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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Pittauro said:
unfeasible due to Silky and Stormchaser, I think. Velvet won't give them up, and I don't think they'd accept fake identities.
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Even if they don't, with "Velvet Covers" having just disappeared or died, they could probably move away pretty easily, especially if we made sure they were still protected regardless as part of her will or something. And if Stormchaser just so happens to fall in love again, well, no pony can grieve forever, and the royal spymaster is quite the catch. And of course Princess Luna would be quite close with her most favored servant's new family.

Or something. There's lots of different ways to do it, but they don't have to change their identities as well.
 
Pittauro said:
Nah, that barely matters. The one bit of damage we've found was BEYOND the branding door, and he was complaining about a lack of Branded.
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Even the woods is damaged, if you look at it.

But the Master would undoubtably not care as much about few branded if the branded there were showed signs of climbing much higher. But you step through the branding door and the first thing you confront is that the mansus is fundamentally broken.
 
It looks like some people havce a problem with Edge in GSP. Maybe this willl attract more votes?
[X] Plan Great Schism Preparation - Selene W/M/E Lesson
-[X] (Book) Forge 3 (30 bits)
-[X] (Moth Fruit) Give it to Baldomare
-[X] (Rarity) Emissary
--[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Associate with Loremaster's fame
-[X] (Jade Whistle) Research Selene (Knock 2)
-[X] (Hintchasers) Emissary
--[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Investigate Expedition
-[X] (Baldomare) Emissary
--[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Scout Hintchasers for defection
-[X] (Selene) In order: Winter > Moth > Edge if levels are the same, if one of these reaches lvl 4 go with that one.
-[X] Attention of the Laws: Grail
--[X] Conversation with Stormchaser
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Soft Sweeps
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Stormchaser
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Scout and spread dissent in cult for defection
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Fluttershy
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Windy Flakes
--[X] Get to know his project is.
-[X] Mansus exploration x2 (5 exploration actions)
--[X] Take actions in order, repeating failed actions until we succeed or run out of actions
--[X] If we acquire a Wound or a Malus, skip to the Blank Plains step
--[X] Search out a new location in the Shattered Stairs
--[X] Fully explore the new location
--[X] Seek out the next Door and study it
--[X] Cross the Door, but don't spend an action on the other side
--[X] Search for new locations in the Blank Plains until locations are exhausted
--[X] Search for new locations in the Woods until locations are exhausted

Ericwinter said:
Even if they don't, with "Velvet Covers" having just disappeared or died, they could probably move away pretty easily, especially if we made sure they were still protected regardless as part of her will or something. And if Stormchaser just so happens to fall in love again, well, no pony can grieve forever, and the royal spymaster is quite the catch. And of course Princess Luna would be quite close with her most favored servant's new family.
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AS CRAZY AS IT SOUNDS, THIS MIGHT WORK OUT WITH LEASHED STORMCHASER!
Actually, a lot of things can work out with leashed Stormchaser. Including changing identity.
Can't really protest if you're ready to do anything for your wonderful wife, eh? Erasing free will of people you care for is incredibly useful, after all.
 
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BTW, why is no one summoning Risens for checking up on Dull Glass?
We could easily get a corpse by killing a captured changeling. It may be viewed as wasteful, but we're not exactly caring about resources of the Cult at the moment.
It also could be useful for whatever the Windy's Project is, and it could dig up a grave the next turn. More Risens = More AP.

[X] Plan Great Schism Preparation - Selene W/M/E Lesson, Risen
-[X] (Book) Forge 3 (30 bits)
-[X] (Moth Fruit) Give it to Baldomare
-[X] (Rarity) Emissary
--[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Associate with Loremaster's fame
-[X] (Jade Whistle) Research Selene (Knock 2)
-[X] (Hintchasers) Emissary
--[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Investigate Expedition
-[X] (Baldomare) Emissary
--[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Scout Hintchasers for defection
-[X] (Selene) In order: Winter > Moth > Edge if levels are the same, if one of these reaches lvl 4 go with that one.
-[X] Attention of the Laws: Grail
--[X] Conversation with Stormchaser
-[X] Invoke a Flourishing Risen (Kill a Changeling Capture White Room)
-[X] (Risen) Loot the Oak library for Lore books.
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Soft Sweeps
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Stormchaser
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Scout and spread dissent in cult for defection
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Fluttershy
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Windy Flakes
--[X] Get to know his project is.
-[X] Mansus exploration x2 (5 exploration actions)
--[X] Take actions in order, repeating failed actions until we succeed or run out of actions
--[X] If we acquire a Wound or a Malus, skip to the Blank Plains step
--[X] Search out a new location in the Shattered Stairs
--[X] Fully explore the new location
--[X] Seek out the next Door and study it
--[X] Cross the Door, but don't spend an action on the other side
--[X] Search for new locations in the Blank Plains until locations are exhausted
--[X] Search for new locations in the Woods until locations are exhausted
 
