Esquestria: The House of the Sun - A pony cultist experience

Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
Reader mode
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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[X] Plan: Gotta do that Sacrament sometime. (Marinette finding ritual location.ver)
-[X] [AotL] Lantern, to see what is needed for the next Door.
-[X] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[X] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
-[X] [Forge] Free Reagent creation action. Create 1 Reagent.
--[X] Knock 2 Edge 1 Reagent cost 45 Bits.
-[X] [DETECTIVES] The dangers in the dark come from outside of Ponykind as well. Listen to the rumors. Study the myths. Look for the threats from without. (Search for Expedition Sites for your later consideration. Additionally, keep an ear on the ground for other "foreign" threats)
-[X] [CONSTABLES] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN a PERSONAL ACTION for Velvet Covers)
-[X] [COMMISSIONER] Ingrain loyalty to us in the wider organisation.
-[X] [SOCIAL] [Teach] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple.
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Talking to our heartbroken brother FO.
--[X] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
-[X] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus
--[X] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[X] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 0/3) (THIS IS A DANGEROUS ACTION)
-[X] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[X] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[X] [GUARD] Our family.
-[X] [RARITY] Focus on her work.
-[X] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about…
--[X] Invite him to spend some time with our family, and if he can make it, to go on the Cloudsdale trip. When he is visiting, or if he can't make it, ask him for advice on how to deal with our brother.
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…
--[X] [SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
-[X] [BALDOMARE] [RITUAL] The Reflection of the Tapestry - Find a key that only opens. A key that would break DoA's curse. Where it is, what defends it, what stops us from simply taking it. Cost 30 bits.
--[X] At Jade's old house.
-[X] [MAREINETTE] [WRITE IN] Find us a location where we can safely and discreetly do a 3 circle ritual.
-[X] [Selene] Go play, one last time. (Costs two actions. Goodbye, Selene.)

A plan in which we climb the Mansus with the goal of reaching the next Door and figuring out it's trick. The Knock free action and the Aotl free actions are spent on this. The Forge free action is used to make a 2 knock 1 edge reagent we need to summon DoA next turn. The Bureau we let do it's thing hunting down expeditions to maybe explore later on our own or through them to hopefuly get lores into the system. We also pick up the ap available in exhange for no bureau provided defence while increasing loyalty to us so shady actions like slacking matter less. Jades gets to rest because she deserves it, Fluttershy asks Comet to bodyguard our family as this might be the turn we see an attack from Copper after we pulled Baldomare. We teach Rarity more about the Lores before having focus on her work because I got nothing else for her to do as the narrative for asking her to help with our tasks like the wedding and our brother would be weird as fuck. Steppes we ask to visit us and help us with the brother issue. The fleeting opportunities we take are the wedding one (not the one we ditch the Bureau responsibilities in) and the brother one. We also finally get started on doing our Sacrament. Our servants get started on a vault in Jade's old house so we can store our incriminating and occult shit in a place that isn't our home while Baldomare uses it to scry for the Frangiclave and Marinette goes out searching to finds us a new 3 circle ritual site as we need a new one for the DoA summoning 'cause of the suspicion thrown on our current set up.

[X] Plan: Gotta do that Sacrament sometime. (Marinette doing Pride social.ver)
-[X] [AotL] Lantern, to see what is needed for the next Door.
-[X] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[X] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
-[X] [Forge] Free Reagent creation action. Create 1 Reagent.
--[X] Knock 2 Edge 1 Reagent cost 45 Bits.
-[X] [DETECTIVES] The dangers in the dark come from outside of Ponykind as well. Listen to the rumors. Study the myths. Look for the threats from without. (Search for Expedition Sites for your later consideration. Additionally, keep an ear on the ground for other "foreign" threats)
-[X] [CONSTABLES] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN a PERSONAL ACTION for Velvet Covers)
-[X] [COMMISSIONER] Ingrain loyalty to us in the wider organisation.
-[X] [SOCIAL] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple.
-[X] [Personal Action] [Write In] Find a discrete and safe to use 3 circle ritual location
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
-[X] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus
--[X] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[X] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 0/3) (THIS IS A DANGEROUS ACTION)
-[X] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[X] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[X] [GUARD] Our family.
-[X] [RARITY] Focus on her work.
-[X] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about…
--[X] Invite him to spend some time with our family, and if he can make it, to go on the Cloudsdale trip. When he is visiting, or if he can't make it, ask him for advice on how to deal with our brother.
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…
--[X] [SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
-[X] [BALDOMARE] [RITUAL] The Reflection of the Tapestry - Find a key that only opens. A key that would break DoA's curse. Where it is, what defends it, what stops us from simply taking it. Cost 30 bits.
--[X] At Jade's old house.
-[X] [MAREINETTE] Act as your emissary. (Pick an action from Velvet's list. INCLUDING social actions private to Velvet)
--[X] Talking to our heartbroken brother FO.
-[X] [Selene] Go play, one last time. (Costs two actions. Goodbye, Selene.)

