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.
eh, a unanimous vote usually means it was so obvious a choice that a vote was just not needed.
...didn't we have a unanimous vote for the "yes, we want to learn what's in Luna's mind why are you even asking?!" (basically if we wanted to be one of the Chosen or not)
come on, we DID get plenty of rewards! We got that moth 4 influence, we were given the HONOR or summoning the master, we have free access to them for lessons whenever we want, we actually are free to ask questions (though I wonder if we ever will try...)
...of course I'd love a reward in cash and artifacts for a change
...didn't we have a unanimous vote for the "yes, we want to learn what's in Luna's mind why are you even asking?!" (basically if we wanted to be one of the Chosen or not)
come on, we DID get plenty of rewards! We got that moth 4 influence, we were given the HONOR or summoning the master, we have free access to them for lessons whenever we want, we actually are free to ask questions (though I wonder if we ever will try...)
We'll yes, but I mean the actual times the Master has said "do this and I will reward you", we always either mitigate or outright avoid the option. This is the first time we've just straight up been like "yeah, alright."
Personally, if we get to choose, I'd go with asking for a book/expedition budget and then, if the Master denies that, for scraps (Moth, Lantern, Heart and/or Forge, maybe?)
If we get to choose, I would choose to be put in charge of teaching lores to any outsider/element we get on our side as well as acting as the liason for them and to be given free reign to handle that as we see fit. You know, ask for a little trust that we know what we are doing in light of us consistently getting the job done.
We'll yes, but I mean the actual times the Master has said "do this and I will reward you", we always either mitigate or outright avoid the option. This is the first time we've just straight up been like "yeah, alright."
Master: Do this and I will greatly reward you.
Velvet: Ok.
Master: ...please excuse me for a moment
*Meanwhile, in the Wake*
Master: OH SHIT, OH SHIT, OH SHIT! WHY DID SHE ACCEPT? SHE NEVER ACCEPTS! THE ONE TIME I HAVEN'T PREPARED ANY REWARDS IS THE ONE BUCKING TIME SHE ACCEPTS! FFFFFFFFFF------!
Master: Do this and I will greatly reward you.
Velvet: Ok.
Master: ...please excuse me for a moment
*Meanwhile, in the Wake*
Master: OH SHIT, OH SHIT, OH SHIT! WHY DID SHE ACCEPT? SHE NEVER ACCEPTS! THE ONE TIME I HAVEN'T PREPARED ANY REWARDS IS THE ONE BUCKING TIME SHE ACCEPTS! FFFFFFFFFF------!
Ugh. I am vastly disappointed in the imagination of the thread that y'all seen to think the worst possible consequence of just obeying the master is baldomare not liking us.
This feels exactly like the failure of imagination that just got us a wound and a wolf, right after we were just warned about doing stuff on baseless assumptions.
Like, we're explicitly warned to be wary of consequences. That could be any of the choices… and Obey is the only choice marked explicitly as "you will be rewarded."
So what are the downsides? Ignore Baldomare for a moment, how much do you trust the cult and the master to not do awful things? I will remind you of the wendigo context.
I feel the need to point out that a lot of the spite and relationship loss speculation for Baldomare presumes a lot of immaturity and a lack of understanding of our situation on her part.
We'll yes, but I mean the actual times the Master has said "do this and I will reward you", we always either mitigate or outright avoid the option. This is the first time we've just straight up been like "yeah, alright."
Yeah, because literally every time the reward was offered for doing something bad, cruel, and immoral.
Why do you think this time is different just because we are being offered rewards for ignorance rather rewards for action?
[x] Object. (You will NOT give the Master Baldomare's contracat, but will order her to go to the expedition as your agent.)
[x] Demand. (You will NOT give the Master Baldomare's contract, but will instead demand to be taken to the expedition together with her, and whoever else the Master is calling upon.)
[x] Object. (You will NOT give the Master Baldomare's contracat, but will order her to go to the expedition as your agent.)
[x] Demand. (You will NOT give the Master Baldomare's contract, but will instead demand to be taken to the expedition together with her, and whoever else the Master is calling upon.)
So what are the downsides? Ignore Baldomare for a moment, how much do you trust the cult and the master to not do awful things? I will remind you of the wendigo context.
Yes, the context of desperate people given confusing orders to do something they have basically no competence in. Power allows for more options, and the Cult has a lot more power in this situation than that one. There's no need to do awful things.
Disgusted by and despised are two very different things, and she at least respects the Master enough to consider just revealing their name rude. Also, notably, she was given the courtesy of being present and free to speak, and has chosen not to voice her opposition. This isn't some grand betrayal, it's Velvet giving a small piece of the Baldomare's mind an unpleasant task.
