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

[Pittauro]

@OurLadyOfWires

Velvet Covers if she got Cadence and Shinning's consent could theoretically pull off a variation of the Master's plan with a future son right?

Just arrange things so Velvet visits the father and comes back with her child while Cadence and Shinning are doing the act with Mareinette's help.

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I refuse to believe you're serious.

You're trolling, and I'm calling you out on it.

 

[Shaper47]

Old wards are gone, something else is in place.

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Harmony wasn't even around for like another era. It couldn't have been them.

Also, it is not Harmony's fault the old wards are gone, it is because no one was doing anything at all to maintain them working.

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Actually Harmony is trying to replace the lores which includes what they support. Remember what it was doing to the woods now imagine it doing the same to the wards.

We don't go to the Wolf for an Edge Sacrament since, in all likelihood, some assholes that counts as a worthy opponent will come knocking.

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But we're already at 4/4 scraps.

Besides anyone who is a worthy opponent is stronger then us. Velvet just doesn't have an optimized combat build.

we could have Jade scry us a weapon or something instead. Having some sort of stabbing implement can only be useful!

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I was thinking on making our own actually.

Scry for star metal, get lots of forge, do some creepy wolf ritual to infuse the weapon with hatred.

That sort of thing.

I refuse to believe you're serious.

You're trolling, and I'm calling you out on it.

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Well Cadance having a normal Alicorn kid makes the world a brighter place and thus attracts more and greater worms.

So having the baby Alicorn be the entrance of our Sacrament child would kill two birds with one wolf.

Besides having a baby with Cadence and Velvet as the parents would be so cute.

It also makes our son have a body of flesh. Which means those people here who want to follow Mareinette's path can. Not something I'm personally interested in.

 

[DelightedOne]

Harmony wasn't even around for like another era. It couldn't have been them.

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Two things: 1-We have no idea when Harmony was born. 2- The wards didn't drop instantly, that took time, so it is possible for Harmony to have done something in that period of time.

Actually Harmony is trying to replace the lores which includes what they support. Remember what it was doing to the woods now imagine it doing the same to the wards.

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1. Please give a source for Harmony trying to replace the lores(and what they support), that isn't you of course.
2. The lores are fluid and change with time and new Hours, because the World is not static(that is canon).
3. The Dreamlands didn't even reach the Crossroads, much less the Woods(Velvet was the one that destroyed it).
4. The Dreamlands are turning the Mansus into itself, not destroying it, so if Harmony absorbed the wards as you proposed, they would still be working in some way(unlikely, since they are not part of the Mansus, but rather a security system).

 

[Venerable Ro]

In terms of the Name Hit Squad, here's my thinking. We RoT Copper's whereabouts and send them after her specifically, with instructions to interrogate her for the locations of the documents and related evidence along with yon Nearly-Palest-Painting. That removes her as a threat and deals with whatever problematic materials her cult has squirreled away, then the Bureau can sweep up the remnants and we can get our lads started on the Lores with whatever we scrape out of Copper's cult.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Remember that even a lessor worm can defeat an alicorn. What could they do about greater ones coming?

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Lesser worms get disintegrated in Luna's mere presence, try again.

Besides anyone who is a worthy opponent is stronger then us. Velvet just doesn't have an optimized combat build.



I was thinking on making our own actually.

Scry for star metal, get lots of forge

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Hahahahahahahahahahahaha. In a world where Shining Armor counts as a worthy opponent despite having a broken horn and thus no magic, our opponents very much don't have to be stronger than us to count.

As for weapon-making, we discovered that Velvet sucks at it. Remember how shoddy her knife reagent was in terms of being a knife?

 

[Shaper47]

As for weapon-making, we discovered that Velvet sucks at it. Remember how shoddy her knife reagent was in terms of being a knife?

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I know right that was so annoying.

If only we had a way to somehow get some version of Velvet Covers from an alternate history who good at metal work.

Or a Forge Name might help us.

Lesser worms get disintegrated in Luna's mere presence, try again.

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By lesser worm I'm talking about the one Luna instant loss 2koma'd too.

Not the lesser lesser worms that get disintegrated.

In a world where Shining Armor counts as a worthy opponent despite having a broken horn and thus no magic, our opponents very much don't have to be stronger than us to count.

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Possibly but where are we going to find them?

 

[Sveta08]

Well.
I would thank you, Shaper, for being so unconscionably unhinged as to kill most discussion of actual present plans, granting innate advantage to the already discussed plans.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Personally, I am torn between [] Time and [] Freedom regarding Mareinette. If we use her for an Incardescence then another Social Action would be rather useful.
But it'll also probably make spending time with Mareinette extra Eldritch and amusing. Also maybe it would let her eat less innocent ponies.