Same as the plan above except we've swapped Marinette searching for a 3 circle ritual site for the brother fo. The free ap sees us try and find a ritual location ourselves.

[X] Plan: Gotta do that Sacrament sometime. (Marinette doing the expedition.ver)
-[X] [AotL] Lantern, to see what is needed for the next Door.
-[X] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[X] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
-[X] [DETECTIVES] The dangers in the dark come from outside of Ponykind as well. Listen to the rumors. Study the myths. Look for the threats from without. (Search for Expedition Sites for your later consideration. Additionally, keep an ear on the ground for other "foreign" threats)
-[X] [CONSTABLES] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN a PERSONAL ACTION for Velvet Covers)
-[X] [COMMISSIONER] Ingrain loyalty to us in the wider organisation.
-[X] [SOCIAL] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple.
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Talking to our heartbroken brother FO.
--[X] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
-[X] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus
--[X] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[X] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 0/3) (THIS IS A DANGEROUS ACTION)
-[X] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[X] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[X] [GUARD] Our family.
-[X] [RARITY] Focus on her work.
-[X] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about…
--[X] Invite him to spend some time with our family, and if he can make it, to go on the Cloudsdale trip. When he is visiting, or if he can't make it, ask him for advice on how to deal with our brother.
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…
--[X] [SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
-[X] [BALDOMARE] Something else (WRITE IN a suggested action)
--[X] [LEARN] It all fits together, somehow… or so you hope.
---[X] [LEARN] "Unknown Ritual – A Memory of Light" Step one (Progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)
-[X] [MAREINETTE] Lead an Expedition. (Select her as the leader of an Expedition in which you will not take part, plan the other details of the expedition accordingly. You will still have to fund the Expedition yourself)
--[X] [EXPEDITION] "Beneath the Royal Castle, pt. 2"
---[X] [EXPEDITION] You know enough, and there is not much time. Gather your followers and head out. (Costs TWO actions and 70 bits, as specified)
-[X] [Selene] Go play, one last time. (Costs two actions. Goodbye, Selene.)

This plan has more extensive switching around. Marinette is completing the Canterlot expedition and because of it's cost we've had to switch Baldomare to doing the Memory of Light Ritual and drop the Forge action entirely. The rest of the plan is the same as the one at the top. The expedition will hopefully give us the 3 circle ritual site we need and a bunch of useful reagents, tools and maybe even a Tier 5 and above book to keep Baldomare around for another 3 turns.

[X] Plan: Gotta do that Sacrament sometime. (Marinette Guarding us.ver)
-[X] [AotL] Lantern, to see what is needed for the next Door.
-[X] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[X] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
-[X] [Forge] Free Reagent creation action. Create 1 Reagent.
--[X] Knock 2 Edge 1 Reagent cost 45 Bits.
-[X] [DETECTIVES] The dangers in the dark come from outside of Ponykind as well. Listen to the rumors. Study the myths. Look for the threats from without. (Search for Expedition Sites for your later consideration. Additionally, keep an ear on the ground for other "foreign" threats)
-[X] [CONSTABLES] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN a PERSONAL ACTION for Velvet Covers)
-[X] [COMMISSIONER] Ingrain loyalty to us in the wider organisation.
-[X] [SOCIAL] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple.
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Talking to our heartbroken brother FO.
--[X] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
-[X] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus
--[X] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[X] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 0/3) (THIS IS A DANGEROUS ACTION)
-[X] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[X] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[X] Search for a safe and hidden location in the forest where we can do a 3 circle ritual.
-[X] [RARITY] Focus on her work.
-[X] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about…
--[X] Invite him to spend some time with our family, and if he can make it, to go on the Cloudsdale trip. When he is visiting, or if he can't make it, ask him for advice on how to deal with our brother.
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…
--[X] [SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
-[X] [BALDOMARE] [RITUAL] The Reflection of the Tapestry - Find a key that only opens. A key that would break DoA's curse. Where it is, what defends it, what stops us from simply taking it. Cost 30 bits.
--[X] At Jade's old house.
-[X] [MAREINETTE] Something else (WRITE IN a suggested action)
--[X] [GUARD] Our family.
-[X] [Selene] Go play, one last time. (Costs two actions. Goodbye, Selene.)