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Mage of Eyes said:
BTW, why is no one summoning Risens for checking up on Dull Glass? We could easily get a corpse by killing a changeling.
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1) I don't think most people thought of it (I didn't for quite a while)
2) The benefits seem kind of dubious (tailing Dull Glass is not a priority for me, what we really need is social actions which they can't help with)
3) I don't really want to start killing people to make Risen, even given that they're probably going to die for other reasons anyway
 
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Mage of Eyes said:
BTW, why is no one summoning Risens for checking up on Dull Glass? We could easily get a corpse by killing a captured changeling.
It also could be useful for whatever the Windy's Project is, and it could dig up a grave the next turn. More Risens = More AP.
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wait, is killing the changeling and summoning the risen free? Because even if we have the hintseekers tail the detective, the risen could at least clean that damned house!
 
Pittauro said:
is killing the changeling and summoning the risen free?
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Well, if grabbing a prisoner/corpse from White Room is free, then slicing the neck of this prisoner is probably free, too!

Skelm said:
3) I don't really want to start killing people to make Risen, even given that they're probably going to die for other reasons anyway
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Oh come on, we just organised a purge of changelings. This is just a hypocritical desire to 'keep hoofs clean' at this point. You said it yourself: they'll die anyway, so it doesn't even matter.
Look at it from the bright side: this, if I am not mistaken, our first murder, so we can maybe get an Edge scrap from it!
 
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Mage of Eyes said:
Oh come on, we just organised a purge of changelings. This is just hipocrisy. Look at it from the bright side: this is probably our first murder, so we can maybe get an Edge scrap from it!
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If I recall correctly, Bird said she would just make the Hintchasers do it? Or was that with using it for a specific thing? I can't remember exactly.
 
Ericwinter said:
If I recall correctly, Bird said she would just make the Hintchasers do it? Or was that with using it for a specific thing? I can't remember exactly.
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he said something like "you'll have another cultist kill them and bring you the body", which... well, fair. I'm sure there's some cultist wishing to get revenge by proxy for some friend who died in Canterlot or that got kidnapped and brought to the hive from which nobody came back

...I'm not sure if I should add the Risen to my plans. I already have some votes, and some people seem to dislike the idea.

I'm certainly not going to make another variant, If I did it for all plans I'd go up to 8!

...and then there's what to use the Risen for. I think it's either

1)loot the library, if BirdBodhisattva allows it
2)tail the detective
3)clean the house
 
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Pittauro said:
😑

You saw nothing.

but seriously, what do you all think is best of the three? I'm partial to the library if it's allowed, but I can see the argument for tailing the detective, and if we find a summon having the house would help...
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Probably library? That or house, the risen kinda sucks at spying, but I remember that there were reasons we didn't do that before? Something about how it might not get everything.

Also, quotes don't change with edits. Your shame is preserved for all eternity.
 
Ericwinter said:
Probably library? That or house, the risen kinda sucks at spying, but I remember that there were reasons we didn't do that before? Something about how it might not get everything.

Also, quotes don't change with edits. Your shame is preserved for all eternity.
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Can prove. Shame has been preserved for eternity before.

And I dunno, I do want to start cleaning up that blasted old house and we're not short for books atm. So I'd prefer cleaning out the house than looting the library.
 
Ericwinter said:
Probably library? That or house, the risen kinda sucks at spying, but I remember that there were reasons we didn't do that before? Something about how it might not get everything.

Also, quotes don't change with edits. Your shame is preserved for all eternity.
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It's obviously a conspiracy and you faked the quote :rolleyes:

and yeah, I'm leaning towards library too, with crash cleaning the house next turn if we TRULY need a private place for a private summon.

Defaulter said:
Can prove. Shame has been preserved for eternity before.

And I dunno, I do want to start cleaning up that blasted old house and we're not short for books atm. So I'd prefer cleaning out the house than looting the library.
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honestly if we just add one measly free action, with SH influence, we should search the library in person at night.
 
Mage of Eyes said:
I dunno about the house. Cleaning it is a very personal action, and Risen most certainly can and will miss things.
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Or go completely overboard. As seen when the Risen interpreted "rearrange Windy's furniture" as "Nail everything in his house to the ceiling."

We send one to clean the house, there might not be a house left when it's done.
 
Indivisible said:
@Alex Sol you forgot the Selene action.
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Thanks, fixed it. Also will update plan according to recent trends which in this case meaning dropping Mayor Mare and doing more actions in Mansus.


[X]Plan: Velvet is very sociable mare v2
-[X] (Attention of the Laws) Grail: Stormchaser
-[X] (Moth Fruit) Eat it
-[X] (Selena) Moth
-[X] (Rarity) Emissary: Dissociate from Loremaster's fame
-[X] (Baldomare) Secret Histories Influence for Mansus exploration
-[X] (Jade Whistle) Research Selene (Knock 2), give her secret histories artifact
-[X] (Risen) Kill changeling from White Room. Use changeling corpse to summon Flourishing Risen. Use Risen to Steal the originals of your manuscripts, in the Bright Library.
-[X] (Hintchasers) (Fleeting Opportunity) Investigate Expedition
-[X] (Free Mansus) Explore Shattered Stairways
-[X] (Mansus) Explore Shattered Stairways until next door is found and crossed, or injury sustained. Go Wander Blank Plains after it until Winter 4 is reached. Wander Woods after it. x 3
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Soft Sweeps
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Stormchaser
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Fluttershy
-[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Windy Flakes
--[X] Learn about his project. Ask about his reason for joining the cult.


