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!
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.
And they learned the joys of prowling in wolf-form, through the ways that led neither to the Old Form of the Carapace nor to the New Form of the Skinless.
First of all, as always, I hope you are all doing fine. And thank you for your patience! This finals period took a chunk out of me, and I only regained enough sanity to deem myself alright not long ago, cue the latest update.
But now, finally, I should have more free time. Which means, I hope, more opportunities to write! I really am sorry that turn 14 has been going on for longer than the whole dang school semester, but I am doing my best, and hopefully I'll be able to finish it in not a long period of time!
-Pinkie Pie is definitely a mortal pony, and you should not treat her (or expect to treat her) in any different way that you would the Pinkie Pie we know and love from the show.
[X] plan DENY BALDOMARE TO CULT, SHE'S OURS! (conditional version) (and Windy instead of Rarity) -[X] (Book) Forge 3 (30 bits)
-[X] (Moth Fruit) Give it to Baldomare If we reach Moth or Winter or Edge 4, eat it otherwise
-[X] (Rarity) Emissary: (Fleeting Opportunity) Dissociate from Loremaster's fame
-[X] (Jade Whistle) Research Selene (Knock 2) -[X] (Baldomare) Secret Histories Influence
-[X] (Selene) In order: Winter > Moth > Edge if levels are the same, if one of these reaches lvl 4 go with that one. -[X] Attention of the Laws: Grail, use on the first valid target of the following: Stormchaser, Fluttershy, Soft Sweeps
-[X] Hintseekers: Track down other members of the Expedition -[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Stormchaser
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Fluttershy
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Soft Sweeps
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Windy Flakes (WRITE IN OBJECTIVE)
--[X] Subtly check Windy's opinions and loyalty to the cult in view of the current events.
-[X] Mansus exploration x3 (7 exploration actions) (3 actions remaining)
--[X] Take actions in order, repeating failed actions until we succeed or run out of actions
--[X] If we acquire a Wound or a Malus, skip to the Blank Plains step --[X] Search out a new location in the Shattered Stairs
--[X] Fully explore the new location
--[X] Seek out the next Door and study it
--[X] Cross the Door, but don't spend an action on the other side
--[X] Search for new locations in the Blank Plains until locations are exhausted
--[X] Search for new locations in the Woods until locations are exhausted
- - -
You take in a deep, calming breath.
You can't let everything that is happening drown you.
There is no point in letting your feelings, be it panic or horror or guilt, paralyze you.
You hold your breath.
…
And then you let it all go.
You are Velvet Covers, and right now you are thinking.
You are thinking about what has already happened, and about what you are going to do next.
Which means, of course, that you have a lot of things to think about.
After all, to say that a lot of things have happened, and that you have a lot on your plate, is a bit of an understatement.
A lot of things have happened. A lot of bad things have happened to a lot of good ponies. And even though you wish you could say that you were unaffected, even though you wish you could say that you were able to weather this storm without being hit, maybe out of sheer luck or thanks to fate, you know that is not the case.
Because bad things have happened to ponies who are close to you. Bad things have happened to ponies that you care about.
Bad things happened to Soft Sweeps, worse things happened to Twilight Sparkle, and not a single day goes by that you don't think about both of them. Not a single day goes by that you don't remember that you played a part in what happened to them.
And to you, it doesn't really matter that you "didn't know" what might have happened. It doesn't matter that you "couldn't have predicted" how things would have played out, or how much you were only indirectly related to this and that. To you, those arguments claiming that you are not to blame for what happened are immaterial. They are excuses.
But again…
You take a deep breath, you hold it in…
And then you let it all go.
Again… those are things that have already happened.
For now, you must focus on what you will do from here on.
Because you can no longer follow the Master. You can no longer tell yourself that you must trust her just because she knows more than you do.
So, even if you fumble or make mistakes, even if you do things that you regret, you realize that you must set out on your own.
You have to distance yourself from the cult, as dangerous as doing that might be.
However.
However...
You don't need to do this alone. Or rather, you don't need to be the only pony who does this, this whole idea of distancing yourself from what the cult is doing. Because you can't be the only one who is thinking about this, can you? Surely, you can't be the only pony who has been fostering… doubts, about the direction that the cult is going.
As a matter of fact, you know you are not the only pony who is, at the very least, frightened by everything that is happening. After all, on the aftermath of the "disappearances" caused by the changelings, on the day after the cult left for the changeling hive, you and Windy spent almost an entire day calming the cult's nerves. So you know that there are several ponies fostering doubts, you know that there are ponies, several ponies at the very least, who are not just blindly following the Master.
Distancing yourself from the cult will be dangerous, for sure, and you have several other things that you feel that you need to do at the same time, in parallel to this. However, this doesn't mean that what you are trying to do is impossible. In fact there is one thing you can do that will help further almost all of your goals at the same time.
