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

[X] What is this "cellphone" all the kids are talking about? Why do you have one? And what is this "Internet" thing?
[X] Your faith has been rewarded. And the medallion has made its way back to you, on a very unexpected pair of hands. (Further your search for Axe's… contact)
[X] They are young and impressionable. Thankfully, you are a responsible adult. (Hang out with Rarity and Fluttershy, your real-life confidantes)
 
Honestly I don't really mind the Twilight options, I just wish we weren't rushing into them first thing. I think it would have been to wait till we have a better feel of the place and people.
We only have 3 action points remaining and we don't know how long is Twilight quest chain. We can't afford investigating this place in detail unless people are willing to delay fulfilling Axe deal, which does not seems to be the case.

As for learning specifics of how this place works then Exploration and Twilight action appears to be exactly what's needed to do it. Velvet would not experiment on Twilight blindly so I would expect conducting some tests first. Perhaps joint science project with Twilight to learn nature of this place. I look forward to telling Twilight that she lives in the Matrix. Assuming that it comes to it of course.
 
Except she doesn't live in the Matrix. The Matrix is all false except for its people. The school and its inhabitants are real, except for when they leave. It is extremely odder than the Matrix.

  • Does this make the Daughter of Axes the Orphan of Kos?

Not enough screaming and weaponized placenta smashing for her to be the Orphan of Kos.
 
If we can finish this in one go, that'll be great. But I honestly do not mind just having this being a scouting session, and I'm not going to comply to some kind of 'thread gestalt' in advance.

Having said all that, can you imagine Dream!Sparkle's hypothetical point of view in such a scenario? Your professor abruptly acts completely different for four days and somehow has magic (???!!!????!!!!!!) then suddenly she returns to her old self and gets all kinds of confused when you bring it up again, to the point you actually have to wonder if ghosts and possessions exist, at which point two months later Velvet Covers gets confused for why her student is brandishing a lower case T.

EDIT: tests? in a dream?
 
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If we can finish this in one go, that'll be great. But I honestly do not mind just having this being a scouting session, and I'm not going to comply to some kind of 'thread gestalt' in advance.

The issue is twofold here. On one hand, we need the DoA to be our friend right now at all costs. If we can't finish the Foggy Mirror in the next 3 actions, we don't have a chance at trying again until turn 23, which puts the Expedition Machine far behind schedule. On the other hand, we don't know if we'll be able to come here again after finishing the DoA's quest here, so the worst case scenario is to assume we can't and that whatever extras we don't manage now are lost.

I went into this only expecting the DoA's friendship, so if that's all we get out of this trip, then I'm fine with everything else being a dead end.
 
I went into this only expecting the DoA's friendship, so if that's all we get out of this trip, then I'm fine with everything else being a dead end.
That's fair. It's also why I voted for the Internet first, because I thought it would unlock further options. But now that the Dream!Sparkle path was revealed so early, it's sinking AP for something we don't even know if we really want or need.

EDIT: went back and counted each vote but the automatic tally was correct. One quester apparently removed their Internet vote (24 - 24) and then Spacemurica tilted it a single vote in favor (24 - 25).
 
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Current tally

Vote Tally : Esquestria: The House of the Sun - A pony cultist experience | Page 315 | Questionable Questing [Posts: 9457-9511]
##### NetTally 4.0.2

[X] Your faith has been rewarded. And the medallion has made its way back to you, on a very unexpected pair of hands. (Further your search for Axe's… contact)
No. of Votes: 36

[X] You have found limits, you have found walls. Now it is time to look for doors and tunnels. (Follow up on exploring this place)
No. of Votes: 30

[X] "Miss Sparkle? It's about the project we discussed. I have a... proposal, on how to advance it. Could you see me after class?" (Follow up on Twilight Sparkle)
No. of Votes: 22

[X] Apparently, they are not alicorns here. But they are still the highest authority. (Approach the Principals)
No. of Votes: 12

[X] They are young and impressionable. Thankfully, you are a responsible adult. (Hang out with Rarity and Fluttershy, your real-life confidantes)
No. of Votes: 12

[X] What is this "cellphone" all the kids are talking about? Why do you have one? And what is this "Internet" thing?
No. of Votes: 11

[X] This place has a library. Go take a look.
No. of Votes: 8

[X] "Is there anything on your mind, Miss Jack?" (Approach Applejack)
No. of Votes: 5

[X] "Miss Sparkle? It's about the project we discussed. I have a... proposal, on how to advance it. Could you see me after
No. of Votes: 4

[X] "To be honest? I think your job is better than mine." (Approach Cheerilee. She is here… somewhere)
No. of Votes: 2

[X] "Yes, it's about your daughter. What class I teach her? Well…" (Approach the Rich parents)
No. of Votes: 1


Total No. of Voters: 37

I might close the vote in as early as 6 hours from now. Be advised.

