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.
We can't do both the expedition and the summoning, and the DoA can act as both a sacrifice and get her own action iirc, so then what do we spend DoA's action on?
We can't do both the expedition and the summoning, and the DoA can act as both a sacrifice and get her own action iirc, so then what do we spend DoA's action on?
--[] Equestria is full of undiscovered places. You must learn their secrets. (All options involve a test, and can fail)
---[] Search for a place that is recent in its ruin, whose History is decided. Mundane as it might be, it might still bear treasures. (Search for an "easy" expedition)
---[] Search for a place that is old in its History. Where the influence of the Mansus is but an echo, but that can still be heard in the wind. (Search for an intermediary expedition)
---[] Search for a place that should be better left forgotten. According to the powers of this Era, at least. Finding it will be hard, though, and uncovering its secrets even harder. (Search for a very hard expedition)
I say send DOA on the Canterlot expedition if nothing else comes up in the options. And if not that then get 3 more keys. Anything other then that is wasting her. Also on the Baldomare summon. We can probably manage it. We're one scrap off from Lantern 4 and reading the book will give us that. The refill should cover it and if we really want to fudge the numbers in our favour we can make a lantern 3 reagent. Hell maybe we'll get one from the expedition.
I say send DOA on the Canterlot expedition if nothing else comes up in the options. And if not that then get 3 more keys. Anything other then that is wasting her. Also on the Baldomare summon. We can probably manage it. We're one scrap off from Lantern 4 and reading the book will give us that. The refill should cover it and if we really want to fudge the numbers in our favour we can make a lantern 3 reagent. Hell maybe we'll get one from the expedition.
If we use Mareinette for upping socials to grind for more AP instead of of casting IotH, then we'll surely have the bits for a fun expedition for best snake.
If we use Mareinette for upping socials to grind for more AP instead of of casting IotH, then we'll surely have the bits for a fun expedition for best snake.
Getting rid of the fear trait is a priority, its a constant filter that interferes with Velvet's objectivity. Making her assume and think the worst, of herself and what others think of her. See Fluttershy where Velvet was unable to even conceive of being close to her, until Fluttershy outright said otherwise. It a constant filter that infects all the updates, and Velvet's own thinking. Making planning harder, and more problematic.
Also using the loth to remove it safely is a good argument to Storm Chaser on using it to restore Luna.
Getting rid of the fear trait is a priority, its a constant filter that interferes with Velvet's objectivity. Making her assume and think the worst, of herself and what others think of her. See Fluttershy where Velvet was unable to even conceive of being close to her, until Fluttershy outright said otherwise. It a constant filter that infects all the updates, and Velvet's own thinking. Making planning harder, and more problematic.
Also using the loth to remove it safely is a good argument to Storm Chaser on using it to restore Luna.
I value the ability to do more actions and harness more power as soon as possible more than I value Velvet currently removing her sense of low self-esteem. Especially since I find it a refreshing change of pace from most quest MC's smugness. I'd rather use the funds for an expedition to get more useful tools for our confidantes that might also yield scraps, or even a ritual spot that isn't in a barn we no longer own. Or just use the funds on another summon to do more things with.
As much as I'm dubious about taking the QM at their word that the first re-binding won't be objectionable, they do seem pretty confident that we'll have Mareinette for six turns. If we assume that's true, I'm still wanting to keep to our original schedule of casting Incision on us in order to convince Stormchaser we can cast it on Selene. I understand we could use Mareinette for some kind of Grail-based solution to overcome Storm's objections without the ritual, but:
1. I want to get rid of Frightened.
2. I want to engage with Storm's concerns legitimately, rather than run over them with a monster made out of raw persuasion. He thinks the ritual is dangerous, so we should do the responsible thing and show him it's not.
Mareinette interfacing with the Alicorns is a fun plan, but we shouldn't lose sight of awakening Selene as quickly and smoothly as possible.
