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

[DelightedOne]

We could also use the Wolf cult to get our own 3-circle ritual spot.

We really need one of those.

 

[Shaper47]

You know even if we don't pick Freedom (we need all the ap we have) we can still probably just pick a social action with our daughter and ask for her and her cute little friend group to lend us a small favor.

 

[AuthorTransient]

Well, this was actually quite nice! Though I was surprised that we actually got to see Lady Mareinette's actual dialogue for once, but it was quite a pleasant surprise.

The cute-ceñeara took place with all of our guests and seemingly all of Ponyville, dare I say it, acting in harmony (unfortunately, there wasn't even a tease lol).

It was actually quite the good pick-me-up especially after the long day I had today, enough for me to even accidentally take the wrong train and having to navigate an unfamiliar platform. Perhaps that's just what it is... a small taste of adventure... for what will be coming next.

 

[DelightedOne]

Though I was surprised that we actually got to see Lady Mareinette's actual dialogue for once, but it was quite a pleasant surprise.

Click to shrink...

We already got her dialogue before, "Outcasts and Rejects, Tools and Guests" is the latest addition.

Is it weird a baked a cake in the same day a cute-ceñeara happened? That Influence is really working it seems.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Plan

[X] Plan: IM FROM PONYVILLE AND I SAY KILL EM ALL
-[X] (AotL) Edge
-[X] (Knock) Explore the Ashen Wastes
-[X] (Social) Fleeting Opportunity: Soft Sweeps
-[X] Study (2x), by priority: Moth 5 book, Lantern 4 artifact, Winter 4 artifact, Manehatten book
-[X] Join the Assault on Tall Tale
-[X] Sacrament: Challenge Biedde

[X] Plan: Prisoner Chomping
-[x] (Free) Sell Edge 3 artifact
-[x] (Detectives) Follow Up: Dodge City
-[x] (Constables) Follow Up: Tall Tale
-[X] (Commissioner) Introduce Lore: Forge
-[x] (Director) Lantern
-[x] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Spoiled Rich & Filthy Rich
-[x] (Biedde) Channel an Edge Influence
-[x] (Baldomare) Channel a Lantern Influence
-[x] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[x] (Rarity) Focus on her work
-[x] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry x 2
--[x] Target: Easiest Level 7 book to acquire
--[X] Target: Easiest Forge 6 reagent to acquire
--[X] At Jade's old house
-[X] Acquire a prisoner, preferably not an innocent civilian
-[X] Build a prison
-[X] Obtain a dead body
-[X] Perform the Attention of the Laws (Edge) (x2)
-[X] Cover your bases (-2 Follower AP, +1 Velvet AP)

You are Lady Velvet Covers.

And soon, very soon, you will be thrown back into your busy life. Back to the Bureau, and to the problems and intrigues of Canterlot, and to all the problems and concerns those things entail.

Not for the first time, you consider just quitting. Let somepony else be the Commissioner. Or just stop making any official decisions and let Shining Armor take over.

Because why should you keep going there? Why should you, you of all ponies, have to spend so much time and effort with all that?

Especially considering all the other more important things you should be doing. Silky's cute-ceñeara, as joyous as it was, also served you as a slap on the face, reminding your little filly won't stop growing and that you have been spending less and less time with her.

And it isn't just your family. There is also… there is also that thing that waits you, in your dreams… there is also GLORY and…

You shake your head, pushing those thoughts away. This wasn't the first time they occurred to you, and you know this won't be the last time either. However, just like every other time, you shove them into a drawer inside your mind and close it shut.

After all, you do have other reasons to go to Canterlot. Cadance couldn't come to your daughter's party, so you promised the mare you would tell her all about it. And besides, as much as it pains you to think about it, your daughter will finish growing up one day. So, it is better for you to find other things to keep you busy, for when that happens, and your current job suits that just fine.

And besides. This is still the Lunar Bureau you are thinking about. Quitting may sound tempting, but are you really willing to let somepony else take the reins of something that important?

…

Yeah, you didn't think so.

Still, your newfound determination doesn't stop you from letting out a small sigh.

Well, nothing you can do but keep moving forward.

With that in mind, you go back to your preparations.

