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

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As one can guess I want our Edge Sacrament done with because I'm sick of the arguments and it's kinda needed.
I feel like we should be ready next turn. We do the Forge Redemption on this one to heal our wound and the next one we fight Biedde after he gives us an influence and we use a few of our followers to load up on AotL (I am not really looking forward to fight him with just the one) and I don't want to risk a wound the same turn we attempt DoA's sacrament in case it is dangerous.

This turn we probably want to use most of our followers to get a third action anyways, since Velvet is going to be busy arranging for other sacraments.
 
We do the Forge Redemption on this one to heal our wound and the next one we fight Biedde

We can heal our scar on the same turn we fight Biedde.

after he gives us an influence and we use a few of our followers to load up on AotL

Influence is a must but I'm not sure if we're allowed to have followers load us up on AotL.

and I don't want to risk a wound the same turn we attempt DoA's sacrament in case it is dangerous.

We had a talk with her and it was basically explained that it was more payed with time rather then blood. So that's not really an issue.

This turn we probably want to use most of our followers to get a third action anyways, since Velvet is going to be busy arranging for other sacraments.

Definitely, I want our SH and DoV's Knock Sacrament as well as healing our scar.
 
Well. That happened.

Selene? We got a problem here!

Yeah we gotta fix that before we do the final expedition or we'll end up fighting the Alicorn of Frenzied Flame underground. let's not do that, eh?

On Filthy and leashes, I'd much rather stay the course and get another round of Mareinette social on Spoiled. Filthy is the one we actually want to keep as a confidant and Spoiled is the one who did not even care that their Honored Guest had such an interest in Diamond. Kriff that.



I've been thinking for a while now that the story felt, bent, in a way, like the narrative was a bit off-true. I think we managed, through sheer unreasonable "luck", to break the story from the beginning without ever realizing it.

I don't think we were supposed to be able to summon/hire Biedde at all.

I suspect we were "supposed" to meet the Lionsmith Name early on, possibly/probably in the Shattered Stairs, and they'd be an early ally/narrative piece. Someone with an active agenda they'd be willing to partner with us to achieve, probably something along the lines of "I'll help you break free of your Master and in exchange you'll help me defeat my Foe." They'd be an active influence and motivated advisor in contrast to Baldomare, they'd have opinions about our decisions.

But somehow we never met them.

We dealt with the Master on our own, we muddled our way through the Mansus by ourselves, and when we finally reached Biedde in his boss fight arena it was a complete anticlimax because we didn't even have the slightest whiff of his Foe about us.

So one of our biggest challenges to reaching the top of the Mansus simply never cared about us because of a freak quirk of luck.

This explains why he seems a little bare bones compared to the other Names and why we can't befriend him, he's the secretly-recruitable boss enemy that was only unlocked because we totally missed the "roguish second companion with a complex backstory" character.

Funny eh?



Speaking of Names, I'm willing to bet dollars to doughnuts that the Forge Name is going to be heavily involved in getting that Outsider Blood thingummywut. No way we're just walking out with the thing, we're going to have to bribe/befriend/fight them for it.
 
Influence is a must but I'm not sure if we're allowed to have followers load us up on AotL.
Let's ask. If we can go into Biedde's sacrament with several AotL it would be dumb not to.

@OurLadyOfWires is it allowed for Biedde's sacrament to have a few of our followers cast Attention of the Laws: Edge on us that turn so that we go into that fight with more than one?
 
I'm going to have to sleep on this, but yes, my main argument against the personal Winter Sacrament is a moral one. If it comes to it - well.

  • Leash Filthy Rich → we need the Follower Action.
  • Have Mareinette social Spoiled Rich → as much as I would want a Heart lesson (and also to understand Mareinette more), we can't risk Velvet falling asleep (hilarious) and failing to make Close Friends with her.
  • Knock Lesson for the Knock Sacrament.
  • Gift the Level 6 Book to Baldomare.
  • We need to scry for Windy to avert a future catastrophe → Baldomare should do this for highest success, because we cannot afford another Moth Marriage scenario.
  • We need to scry for the W*ndigos to prevent them from killing ponies, then send Biedde after them.
  • Tall Tale Expedition with our Commissioner action to launder Forge Redemption.
  • @OurLadyOfWires can we have our Investigators search for Lore books?
  • Rarity → Commission for bits.
  • Total: 16 followers - Mareinette - DoA - Baldomare - Jade - Biedde - Rarity → 10 follower actions.
Velvet:
  • Yet to explore the Mansus peak for a juicer.
  • Will need to social our Family (1 action) and Cadance (1 action). Steppes is a secondary priority.
  • Forge Redemption
  • Knock Sacrament.
  • Induct Cadance + Selene into Lores.
  • Personal SH Sacrament.
  • Personal Forge Sacrament ?
We can heal our scar on the same turn we fight Biedde.
After the failed Red Church expedition and then facing an attack on the same turn, I would rather we do Forge Redemption ASAP. If needed, we can craft a reagent to boost our chances.
 