After all, you could spend time and effort going for a broad approach, trying to nudge the cult as a whole towards dissent, or…
Or you could focus your efforts on a particular pony, who already told you at least once that he feels confused and frustrated by the way that the Master is doing things.
And that pony, it bears mentioning, is one of the very lynchpins of the cult, who holds the cult's purse and has direct sway over many of the cult members who make a living as club employees.
You are thinking, of course, about Windy Flakes. And considering how all the other Inner Circle members are either unavailable, or already on your side in Jade's case, you can't think of anypony else you would rather have on your side as soon as possible.
With that in mind, you set out from your home, making your way to the Wildhoof Club.
- - -
As you walk through the streets of Ponyville, you can see that the town is… recuperating.
It is a far cry from what it used to be. The busy atmosphere that it used to have, of a small town full of life, is not exactly gone. Not entirely, at least. But you can still feel that Ponyville is moving only because it has to. You can tell that the usual day-to-day hustle is happening because everypony understands that they have to continue on with their lives, but not necessarily because the townsponies are taking any joy from going on with their personal routines.
It's like… it's as if everypony suddenly lost their cutie marks, but were still trying to go along with their lives. The bakers are baking, the farmers are farming, and everypony is doing their job. But not out of the joy they have known ever since they first discovered what their talent is. Everypony seems to be determined, for sure. Ponyville itself still has that determined atmosphere about it. But nopony really seems to be happy.
But to be honest, you can understand that. You can even feel it yourself, this strange sense that… that nopony really should be happy, that nopony really has a right to be content, not right now. Not when every other day another set of bad news comes from a distant town. Not when most of the town is still anxiously waiting for news about their relatives or extended family who lives far away, as the regular mail slowly resumes its activities. Not as dozens of ponies are still mourning a loss, be that of a neighbor, friend, or even a family member.
Ponyville is determined, but everypony can tell that it is passing through a hard time.
However, you are not in town today to do anything about that.
Today, you are worried about something else.
The Wildhoof Club slowly comes into view at the end of the street. It looks far emptier than usual, but that is already something you expected.
If nothing else, you hope that means Windy Flakes is available to talk in this impromptu visit of yours.
You step into the club, taking in the several unfamiliar scents coming from all directions, almost all of them tinged with one or another whiff of a characteristic Lore. And soon enough, you feel Windy himself, the strong scent of Winter prickling at your nose and reminding you of a time you visited a morgue while in college, for a lecture in biology. A particular mixture of cold formol and other chemical substances besides that is by far stronger than any other scent in the club.
Well, at least he didn't decide to take a day off due to the club being low on activity. Knowing that you didn't waste your trip here is good.
Although, as you make your way deeper into the club and towards his office, you can't help but feel a wave of tension inside of you.
After all, you are about to have a very important conversation with Windy Flakes. With Windy Flakes, a stallion you understand to be very smart and business savvy. And you are about to talk to him about… a subject that may very well spiral out of control.
You will try to be as subtle about it as possible, of course. You will try to first test the waters, and discover what his thoughts truly are, before you say anything that could damn you. But the fact remains that there is still every possibility that this could go horribly wrong, distant as that possibility may be.
You stop in front of the door to Windy's office, and you can feel your nervousness tugging at your heart one last time.
But still, you raise your foreleg and give his door a light knock.
"Come on in," the answer comes a few seconds later. And without further ado, you make your way into Windy Flakes' office.
The first thing you realize is that Windy Flakes is alone. You already knew that, of course, but for some reason… for some reason that particular information strikes you in a strange way, as soon as you set your eyes on him. Or maybe, as soon as you see his brand.
The first snowflake. The herald of the storm. The scion of winter. The first sign of End.
The second thing you realize, is that-
-something is wrong.
Something is wrong. Something is very wrong. But you are not getting this impression, this feeling, from the Lores. This is not something that you are sensing from your Edge-scent or from your recent memories...
No. This... this thing that came to you just now, like the sudden splash of a bucket filled with cold water, comes from the even deeper and older source that is your personal intuition.
And the fact that only your intuition is telling you that, without any backing from your Lore knowledge, is making you even more tense for reasons you can't describe.
It's not that you are in danger. A part of you guarantees that you are not in danger, even. But what has you nervous is that you don't know why you feel like you should think you are in danger.
"Lady Velvet! I am so happy to see you," Windy Flakes immediately says, turning away from his window to look at you. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
He says that with a smile, and you force yourself to answer him with a smile of your own.
But behind your smile, and within the confines of your mind, your thoughts are running at full speed. Your relatively recent and reliable Lore-knowledge clashing with your much older and savvy personal intuition, as the two of them clamor you not to listen to the other.