In Which An Invincible Audacity Forges An Impossible Epic
Omake: In Which An Invincible Audacity Forges An Impossible Epic
You are Velvet Covers, and this is the single most terrifying thing you have ever done.
"Your highness, thank you for agreeing to meet with me on such short notice," you say. It is early sunday afternoon, and the Princess of the Sun stands, towers in truth, above you. "A matter I believe warranting your personal attention has come up."
Her attention feels like the weight of the noonday sun at midsummer as it beats down upon you. She nods for you to continue.
"This morning-" you pause to clear your throat, "ma'am, this morning my daughter, my adopted daughter, Selene, woke up with horns and wings."
"What." The word is flat and sharp. It is not a question. It is a command.
"Just what I said your Highness. This morning I was woken up by a commotion coming from her room. When I went to investigate I found her panicking due to the appearance of a horn and a pair of wings. She's a- she was an earth pony your Highness."
"Where is she now." the Sun says. Again, the words are not questions.
"In the Bureau headquarters ma'am, with my husband, my other daughter, and their nanny. When I saw what was going on, I did my best to conceal her wings, ordered the estate to be locked down, and got my family to Canterlot and the Bureau as fast as I could. Its possible that my father will have learned that something is up, but other than that I don't think anyone could be aware of what has happened."
The Princess dismisses your words with a snort. Before she can say anything you rush onwards, allowing a little more of the fear you feel to creep into your voice.
"Ma'am, there's something else," her eyes narrow at you, the intensity of her attention increasing. You push doggedly onwards. "While I was gathering my thoughts for this report I realized- I realized-"
You force yourself to look up, to meet that terrible gaze.
"Your Highness, I'm- I'm- I'm trying not to panic, but- but- please."
And there it is, a tiny spark of recognition in her eye. She knows, she knows the impact of her regard, the terrible weight her attention has held since the Calamity. And there is just enough compassion in her heart to offer you the tiniest sliver of mercy.
And into the shadow of that mercy your words flow.
"Ma'am, I can't recall how my daughter came to be with me. When I try, all I can find is a dream."
She blinks. "A dream?" she asks. Her head tilts ever so slightly, her focus on you abates ever so slightly.
"Yes ma'am. I'm- I'm worried-"
"Describe this dream." she cuts you off, her voice once again razor sharp
"I- yes ma'am. It starts at the map we were using to coordinate the search effort. My attention is drawn to a point on the map, and then I'm there. I'm in front of a house on a hill, overlooking two other hills." you are interrupted by a small inhale on the part of the Princess. After a second passes without further interuption, you continue. "I go inside, and there are two ponies, a dark blue mare and a pure white stallion. They're old, and there's a lullaby, and it feels like home."
"A lullaby?" Celestia asks. You steal a glance up at her again. Her eyes bore into you, through you, searching, probing, seeking.
"Yes ma'am. I can hum a few bars if you-" again your words are cut off, this time by a sharp nod. You do, and this time the inhalation is a full on gasp.
"Continue," she says. It is clear she is not referring to your humming.
"Its jumbled, but I speak to them. They tell me they're memories? I think? One last night. The mare-"
"Describe their cutie marks." She interrupts.
"I- I don't recall- no, actually, I don't recall them having cutie marks at all ma'am,"
Narrowed eyes, slightly quizzical. A nod for you to continue.
"The mare asks me, one mother to another, to take care of her daughter. Then I'm upstairs, and there's a sleeping filly before me. She wakes, and the house is now an empty ruin. She tells me her name is Selene, and I tell her its time to come with me. We leave house, and there are instructions written in the stars. Lessons I must impart, though I won't remember them. And when the time is right, something I must do. There's a journey then, a train, and we're not alone, Rarity is with us, And then I'm awake, and home, and I'm explaining to my husband why we have to adopt this filly who's lost her family and her memory."
You steel yourself.