Can't do that at the moment.

Celestia has lantern remember and Caddy can't hide the truth.


That's the idea.

3 Knock Sacrament, 2 SH Sacrament, 1 Forge's Redemption and 1 Selene training in Lores.

After the failed Red Church expedition and then facing an attack on the same turn, I would rather we do Forge Redemption ASAP. If needed, we can craft a reagent to boost our chances.

Totally agreed.

We need to scry for Windy to avert a future catastrophe → Baldomare should do this for highest success, because we cannot afford another Moth Marriage scenario.

We need Baldomare for an SH influence to help find the Frangiclave.

We need to scry for the W*ndigos to prevent them from killing ponies, then send Biedde after them.

Or just send the Bureau at the Changelings and not spook the cultists into using the Windigos.

Then just deal with the Windigos later when we're not so busy.
 
3 Axe
3 FO
1 Study artifacts
1 Selene lesson

Honestly I think we should do the forge redemption ritual and put off the artifact or lesson till the next turn.

As to everything else, definitely 3 action cover your bases. We may consider a SH influence from Baldomare to help with Axe and do a SH sacrament option if we finish in 2 turns.
Could potentially do the changeling expedition. Have the Constables follow up on the Gardners.
Axe a lesson in knock.
Maybe scry for Neighnia

To get the extra action it'll probably go to Fluttershy, the servants, and honestly probably Rarity as the third. I don't think we need the bits from a commission this turn and she seems fine on her work. Then it's just 1 other, probably one of Selene's, but it'll depend on what else we decide to have them do. Don't know that we really need to leash Filthy Rich this turn.
 
Ok, so... Do we send the Bureau after Tall Tale or Garden? The windigo jars are still unaccounted for.

I don't really have a preference but without Copper the Garden isn't really considered a threat.

The Windigo jars mean that unleashing the Bureau on the Garden could easily blow up though. So letting them go would be a safe option.

Either however could work.
 
@OurLadyOfWires

1) Did Rarity succeed last turn's work action? Slash can we know how many bits she made?
2) It may be that you can't tell us this, but does Filthy have any special traits that would factor into decision making..?
3) Would using the Leash here prevent use from deploying it during the Bureau mess clean up? Is that even a relevant consideration?

@OurLadyOfWires will this be a problem for when Velvet goes on expeditions personally? I suppose she can have Mareinette replace her...
We've been told what the trait does. More suspicion if we get attacked that's it.
am I forgetting anything? This sounds acceptable.
FORGE REDEMPTION
 
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To get the extra action it'll probably go to Fluttershy, the servants, and honestly probably Rarity as the third. I don't think we need the bits from a commission this turn and she seems fine on her work. Then it's just 1 other, probably one of Selene's, but it'll depend on what else we decide to have them do. Don't know that we really need to leash Filthy Rich this turn.
We had Rarity do other stuff the last two turns so we should probably haver her focus on her work on this one so that we don't have to worry on the next two.

As for Filthy, we need four more minion actions to cover our bases for our third action. That means our servants, fluttershy, Jade and Filthy on cover bases, Rarity on her job, Mareinette on befriending Spoiled, DoA on Knock lesson.
Baldomare and Biedde can give us influences if we feel that we need them.
 
Reasonable on all three counts. Though I recommend leashing Filthy if we do plan on using Spoiled for the Moth Sacrament. For the simple fact that, well, it is less likely to collapse on us if there is a brain worm in him. 3 Velvet Actions too is fine, just have to snag the options. That's... what, Servants, Filthy, Flutters and... someone else? Can figure in a moment. But...

Ughh, there is no time.
Fine. Fine fine fine! Let's hash out thoughts. Hash out plans. Hash out everything and anything that will be a problem because it all will.
Razza frazza, have to figure out Velvet actions to figure out Follower actions to be used successfully. Gimmie a....
There. Something at least.

