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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Since we're talking about it anyway, here's my take on a plan that we might be able to wriggle out of going ourselves.

[] Plan Our Lady Fortuna
-[] A measured commitment: Give everything a once-over, sign everything in stacks. The farmlands won't just crumble and burn if you miss a few numbers this month. (6 personal actions. Might be noticed by those closest to you. Will not be noticed by the family head if you do not do this often.)
-[] You don't have time for this. (Costs 0 actions. You will only roll ONE healing dice.)

-[] (Servants) Clean Jade's house (after the Risen action drops the suspicion).
-[] (Cult Minions) Look for books in Ponyville.
-[] (Flourishing Risen) Clean Jade's house.
-[] (Rarity) Focus on her work.
-[] (Jade) Act as your emissary.
--[] Fleeting opportunity: Search for changeling infiltrators in Ponyville.
-[] (Selene) Knock.
-[] (Attention of the Laws) Winter: Resisting Fascination from Lantern 6 book. (I would put w/e lore we'd use for the letter here instead, but we don't know what it'll be beyond 'not Grail')
-[] (Knock) Find a new location in the Woods.

-[] Help Windy Flakes run the cult.
-[] Read books: Lantern 6, Heart 2, Heart 3.
-[] Fleeting opportunity: Assist with casting Influences and AotL.
-[] Fleeting opportunity: Assist with summoning Windigos.
-[] Fleeting opportunity: Temporarily raise the cult's lores. (Knock, Forge, Heart)
-[] Fleeting opportunity: Write Velvet Hills a submissive letter.

The crux of this plan is basically providing the Master with a variety of tools and hope they don't decide to call us, while appeasing Hills. Influences will supercharge the chosen ponies, 4 Windigos total, and gives the Master access to Knock 3, Forge 3, and Heart 3 cultists. This limits the reasons that the Master would have to bring us, as most of the lores would be covered by someone else.

Moth: The Master
Lantern: Baldomare.
Forge: Unnamed cultists
Edge: Comet Feet and Windigos
Winter: Windigos
Heart: Unnamed cultists
Grail: N/a (Copper Secateur?)
Secret Histories: Baldomare
Knock: Unnamed cultists

So the only lore that wouldn't be covered at equivalent or higher lore levels to our own would be Grail, and Copper's almost certainly better than us in that (being the Grail specialist).

@Pempelune @tricholysis Is this something along the lines of what you were thinking?
 
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Greymere said:
@Pempelune @tricholysis Is this something along the lines of what you were thinking?
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Yes, thank you very much :)
My only quibble would be with the lores you're choosing (Forge and Knock seems pretty redundant as both are used to bypass physical obstacles, maybe replace Forge with Edge for added combat potential, or Lantern to prevent any tricks and because with the Cult at Lantern 3, Velvet and Jade are less necessary).
 
zxzx24 said:
Gosh if only we had some way to try and locate Celestia or something that could help make our decision easier :rolleyes:
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Rather, if only we had the time. We can't do the ritual and then decide to go all in. I don't think at least.

@BirdBodhisattva is that a possibility? Do a scrying ritual for Celestia first, and if we can't find her take more actions, but if she's safe stick to less actions?
 
Pempelune said:
Yes, thank you very much :)
My only quibble would be with the lores you're choosing (Forge and Knock seems pretty redundant as both are used to bypass physical obstacles, maybe replace Forge with Edge for added combat potential, or Lantern to prevent any tricks and because with the Cult at Lantern 3, Velvet and Jade are less necessary).
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My main reason for not picking Edge is that we'd have 5(!) high-level Edge beings there already between Comet Feet and the Windigos. Lantern maybe, but don't think it would be as useful, since why would you bring a Lantern 3 cultist when you instead bring the Lantern 6 Name?

ETA: Also, judging by the results of the BtRC scry, obstacles only have one possible lore. So a Forge obstacle wouldn't be able to be bypassed with Knock or vice versa.
 
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Don't forget small rituals like Incision and Forge's Redemption also cost bits. It's just 20 bits, but I'm not sure it has been mentioned a lot. Not from what I've seen.

Also, just a small meta talk. The options you have helping the cult will "succeed" as a matter of fact. Cult is throwing in resources, bodies (you have changeling prisoners) and the nifty 4/4 reagent you gave them. So if you ask Jade to summon Windigos, two Windigos will be summoned. What I mean is, don't worry about having people "Lend a Hoof" to the Windigo summoning action, or to the cult-boosting action. It'll be a bit more useful for the Influences action and the changeling Lantern List action.

Also... let me see...

Lykantos said:
I really wish there's a way to at least get an idea of what the gifts are, even extremely vague ones. @BirdBodhisattva are you willing to throw a bone here? Even in the form of ominous cryptic messages?
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Yes, I made a small riddle concerning that. You ready for it?