Because a lack of good doesn't immediately equate to a certainty of evil? Any possible bad things that could come out of this are just that. Possible. We're not being asked to sacrifice a—as far as we know—perfectly innocent pony this time. And I'll note that when the Master offered that suggestion they were well aware that said pony was, in fact, an enemy spy infiltrating our organization for presumably malicious purposes, and for all we know didn't think anything of not mentioning that.
Master: Do this and I will greatly reward you.
Velvet: Ok.
Master: ...please excuse me for a moment
*Meanwhile, in the Wake*
Master: OH SHIT, OH SHIT, OH SHIT! WHY DID SHE ACCEPT? SHE NEVER ACCEPTS! THE ONE TIME I HAVEN'T PREPARED ANY REWARDS IS THE ONE BUCKING TIME SHE ACCEPTS! FFFFFFFFFF------!
You know, the master could be a bit like the Joker to our batman right now.
I mean, we're technically giving him a chance to learn our secrets, like the Joker had many chances to learn Batman's identity... But he probably won't take it, because it would ruin his game.
Ugh. I am vastly disappointed in the imagination of the thread that y'all seen to think the worst possible consequence of just obeying the master is baldomare not liking us.
...Did you even follow the discussion at all? It has definitely been acknowledged that the WORST possible consequence of obeying the master is him finding about Selene, and possibly doing something bad to Twilight/Celestia if he finds them.
In the sky, the cold moon seems to come to a stop.
Ponyville is beset by a nightmare.
They all wake up. They are all dragged by their hindlegs, screaming and kicking, back into the Wake. Being pulled by claws and roots and whispers and a will that is older and larger than any of them.
Every last pony who ever set hoof on the Woods is summoned.
They all hear, and they all obey.
Some of them, most of them, merely cower deeper into their beds, knowing that come next morning they will wake up to a town in which something terrible has happened. Although they dare not go back to sleep, carrying the very real fear that they might be hunted, instead of merely pursued, should they go back to their dreams.
Others, however, leave their homes in the dead of the night. Some of them inspired by ambition, others by duty, and many by fear. But their motives matter not to the one pulling the strings.
No. To the puppeteer, it only matters that they fulfill their purpose, by means of the lessons they have been taught.
A small, curious crowd slowly forms in the streets, carrying with them all sorts of curious objects. Some of them carry mirrors, others hold candles in their mouths, or diaries, or the glasses they usually wear on their faces. One of them even carries nothing but a dripping bottle, stumbling through the streets and following the shining mirages that she alone can see.
But still, a crowd slowly forms, as the ponies unerringly gather as if they are following a bright beacon.
At the center of the crowd stands a mare. In her hoofs, she holds a list.
The gathering ponies read from the list. And as silently as the crowd gathered, it disperses back into the night, the instrument-bearing ponies heading to the places on the list, in search of the names written on it.
By the end of the night, all the names would have been crossed out of the list, and a few more would have been added before also being crossed.
And for all that the deep shadows of the night cover Ponyville, for some unknowable reason the streets seem strangely bright, as if a harsh light is somehow piercing the darkness.
Following the dispersing crowd comes a second group.
Some following through rooftops, and cloudtops, and the small alleys that form between the larger houses. Others follow through the middle of the streets, in plain sight for anypony who bothers to look out through their windows, bathing in the pale moonlight. Regardless of which, none of those ponies really seem to have just woken up. Who knows, it might be that they all heard the summons through other, more peculiar dreams.
But still, they reach the marked houses, each of them convening with the keen-sighted ones for particular details that seem to be of little importance. The thickness of the walls, the age of the trees that were cut to make the doors, how loudly the target can hear the outside winds while they were dreaming. Strange questions, all of which are answered with honest seriousness regardless of their oddity.
And with those answers in hoof, they set about their work.
Their task is to prepare, to open, to make way. And that is exactly what they do. As quietly as possible, or as simply as possible when silence is not an option, paths are opened. Locks are undone, loose rooftops are pried open, ponies slither into houses like thieves to whisper deeper dreams to those family members who are not meant to wake up…
And in one particularly unfortunate instance, a brick smashes into a window.
None of them are seen, thankfully, but their work is far from perfect. Trails are left.
And for all that the town does not wake up in panic, it does not rest easily either. Some wake up. Some realize something is wrong. And come morning, some will have quite a few stories to tell, about the frightening sounds they heard in the dead of night.
