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

BirdBodhisattva · Jul 9, 2021

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.

(Quote slightly edited to avoid spoilers)

Toboe · Dec 30, 2023

Pittauro said:
ok, here's my first plan. I'm going to try something a bit different.

[x] Plan Pittauro, All in wedding without key but with expedition.

looks good, approval voted in my plan post.

Pittauro said:
-[X] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about… (WRITE IN)
--[X] [STEPPES] Ask for advice about how to bond with your brother

Poor steppes, not invited for family fun time (where he could help with Pride).

Pittauro said:
My expectations for next turn, ignoring the Luna elephant in the room: Next turn we summon Axe with the best reagents possible (key + knock 2 edge 1), hopefully in the location Baldomare will find (if not we take a risk in a barn again), we probably bring at least one and possibly multiple confidants at lore 4. We scry the same turn Axe is summoned, and go to get the Frangiclave the turn after that.

Do you see a chance for us to namestomp Copper soon, so we can let the remains (with evidence against us removed) be raided by Bureau to gain Lore info for Bureau?
Not this turn, obviously, but would be nice to be able to do it soon.

Pittauro · Dec 30, 2023

spiderhellian said:
Are you confident that 25 bits (for the level 3 vs Level 2 reagent) are worth only 4.4% success chance on the Knock roll?

barely, because... keep in mind that she could be contested just like Baldomare was. the Cult DOES know of the ritual. It's just a question of if they know the resummoning can happen after 1 month instead of 3, and I think Bird said they know, though I'm not 100% sure.

EDIT: yes, I know we have priority. But that's if we still succeed at the summon

des-pair-2 said:
This is golden, the literally only thing I would change is instead of climb, I would spend that action on our SH Sacrament.

With power of sunk-cost fallacy, once we do one action, the other two will happen quickly.

you're right on that, but so many important things are happening right now that I don't really want to fight that battle. I also suspect the temple will have an easy summon for us in there, like a Raw Prophet or a Caligine or a Percussigant, and I'd like to see if we can summon one or two for cheap.

If Copper went there already, I want to know what she got. If she didn't, I want to see if we can get something by being first.

Toboe said:
Poor steppes, not invited for family fun time (where he could help with Pride).

I was uncertain between that and inviting him honestly. There's a non-zero chance he might invite himself though, you know. He did it last time, didn't he?

Also to be fair Velvet is not even going to be home that much. 2 weeks in Cloudsdale, other 2 weeks mostly on the wedding and a BIT on Pride...

Toboe said:
Do you see a chance for us to namestomp Copper soon, so we can let the remains (with evidence against us removed) be raided by Bureau to gain Lore info for Bureau?
Not this turn, obviously, but would be nice to be able to do it soon.

maybe. Hard to tell, I'm not worrying much about things that could be affected by Luna next turn, because her status will change everything.

That said, In 2 or 3 turns at worst we should basically have Mareinette, Axe, Biedde and Baldomare alltogether, and possibly MitL and whatever is in the Temple. If we really want to stomp on her, we can. If we don't want that, we could just do more PtN rituals.

Royalist · Dec 30, 2023

Hours, finally!

After two weeks of reading I'm finally all caught up. This Quest is soooo Good. Bird, you're undoubtedly one of the best writers who's works I've had the pleasure to read. I wish I could come with some more elaborate compliments (you deserve them) but my head is currently a bit of a mess from all the bloody reading I've been doing since I discovered SV a few months ago.
Still, I very much look forward to the new chapter.

I think I'm going to take nap now.

Edit: Found a new 600k word quest on SB so I guess sleep will have to wait

MrRobot · Dec 30, 2023

Good luck.

Pittauro · Dec 30, 2023

Royalist said:
Hours, finally!

After two weeks of reading I'm finally all caught up. This Quest is soooo Good. Bird, you're undoubtedly one of the best writers who's works I've had the pleasure to read. I wish I could come with some more elaborate compliments (you deserve them) but my head is currently a bit of a mess from all the bloody reading I've been doing since I discovered SV a few months ago.
Still, I very much look forward to the new chapter.

I think I'm going to take nap now.

Edit: Found a new 600k word quest on SB so I guess sleep will have to wait

there's plenty of good omake in apocrypha I'd advise you read, including a few canon pieces (or different history pieces) from Bird.

also read at the very least these two:

Esquestria: The House of the Sun - A pony cultist experience Crossover - Mature - Users' Choice!

