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.
Adhoc vote count started by BirdBodhisattva on Feb 15, 2021 at 4:56 PM, finished with 225 posts and 23 votes.
[X] Plan Cooling Down plus family and rituals, SH artifact edition
-[X] The Attention of the Laws [Secret Histories] for the Mansus Ascension
-[X] Number of actions
--[X] 5+1
-[X] Buy Books
--[X] EDGE 3
--[X] KNOCK 2
--[X] WINTER 2
-[X] Rarity
--[X] Act as your emissary. ---[X]Ask for specific Lore artifact. (Secret History 3)
-[X] Jade Whistle
--[X] As per orders. (Perform her cult assignment)
-[X] Selene
--[X] Knock.
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Tutoring Twilight
--[X] Deliver Comet Feet's letter
--[X] "Those damn Needles!"
---[X] Ask your uncle
-[X] Personal life
--[X] Family
---[X] Invite and introduce Uncle Steppes to everyone, have a nice family gathering.
-[X] On furthering your knowledge
--[X] Read book (write in which)
---[X] Winter 2, Heart 2, Moth 1
-[X] Mission
--[X] Go higher in the Mansus
--[X] If next Door is not reached, attempt again, if full success has been achieved explore past it else explore past the Blank Door
-[X] Shopping
--[X] Books
---[X] In Ponyville. (servant action) ----[x] ask Twilight for help in finding good books. That's her job after all, isn't it? (preference: Heart lvl2+, expedition sites, Edge lvl2+, in THAT order, if it matters). If it improves the action offer a tip/donation to the library to improve the results.
[X] Plan Cooling Down plus family and rituals V2
-[X] The Attention of the Laws [Secret Histories] for the Mansus Ascension
-[X] Number of actions
--[X] 5+1
-[X] Buy Books
--[X] EDGE 3
--[X] KNOCK 2
--[X] WINTER 2
-[X] Rarity
--[X] Act as your emissary.
---[X] Although you are personally judicious about such habits, you are still a noble. Searching for "peculiar items" to "add to your collection" is certainly not out of place… right?
-[X] Jade Whistle
--[X] As per orders. (Perform her cult assignment)
-[X] Selene
--[X] Knock.
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Tutoring Twilight
--[X] Deliver Comet Feet's letter
--[X] "Those damn Needles!"
---[X] Ask your uncle
-[X] Personal life
--[X] Family
---[X] Invite and introduce Uncle Steppes to everyone, have a nice family gathering.
-[X] On furthering your knowledge
--[X] Read book (write in which)
---[X] Winter 2, Heart 2, Moth 1
-[X] Mission
--[X] Go higher in the Mansus
--[X] If next Door is not reached, attempt again, if full success has been achieved explore past it else explore past the Blank Door
-[X] Shopping
--[X] Books
---[X] In Ponyville. (servant action)
[X] Plan Cooling Down plus family and rituals
-[X] The Attention of the Laws [Secret Histories] for the Mansus Ascension
-[X] Number of actions
--[X] 5+1
-[X] Buy Books
--[X] EDGE 3
--[X] KNOCK 2
--[X] WINTER 2
-[X] Rarity
--[X] Act as your emissary.
---[X] Although you are personally judicious about such habits, you are still a noble. Searching for "peculiar items" to "add to your collection" is certainly not out of place… right?
-[X] Jade Whistle
--[X] Act as your emissary. (Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry ritual aimed at finding a Level 4 Edge Artifact.
-[X] Selene
--[X] Knock.
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Tutoring Twilight
--[X] Deliver Comet Feet's letter
--[X] "Those damn Needles!"
---[X] Ask your uncle
-[X] Personal life
--[X] Family
---[X] Invite and introduce Uncle Steppes to everyone, have a nice family gathering.
-[X] On furthering your knowledge
--[X] Read book (write in which)
---[X] Winter 2, Heart 2, Moth 1
-[X] Mission
--[X] Go higher in the Mansus
--[X] If next Door is not reached, attempt again, if full success has been achieved explore past it else explore past the Blank Door
-[X] Shopping
--[X] Books
---[X] In Ponyville. (servant action)
[X] Plan Restful Stressful Month
-[X] The Attention of the Laws [SECRET HISTORIES]
-[X] Number of actions
--[X] 5+1
-[X] Buy Books
--[X] EDGE 3
--[X] KNOCK 2
--[X] WINTER 2
-[X] Rarity
--[X] Focus on her work.
-[X] Jade Whistle
--[X] As per orders. (Perform her cult assignment)
-[X] Selene
--[X] Knock.
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Tutoring Twilight
--[X] Deliver Comet Feet's letter
--[X] "Those damn Needles!"
---[X] Do it yourself
----[X] Ask your uncle for assistance in the matter
-[X] Shopping (Servant Action)
--[X] Books
---[X] In Ponyville.
-[X] The Mansus (pick TWO)
--[X] Go higher in the Mansus (Mission)
---[X] If next Door is not reached, attempt again, if full success has been achieved explore past it else explore past the Blank Door
-[X] Personal life
--[X] Family
---[X] Invite and introduce Uncle Steppes to everyone, have a nice family gathering.
[X] Plan: Prepare for The Incision of the Heart
-[X] Buy Books
--[X] EDGE 3
--[X] WINTER 2
-[X] Number of actions
--[X] 6+1
-[X] Rarity
--[X] Focus on her work.
-[X] Jade Whistle
--[X] As per orders. (Perform her cult assignment)
-[X] Selene
--[X] Edge.
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Tutoring Twilight
--[X] Deliver Comet Feet's letter
-[X] "Those damn Needles!"
--[X] Ask your uncle
-[X] Shopping (Servant Action)
--[X] Books
---[X] In Ponyville.
-[X] On furthering your knowledge
--[X] It doesn't have to be just during a leisure weekend evening, you can fit a few minutes of reading even when walking between rooms if you really get into it! (Pick up to two books to attempt to learn a scrap of Lore. Consumes books).
---[X] BOOK, HEART Level 1. "A small book that covers a particular kind of elegant dancing".
---[X] BOOK, HEART Level 2. "A novel about a mare who fell in love with a drummer, the romantic parts all written in rhyming poetry".
---[X] BOOK, HEART Level 3. "A study about yak culture. The part about their history and folklore is of little use. The chapters about their songs, however…".
