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

Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
Reader mode
Dear reader! Whether you are new here, archive-reading and whatnot, or you are already someone who has been with us for quite a while, I would like to say a few words that I believe are best kept close to mind.

-This is an MLP quest. And more importantly, none of us are gratuitously cruel. So good things will happen on this quest, and I hope that enough good things have already happened to prove that.
-This is also a horror quest, so bad things will happen. Bad things might happen to good characters if you are not able to protect them, and you most certainly will not be able to intervene if you lack the tools to do so.
-And finally, this is a quest in which you jostle with powers greater than yourself, with all that it entails.

Please, do keep those things in mind as you go forward. But ultimately, this is also a quest in which it is hoped we all have fun! So if any of the above points is not exactly your cup of tea, or somehow make the experience as a whole "not worth it", then this quest might not be for you. Which is fine! Individual tastes are a thing, so don't think any more about it if you don't want to read anymore. And regardless, I hope you have a lovely day!

Kaelor said:
PSA for whoever needs to hear it:

Readers should take their own mental health into consideration when voting and not subject themselves to triggering narrative elements like rape or constant mental torture of a friend just for the Greatest Good of a world that doesn't exist.

If those are fine for you or Regrettable is even more triggering, then GREAT! More power to you. But you aren't a bad or selfish person for picking the option that keeps the characters you've emotionally connected with safe. [REDACTED for spoiler warning]

This is a high intensity quest that doesn't hold back when it comes to horror and negative consequences. Take care of yourself.
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(Quote slightly edited to avoid spoilers)
 
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Jade didn't progress on her cult task. Maybe she should get on with that? Whatever that was.

As for family time, we should probably just spend time with them instead of inviting our uncle. Selene still doesn't see us as her mother and it might take a while. Should social her instead of having our uncle social her.
 
PrimalShadow said:
I like the uncle action, since we are asking him for a favor.
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Good point; we don't get an action bonus that way, but it also likely discharges whatever we owe him, and/or gives us some influence over how it turns out, in addition to the implicit relationship bonus.

We'd have to look at the plans as a whole to see whether the AP economy permits it though, since there are good reasons for taking a 5-action turn.
 
permeakra said:
Why?
It is a book search, fully within our role of Loremaster. There is no (visible) downsides to involving the Cult Proper. Quite the contrary, if we can use Jade's cadre to boost chance of success somehow, it would be a pure bonus.

....

Actually, while we are talking about it, it might also boost Jade's position within the cult - since it shows that she is competent and the failure was not on her part, but on the wrongly worded question. I believe, we might eventually reap benefits from it.
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That's fair, It's just that I figure it might be harder to justify keeping any found artifact for ourselves instead of giving it to the cult after having studied it.

Books would obviously go to us, at least until we research them.. but the artifacts might be jarder to justify, and can't be copied the way a book can.

PrimalShadow said:
Recruiting our own cult followers could be valuable.

I like the uncle action, since we are asking him for a favor.

Finally, are we really okay with Jade having ZERO progress on her cult task?
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Agree on point one and two... but what IS jade's task? I have no idea right now!

@BirdBodhisattva what's Jade's task? we need to know how important it is (and/or if we can speed it up) before deciding what to have her do!

jason1stlegion said:
Good point; we don't get an action bonus that way, but it also likely discharges whatever we owe him, and/or gives us some influence over how it turns out, in addition to the implicit relationship bonus.

We'd have to look at the plans as a whole to see whether the AP economy permits it though, since there are good reasons for taking a 5-action turn.
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we could, I think, safely delay the meeting with the grandniece for a turn if we want. I'd rather not, but we COULD.
 
Pittauro said:
Agree on point one and two... but what IS jade's task? I have no idea right now!

@BirdBodhisattva what's Jade's task? we need to know how important it is (and/or if we can speed it up) before deciding what to have her do!
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She was tasked with improving the cadre and the cult's ability to perform rituals.

It was mentioned at the last cult gathering a turn ago, at the same time as our own mansus exploration task was assigned.
 
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PrimalShadow said:
She was tasked with improving the cadre and the cult's ability to perform rituals.

It was mentioned at the last cult gathering a turn ago, at the same time as our own mansus exploration task was assigned.
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well we ALSO want better bonus to rituals, both to find expedition sites, and for the healing rituals for both us and Selene...

