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

[Shaper47]

So it would be between SH (aiming for Knock sacrament this turn, Edge sacrament and reading next turn and Moth sacrament the one after)

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Technically Moth Sacrament is possible next turn with SH.

It's even the optimal way to use the free Aotl.

Or Lantern (aiming for Knock sacrament this turn as well as reading and Edge and Moth sacrament next one)

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Not SH and Moth?

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Moth and Edge because of the dangers of Baldomare's SH.


[X] Plan We Can Be More + Edge (no Prison)

[X] Plan We Can Be More + Edge (AotL)

[X] Plan We Can Be More + Corpses

[X] Plan: Knock, SH and Edge Sacrament with extra Aotl (Jade on light)
[X] Plan: Knock and SH Sacraments with Friendship
[X] Plan: Knock, SH and Edge Sacrament with extra Aotl
[X] Plan: Knock, SH and Edge Sacrament
[X] Plan: Knock, SH and Wolf Sacrament
[X] Plan Stacking up Influences and Raiding with SH influence

[x] Plan Bakkasama

 

[Pittauro]

... so many plans, and right now I'm a bit too busy to check them all...

I'm MOSTLY fine with Plan Lightcatcher V2, though I have a couple of doubts about it.

1)I... don't really want to leash Filthy Rich. I don't care about it THAT much, all things considered, but it feels like a shit thing to do to someone that Velvet actually considers to be a friend.

Sure, we sent Mareinette to him... but for the most part he won't remember the bad parts of it.

Diamond will, probably, so we likely traumatized her... but hey, needs must. Ideally she won't be involved in the second action...

2)I'm not 100% sold on sending Selene to spy on Windy... and with Windy being a WINTER cultist, and thus having a very calm and rational lore, if someone could notice Selene tampering with and/or spying on his dreams, it would likely be him.

Well, him or Jade I suppose, again Winter or Lantern would be the counters I expect to be used against Selene's Dreamwalking, probably more Winter against Nightmares and Lantern to notice the foreign presence I imagine.

...all things considered they're minor complaints though.

About Filthy Rich, I find I'm kind of getting... tired of being moral, at least a bit? At least in this quest.

trying not to be a total monster by keeping to some moral and ethical standards is tiring. It might be part of why I'm starting to get around the Mareinette Grail and the personal Winter Sacraments...

 

[Limabot]

Well, we only have about 7 or so turns left, and every major active threat other than Celestia and maybe Windy is either dead or inactive, so I don't think staying at least semi-moral for that length of time will be too much to ask.

 

[DelightedOne]

1)I... don't really want to leash Filthy Rich. I don't care about it THAT much, all things considered, but it feels like a shit thing to do to someone that Velvet actually considers to be a friend.

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Velvet kinda already started to use the Leash for unnecessary things with the Shining Armor proposal, so there is a precedent for using it for pure convenience.

2)I'm not 100% sold on sending Selene to spy on Windy... and with Windy being a WINTER cultist, and thus having a very calm and rational lore, if someone could notice Selene tampering with and/or spying on his dreams, it would likely be him.

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I don't think Winter would help with noticing the tampering but it definitely would in resisting it, but Bird did say Selene can just spy on him without messing with his dreams so low chance of that happening.

This isn't the final build, but if you order Selene to visit a character's dream, you can expect an additional mid-turn vote where you will decide if:
[-] Selene will only OBSERVE their dreams (attempt to gain intelligence, only)
[-] Selene will attempt to CONTACT them, in their dreams (write-in what you want Selene to try to discover, or what message you would like her to convey. But no guarantees)
[-] Selene will REVEAL herself to them (Princess Luna will reveal herself in this character's dream, write-in what goal you want her to try to achieve)

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That actually makes me want to use Selene to recruit Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

... so many plans, and right now I'm a bit too busy to check them all...

I'm MOSTLY fine with Plan Lightcatcher V2, though I have a couple of doubts about it.

1)I... don't really want to leash Filthy Rich. I don't care about it THAT much, all things considered, but it feels like a shit thing to do to someone that Velvet actually considers to be a friend.

Sure, we sent Mareinette to him... but for the most part he won't remember the bad parts of it.

Diamond will, probably, so we likely traumatized her... but hey, needs must. Ideally she won't be involved in the second action...

2)I'm not 100% sold on sending Selene to spy on Windy... and with Windy being a WINTER cultist, and thus having a very calm and rational lore, if someone could notice Selene tampering with and/or spying on his dreams, it would likely be him.

Well, him or Jade I suppose, again Winter or Lantern would be the counters I expect to be used against Selene's Dreamwalking, probably more Winter against Nightmares and Lantern to notice the foreign presence I imagine.

...all things considered they're minor complaints though.

About Filthy Rich, I find I'm kind of getting... tired of being moral, at least a bit? At least in this quest.

trying not to be a total monster by keeping to some moral and ethical standards is tiring. It might be part of why I'm starting to get around the Mareinette Grail and the personal Winter Sacraments...

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Hey now, there are plans that involve neither Leashing nor sending Selene at Winter Cultists nor further traumatizing Diamond. The only effort required is to vote for them. It's not like we need the Moth Sacrament you detest right this very turn anyways. We can just stay focused on saving the Snake and being the absolute best at allaying everyone's concerns.

Plan Wrap-up and Plan Plan Spreading Ourselves Thin Always Gets Us Punished have you covered.

