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

[Sveta08]

@Sveta08 Why Baldomare + Comet on Grave? Do you think there'll be more SH/Lantern checks after the first?

Click to shrink...

Three reasons!

The simplest, is because the main struggle with this expedition is going to be finding the right place. Probably Secret Histories or Lantern focused, so Baldomare is good for that.
The more complicated reason, is because Baldomare is a good listener. Comet is very... conflicted. Uncertain in his place right now. He has freedom to do what he will, but is uncertain what to do with that freedom. Him being forced to be near and talking with, or around Baldomare might do him good.
And the least specific reason... Comet knows Baldomare. Ax or Mareinette would be the best options for the mission if not for Baldomare. Ax is... unsociable at best, and Mareinette has the opposite problem.

Baldomare is a hypocrite. That's useful here.

 

[Maer]

[X] Plan Leave No Trace
[X] Plan Leave No Trace - Random Contact

 

[Steady Gaze]

I threw in

The team may interrogate Copper at their discretion, but only if they can minimize the risk and the information for the rest of the plan is unable to be collected through other means.

Click to shrink...

but I agree with

"Don't micromanage and trust the characters"

Click to shrink...

so not sure if this is too much or if it even needs to be said

 

[Sintonir]

[X] Plan They Have A Winter Name

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Umm, @OurLadyOfWires Has Velvet given Selene summoning information for Ash-Ghouls?

You know for if Selene wants to summon some more support for the assault using a few cultists.

Click to shrink...

You basically control all of Selene's action points, so it's a moot point whether she knows them or not. She'd have no free time to do the doing anyways.

But no comments if you really told her about it or not.

So we no longer gain a bonus from the source level itself @OurLadyOfWires? I guess that makes artifacts more difficult to study in general, going forward.

Click to shrink...

Nah. That little math quibbling only meant the numbers cancelled each other out. You got a +30 from a level 3 source, and the CD was raised by 30 if you needed a level 3 scrap. At most you'd gain +10 or +20 if the source was stronger than you are, but the wording of the rule was too complex, and those cases too obscure, to bother.

That's why the basic books were slammed down to a fixed CD (you aren't really meant to fail those, but there needs to be a chance).

And the artifacts, also, are now more geared towards "checking if it's cursed, and discovering how it works" rather than divining Lore secrets. So, not much point in the artifact lore level giving you a bonus.

@OurLadyOfWires i have the outline of a mad plan for turn 20 and 21, i know that's why i said mad, that to exist would require good luck and your generosity.

1. Can we stack influences?

2. If a book with the same Lore level as us can give us a scrap could Jade give us a Lantern scrap?

3. Can we use DoA for "The conversation"?

4. Would, hypothetically, this extreme situation of dancing with death give us 2 heart scraps?

Click to shrink...

1 - You can only have one Summoned influence at a time. You can "stack" as many Name-given influences as you want.
2 - No. Your followers can't teach you. You are supposed to teach them.
3 - No. Any sacrament sacrifices require a living pony as a rule. But feel free to ask for exceptions in other sacrifice-cases.
4 - No. Dancing With Death means you effectively lost the game, but were barred from a game over due to a Lore technicality. You will not be rewarded for it, other than through the fact the quest did not end then and there.

@OurLadyOfWires can you check when you have time and tell if anything needs fixing?

Click to shrink...

I'll go over the plans later on, after some of them pick traction.

I apologize, I really don't have the time to go over all of them and whatnot.

By all means, ping me if you want a ruling on a specific command or suggestion. But I'll mostly go over the "three most popular plans" a few days from now otherwise.

@OurLadyOfWires if somepony equips the SH artifact for an expedition, does Jade still gets to use it for RotT?

Click to shrink...

Yeah. These are all short expeditions, and Jade will intentionally finish her ritual before the assault departs. You can consider that all parties will have all artifacts available for them.

Careful not to lose them though.

(@OurLadyOfWires understandable if you'd deny this request, but if we could restrict the "meet a new random contact" action to target a new random Mane 6 pony for "balance reasons" since we will pretty much never pick the "meet a new random contact" action ever again, that would be amazing… pretty please with a cherry on top. )

Click to shrink...