---[X] BOOK, FORGE Level 1. "A small handbook on camping, explaining the basics of how to build a tent and start a small fire".
---[X] BOOK, MOTH Level 1. "A poetry book. Amateur work, really, but one of them talks about masks…,".
---[X] BOOK, EDGE lvl 3, "a posthumous, and rather contentious, biography of the legendary pegasus called Flash Magnus,"
-[X] The Mansus (pick TWO)
--[X] The Blank Door
---[X] Explore.
---[X] Visit Baldomare
-[X] Personal life
--[X] Family
---[X] Idle interaction
[X] Plan cooling down
-[X] The Attention of the Laws [LANTERN] for the Stag Door
-[X] Number of actions
--[X] 5+1
-[X] Buy Books
--[X] EDGE 3
--[X] KNOCK 2
--[X] WINTER 2
-[X] Rarity
--[X] Act as your emissary. (Pick an EXTRA action from your own pool, Rarity will perform it to the best of her abilities, ALONE, and report to you later)
---[X] Although you are personally judicious about such habits, you are still a noble. Searching for "peculiar items" to "add to your collection" is certainly not out of place… right? Not suspicious. Suspicion might arise if you later decide to buy the item, depending on its individual suspicion level.
-[X] Jade Whistle
--[X] As per orders. (Perform her cult assignment)
-[X] Personal life
--[X] Family
---[X] Idle interaction
-[X] On furthering your knowledge
--[X] Read book (write in which)
---[X] Winter 2, Heart 2, Edge 3
-[X] Mission
--[X] Go higher in the Mansus
--[X] If next Door is not reached, attempt again, if full success has been achieved explore past it else explore past the Blank Door
-[X] Selene
--[X] Knock.
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Tutoring Twilight
--[X] Deliver Comet Feet's letter
--[X] "Those damn Needles!"
---[X] Ask your uncle
-[X] Shopping
--[X] Books
---[X] In Ponyville. (servant action)
[X] Plan Manehattan
-[X] The Attention of the Laws [Secret Histories] for the Mansus Ascension
-[X] Number of actions
--[X] 5+1
-[X] Buy Books
--[X] EDGE 3
--[X] KNOCK 2
--[X] WINTER 2
-[X] Rarity
--[X] Level her up.
-[X] Jade Whistle
--[X] As per orders. (Perform her cult assignment)
-[X] Selene
--[X] Knock.
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Tutoring Twilight
--[X] Deliver Comet Feet's letter
--[X] "Those damn Needles!"
---[X] Ask your uncle
-[X] Personal life
--[X] Family
---[X] Idle interaction
-[X] On furthering your knowledge
--[X] Read book (write in which)
---[X] Winter 2, Heart 2, Moth 1
-[X] Mission
--[X] Go higher in the Mansus
--[X] If next Door is not reached, attempt again, if full success has been achieved explore past it else explore past the Blank Door
-[X] Shopping
--[X] Books
---[X] In Manehattan. (servant action)
[X] Plan Focus on Fundamentals
-[X] The Attention of the Laws [Secret Histories] for the Mansus Ascension
-[X] Number of actions
--[X] 5+1
-[X] Buy Books
--[X] EDGE 3
--[X] WINTER 2
-[X] Rarity
--[X] Focus on her work.
-[X] Jade Whistle
--[X] As per orders. (Perform her cult assignment)
-[X] Selene
--[X] Knock.
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Tutoring Twilight
--[X] Deliver Comet Feet's letter
--[X] "Those damn Needles!"
---[X] Ask your uncle
-[X] Personal life
--[X] Family
---[X] Invite and introduce Uncle Steppes to everyone, have a nice family gathering.
-[X] On furthering your knowledge
--[X] Read book (write in which)
---[X] Winter 2, Heart 2, Moth 1
-[X] Mission
--[X] Go higher in the Mansus
--[X] If next Door is not reached, attempt again, if full success has been achieved explore past it else explore past the Blank Door
-[X] Shopping
--[X] Books
---[X] In Ponyville. (servant action)
Heavens, it really has been seven days... time passed by in a flash, but it is great to be back!
That is to say, I hope you have all been well, and writing will resume.
Oh, and please @Pittauro, don't take what I said about your write-in in a bad way. It surely has its merits, and asking a librarian to help on book hunts makes all the sense! But on this particular instance I really don't think it'd be for the best.
But still, thank you kindly for the write-in, those are always refreshing to see!
Now, I'll have dinner than I'll start writing. Oh, don't expect an update incredibly soon, but rest assured that at least the forges are lit once again!
Aigh! I placed this quote to the very end so I can address it properly.
Simply put, I will unfortunately have to veto this specific write-in. There are two reasons for this.
Firstly, asking friends (Friends or Good Friends) to help with your actions is already something rather... delicate, so to speak. Well, not delicate in a way that it can horribly backfire, but delicate in the way that it is still a social interaction of sorts, with all the intricacies that follows.
While on the other hand, your servant action is literally to tell your servants (remember, you are a noble and they are your servants. This enters the same slippery slope of "are Celestia's guards doing their job because they are paid, or because she is the Princess?") to do something.
So in all honesty, asking a non-Confidant to aid a servant action feels... cold? Rather wrong, to say the least. It will be you telling a pony who you have a relationship with (even if a Good Friend level relationship with) to... accompany your servants? To order your servants around and guide their efforts?
It feels awkward.
And most importantly, the spirit of your servant action is that they will do something with as little oversight as possible from you, hence the care of not sending them on "suspicious" actions, and why you usually even forget you gave them the order to begin with. They are an extra action because they only cost they give to your personal time is how long you take to read their report.
So you'd be asking your Friend (even if they are a Good Friend) to... well, do something that will have zero interaction with you.
Simply put, sending a non-Confidant to help on a servant action feels (narratively) like something Velvet would not do, seeing how careful she is with ponies.
Oh, sending a Confidant is fair game, since it will cost their action (you'd have to pick the "help you out" action) and it would amount to them effectively ordering your servants in your stead.
Aye. That's for the first reason.