"There's one more thing ma'am. The blanket I found her sleeping in, I have it," you lift the cloth from your saddlebag and proffer it to the Princess.
The fragile glow of your magic is shredded as the Princess's horn blazes into glory, ripping the cloth from your grasp. The intensity drives you to your knees and forces your gaze to the floor as she lifts the cloth to the level of her eyes.
While getting rid of fear would be nice it's not really a priority. We've survived 16 turns and it's only really a problem in combat situations. Velvet's fear didn't stop her from perceiving Fluttershy and her growing closer Fluttershy is just that difficult to read. Marinette's actions are much better spent in getting us out of AP/bits hell. Sending her and Rarity to deal with the Pride situation is a viable path.
Also while I do think we should do the Stormchaser talk on our own, hell I'd argue for it, I don't think casting IoTH on us is going to change his mind. Only a small part of his concern is on the safety of the ritual. The rest is on letting Selene grow up on her own and have as best a childhood as we can give her. Whether the ritual works as described or not, which should be a minor concern all told as his own knowledge of the Lores has grown, was never the big hurdle. It's the fact we're practically taking his daughter away.
Narratively, she is indeed a thing of Lantern and truth. However, for the sake of gameplay, she can only do what she can do.
Chrysalis went out of her way to have a legitimate mechanical way of fooling people. Mareinette goes out of her way to have an honest skill to do what she does. But if that's not the case, the rules of the game still apply. And the narrative justification for it is either that Baldomare doesn't want to do it, or something else.
Still, the final answer is no. No magical "proof of honesty" card in a game where lack of information matters.
Narratively, Mareinette accepted your feast and went to kill the boar after she left your house. And she is the kind of mare that, uh, "licks the plate".
Mechanically, I rolled the dice for "coverup", applied your current bonus, and wrote down the results. It might come back to bite you later on, but that's the risk of doing a ritual in a not-perfectly-secure place.
Still, your previous efforts of making it less conspicuous are right up there on my list.
They do not contain your blood, for that matter. But they still have a part of you in them (or you have a part of them in you?).
Still, nothing physical. I'm not even sure if they have physical bodies at all, the same way that I don't understand how a wound of the Mansus reflects to a wound in the Wake.
I am thinking about "Throw a Name at it" actions for the Bureau. However, I am also rethinking the Bureau mechanics as a whole. Simply put because what I had in mind would be an entirely separate game, almost, and I just don't have the bandwidth to do that. Still, I don't have anything set in stone right now.
Bird one of the plan ideas was to send AX to do the Canterlot expedition part 2, and have her drop off stuff that point to the existence of the lores, would doing that be viable or would that count as 2 actions.
I am not sure I understand your question? If it is a question at all?
Still, going to an expedition and returning to "report" and drop off the loot is part of the expedition action. So sending Velvet Axe to an expedition and getting goodies/intel is indeed only a single action.
Speaking of Baldomare. Anyone have ideas for how to optimize her summoning. On the slim chance it is opposed by someone who can muster up enough lantern to do so?
I know of at least one other party who is thinking the exact same thing.
Oh, and on an unrelated note. Do you guys remember that sacrificing a Lantern 3 Pony will give you +10 on all Lores, plus an ADDITIONAL +30 on Lantern? I always found that fascinating.
We can't do both the expedition and the summoning, and the DoA can act as both a sacrifice and get her own action iirc, so then what do we spend DoA's action on?
I'm not commenting on action-counting. But I just wanna second that, yes, you can sacrifice DoA for a ritual on TOP of whatever you ask DoA to do that turn.
However, I will narratively "push" the ritual to the near end of the turn. Just so the timing makes sense. So if you use DoA sacrifice to summon a creature, I will only let the creature act starting on the NEXT turn, because you summoned it "near the end of the month".
A bit of narrative crunching into mechanics, but it feels consistent.
Finally I just wanna say some separate words about Mareinette and Grail.