Still, there is nothing you can do about that right now, except make sure that this sudden dread that you feel won't poison the conversation you are about to have.
"Just a social visit, Windy," you answer, making your way towards him. "Because for all that there is talk that we are business partners, I still consider you a friend before that."
"Ohoh? So the mysterious Loremaster has friends?" he asks playfully, "well, I'm honored. Please, take a seat Velvet. Can I get you anything to drink? Alcohol, water, something else?"
You wave him that you won't be having anything as you sit on the cushioned chair in front of his desk, mind still abuzz as you try to figure out why you are feeling so on edge.
And then it hits you.
You thought it was the fact that WIndy is alone right now, but it's not just that.
You thought it was the way he was looking out through his window when you came in, but it's not just that.
But you realize, now, that his office is very quiet. Too quiet.
"I'm fine, Windy, thank you very much," you say, casually looking around his office, your heart hammering as you think back to the last few times you have been here.
And, still tense unsure why you are so tense because of a seemingly small detail, you pretend to be just looking around as you search for one thing in particular.
"By the way, no gramophone today? I thought you enjoyed your music," you say absent-mindedly as you confirm your suspicions, noting that the device is nowhere to be seen.
When you look back at him, you realize he is smiling in answer to your question.
And his smile sends a chill down your spine.
You suppress the cold sweat that is trying to form on your forehead, and you innocently stare back at him as he looks into your eyes.
Although, as the two of you stare at each other, you can't help but... you can't help but realize, once again, that you are alone with him, inside his office.
You also realize that you can't feel anypony nearby. Certainly not in hearing range, especially if you factor in the closed door and the walls.
The silence stretches out for… maybe a bit longer than it should.
To the point that you almost let out a sigh of relieve, when you see him move to finally say something.
"I put the gramophone away for today, because…" he says, and then he pauses, still looking into your eyes.
His smile still feels slightly off, but it shifts into something a bit more mischievous as he very cautiously says his next words.
"Say… Lady Velvet… can I ask you to keep a secret? Or rather, would you mind keeping something just between the two of us?" he asks.
And your heart begins to hammer inside your chest as he says that, even if the only outward change on your body is that you raise a curious eyebrow.
Because… because on one hoof, this could be it. He could be about to tell you the exact thing that you came here to talk to him about. Or, if nothing else, asking you to keep a secret might be a window for you to ask him to keep a secret in return, as you engage him in a certain subject.
However, on the other hoof, you have no idea what he might want to talk about. After all, you know he has a "project" back in his house that he thinks you know about, so this could be about that. And what is more, you still have no idea what it is about him that is making you so damn nervous.
But regardless of what it is, you cannot let this chance slip by.
Even if you have to will your voice to come out without a hint of your actual nervousness.
"My my my, this doesn't sound like a regular business thing that you have in mind," you say, trying your best to sound casually amused. And as he immediately gives you an agreeing nod to that, you put on a more serious expression, "but of course, Windy. You have my word, whatever it is that you want to talk about."
"Thank you, Velvet. The thing is that..." he starts to speak, but then he stops, his smile still on his face even as his eyes narrow, his gaze turning downwards as if he is struggling to put something into words. "The thing is… hmm…"
He brings one of his hoofs to his chin, and you watch as his eyes wander to his desk, then to the ceiling, then somewhere else.
Until finally he looks towards you… no, towards your Brand, and you can see his eyes light up in inspiration.
"Say, Velvet, we've known each other for a while. Years, even. But have I ever told you about how I got my cutie mark?"
You tilt your head at that.
"I am not entirely sure? No, I don't think so," you answer. After all, even though you have known Windy for years, you two have not exactly talked enough for you to know that sort of thing about each other.
Granted, knowing how somepony got their cutie marks is not exactly some sort of relationship threshold. It's not like couples are expected to tell their cutie mark stories to each other before their first kiss, or that you can't consider a pony to be a personal friend before talking about that. But still, you are almost sure that you two have never talked about this.
"Figured I haven't, it's not the sort of thing I talk about much," he says, looking down at the snowflake-shaped mark on his flank. "And besides, it's just a boring old snowflake. On its face it already looks like it has a boring story behind it, doesn't it? In fact, I figure I could make up a story about it that's more interesting than the original," he says with a light chuckle.
And for all that you are unnerved by this whole situation. For all that your intuition is still telling you that something is very, very wrong, you can't help but think that Windy's chuckle just now was surprisingly… normal.
That is, normal in a deep, personal way. As if you have just seen a side of the prankster businesspony that he normally doesn't show. Or maybe even that he tries to hide.
So you can't help but give your honest opinion, to what he said just now.
"Don't say that, Windy. Cutie marks are special. And even if you think a cutie mark is mundane, it's still your cutie mark. It's a part of you that's unique," you say, "so I doubt that it has anything boring about it."
