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

[Alan975]

Why then do people want to do everything but our SH Sacrament?!?

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Not liking the risk if a two-health atempt? which is fair, but we can't tiptoe around everything because we got stung once

 

[Flaregamer82253]

Not liking the risk if a two-health atempt? which is fair, but we can't tiptoe around everything because we got stung once

Click to shrink...

I wish 1 health was just a sting, but for the sake of the metaphor, 1 health is Velvet being deathly allergic and going into anaphylactic shock every time. Remember that it takes 1* full turn to heal a wound, and you can see how much it slows us down.

It's why I'm so adamant on FR. That way a sting is just a sting.

*And if the wound happens early on in a turn, that may be ~1.5 turns where we have to walk the tightrope of danger and safety.

 

[Shaper47]

Remember we have to think long term here.

I'll do a rough guide of the consequences if DoA's Sacrament takes 4 AP.

Note that this is still a pretty big risk and if it takes more and we're not prepared we're a bit screwed.

If we don't do SH Sacrament Turn 21:

Turn 22

Baldomare - SH influence
Velvet - SH Sacrament × 2
Velvet - Read Moth book with lantern Aotl
Velvet - Books Ponyville
Velvet- Books Ponyville or explore mansus or winter sacrament
Velvet free exploration- Ashen Wastes

Yes, Velvet won't study the artifacts because that would be a total waste of an SH influence again. Instead she gets books.

Also if the Summit Jucier is a project then tough luck. It would waste the SH influence.

Turn 23

Baldomare - lantern lesson
Velvet - Moth Sacrament
Velvet - Grail Sacrament
Velvet - Lantern artifact
Velvet - Winter Sacrament action
Velvet- Forge Sacrament

Turn 24

Baldomare - lantern influence
Velvet - Personal Lantern Sacrament
Velvet - Book study
Velvet - Artifact study
Velvet - Mansus item study
Velvet - Stains study
Velvet - Winter Sacrament action

Turn 25

Baldomare - find (something we want)/or on Baldomare's Sacrament (if people want her Sacrament for some reason)
Velvet - Winter Sacrament (if that's not done by now)

So we'd only be able to get our personal lantern sacrament by Turn 24 or Baldomare's Sacrament by Turn 25.

If we do SH Sacrament Turn 21:

Turn 22

Baldomare - lantern lesson
Velvet - FR
Velvet - Read Moth book with lantern Aotl
Velvet - Study lantern artifact with lantern Aotl
Velvet - Winter Sacrament
Velvet free social - Selene training

Turn 23

Baldomare- Lantern Influence
Velvet - Personal Lantern Sacrament
Velvet - Moth Sacrament
Velvet - Artifact study
Velvet - Mansus item study
Velvet - Stains study
Velvet - Winter Sacrament action

Turn 24

Baldomare - find (something we want)/or on Baldomare's Sacrament (if people want her Sacrament for some reason)
Velvet - Grail Sacrament
Velvet- Winter Sacrament
Velvet- Forge Sacrament

So we'd be able to get our personal lantern sacrament by Turn 23 or Baldomare's Sacrament by Turn 24.

So in Summery:

Without SH Sacrament: lantern artifact Turn 23, personal lantern sacrament by Turn 24 or Baldomare's Sacrament by Turn 25.

With SH Sacrament: lantern artifact Turn 23, personal lantern sacrament by Turn 23 or Baldomare's Sacrament by Turn 24.


Right now remember this is pretty rough. It's done under the consideration that we want our sacraments as soon as possible and to take as much optimal advantage of our influences while we have them.

Edit.

You know it's not actually that bad when I look at it laid out like this. Lots of books.

Still would prefer to have time for Beneath the Royal castle expedition by turn 24 instead of Turn 25.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Remember we have to think long term here.

I'll do a rough guide of the consequences if DoA's Sacrament takes 4 AP.

Note that this is still a pretty big risk and if it takes more and we're not prepared we're a bit screwed.