[The application of force]
[Roll = Irrelevant]
Four strong pegasi are summoned, by a monster wearing the skin of a pony.
One presents himself out of duty.
One presents himself out of fear.
One presents himself out of an owed debt.
And one flees into the night, and his name is added to the list.
But their task is not to kill, or maim, or help, or even to keep watch in the odd case a target escapes. For there is no need for help, and no risk of escape.
No. Their task is simply to clean up. To grab the unbleeding bodies, their necks neatly snapped, and carry them out of town and into the Everfree Forest, to be dropped in a place where they will never be found.
The three of them work exhaustively throughout the night.
And still, the bodies pile up more quickly than they can dispose of them.
Most of the bodies they are commanded to carry are those of monsters. Their shapes returned to its horrific normalcy as soon as their lives leave them. Some of them take a little longer to detransform, maybe because out of cruelty or experimentation their lives manage to last a little longer even though their bodies have been ruined.
Some of the bodies do not revert back into normal, not even as their pony corpses are dropped into the hungry maws of the Everfree Forest.
The three sorely hope that those names had been on the list, that they had been monsters who clung on to life for just a little longer… and not that they had just disposed of collateral damage.
The monster, whose grim trail they had followed, leaves without a word as soon as its task is done.
And the three are thankful for that. They are thankful, and they try their best to ignore how the beast flew away in the direction that the fourth among their number had escaped to.
Because they would hear, in the following morning, that all the names had been struck from the list.
Come next morning, the town does not wake up in panic.
Not in immediate panic, at least.
But like a fire, panic slowly grows and spreads regardless. A grim story slowly being pieced together by word of mouth, punctuated by the panicked cries of ponies looking for their friends, and foals looking for their parents.
Ponyville wakes up, only to find that the nightmare has not yet ended.
It has only begun.
- - -
- - -
- - -
[X] Obey. (Baldomare's contract will be passed on to the Master for the duration of the expedition. You will be rewarded.)
[You have transferred your contract with Baldomare to the Master. Provided that she survives the expedition, it will be returned to you as soon as the expedition ends.]
[You have received a reward from your Master: A Memory of the Woods, "It is shaped like a grey fruit, but not one you have ever seen. It exists only in dreams, even though you see it hanging from a tree in your garden every time you look out through the window. You wonder how it tastes like, even though part of you already knows" (MOTH Book, Level 5, does not require an action to be read, does not produce a Manifest for the cult, will give you a special dream if eaten).]
You wake up to an empty bed, drooling on your pillow.
Your body is heavy, and you feel as if your mind just woke up to a body that is refusing to let go of its sleeping state.
But that is not to say you can think clearly. Not by a long shot. You look around in confusion for a moment, first realizing your husband is indeed not sleeping next to you, then realizing the door to your room is locked, and then…
Muffled voices come from a distance, from somewhere below you. Loud voices. Thin… young voices?
Your nose, or whatever ethereal snout you have covering it, picks up right after that. Right, the fillies. You can smell the small crowd of ponies gathered around the dining table and… and you think three of them are tackling Soft Sweeps? You are not sure what exactly is happening, but you can sense three foals attacking the poor mare.
Your husband is also present there, and you are not sure if he is trying to control the situation or if he simply gave up at some point…
He also probably locked your door so you wouldn't share the same fate, you suppose.
You'd better get downstairs.
- - -
"HI MOM!"
""Good morning Mrs. Velvet!""
The chorus of slightly different greetings, with glaringly different intensities, comes to you as soon as you reach the dining hall. The place is a mess (for your standards, of course, it's not really that bad), but you can't help but think it's a merry mess.
The cook really gave it his all, you can see, and you think you see enough breakfast to feed twice as many foals as there are currently on the table. And every last foodstuff is either shaped like a pony, has a smiling face drawn with Chantilly, or is especially presentable in some other variance that you could never have thought of.
"Good morning everypony," you say with a smile, your voice still slightly sleepy, as you light up your horn and float your daughter and her pink friend from the distraught Soft Sweeps they had pinned on the ground.
You were going to ask if they had behaved during the night, but looking at how dizzy Soft looks you don't really think you will get the answer you want. So, instead, you just walk over to your husband and plant a quick kiss on his cheek.
"Did I miss anything, dear?" you ask, floating one of the pancakes towards a plate that… well, that isn't currently being used.
And to your question, Stormchaser gives you a look that seems equal part unamused and teasing.
"Technically yes," he says, and your 'not in front of the fillies!' stare is deflected by a wry smile of his.
Neither of you realize Soft Sweeps is looking at you with a… with an expression.