The penultimate plan and it's the same as the one at the top except for the fact we've switched Marinette and Comet's roles. Now Comet is searching for the 3 circle ritual site while Marinette guards us. This is because SOMEONE has doubts as to Comet's ability to protect us.

[X] Plan: Gotta do that Sacrament sometime. (Marinette Guarding us alongside Comet.ver)
-[X] [AotL] Lantern, to see what is needed for the next Door.
-[X] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[X] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
-[X] [Forge] Free Reagent creation action. Create 1 Reagent.
--[X] Knock 2 Edge 1 Reagent cost 45 Bits.
-[X] [DETECTIVES] The dangers in the dark come from outside of Ponykind as well. Listen to the rumors. Study the myths. Look for the threats from without. (Search for Expedition Sites for your later consideration. Additionally, keep an ear on the ground for other "foreign" threats)
-[X] [CONSTABLES] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN a PERSONAL ACTION for Velvet Covers)
-[X] [COMMISSIONER] Ingrain loyalty to us in the wider organisation.
-[X] [SOCIAL] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple.
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Talking to our heartbroken brother FO.
--[X] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
-[X] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus
--[X] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[X] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 0/3) (THIS IS A DANGEROUS ACTION)
-[X] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[X] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[X] Guard our family.
-[X] [RARITY] Search for a discrete to use and safe three circle ritual location.
-[X] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about…
--[X] Invite him to spend some time with our family, and if he can make it, to go on the Cloudsdale trip. When he is visiting, or if he can't make it, ask him for advice on how to deal with our brother.
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…
--[X] [SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
-[X] [BALDOMARE] [RITUAL] The Reflection of the Tapestry - Find a key that only opens. A key that would break DoA's curse. Where it is, what defends it, what stops us from simply taking it. Cost 30 bits.
--[X] At Jade's old house.
-[X] [MAREINETTE] Something else (WRITE IN a suggested action)
--[X] [GUARD] Our family.
-[X] [Selene] Go play, one last time. (Costs two actions. Goodbye, Selene.)

We have Rarity try and find a three circle ritual location so Comet can guard us. The rest is the same.


[X] Plan: Responsible Velvet (Personal Sacrament edition)


[X] Plan Pittauro, but with our SH Sacrament.

[X] Plan Strengthen Our Bases, With Pride
 
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Is it really a good idea to invite Steppes to spend time with Selene right before she disappears? That seems cruel, to give him a chance to get attached right before she is gone.
 
Iustus Vitae said:
He is already attached. Seems more cruel to me to not let him have that time.
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I mean, as long as you understand that it might make him more likely to ask questions if he has interacted with her recently (as in, not that it would be mechanically harder, but that if the explanation for her disappearance is not something sudden he might wonder why we didn't bother to warn him that she might leave when he was visiting and we have to take that into account)


Speaking of which, does anyone has any ideas in case we have to justify Selene going missing? Because, and I am just putting the idea out there in case nothing better comes up, Ponyville is near the Everfree and we know from Applejack (and Jade iirc) backstories that timberwolves can kill ponies. We can even justify a closed coffin service with a death like that.
 
Bakkasama said:
Speaking of which, does anyone has any ideas in case we have to justify Selene going missing? Because, and I am just putting the idea out there in case nothing better comes up, Ponyville is near the Everfree and we know from Applejack (and Jade iirc) backstories that timberwolves can kill ponies. We can even justify a closed coffin service with a death like that.
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That seems unnecessarily stressful to her friends. I think it would be better to make something up about her original parents re-adopting her. It's not a great idea, but it's less likely to traumatize 5 children.
 