If we don't do SH Sacrament Turn 21:

Turn 22

Baldomare - SH influence
Velvet - SH Sacrament × 2
Velvet - Read Moth book with lantern Aotl
Velvet - Books Ponyville
Velvet- Books Ponyville or explore mansus or winter sacrament
Velvet free exploration- Ashen Wastes

Yes, Velvet won't study the artifacts because that would be a total waste of an SH influence again. Instead she gets books.

Also if the Summit Jucier is a project then tough luck. It would waste the SH influence.

Turn 23

Baldomare - lantern lesson
Velvet - Moth Sacrament
Velvet - Grail Sacrament
Velvet - Lantern artifact
Velvet - Winter Sacrament action
Velvet- Forge Sacrament

Turn 24

Baldomare - lantern influence
Velvet - Personal Lantern Sacrament
Velvet - Book study
Velvet - Artifact study
Velvet - Mansus item study
Velvet - Stains study
Velvet - Winter Sacrament action

Turn 25

Baldomare - find (something we want)/or on Baldomare's Sacrament (if people want her Sacrament for some reason)
Velvet - Winter Sacrament (if that's not done by now)

So we'd only be able to get our personal lantern sacrament by Turn 24 or Baldomare's Sacrament by Turn 25.

If we do SH Sacrament Turn 21:

Turn 22

Baldomare - lantern lesson
Velvet - FR
Velvet - Read Moth book with lantern Aotl
Velvet - Study lantern artifact with lantern Aotl
Velvet - Winter Sacrament
Velvet free social - Selene training

Turn 23

Baldomare- Lantern Influence
Velvet - Personal Lantern Sacrament
Velvet - Moth Sacrament
Velvet - Artifact study
Velvet - Mansus item study
Velvet - Stains study
Velvet - Winter Sacrament action

Turn 24

Baldomare - find (something we want)/or on Baldomare's Sacrament (if people want her Sacrament for some reason)
Velvet - Grail Sacrament
Velvet- Winter Sacrament
Velvet- Forge Sacrament

So we'd be able to get our personal lantern sacrament by Turn 23 or Baldomare's Sacrament by Turn 24.

So in Summery:

Without SH Sacrament: lantern artifact Turn 23, personal lantern sacrament by Turn 24 or Baldomare's Sacrament by Turn 25.

With SH Sacrament: lantern artifact Turn 23, personal lantern sacrament by Turn 23 or Baldomare's Sacrament by Turn 24.


Right now remember this is pretty rough. It's done under the consideration that we want our sacraments as soon as possible and to take as much optimal advantage of our influences while we have them.

Click to shrink...

You know what? We really should remember that when we swap with other Velvets our body does not make the trip. They're the one stuck in a 2-Wound Body, not our Velvet. So screw it, I'm for the 2 SH 4 Knock Plan. Any bonus action accrued can be immediately put into Selene Training.

However I have no clue which plans have this breakdown. Shaper, I call upon you for examples.

 

[Shaper47]

However I have no clue which plans have this breakdown. Shaper, I call upon you for examples.

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Greymere's threadmark is pretty good.

These plans do 2 SH Sacrament:

[] Plan Taking a Chance (2x)
[] Plan Living on the line (2x)

These plans do 1 SH Sacrament:

[] Plan KISS (Keep it Snake, Stupid) + Wastes and SH Sacrament (1x)

And these plans have 6 on DoA's Sacrament:

[] Plan KISS (Keep it Snake, Stupid)
[] Plan KISS (Keep it Snake, Stupid) + Wastes
[] Plan KISS (Keep it Snake, Stupid) + Summit
[] Plan All on Snake

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Greymere's threadmark is pretty good.

These plans do 2 SH Sacrament:

[] Plan Taking a Chance (2x)
[] Plan Living on the line (2x)

These plans do 1 SH Sacrament:

[] Plan KISS (Keep it Snake, Stupid) + Wastes and SH Sacrament (1x)

And these plans have 6 on DoA's Sacrament:

[] Plan KISS (Keep it Snake, Stupid)
[] Plan KISS (Keep it Snake, Stupid) + Wastes
[] Plan KISS (Keep it Snake, Stupid) + Summit
[] Plan All on Snake

Click to shrink...