Yeah, ok, I'm fine with her doing her own cult mission.
 
ok, let's prepare the basic plan format. I think we all agree on at least the books, servant and the confidant actions, and probably at least 3 of the 5 basic actions.


by the way, in case you don't know, as long as the vote is formatted properly (with the appropriate number of "-" before the "[><]" the plan will be tallied properly even if you interrupt it with explanations. basically like so:


[><]Plan X

-[><] Action x

because I like it

-[><] Action y

because yes, that's why


it get's tallied the same as

[><]Plan X
-[><] Action x
-[><] Action y

obviously with the ACTUAL "X"




[] Plan x
-[] The Attention of the Laws [LANTERN] for the Stag Door

-[] Number of actions
--[] 5+1

-[] Buy Books
--[] EDGE 3
--[] KNOCK 2
--[] WINTER 2

you can remove Knock if you don't want it, the other two are basically mandatory.

-[] Rarity
--[] Level her up.

-[] Jade Whistle
--[] As per orders. (Perform her cult assignment)
--[] You do you.

Probably one of these two. I'm NEARLY certain we'll go with the cult assignment. If we had a free action I might even suggest we help her with it, but.. maybe another time.

-[] Selene
--[] Knock.

and that's all the confidants

-[] A fleeting opportunity
--[] Tutoring Twilight
--[] Deliver Comet Feet's letter
--[] "Those damn Needles!"
---[] Ask your uncle

That's 2 actions

-[] Mission
--[] Go higher in the Mansus (add second action here, likely explore beyond or retry if fail)

action 3. I think nearly everyone agrees with doing everything above this point. I consider it obvious that if we fail we retry with the second attempt, and if we succeed we explore BEYOND the hurdle, but you might prefer to specify it.


-[] Shopping
--[] Books
---[] In Ponyville. (servant action)

to find the last Heart Book we need for lvl 3.


Below this are the actions I think are the most important. Mix and Match what you want, or go back to the turn threadmark if something you thing is important is NOT down here.

-[] On aiding the cult
--[] Help Starry Dancer
---[] Contact her.
---[] Help her with her task.
--[] Help Copper Secateur
---[] Contact her.

The two cultists we are closer to achieving something with. Starry because we know her problem. COpper because we got a hint of her problems last turn.


-[] On furthering your knowledge
--[] Ask Master a question (risky) (add question here)
--[] Read book (write in which)
---[] Winter 2, Heart 2, Heart 3

books (my favourite for action 4), or question to master (much less important, but potentially interesting.).

We could technically study different books, but I think these are the optimal ones.


-[] Personal life
--[] Family
---[] Idle interaction
---[] WRITE IN (other ways to spend time with your family, or anything else)
--[] Velvet Steppes.
---[] Call him over.

I'd go with a write in to calm our family about our latest freak-out, and/or inviting our uncle. Write-in is probably better than idle interaction.



ok, this are all my top pick in terms of actions. You can simply copy the lines from here (or from the turn, really. I just tried to make a first screening of what's worth doing.


House cleaning is missing from the list because we have already enough urgent things to do and the house is not going anywhere.
 
Updates:
-Character sheet, contacts and other Informational posts updated

-Lore Informational post also updated. Seeker included

-Named characters level-up rules changed. Your level will always be greater than the Bright Library's, so having a named pony level up "due to the bright library" made no sense. Using one of your own actions to level them up will apply your Lore level. Using one of THEIR actions to level them up will apply the Bright Library's level (meaning you have enough reading material for them to study on their own, without your supervision)

-"The Lies We Tell" of both Rarity and Stormchaser have been slightly updated
--Specifically about Stormchaser, you have mentioned him that your cult group has a powerful master of sorts, one that you can't completely trust
--Specifically about Rarity, you did tell her everything about Selene. But you told her "everything" that you felt confident about telling her on that moment. Specifically, that Selene is Luna, and that your Lore knowledge led you there, as well as the "softer" details about the occult and the cult as a whole. Again, you didn't feel confident enough back then (and you still don't feel even know) to tell her about the cult's active role in Luna's disappearance, or about the possible murders.

-I'll also point out that the Moth artifact finally disappeared.




And I'll make a typo-run on the latest updates later, with a clearer head. For now let me check the thread so far, and answer whatever question may ahve arised.
 
BirdBodhisattva said:
-Named characters level-up rules changed. Your level will always be greater than the Bright Library's, so having a named pony level up "due to the bright library" made no sense. Using one of your own actions to level them up will apply your Lore level. Using one of THEIR actions to level them up will apply the Bright Library's level (meaning you have enough reading material for them to study on their own, without your supervision)
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uh.

Well, luckily the Library's Grail is 1, so we DO have the material for Rarity's first level up.

We'll have to do the next step up with our own action once we reach Grail 3 though.

BirdBodhisattva said:
-I'll also point out that the Moth artifact finally disappeared.
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I honestly thought it disappeared many turns ago.
 