As for revealing, I'm kind of all for it. Free permanent guards are useful. They won't just let an assailant in through an unlocked front door to crack our skull. And possibly more Cadance scenes.

Guys
Guys
We could have a Filthy+Spoiled social while the Alicorn of Love is fussing around us while we have an Incardescence. This is hilarious and amazing.

 

[DelightedOne]

Uh, about An Incarnadescence... Cadance won't think Velvet is pregnant again, right? Because that might be awkward with the whole being half-dead thing.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Uh, about An Incarnadescence... Cadance won't think Velvet is pregnant again, right? Because that might be awkward with the whole being half-dead thing.

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Cadance is fully in our faction now, so presumably we'll just tell her that it's funky Eldritch chicanery this time.

 

[Shaper47]

I'm temped to pull some wake shenanigans but we really should be focused on Glory.

So searching for the Outsider, maybe summoning a maid in light to search for Outsider.

Getting bits.

Buying books on heart and forge.

Prepping for our sacraments or gaining some sacraments.

I'd really like an in depth talk with Cadence and Selene on long term goals though.

 

[angelsadvocate666]

Cadance is fully in our faction now, so presumably we'll just tell her that it's funky Eldritch chicanery this time.

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You know, Cadence's Heart affinity should make her seeing Velvet's Dance very… interesting. Especially combined with a Grail Influence, since she has that too.

 

[Lorrie]

Oh wow I picked some of the worst 3 days to completely forget to check qq.

 

[Quaxotia]

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?

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This is why I like Moth affinity a lot. The plans we had hidden deeply away like Luna or the plans we didn't even know we had planned like Above All Suspicion stand the best chance of surviving to fruition.

And to quote a strategy game (which itself is quoting The Art of War): "The pinnacle of military deployment approaches the formless. If it is formless then even the deepest spy cannot discern it, nor the wise make plans against it."

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

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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This question is incorrect.

CAN she do that? Obviously. She "can" break her binds right now and devour Silky while you watch at zero health. The same way she "can" ask you for more expensive boons to re-do her bindings, or found a Grail cult behind your back during her free time.

She is "One who is very great". She "can" do a lot of things.

Instead, why don't you ask yourself what she "wants" do to?

But for the sake of ending the"We need to minimize the threat of the Worms to get more time to reach Glory" I'll ask. @OurLadyOfWires are the Worms a long-term threat(post-quest) or are they a short-term threat(during Quest)?In the sense of them eating the World if we take too long to win.

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Ehhh, no comment.

@OurLadyOfWires

Velvet Covers if she got Cadence and Shinning's consent could theoretically pull off a variation of the Master's plan with a future son right?

Just arrange things so Velvet visits the father and comes back with her child while Cadence and Shinning are doing the act with Mareinette's help.

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Theoretically? No. I already explained how I decide when a RA is offered (the explanation is probably buried somewhere in the old site), and I don't see this fitting the bill.

In practice? [Insert something that's even below a "no"]. Because I don't see the thread ever agreeing to this idea. And since I take the thread discussion as "Velvet's subconscious" (and the votes as "Velvet's conscious decisions"), I do not believe things of this nature will be entertained in the near future.

Pick more Regrettable Actions if you want more Wolf. Plain and simple. Or wait for the next Softy interlude, given how she only just began her "after third RA" phase.



This seems to be all. And this is a small reminder to ping me, if you want something answered. If you just quote something I said and ask a question, I assume you are quoting me for the sake of quoting the story, and asking a question to the thread at large. If you would like me to chime in, use a ping.

As always, I hope you are all doing well.

 

[spiderhellian]

I would have left you to your own devices if I did not know you any better," the voice continues, and you can swear that it sounds like… like who? "After all, I have yet to see you enter this hallowed place for idle pursuits, as so many others already have…"

It almost feels like somepony you know, the sensation of having a name right on the tip of your tongue almost driving you crazy as you search your memory for something you know is not there.

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That voice… that blasted voice that sounds so familiar to you, but that you just can't quite yet place from who it is. You hear her say that, and you immediately understand exactly what it is that she means.

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@OurLadyOfWires Totally random question that you may not be able to answer for us, but what was up with this? Was it a reference to something in particular? Had we heard the whisper of the woods once before..? Or was it just the way the scene was written?

(Fond memories of speculating that the Master was… Velvet's Mom! )

 

[angelsadvocate666]

(Fond memories of speculating that the Master was… Velvet's Mom! )

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That was a speculation? I remember some people thinking it might have been Velvet herself due to Time travel or History fuckery or something, but not her mom.