"But if you are talking about our guests, not really dear," he says, waving a hoof at the dining hall and then at the house itself, "house's still standing and all."
You nod, beginning to munch on your pancake as you look down at the six foals, picking up on the conversation they are having about what they should do today. Something about exploring the farmlands, or going to see the river that runs through the property.
Well, your daughters know where they aren't supposed to go, and you are sure Soft Sweeps will keep an eye on them. So you don't really pay much attention to that.
But still, as you think about all that, you can't help but think you are forgetting about something… something important, which was supposed to happen… tonight?
You can vaguely remember a dream you had, but for some reason the details are a bit foggy… the last thing you can really remember is just falling asleep on top of your husband as you were climbing the bed.
You slow down your pancake-eating progress, your sleepy face turning into one of drowsy concentration as you try to wake up more parts of your brain. You are sure that you are missing something, but you can't remember what it is, and- -and why is there an unknown pony running into your garden?!
You sit up in a starting fit, shaking the table as you do. Although only your husband and Soft Sweeps seem to notice, both of them turning towards you slightly alarmed.
You shake your head, your suddenly-alert mind looking for an excuse even as you track the intruding stranger's progress through your estate, the figure clearly making its way towards your front door.
"I forgot my necklace," you say as you make your way out of the room, your excuse working on Soft Sweeps, but not so much on your husband who tilts his head in confusion.
But you don't really have time to worry about that. And before anypony can say anything you are already out of the dining hall, closing the door behind you to slightly muffle the loud conversation the fillies are having.
You practically trot through the entrance hall, not worrying about the few curious glances you draw from the nearby servants. Your senses entirely focused on the presence that is all but galloping through the garden, making a beeline to the front door you are heading towards.
The presence passes through a few servants as it runs. You think you can even hear a few questions and alarmed words being thrown after it, coming from the nearby window.
But none of the servants outside feel threatened? Alarmed, for sure, but you can't tell that any of them feel like they are in danger.
The presence, also, is definitely running with urgency. But more as if it was prey running from danger, instead of a predator running towards it.
Not a threat?
Your previously tense expression turns into one that is merely vigilant as you reach the entrance hall. And not a moment later the intruder reaches the other side of it, a desperate and loud knocking coming to the door right after.
"Hello? Is anypony in there?! I need to speak with somepony!"
A few servants gather around you as the unknown voice of a mare reaches you. Under normal circumstances one of them would answer the door, and call for Ponpon if they thought the situation merited your attention. But, most unusually, you are literally standing right by the front door, so they aren't exactly sure of what to do except wait for you to do something.
Which you don't mind at all, of course. Part of you feels that the mare on the other side of the door is not a threat, but having servants close at hoof can't hurt seeing how desperate that pony is acting.
The yelling, and the banging at the door, die out as soon as you open the door with your magic.
"Oh, thank goodness! Listen ma'am, I need to speak with mah, sister. I need to take 'er home and it's urgent! Is she in there? Can I come in?!"
The mare all but overwhelms you with how quickly she speaks. In fact, she is not even looking at you as she says her words, and you can clearly tell that she is actually looking over you, peeking into your house with an expression that is close to panic. To be honest, for a moment you almost think she is just going to shove you aside and gallop into your home.
But she doesn't. You can tell from the gardeners that are gathering behind her, their expressions a mixture of alertness and shock, that she had no problems running past them, but she seems to be holding herself by sheer force of will to not do that to you.
"Hold on, calm down miss," you try to say, raising a placating hoof as the mare literally trots in place, "you said you are one of the fillies is your sister? I'm-"
"Calm down?! Miss, this ain't the time to be calm! APPLE BLOOM, ARE YOU IN THERE?!" the mare cuts through you, stopping her trot for a moment only to bring a hoof to her mouth as she yells into your house.
Your ears ring painfully for a few moments at how surprisingly loud the yell is.
"Just calm down for a moment... and I'm sure we can sort this out," you say, still managing to sound both firm and placating even over the slightly painful ringing in your ears.
You see the mare take in another breath, and for a dreadful moment you think she will just call for her sister again.
But something sweet manages to slip into that breath and, together with your words and tone, she calmly exhales a few moments later.
Well, saying that she did it calmly might be stretching it. But you can see that the mare is a holding herself a lot better than before. Her eyes are still looking over you and into her home, almost in a mixture of pleading an panic, but at least the trotting-in-place has stopped.
And seeing how the mare is calming down, you decide to go in that direction even further.
"Now, please, why don't you come in? You said you were Apple Bloom's sister, right? I am Velvet Covers, my daughter was the one who invited your sister over."