Ericwinter said:
The character Sheet and Contacts page need to be updated, when you get the time. Heart and Grail should both have one more scrap, and Jade needs her new Lore added plus her blurb edited if you intend to do that.

The only other question I had was why we hadn't told Rarity about the ritual, either, but I think this was explained already when we first found Selene? I just can't remember what it was.
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First part done, please let me know if I forgot about anything.
About the second part, you told her "everything" that you thought you could, while giving her the ample benefit of your trust.
That said, telling her "everything" entailed telling her about the cult, the lores, the Worms, and the fact that Selene is Luna. You did not tell her, however, about the murder(s?), or just how horrifying your Master is, or about the exact scale of what the existence of the Worms entails. And you most certainly didn't tell her about the Ritual that caused all of it.
There might come a day when you trust her enough, or when you feel she has grown enough, for you to tell her absolutely everything. But for now you are certainly smart enough to gauge just how much of "everything" is enough.

Again, I will remind you all that the whole problem with Stormchaser was exactly because you didn't know how much would be too much for him. You depend on him so much that you are somewhat disarmed when it comes to... "manipulating" (as much as that word is a heavy one, it is somewhat necessary to use here) him.

That is not a problem you have with Rarity so far. Although keeping track of what you have told her still feels at least relevant.

Ericwinter said:
We could try having Jade deliver the letter in person, though I personally want to throw her at a search ritual for Edge Artifacts.
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That would be the equivalent of telling Jade to "handle it" with an action of hers.

Emissary said:
@BirdBodhisattva Does attempting the Mansus ascent count as one of the choices of Mansus exploration or is it a purely separate action?
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It counts as one of them. You can choose a second action. I put it up top just because it's your current "mission".

Bakkasama said:
Dear Comet Feet, [...]
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:V

Pittauro said:
It's a bit sad, but we're involved in such dangerous projects that it's probably wiser not to reveal everything to most ponies. Even the ones we trust.
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"If you tell them too much they will not be safe. If you tell them too little they will not be useful."

Pittauro said:
Basically, "working hard" is not enough. If we don't "work clever" some things simply won't be possible.
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Aye, that's the gist of it.

Pittauro said:
@BirdBodhisattva what's Jade's task? we need to know how important it is (and/or if we can speed it up) before deciding what to have her do!
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Further training her cadre.
 
And finally... Just a few other things that have crossed my mind.

First of all, a reminder that you currently only know what the Hurdle for "going up" is, and that it uses your Winter Level and your SH application bonus.
Also, Jade's house will become available as a "ritual site" and general storage place if you fully clean it. Again, the first action of cleaning it will be very suspicious (if performed by servants) because there are... many things there that would raise quite a few eyebrows. After that first action it will be mostly regular cleanup that you can safely(?) ask your servants to do.
And about gaining clout in the Outer Circle, I haven't added it as a selectable action, but it is something that you can write in without a problem.

All in all, time to sleep. Thank you for your patience!
 
BirdBodhisattva said:
Your level will always be greater than the Bright Library
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*cough* *cough* I specifically wrote an omake about this not being true *cough*


BirdBodhisattva said:
Using one of your own actions to level them up will apply your Lore level. Using one of THEIR actions to level them up will apply the Bright Library's level (meaning you have enough reading material for them to study on their own, without your supervision)
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What about characters not in the cult?


Frankly not loving this rules decision overall. It seems like in practice this would just mean we almost always have to do the upgrade with a personal action, since the library is going to trail our efforts, and using up a confidant action isn't that much better than using up a personal action. So this just leaves the confidant advancement as something we never take.

If you want to incentivise expansion of the bright library, I do have a suggestion - make learning by themselves a free action for our confidant as long as:
  • They have access to the Bright Library
  • The Bright library is advanced enough to match what level they are trying to advance to
  • They succeed on a roll
In other words make it operate on the same sort of principles as healing wounds does.
 
[X] Plan Restful Stressful Month
-[X] The Attention of the Laws [SECRET HISTORIES]

-[X] Number of actions
--[X] 5+1

-[X] Buy Books
--[X] EDGE 3
--[X] KNOCK 2
--[X] WINTER 2

-[X] Rarity
--[X] Focus on her work.

-[X] Jade Whistle
--[X] As per orders. (Perform her cult assignment)

-[X] Selene
--[X] Knock.

-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Tutoring Twilight
--[X] Deliver Comet Feet's letter
--[X] "Those damn Needles!"
---[X] Do it yourself
----[X] Ask your uncle for assistance in the matter

-[X] Shopping (Servant Action)
--[X] Books
---[X] In Ponyville.