Good day to us all.
 
The issue is twofold here. On one hand, we need the DoA to be our friend right now at all costs. If we can't finish the Foggy Mirror in the next 3 actions, we don't have a chance at trying again until turn 23, which puts the Expedition Machine far behind schedule. On the other hand, we don't know if we'll be able to come here again after finishing the DoA's quest here, so the worst case scenario is to assume we can't and that whatever extras we don't manage now are lost.

I went into this only expecting the DoA's friendship, so if that's all we get out of this trip, then I'm fine with everything else being a dead end.
For DoA not to disappear at turn 22 we need Frangiclave to remove her chains, which is not the same as her friendship task. Frangiclave may even help us enter Foggy Mirror on our own. Or there may be other entrances/exits. We can search for them via exploration, and perhaps with the help of Twilight detector. It is much more prospective direction than internet. Searching for alt exits that can allow for Twilight to leave may even be part of her quest line.
 
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Honestly, I don't think this really is or should be about "Getting a new Twilight!".


It's just that it's... narratively economical?

Like, sure interacting with any of the equivalents would be nice, but the only two here that we can't talk to when were done is Twilight and Celestia.

So it makes sense to invest in them as to not miss out.
Sure, they could be the dead ends. So what? We quite literally do not have any way to know which path is yet, and already quite a few of you are using the kind of language that always pops up.

That you've made an assumption or have an agenda *Cough* Shaper this time*Cough* and are making explanations for why obviously this is the most/less viable option.
Has this metagaming gone well so far? cuz in my memory it just backfires with ruined plans-within--plans.
So do first consider now, what do you want to see?

We probably should and are so far prioritising Axe's stuff, but everything else has the same chance of helping so just settle on what flavour you want and we'll eat the Russian bullet later.
 
For DoA not to disappear at turn 22 we need Frangiclave to remove her chains, which is not the same as her friendship task. Frangiclave may even help us enter Foggy Mirror on our own. Or there may be other entrances/exits. We can search for them via exploration, and perhaps with the help of Twilight detector. It is much more prospective direction than internet. Searching for alt exits that can allow for Twilight to leave may even be part of her quest line.
DoA friendship is getting the key, well Silky's friendship anyway. Once she can stay DoA will.
 
[X] You have found limits, you have found walls. Now it is time to look for doors and tunnels. (Follow up on exploring this place)
[X] This place has a library. Go take a look.
[X] What is this "cellphone" all the kids are talking about? Why do you have one? And what is this "Internet" thing?

With the use of rerolls Covers had either bad rolls or the difficulty was high. It really seems to be meant to take serveral turns instead of this brute force approach... So this votes! :p
 
We only have 3 action points remaining and we don't know how long is Twilight quest chain. We can't afford investigating this place in detail unless people are willing to delay fulfilling Axe deal, which does not seems to be the case.

As for learning specifics of how this place works then Exploration and Twilight action appears to be exactly what's needed to do it. Velvet would not experiment on Twilight blindly so I would expect conducting some tests first. Perhaps joint science project with Twilight to learn nature of this place. I look forward to telling Twilight that she lives in the Matrix. Assuming that it comes to it of course.

For one I don't know that immediately honing in on Twilight was the healthiest choic, but it is what it is.
Also after reading the update it feels like these are wide branches that lead to smaller paths. Like Rarity and the cellphone help with Axe. I wouldn't be surprised if talking to the students opens up choices in the Twilight path. The facility probably could help with the Principals. The library with exploration. That kind of thing.
 
The Same Day, A Different Mare
Ah, this was great. The fandom has already portrayed her in so many different ways that, honestly, your proposal was quite nice! Even though you admittedly know next to nothing about her.

Maybe a little less angry than some would write, maybe a little younger than expected. But this was great nonetheless! Thank you for sharing this with us.

Gather more data, and then your life can fall to pieces.
Also, this line made me laugh so much.

Wow this quest is so good!!! Just read this over the course of a month and a half all the way from ch 1 on SV. Genuinely a great read.
Welcome! It is wonderful to have you here, and I hope we can all continue to have fun!



In other news, I also realized my own dumb self forgot to threadmark the haggmaxing milf selfie. That has been rectified.

Voting closes soon. We had almost 40 voters by now, and the three top votes are either landslides or have more than 50% of the current quorum. If it happens that I can sit down and start writing, I might just close the vote then and there and get to work.