Second reason: you have only just begun to convertindoctrinateseducereeducate dear Twilight Sparkle. And she is still on the grips of a Fascination. I don't see Velvet giving her that sort of task, even if she is sure that she manages to drag Twi out of that particularly bright spot. It'd be too soon to give her a "task" after what she has just been through, for one thing, and she wouldn't want for Twilight to think that she needs to "repay" you by doing chores, for another.
I thought it was worth a shot, but I understand the reasoning, ESPECIALLY the one about using a good friend a bit like a servant.
I might also have underestimated the Fascination, or Velvet's confidence in solving it immediately.
with your new explanation of how servants find book for us though I want a clarification on this:
WOULD having Twilight help in a book search (personal once she recovers, or have her basically search/lead our servants on a search once she gets confidant status) improve the action? if so, by how much?
She doesn't have SH lore, but I imagine being a librarian should make her MORE suited for this then our servants, and her being a pretty good planner/organizer (see winter wrap up) would likely improve the efficiency of our servant search in the future.
Heavens, it really has been seven days... time passed by in a flash, but it is great to be back!
That is to say, I hope you have all been well, and writing will resume.
Oh, and please @Pittauro, don't take what I said about your write-in in a bad way. It surely has its merits, and asking a librarian to help on book hunts makes all the sense! But on this particular instance I really don't think it'd be for the best.
But still, thank you kindly for the write-in, those are always refreshing to see!
Now, I'll have dinner than I'll start writing. Oh, don't expect an update incredibly soon, but rest assured that at least the forges are lit once again!
Since I've actually found it in a book (for my university, actually), I've always loved the "brainstorming" approach.
Basically, I'll propose EVERYTHING that comes to mind, no matter how unlikely/unfeasible it sounds, and see what sticks. Twilight write-in seemed too obvious not to at least ask about, and while I DID see at least SOME of the problems with it... well, that's what asking is for!
And still, it's not a Never. Just a "not yet". I'm FINE with that.
I didn't fail to come up with a write-in, I just found one that wouldn't work yet.
Or, to go with a more "traditional quote": the road to success is paved with failures. And this is a pretty cheap failure, it costs me nothing at all
If I didn't dare, I probably wouldn't have come up with the Rarity plan after all. and there's still lots of interesting/crazy ideas we're keeping aside for the right moment, like the Scootaloo healing approach to RD, or the possible approaches to the Master and the Alicorns
It would require something on the four-digit-scale of bits. Think about it, even a 10% profit from a quick (less-than-a-month-long) investment is a GOOD result, and I am certainly not saying you'd manage even that much. So investing from your own pocket, while possible, would be far less effective, and would freeze your bits for that whole month (no book buying or emergency mid-turn shopping available).
So then the question becomes: How do we leverage our unique resources (Lores) to gain competitive advantage.
To throw some ideas out there...
Use Secret Histories to find opportunities in the same manner as books.
Use "The Reflection of the Tapestry" and search for... something.
"Opportunities" is probably too broad. Anyone with more business sense then me have ideas? Look for people who both need and are likely to pay back loans? Look for resource shortages? Entrepreneurs?
Grail for making business deals.
The right artifact might be able to help make money.
Wouldn't it be nice if someday the most important thing to spend "The Attention of the Laws" on is improving profit margins.
Oh! Velvet is probably an excellent appraiser what with lantern.
Some sort of business trading rare items and curios would be ideal! It could act as a flawless cover for obtaining artifacts and doing expeditions. (And possibly reduce costs and or provide a degree of automation once set up).
It needn't be all lore artifacts. Things like artwork or jewelry perhaps. Ivory? Crystals? Rare books?
But even buying and then reselling low level lore artifacts could be amazingly profitable. Most sellers probably don't really know what their selling.
Finding buyers would be difficult but to the right one? Something like the Heart rug could be amazingly valuable.
Get in contact with Velvet's brother. Odds are he has lots of relevant experience.
It would take a good deal of work and money to set up but the benefits could be amazing. Both monetary and other.
It could start small too. Some sort of expansion on the artifact search action...
We have merchant contacts now too. More network expansion in that direction might be worth considering.
it might be a bit boring, but... search for hidden lost treasures (the classic pirate chest, basically)?
We could possibly justify it as us finding some ancient diary pointing to it or something. Still, it would likely become an expedition, just a low level one targeted at bits instead of artifacts/books.
I'm still hoping for that deal with the Apples and/or Rich to sell their products in Canterlot... Apple Cider and Zap Apple Jam would likely sell for a LOT.
Oh! Velvet is probably an excellent appraiser what with lantern.
Some sort of business trading rare items and curios would be ideal! It could act as a flawless cover for obtaining artifacts and doing expeditions. (And possibly reduce costs and or provide a degree of automation once set up).
It needn't be all lore artifacts. Things like artwork or jewelry perhaps. Ivory? Crystals? Rare books?
But even buying and then reselling low level lore artifacts could be amazingly profitable. Most sellers probably don't really know what their selling.
+mh.. buying and reselling artifacts has potential. We study them, we learn what they actually do, we can then sell them AND explain their effects. That SHOULD, logically, raise their price.
The guy who sold us the Heartifact told us it helps ponies to sleep better. We actually know it HELPS THE HEALING PROCESS. We can actually PROVE their effects.
Something like the heartifact could then be of interest to any rich guy wanting an easy way to heal, or even a private clinic/medic.
Sadly that's the ONLY artifact of which we know the effect, so we don't have a lot to guess about the value of other effects.. but there's potential here.
It's also a way to transform our servant action into bits. Once we can't find good books anymore, we can instead search for artifacts, and buy and resell them after studying them. A bit action intensive though, as it's 1 servant search +1 study + 1 "search customer" actions.
It's also a way to transform our servant action into bits. Once we can't find good books anymore, we can instead search for artifacts, and buy and resell them after studying them. A bit action intensive though, as it's 1 servant search +1 study + 1 "search customer" actions.
to be fair, we're still limited to lvl 1-3 artifacts, which are relatively tame, and we're in a world where MAGIC is a thing, so most people would quite literally just shrug and think it's some strange magic.
Twilight is an exception, because she quite literally forgot more about magic than most ponies ever learn in their life.
to be fair, we're still limited to lvl 1-3 artifacts, which are relatively tame, and we're in a world where MAGIC is a thing, so most people would quite literally just shrug and think it's some strange magic.