-[X] The Mansus (pick TWO)
--[X] Go higher in the Mansus (Mission)
---[X] If next Door is not reached, attempt again, if full success has been achieved explore past it else explore past the Blank Door

-[X] Personal life
--[X] Family
---[X] Invite and introduce Uncle Steppes to everyone, have a nice family gathering.

————————————————————

Currently have Family as Inviting and introducing Uncle Steppes to everyone and hanging out, and Attention as Lantern for the mission, but am willing to change with further discussion/reasons given. Or, in case of a better write-in, will place that in the family section.

Want to take care of the biggest problems of the moment, and am MORE than willing to invest both a personal action AND Uncle's assistance into looking why the Needles are acting weird.

That social call might be the biggest reason, but one should never underestimate the plan within the plan. That Game is just loved by the higher echelons.

Gotta take care of Twilight and Comet's issues, as well, so those are in, obviously, as is Selene getting Knock.

And yes, I know Pittauro wants books and will prob make his own plan with them, but hey, at least I made mine nice and early this time!
 
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PrimalShadow said:
What about characters not in the cult?
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we get them a copy of the material? It's not that hard to do, honestly.

Surely the minions in the cult have made a few extra copies of our works after all.

PrimalShadow said:
Frankly not loving this rules decision overall. It seems like in practice this would just mean we almost always have to do the upgrade with a personal action, since the library is going to trail our efforts, and using up a confidant action isn't that much better than using up a personal action. So this just leaves the confidant advancement as something we never take.
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I think it makes sense. Basically a confidant can reach the lowest level with self- study (usually the major 1 minor 0 step), and later on, once the Bright Library is better, even the "Major 3, minor 1", but anything more requires personal attention.

So, Rarity can study on her own this first time, but the next one we'll need to first reach Grail 3, and then teach her.

and we can still use them for other actions. in particular to give more bonuses (narrative and mechanical) to our own.

I really feel like the "have them assist us" choice is being underestimated.

DawnOfBoom said:
And yes, I know Pittauro wants books and will prob make his own plan with them, but hey, at least I made mine nice and early this time!
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if nobody else does it first, probably, though I think I'll do it when I wake up. I REALLY need to sleep some.

Right now my only change would probably be removing the "deal with the needle in person" in exchange for book study.
 
Pittauro said:
Right now my only change would probably be removing the "deal with the needle in person" in exchange for book study.
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To be fair, most of the other stuff was agreed on from the get-go, so it was only a matter of choosing how to handle the Needles over another choice, and a proper Write-in for the Uncle Steppes introduction to our small corner of the family.

I just wanted to be early with the plan for a change, since I usually tend to sleep through most of the discussion. :p

Lastly, sleep well!
 
BirdBodhisattva said:
Again, the first action of cleaning it will be very suspicious (if performed by servants) because there are... many things there that would raise quite a few eyebrows.
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Does this mean that having, say, Rarity and Velvet clean it out wouldn't generate such suspicion? Just to clarify - a tomb it may be, but a secondary base to perform occult shit at will undoubtedly be a useful thing for us (especially since we don't have to spend money on it).
 
[X] Plan: Prepare for The Incision of the Heart

-[X] Buy Books
--[X] EDGE 3
--[X] WINTER 2

-[X] Number of actions
--[X] 6+1

-[X] Rarity
--[X] Focus on her work.

-[X] Jade Whistle
--[X] As per orders. (Perform her cult assignment)

-[X] Selene
--[X] Edge.

-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Tutoring Twilight
--[X] Deliver Comet Feet's letter
-[X] "Those damn Needles!"
--[X] Ask your uncle

-[X] Shopping (Servant Action)
--[X] Books
---[X] In Ponyville.

-[X] On furthering your knowledge
--[X] 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! (Pick up to two books to attempt to learn a scrap of Lore. Consumes books).
---[X] BOOK, HEART Level 1. "A small book that covers a particular kind of elegant dancing".
---[X] BOOK, HEART Level 2. "A novel about a mare who fell in love with a drummer, the romantic parts all written in rhyming poetry".
---[X] BOOK, HEART Level 3. "A study about yak culture. The part about their history and folklore is of little use. The chapters about their songs, however…".
---[X] BOOK, FORGE Level 1. "A small handbook on camping, explaining the basics of how to build a tent and start a small fire".
---[X] BOOK, MOTH Level 1. "A poetry book. Amateur work, really, but one of them talks about masks…,".
---[X] BOOK, EDGE lvl 3, "a posthumous, and rather contentious, biography of the legendary pegasus called Flash Magnus,"

-[X] The Mansus (pick TWO)
--[X] The Blank Door
---[X] Explore.
---[X] Visit Baldomare

-[X] Personal life
--[X] Family
---[X] Idle interaction
 
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I feel like introducing Jade to Twilight might be worthwhile, or somehow pointing her towards Fluttershy.

