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

[Earth-Destroyer]

We can get lots of money fast by selling minor artifacts they go for around hundred bits per level, and that for artifacts nobody knows how to use.

 

[Greymere]

ON THE OTHER HOOF... we're talking about spending HUNDREDS of bits on this summon. Most of our bits, in fact.

And I'm unsure if that's a better use of our resources than, you know, the unlocked expeditions we have, which are likely to get us artifacts, lore books, potentially rituals, reagents (maybe even rituals we could use to reduce the cost a bit), and "normal" treasures we could sell for bits.

IF Cadance or Steppes give us more money, that changes things. But if not... using all those bits NOW on the Forge Name likely means we won't be able to afford Canterlot Part 3 and Tall Tale.

We don't even know if we'll have to resummon Axe (and pay her ritual cost AGAIN... though we DO have wrong keys to use if we need to), and we'll soon have to pay for Biedde too.

Click to shrink...

Tall Tale just isn't worth it imo, and we're unlikely to be doing BtRC Part 3 next turn anyway due to the AP cost (regardless if we're talking Followers or Velvet). 'Summoning' the Forge Name not only open up the ability to actually get our Forge Sacrament in a reasonable amount of time, but also gets us another Follower AP and someone who's actually good at Forge for expeditions, which our faction is pretty sorely lacking in beyond Velvet herself.

 

[Pittauro]

We can get lots of money fast by selling minor artifacts they go for around hundred bits per level, and that for artifacts nobody knows how to use.

Click to shrink...

problem is, we don't yet know WHERE to sell them.

I hoped to use Steppes as a middleman, as he knows where the auction house is and could have probably sold things for us, but... well, it's no longer an option.

 

[Greymere]

problem is, we don't yet know WHERE to sell them.

I hoped to use Steppes as a middleman, as he knows where the auction house is and could have probably sold things for us, but... well, it's no longer an option.

Click to shrink...

...we've been to the auction house though? We know where it is.

 

[Pittauro]

...we've been to the auction house though? We know where it is.

Click to shrink...

...oh, I thought it had been another history. Fair enough, we could probably use a single confidant action to send someone there to sell things for us.

Considering Velvet's position they'd never refuse. Maybe send Mareinette if she can use Grail to get better prices? or Rarity, I suppose, and we could have her sell for us without mentioning our name. She IS a famous seamstress now, and one with a reputation of Mistery too, so it could fit.

 

[ses]

I think we should just go ahead and summon the Name next turn unless we have a pressing reason not to (Like having to pay bits and AP to resummon Axe). We've painfully learned the lesson at this point that getting Names is the correct decision. Consider the consequences of skipping Neighnia, of letting Baldomare lapse, and the narrowly avoided game over from almost having delayed Biedde another turn.

The Forge Name has plenty of useful things to do, it can give us a forge scrap in preparation for a turn 24 max influence personal Forge Sacrament, it can build us a prison, it can go on expeditions (Forge is the most common obstacle type on endgame high level expeditions! the kind where we wouldn't want Axe to attempt solo!), and it probably has some kind of crazy unique ability, probably something involving crafting. It could easily be something like "Spend an action to craft a free level 6 reagent", considering that Axe can spend an action to craft three level 3 reagents with upside for free and the Forge Name probably has a better unique crafting ability than Axe does.

Tall Tale is probably being handed to the Bureau, and we were never going to do BTRC3 next turn anyway, and we have should room in the budget for the level 7 book hunt expedition as well as summoning the forge name, though we'll find out more on that soon.

 

[Zxzx24]

The forge name could also work towards healing all those ponies. Like shining armor.

 

[Greymere]

Study Books(Moth 5 until complete, Manehattan Expeditions, if we got lucky and oneshot the moth book go ahead and attempt to read the Knock book)

Click to shrink...

I really don't think there's much value in reading the Knock book. It doesn't get us to an important threshold, and the chances we'll be in a position to actually get to Knock 6 before All In seems vanishingly low; while we should be able to get the Level 7 book for Baldomare before her timer is up, having the safety net of the Knock book to refresh her timer if we can't is more valuable to us than a single Knock scrap and whatever trait we might get from it. Especially since while we definitely have been assuming the Level 7 book is the end of her friendship quest, we don't actually know that for sure. After all, the problem seems to be that Baldomare has some fundamental injury that causes her to bleed out light, and iirc the Level 7 book is so that Velvet can get a proper look at the injury and figure out how to help.