"Hah! You are too kind. And part of me wants to say that you answered that perhaps too quickly," he says with a joking expression, "is that the sort of speech you give to your daughter whenever she starts panicking about what cutie mark she might get?"
You raise a hoof to your mouth to suppress the smile of how spot on he was just now. But still, the stallion continues to speak before you get the chance to answer.
"But anyhow. The thing is that… I actually have a cutie mark for ice sculpting," he says. "Shocking, isn't it? But before you start saying about how I ran an ice cream shop for years, let me tell you this: I never really liked my cutie mark."
He says that, again with a tone that is strangely honest. A tone that you can't really find in yourself to interrupt, as he continues to talk.
"I got my cutie mark during winter, obviously. Got too excited with a sharp rock and a block of ice while my friends were all busy making snowponies. Must've spent maybe all afternoon on it, but then... Bam! Me, a colt, did an honest to good ice sculpture with nothing but my hoofs and a rock. And I was so proud of it that I only realized I had a mark on my flank when I saw that my friends were pointing and cheering at my flank rather than at my statue."
You can feel the hint of a smile appearing on your cheeks, as you hear the strangely honest Windy recount his version of a tale that is lived by almost, almost, every pony out there. That you hope your own daughter will live through very soon, even.
You feel the hint of a smile appearing on your cheeks, but the smile never really forms…
It never really forms, because of the chill you are still feeling about this whole conversation with Windy.
And of course, because of how Windy's tone of voice remains calm and honest even as he says his next words.
"But the thing about ice statues, Velvet, is that they melt. And me and my friends were all out playing, enjoying ourselves to the fullest, because it was the last day of winter. Winter wrap up was just around the corner, quite literally, and I got to watch as the proudest achievement of my life melted into a puddle less than a full day after it was made."
He still has a smile on his face, even as he recounts that particular memory of his. It is the same smile he always has, when talking to you or anypony else. You don't feel good about his smile anymore.
"Everything ends. That's the lesson I got out of that," he says, his eyes unfocused as if he is looking at his own memory, rather than at somewhere in his office.
Although his silence only lasts for a minute. And when he snaps out of it, he continues to talk with a joviality and casualness that almost disturbs you.
"But of course, then I grew up! Got a job, did my own thing, and then came the cult. And of course, no surprises here when I realized I had a penchant for Winter, right?" he says, laughing as if he had just said a joke.
To which you just give him a nod as an answer. You can't really find it in yourself to laugh with him.
Not as you see him change his mood… no, that's not it. Not as you see him control his mood so casually.
And you wish you could tell yourself that this is just his Winter at work, or maybe even that he is making use of some Grail that he might have known about but never revealed. But that's the problem, you can't feel any of that. This, all of this, the story, the way he is talking to you, the way he honestly feels about all of this, this is all him. This is all Windy Flakes.
You can't feel any Lore-magic at work. You can't feel any Winter-chill suppressing something inside of him, be it an emotion or a memory or something else. None of that.
The only thing you can really feel is, again, your own intuition, telling you how worried you should be about all of this. About the stallion in front of you, and the conversation that you are having.
You can only feel your intuition telling you that… that he is not exactly lying, but that he is omitting something. That he is omitting a lot.
After all, like Jade once told you long ago, nopony joins the cult without a reason. And you can't help but notice how he so easily glossed over that part of his life, his whole life before he joined the cult, with a charming smile and a joke.
"And the thing about Winter, the Lore that is, is that it really did open my eyes about a lot. You see, Velvet, for the longest time I thought that life was just about that. Everything ends and all. But after the Master taught me about Winter, I started to see it in a different way," he says, gesticulating with his hoofs. "Not that everything ends, but that everything will end. Do you know what I mean by that?"
He asks that, and then he looks at you.
And for all that his expression looks calm and collected, you can't help but feel that… that he is looking expectantly at you. As if he is waiting for you to confirm something. As if he is hoping that you understand what he is saying. That you understand him.
To anypony watching, you two would just sound like a pair of ponies talking about life. But for some reason, you… your intuition tells you that he is almost desperate for you to say that he is making sense.
For anypony to say that he is... that he is not...
"Yes, Windy, I… I do understand," you say.
Although he only nods, slowly, as if inviting you to go on.
"It's about certainty." You continue, watching a light appear in his eyes as you speak, "knowing things will end can be bleak, but understanding that they will end, honestly comprehending that this is the way things go, is… reassuring."
"Exactly!" he says excitedly, "and that makes all the difference! That made all the difference to me, as well. And that only got clearer and clearer as I climbed. I spent a long time on the Blank Plains, mind you, thinking over about that, and I even managed to be Branded because I wanted to understand it even more, and I'm sure there is more to be learned the higher we rise."