You normally wouldn't let an unknown pony in easily like this. Especially one who claims to be a relative to one of your daughter's friends, while said foal is within the safety of your house. However, being a pony also has its perks, and a quick glance at the orange mare's cutie mark as she steps in through the door tells you that she at least has something to do with apples. You try to rack your brain to see if you remember her, from the Sisterhooves Social event you went with your family, or in any other circumstance you had been at the Apple Clan's farm, but nothing really comes to mind. You can only remember how her matriarch, and her oldest grandson, looked like.
But still...
"Ah'm sorry, ma'am... Lady Velvet, is it?" the mare says, taking off her hat and putting it against her chest, the way she looks flustered telling you that she noticed how hard you winced just now. "My name is Applejack, and yes, Apple Bloom is my sister."
Still... something tells you that you can trust the mare. You are not sure what, but she looks awfully dependable.
"And ah'm sorry if this is sudden, but I really need to take 'er back home right now," she says, her voice firm.
Well. You are sure Apple Bloom herself will give you all the confirmation you need if this is indeed her sister. Because for all that you can see the mare is honest, your motherly instincts simply won't let you just take her word for it.
However, that doesn't mean you can't at least talk to the mare.
"Well, we were ready to have the fillies over for the whole weekend. But of course, I'll have her brought here right away. Still... did something happen?
The mare opens her mouth to answer almost immediately, surprise clear in her face as she looks at you as if you had two heads. However, she closes her mouth before she says anything, her surprise turning into confusion, and slowly into understanding as she thinks about something.
"Hang on... you do live a ways from town and... wait, so you haven't heard about it?!"
You tilt your head slightly at the mare's reaction, your eyes narrowing as you… as that annoying thought, that you are somehow forgetting about something important, comes back to you now of all times.
"No, why?" you ask, honestly curious, "is anything the matter?"
"Oh, hey Applejack. What're you doing here?"
But a voice, one that you recognize as being from one of your daughter's friends, interrupts the two of you. Bringing up an immediate reaction out of the orange mare.
"Oh, goondess gracious Apple Bloom, ah'm so glad yer' alright. Go get your things girl, we have to go home right now," the mare says that, her voice a mixture of urgenct and honest relief.
Although Apple Bloom's only reaction to her words is to stand there, looking at her sister with a confused expression.
Moments later the other fillies, your daughters included, file out of the dining hall to see what is going on. And with Applejack's panic now under control, she seems to realize what sort of crowd she has around her.
But still, you can see that she has not forgotten your previous question, and that she has something very dire to say. So, she turns to you and quickly whispers something, before turning back to her sister.
"Listen ma'am, I don't know what happened. Nopony knows. But the whole of Ponyville is turned upside down because… there were kidnappings," her voice grows even lower, as if she couldn't believe what she was saying, or didn't even want to say those words. "Breaking-ins, robberies, whole families disappeared, just like that."
Your eyes go wide as the mare says that. But before you can say anything she is already going towards her sister, talking over the filly's protest as she insists that Apple Bloom packs her things and gets ready to leave.
And at that moment, your remember the dream you had this last night, realization dawning upon you like a bucket of cold water.
- - -
Things are looking bad.
As soon as that orange mare, Applejack you think was her name, said that, everything clicked inside your head.
The first thing you did was call your husband and Ponpon, to tell the head maid to gather all the servants and control any situation before it appeared. You gave her orders to let the servants go home, offer them a place to stay in the servant's quarter, or to do anything else she would need in order to avoid a panic.
After that, you grabbed all the fillies, your daughters included since you wouldn't let them out of your sight in the near future, and took them back to Ponyville. Foals were returned to their panicked parents, even if you had to cheat to find Silver Spoon's parents, given how they had left home and were on their way to yours. And soon enough your group was reduced to yourself, your husband, and your own fillies (and Scootaloo, since the orange filly said her parents were out of town).
And the five of you find yourselves in a Ponyville that is in the middle of an uproar.
Everywhere you look you see either three or more ponies having a very tense conversation, or a pony that is outright galloping in one direction or another. Yelling for a name, or asking if somepony saw a member of their family, or trying to find a close friend. Definitely, you can immediately tell, the result of this being a place where everypony knows each other even if indirectly. You already know what happened, but you had no idea that Ponyville being a small town would make the impact this much worse.
And of course, it doesn't take long for you to hear from word of mouth, as you walk around town… well, to be honest, you hear way too many things.
"It was dozens, maybe hundreds of ponies! All of them gone!" "I heard there was a trail of blood in one of the houses…"
"Why in Equestria isn't the Guard doing anything?"