You will be taking several books and items to study in Canterlot, during whatever time you have at night once you are done with your work. Plus, you already arranged with Biedde and Baldomare for them to give you their aid, before the old stallion leaves for his trip and the mare disappears in one of her flights of fancy.

But you will not be reaching out to them right now. Not yet, at least.

Because although you will be leaving for Canterlot soon, there is one last thing you will be doing here in Ponyville. And you definitely do not want whatever "blessings" that the Names might give you interfering with your own judgment.

Yes, that's another reason for you to keep what you are doing. Watching your daughters grow up and spread their wings may be painful at times.

But at times like this, like when Softy surprised you with her invitation to a certain event, you can't help but feel another smile coming to your face.

You should figure out what to wear for that.





- - -
- - -
- - -



A few weeks prior.



- - -
- - -
- - -





It is late in the afternoon, and the sun is fast approaching the horizon.

And today isn't just any day, it is the last day of the week. So, it is no surprise that every face on the street, most of them going back home after a full day of work, is tired and ready for weekend's rest.

Especially here. Especially in this growing village called Ponyville, whose streets are slowly becoming more and more filled with newcomers, and whose once-quiet corners are now being filled by the sounds of new voices and new endeavors.

Still, despite the understandable exhaustion every grown mare and stallion is feeling right now, today is also a very special day for a particular group of ponies. Today is a day that justifies them pushing back against the desire to rest and gathering what little focus they have left.

Because today, for a very particular group of ponies, is the day of their weekly meeting.

Today is the day they can get together and see the friends they made along the way, who helped them through the painful journey of their own loss. Today is the day they can ask for help, or provide it to those who are in need. Today is the day they get to remember who they were, and tell themselves that they didn't really leave anypony behind, but instead chose to keep moving forward.

But more importantly, today is also they day they can…



"I'm telling you, we need her to tell us more! I could keep going if I felt like I was making some progress. But so far, it's just been ash! Ash and dust as far as the eye can see. And that's when I get lucky and something worse doesn't find me instead."

"Don't be stupid. You know the rules. We all do."

"She is right. We need to keep waiting, as much as it hurts. And look, I understand your impatience. We all do. But if you think about it… waiting has worked, hasn't it? I mean, it has been months, and something new comes up… basically when she decides it's time, no?"

"No, no, no. You're all wrong, I'm telling you. This here is a test. She taught us to reach that place, didn't she? Well, ya'll saw what happened to Butters. The ash-lung nearly killed her! The Miss is testing us, so we gotta keep trying to reach higher. Without her help, that is."

"He's right! Miss Sweeps doesn't need us. So how can this not be a test? So far she's done everything for us, and we didn't do anything for her. What if these dreams are just a way to prove who can be useful to her or not?"



… today is also the day they can gather, and talk about what really matters.

Today is the one day of the week, the few hours that they get, when they can remind each other that they are not insane.

Because every other day, they have to live around the other ponies of Ponyville. Every other day they are forced to live with… with their neighbors, and their coworkers, and everypony else they see on the streets, who somehow have these smiles on their faces like nothing is wrong. Every other day they have to see other ponies who, somehow, are happy without any effort or reason.

And sometimes, that makes them almost lose their minds.

But here and now, in this gathering, they can be themselves. They can speak without fear of censure or ridicule. More than that, they can speak about their pain and be met with understanding rather than pity.

And thanks to Miss Sweeps, they can also speak about their purpose.

Even if they do not fully understand it themselves.

"Hey. Hey! Everypony!" A voice cuts through the room, silencing most of the discussion.

And although some of them look at the speaker with annoyance, everypony realizes the one reason why they would be interrupted like that.

"She's on her way. I can see her and Whacky coming down the street. Time to pack it up," the lookout says, letting out a sigh and a few more whispered words, "unless we get lucky today."

Still, despite the initial wave of disappointment that swept through the room, everypony got to work.

Large maps, of endless ashy wastelands with tentative paths drawn on them, were rolled up and stored out of sight. Bottles with dark samples, of oily blood or dry dust, were shoved into suitcases and pushed out of sight. And the several chairs that were spread here and there were gathered into a welcoming circle.

Of course, nopony was really angered by the warning they received. On the contrary, for some of them this would be the highest point of their week, to be able to see and listen to their precious Miss Sweeps.

