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

[angelsadvocate666]

possible solution. Scry an artifact that can hide Lore levels.

 

[SirKana]

Man, I'm just not getting alerts for this thing. Is email alerts required for any alert to show up? Since I have this watched as don't send email alerts.

 

[Gyldir]

Man, I'm just not getting alerts for this thing. Is email alerts required for any alert to show up? Since I have this watched as don't send email alerts.

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I get alerts for Threadmarks, Lady of Wires posts in general, other people posts, and reaction in this thread, all without having email alerts turned on.

 

[F#A#]

I get alerts for Threadmarks, Lady of Wires posts in general, other people posts, and reaction in this thread, all without having email alerts turned on.

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Funnily enough, I get nearly the exact opposite. I also have email alerts off, but only seem to get notifications due to folks chatting in the thread, not new threadmarks or posts from Bird. I mostly figure out there's a new update when I peek in at the thread and see the discussion moved pages ahead while I wasn't looking

 

[Limabot]

Funnily enough, I get nearly the exact opposite. I also have email alerts off, but only seem to get notifications due to folks chatting in the thread, not new threadmarks or posts from Bird. I mostly figure out there's a new update when I peek in at the thread and see the discussion moved pages ahead while I wasn't looking

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I could be mistaken, but I think you have to specifically hit the "Watch" button at the top of the thread to get notifications from it.

If you have done that already, then I guess the Moldywarp is stalking you.

 

[SirKana]

I could be mistaken, but I think you have to specifically hit the "Watch" button at the top of the thread to get notifications from it.

If you have done that already, then I guess the Moldywarp is stalking you.

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So I'm bugged, sigh.

 

[Pittauro]

I believe they're referencing what Bird said when asking about dangling plot threads, which mentioned that if Celestia gets enough Lantern she'll notice how deep Velvet is in the Lores. This seems to have been taken as a statement that if Celestia gets any Lantern at any point she'll immediately twig that we've been doing shenanigans.

> "I mean, you want to expose her to the Lores, but as her Lantern grows she will inevitably notice that you are very deep in the Lores. How is that not a recipe to disaster?"

Here is the specific statement.

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well, the idea is that we'd justify being that deep first.

If SHE gets enough Lantern to understand that, then it's somewhat feasible we might have progressed just as fast. We even have a cutie mark for it, which usually explains unusual talent in a field!

Also hopefully Luna and Cadance on our side... it's not a lost cause, I think. But we'll see how it goes as we get closer to that point.

Also, just for fairness sake here is the rest of what was said.

> "The second problem I face is that, to put it simply, I don't feel like writing this story right now. Don't get me wrong, I still love this story very much, and its continuation is very much planned. We have Cadance's wedding, the Bureau, and you were about to be introduced to your little "arm's race" with Celestia.
I mean, you want to expose her to the Lores, but as her Lantern grows she will inevitably notice that youare very deep in the Lores. How is that not a recipe to disaster?
Wait, no, stop. This is all near-future spoiler. I shouldn't blab about this if I'm not writing about it.
Back to what I was saying. I don't feel like writing this because, well, life. I have another project I am working on, and I have the whole well-known swathe of adulting that's keeping me busy"

Which rather implies that there won't be an instant loss condition, but rather an… "arm's race", whatever that means. It changes the "how is this not a recipe for disaster" from a sarcastic statement to a genuine question we need to answer.

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arm's race implies we can get improve as well, so... maybe it's about keeping our Moth above her Lantern?

If so, the Sacrament might end up being actually necessary.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Or we reach Glory before her Lantern gets good enough.

Ugh, I hate what Velvet's Moth Sacrament says about her. Here's hoping unfucking her leg can help change her views on her inadequacies some.

 

[Sveta08]

.... ah

Celestia will, by definition hate the lores.
And, I think I see why. Or at least, a potential reason why.
I'll write something here in a few.

Laundering, after a point, will not be possible.

 

[Iustus Vitea]

I would like to once again remind the thread that we can use Marinette to cease fire next turn, sure using her to raise a SL is a path available to us but this is over all cheaper in terms of bits and personal AP. We can just start SL raising the turn after.

As for Jade I support having her do the scry for the manuscripts, we can put off Memory of Light for a turn seeing as there is no pressing need for it to happen this turn but one for dealing with the manuscripts. The idea of 'we can put this off till we have ap' is precisely what fucked us over with the Master and this has similar if lesser potential.