[X] Plan A Pink Wedding (Less Guards Ver.)
-[X] (Servants) Work on the upper level of Jade's old house
-[X] (Steppes) Invite over to spend some time with the family
-[X] (Rarity) Focus on her work
-[X] (Fluttershy) Ask a favor
--[X] Help defending Stormchaser and the children if Copper/the cult attacks them this turn.
-[X] (Jade) Take a break
-[X] (Mareinette) Fleeting Opportunity: Velvet Pride
-[X] (Baldomare) Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry
--[X] Target: The location of the "key that can only open" desired by the Daughter-of-Axes, and the obstacles in the way of obtaining it
--[X] At Jade's old house
-[X] (Selene) Go play
-[X] (AotL) Secret Histories: Search for new ritual site
-[X] (Knock) Keep going up
-[X] (Social) Teach Rarity
-[X] (Detectives) Changelings
-[X] (Constables) It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN a PERSONAL ACTION for Velvet Covers)
-[X] (Commissioner) Ingrain loyalty
-[X] Fleeting Opportunity: Plan the Royal Wedding
-[X] Search for a new, unsuspicious three-circle ritual site.
-[X] Fleeting Opportunity: The other Royal Wedding FO w/Cadance (free action)
-[X] Perform Reflection of the Tapestry.
--[X] Find Windy

Need to have a decent place to summon DoA or Biedde next turn. So as much as I'd like for the constables to do something productive, that site must be searched for this turn. I think in that area the Changelings were hiding could be used? But that'd cost money to explore and we need as much as possible for the summoning and whatever else pops up.

Edit: added in rott windy because extra ap. I believe he's skipped town and might be elsewhere right now. Next turn, send a Risen with a nice letter (and promise not to nail his furniture to the ceiling again).

Just don't have the time to make a better plan I'd be satisfied with. Scrapping this and focusing on other matters until next year.
 
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[X] Plan: A save, beautiful wedding to lift Equestrias spirit. Also fixing family affairs and making a good friend with lots of private space.
Bureau Actions:
-[X] [DETECTIVES] There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them. (One of the chief expectations of the Bureau. Avert a future Catastrophe)
Former constables, ex-Guards, defenders, one and all. They are not perfectly suited for investigations, but the Bureau needs muscles. And these ponies provide.
-[X] [CONSTABLES] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN a PERSONAL ACTION for Velvet Covers)
-[X] [COMMISSIONER] The Bureau is more than an institution, it is a gathering of dedicated ponies working towards a unified goal. Ingrain yourself with them. (Establish, increase, or salvage the loyalty of the Bureau towards you personally.)
Free Actions
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of [GRAIL] (This is a free action to summon "The Attention of the Laws")
-[X] [STEPPES] Write Uncle Steppes to invite him to spend time with your family and ask him for help breaking the ice with Velvet Pride, you'd much rather have him become real family, not a mini-version of father.
-[X] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Applejack, daughter of the Apple Clan and older sister to your daughter's friend.
-[X] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[X] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
Other ponies actions
-[X] [RARITY] Focus on her work. (Guarantees she will "succeed" on her career roll)
-[X] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[X] [BALDOMARE] [RITUAL] The Reflection of the Tapestry - Find the key that only opens. The key that would break DoA's curse. Where it is, what defends it, what stops us from simply taking it. Cost 30 bits.
--[X] At Jade's old house.
-[X] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from you... mutual friend. (WRITE IN a favor, that you will ask her to ask Comet Feet to do)
--[X] Ask Comet to help defending Stormchaser and the children if we get attacked.
-[X] [MAREINETTE] [RITUAL] "The Incision of the Heart" to remove the "afraid" Malus. Costs 20 bits.
--[X] At Jade's old house.
Ritual CD: EDGE 60, HEART 100
Mareinettes relevant stats:
General bonus: +40 ("Old and Terrible")
Aspects: GRAIL 6, HEART 6
+the Edge 3 artifact lending her aspect edge 3
-[X] [Selene] Go play, one last time. (Costs two actions. Goodbye, Selene.)
-[X][SERVANTS] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should… (Forge-aligned ponies are better suited at attempting these tasks)
--[X][SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
Personal Actions
-[X] A fleeting opportunity (rumor mills spin, opportunities come and go. These actions might never be available again)
--[X] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
--[X] "The Royal Wedding is a matter of national security, so of course the Commissioner must be involved. Yes, even on that time she went on a shopping spree with the Princess." (Free action. NEGLECT work at the Lunar Bureau. Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
--[X] Velvet Pride, your upstart younger brother, seems to be heartbroken. Or so the gossip goes. If you take the initiative to talk to him, you might be able to get closer to him.
-[X][TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple.

Area for approval votes:
[x] Plan Pittauro, All in wedding without key but with expedition.
[X] Plan Pittauro, but with our SH Sacrament.
 
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Busy. Cant comment on pings.

Came here exclusively to say that Rarity cant do your brother FO. I dont know which, but at least one poster mentioned a plan doing that.

Narratively, and mechanically, Rarity hasnt even met your brother yet.
Mechanically, that is something of a social action (so Mareinette can do it). So velvet (or mareinette) ought to do it herself.
And narrwtively, if they were already old friends, maybe it would make sense to allow it. But that is not the case.