"They caught one, right? I heard they did!" "The Mayor, I need to speak with the Mayor, it's urgent! Where is she?!"
You hear way too many things, see way too many panicked ponies, and you can tell that the entirety of Ponyville is teetering on the verge of a full-out chaos. Nopony is doing anything stupid... at least not yet. Nothing is on fire, nopony is acting aggressively, but you can still tell things are bad.
And you realize this is definitely not a place you want your daughters to stay any longer than absolutely necessary.
"Stormchaser, take them home," you say, and you see your husband hesitating for only a second, giving you a meaningful glance of worry, before he takes the of with the three fillies.
You understood what he meant with that stare. He trusts you to not to do anything stupid or dangerous, while also understanding that him taking the fillies away is simply the greater priority. And in return, you could tell that he also understood that you will stay behind only to do what is absolutely necessary, such as figuring out what the hay is happening, before returning home safely.
And you set out to do just that, making your way to the Wildhoof Club as quickly and furtively as possible.
Because after you remembered what happened in your dreams, you also immediately understood what has caused this whole mess. So, you go looking for Windy Flakes as quickly as possible.
But as soon as you find him, before you even get the chance to ask him anything, he immediately turns to you with an expression that is by far the most tense you have ever seen him wearing.
"Velvet, the detective arrested Starry Dancer."
With those words alone, you realize how bad things are.
[You have quickly convened with Windy Flakes, and have learned the following.]
-The Changeling Purge happened this last night. Apparently, almost everypony in the cult was "visited" by the Master. Windy himself woke from his own sleep with orders to go to the club and coordinate the departure of the expedition from there. He stayed there to distribute the supplies that had been prepared beforehoof, and to help them with any of their needs before they left.
-From what he knows, Comet Feet, all the ponies you cast an extra Influence on (one Forge Influence and one Winter Influence), as well as the four Windigos and their summoners, were called. They departed with a few carts of supplies in the beginning of the night, with Comet flying after them as soon as he was done with the Changeling Purge.
-The town's panic comes from the Changeling Purge itself. From what he knows, no changelings really escaped, although there could be more in hiding. But some of the breaking-ins left more traces than just the disappearing ponies. And come this morning, the cultists who were instructed to try to keep the town from panicking, by playing the calm voices in the crowds, were not nearly as effective as it was hoped.
-Nopony knows when, or why. But the guards that Windy has on a payroll managed to tell him that the detective from the Capital arrested Starry Dancer first thing in the morning. He is not sure if that means there are traitors (pony traitors, that is) in the cult, or if something worse happened. She was not involved in the Changeling Purge as far as he saw, but she might have received orders from the Master to act during the night that he simply did not have any contact with.
-You have absolutely no idea when the Master and the other ponies who set out will return. The two of you, you understand, remain in charge of the cult.
Knowing that, you decide to…
Regarding Starry Dancer:
[You must pick ONE. These actions will be performed by cult members under Windy's instructions and will not fail.]
[] Starry might talk. Knowing that a member of the Inner Circle was arrested so easily might make a panicked cultist talk. Tartarus, the detective might even decide to ship her to Canterlot. Better to break her out. (Break Starry Dancer out the usual way, with hooded ponies and muscle. Will calm down the cult. Will tip off Dull Glass that something large is going on. Starry Dancer will be hidden away somewhere safe.)
[] Knock, Moth, and the bits to make your friends in the Guard look away. Break her out, without leaving a trace. (Break Starry Dancer out without leaving a trace. Will calm down the cult. Will not leave solid evidence for Dull Glass to examine. Starry Dancer will be hidden away somewhere safe.]
[] Leave her.
Regarding the uproar that is going on around town, and the efforts that Dull Glass is no doubt making during the panic:
[Pick TWO. These actions will be performed by yourself, personally]
[] Tail detective Dull Glass. He is doing something, and knowing where his eyes were during these crucial first hours will be of the utmost importance. (Discover some of the things Dull Glass will do, on the aftermath of the Changeling Purge, without his knowledge).
[] Approach Dull Glass. He followed protocol by introducing himself to you, as Ponyville's highest ranking noble, when he came to town. So now, in the wake of a disaster, you will offer your time and influence to aid him, your beloved town, and by extension the Crown in these trying times. (Become closer to Dull Glass, with all that will entail. You have no idea what his reaction might be, and you have no idea of what he already knows or suspects).
[] Clear the trails. Call what few ponies know about Moth and discreetly go to the "crime scenes". You can't unmake a disappearance, but you can downplay the traces that were left behind and clean up before anypony has the chance to properly investigate them. (Decrease the amount of evidence left by the cult).
