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

[Solace2117]

I think Harmony has been aware of Velvet for a while now.

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Eh, not saying Velvet is totally unknown, potentially another positive data point for Harmony. Really just trying to find potential positives to the action. As of now, it just comes off as a waste. Maybe it was, but I doubt it was totally meaningless. It felt a little too involved to have no purpose, just pointing out it could have some positive effects we can't see yet.
Really all the actions felt like things that could be useful, but were not the equivalent of the benefits of a full action by itself, hence why we could pick 3, outside of it being the only practical way to do the mini arc.

 

[Greymere]

it's a +40 (or +20? I forget) to winter rolls on expeditions for anyone we send with it. It's also an extra scrap bringing us closer to Winter Sacrament as well (we need 4 scraps. 1 from artifact, potentially up to 2 from influence ritual if we get a tier 4, one more scrap and we could be ready for that sacrament. Also we DON'T need to be 4/4 for that sacrament, so if we wanted to we could start working on it whenever we want... ideally while a winter influence is up though, doing the 3 actions over 2 turns so the influence doesn't expire).

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Sure, but is that worth more than Moth Sacrament (anti-sunblast) or the Lantern 4 artifact (turns Selene into scryer, lets others summon MitLs, +1 Lantern scrap)?

I'm not saying it's not valuable. But the options it opens up for us simply aren't going to be as useful in the short term as getting our Moth Sacrament online or acquiring a competent scryer with up to 3 AP.

...but what about Velvet's?

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Simply a coincidence, of course.

-[X] Uncle Steppes has come to visit! But every time you speak to him, you get the impression he is… unwell. Even though he hides it well from the fillies. Spend some more time with him, and see if you can help him.

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Vote is in plans.

 

[DelightedOne]

Oh, voting is open.

[X] Plan Half Light/Half Shadow
-[X] Velvet Covers will... (Study Moth 5 Book and Lantern 4 Artifact) Priority on Artifact
-[X] You will have a follower perform a RotT ritual.(Jade Whistle)


[X] Plan mafia Uncles are Family too
-[X] Uncle Steppes has come to visit! But every time you speak to him, you get the impression he is… unwell. Even though he hides it well from the fillies. Spend some more time with him, and see if you can help him.
-[X] You will have a follower perform a RotT ritual.(Jade Whistle)


[X] Plan Ancient Darkness
-[X] Velvet Covers will... (Study Moth 5 Book)
-[X] You will have a follower perform a RotT ritual.(Jade Whistle)

 

[Greymere]

[X] Plan: To Find a Gate
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry: A permanent three-circle ritual site that our entire faction can utilize
-[X] You will have a follower perform a RotT ritual. (Jade Whistle)

[X] Plan: To Find a Book
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry: Level 7 book
-[X] You will NOT search for a book this turn. (No follower actions will be borrowed from Turn 22)

[X] Plan Ancient Darkness
[X] Plan Half Light/Half Shadow

@DelightedOne while I'm technically fine with it either way, would it be possible to specify that the AotL + reroll should go to the Lantern 4 artifact on Half Light/Half Shadow, seeing as almost any result we get on the Moth book even with AotL + reroll would need to be followed up next turn anyway?

 

[DelightedOne]

while I'm technically fine with it either way, would it be possible to specify that the AotL + reroll should go to the Lantern 4 artifact on Half Light/Half Shadow, seeing as almost any result we get on the Moth book even with AotL + reroll would need to be followed up next turn anyway?

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Can we do that? With the reroll I mean, because I thought that was a QM decision?

 

[Nevermort]

[X] Plan mafia Uncles are Family too

[X] Plan Ancient Darkness

 

[spiderhellian]

[X] Plan Half Light/Half Shadow
[X] Plan mafia Uncles are Family too

[X] Plan Half Light/Half Goodies
-[X] Velvet Covers will... (Study Lantern 4 Artifact > Manehattan book )
-[X] You will have a follower perform a RotT ritual.(Jade Whistle)

@DelightedOne Maybe specify that the study action should prioritize the artefact over the book? I.e. if we fail the first roll, try again on the Lantern book?

 

[Greymere]

Can we do that? With the reroll I mean, because I thought that was a QM decision?