Twilight is an exception, because she quite literally forgot more about magic than most ponies ever learn in their life.
[X] Plan Cooling Down plus family and rituals, SH artifact edition
-[X] The Attention of the Laws [Secret Histories] for the Mansus Ascension
-[X] Number of actions
--[X] 5+1
-[X] Buy Books
--[X] EDGE 3
--[X] KNOCK 2
--[X] WINTER 2
-[X] Rarity
--[X] Act as your emissary. ---[X]Ask for specific Lore artifact. (Secret History 3)
-[X] Jade Whistle
--[X] As per orders. (Perform her cult assignment)
-[X] Selene
--[X] Knock.
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Tutoring Twilight
--[X] Deliver Comet Feet's letter
--[X] "Those damn Needles!"
---[X] Ask your uncle
-[X] Personal life
--[X] Family
---[X] Invite and introduce Uncle Steppes to everyone, have a nice family gathering.
-[X] On furthering your knowledge
--[X] Read book (write in which)
---[X] Winter 2, Heart 2, Moth 1
-[X] Mission
--[X] Go higher in the Mansus
--[X] If next Door is not reached, attempt again, if full success has been achieved explore past it else explore past the Blank Door
-[X] Shopping
--[X] Books
---[X] In Ponyville. (servant action)
- - -
You have bought three books. 60 bits have been deduced from your personal coffers.
Your current amount of bits is now 282.
- - -
There are several advantages to being a noble.
Granted, one can say that about anything. Much like how one can say that everything also has drawbacks. But you are not really about to start thinking about the philosophical implications of that particular thought process. Especially given how you are very intimate with the drawbacks of nobility.
Anyways, back to the matter at hand. There are many advantages to being a noble, even on a backwater town such as Ponyville, and one of them is that you will never really have trouble hosting guests.
Heavens, your estate is big enough to house a quite a large party (by noble standards, mind you) and then have enough rooms for several guests to stay the night after said party. Ponyville being a barely urbanized town means that free land is not exactly at a premium, and because of that the mansion you live in was built larger than most mansions in Canterlot.
Most of the noble estates in Canterlot are literally brushing flanks with each other due to the sheer number of nobles living on the upper districts, proximity to the royal castle being one of the many symbols of status on the capital. So, that means that several nobles elect to display their riches through "quality" instead of "size" when it comes to their homes. That said, your mansion is certainly not nearly as rich or posh as those found in the capital, not being made out of pure marble or having been carved out of the mountain as some of the more decadent among them are.
But again, your dear home certainly is just as large as the largest of the ones on the Capital.
So really, finding a large, comfortable, and ironically "out of the way" room in your house to host two choice guests was not a problem at all.
"Right this way please. Lady Velvet is already waiting for you," you hear somepony saying, the door being opened shortly after.
"Thank you," you hear a dispassionate voice answering, with a tone that makes it very clear that…
Well, she says it with her usual tone. You just hope the maid who is accompanying her isn't too unnerved by it.
"Hello Velvet Covers," but your thoughts about said maid are shoved to a corner of your mind moments later as Jade Whistle enters the room, closing the door behind herself.
"Jade! So good to see you," you answer with a smile, pointing a hoof at one of the chairs for her to sit down, "how have you been?"
The mare takes a long look around the room, and you are sure that you see… something reflect on her eyes as she does that.
But soon after she is walking towards you and sitting on the proffered (and very comfortable) chair.
"I've been fine," she says, easing herself onto the cushioned seat.
And you answer her with a pleased nod.
You have last seen Jade a few days ago… maybe a week ago at most, when she sent you the unnerving letter telling you to go to her house at midnight. You are quite glad that everything turned out fine in the end, of course, but you can't say that you calmed down and forgot about it as the days went by.
Still, you are already glad that she told you that much. Her being a mare of few words means that she really is fine if she says so. Well… at least it means she is "fine" by her own standards, but still…
Oh dear, you can feel yourself starting to worry again…
"I've been staying with a couple of friends," she continues. "They are nice, and the two of them are really into music. It's nice to stay somewhere that's not quiet."
You can't help but to smile at that. Both at the fact that she's volunteering that information, and the fact that it's actually good news.
"Really? That's wonderful! You have to introduce me to those two."
"I don't think I should…" she says after thinking for a few moments, to which you raise an eyebrow, "one of them works at the Club. Night shift on the dance floor. I think she'd be intimidated by you…"
"And I think you're giving me too much credit," you laugh, waving a hoof at her, causing her to merely shrugs.
Well, it's lovely to see her doing well. It really is. And in all honesty, checking on her was one of the reasons as to why you invited her in the first place.
But well… it was still only one of the reasons.
"So…" you continue, carefully picking your words. After all, what you are about to ask her has to do both with her wellbeing, of course, as well as with... the cult.
You know for a fact that she cares little about the cult, or at least that is what she told you. But you also know that she knows about Selene, and that she both didn't tell the Master about Selene as well as that…
Well, to tell the truth you are just a little confused about where Jade Whistle stands. The cult, and more specifically the Master, didn't exactly help her mental health to begin with, so you are not sure if she intents to leave the cult or not. Heavens, you are not even sure if it is safe to leave the cult, considering both what the Master… might or might not be, and the fact that they currently have access to a ritual that can simply end a pony's life.
And your Master is confusing enough that you don't know if Jade's resignation would be met with a shrug or if it would be answered with lethal force.
So, you really have to ask…
"Jade… what exactly do you plan on doing from here on?"
She is your friend, and you care for her dearly, so even if you are not able to help her you at least want to know what she plans on doing.
You see her tilt her head at that, and a few moments later she slowly turns her eyes upward.
And you can see that she understands the… gravity of your question. It makes you honestly relieved that she is giving it a good deal of thought, at least.
But in the end she simply takes a deep breath and-
"I'm… not really sure," is all she says, causing you to purse your lips.
But then, before you can even think of what to say next…
Jade Whistle looks at you. With an intensity in her eyes that you have never seen before.
"What about you Velvet Covers? What do you plan on doing from here on?" she asks.
Under any other circumstance you would have shrugged at her question. Not dismissively, of course, but in a way that would have suggested that her asking that question was only fair. After all, you did just ask her the same thing, so it stands to reason that she can do it as well.