If Marinette gets us a cease fire all well and good we can steal the manuscript at our leisure. If she doesn't then turn 20 we'll have Biede and we can have him both steal the manuscripts and deal with Copper if for some hours forsaken reason Ash can't.

That is if Copper even has them.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

GIGABRAIN PLAN TIME

1. ACQUIRE BLOOD OF THE OUTSIDER BEFORE CELESTIA'S LANTERN GETS HIGH ENOUGH

2. ADMIT EVERYTHING TO CELESTIA AND LUNA

3. OFFER IMPRISONMENT IN TARTARUS BEFORE THE ALICORNS START BEATING THE SHIT PUT OF EACH OTHER

4. DREAM IN TARTARUS NO MATTER HOW THEY BIND YOU BEVAUSE OF OUR KNOCK REALIZATION

5. REACH GLORY. LAUGH A LITTLE MANIACALLY

6. ANYONE CHECKS, YOU'RE DUTIFULLY SUFFERING YOUR SENTENCE, BUT IN REALITY YOU ARE LIVING AS YOU DAMN WELL PLEASE AS AN HOUR

Clearly this is a sane and reasonable plan, I am a genius

 

[angelsadvocate666]

.... ah

Celestia will, by definition hate the lores.
And, I think I see why. Or at least, a potential reason why.
I'll write something here in a few.

Laundering, after a point, will not be possible.

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Noooot really? I mean, she might dislike them once she puts two and two together about somebody using the Lores to attack Selene, but she's also already using them, and doesn't seem likely to stop even then. What she will hate is anybody who could have theoretically been responsible for attacking Luna, which is anybody who knew the Lores before she does. Or at least, before there's a clearly defined point that they must have learned them at post Luna's attack.

 

[spiderhellian]

raise a SL

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What's a SL?

 

[angelsadvocate666]

Clearly this is a sane and reasonable plan, I am a genius

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Only problem is that imprisonment counts as a game over.

What's a SL?

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Social Link. Basically another term for friendship level.

Also, I had a funny thought. If Celestia starts learning Lantern… can she climb the Mansus?

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Only problem is that imprisonment counts as a game over.

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Is it reeeeeeeally imprisonment if you instantly break yourself free, though?

 

[angelsadvocate666]

Is it reeeeeeeally imprisonment if you instantly break yourself free, though?

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I could swear that question was asked before and the answer was yes.

Also, to be fair, you're making a lot of assumptions about what happens when we hit Glory, but that's not super important.

 

[Sveta08]

The Door that May Yet Be



Sleep was always fleeting.

It had been for a thousand years. Perhaps before then, it was easier. When you didn't have to look up to see the face of your dear beloved sister stretched across the moon. Maybe in a time now before memory it was softer. The night breeze didn't hold whispers of regret and questions of betrayal and hurt from so long ago. When you could close your eyes and breath for a moment for yourself. When you weren't alone.

You are Celestia. And sleep is fleeting.


You nearly hurt him. You didn't mean to, or rather, you weren't trying to hurt him. When he told you you needed to sleep. To rest and actually close your eyes. He jumped to say not that you seemed bad, and not that you were unpresentable. But that it was part of it.
These magics. That rest is required. But, not quite rest. Something like it.

You nearly broke Midnight Dew when he told you to rest. That it was the way to reach this place.
You are not unfamiliar in old and strange magic. No one alive could question or challenge you on the past and the mysteries it held. Having lived through so much of it, who would know better? Some ratty old book, or the ruling eternal princess of the sun? No anyone with some sense about them even bothered to entertain the idea. And this... magic, if it was even magic... is different.

Even to you.
That is why you didn't kill him.

Some part of you might have balked at that idea. That you would break one of your loyal ponies for the simple fact of asking you to rest. Some small part of you once would have said they only wanted the best for you, foolish and impossible their wants and visions were. Too young to really understand. Some part of you might have even wondered about the looks they gave. And the dreams that he mentioned. And the fear in his eyes.

Maybe once. If she was still here. If you were still waiting.
But not anymore.


He tried to explain how he found it out. A full dossier available to you with everything said and left unsaid free for you. Everything he knew, and guessed, and didn't know how he knew. That last category gave you the most trouble. No scan found anything foul and implanted in his brain, nor thoughts pushed and wormed into his ideas. It was just something he knew. Somehow.