You nod at that, mapping in your own head how you think Windy's progress was like, as the stallion continues to talk happily.
Until he reaches a point where his excitement takes a sudden, sharp turn. And you immediately understand that Windy Flakes is finally reaching the point that he wanted to talk about.
"However," he says, lightly hitting his table with a hoof, "however… something happened, recently. And I think that… I think that I'm on the cusp of another breakthrough, so to speak…"
He says that, and once again he stops, as if he is searching for a way to express exactly what he is thinking.
And once again, you can see a smile form on his face. A smile that, you now think, signifies his thoughts are going in a particular direction… a particularly frightening direction.
In fact, you think that you can almost see it, how his confusion grows so much that it overwhelms his usually controlled expression. You can almost see his calmness cracking, being pressured to the point of almost bursting, as he becomes less and less able to hide his true feelings. You can almost feel his… his affliction, as he grapples and searches for a term that is at the same time at the tip of his tongue and beyond his reach.
"Something happened… a few days ago. I don't know what it was, Velvet, but I… but something changed and..."
Your heart sinks as he says that. Even though he didn't really finish that phrase, even though Windy himself clearly doesn't know what he is talking about, your heart sinks.
Because he doesn't know, but you do.
Your heart sinks, as you remember what you did a few days ago, in the Mansus, and the consequences of that action.
You feel something cold run through your body as you prepare yourself for what he is going to say next, for all that you dearly hope to be wrong about this.
"I know I can trust you with this, Velvet. Or that at least you will understand me, and know that I don't sound insane when I say this," he says, once again looking into your eyes, "but I feel like… I feel like I can almost hear… something. Like a voice on the wind, or a whisper, but that is so damn far away that I couldn't make out the words even if I tried."
As he says that, he gets up from his chair. For a split second you almost think he is about to do something to you, even though your Edge-senses don't register any threat against you. But still, he stands up, and walks towards his window.
And you can see his reflection, as he looks out through the window. You can see that he is searching for… something.
Oh, who are you trying to fool?
You know exactly what he is searching for.
"There is something out there, Velvet. Maybe it was always there, and I just couldn't hear it. But that's the thing, just like how my life changed when I learned that everything will end, I feel that my life is changing thanks to this… thanks to this thing that I can hear now."
His horn lights up, and Windy Flakes opens the window with his magic.
You only realize how cold the room is when the warm afternoon breeze blows into his office.
"I feel like it's trying to tell me something, Velvet, but the voice is so far away that I can't… or maybe, this thing is telling me to reach out for it? Because… because I almost feel like I will be able to hear it, if I go somewhere else. Maybe to Canterlot, where so many things have happened? Maybe to another city, given how so many ponies have died not long ago?"
He asks you that, but you can tell that he is mostly talking to himself.
But more importantly, you are thankful that Windy has his back to you, as he looks out through the window. You are thankful that he can't see the expression on your face.
Because you know exactly what he is talking about. You know exactly what it is that he can almost hear, with a voice that is so distant that he can't make out its words.
In fact…
In. Fact.
A chill runs down your spine, as you realize you already understand what his next conclusion will be.
Because young Windy Flakes was afflicted, when he learned long ago that everything ends.
An older Windy Flakes was consoled, when he later learned that everything will end.
And right before you is a Windy Flakes that… you gulp something dry as you realize it. Right before you is a Windy Flakes that might just find some meaning in the thought that everything must end.
"But… but I just…" he says, his every word weighted down by confusion and uncertainty, "I just don't know what any of this means, Velvet. I honestly don't know what to do. I don't even know if I should do something to begin with!"
He lets out a long, wistful sigh, closing the window once again.
And when he returns to you, much to your added tension, he looks and feels exactly like the Windy Flakes you have always known.
"Well, that's what has been on my mind. So, my dear Loremaster, do you have any thoughts on that?"
He asks, his tone so jovial and casual that he might as well have just asked about the weather.
And you… you make sure to very carefully maneuver the conversation from that point on.
Ultimately, you aren't able to talk to Windy Flakes about what you really wanted to talk. You didn't dare to breach the subject, so you weren't even able to gauge his personal opinions on the matter.
Although you do think that… from the small comments he made, here and there, the cult will have much more to offer him than you ever will.
And the one thing that you could offer him, to sway him to your side, is something that… well, that you might regret offering him.
But that is not a decision you are willing to make right now. You have the closest thing to an answer that you will be able to get today. So, for now, this much will have to do.
You have conversed with Windy Flakes, and you were able to learn a little more about the stallion. You are not sure that you are comfortable with what you have learned.
You were not at all able to breach the subject of "what he thinks about the cult", when it comes to gauging how he might feel about eventually distancing himself from it. So your current understanding is that, if nothing else, he wishes to learn more about the Lores. And based on that, you think the Master and the cult will have more to offer him than you will.
