?
 
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I'd be happy to pay the cost of delaying the Changeling proto-hive assault to have the Constables guard us and even letting Selene guard us if she wants. And having the Constables raid the remains of Copper's cult will only come up next turn, when we've had a chance to clean up, or even plant things.

I'm also hoping that guarding us increases the Bureau's loyalty? Since they get to come over and interact with us and our family in a different context.

-I won't make it a problem. Selene went through all the trouble to have this as her Moth realization, so "Selene being ousted as Luna" isn't really something that is on my books. Unless you, or her, actively decide to reveal her identity.
EDIT: Yes, even if she is guarding you at the same time as the constables. She will figure something out.

And here I was considering making a crack at establishing the Bureau's loyalties directly to Luna through shenanigans. Ah well, in any case it would still be nice for her to interact with her sworn bondsponies even under a disguise, and she'd surely like to see their loyalty to her mother. Heck, perhaps she can even help with that as Selene, wouldn't that be nice...

Also, if I haven't voted already...
[X] There has been an attempt against the Commissioner's life.

[X] Time
 
Let's get to the Glory before we worry about what comes after. I really don't think we should be thinking about that all, or letting it affect our decision making.
Well, I'd worry a BIt about what comes after, in the sense that if say we're found out by Daybreaker right AFTER tricuspid, we're still probably dead unless we become an Hour, which is not guaranteed
Huh. I think that what happens after the Tricuspid gate is that the game is over, and we get a narrative epilogue. With choices to be made.

From a mechanical PoV, there are four ways the Quest ends in not-defeat, and I'm pretty sure attaining the Glory is one of them.

From a narrative, PoV, man, how do we go from breaking a lock that's stood for eras and attaining the goal of everyone who has ever climbed the Mansus to… anything else?

Sure we don't know any of this for sure. And I know @Pittauro has some great Hopium about us becoming a Long :V. And to be sure, I would be sad to see this Quest come to an end. But I can't imagine it going any other way.

Unless Velvet literally becomes omnipotent (or an hour), she'd still be in the wake, still have problems to deal with.

Harmony is still an unknown. Villains are still going to attack Equestria. Daybreaker is still around the corner.

Also from a game design choice it would feel weird if we never got a chance to see what LVL 6 and 7 lores do :V


Also it just fits with the apostle run in CS.

Maybe we change to playing Selene or Soft if Velvet somehow has to leave the Wake? But I can't imagine Velvet would WILLINGLY leave her family...

Then again, maybe she'd do like the Names and leave only a fragment of herself in the Wake?
 
I would just tell Selene that if she wants to protect us, she should be proactive instead of reactive. *hint hint, nudge nudge*

Anyway, since I didn't vote yet

[X] There has been an attempt against the Commissioner's life.

[ ] Time

EDIT:

[X] Freedom
 
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[Velvet: 5 + 69 (total combat bonus) = 74]

[Invader: 91 + 37 (total combat bonus) = 128]



[Overflow: Velvet – 35, Invader – 54]

Egh, you know how I mentioned getting our Edge Sacrament last turn.

Anybody here thinking that maybe they should have listened to me and not got Velvet mostly dead?
 
Egh, you know how I mentioned getting our Edge Sacrament last turn.

Anybody here thinking that maybe they should have listened to me and not got Velvet mostly dead?
Last turn it was impossible to get Velvet's personal Sacrament and we hadn't summoned Biedde yet so his also wasn't an option.
--[] Learn of that bright Edge, that lives within us all
---[] "I see you my enemy" (WRITE IN who you will challenge) Requires Edge 3/4

If you meant the Wolf's(knowing you that is actually more likely to be true) then yes we could have, but we still wouldn't have gotten Edge 5 and I don't think a Sacrament power would have made Velvet win the fight, because that roll was just too high. We were unlucky in the Church and maybe should not have gone there in the first place, but another Regrettable Action wouldn't have helped.
 
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Egh, you know how I mentioned getting our Edge Sacrament last turn.

Anybody here thinking that maybe they should have listened to me and not got Velvet mostly dead?

How do you mean? Velvet still would have most likely been at one wound, and an extra level of Edge wouldn't have fixed that last roll.
 
Last turn it was impossible to get Velvet's personal Sacrament and we hadn't summoned Biedde yet so his also wasn't an option.
You forget who you're talking to...
If you meant the Wolf's(knowing you that is actually more likely to be true)
...ok, you didn't forget it.

But damn, I didn't notice:

[Velvet: 5 + 69 (total combat bonus) = 74]

[Invader: 91 + 37 (total combat bonus) = 128]



[Overflow: Velvet – 35, Invader – 54]
We rolled 5, and he rolled 91, and it was STILL really close!

If we had rolled just a 10 we wouldn't have gotten wounded!

HE needed to roll 82 points more than us to wound us. (And 32 points to win the clash at all)

So unlucky...
 

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