Could someone kindly ping the person who as that action in a plan? I legitimately only have a minute here.

Laters.
 
[X] Plan: Gotta do that Sacrament NOW v2.

Generally like everything here, but can I ask why the Edge 2 reagent? It's nice for Biedde but I'm imagining a DoA summon next turn, and we only need an Edge 1 reagent to guarantee the edge roll.

Also I don't think we need an Edge 1/Knock 2 reagent for DoA, an Edge 1/Knock 1 is fine. We go from 92.7% success on the Knock roll to 97.1%, so spending 25 bits on 4.4% of success.

[X] Plan: A light and a guest
 
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This tries to lay a broad base. All in wedding, Teach Rarity, Social Applejack and Pride, Mare Incision, Bald Frangliklave, Jade rest, Flutter guard, Rarity Ponyville circle search, Servants looking for a mundane expedition (possible source of bits or stuff), Steppes Manehatten base search

I want to get Incision done now before Mareinette tells us what we need to do to keep her around us. Also, doing the Incision is the minimum necessary before I'll consider plans to do our personal SH sacrament.

Not spending the bits on the canterlot expedition I'm back to scrying for DoA key

[X] Plan: All in on the wedding and heal thyself
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of [Grail] (This is a free action to summon "The Attention of the Laws")
-[X] [DETECTIVES] There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them. (One of the chief expectations of the Bureau. Avert a future Catastrophe)
-[X] [CONSTABLES] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN a PERSONAL ACTION for Velvet Covers)
-[X] [COMMISSIONER] Some of the ponies in the Burau are figureheads. Get to know them better.
--[X] Shining Armor, your Deputy.
-[X] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Applejack, daughter of the Apple Clan and older sister to your daughter's friend.
-[X] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about… somewhere in Manehatten a mare named Copper Secuteur that fled Ponyville after the Incident. Would you know anyone able to discretely locate her base of operations?
-[X] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[X] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
--[X] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
--[X] "The Royal Wedding is a matter of national security, so of course the Commissioner must be involved. Yes, even on that time she went on a shopping spree with the Princess." (Free action. NEGLECT work at the Lunar Bureau. Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
--[X] Velvet Pride, your upstart younger brother, seems to be heartbroken. Or so the gossip goes. If you take the initiative to talk to him, you might be able to get closer to him.
-[X] [EXPEDITION] Equestria is full of undiscovered places. You must learn their secrets…
--[X] [SERVANTS] Search for a place that is recent in its ruin, whose History is decided. Mundane as it might be, it might still bear treasures. (Search for an "easy" expedition)
-[X] [TEACH] Make Rarity a Disciple
-[X] [RARITY] Something else - Look for a place we can do lvl 3 Rituals
-[X] [BALDOMARE] Reflections of the Tapestry for A key that always opens.
-[X] [JADE] You do You
-[X] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend. (WRITE IN a favor, that you will ask her to ask Comet Feet to do) Guard our family
-[X] [MAREINETTE] Ritual: Incision on Velvet

[X]All in on the wedding and clear some backlog

The original, same as above except Marienette goes to clear canterlot and Baldomare researches Memory of Light.
 
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lurker9875 said:
[X] Plan: Responsible Velvet (Personal Sacrament edition)
-[X] [AotL] Lantern, during the Sacrament Action
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Uhh… Why are you using a Lantern AotL and not Secret Historis for, you know, the Secret Histories Sacrament? Or hell, a Winter AotL to protect against mental harm. Lantern is for researching from books and artifacts and stuff, not exploring the powers of an entirely different Lore.
BirdBodhisattva said:
LANTERN - Current Bonus: +20 when attempting to learn the secrets that are within an object. +1 Learning. May study 3 books or 2 artifacts per turn, generate less suspicion to family head, and might be able to learn from objects you can touch. One re-roll per month/turn.
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Granted, the Harmony ritual uses Lantern to study, but I assume that's because we'll be looking at other books for research and the ritual isn't really Lore aligned in itself anyways.
 
Void_510 said:
This tries to lay a broad base. All in wedding, Teach Rarity, Social Applejack and Pride, Mare Incision, Bald Frangliklave, Jade rest, Flutter guard, Rarity Ponyville circle search, Servants looking for a mundane expedition (possible source of bits or stuff), Steppes Manehatten base search

I want to get Incision done now before Mareinette tells us what we need to do to keep her around us. Also, doing the Incision is the minimum necessary before I'll consider plans to do our personal SH sacrament.