Thank you kindly Shaper.

[X] Plan Taking a Chance

Thank you kindly Greymere.

 

[Bakkasama]

Ok so we have an SH influence.

Why then do people want to do everything but our SH Sacrament?!?

Doing the Prudent and Responsible thing and going for 6 DoA AP makes sense but going for 4 DoA AP that's not time sensitive. It's like people here don't want any sacraments at all.

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Because there are other actions that we want done more than we want a SH sacrament? For example, I think two of the FO must be done and I think it is better to do FR as soon as possible. I don't particularly care whether we do our sacrament or Baldomare's.

Edit: Putting aside things that you think you must do for things that would be nice to do is silly and people think that friendship quests are more important than personal sacraments. It doesn't help that we lack examples of what level 5 will look like.

 

[Shaper47]

For example, I think two of the FO must be done and

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That's completely unrelated.

Like literally your making absolutely no sense at all when you say this.

Putting aside things that you think you must do for things that would be nice to do is silly and people think that friendship quests are more important than personal sacraments

Click to shrink...

Your literally agreeing with me here you understand that right.

Spend 6 AP on DoA's Sacrament/befriending quest not 4.

I don't particularly care whether we do our sacrament or Baldomare's.

Click to shrink...

We're doing our personal sacrament no matter what for a variety of reasons. It's either this turn or the future.

 

[Void_510]

[X] Plan Taking a Chance
[X] Plan Living on the line
[X] Plan: SH + Selene + Health

 

[Bakkasama]

That's completely unrelated.

Like literally your making absolutely no sense at all when you say this.



Your literally agreeing with me here you understand that right.

Spend 6 AP on DoA's Sacrament/befriending quest not 4.



We're doing our personal sacrament no matter what for a variety of reasons. It's either this turn or the future.

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Shaper, what the heck are you talking about?

Your original question (or at least the one I was answering to) was why people were not voting for the SH sacrament. I just told you that in order of priority people were putting Friends&Family FO > DoA sacrament (because of the friendship quest) > SH sacrament and that I, in particular, was putting FR above the sacraments as well. Why would I vote for a plan with 6 DoA AP, which does not leave enough AP for FR or one of the FO?

 

[Greymere]

Shaper, what the heck are you talking about?

Your original question (or at least the one I was answering to) was why people were not voting for the SH sacrament. I just told you that in order of priority people were putting Friends&Family FO > DoA sacrament (because of the friendship quest) > SH sacrament and that I, in particular, was putting FR above the sacraments as well. Why would I vote for a plan with 6 DoA AP, which does not leave enough AP for FR or one of the FO?

Click to shrink...

Even the 6x Knock Sacrament plans take both the Family & Friends FOs btw. Literally every plan currently on the menu does, in fact.

Edit: One FO is taken using AP, the other is taken using our free social (which is legal in this case).

 

[Cochimetl]

That leaves Selene teach, which I'd put above SH sacrament as well, and FR.
I think 'four AP for DoA, whatever's left over of those four afteris for SH sacrament' is a reasonable plan.

 

[Bakkasama]

Even the 6x Knock Sacrament plans take both the Family & Friends FOs btw. Literally every plan currently on the menu does, in fact.

Edit: One FO is taken using AP, the other is taken using our free social (which is legal in this case).

Click to shrink...

Yeah, but as I said, I put FR above the sacraments (so at most I would vote for 5xDoA instead of six) and the question I was answering was about why people were not voting for SH sacrament. Going from that to "you realize that you are agreeing with me, don't you?" is a bit or a stretch when they were the ones asking.

Even if you take DoA and SH sacrament as equivalent (assuming that the plan is to use leftover DoA AP for SH), I also said in the same post that I didn't care that much about doing our SH sacrament, so I am baffled as to where did the "you are literally agreeing with me" came from.