But for some reason…
For some reason, the intensity in her eyes is telling you that whatever your answer is, it will be as important to her as her own answer would have been to you. Perhaps even more so. It is an intensity that is neither Lantern-touched nor accusingly inquisitive, but something far deeper and more meaningful. You can see in her eyes that…
You have no idea why you are thinking this, but for some reason you can't shake the impression that she might very well base her answer on yours.
Deep down, you know that you would be willing to help Jade on whichever path she chose to tread, whether if it was leaving the cult to live her own life or anything else. But you can't help but feel surprised that she…
That she seems to be willing to do the same for you.
"I…"
So you really can't be anything but utterly honest when answering her.
"I don't know either…" you say, as your thoughts slowly coalesce into ideas, and then into words, "not in the long run, that is. But I know what I have to do right now."
And then you meet her gaze with the same intensity.
This is exactly what you called her to talk about, after all.
"There are too many things we don't know. Or at least that I don't know. I don't know what the Master is, or what her plans are, or why in the heavens she seems to be so content in using us as paws for everything when she is… when she seems to be so powerful."
You see Jade gently ease herself further on her chair, but you can tell that the entirety of her attention is still on you.
"And then there is also the Mansus… she told us that we can reach for Glory, and that feels like something very… important, or at least rewarding to anypony that manages it. As well as the fact that she seems to be both at odds and willing to work with the alicorns and…" you let out a sigh, "well, there's simply too much I don't understand."
You bring up an exasperated hoof to your forehead, trying to ease the stress-related headache you can already feel rising before it actually starts to ache.
"But what I do know… is that I have to stay in the cult… At least for now. It feels like the only place where I will be able to learn anything, and if nothing else I still have to keep up appearances there so the Master won't find out about Selene…"
Jade raises an eyebrow at that. You wonder why she did that, and for a moment it seems like she is going to ask a question. But a second later she shakes her head, seemingly reaching a conclusion on her own.
You wait a few more moments, just in case she decides to ask whatever crossed her mind. But once you realize she won't really say anything you continue.
"And well… I think that's it. Truth be told, things aren't really bad as they currently stand. The crux of this whole matter is the Mansus, I think, since the Master seems to be somehow… related to it, and it might just be that we are the only group of ponies in the entirety of Equestria that knows about it…"
Because heavens forbid if a lot of ponies suddenly learn about it, you think. You don't even know what the Mansus is, or what Glory can do, but it would be beyond ugly if the place suddenly turns into a racecourse towards the supposed "prize" that rests at its top.
Or even worse, if the Mansus turns into a battlefield.
"So, I'm just glad that we can do things cautiously," you say, letting out a short sigh.
There are other things on your mind, of course. You are worried about Princess Celestia, and how things might turn out once you manage to help Selene… you are worried about what your Master's true intentions might really be. Heaven knows, you are worried about all the things that you know you don't know yet. After all, you know there is an entire depth to the Lores that you have only just begun to see the surface of.
But in all honesty, you can't really claim to have a plan, a long term plan, beyond "playing it by ear".
"For now I'll just do what the Master asked. I'll try to climb beyond the Blank Plains, and see what there is higher in the Mansus. And if things somehow turn ugly or strange or... dangerous, then I'll decide what to do when that moment comes," you finish.
And then you look back at Jade.
She continues to stay quiet for a few more moments, the seconds stretching by and maybe amounting to a full minute or two.
You know that not long ago you would have been uncomfortable in this silence. But now you feel… relief?
Yes. You feel relief.
Relief because this might be the first time you actually have somepony to talk about this sort of thing. To really talk about this sort of thing, that is. You trust Rarity, but you know that you can't trust Rarity with everything you know yet, for several reasons. And telling your husband even a fraction of what you told Jade was already… unpleasant.
And you also know that her silence means she is really thinking about it, so truth be told…
You are relieved because you feel like you are not quite alone in all this mess anymore.
"That's a good plan," she finally says, snapping you out of your thoughts. "I'll do the same, then," she finishes, rather simply.
You blink a few times, seeing her nod to herself at that.
"Beg your pardon Jade?" you ask, not really sure what she meant by that.
"I said I understand what you have in mind, and I will be doing the same thing."
You open your mouth for a split second, a question already forming on your lips before it can really take shape in your head. There are a lot of things you want to ask her, in fact, chiefest of them being "are you sure?"
It can't be that simple, after all. She has her own life to live! She can't just stick to you like that an-
But you shut your mouth before you can really articulate that question, as you realize that she is not done talking yet.
"But…" she starts, then stops. Clearly hesitating for some reason.
And you can see a hint of trepidation slowly creeping into her eyes. A minute hint of a feeling on her expression that… well, that knowing Jade it must mean that she is really, deeply bothered by what she is thinking about.
"But…" she repeats herself, closing her eyes for some reason as she speaks, "I don't really know how long things will stay this… calm? I think I get it, that you are wary of the Master because of how little we know, but…"
She stays quiet for a few more moments, until she opens her eyes once again as if she had given up on something.
"The Master is a monster, Velvet Covers. I also don't know what he is, but he is not a pony. Not anymore. But the last time I met him, when I gave him the ritual we devised together, he told me to prepare my cadre to…"
Jade then looks into your eyes, and you are not really sure of what kind of emotion you are seeing there.
She is still speaking with her same monotonous voice, her eyes still seem ever so slightly bored and expressionless. But now that you know her better, you can tell that there is the slightest hint of something in her eyes...
But before you can exactly tell what that something is, she continues to speak.
"He told me to prepare for his arrival. He said you will bring him a ritual that will allow us to summon things from the Mansus, and that he will be the first thing that will cross from there to here."
Your eyes go wide at that. You are not really sure if you are surprised, or if deep down you knew this would happen. But you can't help but take what Jade just said, at least with that degree of certainty, as a bit of a shock.
Silence descends upon the room, your mind starting to work frantically as you start thinking about the implications of all this.
If the Master wasn't lying to Jade, then this really means that she is… that she dwells in the Mansus, that is. It means that she really is not a pony. But that also means that as soon as you return from the Mansus, should you succeed, your Master will also be a lot more… active.
And you are so focused on your thoughts that you almost jump up in surprise when somepony knocks on the door.
You take a few seconds to calm down and breathe before you turn towards the door.
