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

[Arrkhon]

Honestly I don't see how anyone expects to find a worthy opponent in this hive, a small pile of bits maybe(but doubtful, they don't really have a reason to stockpile them) but even the big hive had only one worthy opponent for Comet and I doubt that there's anyone close to that here

 

[Pittauro]

If we get wounded (or somehow get Personal Edge but I think that idea is pure undiluted copium) we get to refund the Biedde AP under the same rules as we refunded the snekrament AP. In other words time has already passed and we wouldn't be able to do Steppes FO because we're further in the month in-universe, but we would probably be allowed to research items we found in this expedition because the AP is taking place after the actions that have already happened.

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I wouldn't call it copium, but it's definitely unlikely.

If I had to put a number to it, I'd guess 10% to 20%. We're asking not just for a changeling as good as shining armor to exist (which is possible. I could see Pharinx be that good for example... or post ascension Thorax, but he obviously doesn't count), but for them to have survived the initial hive assault AND for them to be here, right now.

so... possible, but unlikely.

 

[Shaper47]

but damn, We could bring Luna to All-5 by turn 24 or 25 if we really wanted to!

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I think Sacraments are special and we need to throw her at the Names for them.

So something like having Selene spend an AP challenging Biedde or getting the Silver Key from Axe.

Velvet's good but I don't think she counts as one who is very great. That's level 7 I think.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Honestly I don't see how anyone expects to find a worthy opponent in this hive, a small pile of bits maybe(but doubtful, they don't really have a reason to stockpile them) but even the big hive had only one worthy opponent for Comet and I doubt that there's anyone close to that here

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Well looking at the Changeling and Chrysalis PoVs way back in the "All the Queen's Drones" update, the pertinent phrases are as follows:

You are a changeling husk. One of the oldest and strongest alive, and currently the oldest and strongest left at the Hive, at your Queen's orders, to safeguard it during her absence...

...But like you said, your Hive is nearly empty of your drones and husks.

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Comet fought the strongest husk of the Reaguard, but not the oldest or strongest husk overall. And the big hive was missing most of its grown inhabitants. Now, undoubtedly some of the other premier husks were lost when the changelings lost their ability to shapeshift in front of a bunch of royal guards or whatever, but there is no reason to think that all of them were wiped out. After all, if there had only been a handful of Changeling survivors then proto-hives would not exist.

 

[Shaper47]

and we can expect that the Watchponies hurdle of the Jailbreak to be about as bad on the max roll we had to what to expect normally on assaulting a changeling hive.

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To be fair through we couldn't run away there.

Here and now we can do stuff like run away (Moth), collapse the walls to cause a cave in (Forge), stuff like that.

 

[Pittauro]

I think Sacraments are special and we need to throw her at the Names for them.

So something like having Selene spend an AP challenging Biedde or getting the Silver Key from Axe.

Velvet's good but I don't think she counts as one who is very great. That's level 7 I think.

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while that's true, we've also been told that Bird had no interest in us having our followers get Sacraments until such a time as Velvet got hers, so it would make sense if he wouldn't allow us to push Selene for them until we have all 4 of them.

also it's not JUST about the Name Sacraments (though we could at the very least get her Biedde's Edge, and fairly easily too, if he's willing and applies the same challenge. and of course Axe's Knock, as she's friendly).

There's also the "personal" sacraments. Admittedly we don't know if Luna's personal Moth and Winter are "acceptable" to her. Velvet's are pretty distasteful, though we ARE doing Moth and MIGHT still do Winter...

 

[ses]

Comet fought the strongest husk of the Reaguard, but not the oldest or strongest husk overall. And the big hive was missing most of its grown inhabitants. Now, undoubtedly some of the other premier husks were lost when the changelings lost their ability to shapeshift, but there is no reason to think that all of them were wiped out. After all, if there had only been a handful of Changeling survivors then proto-hives would not exist.

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Excellent use of citing the text, I really appreciate you finding relevant excerpts.

Lets see... Comet did NOT get his Edge sacrament by killing that guy, and he was explicitly described by Our Lady Of Wires as "being pissed" that he didn't get Sacrament during the assault. Meaning that he did think there was a realistic chance of finding a Foe. So chryssy's champion husks were probably just under the threshold.

We know that there was foreshadowing on some of the husks having the Dream that didn't really go anywhere during the Chryssy POV section, so there may be initial forays into the Lores among the proto-hive. Reaching Edge 4 automatically designates you as a Worthy Opponent no matter how many crippling negative traits you have on you, but there's basically zero chance that their top bug has Edge 4 anyway. We know from Shiny that Edge 0 can be a Worthy Opponent just by being a normal Heroic figure. Can an Edge 1 or 2 champion bug be a Worthy Opponent?