 

[Greymere]

Yeah, but as I said, I put FR above the sacraments (so at most I would vote for 5xDoA instead of six) and the question I was answering was about why people were not voting for SH sacrament. Going from that to "you realize that you are agreeing with me, don't you?" is a bit or a stretch when they were the ones asking.

Even if you take DoA and SH sacrament as equivalent (assuming that the plan is to use leftover DoA AP for SH), I also said in the same post that I didn't care that much about doing our SH sacrament, so I am baffled as to where did the "you are literally agreeing with me" came from.

Click to shrink...

Yeah no I get that. I just wanted to point it out since you mentioned the 6x DoA plans also not leaving enough room for the Fleeting Opportunities.

 

[Earth-Destroyer]

[x] Plan KISS (Keep it Snake, Stupid)
[x] Plan KISS (Keep it Snake, Stupid) + Wastes
[x] Plan All on Snake

 

[Bakkasama]

Yeah no I get that. I just wanted to point it out since you mentioned the 6x DoA plans also not leaving enough room for the Fleeting Opportunities.

Click to shrink...

Ah, I see where the misunderstanding came from. I said "Why would I vote for a plan with 6 DoA AP, which does not leave enough AP for FR or one of the FO?"

I meant it as "out of the three actions (two of the FO and the FR) at least one would be left out if I went with a 6xDoA plan" so I would have had to choose between leaving out FR and leaving out one of the FO if I wanted to do 6 actions for the DoA sacrament.

 

[Anjaxis]

[X] Plan KISS (Keep it Snake, Stupid)
[X] Plan Prudent KISSing

 

[Rafuki22]

So which plan is winning?

 

[spiderhellian]

Here's a tally:

Spoiler: Tally Results

Vote Tally : Esquestria: The House of the Sun - A pony cultist experience [Posts: 8350-8417]
##### NetTally 5.1.0

Task: 【NONE】
— Voters: 26

[X] Plan: Prudent KISSing
-[X][AotL] Lantern
-[X][Forge] Forge 3 reagent
-[X][Knock] Explore the Summit
-[X][Winter] Invoke a Risen
-[X][Social] Teach Selene
-[X] Fleeting Opportunity: Family
-[X] Fleeting Opportunity: Friends
-[X] Perform the Forge's Redemption
--[X] Sacrifice Forge 3 reagent
--[X] At Jade's old house
-[X] Sacrament: Through the Foggy Mirror (4x)
No. of Votes: 13

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Prudent KISSing
[X] Alan975
[X] Anjaxis
[X] AuthorTransient
[X] Bakkasama
[X] DelightedOne
[X] Flaregamer82253
[X] Greymere
[X] LieutenantSpirit
[X] Limabot
[X] Nevermort
[X] Pororurin
[X] Sveta08
[X] Waela

[X] Plan: KISS (Keep it Snake, Stupid)
-[X][AotL] Lantern (Explore Summit)
-[X][Forge] Forge 3 reagent
-[X][Knock] Explore the Summit
-[X][Winter] Summon a Risen
-[X] FO Family
-[X][Social] FO Friends
-[X] DoA Sacrament x6
No. of Votes: 10

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: KISS (Keep it Snake, Stupid)
[X] Alan975
[X] Anjaxis
[x] Earth-Destroyer
[X] Flaregamer82253
[X] Greymere
[X] Limabot
[X] MisRAR1
[X] Shaper47
[X] Solace2117
[X] spiderhellian

[X] Plan: Prudent KISSing but even more prudent
-[X][AotL] Lantern
-[X][Forge] Forge 4 reagent
-[X][Knock] Explore the Summit
-[X][Winter] Invoke a Risen
-[X][Social] Teach Selene
-[X] Fleeting Opportunity: Family
-[X] Fleeting Opportunity: Friends
-[X] Perform the Forge's Redemption
--[X] Sacrifice Forge 4 reagent
--[X] At Jade's old house
-[X] Sacrament: Through the Foggy Mirror (4x)
No. of Votes: 10