 

[ses]

I really don't think there's much value in reading the Knock book. It doesn't get us to an important threshold, and the chances we'll be in a position to actually get to Knock 6 before All In seems vanishingly low; while we should be able to get the Level 7 book for Baldomare before her timer is up, having the safety net of the Knock book to refresh her timer if we can't is more valuable to us than a single Knock scrap and whatever trait we might get from it. Especially since while we definitely have been assuming the Level 7 book is the end of her friendship quest, we don't actually know that for sure. After all, the problem seems to be that Baldomare has some fundamental injury that causes her to bleed out light, and iirc the Level 7 book is so that Velvet can get a proper look at the injury and figure out how to help.

Click to shrink...

We have soft-confirmation that the level 7 book goes directly to befriending

You have gifted Baldomare a Level 6 book. Her summoning period has been reset.

You think you will be able to solve this enigma, and help her for good, if you gift her a Level 7 book.

Click to shrink...

And yes, the Knock book is marginal, but I refer to the quote "You technically can reach Sacraments with just level 4 books. But level 5+ books were always meant to be special and more interesting, especially if you did not buy them from a store." It's only 25-33% chance of reading the Knock book anyway depending on if we spend a Lantern attention on the Moth book? It's very much marginal but the manehattan book is important and having +40 on the DC 90 rolls to study the Lantern artifact and Winter artifact are important. Might as well read it if we get the chance rather than write in that we wont read it even if we get lucky on the moth book.

Since level 6 books come with a guaranteed(?) trait, Level 5 books we didn't get from a store probably involve a roll to gain a trait, scaling with how old it is(Read: deciphering penalty). I'm expecting better than 50% odds of some kind of bonus from the Moth book, and decent odds of some kind of bonus from the Knock one. Also, the knock book is just... it's not going to get used for Baldomare. We have an entire extra turn to re-attempt the expedition if we somehow fail next turn.

Also level 6 isn't totally out of the question? It's certainly possible if Befriended names give two actions a turn and we DO need to do a solo mansus expedition harder than the red church after All In, so lore is still important to gain. Important enough to not write in that we'd let a reading slot go to waste for the sake of "we might fail the book expedition two turns in a row"

EDIT: lol that quote was in response to you in the first place. Didn't notice at first. But yeah reading level 5 books is good, especially better than just writing in "leave the reading slot to waste JUST IN CASE", and we're needing a Study Books action anyway.

 

[Pittauro]

We've painfully learned the lesson at this point that getting Names is the correct decision.

Click to shrink...

in hindsight we should have gone for Neighnia over Lantern 6 book, yeah.

ALSO we should have NOT studied that book... but in our defense we only got Baldomare AFTER we started translating that book, so we didn't know she'd need books to rank up her friendship and/or to prolong her summon.

 

[Earth-Destroyer]

We can still scry for Neighnia. We have the Lateran Name she won't be able to hide.

And yeah that bit with Baldomare was a clusterfuck. A minor risk Selene's return being delayed by a turn was absolutely worth keeping Baldomare around longer.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

It really, really was. If nothing else it would have been three Lantern/SH scraps!

 

[Shaper47]

What I regret is no going to the Master for more lessons.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Happy Easter everyone!

 

[Shaper47]

Happy Long Martyr of Bethlehem day everyone!

 

[ses]

Doing the lantern Apostle run mostly blind. Holy crap it's way harder and more confusing than the other 2 were. JC showed up and managed to nab a Fascination for a starlight lesson, then did A Rising Power like three times in a row before my cult was even halfway recruited and promoted and before I had even finished the Occult Scrap and Furtive Truth expeditions, hadn't even touched anything higher. Thankfully the moment that he set a Watchers In the Way I just spammed it specifically to level up his starlight and skip straight to the final confrontation and send an army of percussigants at him, lmao. I imagined them being sent off to the tune of Pinkie and the Parasprites. Both my previous apostle runs I won before the opponent got a single stat to 4 but this time I just took down JC first and then left myself trying to figure out the ascent in peace.