Yes, she is an absolute beast, as all Names are. And yes, a good deal of Velvet's actions involve socializing, so it is easy (and expected) for one to add one plus one together and surmise Mareinette's actions are possibly very impactful.
However, I just want to point out that not EVERYTHING social involves Grail. Talking to Jade did not use Grail at all, some characters simply cannot be "rolled to convince" on some thing and instead must be voted for a compromise (such as the "Sell Silky roll" that is impossible), and so on. So, what I mean to say is that Mareinette will NOT apply a "yar har! Plus ninety points!" to EVERYTHING that involve social interactions. Some actions might not even warrant her base +40 at all.
What I will do is. I will think about the action as if VELVET was performing it, and then I will simply swap Velvet for Mareinette. And if Velvet would have needed to roll intrigue + Moth to sneak behind her friend to give her a fright, so be it. If Velvet would have been offered a vote on how to negotiate Rarity's contract, Mareinette will decide it. And if Velvet wouldn't have rolled anything at all, and just spent a pleasant afternoon making friends with Cheerilee, then Mareinette will be awarded a free sandwich and a chat.
Just wanna point that out. Mareinette will overperform if the situation aligns for her to overperform. But don't expect Mareinette to go up to your dad and "Roll to convince him to love Velvet". That would have been impossible for Velvet, so no roll will be offered to Mareinette.
Use our girl well. Don't try to lawyer your way into abusing her. Does that make sense?
Let me know if I missed anything. Turn 17 still set to be posted tomorrow onwards. And I hope you are all well.
@BirdBodhisattva I have just had a potentially insane idea: via Mareinette, can we do social upgrade actions for a person twice in a turn? If we can we can ramp someone up from friend to Confidante this turn, people. One Turn AP Growth, people. Think about it.
If we use Mareinette for upping socials to grind for more AP instead of of casting IotH, then we'll surely have the bits for a fun expedition for best snake.
We have enough to send the expedition and cast IotH, we just can't send the expedition and summon the MitL and buy the artifact and cast IotH. We need to pick either the expedition or the MitL.
Oh, and on an unrelated note. Do you guys remember that sacrificing a Lantern 3 Pony will give you +10 on all Lores, plus an ADDITIONAL +30 on Lantern? I always found that fascinating.
We have enough to send the expedition and cast IotH, we just can't send the expedition and summon the MitL and buy the artifact and cast IotH. We need to pick either the expedition or the MitL.
In that case I pick no IotH in favor of Expedition Goodies and more [AP]. Sweet, savory, succulent [AP].
Besides, sounds like we'll need a Mare sac to throw down with a pony sacrifice. We must outflex Copper's Cult solo at every turn until she personally comes to knife us. The Mareinette can chow down on the Grail pony and we'll have one less problem in our lives.
Holy. I actually love this. It was posted while I was typing, so I only just saw this.
This is delightful! I could feel Velvet trying not to spill her guts out, and I can only imagine the hundreds of small little things that would make that go wrong. The Princess not remembering her childhood most of all. Still, I love it!
Can I please ask if you have a name under out little naming convention? I really am fond of the "In which" thing we had this whole time. Still, thank you so much for sharing it with us!
@BirdBodhisattva I have just had a potentially insane idea: via Mareinette, can we do social upgrade actions for a person twice in a turn? If we can we can ramp someone up from friend to Confidante this turn, people. One Turn AP Growth, people. Think about it.
You misunderstand. I'm grinning evilly as I consider how she'll lose an asset and we'll make sure she gets nothing from it. I suspect the remaining cult will be… very unhappy about it.
In an unrelated note, I wonder if sending Marenette to… disrupt… the ritual is a possibility. She'll have a Winter Name to contend with, but I suspect Neighna vs Marenette would destroy the entire area, lol. Oh and Marenette is way more dedicated to this than Neighna likely is, since she brought her entire body.
This is predicated on us getting a different way to awaken Luna.