"Come on in," you say, watching as Ponpon enters shortly after.
"Afternoon ma'am, pardon the disturbance," she says with a slight bow, "your second guest has arrived. Shall I bring her here?"
Oh, that's right. It completely escaped you that Rarity was also on her way.
"Please do, Ponpon. Thank you," you say, turning towards Jade after the maid leaves. "And Jade, I called another friend over that I would like to introduce you to. But just so you know, she… doesn't know much."
"About…?" the mare asks monotonously.
"Well she…" you make a quick mental stock about everything you told Rarity so far.
She knows quite a lot, all things considered. But nothing really contentious.
"She has a thing for Grail and Forge, which I'm sure you'll notice. And she knows about Selene, as well as the fact that the cult exists but… Nothing really too deep on any of those subjects?" you try saying, hoping Jade will catch on to your meaning.
The mare nods at you, but…
Heavens… you did tell Jade to arrive at a certain time that was, intentionally, earlier than when you asked Rarity to come. But now you really wish you had given yourself a larger window so as to properly brief the mare about Rarity!
"This friend of yours," Jade starts speaking, "does she know abou-?"
"Velvet darling, it is so good to see you!" the door opens before she can finish her question, startling you, the white coated mare entering as soon as Ponpon opens the door for her, "oh I can't say how happy I was when I received your invitation for tea."
Part of you can't help but worry about what exactly Jade was about to ask. But you know it's too late for that now. So you get up from your seat with a smile, nodding towards Ponpon for her to bring you all something to drink, and get about introducing the two mares to each other.
And hopefully… this afternoon will just be one of idle conversation between you three.
- - -
In the end everything turned out fine.
Truth be told you didn't think there was a chance of things ending disastrously. You trust Rarity, and you are sure that you would have been able to make amends if you or Jade ended up saying something you shouldn't have. But still, you are glad things turned out fine because you know Rarity is simply not ready to learn some things right now. Not yet.
Heavens, there are things that you are still not ready to learn, and you know that. You can even recall certain things that you took years to come to terms with. It's not like you are sheltering her from certain things like she is some defenseless filly, but the fact of the matter is that you simply have no right to burden her with certain worries.
Besides, you also can't drag her into something without her knowing what she is getting into. And knowing what one is getting into is exactly the sort of thing that takes time.
Still, again, in the end everything turned out fine.
The three of you had a great afternoon, and you managed to extract a few words from Jade that might just pass for idle banter if you analyze it in a very lenient way.
Of course, you weren't able to drag her into a proper mare's talk… yet. But that is the goal you will be aiming for.
Yes, you can already see it happening... eventually. You and Rarity slowly cracking Jade's mute shell, and you and Jade slowly introducing Rarity to this and that secret about the Lores. All of that with the pleasant company of good tea!
Or at least that is what you hope to achieve, if the three of you manage to gather like this at least once a month like you suggested them.
But alas, Jade Whistle is gone now, having mumbled an excuse about her being late for something as soon as you and Rarity started telling her about your stay in Canterlot.
Specifically, when the two of you started talking about a certain captain of the Royal Guard.
"So," Rarity says with a knowing grin, "talking about stallions seems to be her limit then?"
"In her defense, she is rather of a… sheltered sort."
"Oh, I know darling. I mean, did you see her mane?" she asks, floating her cup of tea towards her, "no offense at all to her, darling. Quite on the contrary even. She is a mare in urgent need of a few days at a spa, and my name is not Rarity if I'm not the one who will drag her to one!"
You chuckle at that, seeing the light in Rarity's eyes as she had just met a pony who she can honestly help with her talents.
Now that you think about it, you don't really know how Jade usually acts around ponies whom she just met… but you think she took a liking for Rarity. That, and you can see clear as day that Rarity got along well with her.
It makes you feel a little warm at that, seeing your friends get along with each other as well.
"Well, talking about stallions may have gotten that reaction out of her because she is timid… or it might just be that she likes mares," Rarity says.
Causing your thoughts to completely derail inside your head. You also cough a little bit, not managing to be really elegant about that as you nearly choke on your tea.
"I-" *cough!* "beg your pardon Rarity?"
That also makes the "she took a liking for Rarity" that you had in your mind just now turn into something else entirely.
"Well darling, she did say she lives with two friends, didn't she?" she says matter-of-factly, "but I am pretty sure we are all past the age where we have roommates or housemates just to… share the rent."
You cough a few more times at that. Your cheeks would have flushed if you were a few good years younger (but not that many, thank you very much!), but you are past being flustered at that.
Instead, what surprised you is the fact that it's Rarity saying that sort of thing.
Maybe it's the Grail speaking…? Heavens, you don't know. But you are also not about to judge. Far from it even, you think, as you idly recall a certain happenance between the two of you inside a royal chariot in Canterlot…
"Well, I am sure it's not like that… I think…" you say, trying to recompose yourself.
And this time, Rarity is the one laughing.
"Oh, I'm just joking darling. Really, if anything I have the impression she acts, well… uhm…"
But for some reason, Rarity's smile slowly disappears from her face.
"She, well…" she continues to hesitate, causing you to raise an eyebrow even.
Until she finally sighs, her eyes going downwards towards her teacup.
"Velvet, I have to admit… I think I am actually a bit worried about that friend of yours."
Oh? Your eyebrow raises a bit further at that.
This is… unexpectedly observant from Rarity, if you are reading this correctly.
"I mean, I might be wrong but there seems to be something about her that feels… not tired, but perhaps strained is the word?" she seems to think for a few more moments, until her eyes slowly rise from her teacup and go towards your own. "I mean darling, I think I noticed something on her… on her nec-?"
"Rarity," you interrupt her. Although you do nod at her to confirm that what she is thinking about is correct. "Jade is a… very troubled pony, who only very recently has decided to… get her life back on track."
You say that slowly, allowing a few moments for your words to sink in, watching as her expression slowly turns more tense as she realizes what you are talking about.
But as soon as you see that she understands what you mean, you smile at her, gently breaking the serious mood that had quietly settled over the two of you.
"So right now, I think the best thing we can do for her is to be her friends, don't you think?" you say, giving her a short wink.
Just make sure to be extra attentive to her if you feel like she really needs it, you leave unspoken. But you are sure that Rarity caught on to that as well.
