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

Reader mode
Shaper47 said:
I'm pretty sure the theory is it's a warning so they don't run into the worms accidentally.

Which is a real risk given how investigation of the Dreamlands is a logical goal of theirs.
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I mean, they are using the Mirror in order to get in into the Mansus and that lets them bypass the Ashen Wastes entirely. So in order to get into the dreamlands they must first realize that they are connected to the mansus, then go down the Mansus and then explore the wastes until they find the point that it connects to the dreamlands. I think it would be relatively safe not to tell them about the Worms and the dreamlands.

Like, the biggest change that information about them gives is the fact the Harmony attracts them even if it kills the weaker ones.

I believe it is best to go with the minimalistic approach. Unless the plan is to inform Celestia that you can reach the dreamlands through the Mansus so that she focus on that to try to find Luna in an attempt to harm Eclipse by having them go to the Wastes and thus delay them, but since we didnt choose the option to have Ash kill ponies and it is equally likely that Celestia will choose to explore herself if she learns about this, I dont think it would work very well.

Speaking of which, should we choose the next target for Ash? We didnt really have a chance to see him hunt.

Edit:
Talon Tiger Dino said:
How is investigating the Dreamlands a logical goal of the Bureau's?
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I think that they meant Eclipse, who are already trying to map the Mansus, but one of the goals of the Lunar Bureau is trying to find Luna and they might follow the same reasoning as the Master when we first started looking for her, that we might track her through her dreams. Still, it is not like they even know they can reach the dreamlands through the Mansus yet and they are unlikely to find out unless we tell them.
 
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Bakkasama said:
I mean, they are using the Mirror in order to get in into the Mansus and that lets them bypass the Ashen Wastes entirely.
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What?

No.

You start at the Crossroads. They are still at the Crossroads.
Even Rarity, who in her fluff text "woke up on a beach" (or something like that, I don't remember the exact wording) would still have to make her way through the Crossroads, to reach the Woods.

I understand the argument that Eclipse (or anyone else) might not notice the Dreamlands because it is literally in the opposite direction of Glory (you go from the Crossroads and head AWAY from the Mansus to get there), and the Glory is the epitome of "shiny object that attracts attention".

But the idea that the Mirror lets them skip the Mansus isn't supported by any part of the story that I am aware of.
 
Shaper47 said:
Basically because their looking for Luna. So they might try what we did.
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Except they need to know at least that Mansus is not the Dreamlands.
We knew it because we were explicitly told. They would likely discover it at some point, but almost certainly not soon.
Actually, they might understand it if we give a general Lore information.
 
[X] Plan Ritual Knowledge

[X] Plan Forge and Forgery

[X] Plan Basic Int Test

[X] A Foundation To Build On
 
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[X] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)

Don't risk it too much. As Commissioner, we can put our hoof on the scale and ensure the Bureau treats this seriously.

Why should they know about Worms? There's nothing they can do, and it will only give them more existential dread and stress. The same applies to Wolf.

I wouldn't tell them about Luna either. We told her she could deal with Celestia on her own terms, and I have a feeling this might interfere with that.
 
I think telling Bureau about Dreamland and Worms is poor idea. Either Celestia sends her agents there because Luna in danger and she does not care about anything else or she goes herself and starts camping near Luna Dream Door, which may be a complication for Luna, especially since she herself supposed to visit Celestia dream regularly.


[X] Nothing. (You did not plant any evidence. Better safe than sorry.)


[X] Plan Forge and Forgery
-[X](WRITE-IN) You planted a fake evidence pointing toward changelings involvement
-[X] A detailed treatise about one of the Lores. One, or several of them. (FORGE: Level 2 )

[X] Plan Let's waste their time
-[X] You planted a cache of false information, meant to throw your investigations off any trails they might pick up. (Attempt to make the investigator's job more difficult, on all fronts)
-[X] (WRITE-IN)You planted an encrypted treatise about Lores that are decodable but meant to delay/complicate their study (Grail: Level 1, Heart: Level 1 Moth: Level 1, Grail lvl 1 )

[X] Plan Other Velvet
-[X] You planted a cache of false information, meant to throw your investigations off any trails they might pick up. (Attempt to make the investigator's job more difficult, on all fronts)
-[X](WRITE-IN) Evidence that perpetrators planned not only to kill Velvet but also replace her (detailed study of her behavior, evidence of training in hoofwriting similar to hers and so on).

[X] Plan Ritual Knowledge
-[X] You planted a cache of false information, meant to throw your investigations off any trails they might pick up. (Attempt to make the investigator's job more difficult, on all fronts)
-[X] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)
-[X] (WRITE-IN) The details of the Forge's Redemption

[X] Plan Basic Int Test

[x] How to build basic defenses.
-[x] A detailed treatise about one of the Lores. One, or several of them. (FORGE: Level 2 )
 
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@OurLadyOfWires, you never did clarify on whether it would be possible to leave behind a simple level one trinket from Mareinette's haul, if such a suitable artifact were available.