-[] Draft Plan: No Time for Second Chances
-[] [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)
-[] [CONSTABLES] (FOLLOW UP) Your detectives have given you a very long list, of ponies and places involved in the attempt against your life. Round them up and put them all in jail, before this trail goes cold
-[] [COMMISSIONER] The Lunar Bureau is not the only recently-minted institution in Equestria. Try to contact the others.
--[] Eclipse(?), and Midday Dew.
-[] [JADE] Research "A Memory of Light" (Current progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)
-[] [BALDOMARE] Beyond the Map's Edge Expedition
-[] [MAREINETTE] Ask for a Heart lesson.
-[] [AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[] [SELENE] Soothe the night. (Her Winter realization. Unknown effects, if any.)
-[] You need to learn more about this. Send a pony to better scout Beneath Canterlot Pt3
-[] You need somepony to perform "The Calling of Lantern Influence" on Jade
--[] To be performed in Jade's house (up to two-circle rituals)
-[] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)


Still hang in with me, explainer in a sec. Because the Velvet turn plan looks like

3 Actions on Axe's Sacrament
1 Action on Baldomare's Sacrament (Secret Histories)
1 Action on Luna Training
2 Actions on Fleeting Opporunities (Friends and Stepps)
1 Free social Action on Fleeting Opportunity Family

The main wiggle space I have there is Fleeting Opporunity for Steeps being changed for a Research action on the 2 Lv 4 Artifacts, or Forge's Redemption. I would Want to change that Calling of Lantern Influence to Forge's Redemption, but it's a gamble gamble to make some decent Forge Reagents and have Rarity attempt that. Otherwise, that action can be moved without too much fuss. But as is, that feels the best option I could think of.


But. Explainer.
We need Sacraments. We need to figure out what the Heart Sacraments are. We need to fix shit and figure out what's beneath Canterlot, cause that keeps giving us good stuff. If we are lucky, might have some backdoor into part of All In, or something. If there is the opporunity to make Eclipse helpful or useful or knowledgable or something, we have to start in on that path before we know. And we need Selene to be more capable. Just...
Gegghhhh.
 
As for Filthy, we need four more minion actions to cover our bases for our third action. That means our servants, fluttershy, Jade and Filthy on cover bases, Rarity on her job, Mareinette on befriending Spoiled, DoA on Knock lesson.
Baldomare and Biedde can give us influences if we feel that we need them.

I believe Rarity lets us know when she feels she needs to focus on her job, like Jade when she needs to take a break. I don't think we need Biedde's influence for anything and Selene has two actions. Depends on if we have anything in particular we want Jade, Selene, or Biedde to do.
 
Alrighty, last message I can post before disappearing for a while.

"we" should? I wonder who Celestia is imagining talking to. Maybe Luna 💔? Starswirl? I hope Selene figures something out soon…
I am pretty sure that is Daybreaker :V

Remember, Daybreaker is Celestia. She is just angrier, and maybe a little more focused on certain topics. But she is just as smart as, well, herself.

So, if you are Celestia, and you are trapped inside your own mind by a thousand years' worth of addictions, habits, and that pesky "kindness" you trapped yourself into upholding, how would you plan your jailbreak?

Brute force doesn't seem to be working. So, what do you do?

DO THEY SHARE THE SAME BED???
Scandalous.

Alas, the cruelty of how certain words can be interpreted. We might never know what she really meant with that specific and ambiguous phrasing :V

@OurLadyOfWires will this be a problem for when Velvet goes on expeditions personally? I suppose she can have Mareinette replace her...
No.

As was stated in the vote options for your bodyguards, you will only incur extra suspicion from things that "Happen to you". Or if you fail miserably at an action you perform. But if you are going to do something sneaky with prep time, you can assume you will plan on how to fool your bodyguards so they don't notice you are gone.

Yes, even if you do a long expedition. Leave the narrative to me to make this mechanical effect work.

"Two" of something is still a plural.

oh, @OurLadyOfWires I asked you before I think and you didn't answer, but has Rarity ever considered using Forge Influence to craft, or Grail influence for social events?
She uses her Lore knowledge on her craft. No need to micromanage that.

@OurLadyOfWires would Selene use her Knock Realization to search for Windy through his dreams? Would it help her?
Selene has an exclusive action that involves contacting someone. If you want more information "try and find out".

@OurLadyOfWires you need to tell us how many bits we have by the way.
Done. Thank you for the reminder.