And hey, if we crush the DoA Sacrament and nab her Key with ease, we can levy that SH Influence into our SH Sacrament, a natural and easy follow-through for any spare Actions we reclaim. And the scraps that provides can get us closer to our Moth Sacrament, or our Forge Sacrament, or a Lantern Sacrament, or a Grail Sacrament, or to Heart 4 for family lessons. And if that doesn't strike your fancy, you can slam our Grailed self into the social of your choice instead.

 

[Greymere]

That actually makes me want to use Selene to recruit Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie.

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That would require Velvet to be aware they exist first

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Velvet kinda already started to use the Leash for unnecessary things with the Shining Armor proposal, so there is a precedent for using it for pure convenience.

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Shining Armor could have connected dots that would lead to death by solar beam, is the rationale the thread used for that Leashing. Leashing Filthy is nothing but convenience.

 

[DelightedOne]

Shining Armor could have connected dots that would lead to death by solar beam, is the rationale the thread used for that Leashing. Leashing Filthy is nothing but convenience.

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I meant the Proposal, when Velvet tugged on Shining's Leash to make him ask Cadance to marry him.

That would require Velvet to be aware they exist first

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She knows there are 6 Elements of Harmony and she met 4 of them, that is enough for her to at least ask for a meeting with the ones she doesn't know yet by Alicorn daughter calling them for a chat about the new threat to Equestria named Daybreaker.

 

[Pittauro]

Velvet kinda already started to use the Leash for unnecessary things with the Shining Armor proposal, so there is a precedent for using it for pure convenience.

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I honestly don't remember how I voted there, but there's still a big difference.

while still objectively the wrong thing to do, at least there Velvet can honestly say she was doing it to make Cadance happier, NOT for herself. AND also that, all things considered, Shining will be happier at the end of it too.

After all she was convinced Shining loved her too, so it can be seen as an up to 11 version of making your friend drunk so he'll lose his inhibitions and do something he really wanted to do anyway but was scared to do.

In other words: It was still a violation of Shining's free will and Cadance's trust, but one that ended up WELL for everyone involved.

let's forget for a moment the Master-sized Moth in that room though...

In this case though, we're basically forcing Filthy Rich to... well, do our chores to get some more free time. And it's strictly speaking not necessary, as we could get away with it by freeing one of our other followers.

Probably Selene I imagine.

and this will NOT end up with Filthy Rich being happier. We might be about to ruin their marriage, depending on how the Moth sacrament will go, and in the process of tricking them into caring more about Velvet we also inflicted some (of unknown intensity) trauma on poor Diamond Tiara.

Though I'm hoping that Selene's Soothing might help with that.

I don't think Winter would help with noticing the tampering but it definitely would in resisting it, but Bird did say Selene can just spy on him without messing with his dreams so low chance of that happening.
That actually makes me want to use Selene to recruit Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie.

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!!!

I missed that post you quoted somehow!

Allowing the Master to be reborn as Shaded Leaf, the first Prince of Equestria, would have explicitly "altered your epilogue". Maybe positively, maybe negatively, but certainly up to interpretation.

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including this part. Then again this is basically how I felt about that possibility.

It would have required letting that ATROCITY happen, but I always thought that Alicorn Master was not NECESSARILY going to be completely negative thing.

After all by the time the Master came back, we would have "won" already, one way or the other. He would have achieved his main goal, and anything else he might have tried for would not have been as bad as what he was doing before, really.

Maybe THAT was our best shot at "redeeming him", even. Who knows.



In any case yeah, with your quote of how Selene's dreamwalking is likely to work, I'm less hesitant about it.

I still have some misgivingings about Filthy Rich Leash though

 

[Pittauro]

Hey now, there are plans that involve neither Leashing nor sending Selene at Winter Cultists nor further traumatizing Diamond. The only effort required is to vote for them. It's not like we need the Moth Sacrament you detest right this very turn anyways. We can just stay focused on saving the Snake and being the absolute best at allaying everyone's concerns.

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I don't quite DETEST the Moth Sacrament. I just want to do Forge ritual first and I'm, maybe naively, hoping it will change things somehow.

I do dislike it though.

And hey, if we crush the DoA Sacrament and nab her Key with ease, we can levy that SH Influence into our SH Sacrament, a natural and easy follow-through for any spare Actions we reclaim. And the scraps that provides can get us closer to our Moth Sacrament, or our Forge Sacrament, or a Lantern Sacrament, or a Grail Sacrament, or to Heart 4 for family lessons. And if that doesn't strike your fancy, you can slam our Grailed self into the social of your choice instead.

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oh, that was indeed another thing I was wondering a bit about.

The possibility of replacing Lantern for SH influence, and then shifting the "leftover" APs from DoA Sacrament into SH one.

but... well, I also really REALLY want to research the Lantern and Winter Artifacts.

Lantern allows us to basically scry with nearly any of our followers with decent effectiveness, and high effectiveness with Axe and Selene. It will allow us to summon the Mares fairly easily the moment we get a summoning site (which I'm hoping will be unlocked by Canterlot Part 3, which I'd ideally want to do in the next two turns at the latest...)

 

[DelightedOne]

Lantern allows us to basically scry with nearly any of our followers with decent effectiveness, and high effectiveness with Axe and Selene.

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Axe has the Proud trait and refuses to do any ritual that doesn't involve Knock. Maybe that can change if we befriend her, but I wouldn't keep my hopes up.

 

[Shaper47]

She knows there are 6 Elements of Harmony and she met 4 of them, that is enough for her to at least ask for a meeting with the ones she doesn't know yet by Alicorn daughter calling them for a chat about the new threat to Equestria named Daybreaker.

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Wasn't that entire thing treated like a fever dream from the participants end?