Personally I don't jive with the whole "dump a ritual and three different lores" scheme, if this is gonna work we gotta set up the story, inspire a bit of imagination in our Bureau. Hence my personal inclination to give them Secret Histories.

Heck, if I thought the readership would go for it I'd advocate for giving away that old Journal that we're half-certain belonged to Starswirl. We just got a whole pile of treasure, why not validate our story with some archeological proof?
 
Wait, new plan from moi:

[X] Plan Basic Int Test
-[X] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)
-[X] (WRITE-IN) The details of the Forge's Redemption

We give them a pointer to Lores, we give them an actionable goal (FR), and then we look at them go. It'll be a good gauge of if they have any interest or aptitude in this stuff.
 
[X] Nothing. (You did not plant any evidence. Better safe than sorry.)

[X] Plan Ritual Knowledge
-[X] You planted a cache of false information, meant to throw your investigations off any trails they might pick up. (Attempt to make the investigator's job more difficult, on all fronts)
-[X] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)
-[X] (WRITE-IN) The details of the Forge's Redemption

[X] Plan Basic Int Test
-[X] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)
-[X] (WRITE-IN) The details of the Forge's Redemption
 
Ultimately the worms vote is mostly about whenever we believe they will find dreamlands by themselves or not, personally I believe it to be highly likely, not only because they are trying to be scientific in their approach and "go into opposite direction from the obvious main attraction" is a pretty simple test but also because I think it was visible before even crossing the first gate, the same gate that has good chance of stopping their progress cold in it's tracks both due to wounds it will inflict due to their lacking lore as well as what lays beyond it
Of course if they wouldn't find the dreamlands the warning would all but guarantee it
 
[X] Nothing. (You did not plant any evidence. Better safe than sorry.)

[X] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)

[X] Plan Basic Int Test
-[X] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)
-[X] (WRITE-IN) The details of the Forge's Redemption
 
I'll edit in some of the worm related ones as well but happy with this too.

[X] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)

[X] Plan Basic Int Test
-[X] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)
-[X] (WRITE-IN) The details of the Forge's Redemption

[X] Plan: Overview with a warning

[X] Plan A Gentle Nudge
-[x] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)
-[x] A detailed treatise about one of the Lores. One, or several of them. (KNOCK 1, MOTH 1)

[X] Plan A Colder Nudge
-[x] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)
-[x] A detailed treatise about one of the Lores. One, or several of them. (KNOCK 1, WINTER 1)
-[X] A "letter" sent from Windy Flakes. (Attempt to tell your investigators about Windy Flakes as a pony of interest)

[X] Plan A Lunar Nudge
[X] Plan Insurance for the Future
 
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Arrkhon said:
Ultimately the worms vote is mostly about whenever we believe they will find dreamlands by themselves or not, personally I believe it to be highly likely, not only because they are trying to be scientific in their approach and "go into opposite direction from the obvious main attraction" is a pretty simple test but also because I think it was visible before even crossing the first gate, the same gate that has good chance of stopping their progress cold in it's tracks both due to wounds it will inflict due to their lacking lore as well as what lays beyond it
Of course if they wouldn't find the dreamlands the warning would all but guarantee it
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This seems, very confused. We're not voting to give anything to Eclipse, we're voting to give summat to our own Bureau. In terms of finding the dreamlands, if we want our Bureau to find them then we can simply lead them there ourselves.

The plan is after all to be a prodigy in order to disguise the fact that we're a prodigy.
 
Guys and gals, I do not think that we should skip this opportunity.

For months, there has been talk about laundering the lores, yet that screeches to a halt as soon as the (obvious) idea comes up that that is a risk.

WELL, I think that we should go forwards regardless.

The DC is above what mortals can do.
As in, the only way for the state to trace planted info to us, is to already know of the lores.
The best time to launder would have been years ago, the second best time is now.

[X] Plan: Loring up the Night lights.
-[X] A detailed treatise about one of the Lores. One, or several of them. (You will leave pre-prepared copies of Lore manuscripts
-[X] A detailed treatise about one of the Lores. One, or several of them. (Everything, the entire library and the kitchen sink)
-[X] (WRITE IN) General warnnings about the dangers of The Lores and The Mansus (Worms in your Dreams, Wolves at your heels, etc...)
-[X] (WRITE IN) A journal filled with vauge rambelings about the disaperance of Luna after "The attack" (Reveal our Copper's attack against/ the possession of Luna).

Yes, this is a massive risk.

So what? We can't win without taking any.

Just... could we maybe stick to a goal for once? Instead of jumping ship as soon as the water gets a little rocky.

Edit: and not to forget some desent plans
[X] Plan: Secrets better left Forgotten
[X] Plan A Gentle Nudge
 
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Alan975 said:
Yes, this is a massive risk.