You just had to do it, didn't you? But perhaps… that is what was always meant to happen, wasn't it? After all, this whole mess began by dabbling with powers beyond one's comprehension. So we just can't help but want, almost need, to find out what will happen next, don't we? However, nothing...

forums.sufficientvelocity.com

a vote that's not threadmarked for "reasons"

THE MOTHER OF WOLVES

A regrettable story, from another place. An infection, cut off to preserve the Garden. A horror story, from a world that is not kind.

forums.sufficientvelocity.com

what the 7 wolf stains ending would look like.

Royalist · Dec 30, 2023

Pittauro said:
what the 7 wolf stains ending would look like.

I did really quite love that one.

Yes, I've read some of them. I had the habit of reading the page of comments before and after every Thread mark, so I didn't completely miss out on the community aspect. I'll be sure to go back and read through some more of them.

Pittauro · Dec 30, 2023

Royalist said:
I did really quite love that one.

Yes, I've read some of them. I had the habit of reading the page of comments before and after every Thread mark, so I didn't completely miss out on the community aspect. I'll be sure to go back and read through some more of them.

good. see if you feel like joining the plan. This turn is kind of important, what with the wedding and everything else... and at the end of it we get back LUNA.

Also probably try to summon Axe if we find a place to summon her in.

Greymere · Dec 30, 2023

Pittauro said:
[x] Plan Pittauro, All in wedding without key but with expedition.

Would still rather scry for Frangiclave this turn, but good 'nuff I suppose.

[X] Plan Pittauro, All in wedding without key but with expedition.

Edit:
[X] Plan Pittauro, but with our SH Sacrament.

Toboe · Dec 30, 2023

Pittauro said:
I was uncertain between that and inviting him honestly. There's a non-zero chance he might invite himself though, you know. He did it last time, didn't he?

Yeah if we don't want to be explicit we can still hope.

Pittauro said:
Also to be fair Velvet is not even going to be home that much. 2 weeks in Cloudsdale, other 2 weeks mostly on the wedding and a BIT on Pride...

The timetables could line up, if planned for that:
Friday Velvet Covers returns early (before Pride leaves) together with Velvet Steppes, who Covers just happened to run into in Canterlot (a lie of course, she wrote him).
While Steppes goes to talk with his favorite nieces, Covers has a deep talk with her heartbroken brother, hopefully befriending him.
If Covers effort wasn't enough, Steppes just happens to see Pride while he goes to get Covers for dinner and convinces him to eat with the rest of the family (and stay the weekend), giving Covers more opportunity to befriend Pride and make him integrate with the family.

If it works, Pride is unlocked as a Friend and stops avoiding Covers and her family, having family dinners with them instead.

Or something like that would be my hope.

Pittauro · Dec 30, 2023

Greymere said:
Would still rather scry for Frangiclave this turn, but good 'nuff I suppose.

[X] Plan Pittauro, All in wedding without key but with expedition.

I thought of it a lot. in the end, bits are short and I wanted to prioritize Axe's summoning over her expedition. There should be nothing stopping us from scrying next turn, and doing the expedition on her 2nd or 3rd turn (preferably 2nd of course).

Toboe said:
Yeah if we don't want to be explicit we can still hope.

The timetables could line up, if planned for that:
Friday Velvet Covers returns early (before Pride leaves) together with Velvet Steppes, who Covers just happened to run into in Canterlot (a lie of course, she wrote him).
While Steppes goes to talk with his favorite nieces, Covers has a deep talk with her heartbroken brother, hopefully befriending him.
If Covers effort wasn't enough, Steppes just happens to see Pride while he goes to get Covers for dinner and convinces him to eat with the rest of the family (and stay the weekend), giving Covers more opportunity to befriend Pride and make him integrate with the family.

If it works, Pride is unlocked as a Friend and stops avoiding Covers and her family, having family dinners with them instead.

Or something like that would be my hope.

It was really a coin toss for me on which Steppes action go (invite, or just advice). It's a minor enough thing I don't want to make a second plan and risk splitting votes, but I'm also a bit wary of the complication due to, you know, Selene waking up at the end of this turn.

It's PROBABLY simpler if he's not here at the time. Pride doesn't live in our main house, so depending on Luna's status we might just hide it, but Steppes would notice Selene's disappearance from one moment to the next much more easily.

BunnyLord · Dec 30, 2023

[x] Plan Pittauro, All in wedding without key but with expedition.
[x] Plan Pittauro, but with our SH Sacrament.

jelloloaf · Dec 30, 2023

[X] Plan Pittauro, All in wedding without key but with expedition.