I hope you are all doing well! And we will be seeing each other shortly.
 
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You know what, I liked the idea of fusing the Twilights a bit too much.

The reflection becomes real

You always knew there was more out there, but you never imagined it meant...this. The world isn't real? You... aren't real?

A reflection, an image in a piece of glass. Is that really all you are?

NO!

You can't think like this. You exist, even if your world is a distorted version of another, the very act of questioning your existence proves there is something about you that is alive, something that allows you to think and make your own choices.

Like the choice you are about to make right now, the choice that will finally fill the emptiness in you.

It has been that way for as long as you can remember, even with so many people at your school you never thought you belonged to this place so maybe that is what you're meant to do: Cross that door and leave it all behind.

You always knew you'd be better off somewhere else and that change wasn't something that scared you before you met her, but now... You know what is at stake if she doesn't agree with you, if she refuses your offer.

Meeting another you will certainly weird, but she is the only way out of this world. And you have spent so much time looking for something that gave your life meaning there is no way you're giving up this chance without trying.

The way she said you could reach your other self was by connecting to her through the only Way you can reach: your dreams. So when you lay your head on your pillow you follow the steps she told you about, the way to dream within a dream.

And that's how you reach your other self.

...







...










...

[You already know everything is going to be fine]
[There is no need to intrude on such a private conversation]
[Please remember: We are all just trying our best]

[Diplomacy roll: Auto-success]

You... You are... Twilight Sparkle. You always have been, either as a human in a dream-like world or a unicorn in a magic-filled perilous world.

That is just... different than usual.

You still feel like there is nothing left in Equestria for you but maybe you could change that if you were meant to be here, since this strange miracle that just happened showed you another way.

And maybe somepony to walk that path with you.

"At least she kept her promise this time." You say, as you put your hooves on the floor of your room.

You really hope this is not a mistake when you state: "I need to find Velvet Covers."

Huh, shorter than I thought, but there really isn't much I can say about this.

Yes, this was inspired by Selene. No it's not exactly like what happened with Selene, Twilight just got a different life and also a lifetime of ambition mixed with her lack of will and pony life so she is hesitant, but willing.

She also doesn't fully trust Velvet but she is also her only source of relevant knowledge and Twilight kinda needs a mentor at this level of maturity.
 
Well, I buy that this is a better option than more focus on Twilight. And I'd encourage others to do the same.

[X] Apparently, they are not alicorns here. But they are still the highest authority. (Approach the Principals)

But I think betting that the twilight path will go anywhere than what has been stated in text is foolish!
 
The reflection becomes real

You're only feeding us, making us want to go down this path even more. Some are saying it's not healthy, it's a terrible and selfish thing to do, that it's only for Velvet to try and remove her guilt and "Fix" a problem, instead of working on living with it. To take it up on herself to make the decisions.

.......
Yeah?....as far as I've seen, as much as Velvet keeps trying to be nice, keep to her morals and use the love of her family and friends to help her remain grounded.

It doesn't last-

She'll look for ways to make it not as bad, or hope certain choices don't have to come up, that she doesn't need to sully herself.

But she seeks the GLORY, and as long as she does, as long as she keeps that drive and deep-seated need to reach the top. She'll be willing to do what she needs to "Fix" her wrongs, even if the result is painful, and it leaves a wound.

I'm sure some of you will disagree, but this really feels like a decision Velvet would make, getting herself worked up into a frenzy of being able to "Save" Twilight, never relenting until after it's done and she's left to sit, gain whatever advantage she can from it, and deal with the consequences as well.

Really, I love Velvet being nice and loving to her people. It's very fulfilling to read and enjoy those moments, but I like better the side she tries to shut down and away, the person she's willing to become and the sacrifices she's willing to take for the sake of her goal.

Edit: now, to be fair, this is all theorycrafting based off of what we've read, but boy if it ain't a blast to consider the options, and see how much it makes sense.
 
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[X] "Miss Sparkle? It's about the project we discussed. I have a... proposal, on how to advance it. Could you see me after class?" (Follow up on Twilight Sparkle)

[X] Your faith has been rewarded. And the medallion has made its way back to you, on a very unexpected pair of hands. (Further your search for Axe's… contact)
 
Some are saying it's not healthy, it's a terrible and selfish thing to do, that it's only for Velvet to try and remove her guilt and "Fix" a problem, instead of working on living with it. To take it up on herself to make the decisions.
I mean, if that is how you see it. I always saw it as Velvet wanting to save someone she was close to that went into a depressive spiral as a consequence of her actions. Nothing unreasonable about that.