Copper Secateur had Edge 2 and pretty much was certain not to have been one (and in fact if Copper had Edge 3 she would have matched Shiny's personal combat bonus but I would have bet cash money that Edge 3 Copper wouldn't have been Worthy, I think Shiny might actually have scraped slightly under the normal objective minimum for his heroism rather than raw stat total)but a husk existing that was slightly stronger than the guy Comet merked that had Edge 1 from the Ashen Wastes... I think I might sign on to as much as 10% probability.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Excellent use of citing the text, I really appreciate you finding relevant excerpts.

Lets see... Comet did NOT get his Edge sacrament by killing that guy, and he was explicitly described by Our Lady Of Wires as "being pissed" that he didn't get Sacrament during the assault. Meaning that he did think there was a realistic chance of finding a Foe. So chryssy's champion husks were probably just under the threshold.

We know that there was foreshadowing on some of the husks having the Dream that didn't really go anywhere during the Chryssy POV section, so there may be initial forays into the Lores among the proto-hive. Reaching Edge 4 automatically designates you as a Worthy Opponent no matter how many crippling negative traits you have on you, but there's basically zero chance that their top bug has Edge 4 anyway. We know from Shiny that Edge 0 can be a Worthy Opponent just by being a normal Heroic figure. Can an Edge 1 or 2 champion bug be a Worthy Opponent?

Copper Secateur had Edge 2 and pretty much was certain not to have been one (and in fact if Copper had Edge 3 she would have matched Shiny's personal combat bonus but I would have bet cash money that Edge 3 Copper wouldn't have been Worthy, I think Shiny might actually have scraped slightly under the normal objective minimum for his heroism rather than raw stat total)but a husk existing that was slightly stronger than the guy Comet merked that had Edge 1 from the Ashen Wastes... I think I might sign on to as much as 10% probability.

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Well we know that Comet didn't use the right words, he just decapitated the Husk out of nowhere. It would be hilarious if the only reason it didn't count was because he didn't say the right words at the time.

It'd be even funnier if the Master told him about it afterwards.

 

[Anjaxis]

[X] Plan: Maximum Lore Bequeathing

 

[ses]

Well we know that Comet didn't use the right words, he just decapitated the Husk out of nowhere. It would be hilarious if the only reason it didn't count was because he didn't say the right words at the time.

It'd be even funnier if the Master told him about it afterwards.

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That's funny but literally impossible. Edge 4 comes with instinctive understanding of who is Worthy, and Comet specifically cites Shining to be the very first Worthy individual he'd ever seen that wasn't a Name or Alicorn.

 

[Solace2117]

In fairness it's entirely possible that only a pony or Alicorn can be a worthy opponent. Maybe a Name that isn't one, though Axe isn't on the list and she is the Name that's not a pony, but probably has enough combat skills to qualify. Unless I'm missing someone.

 

[ses]

In fairness it's entirely possible that only a pony or Alicorn can be a worthy opponent. Maybe a Name that isn't one, though Axe isn't on the list and she is the Name that's not a pony, but probably has enough combat skills to qualify. Unless I'm missing someone.

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Non-Marinette Names dont qualify because they're not fully present in the Wake and therefore wont die for real if their avatar gets got. The price has always been blood. It can't count unless someone dies for real.

It's probably the case that Worthy Foes must be fully people and not just a big gribbly monster, but I don't think it's possible that a dragonslayer wouldn't qualify as slaying a worthy foe. That's exactly the sort of epic battle that Edge wants to see.

 

[Pittauro]

I THINK it was mentioned Chrysalis was "worthy", but I'm admittedly not sure.

It's still in question if a sufficiently strong monster would count. Especially when we consider that at least SOME monsters in MLP can actually talk.

 

[Earth-Destroyer]

I am pretty sure the Worthy Moniker means they have reached their potential in combat. Potential talent is not enough, it has to be realized talent. Course that requires they have a talent for combat in the first place as well.

In the very family friendly world of ponies, both are rare. And finding someone with both traits is even rarer.

 

[Greymere]

I THINK it was mentioned Chrysalis was "worthy", but I'm admittedly not sure.

It's still in question if a sufficiently strong monster would count. Especially when we consider that at least SOME monsters in MLP can actually talk.

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I don't think it was ever explicitly mentioned, but I would be very surprised if she wouldn't have counted.