Consider your request understandably denied

@OurLadyOfWires

1) Can we take an artefact on both expeditions this turn? I know we can reuse them within a turn usually, not sure if that's true of expeditions as well.
2) Can we do Memory of Light research this turn?

Click to shrink...

1 - Yes. Things might be different if you ever start gearing for medium or long expeditions. But Short expeditions are intentionally simple.
2 - Good question... I'll go with "no". That brushes too close to "Lore activity".



Thank you for your time, and I hope you are all doing well.

 

[Sveta08]

2 - Good question... I'll go with "no". That brushes too close to "Lore activity".

Click to shrink...

Well!
Bother.
Give me a few to rethink on Velvet Actions then.

 

[LieutenantSpirit]

Here's a completely non-mechanical reason for why Baldomare should not be sent on the Grave expedition:

The purpose of that trip is to obtain a Level 6 Book to give her. Feels a little strange to have her work for her own gift, right?

 

[Shaper47]

For Harmony and Love! – A Princess Cadance Quest​

[X] You spend your nights with your dear Velvet Covers herself. The mare that you care for greatly, that you love. Get to know her, learn more about the mare who holds your heart. Of course, this will also do a world of good for you. (Immediately recovers three sanity. Learn more about your love.)
-[X] Ask about her rescue of Twilight when she disappeared during the Catastrophe

You are Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. But you are called "Princess Cadance" by most ponies, and just "Cadance" by the one that really matters.

It is nighttime.

And beside you, on the couch in your room is a mare.

A beautiful mare with dark intriguing eyes. Her mane is flowing long silver. Her every act a promise of desire. Her forelimbs were bandaged, weakness clear though her body, and the contrast of her vulnerability and inner strength was just so very attractive. Around her neck was a necklace with something that felt of focused hate to your senses.

She was never interested in anypony before Shining Armor, but gazing upon the beauty of her very close friend. Well, she couldn't say she wasn't interested.

Ara ara… there is absolutely nothing in Equestria that could ruin this night. You can feel it. Knowing that you are going to spend the whole night with the mare you care about, with the mare you love, is like a dream come true.

There really isn't anywhere else in the whole world you would rather be.

Like lighting splitting though the darkness she appears so vividly in your mind as you gaze upon her. Admiration, friendship, jealousy, love. They all come together in a single great storm burning inside your chest. A candle in the dark, a fire whose warmth keeps you from freezing, a promise that when you fall she will catch you. You can feel that this thing coursing through you is…

Love.

"Velvet it's nice for you to be here" you say, although your throat is so dry for some reason your voice fails. But the smile on your face is growing so much you don't really have it in you to care.

She expresses her joy at your words through that bell-like laughter of hers that echoes in your ears. Like tiny gifts for you to cherish forever.

"It's good to be with you Cadence." Your heart throbs with joy at her words. At the small smile on her lips she sends you.

"So I was wondering," you purse your lips "what happened in your search for Twilight.".

You remember of course how relieved you were when you heard that she had found Twilight. That Twilight was safe at her home. That you hadn't failed.

But you never heard what happened.

Velvet is quiet for a long moment.

She seems in a way cold and something in the air, around that mare, feels of remembering something important. A memory you hold onto and can never forget in the end.

Then the icy beauty speaks to you. Her voice a cold whisper in the wind like the dying embers of a fire under the starry night sky.

"Changelings are evil."

"Or at least that's what I told myself. That's what I have been telling myself this whole time. They are evil. They are the enemy. That their species has caused terrible harm to countless ponies."

"They are not even of my species. So that makes them evil, right?"

"They are supposed to be evil."

"They have to be evil, by their very nature."

She looks sad but also determined. An iron will beneath a cold gaze.

"So why weren't they thrashing and hissing? Why didn't they resist to the very end? Why didn't they act like the cruel beasts that they were supposed to be? Like the creatures that prey on the love and feelings of ponies, the monsters who burnt down our works, who spread blood and fear into the hearts of ponies, who committed the most gruesome tragedy that pony species has seen in centuries?"

You feel it inside of her. Beneath the love she radiates something cold and beside it sharp hatred.

"When they were cast down at my hooves, defeated. They didn't do any of that. They didn't justify the hatred I should have felt for them."

"They just stared at each other, hollow resolute eyes trying to console each other in their final moments."

Something glittered in her dark eyes.

