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

[ses]

Im a little confused @OurLadyOfWires it says we advanced a step with both ponies but Filthy was already a Close Friend? Is getting told "you need to fix his marraige" considered advancing a step even though we already knew it? Cause it'll be hard to justify an AP on sealing the deal with Filthy next turn with 3 Sacraments on the itinerary and we dont really understand what Moth sacrament will even do to Spoiled other than that she will refuse to talk to Velvet which makes coming up with a plan harder

 

[Pittauro]

"I will be taking my leave now. But I understand you will be requesting an assessment this month, yes?"

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so he's leaving? I suppose he has to do his thing with our uncle...

well, nothing we can do about it.

"I know they said that… but c'mon, you don't think the secretaries know? I mean, somepony has to know, how else would she-?"

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they don't know yet, so shut up!

Her presence was palpable in a way that even his academic mind could almost measure.

Her eyes were sharp, to the point that he knew at a glance that she could see into his mind, or perhaps into his dreams.

And her words were commanding in a way… in a way that scared him, yes. But also in a way that made him want to follow her.

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you know, this is actually the second time we bring an EDGE Velvet to the Bureau... I wonder if they feel weird when she goes back to being "normal".

and this time she's Edge AND Lantern. Double no-mercy!

"Ah, lovely to see you, nephew. How is the date going?"

"D-date? What date? Don't be ridiculous, uncle! I… I just had to hire her to escort me here, because you picked such a faraway and dangerous place for this!"

"Yes, of course," Steppes nodded, feigning belief in his nephew's obvious lie. "And the good mare wouldn't be caught dead riding a train, so you two had to trek your way here."

He said that, and then he started the more methodical task of learning how his young nephew's date went. Because he can't think of any reason as to why a sheltered young stallion like Pride would ever go on a camping journey if not because of that mare.

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seems like we skipped on a pretty interesting meeting...

"-sure that you don't want to come in, Selene?"

"It's okay mom. The letter did say it was something private, didn't it?"

And in came his niece, together with her adopted filly.

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uh. I thought we wouldn't make it, considering we didn't vote for his fleeting action...

Right after that, a middle-aged pegasus, healthy-looking but already sporting a few grey strands on his mane, entered the bar.

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oh? the famous pegasus brother? Intriguing!

It would take patience, and it would take skill, and it would take every last ounce of guile he had. But Steppes vowed to himself that he would make that meeting work.

He owed it to them.

Besides, they didn't call him the "facilitator" for nothing. And if this would be his last act before leaving the stage for good, then having carried that title for his entire life would have been worth it.

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So his last act is to facilitate the reunion and reconnection of distant siblings?

For all that he's a ruthless criminal, this is quite admirable.

He left with nothing but a small bag, with a few bits and a letter he had finished writing the previous night.

He wouldn't really need anything else.

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Goodbye, Uncle Steppes.

You have quite the checkered history, but all in all you were a decent uncle to Velvet, and she'll remember you.

and who knows... If we get godhood, well, Hours have long memories... Maybe we'll be able to trade you back from Biedde.

Diamond Tiara did not like Silky's mom.

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hey, look, more eldritch misery!

At times, she felt angry at Silky's mom. Of course, she rarely saw the mare to begin with, but on the few times she saw her she couldn't help but feel a little angry. Something about the way she fawned over Silky and Selene made her feel…

Well, it was hard to describe. Diamond didn't have a problem with the two sisters, but she definitely did not like it when she met their mother.

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well, jealousy is understandable, and mostly Spoiled's fault.

...as for the terror and dread...

well, that's also our fault, I suppose

"Spoiled Rich! But please, call me Rich. Any friend of Lady Velvet is a friend of mine."

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...Don't you usually tell your "friends" to use your NAME?

She truly is spoiled, even when trying to be nice...

"Y-you don't understand, l-last time she took us t-to-!"

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...what did we/she even do to Sweetie Belle specifically "last time"?!

And their guardians would do anything to stay in the Lady's favor.

So, it was no surprise that the filly pageant, impromptu and sudden as it may have been, was a great success.

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Mareinette has quite the self-control.