The instructions, at least as far as he had figured though, had been simple. A whispered few words. A lock of hair cut. And then, rest.
And it was at that last step you were struggling. Every moment spent laying there, waiting. Feeling. Knowing there was more you could do. That Luna was still out there, somewhere. Lost, hidden, hurt, taken, stolen from you. That she wasn't here. And that you were... here. Closing your eyes.
Only the knowledge that he had found something that was close stayed your hooves. Prevented you from flying off and continuing the work.

Every second of the day had been pushed to the limit. Everything that had been weighing you back and down pushed away. And now... Only your focus on so sharp a goal was in your way.
Of rest.
The second you realized it, the sleeping spell was cast.





Stone. Underhoof.
You are standing.
And the Moon is here.

Before you even realize the stone underneath your hoof isn't the stone you were on before. Before you feel that distinctly ur-numb sensation that crossed your coat. Before you even managed to look around and take in the place you find yourself, you.... feel it.
Or rather, you don't.
Your Sun. It's not here. But there is light of a newborn day on the distant horizon.
Your Sister's Moon. It's not here. But the heavens are filled with a moon unfamiliar to you.

This is not your home.
You can see why, if not quite how, Midnight Dew knew this wasn't right. That this was tied up in this.

After a moment, you finally begin to look around. Dark blue stones litter the ground, both structured and disorganized in one. Cut in a way you can't quite picture at first, and don't bother giving a second thought. Earth and something that might have once been vegetation around. But more than that...
There is Ash.
Plumes and piles and heaps of it, like a world had been burnt. Rolling on out towards the horizon like the crude scorchmark of a baleful sun. Something you understand only too well. And as your hoof brushed it, somehow, it felt warm to you, impossible though that was. That too, you don't bother giving a second thought. There is something more important.

There is a light in the distance.
Here in a world with the moon chained to the heavens, when you, your sister, has been stolen from you and hidden in some dark corner of the world where even you can't find. Here, in the space between reality and sleep, the moon is still and there is a light on the horizon.
Only you can bring the dawn. Maybe it was that, maybe it was the indignity, maybe it was plain irritation and curiosity. But you walked towards the light in the distance.





Ash was before the Sun Princess, and ash was all that remained in her wake.
At one point the building, if you can even call it that, came into view. Something structured without walls and supports, made of nothing but the same stone you felt far beneath your hooves. It's own sun chained to the top, unmoving and unflinching in it's light.
Once, people might have wavered. Once, maybe you would be tempted by the snipping and shearing of sounds in your ears. Maybe once you would have stopped and considered the building before you, the ash that sprawled throughout, the world you entered in and what the sun and the moon here meant. Maybe you would have seen more, found more, known more.
Maybe if the things in the ash didn't smell something too familiar on you, they would have hounded you.
But you are too focused. Too resolved. Too.... diligent and aimed now. All the rest is... cast aside.

For the first time in an era, in their First Dream someone reached The Manus.

Steps.
Floors.
A path.
A Door.

The First Door.

The Blank Door.

And past it-
is somewhere you should never go

 

[Greymere]

Or we reach Glory before her Lantern gets good enough.

Ugh, I hate what Velvet's Moth Sacrament says about her. Here's hoping unfucking her leg can help change her views on her inadequacies some.

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Not really sure why it would? It's not like Velvet has reduced her sources of self-loathing for the duration of the quest. She/We've done plenty of things to beat herself up over.

Like, the Regrettable Actions alone could fuel Velvet's self-loathing for the rest of her life, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

 

[Iustus Vitea]

I mean there's a very specific kind of self loathing involved in her Moth Sacrament and luckily for us the RAs don't touch on that.

Sadly the sources of that self loathing have increased over the course of this quest anyways so we're shit outta luck.

 

[AuthorTransient]

Finally caught up to the thread.

[CANON stories will have their titles starting with "What of..."]

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The frightening part of this means that spiderhellian's story is canon, which means that Mareinette has been so thirsty she's been crawling over our walls out of frustration.

I also wasn't going to comment on any of the awesome omakes we got. I like commenting on all of them, but I don't have the time right now as I am threadmarking them.

But boy oh boy, let me tell you. I laughed when I read this part. The image of everyone just freezing as they collectively realized Mareinette had her jaws wide open as she holds Luna's hoof was golden.