"Instead they felt exactly like a pony should. And when I killed for the first time I could not hide from myself what I was doing. When the other realised what its own fate will be, and alone with no companion, no reason to be brave. It quietly cried, it didn't close its eyes. It kept them wide open though the tears to look at its dead companion. Till its blood too covered my hooves."

For an instant you remember the catastrophe. Of bodies broken under your magic. You didn't even hesitate.

She didn't hesitate either.

What she says next you will remember.

You are absolutely sure that…

That by some cold weight that she had about her, a coldness that you somehow knew was not unkind, and a sharpness that would not be denied.

You will remember it, you are sure.

"Kindness is the intent to help. It's been the idea of what a pony is for over a thousand year. A good pony is not a pony who kills. In the end I was afraid."

She sighed, a sigh of losing something once held close.

"I made my choice. I crossed that line. Cast my fear aside. What I did I can not take back, and when moving forward. Well… Malice is the intent to harm."

Hearing her reminds you of yourself, your own thoughts. Of a mare who, when things really come down to it, cares about nopony but herself. Of a mare who only cares about her own loved ones and no others.

And so you ask her the question that beats in your heart.

"Do you regret it?"

She knows what you are talking about. The blood on her hoofs, just like yours.

The thing on her heck glints as she slowly shakes her head.

"Why should I regret anything at this point? There's no use in repenting for my sins. It would make no difference. There's nothing I can give back to the dead to undo what I have done. This is my chosen path."

"I know that if I want my happy ending, a happy ending for us. The path to reach it will require me to pile up many more bodies."

"For the sake of taking hold of my desire."

Hearing her words the same part of your mind that learned you can trust her is also whispering to you that…

The light you see in ponies.

The warm feeling of kindness for all living creatures.

That it is no longer there…


"Lady Velvet Covers. Unicorn. Noblemare. Mother. A mare you met by chance, and yet another example of how nobility can sometimes smother its own talents rather than cultivate them. She has a penchant of appearing in places where you don't expect her to be, but somehow that always seems to be for the best. She has a lovely family, and you have made no secrets that you hope to one day have one just like hers. But most importantly, she is a somepony you have chosen to love in this world, your trust in her is boundless, as is your happiness at her presence. The thought of her gives you strength and comfort no matter how dark things get. So long as she is by your side."



Name: Lady Velvet Covers

Council Position: Head of the Lunar Bureau

Harmony Affinities:

Generosity [+++]: She is a competent pony who avoids the spotlight. A mare who exhausted herself searching for somepony else's sister out of love. A noblemare who adopted a commoner (A Princess). And if you need any more confirmation, look no further than the namesake's Element Bearer, who practically gravitates around her.

Kindness []: Kindness is the intent to help. Malice is the intent to harm, and malice resides in her heart. To protect those she loves she has changed. To cast off her kindness in the flames of hate. To paint in blood another path. With sharp teeth and claws to bring an end to all that opposes her desire.

Magic [+]: She has a gift, of sorts. Even you can tell. You are not sure if it was twisted, if it was badly raised, or if it was simply never nurtured. But she has something inside of her, even if it a diamond still in the rough.

Laughter [--]: She didn't go into much detail. But you did your background checks, and you can put one plus one together. She was ousted from succession of her family's title. She was relegated to a minor position in a backwater town. And the other things you discovered under the table were somehow even more grim. She did not lead… a happy life.

Loyalty [UNKNOWN]: You know she is loyal to her family, but that's a given. (You might gleam more of her affinities if you get to know her better.)

Honesty [UNKNOWN]: Everypony has secrets. But if you can't trust her, who else can you trust? (You might gleam more of her affinities if you get to know her better.)



Positive perks:

[The Good Velvet]: Your background check came through. Her family is shady, but she isn't. (Unaffected by Noble Affiliations).

[How did you get here?]: She seems to have a hoof everywhere. Or at least, everywhere that matters. Somehow… (May add her bonus to the tasks of other Council members)

[Mother]: You have already picked your foals' names. And the logistics to get them are as irrelevant as they are inevitable. Still, here is a pony that might help you… facilitate your own journey, by virtue of experience. (Might be able to teach you lessons for "The Nature of Motherhood")

[LovesChosen]: Your Chosen one, the one who holds your heart. The mare you will forever love. The mare who promised not to leave you. (???)