Had a few very close calls with fascination, including needing to cast an End is Beautiful(minor) and hope for failure just for an emergency dread to save myself from 3 fascination.

 

[Earth-Destroyer]

Yeah that one is can be super hard with the fascination buildup. Maid's in the Mirrors are my go to, since once you have one, you can sacrifice them to get another, getting a winter influence to generate dread.

What your setup going into an apostle run. I like to ditch all artifacts but the Frangiclave if I have it, instant access to the top of the Manus is really valuable, doubly so for the Lateran path. If I really want to prep I will sack off followers and take a Rival recruited, after they make it to Long in the Making status, Natalia, or Connie are both really powerful with their 10 and 7' stats. Makes tier 1-2 expeditions really easy.

 

[ses]

Yeah that one is can be super hard with the fascination buildup. Maid's in the Mirrors are my go to, since one you have one, you can sacrifice them to get another, getting a winter influence to generate dread.

Click to shrink...

You can make a Buzzing in the Brain by putting Passion in the dream slot and finding the Wood again with a Knock lore, which decays to Dread in 2 minutes.

Goddamn it I FINALLY figured it out. It was really dumb that I had all the parts ready for ages and couldn't get the Rite to give me a single hint. I didn't realize you still needed the Allure for the ritual itself instead of A Splendor like the other Apostle runs and unfortunately the Influence part is the very first part in the "chain of hints" the rite generally gives when placing the pieces, so it never even recognized I was starting a great work. Was spinning my wheels for literally over an hour I wanna say. Even ended up trying to juggle two Splendors on the board at once while waiting for the season of ambitions thinking I'd somehow need the Allure and A Splendor at the same time once I realized I needed to summon the Allure again.

All three Apostle runs officially complete!

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

It is a beautiful day outside.

You can hear birds chirping in the distance. The open windows are letting in a pleasant breeze. And everywhere you look, you can see calm and peacefulness.

Perhaps, if you were younger, you would think it is too peaceful. Perhaps, if you were younger, you would think that a day like this would just make you feel old. But now that you are an old man, wrinkled and heavy with age, you don't really mind. In fact, you are thankful for days like these.

And besides, soon enough the house will be filled with activity again. Soon enough, your grandchildren will come back from another day at Canterlot High, and will fill the house with their yells and plays and energy. And that too will be good.

Still, for now, your home is filled with peace. And you won't mind having things like this for just a little longer.

You get up from your seat, raising your arms and stretching your muscles. Normally, by this time, you would be visiting your late wife at her shrine. But that is not something you need to do anymore. Ever since that strange visitor came, from a country that doesn't exist in this world, you haven't needed to visit the shrine anymore. Because after that visitor left, you were finally able to close your wife's casket and bury her by the lake, on her favorite stop.

So, once you are done stretching, you go engage with some other activity that has been taking up most of your time. You pick up your trusty broom, and you go sweep the floors and the stones and all the other places where people are supposed to walk and dust isn't supposed to rest.

Sweep sweep sweep, goes your broom. And the seconds quickly turn into minutes as you once again make this home a little bit tidier for the people you love.

Sweep sweep sweep, you listen to the birds chirp.

Sweep sweep sweep, you fight against the breeze, who playfully undoes your work here and there.

Sweep sweep sweep, you realize the soft tune you have been hearing is in fact your own humming.

And for the longest time, all is in peace.

Until it isn't.

!!!!!!!!!!​

The ground shakes under your feet, violently. You quite literally lose your balance and you almost fall down to the ground, being quick enough to only barely brace yourself against a nearby wall. In fact, everything is so sudden that you don't even have time to feel scared.

But something just happened. Something just broke open, and you just heard a sound so loud it almost felt like an explosion.

In fact, the noise was so impactful you couldn't even understand all of it. You couldn't even pick up on all the details that just happened.

Because you don't have the ears to listen to what just truly happened. You could not hear the wards cracking, or the oaths breaking, or the scale-hard fields that surround your house being dismantled.

No, you did not hear any of that.

The only thing you heard was the raucous, violent sound of the front gate of your house bursting inwards.

And only now, perhaps five full seconds later, does your heart finally begin to beat more loudly inside your chest. With fear, and surprise, and perhaps… and perhaps also with excitement.

Because something about that noise, something about that bang, also felt… familiar.