And the guilt won't really disappear, it never does with things like this, it just gets sent to the back and you can be traumatized by it passively.

And about the decisions thing: Most people don't agree with their loved ones wanting to stop living.

but this really feels like a decision Velvet would make, getting herself worked up into a frenzy of being able to "Save" Twilight, never relenting until after it's done and she's left to sit, gain whatever advantage she can from it, and deal with the consequences as well.
Isn't that what Velvet(and most people if I'm being honest) does? Make a choice, see it to the end then deal with the consequences?
 
[X] Your faith has been rewarded. And the medallion has made its way back to you, on a very unexpected pair of hands. (Further your search for Axe's… contact)

This is pretty much needed

[X] "Miss Sparkle? It's about the project we discussed. I have a... proposal, on how to advance it. Could you see me after class?" (Follow up on Twilight Sparkle)

I want to see where this ends, if she is brought back across the glass it would be very interesting (and not in an entirely good way either)

I don't have a real preference about the others though
 
I mean, if that is how you see it. I always saw it as Velvet wanting to save someone she was close to that went into a depressive spiral as a consequence of her actions. Nothing unreasonable about that.

Yeah, I see it that way as well, but I see it as being both really, she wants to make it up to Twilight to get rid of her suffering, but Velvet's own nature drives her to feel that guilt, the need and desire to wipe her mistake away if she can, not that she would want to "Erase" her Twilight, but the path to the ashen wastes is paved in good intentions....if she thinks her Twilight is on the verge of giving up on life and well... y'know.... isn't giving a different Twilight a chance at life a way of making things better?
 
I mean it's not Velvet's Twilight, but I don't know that it matters.
I just think it would be easier to help her, if Velvet can, if she figured out the area, which we are probably going to do, and she interacted with others to get another perspective we could see. Talking to the principles or even Rarity or Applejack could potentially open up other paths.
 
I hope Luna's doing well.

Hey what did happen to Celestia? Still Sunbreaker, alive, etc?
She is not Luna anymore, but she is doing well considering everything.

Celestia is having Daybreaker whisper in her ear to set her free for about 2 Equestria months now. And it seems to be working, they are seeing eye to eye at the very least.
 
I read this for 9 hours, well, more than that.. But seeing how it just gets darker and darker, and I can't be bothered to find out what happened to Celestia, I think I'll move on. I hope Luna's doing well.

Hey what did happen to Celestia? Still Sunbreaker, alive, etc?
Things have been going better lately. Truth be told. We are looking forward not only with determination... but also Optimism, and a hope that things can be better.

Luna returning and having her memories of things certainly helps in that regard.

Its like when Cadence saw her. When Cadence saw Luna returned she finally had hope.

We did another wolf sacrement but- Mmm. It certainly could have been worse.
 
Voting is closed.

Vote Tally : Esquestria: The House of the Sun - A pony cultist experience | Page 315 | Questionable Questing [Posts: 9457-9532]
##### NetTally 4.0.2

[X] Your faith has been rewarded. And the medallion has made its way back to you, on a very unexpected pair of hands. (Further your search for Axe's… contact)
No. of Votes: 37

[X] You have found limits, you have found walls. Now it is time to look for doors and tunnels. (Follow up on exploring this place)
No. of Votes: 30

[X] "Miss Sparkle? It's about the project we discussed. I have a... proposal, on how to advance it. Could you see me after class?" (Follow up on Twilight Sparkle)
No. of Votes: 24

[X] Apparently, they are not alicorns here. But they are still the highest authority. (Approach the Principals)
No. of Votes: 13

[X] They are young and impressionable. Thankfully, you are a responsible adult. (Hang out with Rarity and Fluttershy, your real-life confidantes)
No. of Votes: 12

[X] What is this "cellphone" all the kids are talking about? Why do you have one? And what is this "Internet" thing?
No. of Votes: 12

[X] This place has a library. Go take a look.
No. of Votes: 9

[X] "Is there anything on your mind, Miss Jack?" (Approach Applejack)
No. of Votes: 5

[X] "Miss Sparkle? It's about the project we discussed. I have a... proposal, on how to advance it. Could you see me after
No. of Votes: 2

[X] "To be honest? I think your job is better than mine." (Approach Cheerilee. She is here… somewhere)
No. of Votes: 2

[X] "Miss Sparkle? It's about the project we discussed. I have a... proposal, on how to advance it. Could you see me after class?"
No. of Votes: 1

[X] "Yes, it's about your daughter. What class I teach her? Well…" (Approach the Rich parents)
No. of Votes: 1


Total No. of Voters: 40
 

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