[Beautiful]: "A work of art with a mane of flowing sliver." (+5 when trying to seduce other creatures, or just be pleasant)

[OTHER POSITIVE PERKS UNKNOWN] (You might learn more if you get to know her better.)



Negative perks:

[Clear priorities]: You will never blame her for this, but you know her family will always come first. (This Council member has a clear weak spot. Enemies might potentially learn of this).

[Scarred]: Once there was a small filly who loved her father very much. Now there is a mare, a mare who you love. A mare who still bears a scar. (-1 base Health)

[Murderer]: "This one's hoofs have taken a life" A burden she will carry for the rest of her life, clear and obvious for all those who have the eyes to see.

[OTHER NEGATIVE PERKS UNKNOWN] (You might learn more if you get to know her better. But surely, it can't be that many?)

Lost/discarded perks:

-Frightened [MALUS]: -10 to Personal Combat; (Once she was afraid. Once her mind was scarred with fear. Till at last she changed, cutting away what would hold her back. What would stop her from going so far.)

 

[Venerable Ro]

I feel pretty confident in Jade's scrying + Baldomare Lantern + Mareinette Grail to find everything we need. I don't know if interrogating Copper is too risky. We could potentially throw in a sentence "Only attempt to interrogate Copper if the risks are minimal and we are unable to locate the evidence through other means" (not sure how you feel about the subject @Greymere).

Click to shrink...

Contingencies can be nasty, and the less time spent figuring out safe combinations or warehouse addresses the more time there is for stealth and effectiveness. That and I really doubt a single level 4 Grail adept would be able to meaningfully hold up under the focused inquiry of the Lantern, Grail and Edge names.

 

[Alan975]

For Harmony and Love! – A Princess Cadance Quest​

Click to shrink...

Shaper, stop making me want to derail this quest.

I want to play a serious story, but this?
This is tempting

 

[Shaper47]

Contingencies can be nasty, and the less time spent figuring out safe combinations or warehouse addresses the more time there is for stealth and effectiveness. That and I really doubt a single level 4 Grail adept would be able to meaningfully hold up under the focused inquiry of the Lantern, Grail and Edge names.

Click to shrink...

There's a reason I want her Grail removed and for Baldomare to have plenty of time for one of her lantern mind rapes to take place.

Like what if she has a contingency of some Wendigos she has bindings to that will be freed upon her death.

 

[Earth-Destroyer]

We have exceptional limited information, and unfortunately did not put Baldamare on Scrying duties, so the information we will get from that is suspect at best.

We should let the Bureau do some investigation, and discover locations, and people, for our Names to deal with, so we actually hit the important ones.

 

[Shaper47]

We have exceptional limited information, and unfortunately did not put Baldamare on Scrying duties, so the information we will get from that is suspect at best.

We should let the Bureau do some investigation, and discover locations, and people, for our Names to deal with, so we actually hit the important ones.

Click to shrink...

Don't underestimate Names.

So long as Baldamare is around she'll find the top priority. She has what, Search action +50, SH 6 so +30 and can call a level 4 SH influence at will so another +40. So a 120 bonus for searching if she actually tries before bringing in lantern.

Not to mention that they could just grab a cultist or two and have Mareinette grail them for information. Selene doing some dream snooping.

They probably won't like find hidden contingencies given that's not what their focusing on but they'll find their target.

 

[Sveta08]

Well!
Bother.
Give me a few to rethink on Velvet Actions then.

Click to shrink...

It took me a good bit more than a few minutes, but I figured something.