Not to mention how you'd find the physical element in the first place.

Or the little issue that Magic is unavailable fir the Elements.

 

[DelightedOne]

Wasn't that entire thing treated like a fever dream from the participants end?

Not to mention how you'd find the physical element in the first place.

Or the little issue that Magic is unavailable fir the Elements.

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Rarity did say it felt like a dream, but they did spend the whole night awake so that could be part of it.

But I really don't see why that would be a bad thing, they know it was real even if it didn't feel like it and they are well intentioned heroes, I doubt they wouldn't want to join Celestia's rescue party.

I just want to give Selene a nudge in the right direction. Present the Elements and have her calculate 1+1=2 by herself, what happens after depends on her.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

I meant the Proposal, when Velvet tugged on Shning's Leash to make him ask Cadance to marry him.


She knows there are 6 Elements of Harmony and she met 4 of them, that is enough for her to at least ask for a meeting with the ones she doesn't know yet by Alicorn daughter calling them for a chat about the new threat to Equestria named Daybreaker.

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I don't quite DETEST the Moth Sacrament. I just want to do Forge ritual first and I'm, maybe naively, hoping it will change things somehow.

I do dislike it though.



oh, that was indeed another thing I was wondering a bit about.

The possibility of replacing Lantern for SH influence, and then shifting the "leftover" APs from DoA Sacrament into SH one.

but... well, I also really REALLY want to research the Lantern and Winter Artifacts.

Lantern allows us to basically scry with nearly any of our followers with decent effectiveness, and high effectiveness with Axe and Selene. It will allow us to summon the Mares fairly easily the moment we get a summoning site (which I'm hoping will be unlocked by Canterlot Part 3, which I'd ideally want to do in the next two turns at the latest...)

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But we are searching for a very specific object this turn, in a world we have never even visited before, while also working on a probably unrelated task. That's going to be hard. I don't want to assume we're just going to pull it off without investing in our searching ability.

 

[Venerable Ro]

Personally I'm in favor of letting Mareinette finish the job she's already started with Spoiled.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

But we don't get anything from Spoiled this turn. And we don't plan on keeping her around, so there's no reason to prep her ahead of time. Just Mareinette-Confidante her on the turn you want to Sacrament her.

A Grail Influence will be useful right away, what with all the talking FOs we will be pursuing, along with possible conversing on the other side of the mirror.

 

[spiderhellian]

Just Mareinette-Confidante her on the turn you want to Sacrament her

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Given everything around studying and doing a sacrament in the same turn I'm not sure this is an option!

 

[Greymere]

Given everything around studying and doing a sacrament in the same turn I'm not sure this is an option!

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Yeah as far as Bird seems concerned, it seems we need to pretty much have all the conditions met before the turn actually starts. The only reason we can get away with doing DoA's Sacrament this turn is because Name lessons are both quick, basically on-command, and guaranteed to work.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

"I do."

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I wanted to write a Cadance POV from her own wedding, but I feared I wouldn't make it good enough. I am glad you shared this with us, it was great!

And the ritual was SICK! I wish you had given us a bit more context about it, because now I am curious about what that was about.

Omake

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Seeing what could have been, and what (to be honest) I had somewhat envisioned at the very beginning of the quest, is actually very, very wholesome.

I always wanted to flesh out Starry more. I really thought you would jive well with Copper. And Windy was always meant to be the "practical jokester" uncle. To see all of that, and more, here was really great.

So, honestly, thank you for sharing this.

And hey, lose the "silly". These were awesome! And take them off spoilers if you like. These are bona-fide good quality stories!

Nooo?

... @OurLadyOfWires can we use a Risen for the Lantern Sacrament?

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No. Live ponies, for all sacraments. No changelings, no dragons (heh), no dead corpses.

Sacrifices!

Which actually reminds me, @OurLadyOfWires say, would the most honored and esteemed guest by name of Mareinette, beloved by all who speak to her, be able to convince someone that she should 100% definitely have an un- or little-used barn parceled off for her personal use for reasons that Definitely Make Sense? (aka let us use it as a ritual site without other people butting their noses in)

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While your correct and appropriate treatment of our fair Lady was well and good, to the point that it almost convinced me to bend the rules a little ( ), no. Unfortunately.

If you want ritual space, find ritual space. No giveaways of this nature.

Another Omake.

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And here as well. Lose the spoiler, and strike out the "silly". This was also very nice!

Your comment about "only" writing 2000 words as well. I get that feeling, every now and then. But really, don't worry about it. More cake is always more cake! I manage to feel proud about stuff that is even shorter (1.8k words), so don't sell yourself short.

Thank you for sharing this as well. Also, if you have a better title in mind for all three of them, let me know and I'll change it.

@OurLadyOfWires , is Tiara excluded from the only good memories with Mareinette effect, or not?

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Unfortunately, you have no idea IC. Mareinette only reported to you her intentions (the decision/vote she picked) and how much things progressed.

She did tell you the metaphysical process of "they love you more, and won't really think about me". Velvet is aware of Mareinette's skills that we, mechanically, refer to as "honored guest". It is the reason you send her in these errands, even. But the fine details she doesn't really report to you. Those are mostly for you all as readers.

trying not to be a total monster by keeping to some moral and ethical standards is tiring. It might be part of why I'm starting to get around the Mareinette Grail and the personal Winter Sacraments...

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"Being a good person wears you down" innit?

Yeah as far as Bird seems concerned, it seems we need to pretty much have all the conditions met before the turn actually starts. The only reason we can get away with doing DoA's Sacrament this turn is because Name lessons are both quick, basically on-command, and guaranteed to work.