So what? We can't win without taking any.
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There is a middle ground between "taking no risk" and "basically ensuring we're going to get caught", and this is not that. If every piece of evidence is something like a -10 (which, I feel would be fair?) to the investigation DC, this would bring it down by -120, because every Lore treatise is a seperate piece of evidence. The benefits of this is absolutely not worth the likelihood that it would backfire on us.

If the penalty per evidence is higher than -10, it guarantees that we'd get caught.
 
Greymere said:
There is a middle ground between "taking no risk" and "basically ensuring we're going to get caught", and this is not that. If every piece of evidence is something like a -10 (which, I feel would be fair?) to the investigation DC, this would bring it down by -120, because every Lore treatise is a seperate piece of evidence. The benefits of this is absolutely not worth the likelihood that it would backfire on us.

If the penalty per evidence is higher than -10, it guarantees that we'd get caught.
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It's also not just leaving a trail for them to follow, it would also invalidate both the planted evidence and also some of the actual evidence because they won't believe that all of the info is legitimate if there is obviously a third party involved.
 
Alan975 said:
Just... could we maybe stick to a goal for once? Instead of jumping ship as soon as the water gets a little rocky.
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I for one am sticking to the same goal I've always had, legitimizing ourselves by reenacting our original climb with full documentation, while also ensuring the Lores become a proper Equestrian institution.

I don't want to heave over everything because that will screw with the "natural and organic" growth of our Bureau. Therefore...

[X] A Foundation To Build On
-[X] A detailed treatise about one of the Lores. One, or several of them. (You will leave a basic compendium of the essential Lores, a sort of primer seemingly intended to instruct new inductees to the cult and help them identify their personal affinities)
-[X] Another pamphlet, detailing basic Lore-related hazards such as Fascination, again seemingly directed towards a prospective cultist making the jump from level 0 to level 1 in a prospective Lore.
-[X] Evidence that perpetrators planned not only to kill Velvet but also replace her (detailed study of her behavior, evidence of training in hoofwriting similar to hers and so on).

Also because I'm feeling ambitious:

[X] A Foundation To Build On (with Historical backing!)
-[X] A detailed treatise about one of the Lores. One, or several of them. (You will leave a basic compendium of the essential Lores, a sort of primer seemingly intended to instruct new inductees to the cult and help them identify their personal affinities)
-[X] Another pamphlet, detailing basic Lore-related hazards such as Fascination, again seemingly directed towards a prospective cultist making the jump from level 0 to level 1 in a prospective Lore.
-[X] Evidence that perpetrators planned not only to kill Velvet but also replace her (detailed study of her behavior, evidence of training in hoofwriting similar to hers and so on).
-[X] The old (presumed) journal of Starswirl the Bearded along with partial translation notes detailing a hidden path through the crystal caves of Canterlot. Clearly of immense historical significance, and possibly the origin of this esoteric branch of magic. Perhaps the Bureau should take charge of this investigation...
 
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[X] Plan Ritual Knowledge
-[X] You planted a cache of false information, meant to throw your investigations off any trails they might pick up. (Attempt to make the investigator's job more difficult, on all fronts)
-[X] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)
-[X] (WRITE-IN) The details of the Forge's Redemption

[X] Plan Basic Int Test
-[X] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)
-[X] (WRITE-IN) The details of the Forge's Redemption
 
[X] Nothing. (You did not plant any evidence. Better safe than sorry.)

[X] Plan Ritual Knowledge

[X] Plan Basic Int Test
 
[X] Plan Insurance for the Future (Not a bad sister edition)

[X] Plan Ritual Knowledge

[X] Nothing. (You did not plant any evidence. Better safe than sorry.)

[X] Plan Dream Warning

[X] Plan Basic Int Test

[X] Plan A Colder Nudge

Venerable Ro said:
-[X] Evidence that perpetrators planned not only to kill Velvet but also replace her
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This would be better if It didn't single out Velvet, including higher ups in general feels safer.
Bakkasama said:
Speaking of which, should we choose the next target for Ash?
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If Ash targets Windy i fear that will inspire him more.
 
Bakkasama said:
Speaking of which, should we choose the next target for Ash? We didnt really have a chance to see him hunt.
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I don't think we really have another target to send him after just yet? We don't really know if Windy is hostile or not (or otherwise A Problem). Maybe we could send Selene to go check in on his dreams next turn.

Unless we can send him after Copper's cult in general :V
 
[X] Plan Ritual Knowledge
-[X] You planted a cache of false information, meant to throw your investigations off any trails they might pick up. (Attempt to make the investigator's job more difficult, on all fronts)
-[X] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)
-[X] (WRITE-IN) The details of the Forge's Redemption

[X] Plan Basic Int Test
-[X] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)
-[X] (WRITE-IN) The details of the Forge's Redemption
 
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