[] Plan: Down but Not Out, Revised Actions
-[] [BUREAU] You will assault Copper BEFORE the Bureau picks her trail.
-[] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
--[] Who is going? (Baldomare, Mareinnete, Daughter of Axes, Biedde, Selene)
--[] What are they Taking? (Two Wrong Keys, Winter 1 Artifact)
--[] What is their objective? (WRITE IN what your followers must do, in order of PRIORITY)
---[] Kill Copper. (Attack the Figurehead)
---[] Steal what Bits, and Lore they have. Anything that would Implicate us. If it can't be stolen, destroy it (Raid Resources)
---[] Find Neighina and talk/work/steal/negotiate with her. (Aquire or Neutralize Neighina)
--[] Anything else? (Try to keep it quiet)
-[] The Grave on the Hill
--[] Who is going? (Comet, Baldomare)
--[] What are they taking? (One Wrong Key, Secret History 3 Artifact)
-[] You are wounded! (You currently have 2 wounds. You must pick one of each option.)
--[] Take a few breaks, every now and then. (Costs 1 action. Rolls TWO dice. 0/-15)
--[] There is no holy grail for healing magic, no miraculous wound-closing spell. (Costs 60 bits. Two dice will auto-succeed)
-[] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about…
--[] How Silky has been shaken up by the attempt on your life, and how she might be comforted by her beloved uncle's presence.
[] [SOCIAL] You don't have it in you to teach anypony of the Lores. But you can make a social call to… (WRITE IN) (IF CHOSEN, will give you a -15 to your healing roll, free action)
--[] Mayor Mare
[] [SOCIAL] You don't have it in you to teach anypony of the Lores. But you can make a social call to…
--[] Applejack
-[] [LEARN] It doesn't have to be just during a leisure weekend evening, you can fit a few minutes of reading even when walking between rooms if you really get into it!
--[] [LEARN] BOOK UNKNOWN LORE. "An old book, hoof-written and bound with rusty metal pins. Found in the cavernous undergrounds of the Royal Castle. The language written in it is strange, but the alphabet itself is not. This is clearly from this age." (REQUIRES DECIPHERING, unknown if it will grant Lore-knowledge. From Current Era: "-20" malus while deciphering. Current Progress 0/50)
--[] [LEARN] BOOK FORGE Level 3. "A real guide to beginner's level blacksmithing. The bookstore owner almost seemed excited in having this reach your hoofs via your servants."




Explainer:
Given we can't spend our actions trying to work through Memory of Light, the options are more or less Study actions or Social Actions. As mentioned in my post on social actions above, we have to take a look at things for who, what, and why we are talking to at this time.

Applejack there is... the second best option I can think of after Mayor Mare. Velvet is... frail right now. Everyone will say that, even if they won't say that. They are frightened, rightfully so, that she will keel over and die at any moment. What she needs, is rest.
But, knowing Velvet, what she needs is something she can... try. Touch. Do. Feel. Act upon and speak. Something so that when her mind pulls itself back before her body, she isn't left rotting in the shell that her body is right now. Applejack... She's honest. She's Honesty given form. She won't mince words and be polite because she should be... But she's also a farmer. A worker. Someone in a background and field that Velvet would understand. Someone who has, and will, put her family first over most everything. Won't be quite an understanding, but it will be...
It feels light the right first steps.

And, if that won't convince the more mechanically minded people, she has affinity with Forge. Something we desperately need.

The Book, however, is something useful we can do. We don't know if it is lore useful or not, and we won't until we figure it out. We have... odds at least of figuring it out. Given the Secret History Artifact, that puts it somewhere around fifty fifty odds of deciphering it. It might be useful in an Expedition to come in the next Canterlot mission too. Simply put, it's something we can try.
Same can be said for the Forge Book. It's more useful than the other books we can learn from right now, and if nothing else, it will advance our manuscript count.

Besides that... there is also the soft mention before when crafting the Knife that Velvet needs to learn some on blacksmithing with metals. And the servants seem interested in giving this one to us. I would imagine it is more useful than it appears.

Edit: Illegal Plan. Studying already studied books.

 

[Shaper47]

--[X] [LEARN] BOOK UNKNOWN LORE. "An old book, hoof-written and bound with rusty metal pins. Found in the cavernous undergrounds of the Royal Castle. The language written in it is strange, but the alphabet itself is not. This is clearly from this age." (REQUIRES DECIPHERING, unknown if it will grant Lore-knowledge. From Current Era: "-20" malus while deciphering. Current Progress 0/50)
--[X] [LEARN] BOOK FORGE Level 3. "A real guide to beginner's level blacksmithing. The bookstore owner almost seemed excited in having this reach your hoofs via your servants."

Click to shrink...

Umm...

We've already finished reading those books.