After all, she seems to have a better feel of how to go around ponies than you do, and you have no shame in admitting that.
"So that said, there is something else I'd like to talk about, if you don't mind" you say, letting your voice turn a tiny bit more business-like at that, causing Rarity's ears to perk up.
"For sure darling! What do you have in mind?"
"Well, I've made a few friends among the merchants of Ponyville, and I was wondering if you could… pay them a visit? They have all sorts of curios that they can get their hoofs on, and it crossed my mind that it might just help you to get inspiration for your own work as well if you were to peruse them."
And with that, the two of you start talking about what exactly you would like her to do.
- - -
- - -
- - -
You put down the… The…
You refuse to call it a book.
You put down the sorry excuse of a literal attempt that you have just read through, brow furrowed and lips nearly trembling at how infuriating this whole ordeal just was.
Really, from beginning to end this was nothing short than a train wreck!
It all begins when a boring attempt of a self-insert from the author, who you can't even bother to remember the name, meets the inaptly named (and apparently absolutely infallible) "Drumstick", a stallion who supposedly can do everything from building houses to fighting manticores. It bears mentioning, however, that said stallion is only ever seen actually playing a damned drum on the first chapter of the book.
What follows is far, far worse of course.
The author self-insert "main character" not only the proceeds to charm said stallion to the point of obsession, but she also turns out to be such a mixture of a dense and hard-to-get mare that you…
Well, that the only words you can really think about to describe her are those that you can't really say in front of your daughters!
The rhyming and poetry sections are also catastrophic, and you lost count of how many times the author used the words "day", "hay" and "stay" to formulate those abominations in the shape of verses.
"Poor pacing," you say to yourself, while glaring at the now closed book, "poor characters… all around poor writing! Heavens, I'll have to reread All for the want of a Horseshoe Nail now, if only to remember what a good romance is supposed to look like and…"
However, your words suddenly trail off as your mind absently reminds you about the book you had planned to read next.
"And…"
It most certainly was not your favorite romance, mind you. No, the other books you are supposed to read, and that you had especially set aside your time to do so, are a book about meditation, and a poetry book that you had bought on a whim.
"And..."
Which also reminds you that.
"And I was supposed to read this book in order to learn something, wasn't I…?" you say with a defeated tone, letting out yet another anguished groan. Your hoof finding its way towards your forehead not long after.
So infuriated you were by this sorry excuse of a book, it seems, that you forgot you weren't actually reading it because it had caught your fancy or anything else. And this is just yet another reason for you to be mad at the damned piece of literature.
Because now you know that not only it has wasted your time once, but that you will also be forced to read through it again as soon as you find the time to do it. This time paying even more attention to it.
And you most certainly are not looking forward to that.
Without opening your eyes, or even taking your hoof off from your forehead, you grudgingly float the offending book towards one of your drawers. And with a heavy sigh you pick up the next one on your list.
Hopefully, your bouts with the remaining two books will go a lot better…
Now time to see what new and exotic form of mental trauma insight based power will be unlocked!
Hopefully it will be one to cover Velvets mental state (As atm she is seesawing between stable,depressed (Over the strained family mess) and mental breakdowns (over becoming something other than pony).
Also... Did the QM state if Velvet could explore the gateway for other realms that link into Mansus (similar to the dream realm) as that may be handy to learn about...
Also, what does dischord classify as (We know Harmony is seen of as a "foreign" concept to the world and a new one... does Dischord represent "Chaos" as a concept?)
Tea parties, hell yeah! Most important development of the quest thus far.
Y'know, beyond the Master actively engineering their own summoning into the material realm. That'll definitely be something to, well... keep an eye on. Makes sense in retrospect, though - all our interactions with them thus far have been in places where the Woods blend with reality, and it'd fit with the evidence of them being a Name.
Hi! Thanks for the chapter, I really love this quest even though I've only recently found it. You hit the nail on the cultists sim feeling, and it seriously warps in such an interesting way the whole MLP setting.
Still, you are already glad that she told you that much. Her being a mare of few words means that she really is fine if she says so. Well… at least it means she is "fine" by her own standards but still…
Oh dear, you can feel yourself starting to worry again…
"I don't think I should…" she says after thinking for a few moments, to which you raise an eyebrow, "one of them works at the Club. Night shift on the dance floor. I think she'd be intimidated by you…"
"And I think you're giving me too much credit," you laugh, waving a hoof at her, causing her to merely shrugs.
Oh, so Vinyl works for the club. I wonder if she's an actual member though..
...probably not, or she would have KNOWN about Jade. still, if she continues to work there for long enough, there's a decent chance of her getting an offer at some point, and I'm not sure if that would be a good or a bad thing.
Yeah, this is a good summary of all our problems predicting him. How much would he CARE about any one of our actions? For all we know he might actually PRAISE US for what we did with Selene, if it all goes well... or he might want us killed on principle.
You have no idea why you are thinking this, but for some reason you can't help but shake the impression that she might very well base her answer on yours.
"There are too many things we don't know. Or at least that I don't know. I don't know what the Master is, or what her plans are, or why in the heavens she seems to be so content in using us as paws for everything when she is… when she seems to be so powerful."
You see Jade gently ease herself further into her chair, but you can tell that the entirety of her attention is still on you.
"And then there is also the Mansus… she told us that we can reach for Glory, and that feels like something very… important, or at least rewarding to anypony that manages it. As well as the fact that she seems to be both at odds and willing to work with the alicorns and…" you let out a sigh, "well, there's simply too much I don't understand."
You bring up an exasperated hoof to your forehead, trying to ease the stress-related headache you can already feel rising before it actually starts to ache.
"But what I do know… is that I have to stay in the cult… At least for now. It feels like the only place where I will be able to learn anything, and if nothing else I still have to keep up appearances there so the Master doesn't discover Selene…"
Relief because this might be the first time you actually have somepony to talk about this sort of thing. To really talk about this sort of thing, that is. You trust Rarity, but you know that you can't trust Rarity with everything you know yet, for several reasons. And telling your husband even a fraction of what you told Jade was already… unpleasant.
Yeah, Jade is quite literally the ONLY pony we can actually talk to about EVERYTHING we're dealing with.
Our husband wants nothing to do with the occult.