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Yeah. And I'll say it again. For you guys, doing a Sacrament is as easy as picking an option after you fulfill the prerequisites. This being a game, you guys have the "guarantee" it will either work, or that you will runs a dice test under known circumstances.

But to Velvet, it is a plunge into the unknown.

So, I really don't like the idea of "gain final scrap on this turn, and try the Sacrament right after". She needs time to prepare, to understand what she knows and put her thoughts in order... hell, she needs to psyche herself up.

Because the last experience she had with something like this were her Realizations. And those were mostly (1) traumatic and (2) caught her by surprise.

So no, she is not interested in rushing into what is effectively a juiced up and voluntary version of that. She will want to prepare herself, both ritualistically and mentally.



Anyways, those seem to be all the pings. Kindly let me know if I missed any.

And as always, I hope you are all well! I'll do a tally and tell my thoughts on the top three plans in a few minutes (hopefully).

 

[Shaper47]

[X] Plan We Can Be More + Edge (no Prison)

[X] Plan We Can Be More + Edge (AotL)

[X] Plan We Can Be More + Corpses

[X] Plan: Knock, SH and Edge Sacrament with extra Aotl (Jade on light)
[X] Plan: Knock and SH Sacraments with Friendship
[X] Plan: Knock, SH and Edge Sacrament with extra Aotl
[X] Plan: Knock, SH and Edge Sacrament
[X] Plan: Knock, SH and Wolf Sacrament
[X] Plan Stacking up Influences and Raiding with SH influence

[X] Plan Bakkasama

[X] Plan Wrap-Up

[X] Plan Spreading Ourselves Thin Always Gets Us Punished

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

So many plans

Ok, so.

Lightcatcher V2, currently with 9 votes.
-Don't see anything illegal or wrong with it.
-Didn't expect a Lantern influence to be honest. But we haven't done that one before, so it's a good Lantern scrap up.
-I already have Diamond Tiara babysitting 2: Electric Boogaloo planned in my mind. It'll be so good.
-Other than that, all good.

Spreading Ourselves Thin Always Gets Us Punished, currently with 7 votes.
-No leashing? Quite humane!
-Book search? Well, I suppose you have the bits.

We Can Be More + Edge (no Prison), currently with 7 votes.
-Nothing illegal here as well.

All in all, the influence channeling is intriguing. This isn't a criticism, and I will abuse the hell out of them narratively to make things more fun. But the discussion that they could be useful on DoA's Sacrament is fascinating.

Not in a bad way. But it is the mixture of "good sense" preparation (since you are heading towards with the unknown) but at the reasonably high cost of Name actions.

Again, not a criticism, but from what I recall you guys have manifested your risk aversion in other ways thus far. This is a bit of a twist from my perspective.

Anyhow, looks lovely so far. Voting will probably be closed friday, so we'll see how the chips fall.

Good evening everyone.

Spoiler: Tally

Vote Tally : Esquestria: The House of the Sun - A pony cultist experience | Page 249 | Questionable Questing [Posts: 7453-7850]
##### NetTally 4.0.2

[X] Plan Lightcatcher V2
-[X] (Detectives) Follow Up: Changelings
-[X] (Constables) Follow Up: The Gardeners
-[X] (Commissioner) Midday Dew
-[X] (Grail-Leash) Filthy Rich
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X] (Baldomare) Channel a Lantern Influence
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Spoiled Rich
-[X] (DoA) Knock lesson
-[X] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[X] (Selene) Spy on Windy via dreamwalking
-[X] (Rarity) Take a commission
-[X] (Jade) Research the Memory of Light ritual (Stage 1 Progress: 0/100)
-[X] Cover your bases (-9 Follower AP, +3 Velvet AP)
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing
No. of Votes: 9

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Lightcatcher V2
[X] Alan975
[X] DelightedOne
[X] des-pair-2
[X] Greymere
[X] LieutenantSpirit
[X] Limabot
[X] Rafuki22
[X] Sveta08
[X] Waela

[X] Plan Spreading Ourselves Thin Always Gets Us Punished
-[X] Do not leash anypony.
-[X][DETECTIVES] The dangers in the dark come from outside of Ponykind as well. Listen to the rumors. Study the myths. Look for the threats from without. (Search for Expedition Sites for your later consideration. Additionally, keep an ear on the ground for other "foreign" threats)
-[X][CONSTABLES] (FOLLOW UP) Your detectives have given you a very long list, of ponies and places involved in the attempt against your life. Round them up and put them all in jail, before this trail goes cold.
-[X][COMMISSIONER] The Lunar Bureau is not the only recently-minted institution in Equestria. Try to contact the others.
--[X] Eclipse(?), and Midday Dew.
-[X][JADE] Research "A Memory of Light" (Current progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X][BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence. (Secret Histories)
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X][MAREINETTE] Channel an Influence. (Grail)
-[X][SELENE] Soothe the night. (Her Winter realization. Unknown effects, if any.)
-[X] You would like for somepony to search for books…
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE)
-[X] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)
-[X] Something Else (lend Heartifact to Comet)
No. of Votes: 7

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Spreading Ourselves Thin Always Gets Us Punished
[X] Alan975
[X] DelightedOne
[X] Limabot
[X] Maer
[X] Nevermort
[X] Shaper47
[X] Talon Tiger Dino