But still, they couldn't help but feel some level of… restlessness. The biting sensation that they should be doing something, but they didn't know what.

However, they all agreed that even that bleeding itch was better than the ignorance they once lived with.

So, they all got to their places before the doors were finally opened.

And despite the wave of emotions that washed over them, as soon as the last two mares entered the room-

-the hate that some of them, the quiet ones who stayed close to the corners, felt for the earth pony mare-

-the relief that some of them felt as the pegasus mare came to their sight-

-the tension that some of them felt as they wondered if today would see another revelation-

-and all the other things that were stoked in their hearts and whispered into their ears and shoved down their throats…

…they all joined in smiling at precious Miss Sweeps, as the quietly sneaked into the room as if she was the least important pony there.

"Good evening everypony, sorry we're late," she said, to which every last ear in the room perked up in attention.

"Not at all, Miss Sweeps. Most of us just got here," one of them, some lucky sod who was closest to her when she said that, says in return.

And with that, another meeting begins.



- - -



It was, all things considered, a normal meeting.

Some of them shared a few things, some of them brought up a few points for discussion, and more than a few talked about some good news that could help their peers brighten their own days.

Because for all that theirs was a grieving group, it stands to reason that Equestria (and especially Ponyville) was not exactly abundant with grieving. New members were exceedingly rare, and most of the members of the group had been able to move past their own traumas in some capacity.

It would be a lifelong journey, they knew. But nowadays it was rarer for somepony to burst into tears than it was during their first meetings.

However, just when everypony was about to get up and leave, one of their members hesitated. As if she wanted to say something else.

If it had been anypony else, she would probably be heard by some of her fellow group members, while the others excused themselves to leave. If it had been anypony else, most of them would lend an ear, but also think about how late it is getting, and how they should go home and rest.

But the pony who hesitated, and clearly considered whether she should raise her voice, was not "anypony else".

So, for some reason or the other, everypony suddenly became very interested in staying on their seats for a little longer. Everypony suddenly found something else to discuss, with their nearby fellows, or thought about something they had in their saddle-bags that needed their immediate attention.

And despite the mixed reactions many of them had to such a thing, they all patiently waited as Whacky leaned into her and dropped a casual, unsolicited remark.

"All good, Sweeps? Or is there something else you'd like to bring up?" she says, getting so blasphemously close to her she was almost whispering in her ear. "You look like you have something on your mind, ever since we left the mansion. Anything the matter?"

She asks that, and not for the first time everypony else agrees that the little troublemaker does have her uses.

Because sure enough, Whacky Amor's words seem to be enough for the precious pegasus to decide to speak up.

"Actually…" she says, first with a low tone, and then loud enough for everypony to speak. "Um, I've been thinking about… well, about our meetings. And I-I definitely don't mean to say I don't like coming here. I do! But I was worried that… that maybe some of us don't really need to come here anymore?"

She says that, and the first thing that grips most ponies in that room is terror.

Sheer, unadulterated terror.

That they wouldn't be able to see their Soft Sweeps anymore.

That she wouldn't be there to guide them anymore.

That they would be left alone, with their thoughts and with their nightmares and with the things they found in them.

But then, hope.

Because Miss Sweeps did say she wasn't sure if some of them needed to come anymore.

But she also said that she wanted them to. That she enjoyed their meetings, and their conversations, and the everypony in that room, who she had grown to think of as her… friends.

So, wouldn't it be nice if they found another reason to gather?

And since they had so much success in helping each other, wouldn't it be nice if they found a way to help even more ponies? Maybe all of Ponyville? Maybe even all of Equestria?

"I-I mean… you all know I work as a nanny, right? Well, the filly I work with just got her cutie mark. And that's the point that most nannies are dismissed. I'm not going to be fired, I think, b-but well…"

They all needed something to keep themselves busy, she said.

They all needed a place to belong, she said.

And she recently had an idea of what they could do next.

"She's, um, like a mom to me. I know I talk about her all the time, a-and I'm sorry if I'm just repeating myself! Oh, and please, I am not trying to take advantage of her or anything, especially given how important she is. But… would anypony mind if I brought her here? Sometimes I feel like she knows the answer to everything, and she definitely knows how to do things that matter. So maybe if she comes, she could…?"