@OurLadyOfWires
The answer is probably yes unfortunately, but just a check.

Mares in Light can be sacrificed to reduce Fascination by 1 on a target.
Does that target have to be nearby?
I'm afraid you never summoned a Mare-on-the-Light to confirm that.

@OurLadyOfWires Would there be extra benefits from doing both friends FO AND Cadance with commissioner?
No. In fact, that would be a negative redundancy.

Commissioner action to "check on Cadance" is a downgraded version of "Checking on all your friends". Doing both will not bring you any bonuses.

Let's ask. If we can go into Biedde's sacrament with several AotL it would be dumb not to.

@OurLadyOfWires is it allowed for Biedde's sacrament to have a few of our followers cast Attention of the Laws: Edge on us that turn so that we go into that fight with more than one?
You know, originally AotL summoning was under the rule of "one Velvet action gives you two charges". Since it's the kind of "quick and cheap" thing that warrants more efficiency if you spend actions on.

But I actually really, really like this suggestion.

Your friends are already Lore-mature enough to be able to do this, so why not.

A new "General action" has been created for your followers. You may now spend one Follower Action to gain one AotL for Velvet on one specific Lore (may be picked multiple times).
(This has already been edited into the latest threadmark.)

But please don't "tie my hands" here. If you ask for several AotL, I WILL pick characters who know Lore stuff. So, don't forget your servants don't use the Lores, and that (if you ask for nine AotL) I will have Baldomare casting you that level-one Ritual, while your servants go "search for books" which you hoped Baldomare would have done instead.

Still, again, great suggestion! Thank you for it.

@OurLadyOfWires can we have our Investigators search for Lore books?
No.

Bureau actions are not your personal servants. It's you steering the Lunar Bureau.

@OurLadyOfWires

1) Did Rarity succeed last turn's work action? Slash can we know how many bits she made?
2) It may be that you can't tell us this, but does Filthy have any special traits that would factor into decision making..?
3) Would using the Leash here prevent use from deploying it during the Bureau mess clean up? Is that even a relevant consideration?
1 - I will warn you if Rarity thinks she needs to dedicate herself to her career.
2 - Not that you know of. But he is still "just" a Close Friend. Even if you Leash him, you won't have the Confidante-Level Filthy Rich (when it comes to your personal bond), just a close friend you are brainwashing into liking you more.
3 - Not really? Well, technically yes. Using a leash here means your leash is busy. But if anything bad happens in the Bureau, you wouldn't have enough Leashes to cover all the ponies who would hear about it, and you would have to take care of it the old-fashioned way, through whatever options are available for Velvet.



Aaaaand, that's it.

Thank you all for your time, and have a great week everyone!
 
With the clarification about Cadence, I'm actually leaning towards Beyond Reproach. Shining Armor wouldn't be bad, or even joining the Constables, but getting a feel for one of our detectives could give important insight for the Bureau on more of a ground level.
Also with our current funds, having Rarity be available to cover our bases gives us more flexibility without really needing to use the leash.
 
Oh sweet. Rarity action is free and getting an extra AotL makes Biedde sacrament a lot easier.

suspect we were "supposed" to meet the Lionsmith Name early on, possibly/probably in the Shattered Stairs, and they'd be an early ally/narrative piece. Someone with an active agenda they'd be willing to partner with us to achieve, probably something along the lines of "I'll help you break free of your Master and in exchange you'll help me defeat my Foe." They'd be an active influence and motivated advisor in contrast to Baldomare, they'd have opinions about our decisions.
Man this feels so, so, right. Damn.

I sorta want to meet and befriend them, just because it would be really nice to have an Edge name in All In!

Instead, we got the Wolf…
 
[] Plan: Knock, SH and Edge Sacrament with extra Aotl
-[X] Leash Filthy Rich (gain one follower action)
-[X] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)
-[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] (FOLLOW UP) Everypony heard what happened to your previous prisoner. Nopony wants to sit around and wait for what happens next. Time to raid the mountain of Tall Tale.
-[X] [COMMISSIONER] [FLEETING OPPORTUNITY] Princess Cadance is in Canterlot. You are in Canterlot. Oh, and you nearly died, just a few weeks ago. Use your free time here to meet her.
-[X] [RARITY] Focus on her work. (Guarantees she will "succeed" on her career roll)
-[X] [BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence in Secret Histories
-[X] [MAREINETTE] You need her to talk to Spoiled Rich
-[X] [AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X] [BIEDDE] Ask for an Edge Influence.
-[X] You would like for somepony to search for books…
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE)
-[X] You would like somepony to help you with a small ritual. Edge Aotl × 1
 
We need heart books though.

