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

Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
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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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Greymere said:
I thought we did? And the answer was basically 'well I don't' but that she couldn't speak for whether or not the Master could.
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Starlit Horizon said:
We did ask Baldomare though.

Her answer was, more or less, "I do know what you are doing anyway, Influence or not. Can your Master? I don't know."
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If that lantern secret histories name cant far see I kinda doubt the Moth name can.

Though funny point about her knowing what were doing regardless.
 
zxzx24 said:
Mad requires the master to be sane enough to fear. Or be invested in what they have built in the wake.

Most of which is dust in the wind compared to keeping control of Velvet.

Most of them can't even climb right.
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I dunno the Master has always seemed very utilitarian. We haven't known the Master to show passion or emotion and they honestly don't seem to be too personally attached to us. Do we have any value to the Master beyond our utility? We're not like the Master's pet or anything just a high value employee. I doubt a Moth aligned entity had it in them to take ANYTHING personally and betrayal isn't exactly antithetical to Moth. From my read of the situation the Master wont try to torture us just for the hell of it. They seem more of a disinterested boss than a jealous lover.

The Master has a goal and that's to stop the worms, they just don't care about all the eggs they step on to achieve that goal. The cult also exists for a reason and that's to help with that goal. Faced with overwhelming odds like Celestia I'm sure the Master will cut losses and say to hell with the cult, the one thing they have the most of is time. But if we leave and don't do grand sabotage we can be just troublesome enough to threaten the cult while being just weak enough to not be worth sabotaging the cult to kill.
 
So before the next turn vote I wanted to make a mini info-post on our lore levels and our progress for each of them, so we can better decide what to go for (and just so I have an easier to read summary than the character sheet).

Our level 3 lores are LANTERN, WINTER, FORGE, EDGE, GRAIL and HEART. Of these, LANTERN, EDGE and WINTER are all at 3/4 (the others are at 0 or 1).

Our Level 4 lores are KNOCK, MOTH and SECRET HISTORIES. KNOCK just leveled so is at 0/4, MOTH is at 1/4 (both with no Sacrament), whilst SECRET HISTORIES just needs a Sacrament to get to Level 5.

From this, the most urgent to level is EDGE and WINTER, since they're needed for Selene. I'd prefer WINTER since better Mental resist is really needed for both of us lol. Level 4 LANTERN we don't really want for anything specific at the moment. We can see if we pick up the next scrap over the course of our other actions, but it's not a priority. SECRET HISTORIES would be useful so we can see what a Level 5 lore looks like and would let us start finding our way to the Tower in the Blank Plains. However I think we need to have Baldomare as our summon to be able to do "Beyond the Map's Edge", @BirdBodhisattva is that correct?

tl:dr our only real priorities atm are EDGE/WINTER; are other lorescan wait for later turns. We might want to level Moth though just so we can get the Master's Sacrament before we leave the cult.
 
afreaknamedpete said:
I dunno the Master has always seemed very utilitarian. We haven't known the Master to show passion or emotion and they honestly don't seem to be too personally attached to us. Do we have any value to the Master beyond our utility? We're not like the Master's pet or anything just a high value employee. I doubt a Moth aligned entity had it in them to take ANYTHING personally and betrayal isn't exactly antithetical to Moth. From my read of the situation the Master wont try to torture us just for the hell of it. They seem more of a disinterested boss than a jealous lover.

The Master has a goal and that's to stop the worms, they just don't care about all the eggs they step on to achieve that goal. The cult also exists for a reason and that's to help with that goal. Faced with overwhelming odds like Celestia I'm sure the Master will cut losses and say to hell with the cult, the one thing they have the most of is time. But if we leave and don't do grand sabotage we can be just troublesome enough to threaten the cult while being just weak enough to not be worth sabotaging the cult to kill.
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I dont think we can convince anyone that were weak. Especially not the master.

Especially especially not after what we did to the tribal door.

And what does the rest of the cult have to offer him? Bits? Mortal servants?

Especially if we (manage to) take Comet.
 
zxzx24 said:
Tasty, something to consider I guess.

You know it could be a way to get the master out of the picture for a bit, if that is the case.

Then have other ponies do all the betrayal and skulduggery.
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…I mean, what do we actually want to do that involves betrayal this turn? Talking to Comet, giving DoA orders, and… maybe the Tapestry ritual? We could maybe specify to wait until after that before asking?
 
Ericwinter said:
…I mean, what do we actually want to do that involves betrayal this turn? Talking to Comet, giving DoA orders, and… maybe the Tapestry ritual? We could maybe specify to wait until after that before asking?
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Get Twilight? Which I desperately hope we do.

Also I'm expecting that an external clock is about to tick down. Since...

We dont get to set the terms of our betrayal unless we act first.

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That is an excellent point though.
 
I imagine each level three lore will have an adverse effect on her wellbeing. They're the level where you really start seeing beyond the mundane, in her case especially so.

Moth has shown her nature. I imagine Knock will unlock some degree of power and awareness of the transformation to come, Edge will instill instincts anathema to the current world order, and Winter is...disturbing at the best of times.

I do wonder what the 'ideal' order would be in terms of her mental health though.
 
If the lessons are to start killing Selene we should really speed up talking to Stormchaser.

Since we will have to do something.
 
I think it was mentioned that Winter and Edge are "control" lores, while Moth and Knock are "power" lores, with the former meant to help Selene/Luna cope with the effects of the latter, while the latter are more about restoring her memories and powers.
 