From her point of view, this is probably the equivalent of going to a 5-star restaurant, see and smell the most beautiful and tasty dishes, and not take even a single lick.

[Roll = 46 98 + 60 (Name focus) + 30 (Grail, Level 6) = 188]

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well, Spoiled is ready for Moth...

Velvet Steppes has left your estate, with no word of where he would be going next. Nopony has heard from him since, either in the Velvet Manor back in Canterlot, or in his other places of residence. But a letter, postmarked with the date of his departure, arrived just a few days later, suggesting you to contact somepony for a "mutually beneficial business".

Uncle Steppes has gifted you the Fleeting Opportunity "Contact somepony?". This Fleeting Opportunity will not truly decay, but the passage of time might make an eventual contact more complicated.

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a contact? interesting. We'll have to try and fit it in our AP budget. Who knows, maybe this is a route to the auction house to sell/buy interesting items? or where we can buy "temporary" followers (so trade bits for follower APs?)

Furthermore, Filthy Rich will become a Confidante if you save his marriage. Or perhaps he will fall into your clutches if his marriage is ruined, and you are there to catch him when he falls. A "Write-in" may be offered to specify how you would like to go about that come next turn.

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Is it even possible to save his marriage while taking the Moth Sacrament? I seriously don't know.

Maybe some kind of "Velvet was never on your side, the only one who you could ever trust is Filthy Rich" revelation?

I notice we have a Grail aspect female minion who would do anything for us. And is already the successful Socialite spoiled wishes she was.

Not a serious suggestion but its certainly a funny idea.

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You know, it's not out of the question to use Rarity to nudge Spoiled back to Filthy AFTER the Moth Sacrament, I suppose.

Especially if we bring her to Grail 4.

No idea what this means.

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well, Biedde will now take our Uncle for who-knows-what, and this is his final gift, which we COULD have used an AP on a fleeting action to shape to our liking. Instead we get his "default" gift.

Might be a way to recruit followers for work, someone that could buy or sell stuff for us, maybe an information broker or someone who could give us places to do rituals in... Many possibilities.

Her fate is sealed.

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Still much better than being sealed, though.

Great update!

Steppe's dream is a very sad ending for him. But I think a fitting one. I'm sure we'll fit in a fleeting, we love fleetings.

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wait, I misunderstood that. Was that what would have happened IF we took his fleeting action, and instead it didn't happen? Or was he just remembering?

I suppose the contact in the first case might very well just be our last brother then. Who is supposed to be a bit of an adventurer I think?

I care, very much in fact. And if there was any sound here you all would hear me scream a lot.

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I'd like to scream too. And still... needs must.

Yes, of course. The FO is the "send letter, receive guest" kind of social activity that you would have comboed through if you had picked Steppes' FO. But as it stands, he gifted you the possibility of reaching out.

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So he had Pride and Wings meet, and now we have a chance to meet Wings ourselves?

Also, if you like Commissioner Velvet, you're gonna love what comes next. I hope I can finish it by today.

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Bird, tell me... Will Edge-Velvet fighting Biedde be the most badass she's ever been?!

 

[Greymere]

Im a little confused @OurLadyOfWires it says we advanced a step with both ponies but Filthy was already a Close Friend? Is getting told "you need to fix his marraige" considered advancing a step even though we already knew it? Cause it'll be hard to justify an AP on sealing the deal with Filthy next turn with 3 Sacraments on the itinerary and we dont really understand what Moth sacrament will even do to Spoiled other than that she will refuse to talk to Velvet which makes coming up with a plan harder

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I don't think that's what we're being told. Rather, the Confidant Event(tm) will be happening next turn, and what we get to decide is how that will play out re: what we tell Filthy to do. Whether that's saving his marriage, convincing him to divorce her, or otherwise.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

I'm still hoping the Moth Sacrament instead just reveals to Spoiled that Mareinette, not Velvet, was her friend the entire time and she was just pretending to be Velvet to avoid making everyone panic, thus locking Velvet to acquaintance because interacting with the real deal after becoming best friends with the disguise is rather awkward and uncanny.