 

[Greymere]

-[X] [LEARN] It doesn't have to be just during a leisure weekend evening, you can fit a few minutes of reading even when walking between rooms if you really get into it!
--[X] [LEARN] BOOK UNKNOWN LORE. "An old book, hoof-written and bound with rusty metal pins. Found in the cavernous undergrounds of the Royal Castle. The language written in it is strange, but the alphabet itself is not. This is clearly from this age." (REQUIRES DECIPHERING, unknown if it will grant Lore-knowledge. From Current Era: "-20" malus while deciphering. Current Progress 0/50)
--[X] [LEARN] BOOK FORGE Level 3. "A real guide to beginner's level blacksmithing. The bookstore owner almost seemed excited in having this reach your hoofs via your servants."

Click to shrink...

We read these already last turn

This is our current unread books list:

BOOK, HEART Level 1. "A small book that covers a particular kind of elegant dancing".
BOOK EDGE Level 1. "The title is self-explanatory: 'Four self-defense spells every unicorn should know'. You doubt they are anything more than different variations of concentrated telekinesis."
BOOK, FORGE Level 1. "A small handbook on camping, explaining the basics of how to build a tent and start a small fire".
BOOK KNOCK Level 2. "A fairly recent, and short, book about dream interpretation. You know it is recent because it was dedicated to Princess Luna's return".
BOOK MOTH Level 5. "The language used in this is indecipherable. The cover, if it even has one, yields no clue about its subject. And yet, you cannot resist the urge to read it." (Requires deciphering. Progress 0/100. From an Era that is Ancient Beyond History, "-50" to deciphering rolls.)
BOOK KNOCK Level 5. "An initial survey of its pages reveals several drawings, or perhaps instructions, on how to build bridges and maintain clocks. You suspect the book is about more than just that." (Requires deciphering. Progress 0/100. From One Era Ago, "-30" to deciphering rolls.)

Click to shrink...

 

[Shaper47]

Applejack there is... the second best option I can think of after Mayor Mare. Velvet is... frail right now. Everyone will say that, even if they won't say that. They are frightened, rightfully so, that she will keel over and die at any moment. What she needs, is rest.
But, knowing Velvet, what she needs is something she can... try. Touch. Do. Feel. Act upon and speak. Something so that when her mind pulls itself back before her body, she isn't left rotting in the shell that her body is right now. Applejack... She's honest. She's Honesty given form. She won't mince words and be polite because she should be... But she's also a farmer. A worker. Someone in a background and field that Velvet would understand. Someone who has, and will, put her family first over most everything. Won't be quite an understanding, but it will be...
It feels light the right first steps.

Click to shrink...

Narratively as a walking corpse only not dead through a technicality I disagree. It just doesn't really fit.

And the servants seem interested in giving this one to us.

Click to shrink...

No... the servants were not interested.

The owner was because they were/are a cultist and desired our forge insights that they'd get from us reading it.

 

[Sveta08]

Blast it all.
Fine! We study the Artifact. Get some floating Knock for Summoning later. Or....
Cursed and twice fouled... Gegh. I'll rethink something or not. Figure it out later.

 

[Venerable Ro]

Mayor Mare is easy to justify given the spectacle the Bureau made and is making of our home, Cheerilee as a concerned teacher checking in on our daughters is pretty reasonable too.

Applejack really doesn't have a reason to visit and our [Nurse!] does not reccomend we venture clear over to the Acres seeking idle social activity.

 

[spiderhellian]

In Which The Names Have Come to Play.

It's an event Equestria has not seen an at least an era. And even before that, it was a rarity. Perhaps an impossibility -- all the different practitioners so jealously guarded their secrets, and any true cooperation was fraught.

Tonight four Names walk the wake, united behind a single Mare's purpose.

---

Some might find their foe with a detailed stake-out and meticulous research. Others would kidnap a few subordinates, and make them talk, if y'know what's good for ya. But the Name of Secret Histories? She simply walks the streets, and her hooves lead her unerringly to the correct door.

Some might open that well-warded entranceway with a stolen key. Others might subvert someone inside to open up the gates. But the Name of Knock? She picks up her axe, swings it, and both the lock and door surrounding it shatter, and never could this passage again be barred.

Some might lead troops to slaughter those residing inside. Others might toss a few explosives in, and hope the resulting carnage is sufficient. But the Name of Grail? She reminds you that you should never ask a Lady her age, or watch how she eats.