We need lots of things. We need two level 4 books I think to be able to get to level 4 with an influence and lesson from Mareinette. How much would that cost, can we afford it.
Just some notes on your plan since I don't want to quote it. Rarity doesn't have to focus on her job this turn. With the Cadence Bureau action, if you plan to social our friends it's not needed.
 
@Shaper47 if you swap the book hunt with looking into memory of light... that looks good to me?

Edit:
Is the secret histories influence for our own Sacrement?

I'll make a variant plan doing that.

For finding the Frangiclave but while we have it we should get our SH Sacrament.

We need two level 4 books I think to be able to get to level 4 with an influence and lesson from Mareinette. How much would that cost, can we afford it.

We need two level 3 heart books if we want to use an influence to get to level 4.

That costs a total of 60 bits, 30 bits per level 3 book.

We can definitely afford it.

Just some notes on your plan since I don't want to quote it. Rarity doesn't have to focus on her job this turn. With the Cadence Bureau action, if you plan to social our friends it's not needed.

Hmm, I still like Rarity focusing given that I want her on commission next turn but good point. I'll include it in the variant of Light plan.

I plan to train Selene instead of social friends. So Cadance is still needed.
 
Oh my can we actually go through the looking glass this turn?

...I don't expect it will be a secret histories roll honestly. The DOA recommended we get knock on us before departing.
 
We need two level 3 heart books if we want to use an influence to get to level 4.

That costs a total of 60 bits, 30 bits per level 3 book.

We can definitely afford it.

Cool, been a bit since that's come up so I couldn't remember. That makes it more feasible. Not a huge fan of the plan overall though, but then I don't have the same urgency towards the Edge Sacrament. It's needed, but others come first.



Oh my can we actually go through the looking glass this turn?

...I don't expect it will be a secret histories roll honestly. The DOA recommended we get knock on us before departing.

Since the knock lesson is a guaranteed scrap, we can get to level 4 the same turn we attempt it. Ourladyofwires has been a bit cagey about Axe's thoughts on it, but I think Knock is just to be able to attempt it and may not actually help once we're actually there. Secret Histories is the lore of finding things so it would make sense it would help and let us try the SH sacrament if we finish early.
 
[] Plan: Knock, SH and Edge Sacrament with extra Aotl (Jade on light)
-[X] Leash Filthy Rich (gain one follower action)
-[X] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)
-[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] (FOLLOW UP) Everypony heard what happened to your previous prisoner. Nopony wants to sit around and wait for what happens next. Time to raid the mountain of Tall Tale.
-[X] [COMMISSIONER] [FLEETING OPPORTUNITY] Princess Cadance is in Canterlot. You are in Canterlot. Oh, and you nearly died, just a few weeks ago. Use your free time here to meet her.
-[X] [JADE] Research "A Memory of Light" (Current progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)
-[X] [BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence in Secret Histories
-[X] [MAREINETTE] You need her to talk to Spoiled Rich
-[X] [AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X] [BIEDDE] Ask for an Edge Influence.
-[X] You would like for somepony to search for books…
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE)
-[X] You would like somepony to help you with a small ritual. Edge Aotl × 1

.I don't expect it will be a secret histories roll honestly. The DOA recommended we get knock on us before departing.

DoA doesn't know the Frangiclave is able to be found there though. So it's pretty logical to assume she doesn't know we should have an SH influence.
 
I mean I said "you know maybe an edge influence won't help with the red church"

Different situation, is still unknown for the expedition but maybe.

I wonder if we can pump Mareinette for details?

I don't expect people to change their minds. I am just stating it for the record.

It's cool man.

I prefer to be safe given what's a stake (Daughter of Velvet befriending) and also the influence will probably be helpful narratively with our evidence.
 
I believe Rarity lets us know when she feels she needs to focus on her job, like Jade when she needs to take a break. I don't think we need Biedde's influence for anything and Selene has two actions. Depends on if we have anything in particular we want Jade, Selene, or Biedde to do.
My point for Rarity to focus on her carreer is not that she has to take it or she will fail, it is that if she takes it now we dont have to worry about whatever she will roll in the following two turns. Having her focus on her work on one of every three turns ensure she doesnt fail it.
 

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