[X] Plan We Can Be More + Edge (no Prison)
-[X] (Detectives) Follow Up: Changelings
-[X] (Constables) Follow Up: The Gardeners
-[X] (Commissioner) Midday Dew
-[X] (Grail-Leash) Filthy Rich
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X] (Baldomare) Channel a SH Influence
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Spoiled Rich + Filthy Rich
-[X] (DoA) Knock lesson
-[X] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[X] (Selene) Scout Windy's dreams
-[X] (Rarity) Take a commission
-[X] (Biedde) Ask him to channel an influence of Edge for us.
-[X] Cover your bases (-9 Follower AP, +3 Velvet AP)
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing
No. of Votes: 7

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: We Can Be More + Edge (no Prison)
[X] Anjaxis
[X] des-pair-2
[X] jelloloaf
[X] MisRAR1
[X] Nevermort
[X] Rafuki22
[X] Shaper47

[X] Plan Wrap-Up
-[X] Do not leash anypony.
-[X][DETECTIVES] Follow Up: Changelings
-[X][CONSTABLES] (FOLLOW UP) Your detectives have given you a very long list, of ponies and places involved in the attempt against your life. Round them up and put them all in jail, before this trail goes cold.
-[X][COMMISSIONER] The Lunar Bureau is not the only recently-minted institution in Equestria. Try to contact the others.
--[X] Eclipse(?), and Midday Dew.
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X][BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence. (Secret Histories)
-[X][BIEDDE] Kill any Bound Windigos that are discovered. Killing monsters is something you wish to do, after all.
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X][MAREINETTE] Channel an Influence. (Grail)
-[X][SELENE] Soothe the night. (Her Winter realization. Unknown effects, if any.)
-[X] You need somepony to perform this ritual… (Rite of the Tapestry, targeting Bound Windigos)
--[X] To be performed... somewhere, where you hope nopony will catch wind of it.
-[X] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)
-[X] Something Else (lend Heartifact to Comet.)
No. of Votes: 6

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Wrap-Up
[X] des-pair-2
[X] Limabot
[X] Maer
[X] Nevermort
[X] Shaper47
[X] Talon Tiger Dino

[X] Plan Stacking up Influences and Raiding with SH influence
-[X] (Detectives) Follow Up: Changelings
-[X] (Constables) Follow Up: Time to raid the mountain of Tall Tale.
-[X] (Commissioner) . Get your hoofs dirty. Join the "Constables" in a raid/Expedition
-[X] (Grail-Leash) Filthy Rich
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X] (Baldomare) Channel a SH Influence
-[X] (Mareinette) Channel a Grail Influence
-[X] (DoA) Knock lesson
-[X] (Selene) Attack your foe, or defend yourself. Deal with Windigo's jars
-[X] (Selene) Scout Windy's dreams
-[X] (Jade) Scry for Windigo's Urns
-[X] (Biedde) Ask for an Edge Influence.
-[X] Cover your bases (-9 Follower AP, +3 Velvet AP)
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing
No. of Votes: 5

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Stacking up Influences and Raiding with SH influence
[X] AuthorTransient
[X] des-pair-2
[X] Maer
[X] Shaper47
[X] Talon Tiger Dino

[X] Plan Bakkasama
-[X][DETECTIVES] The dangers in the dark come from outside of Ponykind as well. Listen to the rumors. Study the myths. Look for the threats from without. (Search for Expedition Sites for your later consideration. Additionally, keep an ear on the ground for other "foreign" threats)
-[X][CONSTABLES] (FOLLOW UP) Your detectives have given you a very long list, of ponies and places involved in the attempt against your life. Round them up and put them all in jail, before this trail goes cold.
-[X][COMMISSIONER] The Lunar Bureau is not the only recently-minted institution in Equestria. Try to contact the others.
--[X] Eclipse(?), and Midday Dew.
-[X] Leash Filthy Rich (gain one follower action)
-[X] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)
-[X][RARITY] Focus on her work. (Guarantees she will "succeed" on her career roll)
-[X][BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence. (SH)
-[X][BALDOMARE] Prolong her stay. (Edge 6 book)
-[X][MAREINETTE] You need her to talk to… (Spoiled Rich)
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X][JADE] Research "A Memory of Light" (Current progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)
-[X][SELENE] Soothe the night. (Her Winter realization. Unknown effects, if any.)
-[X] Needs must. Ask somepony to procure you a dead body from the local cemetery.
No. of Votes: 3

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Bakkasama
[x] Alan975
[x] Bakkasama
[X] Shaper47

[X] Plan We Can Be More
-[X] (Detectives) Follow Up: Changelings
-[X] (Constables) Follow Up: The Gardeners
-[X] (Commissioner) Midday Dew
-[X] (Grail-Leash) Filthy Rich
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X] (Baldomare) Channel a SH Influence
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Spoiled Rich + Filthy Rich
-[X] (DoA) Knock lesson
-[X] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[X] (Selene) Scout Windy's dreams
-[X] (Rarity) Take a commission
-[X] (Biedde) Build a prison
-[X] Cover your bases (-9 Follower AP, +3 Velvet AP)
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing
No. of Votes: 3

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: We Can Be More
[X] des-pair-2
[X] Rafuki22
[X] spiderhellian

[X] Plan We Can Be More + Edge (AotL)
-[X] (Detectives) Follow Up: Changelings
-[X] (Constables) Follow Up: The Gardeners
-[X] (Commissioner) Midday Dew
-[X] (Grail-Leash) Filthy Rich
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X] (Baldomare) Channel a SH Influence
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Spoiled Rich + Filthy Rich
-[X] (DoA) Knock lesson
-[X] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[X] (Selene) Scout Windy's dreams
-[X] AotL: Edge
-[X] (Biedde) Ask him to channel an influence of Edge for us.
-[X] Cover your bases (-9 Follower AP, +3 Velvet AP)
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing
No. of Votes: 3