You have also found out something worrying, but you have no idea what to do with this information.
You think that Windy Flakes honestly considers you a friend, but you suddenly realize that you don't know what "friends" mean to him.
<40: "You are asking me about what?"
40: "Let me tell you a little about myself"
80: "Let me tell you a little about what you really want to know."
120: ???
150: ???
[To whom is loyal the cold?, breakpoints 40/80/120/150]
Discovered: Windy was well-chosen by the Master, as Bird has said of all Inner Circle members. He finds comfort in the End. The Wolf-Divided is sending him those Discord invites.
Not discovered: Meaningful information about his secret project, meaningful information about the cult's physical resources or assets, information about the missing reagent, or clearer details about exactly how the Wildhoof Club was acquired. Oh, and Velvet also doesn't know what the gramophone does. (Is that the expedition reward artifact?)
Even if the roll was a couple breakpoints higher, I'm still not sure he'd flip or even just leave the cult. This is indeed the pony who took personal initiative trying to make a fighting pit inside the club.
Possible future intervention might keep him off the omnicidal god path, but Velvet has too many other concerns, as always.
I mostly feel bad for Golden Plume. Is there any plausible way she doesn't get arrested or killed in the middle of all this?
I am sure that we will get that option next turn. Highly doubt that we will take it, and not just because it's scary to imagine Winter call us his mommy. Poor Stormchaser will never recover.
Anyway, looks like our action have consequences
Mind you the fact, that roll was called "To whom is loyal the cold?" and that kinda ominous, who knows haw many winter and edge aligned ponies were also touched by Wolf. Imagine escaping one cult, just to discover another one, but with actual world destruction motives.
Let's not let someone close to us get consumed by the Wolf. The Wolf has a vested interest in Velvet continuing to make Regrettable Actions. It will never force her to do so, I don't even know if Velvet could commit a Regrettable Action without willingly doing so, but it will definitely try to corner us so that the option is all the more tempting.
Also damn you dice. Low rolls for this quest suck a lot more than they do for others because we have so many irons in the fire. Hopefully we can still salvage this relationship.
To think we were worried that Comet would follow the path of the Wolf!
I don't think this is totally unsalvageable, if we had the actions for it. We did see Velvet note the huge empty spaces in his story here, and perhaps if they were filled we would find something to sway him. But I'm doubtful we have the actions for it.
I do agree that we can't afford to leave Windy alone. He's clearly going to be finding the Wolf and becoming an Apostate. We can't afford for the cult to have an Apostate as our enemy. Either we make him an Apostate ourselves or we kill him.
I'm not really happy with the idea of killing our friends. Seems like a really slippery slope to me.
Well, the only way it could had gone worse is if we got a Nat 1, which would had made us blurting that we intend to betray the Cult or something like that, our myriad bonuses is what salvaged the situation from a complete loss to at least get something out of this meeting.
So, clearly Windy wont' betray the Cult, as it's offering him more than we could: he's neck deep in Winter and the Cult give him the way to continue to explore that Lore and the meaning behind the End. If we tried earlier, we might had helped him by making him see that the journey is as important as the destination, and that the certainty that everything will End doesn't take away the value of what happens before, that would had certainly be symbolized by him finding his Minor Lore, like it happened with Jade... but now he's too far in his path for us to change him with the limited time we have.
Or rather, he seems to have found something outside the Cult that might give him the answers and direction he sought. So yeah, I'm seeing it coming: at some point we'll get the Regrettable Option to introduce Windy to our sons and their father to sway him out of the Cult's clutches, which by its nature will be a guaranteed success, but this will have... consequences.
It'll be a classical "solve a today's problem by creating a problem for tomorrow", as so far, we could control the spread of the Wolf's influence by virtue of being the only one interacting with it, but if we introduce Windy to it, who knows how far he could go? "Best" case, he becomes loyal to us and "only" becomes a Wolf Long or Name. Worst case, he becomes a rival like in CS who might try to go for a FATHER OF WOLVES ending.
I think that the reason he can't hear the Wolf's call clearly is because we are in Ponyville and thus shield the city from the worst of its effect, hence his musing of of he should leave for another city. Which might be a way to sabotage the Cult without getting too involved: convince him to go search for that presence as it's what's really important for him, while we'll take care of the Club in his absence (*proceeds to empty all accounts to an offshore account and torch down the HQ before leaving the Cult* ) or have him replaced by someone else less good at the job. Windy might find what he's looking for, but without our help he might take more time and not go as far in this path. (or at least slow enough that we can deal with it later)
Also, I don't remember, when did we got An awareness of appetite?