"One of the rewards, eventually, is +1 Actions per turn"

I'm pretty proud of this one, so it might take you a while to figure it out. Still, hidden somewhere in that riddle is a possible Gift you can receive from the Wolf-Divided.

Just remember the comprehensive list we have, the one that contains good things that come from the Wolf. There are zero things on that list, so it's pretty easy to recall.

tricholysis said:
A Velvet without her nobility is more dependent on the cult
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"Disrobe," he said, and she removed her dress.
"Disrobe," he said, and she cut away her fur.
"Disrobe," he said, and she undressed herself of her skin.
"Disrobe," he said. And not knowing what else to remove, she let go of the love she felt for her dear ones.
To which he nodded, satisfied.
And once again he ordered, "disrobe".
 
Ericwinter said:
@BirdBodhisattva is that a possibility? Do a scrying ritual for Celestia first, and if we can't find her take more actions, but if she's safe stick to less actions?
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This is really the sort of thing I wish we had thought about earlier. My new schedule makes these sorts of things less quick, so we'd have to call a vote to see if people want scrying, do it, see the result, and then open the turn voting with one less (already spent) action. Hmm...

If a lot of people mention they want that, I'll consider it. It sure beats making a "programmed" plan of if-else. But for now, lets see how things go.
 
[X] Plan Our Lady Fortuna
-[X] A measured commitment: Give everything a once-over, sign everything in stacks. The farmlands won't just crumble and burn if you miss a few numbers this month. (6 personal actions. Might be noticed by those closest to you. Will not be noticed by the family head if you do not do this often.)
-[X] You don't have time for this. (Costs 0 actions. You will only roll ONE healing dice.)
-[X] The medicine taste is worse than its appearance. But it is exactly what you need, if they are to be believed… (Costs 30 bits. One dice will auto-succeed)

-[X] (Servants) Clean Jade's house (after the Risen action drops the suspicion).
-[X] (Cult Minions) Look for books in Ponyville.
-[X] (Flourishing Risen) Clean Jade's house.
-[X] (Rarity) Focus on her work.
-[X] (Jade) Act as your emissary.
--[X] Fleeting opportunity: Search for changeling infiltrators in Ponyville.
-[X] (Selene) Knock.
-[X] (Attention of the Laws) Winter
--[X] If writing Hills uses Winter, put toward that.
--[X] Otherwise, put toward resisting Fascination from Lantern 6 book.
-[X] (Knock) Explore the Woods.

-[X] Help Windy Flakes run the cult.
-[X] Read books: Lantern 6, Heart 2, Heart 3.
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Assist with casting Influences and AotL.
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Assist with summoning Windigos.
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Temporarily raise the cult's lores. (Knock, Forge, Heart)
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Write Velvet Hills a submissive letter.
 
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[X] Plan Staying at Home and Writing Letters
-[X] A sense of urgency: There has never been any need for this, not for this much at least. No more double-checking, no more zeal. There are far more important things to be done. (5 personal actions. Does not cause suspicion. DEFAULT PICK)
-[X] You don't have time for this. (Costs 0 actions. You will only roll ONE healing dice.)
-[X] The medicine taste is worse than its appearance. But it is exactly what you need, if they are to be believed… (Costs 30 bits. One dice will auto-succeed).
-[X] (Servants) Look for books in Ponyville.
-[X] (Cult Minions) Assist with summoning Windigos.
-[X] (Flourishing Risen) Tail not! Twilight
-[X] (Rarity) Call her, you have a lot of things to tell her… and then a few introductions to make. (Induct her into the cult)
-[X] (Jade) Search for changeling infiltrators in Ponyville
-[X] (Selene) Knock.
-[X] (Attention of the Laws) Grail: Talk with Rarity.
-[X] (Knock) Find a new location in the Woods.
-[X] Read books: Grail 3, Heart 2, Heart 3.
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Assist with casting Influences and AotL
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Write Letter to Father
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Visit Fluttershy
-[X] Help Windy Flakes run the cult.


[X] Plan Rituals and Opportunities
 
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[X] Plan Our Lady Fortuna
Yeah, that should work. Making it clear we don't want to get sent while also making our presence unecessary is exactly the kind of mothy shenanigans our Master has smiled on in the past. And this way whatever happen we're keeping our house, and hopefully we regain our income.
 
[X] Plan Our Lady Fortuna
[X] Plan Staying at Home and Writing Letters

Greymere said:
Is this something along the lines of what you were thinking?
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Yes, more so. I'd have to check the full action list but it is a plan that I agree much more with.

Although, the alternative way to view it is that the Master will only force Velvet to go if she writes the letter, I suppose, specifically to strip her of what has provided her comfort, and force her to change, as Moths do. So people should keep that possibility in mind when they vote to write the letter, just as they should keep in mind the possibilities of not writing the letter.