[] Starry Dancer was hired by the Mayor after being personally vouched by you. Go talk to the Mayor, and convincingly express your surprise and shock, before this seed has any chance to sprout. (Cut off any suspicions there might be connecting you and Starry Dancer from Mayor Mare's point of view).
[] Mayor Mare will address Ponyville in a rushed meeting in the Town Hall. Be there. Your presence as Ponyville's only noble will certainly help her show that things are under some level of control. (Help calm down the town at large. Place yourself as more approachable figure of authority in these trying times).
[] Plenty of ponies will not be able to go to the Town Hall meeting. Plenty of ponies are not in any state to do anything, right now. Plenty of ponies don't even know exactly what just happened. Go around Ponyville, make sure you are seen, and more importantly make sure your story is the one that spreads the quickest by word of mouth. (Help calm down the town at large. Reduce overall suspicion of "what happened" in a way that benefits the cult).
[] Rein the cult in. The cult is part of the town, and the town is part of the cult. Panic, especially amongst the lower levels, is spreading as quickly through the cult as it is through Ponyville. Join Windy Flakes in making sure nopony does, or says, anything stupid. (Calm the cult down, and lower the chance of suspicion being drawn to the Wildhoof Club, both the cult and the club).
[] Run late. (Picking this option allows you to pick an EXTRA option from those above. Will worry your family, as you will return home far later than it is sensible).
You are now acquaintances with Applejack.
Your contact with Windy Flakes has revealed to you that he is now a Branded.
Your Flourishing Risen is no longer usable, and soon will permanently take root. You have ordered him away, and he has been removed from your current assets.
Vote in PLANS. With a single plan having all decisions, both regarding Starry Dancer and what to do in town. Town votes that has more than two actions must have four actions, with the two actions picked, the "run late", and the extra action chosen.
This will decide what you will do right now, as well as what you will focus your attention on until the expedition returns. The results of these actions, their impacts, and anything that may follow up will carry on and be the subject of the beginning of the next turn.
Four hour moratorium, further forty-four hours of voting, 48h total.
those rolls could have gone better but at least we got the job done
def this
[] Knock, Moth, and the bits to make your friends in the Guard look away. Break her out, without leaving a trace. (Break Starry Dancer out without leaving a trace. Will calm down the cult. Will not leave solid evidence for Dull Glass to examine. Starry Dancer will be hidden away somewhere safe.]
[] Starry Dancer was hired by the Mayor after being personally vouched by you. Go talk to the Mayor, and convincingly express your surprise and shock, before this seed has any chance to sprout. (Cut off any suspicions there might be connecting you and Starry Dancer from Mayor Mare's point of view).
[] Clear the trails. Call what few ponies know about Moth and discreetly go to the "crime scenes". You can't unmake a disappearance, but you can downplay the traces that were left behind and clean up before anypony has the chance to properly investigate them. (Decrease the amount of evidence left by the cult).
[] Rein the cult in. The cult is part of the town, and the town is part of the cult. Panic, especially amongst the lower levels, is spreading as quickly through the cult as it is through Ponyville. Join Windy Flakes in making sure nopony does, or says, anything stupid. (Calm the cult down, and lower the chance of suspicion being drawn to the Wildhoof Club, both the cult and the club).
[] Plenty of ponies will not be able to go to the Town Hall meeting. Plenty of ponies are not in any state to do anything, right now. Plenty of ponies don't even know exactly what just happened. Go around Ponyville, make sure you are seen, and more importantly make sure your story is the one that spreads the quickest by word of mouth. (Help calm down the town at large. Reduce overall suspicion of "what happened" in a way that benefits the cult).
[] Run late. (Picking this option allows you to pick an EXTRA option from those above. Will worry your family, as you will return home far later than it is sensible).
We got too much to do family got to worry
"Calm. Down." You say, the ringing in your ears making your own voice come out as a bludgeon, instead of the firm grip you were hoping for.
But still, even a bludgeon has its use, and as you finish shaking your head to banish the sharp pain in your ears, you look up to see that the mare is also slightly disoriented.
And more importantly, the mare has stopped acting so panicked. If only for a few moments.
"Now… please, I understand you are in a hurry," you say, as the mare also recomposes herself, "so why don't you come in? I can take you to your sister in a few moments if that is alright with you."
You say that as you open the door, although to be honest you let the mare enter your house more so she can feel like she is gaining space. Because something tells you that if you don't do that, she will just work herself up again.