Rarity.. well, she obviously wouldn't enjoy the worst bits of what we're involved in. Like the nightmare ritual, or the deaths we could have stopped, but didn't.
"The Master is a monster, Velvet Covers. I also don't know what he is, but he is not a pony. Not anymore. But the last time I met him, when I gave him the ritual we devised together, he told me to prepare my cadre to…"
Jade then looks into your eyes, and you are not really sure of what kind of emotion you are seeing there.
She is still speaking with her same monotonous voice, her eyes still seem ever so slightly bored and expressionless. But now that you know her better, you can tell that there is the slightest hint of something in her eyes...
But before you can exactly tell what that something is, she continues to speak.
"He told me to prepare for his arrival. He said you will bring him a ritual that will allow us to summon things from the Mansus, and that he will be the first thing that will cross from there to here."
I thought she was about to mention human pony sacrifices, not... THIS.
THIS IS A VERY WORRYING THING!
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO!?
He IS a mansus being. which probably means he's either a native of the mansus, or possibly a Name.
Are.. Are we really fine with summoning him in Equestria?
And if we're not.. can we afford to do anything else?
At least summons should have a time limit, so there's that at least... but still, as long as he has a cult nothing stops them from summoning again and again and again... and the easiest and cheapest way to boost a summon's chances of success are pony sacrifices anyway...
...TO be fair, just because he's a monster, doesn't mean he's hostile to Equestria.. but still, he's NOT a pony, so he'll think differently, value different things. He very much doesn't care about the occasional casualty, at least.
...maybe we could bargain? The ritual, for an oath to at least try and work with the princesses? Is there any way to perform a binding oath in CS ? Maybe ANOTHER ritual? Jade might be able to develop it, with our help... but could we actually convince the master?
...maybe. We're the one with the ritual. Jade has the most influence on the cadre, and is responsable for their training.
I suppose we COULD try and make a deal, and then make it binding. the wording would be VERY important though. And if it goes wrong and she refuses...
Heavens… you did tell Jade to arrive at a certain time that was, intentionally, earlier than when you asked Rarity to come. But now you really wish you had given yourself a larger window so as to properly brief the mare about Rarity!
Yes, you can already see it happening... eventually. You and Rarity slowly cracking Jade's mute shell, and you and Jade slowly introducing Rarity to this and that secret about the Lores. All of that with the pleasant company of good tea!
Or at least that is what you hope to achieve, if the three of you manage to gather like this at least once a month like you suggested them.
But alas, Jade Whistle is gone now, having mumbled an excuse about her being late for something as soon as you and Rarity started telling her about your stay in Canterlot.
Specifically, when the two of you started talking about a certain captain of the Royal Guard.
"So," Rarity says with a knowing grin, "talking about stallions seems to be her limit then?"
"Oh, I know darling. I mean, did you see her mane?" she asks, floating her cup of tea towards her, "no offense at all to her, darling. Quite on the contrary even. She is a mare in urgent need of a few days at a spa, and my name is not Rarity if I'm not the one who will drag her to one!"
You chuckle at that, seeing the light in Rarity's eyes as she had just met a pony who she could honestly help with her talents.
You cough a few more times at that. Your cheeks would have flushed if you were a good (but not that many, thank you very much!) years younger, but you are past that.
Instead, what surprised you is the fact that it's Rarity saying that sort of thing.
Maybe it's the grail speaking…? Heavens, you don't know. But you are also not about to judge. Far from it even, you think, as you idly recall a certain happenance between the two of you inside a royal chariot in Canterlot…
"Well, I've made a few friends among the merchants of Ponyville, and I was wondering if you could… pay them a visit? They have all sorts of curios that they can get their hoofs on, and it crossed my mind that it might just help you to get inspire for your own work as well."
And with that, the two of you start talking about what exactly you would like her to do.
So infuriated you were by this sorry excuse of a book, it seems, that you forgot you weren't actually reading it because it had caught your fancy or anything else. And this is just yet another reason for you to be mad at the damned piece of literature.
Because now you know that not only it has wasted your time once, but that you will also be forced to read through it again as soon as you find the time to do it. This time paying even more attention to it.
And you most certainly are not looking forward to that.
-Level 3: The secret without which the first Crossings, past the crossroads and through the great mountains beyond the horizon of the Mansus, would not have been possible. (Further +5 when resisting things that would harm your mind. As well as...)
mh.. well, you can't go to a new area without reaching the end of one, so... maybe a sense for where we need to go/what we need to do to reach the end-point of either a task or a path?
Okay, this is very worrying. Not just because the Master coming to the Wake is absolutely terrifying, but it also implies he plans for other things to come through. Which could be all sorts of problematic.
is it even possible to summon an Hour with just a level 3 ritual? As far as I know the strongest summon in the game were names. I kinda feel like an Hour would require something more.
Of course, maybe SHE would then try to summon an Hour... recursive summoning, how worrying!
Octavia/Vynil, and it's not necessarily so. If she's basically a part-timer she might not actually be in the know.
After all, wouldn't she reacted differently if she had known Jade was a cult advisor when she visited Octavia? Jade would probably have recognized her too.
Okay, this is very worrying. Not just because the Master coming to the Wake is absolutely terrifying, but it also implies he plans for other things to come through. Which could be all sorts of problematic.
"He told me to prepare for his arrival. He said you will bring him a ritual that will allow us to summon things from the Mansus, and that he will be the first thing that will cross from there to here."
Your eyes go wide at that. You are not really sure if you are surprised, or if deep down you knew this would happen. But you can't help but take what Jade just said, at least with that degree of certainty, as a bit of a shock.
Silence descends upon the room, your mind starting to work frantically as you start thinking about the implications of all this.
If the Master wasn't lying to Jade, then this really means that she is… that she dwells in the Mansus, that is. It means that she really is not a pony. But that also means that as soon as you return from the Mansus, should you succeed, your Master will also be a lot more… active.
This is definitely something to be worried about. I wonder, if the being your summoning wants to be summoned... Is it even possible for the ritual to fail? It's not like they'd be resisting any sort of "pull" from it.
Honestly though, this was an amazing twist! While everyone was afraid of what potential creatures the cult could summon with the ritual, I don't think anyone was thinking about the Master coming through!