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I don't really know what to say, but I'll accept the praise that has been given. Thanks!

[ROLLING 1d9 FOR LORE]

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But on the subject of continuing our personal SH Sacrament, I'm not sure everyone realizes the implications of this roll.

Moth, Knock, Lantern, Forge, Edge, Winter, Heart, Grail, Secret Histories.

That's 9 Lores, right?

Then, if our variation of Velvet is included in these 9, what should have been rolled is 1d8, is it not?

Ergo - there are 9 other variations of ourselves.

Ergo - there are, in total, 10 variations of Velvet for this Sacrament.

Ergo - one variation of Velvet is a cultist of the WOLF DIVIDED.

I wouldn't be surprised if OP removes the Knock variation the next time we attempt this - therefore there's a higher chance each time of rolling a truly dangerous variant in our body with access to Edge near our family, with us trapped elsewhere.

But not just that. A few more points, in order:

1. We know from a result in this turn that Baldomare doesn't actively scry everything, and from that other spiderhellian's canon story that She doesn't always scry ahead. She will not actively detect a stranger in our body.
2. When in another body, we only have access to our memory (and that body's memory), not any of our own personal Lore perks.
3. We can directly interact and change something while in that other timeline.
   
   
4. Therefore, whoever is in our body is free to change things in our timeline. I expect the next update will deal with that.
   
   
5. What happens when one body dies?
   
   
6. AND. If we fail that roll at the end, we might not even be able to add a success to the 3 tallies, which means we'll have to try again with an even more limited amount of variants - with an even higher chance of rolling something dangerous.

We were truly lucky this time, I think, going and attempting this Sacrament. It's not a dangerous action for nothing. But will we be lucky next time? Do we feel lucky punks? Well, do we?

How self-ish are we willing to be?

Sometimes, getting a Sacrament is like jumping into a pit.

Click to shrink...

 

[Pittauro]

1. When in another body, we only have access to our memory (and that body's memory), not any of our own personal Lore perks.

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it might be even WORSE than that, potentially.

I was considering using a Name action to "escort" the switched Velvet. But what if the summoning bonds are left to the body instead of the mind, just like the Realizations? In that case we could end up with an "evil/mad" Velvet capable of controlling Mareinette.

All in all, we still need to take those risks, and in only an hour (assuming it stays an hour) the amount of damage such a Velvet can do is limited, and presumably they'll hold back unless they truly hate us.

We did change something in Knock Velvet's world, sure, but it was something that wouldn't really affect that Velvet. And we'll find out soon if Knock Velvet did something in our History too.

In any case, Next time we try I'd rather we have an SH influence AND we do both attempts in one turn. At least with another +40 (and the reroll still in reserve) we're massively reducing the chance of having to try a fourth time (or more), which with the DC going even further up is something we really need.

I'd like doing the personal book search then too, as a +40 is significant and likely enough to find at least lvl 5 books. Between Frangiclave Expedition, Canterlot Part 2 Expedition, and a personal search with... +14 learning, +20 (or 25 if lvl5 SH) SH, +40 influence, and maybe even another +20/25 from AotL (probably from fluttershy confidant action?) we'd roll between +74 and +104, and a sufficiently high roll (150 at most?) to give a lvl5 book option.

With three possible sources of high level books, I'd be fine taking the small risk of not also scrying for one.

 

[Iustus Vitea]

I'm a bit iffy on doing both SH actions in one turn, after all don't Influences last a few turns unless consumed? We could space things out a bit but if we, or Jade, are to scry for something I would like for it to be the manuscripts.

 

[Bakkasama]

I'm a bit iffy on doing both SH actions in one turn, after all don't Influences last a few turns unless consumed? We could space things out a bit but if we, or Jade, are to scry for something I would like for it to be the manuscripts.

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It depends. Baldomare can give us a max influence with her action which lasts one turn or we could doba ritual and roll to see how strong an influence we get, which would ladt two turns.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

But on the subject of continuing our personal SH Sacrament, I'm not sure everyone realizes the implications of this roll.

Moth, Knock, Lantern, Forge, Edge, Winter, Heart, Grail, Secret Histories.

That's 9 Lores, right?

Then, if our variation of Velvet is included in these 9, what should have been rolled is 1d8, is it not?

Ergo - there are 9 other variations of ourselves.