Rainbow Dash is probably the most difficult of the Element-bearers to get close to, because I don't know if we have any angle that would make her less suspicious.

Applejack can probably be brought in by the practical route of knowledge of the Lores being an essential part of defending against the less pleasant things that can come from them.

Pinkie Pie will probably just insert herself into the cult if and when she feels like it. She strikes me as already having a few ranks in Lores given some of the weird shit she does.
 
Previously preliminary plan updated based on suggestions (and updated yet again):

[X] Plan cooling down
-[X] The Attention of the Laws [LANTERN] for the Stag Door
-[X] Number of actions
--[X] 5+1

We need to actually work (surprising, I know!\s), so a turn to stabilize the situation.

-[X] Buy Books
--[X] EDGE 3
--[X] KNOCK 2
--[X] WINTER 2

Level 2 Knock is indeed uncertain, and I, personally, am doubtful whether or not should we truly help the cult, but Lvl 2 book is relatively cheap and we can use to help out own future followers.

-[X] Rarity
--[X] Act as your emissary. (Pick an EXTRA action from your own pool, Rarity will perform it to the best of her abilities, ALONE, and report to you later)
---[X] Although you are personally judicious about such habits, you are still a noble. Searching for "peculiar items" to "add to your collection" is certainly not out of place… right? Not suspicious. Suspicion might arise if you later decide to buy the item, depending on its individual suspicion level.

Updated Rarity action.

-[X] Jade Whistle
--[X] As per orders. (Perform her cult assignment)

Jade hasn't made any progress yet, so let's not have her anger the Master, ok?

I would advocate for this particular order in the next three next actions:

-[X] Personal life
--[X] Family
---[X] Idle interaction

We recently had a mental breakdown, and we plan to go to Winter 3. Basically, let's cool down before freezing down, ok?

-[X] On furthering your knowledge
--[X] Read book (write in which)
---[X] Winter 2, Heart 2, Edge 3

Updating our Winter to the lvl 3 and preparing for future Heart 3 upgrade. Also, per update, an edge book.

-[X] Mission
--[X] Go higher in the Mansus
--[X] If next Door is not reached, attempt again, if full success has been achieved explore past it else explore past the Blank Door


We have QM's permission to do things like this, so triple fork, as for why explore then my answers would be the Orchard of Lights. They, technically speaking, don't have Contentment or Fleeting Reminiscence in-game, but fluff wise they are the most relaxed we can get in the House of the Sun.

-[X] Selene
--[X] Knock.
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Tutoring Twilight
--[X] Deliver Comet Feet's letter
--[X] "Those damn Needles!"
---[X] Ask your uncle

I don't think we can have a full action dedicated to the issue right now, and owing a favor to family head is out of question.

-[X] Shopping
--[X] Books
---[X] In Ponyville. (servant action)

We need a few more scraps in Heart and we have so little in Forge. Ponyville can give us both.

Please ping me if I forgot something.

Edit: also, @Shaper47, your vote isn't read as plan by taller. Please add those "-" before actions of the plan.

Edit: put fleeting opportunities after Winter 3, in case that could help.

Edit: updated Rarity actions and book that would be read as per discussion.
 
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[X] Plan Cooling Down plus family and rituals
-[X] The Attention of the Laws [Secret Histories] for the Mansus Ascension
-[X] Number of actions
--[X] 5+1
-[X] Buy Books
--[X] EDGE 3
--[X] KNOCK 2
--[X] WINTER 2
-[X] Rarity
--[X] Act as your emissary.
---[X] Although you are personally judicious about such habits, you are still a noble. Searching for "peculiar items" to "add to your collection" is certainly not out of place… right?
-[X] Jade Whistle
--[X] Act as your emissary. (Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry ritual aimed at finding a Level 4 Edge Artifact.
-[X] Selene
--[X] Knock.
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Tutoring Twilight
--[X] Deliver Comet Feet's letter
--[X] "Those damn Needles!"
---[X] Ask your uncle
-[X] Personal life
--[X] Family
---[X] Invite and introduce Uncle Steppes to everyone, have a nice family gathering.
-[X] On furthering your knowledge
--[X] Read book (write in which)
---[X] Winter 2, Heart 2, Moth 1
-[X] Mission
--[X] Go higher in the Mansus
--[X] If next Door is not reached, attempt again, if full success has been achieved explore past it else explore past the Blank Door
-[X] Shopping
--[X] Books
---[X] In Ponyville. (servant action)
 
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