 

[AuthorTransient]

I've been sitting on this for a while, and I think I can finally put words to thought.

I feel that some of us are treating this as a checklist or a hard coded game, where crossing all the 't's and dotting all the 'i's will automatically bring us to success. But no, this is an interactive story with game mechanics, and its narrative is highly flexible.

Does it make sense mechanically to use this turn to social? Yes.
Does it make sense for a half-dead Velvet accompanied by her secret service to leave the house to talk to Filthy Rich? Uhhhh.....?

But even more importantly, I feel that some of us are treating Glory as the end of all things, as if reaching there would solve everything, no matter the means. I mean, sure, it may end this quest, but I wouldn't find the Mother of Wolves as a satisfactory ending. Please try to allow what is happening in the narrative to influence your planning and votes, and not choose to burn down the world while we are still in it.

 

[Sintonir]

@OurLadyOfWires Totally random question that you may not be able to answer for us, but what was up with this? Was it a reference to something in particular? Had we heard the whisper of the woods once before..? Or was it just the way the scene was written?

(Fond memories of speculating that the Master was… Velvet's Mom! )

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I suspect it is more like "it feels like something familiar, but it actually is not", like that picture where you can see a lot of shapes that your brain tries to register as familiar things if you just look closer, but when you do they are just shapes. It would be very Moth.

 

[Shaper47]

No. I already explained how I decide when a RA is offered (the explanation is probably buried somewhere in the old site), and I don't see this fitting the bill.

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Oh I don't mean as a separate RA but as an add on to the sacrament RA.

Our first and second sons had all that narrative talk of being inside Velvet till she "birthed" them. So the idea is for our forth son instead of letting them out of us into the wake we stuff them into Cadence's womb.

Birth is a entrance into the world afterall.

In practice? [Insert something that's even below a "no"]. Because I don't see the thread ever agreeing to this idea.

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Ugh, unstandable the thread is quite hysterical sometimes.

I did clearly mention consent though because I thought the thread might agree to the idea if it comes from Cadence.

Not sure what the odds of Cadence deciding she wants to birth the closest equivalent of the antichrist into the world are. But we'd never know if we don't ask.

Pick more Regrettable Actions if you want more Wolf. Plain and simple.

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@OurLadyOfWires Can Velvet go get the Wolf Sacrament in her current state of agonizing near death?

Or does she like need her lore levels back.

 

[spiderhellian]

That was a speculation? I remember some people thinking it might have been Velvet herself due to Time travel or History fuckery or something, but not her mom.

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Hahahaha I remember posting a crack theory about it when we were discussing the Master's either pre or post Ash. More of a fun theory than a serious one.

I suspect it is more like "it feels like something familiar, but it actually is not", like that picture where you can see a lot of shapes that your brain tries to register as familiar things if you just look closer, but when you do they are just shapes. It would be very Moth.

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Yeah, this makes sense.

I've been sitting on this for a while, and I think I can finally put words to thought.

I feel that some of us are treating this as a checklist or a hard coded game, where crossing all the 't's and dotting all the 'i's will automatically bring us to success. But no, this is an interactive story with game mechanics, and its narrative is highly flexible.

Does it make sense mechanically to use this turn to social? Yes.
Does it make sense for a half-dead Velvet accompanied by her secret service to leave the house to talk to Filthy Rich? Uhhhh.....?

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It's a game and it's a story. Narrative, thankfully, can be flexible — I'm guessing this will look more like Velvet inviting people over (towards the end of the turn, as mentioned) in a "The brush with death reminded me what's important and left me really wanting to see friends I hadn't seen in a while" sorta way. Which seems reasonable!

(How the Incarnadescence plays in, no clue lol. Minionhood Whiplash for poor Rarity!)

But even more importantly, I feel that some of us are treating Glory as the end of all things, as if reaching there would solve everything, no matter the means. I mean, sure, it may end this quest, but I wouldn't find the Mother of Wolves as a satisfactory ending. Please try to allow what is happening in the narrative to influence your planning and votes, and not choose to burn down the world while we are still in it.

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I don't think anyone is being casual about Regrettable Actions, truly. Or other dark actions.

But the Glory is a victory. And while I don't think we'll be able to undo many of the harms we've done, we will have the capacity to do so much. And save Equestria from an abominable fate.

I also think that this turn demonstrates that victory is definitely not assured. We'll face many competing priorities, and if we don't choose it, we could very well not make it. Don't forget Baldlmare reminding us to focus on winning is also part of the narrative!