Some might take their foe down with a flurry of blade-strokes, launched in reckless abandon but at least keeping the enemy a few feet away. Others choose, prefer in fact, to get their hands dirty, and take the life in front of them with their own hooves. The Name of Edge? He launches a single dart, which cannot be opposed, by wall or body or eye or brain.

Mercilessly, unstoppably, deliciously, brutally -- one Pony's will is done.

Spoiler: AN

First, you can't really destroy an entire cult in a single attack, that takes place in a single night. Even if you focus on one or two of those points, the other points might scatter and flee. It is disingenuous to expect a perfect and absolute victory.

(Or maybe it is. You are sending quite a few Names, after all. What do I know?)

Click to shrink...

I know this isn't likely to be the case, but, well, a Mare can dream. And Velvet will be spending so much time in bed, and have so much time to dream...

 

[Sveta08]

Mayor Mare is easy to justify given the spectacle the Bureau made and is making of our home, Cheerilee as a concerned teacher checking in on our daughters is pretty reasonable too.

Applejack really doesn't have a reason to visit and our [Nurse!] does not reccomend we venture clear over to the Acres seeking idle social activity.

Click to shrink...

Agreed, but I'm scraping the barrel here.
The other options I am seeing by far and away have too much social interaction going on to feel... the right way. Too much going out and about. I'm trying to figure how to bridge a compromise.
And can throw one action in to study the Knock Artifact to be sure. Or maybe a pair of books? But none of them feel worthwhile to grab right now. Maybe for purpose of making manuscripts?

If need be, can go along with Social for Mayor Mare and Cheerilee. And then a study action on something. But blast it all, none of it feels close to worth it for the moment. Least without the lores to make headway on the Moth Book or the Lantern Artifact.

 

[Shaper47]

In Which The Names Have Come to Play.

Click to shrink...

And Selene doesn't even get worthy of a mention.

Boo!!! Shame on you, shame.

 

[Sveta08]

Here. It ain't my first, second, or even fifth plan, but it will have to do to abide by what is. I'll go delete the other options so as to not confuse the tally.
Explanation is simple. The Knock artifact is the only useful study action that feels can be taken that we have actual odds of success. Not great odds, but hey. Odds.



[X] Plan: Down but Not Out, Thrice Fouled
-[X] [BUREAU] You will assault Copper BEFORE the Bureau picks her trail.
-[X] Assault an opponent (Copper Secateur)
--[X] Who is going? (Baldomare, Mareinnete, Daughter of Axes, Biedde, Selene)
--[X] What are they Taking? (Two Wrong Keys, Winter 1 Artifact)
--[X] What is their objective? (WRITE IN what your followers must do, in order of PRIORITY)
---[X] Kill Copper. (Attack the Figurehead)
---[X] Steal what Bits, and Lore they have. Anything that would Implicate us. If it can't be stolen, destroy it (Raid Resources)
---[X] Find Neighina and talk/work/steal/negotiate with her. (Aquire or Neutralize Neighina)
--[X] Anything else? (Try to keep it quiet)
-[X] The Grave on the Hill
--[X] Who is going? (Comet, Baldomare)
--[X] What are they taking? (One Wrong Key, Secret History 3 Artifact, Heart 3 Artifact)
-[X] You are wounded! (You currently have 2 wounds. You must pick one of each option.)
--[X] Take a few breaks, every now and then. (Costs 1 action. Rolls TWO dice. 0/-15)
--[X] There is no holy grail for healing magic, no miraculous wound-closing spell. (Costs 60 bits. Two dice will auto-succeed)
-[X] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about…
--[X] How Silky has been shaken up by the attempt on your life, and how she might be comforted by her beloved uncle's presence.
[X] [SOCIAL] You don't have it in you to teach anypony of the Lores. But you can make a social call to… (WRITE IN) (IF CHOSEN, will give you a -15 to your healing roll, free action)
--[X] Mayor Mare
[X] [SOCIAL] You don't have it in you to teach anypony of the Lores. But you can make a social call to…
--[X] Cheerilee
-[X] [LEARN] There is something about this… thing, and you must learn what it is
--[X] KNOCK Level 2 artifact

 

[spiderhellian]

Explanation is simple. The Knock artifact is the only useful study action that feels can be taken that we have actual odds of success. Not great odds, but hey. Odds.

Click to shrink...