I wish we had a bit more security with it, but I do like the three wedding picks and finally doing IotH for Frightened.

Bakkasama · Dec 30, 2023

[X] Plan Pittauro, All in wedding without key but with expedition.

While I am not a fan of neglecting our work at the Bureau on the month we are already sort of doing it, at least there is an action taken to smewhat mitigate the effects.

In fact, I like it so much that Inam going to steal it.

[x] Plan Pittauro, but without the neglecting work free action
-[X] [AotL] Grail, with Pride
-[X] [FORGE] Create a Knock 2 Edge 1 Reagent. (45 bits, Free Action)
-[X] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[X] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
-[X] [DETECTIVES] 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] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN a PERSONAL ACTION for Velvet Covers)
-[x] [COMMISSIONER] The Bureau is more than an institution, it is a gathering of dedicated ponies working towards a unified goal. Ingrain yourself with them. (Establish, increase, or salvage the loyalty of the Bureau towards you personally.)
-[X] [SOCIAL] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple. (Free Action)
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
--[x]Explore the Mansus. 1 point on Keep going up, and 1 point on Temple of the Wheel Expedition. If we're stuck at the door with more exploration to do, check the stairways location
--[X] Velvet Pride, your upstart younger brother, seems to be heartbroken. Or so the gossip goes. If you take the initiative to talk to him, you might be able to get closer to him.
-[X] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[X] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[X] [GUARD] Our home.
-[X] [RARITY] Focus on your work.
-[X] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about… (WRITE IN)
--[X] [STEPPES] Ask for advice about how to bond with your brother
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…
--[X] [SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
-[X] [MAREINETTE] Incision of the Heart on Velvet: remove the Frightened Debuff (20 bits. failure only on nat1s. Use the Edge Artifact WITHOUT sacrificing it)
-[X] [BALDOMARE] Find us a place where we can hold 3-circle rituals next turn (for Axe's summon). (rolls +80)
-[X] [SELENE] Go play, one last time. (Costs two actions. Goodbye, Selene.)

rafuki22 · Dec 30, 2023

I like Pittauro plan quite a lot, so...

[x] Plan Pittauro, All in wedding without key but with expedition.

Pittauro · Dec 30, 2023

jelloloaf said:
I wish we had a bit more security with it, but I do like the three wedding picks and finally doing IotH for Frightened.

Would you believe I didn't even mean to do it initially?

I was trying to fit in the expedition. When that was not possible (81=45= 46 bits, enough for only 6 days of attempts, a bit too little for my taste, I wanted at least 7 days...), I was considering having her guard...

but then I realized that hey, improving Velvet's ability to defend herself is not quite as good, but it's also a benefit that will be maintained after this turn!

also it has been implied once or twice we MIGHT find out the source of Velvet's trauma once we remove it, and I'm VERY curious.

Luckily Incision is pretty cheap (20 bits), which makes it surprisingly viable.

hey, it's been some time since I actually made my own plan here, but it seems like I didn't lose my touch

Spector29 · Dec 30, 2023

[x] Plan Pittauro, but without the neglecting work free action
[x] Plan Pittauro, but with our SH Sacrament.

des-pair-2 · Dec 30, 2023

You know what? I steal his plan too!

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery after all.

[x] Plan Pittauro, but with our SH Sacrament.
-[X] [AotL] Grail, with Pride
-[X] [FORGE] Create a Knock 2 Edge 1 Reagent. (45 bits, Free Action)
-[X] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[X] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
-[X] [DETECTIVES] 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] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN a PERSONAL ACTION for Velvet Covers)
-[x] [COMMISSIONER] The Bureau is more than an institution, it is a gathering of dedicated ponies working towards a unified goal. Ingrain yourself with them. (Establish, increase, or salvage the loyalty of the Bureau towards you personally.)
-[X] [SOCIAL] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple. (Free Action)
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
--[x] "The Royal Wedding is a matter of national security, so of course the Commissioner must be involved. Yes, even on that time she went on a shopping spree with the Princess." (Free action. NEGLECT work at the Lunar Bureau. Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
-[X] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus
--[X] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[X] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 0/3)
--[X] Velvet Pride, your upstart younger brother, seems to be heartbroken. Or so the gossip goes. If you take the initiative to talk to him, you might be able to get closer to him.
-[X] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[X] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[X] [GUARD] Our home.
-[X] [RARITY] Focus on your work.
-[X] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about… (WRITE IN)
--[X] [STEPPES] Ask for advice about how to bond with your brother
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…
--[X] [SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
-[X] [MAREINETTE] Incision of the Heart on Velvet: remove the Frightened Debuff (20 bits. failure only on nat1s)
-[X] [BALDOMARE] Find us a place where we can hold 3-circle rituals next turn (for Axe's summon). (rolls +80)
-[X] [SELENE] Go play, one last time. (Costs two actions. Goodbye, Selene.)