Also approval vote

[X] Plan: Social links and the Mansus

[X] Plan in that gaping Abyss we will find our redemption pure edition

[X] plan DENY BALDOMARE TO CULT, SHE'S OURS! (conditional version)
[X] plan DENY BALDOMARE TO CULT, SHE'S OURS! (conditional version) + Risen
[X] Plan Conditional Baldomare, Unconditional Zombie

On Risen situation, we were told that Velvet would not do killing personally. And earlier she already convinced Master to purge all changeling in the town. Denial here would not help anyone. Risen have Moth so he would be better at looting library than any other minion/confidant except for Hintseekers. Also visit from Risen not in any way indication of our plans to rebel, it is how Loremaster expresses her dissatisfaction. Given how expedition and Windigo summon went we certainly have reasons for it.



On Fruit as of now I prefer we eat it. As I see it, top SH influence would not give us scraps for the second time and depending on how this one go, we may not want to use it at all so soon after first time. And if we really wanted SH influence for the next turn we could have asked Baldomare to cast SH influence the normal way through ritual I think.

Having her confidant action is nice but as our current turn shows, many of actions can be done only by Velvet personally and what is left is not always suited for Baldomare, like this turn we seriously considered her doing clearing house or making bits. Given amount of sneaky action that we need to do additional Risen arguably can be even more useful.

Like now if we spend one Velvet action on them we can get 3 Risen who it seems can go loot library, clean house and tail Dull Glass at the same time. If it works like this of course. I don't remember if we had more than one Risen before. I am only worried that we may need this changelings for the next door in Mansus so we can't afford to spend all of them. And we are very pressed on Velvet actions. But if we summoned them the previous turns it would have been a different deal.

On the issue of our Rivals summoning Baldomare. Is this even allowed? I mean we are in the same organization as of now. Can't Jade summon Baldomare by herself then?
 
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[X] Seeking Glory
-[X] (Book) Heart 4 (60 bits)
-[X] (Book) Forge 3 (30 bits)
-[X] (Moth Fruit) Eat it
-[X] (Rarity) Emissary
--[X] (Cult) Investige Lore Master
-[X] (Jade Whistle) Research Selene (Knock 2)
-[X] (Baldomare) Lantern Lesson
-[X] (Selene) Moth
-[X] Attention of the Laws: (Moth)
-[X] Cult-minions (Hintchasers)
--[X] (Fleeting Opportunity) Investigate Expedition
-[X] (Cult) Other (WRITE IN)
--[X] Social/assist Windy Flakes with his beautiful project
-[X] (Read Book) Forge 3
-[X] (Read Book) Lantern 6
-[X] (Read Book) Other (recently bought)
--[X] (Read Book) Forge 3
-[X] (Free Mansus) Explore Shattered Stairways
-[X] (Mansus: Woods) Wander the Woods
-[X] (Mansus: Woods) Visit Dry Well
-[X] (Mansus: Woods) Look for Other Locations
-[X] (Mansus: Blank Plains) Wander the Plains
-[X] (Mansus: Blank Plains) Visit the Lodge
-[X] (Mansus: Blank Plains) Look for Other Locations
-[X] (Mansus: Shattered Stairways) Wolf [This is a Regrettable Action]
-[X] (Mansus: Shattered Stairways) Look for Other Locations
-[X] (Ritual) The Reflection of the Tapestry (Puppy Child)
--[X] (Ritual) Perform rituals on cult
---[X] Sacrifice Baldomare
-[X] (Ritual) invoke a Flourishing Risen
--[X] (Ritual) Acquire living changeling form the White Room
---[X] (Ritual) Personally murder the changeling, try and learn edge from the murder
 
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Pittauro said:
unfeasible due to Silky and Stormchaser, I think. Velvet won't give them up, and I don't think they'd accept fake identities.
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They are not fake if it is Luna who gives it to them. She is absolute authority after all.

"By thou Royal Decree We now name you as …um… Rapidwings Swift Blizzardfollower! Ugh, this is bad, isn't it? We'll go, workshop it some more."
 
Alex Sol said:
They are not fake if it is Luna who gives it to them. She is absolute authority after all.

"By thou Royal Decree We now name you as …um… Rapidwings Swift Blizzardfollower! Ugh, this is bad, isn't it? We'll go, workshop it some more."
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Fun thing about pony names, they're really easy to mix up with descriptive titles. I think Lord Soothing Heart and Vow Keeper sound appropriate, don't you?
 
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