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We can specify what we're studying by priority (i.e. attempt to study Thing 1 until successful, only then move on to Thing 2), so I'd assume that if we assign the Lantern artifact higher priority over the Moth book the AotL + reroll will be spent on the artifact as the first thing we study. Or the AotL will anyway, the reroll might make it through to the Moth book if we end up not needing it.

 

[BritBiscuit]

Hey considering that Knock opens things up, it's kinda poetic that the first time Velvet really sees Axe be vulnerable emotionally is when we completed her Knock Sacrament. One could say that she really opened up... *badum ch*

 

[Limabot]

[X] Plan Half Light/Half Shadow
[X] Plan mafia Uncles are Family too
[X] Plan: To Find a Gate

I'm fine with most of the options, but here are my favorite 3.

 

[Solace2117]

[X] Plan mafia Uncles are Family too

Going with this for now. Jade seems the best option to scry for the book. We need Baldomare's action free next turn to do her sacrament. Velvet could scry for it or a ritual site, but we need to trust our followers at some point, we just don't have the time not to, and the three circle can wait till next turn. Studying the lantern 4 artifact and either a book or the winter 4 are tempting. I'm willing to risk our personal sacrament without the reroll, but I doubt it'll get much support and really the study action is arguably just as useful, especially if we can complete two in one turn.
At the end of the day though family and her inner circle have been a top priority from the beginning of the quest and Uncle Steppes has found his way into it. No guarantee the other options aren't more useful, but focusing on family has generally not steered us wrong. From a practical standpoint it could end up being more useful then we expect considering his connections and resources.

 

[Arrkhon]

[X] Plan mafia Uncles are Family too

 

[MisRAR1]

[X] Plan mafia Uncles are Family too

 

[Greymere]

Going with this for now. Jade seems the best option to scry for the book. We need Baldomare's action free next turn to do her sacrament. Velvet could scry for it or a ritual site, but we need to trust our followers at some point, we just don't have the time not to, and the three circle can wait till next turn. Studying the lantern 4 artifact and either a book or the winter 4 are tempting. I'm willing to risk our personal sacrament without the reroll, but I doubt it'll get much support and really the study action is arguably just as useful, especially if we can complete two in one turn.
At the end of the day though family and her inner circle have been a top priority from the beginning of the quest and Uncle Steppes has found his way into it. No guarantee the other options aren't more useful, but focusing on family has generally not steered us wrong. From a practical standpoint it could end up being more useful then we expect considering his connections and resources.

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Part of the reason I really want us to find a summoning site soon, beyond the obvious, is because I strongly suspect that we're going to find the Forge Name in the Malleary this turn*. Which, I don't think I have to elaborate on why More Names is something we want, especially since getting access to the Forge Name means we might actually have a chance at getting our Forge Sacrament (max Forge Influence gives us the +2 scraps we'd need to start, and also supercharges the project attempts for the turn).

*if we succeed at whatever check there is to explore it, anyway. Point being, I think we're going to find the Forge Name in the Malleary, and I also think there's a nonzero chance of the Juicer being locked behind either Forge Name Friendship or a Forge Sacrament barrier.

 

[Bakkasama]

My thoughts upon finishing the update:

Axe left? Wait. Our follower AP!
NOOOOO! [Insert Darth Vader gift]
We should have kidnapped Twilight! Again!
Oh. Wait a second. We gained a Luna AP this turn, so we are at zero changes in follower AP numbers.
Nevermind then, carry on.

 

[spiderhellian]

I strongly suspect that we're going to find the Forge Name in the Malleary this turn*.

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I'm actually quite doubtful if this, for two reasons, though admittedly they're both very metagamey.

1) We're going to the Malleary for the Juicer. And we'll also find the Name? I don't think we get things so easy.

2) I think Bird pre-planned where the Names are, connecting it to their narrative and the wider lore. I'd be surprised if he put one at the absolute end of the quest. This is a character he's thought through and a representative of an important lore… and he sticks it at the absolute highest point of the Mansus? This seems very unlikely.

 

[Greymere]

I'm actually quite doubtful if this, for two reasons, though admittedly they're both very metagamey.

1) We're going to the Malleary for the Juicer. And we'll also find the Name? I don't think we get things so easy.

2) I think Bird pre-planned where the Names are, connecting it to their narrative and the wider lore. I'd be surprised if he put one at the absolute end of the quest. This is a character he's thought through and a representative of an important lore… and he sticks it at the absolute highest point of the Mansus? This seems very unlikely.