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Prudent KISSing but even more prudent
[X] DelightedOne
[X] Flaregamer82253
[X] Greymere
[X] LieutenantSpirit
[x] Limabot
[X] Maer
[X] Nevermort
[x] Pittauro
[X] Sveta08
[X] Waela

[X] Plan: KISS (Keep it Snake, Stupid) + Wastes
-[X][AotL] Secret Histories (Ashen Wastes)
-[X][Forge] Forge 3 reagent
-[X][Knock] Explore the Ashen Wastes
-[X][Winter] Summon a Risen
-[X] FO Family
-[X][Social] FO Friends
-[X] DoA Sacrament x6
No. of Votes: 7

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: KISS (Keep it Snake, Stupid) + Wastes
[X] Alan975
[X] Arrkhon
[x] Earth-Destroyer
[X] Flaregamer82253
[X] Maer
[X] MisRAR1
[X] Shaper47

[X] Plan: Taking a Chance
-[X][AotL] Lantern
-[X][Forge] Forge 3 reagent
-[X][Knock] Explore the Summit
-[X][Winter] Summon a Risen
-[X] FO Family
-[X][Social] FO Friends
-[X] Personal SH Sacrament x2
-[X] DOA Sacrament x4
No. of Votes: 7

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Taking a Chance
[X] Alan975
[X] Portec
[X] Potdl
[X] Shaper47
[X] Solace2117
[X] Talon Tiger Dino
[X] Void_510

[X] Plan: KISS (Keep it Snake, Stupid) + Summit
-[X][AotL] Secret Histories (Explore Summit)
-[X][Forge] Forge 3 reagent
-[X][Knock] Explore the Summit
-[X][Winter] Summon a Risen
-[X] FO Family
-[X][Social] FO Friends
-[X] DoA Sacrament x6
No. of Votes: 5

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: KISS (Keep it Snake, Stupid) + Summit
[X] Alan975
[X] Flaregamer82253
[X] Maer
[X] MisRAR1
[X] Shaper47

[X] Plan: All on Snake
-[X][AotL] Grail
-[X][Forge] Forge 3 reagent
-[X][MANSUS] Tarrying in the Wastes (Search for a new area)
-[X][Free] Summon a Risen
-[X][Social] FO Family
-[X] FO Friends
-[X] DOA Sacrament x6
No. of Votes: 4

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: All on Snake
[X] Alan975
[x] Earth-Destroyer
[X] MisRAR1
[X] Shaper47

[X] Plan: KISS (Keep it Snake, Stupid) + Wastes and SH Sacrament
-[X][AotL] Secret Histories (Ashen Wastes)
-[X][Forge] Forge 3 reagent
-[X][Knock] Explore the Ashen Wastes
-[X][Winter] Summon a Risen
-[X] FO Family
-[X][Social] FO Friends
-[X] personal SH Sacrament
-[X] DoA Sacrament x5
No. of Votes: 4

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: KISS (Keep it Snake, Stupid) + Wastes and SH Sacrament
[X] Alan975
[X] MisRAR1
[X] Potdl
[X] Shaper47

[X] Plan: Living on the line
-[X][AotL] Grail
-[X][Forge] Forge 3 reagent
-[X][MANSUS] Tarrying in the Wastes (Search for a new area)
-[X][Winter] Summon a Risen
-[X][Social] FO Family
-[X] FO Friends
-[X] Personal SH Sacrament x2
-[X] DOA Sacrament x4
No. of Votes: 4

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Living on the line
[X] Alan975
[X] Potdl
[X] Shaper47
[X] Void_510

[X] Plan: Responsible KISSing
-[X][AotL] Lantern
-[X][Forge] Reserve for after DoA's Sacrament resolves
-[X][Knock] Explore the Summit
-[X][Winter] Invoke a Risen
-[X][Social] Teach Selene
-[X] Fleeting Opportunity: Family
-[X] Fleeting Opportunity: Friends
-[X] Sacrament: Through the Foggy Mirror (5x)
No. of Votes: 3

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Responsible KISSing
[X] Greymere
[X] Limabot
[X] Waela