Best" case, he becomes loyal to us and "only" becomes a Wolf Long or Name. Worst case, he becomes a rival like in CS who might try to go for a FATHER OF WOLVES ending
I think that the reason he can't hear the Wolf's call clearly is because we are in Ponyville and thus shield the city from the worst of its effect, hence his musing of of he should leave for another city. Which might be a way to sabotage the Cult without getting too involved: convince him to go search for that presence as it's what's really important for him, while we'll take care of the Club in his absence (*proceeds to empty all accounts to an offshore account and torch down the HQ before leaving the Cult* ) or have him replaced by someone else less good at the job. Windy might find what he's looking for, but without our help he might take more time and not go as far in this path. (or at least slow enough that we can deal with it later)
This is actually not a bad plan. Most of what we were hoping to get out of recruiting Windy was denying his help to the Cult anyway, if he leaves on a journey of evil self-discovery that's... almost as good?
About that. Them being summons places them in a similar circumstance to Confidants, where you "can't" socialize with them because they are already (in the Names case, literally) living with you.
When it comes to the Mansus and its dwellers, actions matter, not words.
Makes sense to me. Progress in the climb, progress against the worms, and progress in things they'd approve of should all help us getting closer to them, and the longer we keep them summoned an in our pleasant company the better as well.
For Baldomare: progressing in ways she's approves of, maybe giving her bits to go out and have fun finding something interesting, not abusing her (like, saying, having her suffer in a fight), maybe showing her a way to have love and lores coexist with Stormchaser (though that might actually get her jealous...). Later on, who knows, maybe we can develop a ritual to give Illopony his mind back?
For DoA: Frangiclave, and maybe a bit of comfort in the wake. Enough said.
Master: I think that if we make progress on our vs worms paths, we might patch up our relationship in the future no matter what happens... as long as they don't take Starry in prison as something personal.
And about the summons, nothing wrong so far. You can't summon the Wolf-Divided himself (although you did learn Windigo summoning from him, indirectly) and you don't yet know how to summon the Master. Yes, even though you literally were the main ritualist who summoned him once. Bit confusing, innit? I blame Moth.
well, the ritual WAS Different in that we summoned him without bindings, so there's also that. and we don't know their true nature, which also likely matters.
Correct. Some sacraments (like your personal SH option) can be done before reaching 4/4. They usually are the ones that involve researches, or more overt action. Other sacraments are more akin to "crossing a threshold", in the sense that you reach 4/4, reaches a point that "you are now ready" and then do a single act that solidifies your decision and sacraments you.
and presumably research actions might result in lore revelations along the way anyway. Though I wonder if our personal SH sacrament would give SH scraps, or maybe Winter scraps for withstanding that kind of experience...
-Pinkie Pie is definitely a mortal pony, and you should not treat her (or expect to treat her) in any different way that you would the Pinkie Pie we know and love from the show.
-Elagabalus was definitely a mortal man, and you should not treat him (or expect to treat him) in any different way than you would a Roman Emperor of the third century.
or in other words, she might not be an Hour, but she's definitely not normal. Especially if you take even a SINGLE ONE of her toony antics seriously. As a reminder, even ignoring everything she actually did, she knew of the Mirror Pool, AND of Parasprites, AND she knew to laugh at Nightmare Moon's attempt to scare them. She objectively HAS some level of eldritch knowledge!
so, Pinkie Pie is just a our usual mortal eldritch being, instead of an immortal one. I get ya!
Or you could focus your efforts on a particular pony, who already told you at least once that he feels confused and frustrated by the way that the Master is doing things.
And that pony, it bears mentioning, is one of the very lynchpins of the cult, who holds the cult's purse and has direct sway over many of the cult members who make a living as club employees.
You are thinking, of course, about Windy Flakes. And considering how all the other Inner Circle members are either unavailable, or already on your side in Jade's case, you can't think of anypony else you would rather have on your side as soon as possible.
With that in mind, you set out from your home, making your way to the Wildhoof Club.
No matter if this works or not, I stand by my opinion that it was the right choice. Windy DID show doubts, and he WAS the obvious choice to try and subvert right now, when Comet is unavailable and we already did prep work for him.
But behind your smile, and within the confines of your mind, your thoughts are running at full speed. Your relatively recent and reliable Lore-knowledge clashing with your much older and savvy personal intuition, as the two of them clamor you not to listen to the other.
It might be Windy's skill. some kind of immunity to our lore-senses, which leaves us to rely on normal intuition.
THAT'S one of the things I find very dangerous about our lore realizations/skills. we instinctively trusts them without questioning them... but what happens if we find something or someone that can trick them?
One of the things that made me the most worried in the past was when Velvet got her Lantern Touch, and she was outright unable to distrust it or wishing to test it.
...then, again, if I think of it as the equivalent of someone distrusting their eyes when reading a book, wishing to ask someone else to confirm that the words in writing are actually the same we see... I get it, but it's still worrying to me.