The Sacrament replaced the Mansus climbing action.

Ericwinter · Dec 30, 2023

Pittauro said:
hey, it's been some time since I actually made my own plan here, but it seems like I didn't lose my touch

You might wanna note Marinette using the Edge artifact. It should probably be automatic, but, you know, just in case. Helps Bird with the bookkeeping so he doesn't forget or anything.

Iustus Vitae · Dec 30, 2023

If it's a matter of combat effectiveness then just using the Marinette action to guard is significantly better then getting fear removed for one. For another it'll free up enough money to have Baldomare scry for the Frangclaive. The reason I want it done this turn is because far as I'm aware we can't take an expedition the turn we discover it. So if we discover it this turn we can hit the expedition next turn and because the Frangclaive expedition is almost guaranteed to be multi turn there is no assurance that we'll get a level 5 book out of the first run. If that happens then we'll have no way of extending Baldomare's timer in the case that we scry next turn.

Corporeal Ghost · Dec 30, 2023

[X] Plan Pittauro, All in wedding without key but with expedition.

The lack of more guards makes me leery, but I think the incision will be worth the trade-off. Our family will be gone from our home for half this month anyway, so if we are attacked, that's only a 50% chance they're in danger. (And that's definitely how that works!)

Alchemist767676 · Dec 30, 2023

[X] Plan: Responsible Velvet (Personal Sacrament edition)

[X] Plan Pittauro, but with our SH Sacrament.

I've been wanting to try out the SH sacrament ever since that action was added to our list.

SmashQueen · Dec 30, 2023

Greymere said:
3rd one in the OG Pink Wedding was the free action, so still 9thonly 2 AP.

Now you have an unassigned AP

Free actions are throwing me off. Don't have the time to look over the entire list and reassign anything so throwing in windy rott because I don't like him floating around. He needs the velvet strings of friendship before he does something regrettable.

Pittauro · Dec 30, 2023

Ericwinter said:
You might wanna note Marinette using the Edge artifact. It should probably be automatic, but, you know, just in case. Helps Bird with the bookkeeping so he doesn't forget or anything.

fair, it costs me nothing to point it out. I'll edit it in

Iustus Vitae said:
If it's a matter of combat effectiveness then just using the Marinette action to guard is significantly better then getting fear removed for one. For another it'll free up enough money to have Baldomare scry for the Frangclaive. The reason I want it done this turn is because far as I'm aware we can't take an expedition the turn we discover it. So if we discover it this turn we can hit the expedition next turn and because the Frangclaive expedition is almost guaranteed to be multi turn there is no assurance that we'll get a level 5 book out of the first run. If that happens then we'll have no way of extending Baldomare's timer in the case that we scry next turn.

well, yeah, the trade off with incision is a bit more risk but the buff is not for only this turn.

also expeditions can't be multi-turn. worst case they use more actions. the lenght just means that the participants might have to use more action slots (IF they have more. if they only have one, they only need to use that one)

Tomsawyer18 · Dec 30, 2023

[X] Plan Pittauro, All in wedding without key but with expedition.

[X] Plan Pittauro, but with our SH Sacrament.

Pittauro · Dec 30, 2023

...I just noticed I left the "with expedition" in my plan, while my plan has NO EXPEDITION

...I'll take it as another "Actually the S in Esquestria was a typo" moment. It seems to be bringing me luck

still, for fairness I need to restate that MY PLAN DOESN'T ACTUALLY HAVE AN EXPEDITION, IN CASE IT WASN'T CLEAR.

I'll also edit this note in the plan. Kinda late to change the name when I just got these many votes

For all readers and writers

After much ado, our new tagging system is here and being rolled out to the userbase. Read more here!

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

A bodhisattva, by definition, must die to move on.

In doubt there's always the Sun!

Theoheretical

There is always a greater fool

Anti-nihilist(maybe).

It Only Gets Worse From Here

Definitely not a Skaven Infiltrator

Professional duck-cat.