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: We Can Be More + Edge (AotL)
[X] des-pair-2
[X] Shaper47
[X] spiderhellian

[X] Plan Lightcatcher but with Grail Influence
-[X] (Detectives) Follow Up: Changelings
-[X] (Constables) Follow Up: The Gardeners
-[X] (Commissioner) Midday Dew
-[X] (Grail-Leash) Filthy Rich
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X] (Baldomare) Channel a Lantern Influence
-[X] (Mareinette) Channel a Grail Influence
-[X] (DoA) Knock lesson
-[X] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[X] (Selene) Spy on Windy via dreamwalking
-[X] (Rarity) Take a commission
-[X] (Jade) Research the Memory of Light ritual (Stage 1 Progress: 0/100)
-[X] Cover your bases (-9 Follower AP, +3 Velvet AP)
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing
No. of Votes: 2

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Lightcatcher but with Grail Influence
[X] des-pair-2
[X] Nevermort

[X] Plan We Can Be More + Corpses
-[X] (Detectives) Follow Up: Changelings
-[X] (Constables) Follow Up: The Gardeners
-[X] (Commissioner) Midday Dew
-[X] (Grail-Leash) Filthy Rich
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X] (Baldomare) Channel a SH Influence
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Spoiled Rich + Filthy Rich
-[X] (DoA) Knock lesson
-[X] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[X] (Selene) Scout Windy's dreams
-[X] (Rarity) Take a commission
-[X] (Biedde) Ask him for some corpses.
-[X] Cover your bases (-9 Follower AP, +3 Velvet AP)
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing
No. of Votes: 2

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: We Can Be More + Corpses
[X] Shaper47
[X] spiderhellian

[X] Plan We Can Be More with Tall Tale Scenario
-[X] (Detectives) Follow Up: Changelings
-[X] (Constables) Follow Up: Tall Tale expedition
-[X] (Commissioner) Get your hoofs dirty.
-[X] (Grail-Leash) Filthy Rich
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X] (Baldomare) Channel a SH Influence
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Spoiled Rich
-[X] (DoA) Knock lesson
-[X] (Selene) Scout Windy's dreams
-[X] (Rarity) Take a commission
-[X] (Jade) Scry for the Manehatten W*ndigo jars
-[X] (Biedde) Send on an expedition to 1) destroy the W*ndigo jars and then 2) find and retrieve Neighna, if possible. If Jade's scrying fails, construct a prison instead.
-[X] Cover your bases (-9 Follower AP, +3 Velvet AP)
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing
No. of Votes: 2

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: We Can Be More with Tall Tale Scenario
[X] AuthorTransient
[X] des-pair-2

[X] Dance with your beloved!
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[X] Artemis_Fowl_2nd

[X] Do not leash anypony.
-[X] Gift Baldomare your Level 6 book.
-[X][DETECTIVES] (FOLLOW UP) There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them. (One of the chief expectations of the Bureau. Avert a future Catastrophe)
-[X][CONSTABLES] (FOLLOW UP) Your detectives have given you a very long list, of ponies and places involved in the attempt against your life. Round them up and put them all in jail, before this trail goes cold.
-[X][COMMISSIONER] [FLEETING OPPORTUNITY] Princess Cadance is in Canterlot. You are in Canterlot. Oh, and you nearly died, just a few weeks ago. Use your free time here to meet her.
-[X][RARITY] Focus on her work. (Guarantees she will "succeed" on her career roll)
-[X][JADE] Research "A Memory of Light" (Current progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)
-[X][BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence. (Secret Histories)
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X][BIEDDE] Ask for an Edge lesson.
-[X] You would like for somepony to search for books…
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE)
-[X] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)
-[X] Something else? (Be interviewed about what happened during the attack.)
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[X] Portec

[X] Head to the refreshments table
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[X] Artemis_Fowl_2nd

[X] Plan Focus and Set up
-[X] (Detectives) Follow Up: Changelings
-[X] (Constables) Follow Up: The Gardeners
-[X] (Commissioner) Beyond Reproach
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X] (Baldomare) Channel a SH Influence
-[X] (DoA) Knock lesson
-[X] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[X][JADE] Research "A Memory of Light" (Current progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)
-[X][BIEDDE] Scout Tall Tail
-[X] You would like for somepony to search for books…
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE)
-[X] Cover your bases (-9 Follower AP, +3 Velvet AP)
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Focus and Set up
[X] Solace2117

[X] Plan Stacking up Influences and Raiding with SH influence
-[X] (Detectives) Follow Up: Changelings
-[X] (Constables) Follow Up: Time to raid the mountain of Tall Tale.
-[X] (Commissioner) . Get your hoofs dirty. Join the "Constables" in a raid/Expedition
-[X] (Grail-Leash) Filthy Rich
-[X] (Baldomare-Gift) Edge 6 book
-[X] (Baldomare) Channel a SH Influence
-[X] (Mareinette) Channel a Grail Influence
-[X] (DoA) Knock lesson
-[X] (Selene) Scout Windigo's Urns
-[X] (Selene) Scout Windy's dreams
-[X] (Jade) Research the Memory of Light ritual (Stage 1 Progress: 0/100)
-[X] (Biedde) Ask for an Edge Influence.
-[X] Cover your bases (-9 Follower AP, +3 Velvet AP)
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[X] Nevermort