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Tbh I think the Juicer is going to require more work than just exploring the Malleary. Like potentially being behind a Forge Sacrament barrier. It's not like Bird is opposed to sticking key parts of endings behind Sacrament barriers, considering the Tower is both the most likely candidate for the entrance to the House of the Moon and also locked behind a Secret Histories Sacrament barrier.

As for #2... well. Biedde's not exactly that much further from the very top, considering the lack of a Door. And, narratively, it makes more sense imo for the Forge Name to be in what remains of the Forge-of-Days's seat of power rather than what's likely the remains of the Painted River, generally associated with the Vagabond and/or the Twins, neither of which are known for being very Forge-y.

 

[spiderhellian]

As for #2... well. Biedde's not exactly that much further from the very top, considering the lack of a Door. And, narratively, it makes more sense imo for the Forge Name to be in what remains of the Forge-of-Days's seat of power rather than what's likely the remains of the Painted River, generally associated with the Vagabond and/or the Twins, neither of which are known for being very Forge-y.

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Sure, though Biedde is at least one hurdle earlier. And he's also weird in being not befriendable.

Even more importantly, we shouldn't be constrained to existing locations from meta-knowledge when thinking through where the Forge Name could be. There's no Valley of Keys on the normal map of the Mansus, but it sure was a destination.

 

[ArticulateJargon]

[X] Plan mafia Uncles are Family too

It seems to me that the next step to advance Axe's friendship quest will involve that doll. The question is, to my mind, is do we fix it, do we remake it or do we let it end. Maybe we'll get a choice, like with Jade and Twilight

 

[Solace2117]

Part of the reason I really want us to find a summoning site soon, beyond the obvious, is because I strongly suspect that we're going to find the Forge Name in the Malleary this turn*. Which, I don't think I have to elaborate on why More Names is something we want, especially since getting access to the Forge Name means we might actually have a chance at getting our Forge Sacrament (max Forge Influence gives us the +2 scraps we'd need to start, and also supercharges the project attempts for the turn).

*if we succeed at whatever check there is to explore it, anyway. Point being, I think we're going to find the Forge Name in the Malleary, and I also think there's a nonzero chance of the Juicer being locked behind either Forge Name Friendship or a Forge Sacrament barrier.

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Which is fair, but I don't think waiting one turn will matter a huge amount considering everything we have going on next turn. There was no guarantee we would have this action to spare anyways even if we figured it was likely. Obviously summoning Names is important, but it may make more sense to wait a turn so we don't have even more things to juggle. I won't be upset if it wins, cause I get where you're coming from, but I like Uncle Steppes and FOs tend to be useful even if they are in ways we don't always anticipate. While we have a clear goal we've still got a bit of set up to do first.

Sure, though Biedde is at least one hurdle earlier. And he's also weird in being befriendable.

Even more importantly, we shouldn't be constrained to existing locations from meta-knowledge when thinking through where the Forge Name could be. There's no Valley of Keys on the normal map of the Mansus, but it sure was a destination.

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The master was from the Woods, Mareinette in the Ruined Church. And Biedde in the Worm Museum. All places that seem appropriate for their lore. It would make sense for a the forge name to be where the Forge of Days enacted her plan. No guarantee, but I could see it, especially considering Mareinette seemed to bring them up in her conversation with Baldomare, implying they expect us to meet them soon and considering where we are exploring it would make sense that they were there. Once again no guarantees, but I understand why people expect it.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

[X] Plan mafia Uncles are Family too

Theme of the Snake Turn? Family.

 

[Witherbrine2671]

[X] Plan mafia Uncles are Family too
-[X] Uncle Steppes has come to visit! But every time you speak to him, you get the impression he is… unwell. Even though he hides it well from the fillies. Spend some more time with him, and see if you can help him.
-[X] You will have a follower perform a RotT ritual.(Jade Whistle)

 

[Pittauro]

[X] Plan mafia Uncles are Family too
-[X] Uncle Steppes has come to visit! But every time you speak to him, you get the impression he is… unwell. Even though he hides it well from the fillies. Spend some more time with him, and see if you can help him.
-[X] You will have a follower perform a RotT ritual.(Jade Whistle)

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How? Jade won't go in her house, and we don't have another safe place.


as for the "study lantern 4" plans, Even if we study the Lantern 4 rituals we can't take advantage of it to summon Mares safely, we can AT BEST have other ponies use it for scrying... but honestly we don't have THAT many things to scry?