 

[MisRAR1]

[X] Plan: Maximum Lore Bequeathing

 

[Solace2117]

Non-Marinette Names dont qualify because they're not fully present in the Wake and therefore wont die for real if their avatar gets got. The price has always been blood. It can't count unless someone dies for real.

It's probably the case that Worthy Foes must be fully people and not just a big gribbly monster, but I don't think it's possible that a dragonslayer wouldn't qualify as slaying a worthy foe. That's exactly the sort of epic battle that Edge wants to see.

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All fair more just a thought because of how pony centric the Manse is.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

I once more campaign for possible loot and minimal suspicion without handicapping Velvet. Disregard one additional Bureau Lore, avoid political headaches, and lay claim to what rewards there may be.

 

[Bakkasama]

[X] Plan: Practical Demonstration
-[X] (TROOPS) "I will take point."
-[X] (LORES) "We have cutting edge equipment. Watch carefully."

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Wait, if Challenging a Worthy Opponent makes every pony unable to interfere in a combat, would that mean such Opponents cannot use any allies or reinforcements? If so that's amazing @OurLadyOfWires.

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Yes, and in fact-

Those are words that have been spoken, again and again, for as long as ponies have been in existence. Words whose mere utterance would be enough to open a wide gap even in the most chaotic of battlefields. For everypony who heard them would understand that a personal war was about to erupt, and that to stand between the two challengers would be to invite a gruesome death.

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-that is part of the reason why these words were instituted to begin with.

And a short comment on Edge Challenges. They are more than just a battle. I won't get into too much detail, because this is something I hope we have the opportunity to address in the story later on.
However, I must still say that there is something that Shining Armor, the Princesses, Mareinette and Edge 4 adepts have in common, that is lacking in a monster that (numerically and mechanically) is stronger than Shining, but that would still not qualify as a worthy opponent.

But I won't say anything else on this. If you find one, a vote will be opened.

@OurLadyOfWires Does Selene know about Velvet's full arsenal or trust her enough to speak about dangerous plans for the Celestia issue or would that require a social with her?

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Be a patient mother and let Selene come to you.

@OurLadyOfWires how will you use our AotL charges? On the one hand we want to save them for worthy enemy or Biedde, on the other we don't want to get hurt...

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My current draft is "if you get close enough to one wound, pop one AotL, and if you get wounded once, pop as many as needed to prioritize survival".

You, the thread, are part of Velvet's thoughts. So, she knows about her plan to challenge Biedde, and will use her resources accordingly.

@OurLadyOfWires I don't suppose you could let us take that now before the expedition, considering it could make a difference? It doesn't even really need a vote, it seems like the objective best choice and I don't think anyone would complain.

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No.

You crammed enough studying in the first half of the turn, and the Bureau assault is happening "early enough" (as opposed to "in the end of the month" where more dangerous activities usually happen) for me to be okay with you doing some studying after the assault.



I don't see any more pings, but please let me know if I am wrong. And I hope you are all doing well.

And voting is still open, but here is our current tally.

Neck to neck no less.

Adhoc vote count started by OurLadyOfWires on Dec 3, 2025 at 2:10 AM, finished with 130 posts and 26 votes.

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  12 people have voted

  [X] Plan: Maximum Lore Bequeathing
  -[X] (TROOPS) "I will take point."
  -[X] (LORES) "Try to keep up."

  • Greymere
  • Potdl
  • Arrkhon
  • Demilich
  • Cochimetl
  • SolemLupus
  • Sk1lz3r
  • Earth-Destroyer
  • Nevermort
  • Anjaxis
  • MisRAR1
  • DelightedOne

  12 people have voted

  [X] Plan: Maximum Rewards
  -[X] (TROOPS) "I will be in there. Watch for imposters."
  -[X] (LORES) "Try to keep up."

  • ses
  • Shaper47
  • Solace2117
  • Diamondfiend
  • Talon Tiger Dino
  • Random Anon
  • spiderhellian
  • Alan975
  • jelloloaf
  • Pittauro
  • des-pair-2
  • DelightedOne

  4 people have voted

  [X] Plan: Practical Demonstration
  -[X] (TROOPS) "I will take point."
  -[X] (LORES) "We have cutting edge equipment. Watch carefully."

  • Limabot
  • Bakkasama
  • jason1stlegion
  • des-pair-2

  1 people have voted

  [X] Plan: Maximum Safety
  -[X] (TROOPS) "I will take point."
  -[X] (LORES) "Lucky Brush and Steady Step will be our on-the-grounds expert."

  • des-pair-2