[X] Plan: Knock and SH Sacraments with Friendship
-[X] Leash Filthy Rich (gain one follower action)
-[X] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)
-[X][DETECTIVES] (FOLLOW UP) There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them. (One of the chief expectations of the Bureau. Avert a future Catastrophe)
-[X][CONSTABLES] (FOLLOW UP) Everypony heard what happened to your previous prisoner. Nopony wants to sit around and wait for what happens next. Time to raid the mountain of Tall Tale.
-[X][COMMISSIONER] [FLEETING OPPORTUNITY] Princess Cadance is in Canterlot. You are in Canterlot. Oh, and you nearly died, just a few weeks ago. Use your free time here to meet her.
-[X][JADE] Research "A Memory of Light" (Current progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)
-[X][BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence in Secret Histories
-[X][MAREINETTE] You need her to talk to Spoiled Rich
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X][SELENE] Comfort Jade
-[X] You would like for somepony to search for books…
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE)
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should… (Forge-aligned ponies are better suited at attempting these tasks)
---[X] You might need a place to… "store" your enemies. Alive. Dig a small prison under her house.
-[X] (Other) Lend Comet the Heart 3 artifact for the turn, if he's willing
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Knock and SH Sacraments with Friendship
[X] Shaper47

[X] Plan: Knock, SH and Edge Sacrament
-[X] Leash Filthy Rich (gain one follower action)
-[X] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)
-[X][DETECTIVES] (FOLLOW UP) There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them. (One of the chief expectations of the Bureau. Avert a future Catastrophe)
-[X][CONSTABLES] (FOLLOW UP) Everypony heard what happened to your previous prisoner. Nopony wants to sit around and wait for what happens next. Time to raid the mountain of Tall Tale.
-[X][COMMISSIONER] [FLEETING OPPORTUNITY] Princess Cadance is in Canterlot. You are in Canterlot. Oh, and you nearly died, just a few weeks ago. Use your free time here to meet her.
-[X][RARITY] Focus on her work. (Guarantees she will "succeed" on her career roll)
-[X][BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence in Secret Histories
-[X][MAREINETTE] You need her to talk to Spoiled Rich
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X][BIEDDE] Ask for an Edge Influence.
-[X] You would like for somepony to search for books…
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE) × 2
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Knock, SH and Edge Sacrament
[X] Shaper47

[X] Plan: Knock, SH and Edge Sacrament with extra Aotl
-[X] Leash Filthy Rich (gain one follower action)
-[X] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)
-[X][DETECTIVES] (FOLLOW UP) There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them. (One of the chief expectations of the Bureau. Avert a future Catastrophe)
-[X][CONSTABLES] (FOLLOW UP) Everypony heard what happened to your previous prisoner. Nopony wants to sit around and wait for what happens next. Time to raid the mountain of Tall Tale.
-[X][COMMISSIONER] [FLEETING OPPORTUNITY] Princess Cadance is in Canterlot. You are in Canterlot. Oh, and you nearly died, just a few weeks ago. Use your free time here to meet her.
-[X][RARITY] Focus on her work. (Guarantees she will "succeed" on her career roll)
-[X][BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence in Secret Histories
-[X][MAREINETTE] You need her to talk to Spoiled Rich
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X][BIEDDE] Ask for an Edge Influence.
-[X] You would like for somepony to search for books…
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE)
-[X] You would like somepony to help you with a small ritual. Edge Aotl × 1
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Knock, SH and Edge Sacrament with extra Aotl
[X] Shaper47

[X] Plan: Knock, SH and Edge Sacrament with extra Aotl (Jade on light)
-[X] Leash Filthy Rich (gain one follower action)
-[X] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)
-[X][DETECTIVES] (FOLLOW UP) There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them. (One of the chief expectations of the Bureau. Avert a future Catastrophe)
-[X][CONSTABLES] (FOLLOW UP) Everypony heard what happened to your previous prisoner. Nopony wants to sit around and wait for what happens next. Time to raid the mountain of Tall Tale.
-[X][COMMISSIONER] [FLEETING OPPORTUNITY] Princess Cadance is in Canterlot. You are in Canterlot. Oh, and you nearly died, just a few weeks ago. Use your free time here to meet her.
-[X][JADE] Research "A Memory of Light" (Current progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)
-[X][BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence in Secret Histories
-[X][MAREINETTE] You need her to talk to Spoiled Rich
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X][BIEDDE] Ask for an Edge Influence.
-[X] You would like for somepony to search for books…
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE)
-[X] You would like somepony to help you with a small ritual. Edge Aotl × 1
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Knock, SH and Edge Sacrament with extra Aotl (Jade on light)
[X] Shaper47

[X] Plan: Knock, SH and Wolf Sacrament
-[X] Leash Filthy Rich (gain one follower action)
-[X] Three extra Velvet actions! (Costs 9 follower actions)
-[X][DETECTIVES] (FOLLOW UP) There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them. (One of the chief expectations of the Bureau. Avert a future Catastrophe)
-[X][CONSTABLES] (FOLLOW UP) Everypony heard what happened to your previous prisoner. Nopony wants to sit around and wait for what happens next. Time to raid the mountain of Tall Tale.
-[X][COMMISSIONER] [FLEETING OPPORTUNITY] Princess Cadance is in Canterlot. You are in Canterlot. Oh, and you nearly died, just a few weeks ago. Use your free time here to meet her.
-[X][RARITY] Focus on her work. (Guarantees she will "succeed" on her career roll)
-[X][BALDOMARE] Channel an Influence in Secret Histories
-[X][MAREINETTE] You need her to talk to Spoiled Rich
-[X][AXE] Ask for a Knock lesson.
-[X] You would like for somepony to search for books…
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE) × 2
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should… (Forge-aligned ponies are better suited at attempting these tasks)
---[X] You might need a place to… "store" your enemies. Alive. Dig a small prison under her house.
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[◈] Plan: Knock, SH and Wolf Sacrament
[X] Shaper47