Also such a test would indeed make sense for a true scientist, and some kinds of philosophists.
"Hah! You are too kind. And part of me wants to say that you answered that perhaps too quickly," he says with a joking expression, "is that the sort of speech you give to your daughter whenever she starts panicking about what cutie mark she might get?"
You raise a hoof to your mouth to suppress the smile of how spot on he was just now. But still, the stallion continues to speak before you get the chance to answer.
"But the thing about ice statues, Velvet, is that they melt. And me and my friends were all out playing, enjoying ourselves to the fullest, because it was the last day of winter. Winter wrap up was just around the corner, quite literally, and I got to watch as the proudest achievement of my life melted into a puddle less than a full day after it was made."
...this is so Winter it hurts. and I fear his next words, because I expect something along the lines of "Equestria is at its most beautiful right before its demise".
"Everything ends. That's the lesson I got out of that," he says, his eyes unfocused as if he is looking at his own memory, rather than at somewhere in his office.
"And the thing about Winter, the Lore that is, is that it really did open my eyes about a lot. You see, Velvet, for the longest time I thought that life was just about that. Everything ends and all. But after the Master taught me about Winter, I started to see it in a different way," he says, gesticulating with his hoofs. "Not that everything ends, but that everything will end. Do you know what I mean by that?"
He asks that, and then he looks at you.
And for all that his expression looks calm and collected, you can't help but feel that… that he is looking expectantly at you. As if he is waiting for you to confirm something. As if he is hoping that you understand what he is saying. That you understand him.
"It's about certainty." You continue, watching a light appear in his eyes as you speak, "knowing things will end can be bleak, but understanding that they will end, honestly comprehending that this is the way things go, is… reassuring."
"However," he says, lightly hitting his table with a hoof, "however… something happened, recently. And I think that… I think that I'm on the cusp of another breakthrough, so to speak…"
Your heart sinks, as you remember what you did a few days ago, in the Mansus, and the consequences of that action.
You feel something cold run through your body as you prepare yourself for what he is going to say next, for all that you dearly hope to be wrong about this.
"I know I can trust you with this, Velvet. Or that at least you will understand me, and know that I don't sound insane when I say this," he says, once again looking into your eyes, "but I feel like… I feel like I can almost hear… something. Like a voice on the wind, or a whisper, but that is so damn far away that I couldn't make out the words even if I tried."
"I feel like it's trying to tell me something, Velvet, but the voice is so far away that I can't… or maybe, this thing is telling me to reach out for it? Because… because I almost feel like I will be able to hear it, if I go somewhere else. Maybe to Canterlot, where so many things have happened? Maybe to another city, given how so many ponies have died not long ago?"
And right before you is a Windy Flakes that… you gulp something dry as you realize it. Right before you is a Windy Flakes that might just find some meaning in the thought that everything must end.
I'm going to say it here: if we failed the action, but can still try to bring him back from the brink next time, I'll vote for it, because while I would have been fine failing to turn him to our side, I refuse to leave him to the Wolf if we can stop it!
Although you do think that… from the small comments he made, here and there, the cult will have much more to offer him than you ever will.
And the one thing that you could offer him, to sway him to your side, is something that… well, that you might regret offering him.
But that is not a decision you are willing to make right now. You have the closest thing to an answer that you will be able to get today. So, for now, this much will have to do.
<40 was basically a VERY negative reaction
40+ was a "a bit of understanding, but little to no progress"
80+ seemed to be something closer to what we wanted and hoped for... and we failed. we needed at least a 38, and we rolled a 3 THREE.
120 was probably very positive, with the impossible-to-reach 150 being basically a "why didn't you tell me sooner, of course I'll join you!" moment.
...well, we failed. and we probably won't get a second chance. We could have really used a reroll here...
I do agree that we can't afford to leave Windy alone. He's clearly going to be finding the Wolf and becoming an Apostate. We can't afford for the cult to have an Apostate as our enemy. Either we make him an Apostate ourselves or we kill him.
I'm not really happy with the idea of killing our friends. Seems like a really slippery slope to me.
very likely, in which case we'll want to sabotage him. maybe he won't even take it personally, after all the cult and club have to end sometimes too, don't they?
I have to wonder, though... what does friendship mean to Windy Flakes?
mh... hey @BirdBodhisattva is there any way to nudge Comet/Jade/Rarity to climb higher, beyond the obvious "give them lessons to get higher lore levels"?
I think pushing him to go somewhere else might be the best we can hope for. And that runs the risk of him running into (or rather seeking) the Wolf in the Stairways.
We really don't need more people with the ability to perform Regrettable Actions running about.
Edit: I wonder if his... sensitivity? to the Wolfspawn's whispers have something to do with that Bundle of Fur that went missing.
) or have him replaced by someone else less good at the job. Windy might find 