StormySky said:
I think it was mentioned that Winter and Edge are "control" lores, while Moth and Knock are "power" lores, with the former meant to help Selene/Luna cope with the effects of the latter, while the latter are more about restoring her memories and powers.
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Not quite. Winter and Knock, yes, are obviously the control and power things respectively, but it was never clarified which of Edge and Moth was which. It's been argued back and forth repeatedly but never with any real change, and Bird refuses to say. However, this:
BirdBodhisattva said:
The foundation of her knowledge was laid out by Silky, who gently pried her out of her shell, and you trust that bedrock to be strong. The pillars that she has built within herself were motivated by her love for your husband, and you know that they will endure as long as she cares for him.
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Actually makes me thing we had it all wrong all along, because this is obviously referencing the Winter lessons.

Which really should have been obvious, since back when we first started Winter was stated to help deal with all of the above, and we just focused on Knock because it was specifically pointed out to be exceptionally dangerous.

Also I imagine Selene was always going to suffer somewhat, because no matter how carefully and slowly we're doing it, we're still slowly drawing a fucking Alicorn into a mortal filly's body and mind. It was never going to be easy, or gentle. At the same time, I expect this is just going to be a temporary thing until her realization settles.
 
Ericwinter said:
Actually makes me thing we had it all wrong all along, because this is obviously referencing the Winter lessons.

Which really should have been obvious, since back when we first started Winter was stated to help deal with all of the above, and we just focused on Knock because it was specifically pointed out to be exceptionally dangerous.
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Hmm, that's a good point. Well, Winter next then, for many different reasons.
 
Ericwinter said:
Actually makes me thing we had it all wrong all along, because this is obviously referencing the Winter lessons.

Which really should have been obvious, since back when we first started Winter was stated to help deal with all of the above, and we just focused on Knock because it was specifically pointed out to be exceptionally dangerous.

Also I imagine Selene was always going to suffer somewhat, because no matter how carefully and slowly we're doing it, we're still slowly drawing a fucking Alicorn into a mortal filly's body and mind. It was never going to be easy, or gentle. At the same time, I expect this is just going to be a temporary thing until her realization settles
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You know that quote makes me think it's the foundation of love and of friendship that is helping her stay more grounded. Since neither of them have been teaching her the lores.

Except winter that one time, but that was a christmas gift.
 
zxzx24 said:
You know that quite makes me thing it's the foundation of love and of friendship that is helping her stay more grounded. Since neither of them have been teaching her the lores.

Except winter that one time, but that was a christmas gift.
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The first Winter lesson had Silky going out of her way to make friends with Selene. It's a pretty clear reference to Winter in general.
 
Ericwinter said:
The first Winter lesson had Silky going out of her way to make friends with Selene. It's a pretty clear reference to Winter in general.
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Let me believe in the power of a loving family :V

They were part of the reason for picking the filly anyway. I think. It was such a long time ago.

That or the stable foundation of mortal love and connection.

Which Luna desperately, desperately needed.

Edit: post fusing.

So to ask a question for the upcoming interlude.

If Celestia decided to go full murderhobo on the nobles of Canterlot....

Is that a dealbreaker for trying to work with with Cadence or Dull glass? Or in general?

Do we care?

Not admitting foolish crimes or anything, but like teaming up with them, or teaching them how to harness the occult (specifically Cadence).

Cause like...

The nobles decided to squabble after the attack on Luna, and havent been... generally great.

I wouldnt have shed a tear if she decided to execute our father for example. (I would miss uncle steppes)
 
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zxzx24 said:
If Celestia decided to go full murderhobo on the nobles of Canterlot....

Is that a dealbreaker for trying to work with with Cadence or Dull glass? Or in general?

Do we care?
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For Cadence? No, but mostly because I can't imagine she'd support that. Dull Glass might or might not, but his personal opinions matter much less.

We do still owe him a villainous monologue though.
 
I kind of want Celestia to go murderhobo on nobles, because, in my opinion, it makes it possible (if not easy) that we can work with Cadence, and only Cadence.

It would be easier to convince her to leave us a secret if Celestia does not appear reasonable.
 
Starlit Horizon said:
I kind of want Celestia to go murderhobo on nobles, because, in my opinion, it makes it possible (if not easy) that we can work with Cadence, and only Cadence.

It would be easier to convince her to leave us a secret if Celestia does not appear reasonable.
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That is an excellent point actually.

So what your saying is we missed out by not rolling Daybreaker and starting a secret rebellion with Cadence? :thonk:

Cause that sounds kinda rad.
 
Then again, that makes the Harmony path that much harder, since Luna is only half the bridge and Celestia can't be substituted by Cadence.
 
zxzx24 said:
That is an excellent point actually.

So what your saying is we missed out by not rolling Daybreaker and starting a secret rebellion with Cadence? :thonk:

Cause that sounds kinda rad.
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Well, Daybreaker would be its own bag of problems, one which is pointed above, but not like it's the end, given you know, Daybreaker is infected with Worms.

That said, Celestia being a little too unreasonable so that Cadence would agree to shield us for a while, to be pricise, until Luna can awaken and calm her sister down? That would be to our benefit, yes.
 
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StormySky said:
Then again, that makes the Harmony path that much harder, since Luna is only half the bridge and Celestia can't be substituted by Cadence.
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You know. I an really looking forward to someday finding out what the stuffing Cadence is exactly. She was a mortal at some point, but is almost a different creature entirely from Celestia and Luna.

And those two were also mortals once, albeit ones who were also outsiders once.
 
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