[X] Say hello to Celestia
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[X] Artemis_Fowl_2nd

Total No. of Voters: 22

 

[Limabot]

In hindsight, I think one of the largest issues of how we handled the cult were a mix of seeing most of the rest of the rest of the Inner Circle like either villains or active criminals rather than the traumatized and lost ponies they were, not taking actions that would have soothed things over with them (like helping them skip town or letting Starry out of jail), and simple bad luck on the few times we did try to reach out to them.

Oh well. There's not a whole lot we can do to fix it now, save prey that Windy is in a cooperative mood and isn't too Wolf-poisoned.

 

[Sveta08]

...all things considered they're minor complaints though.

About Filthy Rich, I find I'm kind of getting... tired of being moral, at least a bit? At least in this quest.

trying not to be a total monster by keeping to some moral and ethical standards is tiring. It might be part of why I'm starting to get around the Mareinette Grail and the personal Winter Sacraments...

Click to shrink...

Ha!

Don't lie to me. Or maybe don't lie to yourself.
Look back. No, no seriously, look back with me a moment. When? When have we and the thread ever considered The Filthy family anything more than an ends to a mean?

We met them and greeted them because we wanted bits. We worked with them because we wanted social influence. We consider helping the family so they would trust us.
We were happy that we found a broken marriage so that it wouldn't hurt us when we split it apart. When we found how wretched Spoiled was, people all but rejoiced! Here, we have someone who was our Moth Sacrament, and we would miss nothing about them!

There is exactly one person that we are sad for, and that's Silky. Because she made friends with Tiara, and how this will impact her might ripple on to our own life.


This?
This is exactly what we have wanted from the beginning. People treated as tools.

I don't agree with it, and I don't like it, but I recognize where we are. What the plan is.
We sold this "Talking to the Riches to be friends" coin a long time ago. It's just now that it's coming due.


Edit: Sorry. This is probably a bit too much. Just... what you said bit me the wrong way.

 

[Limabot]

[X] Plan Spreading Ourselves Thin Always Gets Us Punished

[X] Plan Wrap-Up

[X] Plan Lightcatcher No Leash

Some of the recent discussion has made me more wary of the Lightcatcher plan on accounts of it using the Leash, but I stand by my other two votes.

EDIT: Added new version of Lightcatcher plan that removes the Leash.

 

[AuthorTransient]

Well, we can always choose to start caring about them now and not use the Leash. But the plan will need a little restructuring.

It's a slippery slope, isn't it? The means, the means, the means. Hopefully it's just this one time. One month, one turn. Of course, if Daybreaker catches up, then it's: haven't we earned a little wrath?

 

[Zxzx24]

-I already have Diamond Tiara babysitting 2: Electric Boogaloo planned in my mind. It'll be so good.

Click to shrink...

I mean... look at how stealing all those children went for Velvet!

Worked out great. One of them even turned into an Alicorn!

 

[spiderhellian]

In hindsight, I think one of the largest issues of how we handled the cult were a mix of seeing most of the rest of the rest of the Inner Circle like either villains or active criminals rather than the traumatized and lost ponies they were, not taking actions that would have soothed things over with them (like helping them skip town or letting Starry out of jail), and simple bad luck on the few times we did try to reach out to them.

Click to shrink...

Looking back, I always thought cult socializing was doomed because of the Elements of Harmony, but we also spent lots of actions on our family even fairly early on.

I guess it makes sense. We had characters Velvet was immediately invested in, and characters we readers were invested in, and it's hard for others to compete.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

I agree with the sentiment. And I really don't blame anyone. Not the thread, and not myself.

I try to make all the characters interesting, even if not necessarily likeable. I try to ensure that Velvet stays humane (well, as long as your decisions remain humane). And when it comes to Filthy Rich himself, I even remember sprinkling him in on a certain situation that could be considered gratuitous. But in my mind, those just make sense. I mean, he's the only actual "father" character that you know, other than your own Stormchaser. He's the only real parent on your contacts list, if you think about it.

But anyways. My point is that, despite all of that, this quest has still been absolutely plagued by AP hell. Any claims that "things could have gone differently" carry the unspoken "at the expense of something we did". And I personally like the current Velvet, WITH her regrets (and I mean the non-Wolf ones) to the point that I am happy where she currently is.

Well, I'll stop boring you all with this random wall of text. Happy voting everyone.

 

[Zxzx24]

@OurLadyOfWires our journey has been good. Our travels worthwhile.

I might have done a few things differently but...

Velvet has tried to do the right thing a lot of the time. And has been fun during it.

Do you remember nailing windy flakes furniture to the roof of his house "as a prank"

 

[spiderhellian]

But anyways. My point is that, despite all of that, this quest has still been absolutely plagued by AP hell. Any claims that "things could have gone differently" carry the unspoken "at the expense of something we did". And I personally like the current Velvet, WITH her regrets (and I mean the non-Wolf ones) to the point that I am happy where she currently is.

Click to shrink...

Yeah, agreed.

But when it comes to the Wasn'ts, I am exceedingly curious what the chance of running into Rarity/a Mane Six character was on that first "explore the town" action!