After all, bludgeons are useful tools. But she seems to be the type of mare that can get back on her feet very quickly, and letting her work herself into a panic again won't take anypony anywhere.
"I, uhm… Thank you, ma'am," she says apparently realizing the same think. Or, if nothing else, realizing how much you winced when she yelled, her voice growing slightly uncomfortable as you let her in, "and, uh, ah'm sorry for that just now."
You give her a noncommitting nod. You would usually tell her that everything is alright, but keeping her on the backhoof feels better to you right now.
"You said you are Apple Bloom's sister and that you wanted to take her home?" you say, the mare immediately nodding in answer, her eyes still looking around as she tried to guess where exactly her sister might be in your house. "Well, we were planning on having the fillies all weekend, but… did something happen?"
"Did something happen?!" the orange mare says, her eyes going wide and finally focusing back on you, and you can almost see how her surprise slowly dawns into understanding. "Hang on, you do live a ways from town and… wait, so you haven't heard about it?!"
You tilt your head slightly at the mare's reaction, your eyes narrowing as you… as that annoying thought, that you are somehow forgetting about something important, comes back to you now of all times.
"No, why?" you ask, honestly curious, "is anything the matter?"
"Oh, hey Applejack. What're you doing here?"
But a voice, one that you recognize as being from one of your daughter's friends, interrupts the two of you. Bringing up an immediate reaction out of the orange mare.
"Ah! Apple Bloom! Thank goodness yer' alright. Go get your things, we're going home right now!" the mare says that, stomping a hoof on the ground in a motion that feels almost like a habit of hers. Although Apple Bloom's only reaction to her words is to stand there, looking at her sister with a confused expression.
And just as the other fillies, your daughters included, file out of the dinning hall to see what is going on, the mare turns to you and whispers something in a tone only you can hear.
"Listen ma'am, I don't know what happened. Nopony knows. But the whole of Ponyville is turned upside down because… there were kidnappings," her voice grows even lower, as if she couldn't believe what she was saying, or didn't even want to say those words. "Breaking-ins, robberies, whole families disappeared, just like that."
Your eyes go wide as the mare says that. Because for all of her urgency and panic, you can immediately tell that she wouldn't lie about that for the life of her.
And at that moment, your remember the dream you had this last night.
Well... at least we won't have to worry about reaching Moth 4 for Selene now?
Here's my tentative plan:
[] Into the Night
-[] Knock, Moth, and the bits to make your friends in the Guard look away. Break her out, without leaving a trace. (Break Starry Dancer out without leaving a trace. Will calm down the cult. Will not leave solid evidence for Dull Glass to examine. Starry Dancer will be hidden away somewhere safe.]
-[] Clear the trails. Call what few ponies know about Moth and discreetly go to the "crime scenes". You can't unmake a disappearance, but you can downplay the traces that were left behind and clean up before anypony has the chance to properly investigate them. (Decrease the amount of evidence left by the cult).
-[] Rein the cult in. The cult is part of the town, and the town is part of the cult. Panic, especially amongst the lower levels, is spreading as quickly through the cult as it is through Ponyville. Join Windy Flakes in making sure nopony does, or says, anything stupid. (Calm the cult down, and lower the chance of suspicion being drawn to the Wildhoof Club, both the cult and the club).
-[] Plenty of ponies will not be able to go to the Town Hall meeting. Plenty of ponies are not in any state to do anything, right now. Plenty of ponies don't even know exactly what just happened. Go around Ponyville, make sure you are seen, and more importantly make sure your story is the one that spreads the quickest by word of mouth. (Help calm down the town at large. Reduce overall suspicion of "what happened" in a way that benefits the cult).
-[] Run late. (Picking this option allows you to pick an EXTRA option from those above. Will worry your family, as you will return home far later than it is sensible).
Focuses primarily on making sure the cult as a whole stays on the down-low. Eliminate any trails, don't draw more attention, and make sure the narrative suits our means. Taking the extra action will make our family worry (sorry zxzx24) but I think it would be worth it to make sure there aren't any (or at least minimal) tracks leading back to the cult (and us, by extension). We currently have a very solid alibi; we can honestly say we were at our house the whole time, hosting a sleepover party for our daughter, as our husband and servants can attest to. Mayor Mare might be a concern, but we haven't exactly been publicly seen interacting w/ Starry often (unlike, say, Jade), so that's lower priority for me than reducing the overall suspicion on the club.
Windy's crossed the Branding Door... which means he might run into the Wolf now. Also probably that we should step up our Mansus exploration and get to Winter/Heart 4 fast so that we can find the Spider Door equivalent before he does.