Yes…

Yes.

Yes.

Their encouraging nods turned into encouraging smiles. And their gentle expressions slowly started to brim with excitement.

Because yes, that's what comes next.

Her motherly figure, who she talks about all the time. The one who kept her going. The one who always knows what to do.

This was, without a doubt, the next signpost they were being given by their precious Soft Sweeps.

She would finally give them a moment of the time, even if it was just a word, from the one who guides her as well.

Discussions on what they could do, and how to prepare, began immediately, and went well into the night.

Much to the delight of Soft Sweeps, who was just glad that her silly idea was so well received by her friends.


"Nothing too formal. Maybe a party?" somepony suggested casually.


And just like that, a group of grieving ponies, determined to help as many as they can, started planning a meeting with a very important figure.

And just like that, a group of grieving ponies, united in purpose and seeking the truth, started planning an audience with the one who gifted them purpose.





The next threadmark is a previously-written omake, who has been voted into canon.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

The site requires me to post a new message to be able to click the "open voting" option.

Voting is now OPEN. No moratorium, because I think most options were already discussed previously.

Let me know (ping me) if you have any questions about the options.

And remember, the site has already closed voting period on its own accord, and it might do so again. Voting will not be closed for a while, and I'll give forewarning. You may ignore any weird automated messages, even if they are posted by my account, unless they look human-written to you.

I hope you are all doing well!

 

[Greymere]

Dun dun dunnnn. Time to pick our poison.

Also Whacky really is treading dangerously close to the line of getting shoveled, isn't she?

 

[ses]

I think we take the plunge and
[X] Gift her freedom.

The Outer Circle here seem likeable, and from their conversations they dont really seem that different from the Outer Circle of the Wildhoof Club. They're clearly not wolf-crazed monsters determined to commit pointless atrocities no matter what. They seem like... useful minions who want hints on how to climb the Mansus and will offer service in exchange for the occasional hint. Just like when we used to have cult minions last time around. Just like every Outer Circle ever.

Last turn we spent a Biedde AP on graverobbing, and this turn we spent an Axe AP on graverobbing and a Comet AP on AotL.

If having access to a real Outer Circle again gets us free graverobs and/or a 2nd AotL on top of political influence and ritual casts and a cadre... that's worth the Velvet AP. Tools and Influence are explicitly not going to give positive results to us, but these guys seem clearly amenable to leadership. We need to keep a steady flow of corpses for Torn Risens, because Attention of the Laws is actually really powerful and gets more powerful the more Velvet advances in her Lores. Having an Outer Circle alleviates AP hell more than it costs us. That's why cult leaders HAVE an Outer Circle because cults usually need one to be able to function at all without their leader being paralyzed by lack of AP to do everything that needs getting done. Attentions, summons, expedition searches, there's lots of stuff that they can do and I'm positive that the 1 Velvet AP in will result in a multiplicity of follower AP out in a way that's net positive for us.

 

[Greymere]

I think we take the plunge and [] Gift her freedom.

Click to shrink...

There's no moratorium, so you can just vote if that's what you've decided on.

In any case, I'd really rather not the Wolf cult get up to anything too Wolfy, especially since Soft still doesn't realize she's a cult leader, and the best way to manage that is direct control sooooo....

[X] Gift her freedom.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

This is by far the weirdest Wolf Cult I have ever seen. Like, actually helping people process their grief and move on instead of whammying them with despair and nihilism? Unheard of. Wanting to help things instead of bringing ruination and fire to all of creation? Preposterous. If they weren't covertly culling themselves with brutal violence I'd think they weren't wolf-followers at all!

This is probably due to Soft Sweeps still being a kind and caring pony.

This actually leaves me feeling oddly okay with giving them rituals.

 

[ses]

There's no moratorium, so you can just vote if that's what you've decided on.

In any case, I'd really rather not the Wolf cult get up to anything too Wolfy, and the best way to manage that is direct control sooooo....

[X] Gift her freedom.

Click to shrink...

I was still open to counterarguments, I'm moderately leaning toward it right now and arguing for it, but I wouldn't be shocked if a thread regular managed to make a cogent effortpost that convinced me! I was trying to open the floor to that.

Dun dun dunnnn. Time to pick our poison.