[X] Plan: Prudent KISSing with some Grail
-[X][AotL] Grail
-[X][Forge] Forge 3 reagent
-[X][Knock] Explore the Summit
-[X][Winter] Invoke a Risen
-[X][Social] Teach Selene
-[X] Fleeting Opportunity: Family
-[X] Fleeting Opportunity: Friends
-[X] Perform the Forge's Redemption
--[X] Sacrifice Forge 3 reagent
--[X] At Jade's old house
-[X] Sacrament: Through the Foggy Mirror (4x)
No. of Votes: 2

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Prudent KISSing with some Grail
[X] Bakkasama
[X] Nevermort

[X] Plan: SH + Selene + Health
-[X][AotL] Secret Histories
-[X][Forge] Forge 3 reagent
-[X][Knock] Explore the Summit
-[X][Winter] Summon a Risen
-[X] "The Forge's Redemption"
--[X] Sacrifice Forge 3 reagent
--[X] At Jade's old house
-[X] FO Family
-[X][Social] FO Friends
-[X] Teach Selene, and make her something more.
-[X] personal SH Sacrament
-[X] DoA Sacrament x 3
No. of Votes: 2

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: SH + Selene + Health
[X] des-pair-2
[X] Void_510

[X] Plan: Grail opportunity
-[X][AotL] Grail
-[X][Forge] Reserve for after DoA's Sacrament resolves
-[X][Knock] Explore the Summit
-[X][Winter] Invoke a Risen
-[X][Social] Teach Selene
-[X] Fleeting Opportunity: Family
-[X] Fleeting Opportunity: Friends
-[X] Sacrament: Through the Foggy Mirror (5x)
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Grail opportunity
[X] Nevermort

[X] Plan Responsible KISSing (Forge Variant)
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[X] Flaregamer82253

---

Total No. of Voters: 26

A slight lead for doing our KISSing prudently (ie with FR and Selene locked in). But only by a few.

And I would ask -- if we're one action short of the Knock Sacrament, or off befriending the DoA, wouldn't we prefer that we complete it over at least one of those?

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Ew, Forge 3 Reagent on FR.

 

[Sveta08]

Damn, no wonder it's been hard to keep up with these. We picked three words and made nine plans from them.

But!
My main thing is that I want us to push forward for Axe's Sacrament. Directly after that is teaching Selene, as I feel that's the best way to at least slow the doom clock of Celestia's wrath.

The number two plan, Where Forges Redemption and teaching Selene are converted to extra Sacrament actions is my backup, but I'm not going to vote for it yet, until something that doesn't suit my purpose takes the lead.

 

[spiderhellian]

The Detective is On the Case

You are Beyond Reproach. And you are on the case.

It's a role you've taken up so many times before, ever since those days as a colt traipsing around with a magnifying glass in your saddlebag. Some might have lost count of all the mysteries they've solved and investigations they've handled by this point, but not you. No, you remember each one. Each time you poked and prodded at the lies the world tried to tell you, and unravelled a crystal-clear truth.

You also remember all the questions that were left unanswered. The cases that went fallow after a shift in priorities, the investigations that ran into a dead end, the trails that went cold despite all your fervent efforts at lighting a fire under them. You know that type of thing bothers some of your colleagues, and that frustration is part of what pushes them to the caliber of the Lunar Bureau. But it doesn't bother you, not exactly.

Sure, they stick in your muzzle like a pesky fern. But where some people collect records, and other people collect recipes, you collect inconsistencies. You keep them warm, keep yourself sharp with them. Because the thing about reality is that it is always true. The world is true, it cannot be otherwise.

What people see, or think they see, or how they feel about what they see -- there they can shade the truth like coloured filters placed in the light. But the light is always out there. It shines true, however weak its glow may be. If you keep it whole, keep it safe, keep it unshaded, you know it'll eventually lead you where you need to go.

That rock-hard belief is what has let you solve cold cases others had long given up on. It's what has you keep in mind even those earliest cases, in the hope that one day the few missing holes that remain are filled in. And it's what has led you to what you're doing right now.