It hardly matters that Velvet would be feeling significantly more hurt by the Master if this line of events were to occur. Moth is specifically unreason, potentialities, contradiction, and change. You can't do much about that except Fascinate it into staying in place.
 
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[X] Plan Cutting to the Heart of the Matter
-[X] 7 Personal Actions
-[X] You don't have time for this. (Costs 0 actions. You will only roll ONE healing dice.)
-[X] The medicine taste is worse than its appearance. But it is exactly what you need, if they are to be believed… (Costs 30 bits. One dice will auto-succeed).
-[X] (Servants) Clean Jade's house (after the Risen action drops the suspicion).
-[X] (Cult Minions) Look for books in Ponyville.
-[X] (Flourishing Risen) Clean Jade's house.
-[X] (Rarity) Focus on her work.
-[X] (Jade) Act as your emissary.
--[X] Fleeting opportunity: Search for changeling infiltrators in Ponyville.
-[X] (Selene) Knock.
-[X] (Attention of the Laws) Winter: Resisting Fascination from Lantern 6 book.
-[X] (Knock) Find a new location in the Woods.
-[X] Help Starry Dancer with Dull Glass
-[X] Read books: Lantern 6, Heart 2, Heart 3.
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Assist with casting Influences and AotL.
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Assist with summoning Windigos.
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Temporarily raise the cult's lores. (Edge, Lantern, Heart)
-[X] Fleeting opportunity: Write Velvet Hills a submissive letter.
-[X] Cast "Incision of the Heart" to heal Frightened using the Heart 1 reagent

Total turn cost is 50 bits, leaving us with 61 bits in savings.

Incision of the Heart:
  • Cost 20 bits
  • Heart 1 reagent
  • Edge test 60 autopassed with cabal
  • Heart test bonus = 30 (self + Cabal) + 30 (Lore) + 10 (reagent) = +70
  • 30% chance of failing the ritual, but if we do we'll have a good excuse to not join the attack on the hive

[X] Plan Talks of the Cultist's kind
[X] Plan Staying at Home and Writing Letters
 
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[X] Plan Our Lady Fortuna
[X] Plan Fortunate Fluttershy
[X] Plan Our Lady Fortuna Manuscript Ver
[X] Plan Staying at Home and Writing Letters
 
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I really would rather not induct Rarity into the cult - we need to have some power independent of the Master. Beyond that, sorting out which of the plans is best is a little more than I'm up for at the moment - I'll wait until we have 2 or 3 frontrunners.
 
googlyeyesultra said:
which of the plans is best
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"The best" is asking for a lot right now.

Hmm.

I will admit no small disappointment that something along the lines of.

[ ] Ask Comet feet to rescue the pony hostages if he can, and to protect the innocent. Should they find any on the expedition.

Didn't make it into even one plan. Given the acknowledgement of hostages potentially becoming collateral damage, and its lack of action cost.

Mmm. Raising the cults lores and speaking with fluttershy both seem like a terrible waste of an action. When actions are incredibly tight right now.

Especially when more urgent things like our husband could be addressed instead. Or even finding out who in the cult hates us.

To say nothing of books. Damnable devour-er of actions that they are.
 
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googlyeyesultra said:
I really would rather not induct Rarity into the cult - we need to have some power independent of the Master. Beyond that, sorting out which of the plans is best is a little more than I'm up for at the moment - I'll wait until we have 2 or 3 frontrunners.
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I would not call Rarity a power. And is not like Master is unaware about our relationship with her. If she would want to affect Rarity she would do it through us. I am not sure how keeping Rarity at length help us or her.

Plus just like with Jade even if we introduce Rarity to a cult we still would be able to override Master orders for her. As of now not having her involved limit our options. If we had done it before we could have put her on helping Windy Flakes run the cult or on one of easier rituals.

Plus like this she would be able to help to convince Twilight to work with cult. We have multiple Mane 6 to convert but instead of snowballing it we are trying to work on every one independently.
 
BirdBodhisattva said:
"One of the rewards, eventually, is +1 Actions per turn"
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EDIT: alternatively, I suppose, you can't spend actions on your job if you don't have a job.

BirdBodhisattva said:
Just remember the comprehensive list we have, the one that contains good things that come from the Wolf. There are zero things on that list, so it's pretty easy to recall.
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nice to have an easy list to remember sometimes :D

BirdBodhisattva said:
"Disrobe," he said, and she removed her dress.
"Disrobe," he said, and she cut away her fur.
"Disrobe," he said, and she undressed herself of her skin.
"Disrobe," he said. And not knowing what else to remove, she let go of the love she felt for her dear ones.
To which he nodded, satisfied.
And once again he ordered, "disrobe".
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this is actually both terrifying, and completely in character for a moth eldritch being.

After all, as you're always changing there's no end to the things you can give up.

zxzx24 said:
All of these plans have left me feeling rather lukewarm.
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all of these plans don't make me want read plans 😅

eh, I'll check them in a bit.
 
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