There's the lvl 7 book for Baldomare. That's the main thing. Everything else can wait a turn.

hey @OurLadyOfWires if Rarity leaves Ponyville when working on her Commission, does that mean we can use her house for rituals "safely" while she's not in Ponyville?

Irrelevant right now, but it might matter in the future if we don't get this other safe place.

[X] Plan: To Find a Gate
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry: A permanent three-circle ritual site that our entire faction can utilize
-[X] You will have a follower perform a RotT ritual.(Jade Whistle)

I might honestly have considered the normal search (we STILL have +40 from SH after all), except Lantern has a reroll left, so it's probably a bit better.

 

[Gap]

I think Bird pre-planned where the Names are, connecting it to their narrative and the wider lore. I'd be surprised if he put one at the absolute end of the quest. This is a character he's thought through and a representative of an important lore… and he sticks it at the absolute highest point of the Mansus? This seems very unlikely.

Click to shrink...

Uhn... why do you think of the end of the quest? Sure the higher the Mansus the closer to Glory but... even on CS thats not the end, Apostle runs were a thing.

Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but seems a bit premature to base things on that.

 

[Anjaxis]

[X] Plan Ancient Darkness
[X] Plan Half Light/Half Shadow
[X] Plan: To Find a Gate

 

[Greymere]

How? Jade won't go in her house, and we don't have another safe place.


as for the "study lantern 4" plans, Even if we study the Lantern 4 rituals we can't take advantage of it to summon Mares safely, we can AT BEST have other ponies use it for scrying... but honestly we don't have THAT many things to scry?

There's the lvl 7 book for Baldomare. That's the main thing. Everything else can wait a turn.

hey @OurLadyOfWires if Rarity leaves Ponyville when working on her Commission, does that mean we can use her house for rituals "safely" while she's not in Ponyville?

Irrelevant right now, but it might matter in the future if we don't get this other safe place.

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...I mean she can use Rarity's house. The downside of using the boutique is that is penalizes Rarity's work roll, which is why we really don't want to do it, but that automatically fails anyway since she did a commission this turn, so.

 

[Pittauro]

...I mean she can use Rarity's house. The downside of using the boutique is that is penalizes Rarity's work roll, which is why we really don't want to do it, but that automatically fails anyway since she did a commission this turn, so.

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oh, right, the action is done this turn, not the next.

that's fair.

[X] Plan: To Find a Gate
-[X] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry: A permanent three-circle ritual site that our entire faction can utilize
-[X] You will have a follower perform a RotT ritual.(Jade Whistle)

[X] Plan Half Light/Half Shadow
-[X] Velvet Covers will... (Study Moth 5 Book and Lantern 4 Artifact) Priority on Artifact
-[X] You will have a follower perform a RotT ritual.(Jade Whistle)

 

[Zxzx24]

[X] Plan mafia Uncles are Family too
-[X] Uncle Steppes has come to visit! But every time you speak to him, you get the impression he is… unwell. Even though he hides it well from the fillies. Spend some more time with him, and see if you can help him.
-[X] You will have a follower perform a RotT ritual.(Jade Whistle)

Family meme go

 

[Solace2117]

Uhn... why do you think of the end of the quest? Sure the higher the Mansus the closer to Glory but... even on CS thats not the end, Apostle runs were a thing.

Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but seems a bit premature to base things on

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Becauese the All in Expedition notes we shouldn't attempt it till we are ready to reach one of the quest's endings. Finding a way to get the blood of the Outsider and getting the Outsider are the last two absolute requirements to pass the final gate. The quest may not be ending in two turns, but we definitely seem to be near the end game. Some have argued there may be more after we pass the gate or it may continue in another run. It's possible depending on how prepared Velvet is and what's behind the gate we could see different endings based on how prepared Velvet is.
Personally I think reaching Glory is Velvet's ending, whether that leads to some other run based around another character or a continuation of Velvet's story directly, I'd love to read it. But, this has also been a pretty heavy time investment from Ourladyofwires, I don't know how much they'd want to continue it when all is said and done, no matter how invested you are in something creative and how much you love the world you've created, sometimes you want to move onto something else.

 

[Sintonir]

[X] Plan mafia Uncles are Family too