Also Whacky really is treading dangerously close to the line of getting shoveled, isn't she?

Click to shrink...

I dont think she's in danger of being shoveled like a fresh initiate. She's part of Soft's Inner Circle. She gets to bend the rules as a perk of her position, and that may invite reprisal from jealous rivals, but I think she's past the point where "The Rules" as they apply to fresh recruits apply to her quite so strictly. She clearly has their Prophet's favor after all. That's a lot different than a fresh rando who doesn't know how to hear a no.

 

[Greymere]

They seem like... useful minions who want hints on how to climb the Mansus and will offer service in exchange for the occasional hint. Just like when we used to have cult minions last time around. Just like every Outer Circle ever.

Click to shrink...

RIP our Hintchasers, you barely had any time to shine...

 

[Rafuki22]

I was still open to counterarguments, I'm moderately leaning toward it right now and arguing for it, but I wouldn't be shocked if a thread regular managed to make a cogent effortpost that convinced me! I was trying to open the floor to that.

Click to shrink...

I get what you are coming from, but i think the tools appeal to me more, and being again in a cult after we stopped being in a cult is like...hmmmmm...

[X] Gift her tools.

 

[ses]

I get what you are coming from, but i think the tools appeal to me more, and being again in a cult after we stopped being in a cult is like...hmmmmm...

[X] Gift her tools.

Click to shrink...

Leading a cult is very different from being in a cult! QM spent IRL years and over half the quest constantly bemoaning that we dont have a cult in the cult-based game and not-so-subtly hinting that going it alone and making up for it with our omni-competence is making it harder than it needs to be!

Kind of awkward that we'd be going from zero cults to two cults, though.

 

[Shaper47]

[X] Gift her inspiration.

[X] Gift her tools

What a cute group of little friends.

A pity we definitely don't have the ap for Freedom.

Edit.

[X] Gift her influence.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

I now feel like Freedom vs. Tools comes down to how much Velvet trusts Sweeps to run her cult. Like we could continue Velvet's controlling tendencies and seize its direct running for herself, there's no doubt that she'd be better at running things too, but maybe it'd be okay to just let go, for once. Let her have responsibility and power and the chance to grow into such things, to mature.

Or maybe you think that giving Sweeps freedom will better combat those wolf-trances of hers, and you are doing this for the sake of her metaphysical health, which I can also see as valid reasoning. The part of her that grows to rule is the part we feed, after all.

 

[DelightedOne]

Ah, so it is time for that vote. I suspected it would be the first thing.

that maybe some of us don't really need to come here anymore?"

Click to shrink...

That sounds good, the Daughter losing interest shows that there is hope for some of them and if there is hope for some of them, there might be a future where we don't have to kill them all.

And since they had so much success in helping each other, wouldn't it be nice if they found a way to help even more ponies? Maybe all of Ponyville? Maybe even all of Equestria?

Click to shrink...

Ha ha ha! NO!

Also Whacky really is treading dangerously close to the line of getting shoveled, isn't she?

Click to shrink...

Yes, I hope we get to see that. Either as Velvet or as Watchers.

[X] Gift her freedom.

Let it begin.

This is by far the weirdest Wolf Cult I have ever seen. Like, actually helping people process their grief and move on instead of whammying them with despair and nihilism? Unheard of. Wanting to help things instead of bringing ruination and fire to all of creation? Preposterous. If they weren't covertly culling themselves with brutal violence I'd think they weren't wolf-followers at all!

This is probably due to Soft Sweeps still being a kind and caring pony.

This actually leaves me feeling oddly okay with giving them rituals.

Click to shrink...

Or maybe it is because the thread chose this:

[] Tell her that she should follow her heart, and speak about whatever comes to mind. You believe in her, so you are sure that whatever she feels inspired to do will be better than anything you suggest.

[???]​

Click to shrink...

Good to have confirmation the ??? was the best option. Those ponies are just hurting, at the end of the day, I expected much worse.

Sadists that revelled in despair and death without care, not desperate ponies seeking purpose.

They may not be good ponies anymore(if they ever were) but we could at least try and help them recover... And maybe this could be the perfect excuse to meet Pinkie.

 

[spiderhellian]

[X] Gift her influence.