So, with cautious steps, you make your way to the other side of the house. You were sweeping one of the balconies that face that back of the house, and your late wife had such riches that your home is mansion-sized. Still, you make a small detour to grab a nearby phone, just in case, and then you make your way to the front of the mansion grounds. Towards the great garden, and the lake, and the shrine that is now emptier than before.

You realize at some point that you are still carrying your trusty broom with you. Holding it tightly like a makeshift weapon. A small, youthful chuckle escapes your lips at that, as you remember the adventures you had with your late wife.

Still, with cautious steps, you exit through the front door of your home, stepping into the garden. And there you see…

The front gates, the great and heavy gates that connect the walls around the mansion grounds, are broken. They are shattered. Pushed inwards and cracked as if struck by a speeding truck, or perhaps a battering ram. Their hinges bent and forced with such strength that even the walls show signs of damage.

The grass, also, is flattened. It is literally flattened. In fact, you can see a trail of flattened and bruised grass stretching from the gate, all the way to the lake, as if a great snake had slithered in through the broken gates of your home.

Your eyes follow the track, and your feet join them soon after.

And of course, at the very end of the track, you see…

"… an' for wo'… this?"​

The track of flattened grass ends by the lake. At your late wife's favorite spot, where she was also buried.

But the tombstone itself is nowhere to be seen. And the very ground where she was buried is now split and open, as if the very earth had boiled and spit her casket out.

Yes, your wife's casket is now once again exposed to the elements. It is open, even, as if its door had flung itself outward with great strength.

And standing over your wife's coffin, looking down on her calm and peaceful feature, is a woman.

There is a woman standing over your wife's defiled grave.

And you can immediately tell she is not from this world.

"After all our promiss's, an' all our trips, an' all our years… ye still…"​

There is a woman standing over your wife's grave.

She is tall, but not too tall. Her hair is a bright orange, which clashes wildly with the deep black-and-purple of the cloak she is wearing. And for some unexplainable reason, she is casually holding a great two-faced axe on her hand.

You have no idea if the tool is real or not, or if it is just ceremonial. Especially given the strange antler-shaped things at its top.

Still, she looks more like a priestess of some pagan religion than anything else. She looks like a priestess, and a beggar, and a worn traveler.

But most of all, she looks-

"Yer the one who took 'er from me, aren'tcha?!"​

You have no idea how this happened. You have no idea when this happened.

But the woman is now standing on top of you. The woman is standing over you, and you are now lying on the ground.

You remember her looking in your direction, at some point. You remember her saying something, and you remember how her eyes felt like those of a snake, rather than those of a human. Despite her perfectly human features, that is.

Still, something happened, and now that you have come to your senses this strange woman is standing over you.

And her great antler-topped axe is now being pressed against your neck.

"Ye took 'er from me. 'Er smell es all over ye, an' ae can see tha' shape of 'er scales against yer skin. Ye took 'er from me, didn'tcha? DIDN'TCHA?!"

The top of her axe is being pressed against your neck, and you can feel the pinprick jab of the antlers against your skin. And what is more, the larger sides of the antlers are digging against the floor, to either side of your neck, practically locking you in place.

However, despite the strangeness of this situation, and despite the clear danger that you are in, you can't bring yourself to say anything.

You can't bring yourself to do anything other than stare at her eyes.

"YE TOOK ME PASHARKA FROM ME! YE TOOK AWAY ME SISSER! DIDN'TCHA?! FOKKEN ANSWER ME!"

The axe gets further pushed towards you. The antler-tips dig deeper into the ground to your sides. The pinpricks against your neck become thorny jabs, threatening to draw blood.

And yet, the only thing in your mind is how-

"-you are crying," you say. Or rather, the words escape your mouth. "But even like this, your eyes look just like her."

You say that. And for some reason, the woman freezes.

Because even through she looks furious. Even though the very air around her is so dense, and even though the very ground under her feet seems to be boiling where she stands. And even though she look inhuman enough to be able to kill you, here and now, and not think the slightest of it.

She still looks miserable. She looks miserable, and her cheeks are awash with the constant stream of tears that are flowing down through them.

The woman places a hand against the hilt of her axe. And for a moment, you think she will just push down against it with her weight, to impale your neck with her axe and be done with this. But that moment never comes.