So yeah, you've done this before. That's what you keep telling yourself. It helps with the quiet screaming in your mind -- because in every other way, this case is like none other.

---

That part of you screaming? It's the part of you that knows you should not be doing this.

This is a pony who the Princesses trust without reservation. This is the detective who just single-handedly crushed a conspiracy against the crown. This is your Commissioner.

You should go home and sleep, right now, and forget about it. Or you should go drinking with Iron Button, and make yourself forget about it. Anyone you asked would say exactly that, and that's why you haven't mentioned this to anyone.

You should. You really should.

But if you could, you wouldn't be you. You wouldn't have that cutie mark on your flank. You wouldn't be Beyond Reproach.

And so you're on the case. The Commissioner's case.

You're checking the train timetables, and chatting with one of her maids who's visiting family in Canterlot. When did she get home, that day? Just before sunset? That's okay, I can check the weather-ponies' tables.

You're visiting some of the archives the Greenhoof's case file pulled records from, bugging an archivist who's bored at their desk. Have you seen a pony of roughly this stature and appearance? Can you check the last person to access this ledger? Oh, it hasn't been used in a decade? But it might just have gone unrecorded, sure, I can see that.

You're asking questions at one of Canterlot's best camera shops, and you haven't exactly said you'll be buying one, you've just let them assume. So what kind of lens would cause this distortion? Which models could boost the brightness like this? And where could you buy a camera like that?

You can still hear that screaming. But Celestia's smile, you love this.

The light may be refracted. Obscured. Cloaked in shadow. But you can see it shining through, and you'll follow it if it's the last thing you do.

You think about that for a second. Think of Velvet Covers. Think of those records you dug up on Velvet Dagger…

It very well might be.

---

There's one moment, in every case, that you always think of. It haunts your dreams, sometimes. It's the moment that the buried light you've so patiently nurtured shines through, sprouting like a seed to illuminate the world. When you deliver your report, denounce the culprit and outline every step that revealed their scheme.

You've seen the perpetrator break down in tears. You've seen them try to flee. In one memorable instance, you saw them pull a knife on you, and quickly add "Attempted Assault on a Watchpony" to their list of crimes.

As you come to the end of your report, in front of Commissioner Velvet Covers and Deputy Shining Armor (present at your request), the voice that only recently stopped screaming in your head is remarking that you've never seen a perpetrator behave like this. Occasionally, your suspect frowned, or narrowed her eyes. She's smiled three times, and chuckled twice. However, right now she's stony-faced, even as you punctuate your final line by thudding a hoof on her desk.

"You did not do this, any of this, yourself. Tell me I'm wrong, Commissioner!"

She opens her mouth, and your blood goes cold as she begins her reply.

...

With a giggle? And now she's chuckling? And now she's laughing, her full body shaking, pounding the desk with her hooves just like you did?

A moment later, you hear Shining Armor join in behind you with a few low chuckles.

You've really never seen a suspect behave like this.

Is she-- you thought-- does she not know anything of what it means to be a detective? You frown, and open your mouth to continue, but she cuts you off with a gestured hoof.

Between the guffaws, you can make out a few words -- "No", "It's -- it's alright", "just-- just a moment."

After a few more seconds of laughter, she composes herself. She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath (letting one final laugh escapes her lips), before looking over your shoulder to her Deputy.

"Well, Shining, he's figured me out," she says.

The musclebound stallion replies in a warm voice, "He has, Velvet. He really has."

Velvet Covers looks you in the eyes, and gives you a solemn smile. "Your work is exemplary as always, Beyond Reproach. Your conclusions are undeniable. Would you like to meet my accomplice?"

What? You expected an explanation or excuses. Not, what even is that, a full-blown confession?

She rises from her chair, and makes her way out of the office, gesturing for you to follow. What is she doing? Where is she going? You're not sure you can let her leave the base, not until you know the truth. But can you stop her?

These thoughts fill your head as you make your way out behind her, followed in turn by Shining Armor. They're discarded entirely as you realize her destination is just next door.