 

[LieutenantSpirit]

Does it make sense mechanically to use this turn to social? Yes.
Does it make sense for a half-dead Velvet accompanied by her secret service to leave the house to talk to Filthy Rich? Uhhhh.....?

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My interpretation was that Velvet would invite others to her home instead of leaving to visit them, or that the action would be interpreted as them stopping by. Every non-Twilight pony on our contact list is already a "Friend" (save for Mayor Mare, who is an "Acquaintance"), so it wouldn't be out of place for them to come and check on Velvet out of concern.

 

[AuthorTransient]

My interpretation was that Velvet would invite others to her home instead of leaving to visit them, or that the action would be interpreted as them stopping by. Every non-Twilight pony on our contact list is already a "Friend" (save for Mayor Mare, who is an "Acquaintance"), so it wouldn't be out of place for them to come and check on Velvet out of concern.

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That makes sense, yeah. I was using the upcoming term as an example - I'm not actually that opposed to it. But my main focus is about planning based on the context of what is happening in the story.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Does it make sense mechanically to use this turn to social? Yes.
Does it make sense for a half-dead Velvet accompanied by her secret service to leave the house to talk to Filthy Rich? Uhhhh.....?

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Which makes it hilarious.

Instead of Filthy, we also could friend up Applejack as we lack a Forge Pony other than ourselves, though it wouldn't be as hilarious as impromptu Rich-fixing via metric tons of Grail and (possibly) Love.

 

[Limabot]

Personally, I kind of want to get started on the backlog of books/artifacts to research that we have. I know we don't have the bonus for it, but I don't want the pile to get bigger.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Personally, I kind of want to get started on the backlog of books/artifacts to research that we have. I know we don't have the bonus for it, but I don't want the pile to get bigger.

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That is admittedly understandable.

 

[Shaper47]

Personally, I kind of want to get started on the backlog of books/artifacts to research that we have. I know we don't have the bonus for it, but I don't want the pile to get bigger.

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We could probably do the level one books.

Though actually how much AP do we have?

If we're not doing paperwork don't we get like 7 or 8 AP in a turn?

 

[spiderhellian]

That makes sense, yeah. I was using the upcoming term as an example - I'm not actually that opposed to it. But my main focus is about planning based on the context of what is happening in the story.

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Can you explain more what you mean by this? Or what seems to go against it? I'm not sure I quite understand.

(Is it like we should be cognizant of the oddity of Velvet reaching out when it's been almost a year since she's interacted with these people and she's now the head of the CIA?)

Personally, I kind of want to get started on the backlog of books/artifacts to research that we have. I know we don't have the bonus for it, but I don't want the pile to get bigger.

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I think one reason to avoid books is because we worry about fascination/dread. Having two unstudied artefacts is okay in that an action that studies both is quite efficient… Though I don't hate trying our hoof at the Lantern one, that would unlock a lot.

 

[Steady Gaze]

@OurLadyOfWires are the Worms a long-term threat(post-quest) or are they a short-term threat(during Quest)?In the sense of them eating the World if we take too long to win.

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Ehhh, no comment.

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There are one or more Worm-possessed ponies we might meet, aren't there?

(Relatedly, I find the prospect of meeting Sunset Shimmer to be pretty exciting!)

 

[AuthorTransient]

Can you explain more what you mean by this? Or what seems to go against it? I'm not sure I quite understand.

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The two rhetoric questions,

Does it make sense mechanically to use this turn to social? Yes.
Does it make sense for a half-dead Velvet accompanied by her secret service to leave the house to talk to Filthy Rich? Uhhhh.....?

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on a reread, makes me seem as if I'm opposed to getting a Grail influence. To clarify, I am, but not extremely or completely, because I would prefer working on our artifacts and upgrading our Secret Library. What I don't want to compromise on is killing Copper, everything else is negotiable.

My main focus is on this part of my post,

But even more importantly, I feel that some of us are treating Glory as the end of all things, as if reaching there would solve everything, no matter the means. I mean, sure, it may end this quest, but I wouldn't find the Mother of Wolves as a satisfactory ending. Please try to allow what is happening in the narrative to influence your planning and votes, and not choose to burn down the world while we are still in it.

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which comes about as a result of my reading sentiments about pursuing 'Glory, damn everything else', which I personally don't agree with. I believe that reaching Glory will likely not solve everything in the Wake to my satisfaction - rather, I feel that there would be loose ends if we don't tidy them up beforehand, and that the choices we make now - if we make them poorly - will sour that ending.

To resummarize, I'm cautioning against treating this quest as a hard coded game that only requires ticking checklists to reach a victory condition - the narrative is, if not more than, as important.