DC 70 at +17-27 is ~50% chance of success, fwiw. But it's fair that might be more effective than some of the socials!

(If you want, you could probably do a conditional, if the Knock study was successful social Cheerilee, otherwise do it again?)

Applejack really doesn't have a reason to visit and our [Nurse!] does not reccomend we venture clear over to the Acres seeking idle social activity.

Click to shrink...

I think it's totally plausible that a near-death experience would encourage someone to reach out to their friends. And that friends would visit when a friend is going through such an experience.

And Selene doesn't even get worthy of a mention.

Click to shrink...

I'm not going to write propaganda for a wrong choice! The Glory is right there, and we can lock in the Outsider discovery this turn!

 

[Shaper47]

[X] Plan: Down but Not Out, Thrice Fouled

Click to shrink...

Not a fan of Neighina being the last priority but the rest looks great.

 

[Sveta08]

DC 70 at +17-27 is ~50% chance of success, fwiw. But it's fair that might be more effective than some of the socials!

(If you want, you could probably do a conditional, if the Knock study was successful social Cheerilee, otherwise do it again?)

I think it's totally plausible that a near-death experience would encourage someone to reach out to their friends. And that friends would visit when a friend is going through such an experience.

I'm not going to write propaganda for a wrong choice! The Glory is right there, and we can lock in the Outsider discovery this turn!

Click to shrink...

Potentially... But if I were willing to bet, I would wager more people are interested in a guaranteed social action with Cheerilee, than a higher chance of a Knock Artifact.
Especially since both those rolls could fail.

 

[spiderhellian]

Why not take the Heart 3 artefact on the attack (+15 on the Lore that subverts Winter)? Or the lot of them on the Grave (where we don't know what we'll need, so might as well hedge our bets with Heart or even Edge!)?

 

[Sveta08]

Why not take the Heart 3 artefact on the attack (+15 on the Lore that subverts Winter)? Or the lot of them on the Grave (where we don't know what we'll need, but Heart or even Edge could be helpful!)?

Click to shrink...

Not taking the Heart Artifact on the Attack, because of Neighina. If Winter wants for remaining indifferent after Copper is slain, then it's more likely that we might end up gifting that noose to her to have her be "Ammeniable." Or maybe even pleased, in so far as she might be. Bringing the Heart Artifact, as more intentinal a desire to subvert them could be seen in negative light.

Will it? Will any of that happen? No clue. I'm hedging bets against shadows on the wall.


As for taking it to the Grave? Eh. Sure. Could take it to the Grave. Might be helpful. Won't be harmful at least. Plan has been edited.

 

[Venerable Ro]

And can throw one action in to study the Knock Artifact to be sure. Or maybe a pair of books? But none of them feel worthwhile to grab right now. Maybe for purpose of making manuscripts?

Click to shrink...

The level one books would still add to the efficacy of the Library, perhaps not by much but it would be something.

Though overall I'm quite happy with [X] Plan: Down but Not Out, Thrice Fouled

Why not take the Heart 3 artefact on the attack (+15 on the Lore that subverts Winter)? Or the lot of them on the Grave (where we don't know what we'll need, so might as well hedge our bets with Heart or even Edge!)?

Click to shrink...

The Heartifact wouldn't do much that Mareinette can't do herself, but it might be useful on the Grave expedition.

 

[spiderhellian]

Not taking the Heart Artifact on the Attack, because of Neighina. If Winter wants for remaining indifferent after Copper is slain, then it's more likely that we might end up gifting that noose to her to have her be "Ammeniable." Or maybe even pleased, in so far as she might be. Bringing the Heart Artifact, as more intentinal a desire to subvert them could be seen in negative light.

Will it? Will any of that happen? No clue. I'm hedging bets against shadows on the wall.

Click to shrink...

You think it's more likely that Neighnia will be offended by the mere presence of a Heart artefact than, say, we'll have to pass a Heart check to endure the biting frost that surrounds her ("But when I turn the street into the gallery, it is snowing, and only in that street.") before we can even talk with her?

That doesn't feel right to me. I think bringing the artefact is proper hedging -- more likely to have a check to pass than risk some offense, that's just how expeditions go!

The Heartifact wouldn't do much that Mareinette can't do herself, but it might be useful on the Grave expedition.

Click to shrink...

+15 on a roll is +15 on a roll!