That moment never comes, and instead you realize she is just… leaning against her axe. That she is using it as a crutch, because she has nothing else to lean on to, as she cries through gritted teeth.

A minute passes, and then another, and you… wait. You just wait. You give her time, and she looks like she sorely needs it. And even after she releases you, even after she takes her axe from around your neck and sits by your wife's tomb, you just… wait there.

Because deep down, you think you understand how she feels. Even if only a little bit. You know how it is like to lose someone, and you definitely know how it feels to lose someone as unique and precious as your late wife. So, even though you know next to nothing about this woman, you stay there. To keep her company, if nothing else.

You stay there with her, until she is done crying. You stay there, until she stops hitting your wife's casket, every now and then, with so much strength that the wood warps under her fist. You stay there until she stops cursing, at your wife or at the world or at herself, in that strange hissing language that she seems to speak with.

You stay there… until the ground stops boiling, and the clouds begin moving again, and the snakes that were peeking out from the nearby bushes once again retreat to their nests.

You stay there, until she lets out one final, mournful sob.

And only then, do you try to say anything else.

"I miss her too, you know," you say. "She always kept a lot of secrets from me, and from our family. But still, I… I miss her too."

"Wot do ye kno aboot loss aneeways… yer just a fokken… yer jus'…" the woman mumbles, but you understand enough of her thick accent to know what she just said.

And in a sense, you know that she is right.

"You are right," you say. And for the first time, the woman looks up from where she is sitting, and gives you something that could approach a non-threatening glance. "You are right, I probably didn't know her nearly as well as… well, you. But I knew her well enough. I knew that I loved her, and I know that she loved me. Even if she had other people in her life before we met."

Another loud sniff. Another aching gasp that was an aborted sigh.

But still, the woman once again presses the soaked sleeves of her cloak against her eyes, and looks at you as if waiting for you to continue.

"So why… why don't I tell you about her? About the woman I knew, that is? And if you don't mind, why don't you tell me about her as well? Because I know… I can tell that we both loved her. But it also feels like we loved two different people. So why… why don't you stay a while, and let me tell you about the woman I knew?"

You ask that, and you hope that she accepts. Because the way she is crying, and the way that seeing your late wife affected her, makes it very clear that… well, that she deserves it. She deserves to meet your family, she deserves to see your wife's children and heirs, and she deserves to know that a part of the woman you loved still lives on.

And who knows, maybe she just needs some company right now. Maybe she just needs someone to talk to, and to play that confusing board game your wife so loved to play. This woman will probably beat you every time, like your wife used to, but your wife still loved to play it anyways, so you hope this woman will too.

And maybe, just maybe, she will tell you something about your wife in return. And you will finally have someone who truly understands what this world lost, when your wife passed away.

"Well, it's your choice. I'll go inside and make some tea, and maybe call some people to repair the gate. But if you want, I'll be inside, and you are welcome in whenever you are ready. Anyone who misses her as much as you do will always be welcome here."

You say that, and then you get up. You get up, rub the pricked spots on your neck for good measure, and then you make your way to the front door.

You should call your children before they get back home, so they don't get surprised by the front gate. And you probably should call the gardener to check the grass that got flattened. But for now, you really just want to drink some of your wife's favorite tea.

With that in mind, you make your way to your home.

And you feel a little lighter when, right before you reach the front door, you hear the women getting up, and following after you.

"Ae s'pose ae can stae…" you hear a mumble, thick with sadness, but with the slightest hint of a forced reluctance in it. "Et's not right tae have a shrine without a snek in it, and…"

But she follows you nonetheless. And for the next several hours, the two of you just talk. First about the tea, and then about the weather, and then about the Pasharka you both knew and loved.

The hours turn into days, and the days turn into weeks. And for all that the strange woman never really grows to like you, she doesn't hate you either. Plus, she has such a soft spot for your children and grandchildren.

Besides, every now and then she challenges you to a match of that confusing board game. You think she takes some kind of pleasure in beating you, but you don't mind.

Because you feel like yet another piece of your dear Pasharka has found you, even after she was gone.

---

There is a missing room in the Velvet estate.

None of the maids can understand it. And none of the maids have dared report it to Ponpon yet.

However, the fact remains that, for a few days now, one of the doors in the Velvet estate has disappeared.