Ergo - there are, in total, 10 variations of Velvet for this Sacrament.

Ergo - one variation of Velvet is a cultist of the WOLF DIVIDED.

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Well yeah, that's us, the Mother of Wolves. We're functionally halfway to kick-starting that Apocalypse!

 

[spiderhellian]

It depends. Baldomare can give us a max influence with her action which lasts one turn or we could doba ritual and roll to see how strong an influence we get, which would last two turns.

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Yeah, given how many SH-related actions we likely want to take in the nearby future (search for Outsider, search for books, Sacrament) I am partial to getting a longer-lasting influence. But it is hard -- DC 150 for +40, DC 110 for +30, we personally roll at +53? We could have Baldomare do the ritual, at +90, but that's one of her actions and even then might want a reagent. And all of this costs bits.

Hmm, probably it's worth accepting that we likely just get the +30 and that's still quite useful.

 

[Pittauro]

Yeah, given how many SH-related actions we likely want to take in the nearby future (search for Outsider, search for books, Sacrament) I am partial to getting a longer-lasting influence. But it is hard -- DC 150 for +40, DC 110 for +30, we personally roll at +53? We could have Baldomare do the ritual, at +90, but that's one of her actions and even then might want a reagent. And all of this costs bits.

Hmm, probably it's worth accepting that we likely just get the +30 and that's still quite useful.

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oh, I forgot SH also helps searching for the Outsider!

Still, Baldomare just makes it much easier than calling a ritual (and we save on the bits), so I'd just go for an SH-heavy turn, probably on turn 20.

DRAFT TURN 20:

Baldomare: SH Influence
Fluttershy: AotL SH ritual for us (she can prepare it like the cult did for us), we use it when most needed
Velvet 1: SH Sacrament 2/3
Velvet 2: SH Sacrament 3/3
Velvet 3: Book Search
Velvet 4: Search for Outsider
Velvet 5: Search for Outsider.

...problem is, Velvet usually gets FOUR personal action. so probably non viable.

THing is, if we call an actual influence ourselves, that's a ritual we have to do with a Velvet action anyway... Unless we're allowed to have Baldomare do the ritual for us instead? Probably not worth it even if we can though.

 

[Greymere]

DRAFT TURN 20:

Baldomare: SH Influence
Fluttershy: AotL SH ritual for us (she can prepare it like the cult did for us), we use it when most needed
Velvet 1: SH Sacrament 2/3
Velvet 2: SH Sacrament 3/3
Velvet 3: Book Search
Velvet 4: Search for Outsider
Velvet 5: Search for Outsider.

...problem is, Velvet usually gets FOUR personal action. so probably non viable.

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We can have constables do paperwork for 1 extra AP (total of 5) iirc. That being said, this also assumes that absolutely nothing else will be going on that turn, which seems unlikely. Especially if we want to go on the Frangiclave since that will likely require 2 or 3 AP just on its own.

Also, remember that CoI has to be performed by the person receiving the Influence, we can't have other people doing it for us.

 

[angelsadvocate666]

Trying to shove it all in one turn is a bit optimistic. Especially if we don't summon Biedde on turn 19.

 

[Zxzx24]

oh, I forgot SH also helps searching for the Outsider!

Still, Baldomare just makes it much easier than calling a ritual (and we save on the bits), so I'd just go for an SH-heavy turn, probably on turn 20.

DRAFT TURN 20:

Baldomare: SH Influence
Fluttershy: AotL SH ritual for us (she can prepare it like the cult did for us), we use it when most needed
Velvet 1: SH Sacrament 2/3
Velvet 2: SH Sacrament 3/3
Velvet 3: Book Search
Velvet 4: Search for Outsider
Velvet 5: Search for Outsider.

...problem is, Velvet usually gets FOUR personal action. so probably non viable.

THing is, if we call an actual influence ourselves, that's a ritual we have to do with a Velvet action anyway... Unless we're allowed to have Baldomare do the ritual for us instead? Probably not worth it even if we can though.

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I still think doing a book search by hoof is optimistic. Particulalrly if it's in ponyville.

Though the guidebook to the elements of harmony should still be in town...

 

[Iustus Vitea]

There's also going to to be fleeting opportunities both this turn and the next and we are addicted to those so that's at least 1 ap each.

The more I think about it the more I feel we must space these out over a few turn and call down the longer lasting influences even if it costs us bits.