This really seems perfectly fine. They're going to have influence no matter what. It's not a big lift if we want to bring Mayor Mare to Good Friend, and probably tolerable if we don't. And the political influence is, if anything, less impactful than more stain-equivalents or more tools.

It's just not worth the action to do Freedom.

 

[DelightedOne]

This really seems perfectly fine. They're going to have influence no matter what.

Click to shrink...

How would they gain influence if we would tell Soft to not do that? Unless she reaches the next Stain, of course.

 

[spiderhellian]

How would they gain influence if we would tell Soft to not do that? Unless she reaches the next Stain, of course.

Click to shrink...

More stain-equivalence is influence. Tools are influence. They come in different forms, but when you've got a big and growing cult in Ponyville, that is levelling up in some regards here, it's going to have influence over Ponyville.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

To be blunt, Velvet has little use for further political influence. Tools or Freedom I say, Tools or Freedom.

 

[spiderhellian]

To be blunt, Velvet has little use for further political influence. Tools or Freedom I say, Tools or Freedom.

Click to shrink...

…This really isn't about what Velvet gets out of it? It's what the cult gets out of it, and the cult is not really a tool in our hands?

Bird made this pretty clear — this is more. question of what "price" we're paying more than a question of what "reward" we're choosing.

 

[Sintonir]

[X] Gift her tools
It is her cult. We can benefit from it even if we don't actually lead it.
And we already have our own Bureau.

 

[ses]

QM mentioned that Velvet won't benefit from the cult if we don't take over it. Tools doesn't get Velvet anything, if we want to extract ourselves from the situation with the minimum price paid, we should take Influence, because getting Mayor Mare to good friend isn't much of an ask and they probably wont do anything too bad with the influence in the time we have left. Freedom is the best choice if we believe that 'you will be given options to direct it each turn' means that we'll actually get our investment paid back profitably in accomplishments.

QM said this wasn't quite a 'pick your poison' vote, but that it also wasn't a gift to Velvet. I can't imagine that if we choose to take over the Cult that... we don't take over the cult? Like, if we take over it then surely we will get the benefits of having a cult, right? QM won't be going to go out of its way to try to not-reward us even if we take over leadership, because that wouldn't be the natural consequence of the action taken. But Tools wont reward us.

 

[DelightedOne]

More stain-equivalence is influence. Tools are influence. They come in different forms, but when you've got a big and growing cult in Ponyville, that is levelling up in some regards here, it's going to have influence over Ponyville.

Click to shrink...

Influence or power? Power can exist in the form of influence and influence can be obtained by power.

What we have now is the choice of giving that to Soft's cult(that is going to be our cult soon).

Also the cult is not growing, it is decaying, the ponies are actively losing the Wolf spark that made Soft look for them and this vote is to decide what we will give to keep them together.

"Actually…" she says, first with a low tone, and then loud enough for everypony to speak. "Um, I've been thinking about… well, about our meetings. And I-I definitely don't mean to say I don't like coming here. I do! But I was worried that… that maybe some of us don't really need to come here anymore?"

Click to shrink...

Because Miss Sweeps did say she wasn't sure if some of them needed to come anymore.

But she also said that she wanted them to. That she enjoyed their meetings, and their conversations, and the everypony in that room, who she had grown to think of as her… friends.

So, wouldn't it be nice if they found another reason to gather?

Click to shrink...

The Daughter wants to keep this gathering, that is why she asked her Mother for help.

 

[Greymere]

I now feel like Freedom vs. Tools comes down to how much Velvet trusts Sweeps to run her cult. Like we could continue Velvet's controlling tendencies and seize its direct running for herself, there's no doubt that she'd be better at running things too, but maybe it'd be okay to just let go, for once. Let her have responsibility and power and the chance to grow into such things, to mature.

Click to shrink...

More that, if we're leaving a cult to its own devices and putting our trust in its leader to keep things under control, I'd really rather the cult leader actually be aware that she's leading a cult.

 

[Random Anon]

[X] Gift her freedom

 

[Arrkhon]

[X] Gift her inspiration.
We plainly have no time for freedom
And frankly this cult seems to be heavily infiltrated by Harmony and uninterested in attacking people that aren't within it already, I feel that giving them inspiration is the best way of helping it along