It's not something anypony would notice. In fact, it's not something anypony can rightfully prove. But still, the more experienced and trustworthy maids who are allowed into the second floor all agree, and they all share the same gossip through hushed whispers.

There used to be a certain number of guest rooms, on the eastern wing of the second floor. And now, suddenly, there is one less.

Some of them think this is good riddance. After all, that was the ever-locked door of the guest room occupied by a particularly unpleasant guest.

Others think this is bad, because what if the mansion is becoming haunted?

But regardless of the gossiping, and the chattering, and the awkward strolls down the corridor as yet another confused maid counts -one, two, three…- doors to reach the same conclusion, the fact remains that the door is now gone. It is nowhere to be seen.

Or rather, it is now hidden.

Because the same day that door disappeared, a certain guest returned.

She returned, and she once again occupied her room, and she told a secret to the one pony who was the reason she came back to begin with.

"Ae'll be stayin' fer a while, aye? Tell me if ye need anythin'. Oh, an how tha fok did ye get a Brand? Tha's messed up fer a hatchling so young…"​

The Daughter-of-Axes, or maybe Velvet Axe, returned, and she explained to Silky Stream how to reach her room if she ever needed it.

In fact, it was a very simple trick. You just had to enter Silky's room, close the door behind you, then turn around and open it again. And voila, the door to Axe's room would be right in front of you, on the opposite side of the corridor.

Granted, she did not explain to the filly how she did that. And granted, her room was now in a place that made no sense, and that if you really think about it placed it above the entrance hall.

But still, the filly did not care for any of that. Because her friend was back, and everything was fine, and now they were room-neighbors! And as if it wasn't already nice enough to have Selene's room be right next to her, she also had Axe's room right in front of hers!

Why, the mare even (reluctantly) nailed the little sign that the filly gave her, that reads "Axe's Room", on her door. Reluctantly, of course, and only after much pestering.

Still, from that day onward, the Velvet estate lost a room, but it gained a permanent guest. Much to the dismay of certain ponies, and the rejoicing of others.

Because the Daughter-of-Axes was not going anywhere. Not while she had a hatchling to take care of. And even though her true body, and her true nest, were elsewhere, taking care of her departed sister's brood, she knew more than enough tricks to keep an eye in two places at once.

So that was exactly what she was going to do.





The Daughter-of-Axes' skill "Unique" has transformed into the skill "Loyal".

The Daughter-of-Axes' skills "Crafter" has changed slightly.

The Daughter-of-Axes has lost the skill "Uninterested".

The Daughter-of-Axes has (reluctantly) learned the skill "Subrogate".

The Daughter-of-Axes is now a befriended Name, and has become a permanent guest of the Velvet estate. She has been "resummoned" for free, this time only, for her permanent return.

 

[Witherbrine2671]

All hail Silky Stream, befriender of Names!

 

[Arrkhon]

I will note that there's now another Name in flesh living in a place very close to Harmony

 

[DelightedOne]

Oh, DoA went to visit the mirror world. Probably to find out more about... everything to do with her sister.

Hmmm, his POV seems to imply significant harmonic influence(or he just has a happy life).

The Daughter-of-Axes' skill "Unique" has transformed into the skill "Loyal".

The Daughter-of-Axes' skills "Crafter" has changed slightly.

The Daughter-of-Axes has lost the skill "Uninterested".

The Daughter-of-Axes has (reluctantly) learned the skill "Subrogate".

The Daughter-of-Axes is now a befriended Name, and has become a permanent guest of the Velvet estate. She has been "resummoned" for free, this time only, for her permanent return.

Click to shrink...

Yay! She is staying! Now let's see what we have.

[CRAFTER]: Is capable of producing "Wrong Keys" (three in a single action, but only once per summon every three turns).

Click to shrink...

Good.

[LOYAL]: Is now loyal to Silky Stream's faction. She will refuse summons from any other faction, has one additional action per turn (for a total of two), and regenerates one health per turn if wounded. She is also more likely to activate influences on herself, as needed, and to lend aid to Silky Stream's faction when narratively relevant. If destroyed, she may be resummoned after one full month immediately.

Click to shrink...

Holy Mother of Ants... This is significantly better than what I expected. 2 actions, heals herself, if destroyed can be brought back immediately and more. So cool.