You step into the cavernous office, intended for only one pony. One pony who isn't. Here. That's why you have the job you do, and that's why you all work so hard at it.

You meet the Commissioner's eyes, and she gives you a nod, before beginning in a light tone.

"You're right, Beyond Reproach. No one pony could have done all that. Especially not a married mare with -- how did you put it -- 'no relevant experience prior to this year'."

She frowns.

"Though I think you're underestimating how crafty a foal can be in planning raids on the cookie jar. But no matter," Velvet says.

She gives Shining a look, and then continues on, "No. One. Pony. We were planning on telling the Bureau about this soon, but you've earned yourself something of a spoiler."

Slowly, the chair before you begins to turn...

And like when the full moon comes out from behind a cloud to light up the night like day, the truth of the world is illuminated, and you know it will never be the same.

Spoiler: Alt Ending

"No. One. Pony. But what about if that pony was taught by the most ancient and most evil creature to walk Equestria in millennia, sabotaged and then stole a demigod, betrayed the crown then betrayed the cult that had betrayed the crown, and all-but-touched the power that shines through every corner of this world? What then, Roach, what then? Tell me these lore-drenched hooves couldn't do it all, oh wait you can't, you don't even know what the lores are! "

---

Spoiler: AN

Just a thought on how all those inconsistencies and peculiarities Beyond Reproach is noticing could get resolved.

I find Beyond Reproach a great character, and the more I see of him the more I like him. The idea of putting the Luna in Lunar Bureau also appeals to me, even though I'm not sure how it works out logistically/Daybreaker-wise. What if she could do Commissioner actions...

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Not satisfied with writing canon omakes or main-threadmark extras, Spiderhillian is now stealing scenes that I planned to write!

How will I ever recover

(I will deal with this later)

 

[spiderhellian]

Not satisfied with writing canon omakes or main-threadmark extras, Spiderhillian is now stealing scenes that I planned to write!

How will I ever recover

(I will deal with this later)

Click to shrink...

Oh NOOOOOOO I am sorry

Was that actually how it was going to play out?

Oh lord hahahahahaha. Oops? I think? I'm sorry!

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Man is on that Secret Histories Timing

 

[jelloloaf]

The Detective is On the Case

Click to shrink...

Heza's Hand, you're prolific. Calling it now, if the thread ever goes a week without another spiderhellian omake, the end times have arrived.

In all seriousness though, it was really cool! I love how you flesh out characters whose perspectives we don't see too much of, and Velvet from outside being scary is a favorite of mine. Great work

 

[Greymere]

Man is on that Secret Histories Timing

Click to shrink...

A very fitting turn for it to happen! After all...

We have been here before

 

[angelsadvocate666]

[X] Plan: Prudent KISSing but even more prudent

I'm not really back yet, but I checked in briefly out of curiosity nd saw the utter travesty going on here. We've got the money for once, why not put as much as is needed to make absolutely certain that fucking scar goes away. I don't want troll dice to mess Velvet up again when she just got healed.

 

[Shaper47]

Was that actually how it was going to play out?

Click to shrink...

Velvet having minions who do stuff for her like investigate conspiracies doesn't seem like something that would attach the word "perpetrator" to her.

Secret contracts that you don't want to be semi-public information is reasonable when shape shifters are a thing.

Lots of Luna Bureau members have their own contracts already afterall.

Also I think you underestimate Moth 4 and SH 4 for doctoring information. Beyond Reproach is good but he's not that good.

Nice writing though.

 

[spiderhellian]

We've got the money for once, why not put as much as is needed to make absolutely certain that fucking scar goes away

Click to shrink...

This is the mindset that leaves us with no money again

I see spending 35 bits to avoid a 2% risk as a much deeper travesty!

Just as a reminder, we have a 360 bit expense coming up (Beneath the Royal Castle pt 3), which will use a lot of our reserves. We also have a new expense of 60 bits/turn starting at the end of this turn (to keep Biedde summoned), which will cut our effective income by a third. And who knows what other expeditions, summons, and reagents we'll need!