[SUBROGATE]: The Daughter-of-Axes will (grudgingly, and dragging her hoofs) allow "Velvet Covers' faction" to be read wherever "Silky Stream's faction" is written in other skills. But she will not be happy about it

Click to shrink...

So she will help Velvet, but her true loyalty is to Silky Stream. That will be so much fun narratively.

I wonder if Baldomare will have "The [Blank] of the Velvet Estate" when she becomes our friend.

 

[ses]

Woo! I was right!

Okay, that makes it possible to spend 1 Baldomare action on the hike and the other on a SH influence for double SH Sacrament on Turn 23, and we can Lantern lesson+Lantern sacrament for Lantern sacrament on turn 24 if we do the level 7 book expedition next turn.

Also, I didn't see her keeping her true body in EQG land, but that makes sense! Also Scitwi can get lessons until she learns the Silver Key in the epilogue, so that's that concern wrapped up nicely with a bow. I no longer feel guilty about abandoning her and everything worked out for the best.

 

[DelightedOne]

and we can Lantern lesson+Lantern sacrament for Lantern sacrament on turn 24 if we do the level 7 book expedition next turn.

Click to shrink...

That sounds like a good plan. So book reading with Lantern Influence confirmed for next turn?

 

[Sveta08]

How sweet!

And, the quiet trend continues. Silky continues to be a wonderful daughter, and Velvet a troubled mother.
I am reminded of something that was posted a while ago. I'll hunt it down later. But for now?

It is... good. Both Velvet and Ax can agree on one thing.
For Silky's behalf.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Wait a second
Wait just a second
When Velvet saw Silky's Cutie Mark, she just saw a cutie mark with Mansus symbolism
When Velvet saw Silky's Cutie Mark, she saw a full brand

Is it both? Is it dependent on the viewer? Does it swap between the two based on whichever one is more diplomatically useful at that given point in time?

 

[DelightedOne]

Wait a second
Wait just a second
When Velvet saw Silky's Cutie Mark, she just saw a cutie mark with Mansus symbolism
When Velvet saw Silky's Cutie Mark, she saw a full brand

Is it both? Is it dependent on the viewer? Does it swap between the two based on whichever one is more diplomatically useful at that given point in time?

Click to shrink...

Axe is not a Branded so she can't detect them, she just saw a cutie mark and assumed it was one since the physical manifestation is apparently identical.

Also, I didn't see her keeping her true body in EQG land, but that makes sense! Also Scitwi can get lessons until she learns the Silver Key in the epilogue, so that's that concern wrapped up nicely with a bow. I no longer feel guilty about abandoning her and everything worked out for the best.

Click to shrink...

Not trying to spike your copium with reality but how is DoA gonna find Twilight, be willing to teach her or even be able to teach her since she had Lantern as a primary affinity?

We could try to point her to SciTwi or ask her to give a copy of a Lantern manuscript but I'm not sure she would be willing.

 

[Sveta08]

Wait a second
Wait just a second
When Velvet saw Silky's Cutie Mark, she just saw a cutie mark with Mansus symbolism
When Velvet saw Silky's Cutie Mark, she saw a full brand

Is it both? Is it dependent on the viewer? Does it swap between the two based on whichever one is more diplomatically useful at that given point in time?

Click to shrink...

I don't know if Ax would know the difference.

 

[Fouredged]

Axe is not a Branded so she can't detect them, she just saw a cutie mark and assumed it was one since the physical manifestation is apparently identical.


Not trying to spike your copium with reality but how is DoA gonna find Twilight, be willing to teach her or even be able to teach her since she had Lantern as a primary affinity?

We could try to point her to SciTwi or ask her to give a copy of a Lantern manuscript but I'm not sure she would be willing.

Click to shrink...

I mean in a point of view Cutie Marks are just Harmony Brands.

 

[ses]

Man it's embarrassing that we only now got our very first Befriended name. We may have been ahead of the curve on Turn 14 but we've likely drifted horribly behind since then because holy crap. We started Turn 21 with 0 befriended names and 0 sacraments! We now have one of each at least, with more to come.

Well, granted Luna probably counts as a befriended Name-equivalent I suppose.

[Stares in despair at the horrible black hole of Baldomare actions that could have been but weren't]