Not spending the bits on the canterlot expedition I'm back to scrying for DoA key

[X]All in on the wedding and heal thyself
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You forgot filling in the X s of the subvotes, Also missing the Plan in the name.
Compare how "New tally" displays your plan with how it displays my "Plan: A save, beautiful wedding to lift Equestrias spirit. Also fixing family affairs and making a good friend with lots of private space."
Void_510 said:
-[] [COMMISSIONER] Some of the ponies in the Burau are figureheads. Get to know them better.
--[] Shining Armor, your Deputy.
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Someone mentioned that the "The Bureau is more than an institution, it is a gathering of dedicated ponies working towards a unified goal. Ingrain yourself with them. (Establish, increase, or salvage the loyalty of the Bureau towards you personally.)" Comissioner action could be good to get to know the ponies in the Lunar Bureau as a group and as damage control for the bureau reputation damage the second wedding FO may cause.
Void_510 said:
[] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about… somewhere in Manehatten a mare named Copper Secuteur that fled Ponyville after the Incident has set up a psycopathic magic cult. Would you know anyone able to discretely locate her base of operations?
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Sure that we want to tell him that much and commit it to paper?
This admits that we know about there being a "psycopathic magic cult", that Copper Secuteur moved to Manehattan. We haven't got a reason to know that yet. (A reason that doesn't cause Celestia to find out what we look like as charcoal)

Maybe be more circumspect?
"After the events in Ponyville, we recently had another disappearance of ponies: weirdly many ponies moved away and the local club (can you imagine such a thing in sleepy little Ponyville?) burned down... It feels suspicious, would you know how to discretely hear if a big amount of ponies started suspicious business in cities like Manehattan?"
Doesn't need us to know that he know the criminal underworld (its the kind of stuff rumours could have hints for if you know to look for it) and is much less weird for us to ask if anyone finds out.
Or something simple and safe like in my plan: "Write Uncle Steppes to invite him to spend time with your family and ask him for help breaking the ice with Velvet Pride, you'd much rather have him become real family, not a mini-version of father."
 
ok, here's my first plan. I'm going to try something a bit different.

EDIT: I made a mistake with the name. the plan doesn't ACTUALLY do an expedition. I planned to, but I didn't have the bits, so instead Mareinette is doing an incision. I'm not changing the name due to it already having a lot of votes
EDIT The 2nd: well, I still have the MANSUS expedition, so it kinda counts...



[x] Plan Pittauro, All in wedding without key but with expedition.
-[X] [AotL] Grail, (probably with Pride)
-[X] [FORGE] Create a Knock 2 Edge 1 Reagent. (45 bits, Free Action)
-[X] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[X] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
-[X] [DETECTIVES] There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them. (One of the chief expectations of the Bureau. Avert a future Catastrophe)
-[X] [CONSTABLES] It is less paperwork for you if they just help with the investigations. (NO ACTION from the Constables. GAIN a PERSONAL ACTION for Velvet Covers)
-[x] [COMMISSIONER] The Bureau is more than an institution, it is a gathering of dedicated ponies working towards a unified goal. Ingrain yourself with them. (Establish, increase, or salvage the loyalty of the Bureau towards you personally.)
-[X] [SOCIAL] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple. (Free Action)
-[X] A fleeting opportunity
--[X] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
--[x] "The Royal Wedding is a matter of national security, so of course the Commissioner must be involved. Yes, even on that time she went on a shopping spree with the Princess." (Free action. NEGLECT work at the Lunar Bureau. Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
--[x]Explore the Mansus. 1 point on Keep going up, and 1 point on Temple of the Wheel Expedition. If we're stuck at the door with more exploration to do, check the stairways location
--[X] Velvet Pride, your upstart younger brother, seems to be heartbroken. Or so the gossip goes. If you take the initiative to talk to him, you might be able to get closer to him.
-[X] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[X] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[X] [GUARD] Our home.
-[X] [RARITY] Focus on your work.
-[X] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about… (WRITE IN)
--[X] [STEPPES] Ask for advice about how to bond with your brother
-[X] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…
--[X] [SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
-[X] [MAREINETTE] Incision of the Heart on Velvet: remove the Frightened Debuff (20 bits. failure only on nat1s. Use the Edge Artifact WITHOUT sacrificing it)
-[X] [BALDOMARE] Find us a place where we can hold 3-circle rituals next turn (for Axe's summon). (rolls +80)
-[X] [SELENE] Go play, one last time. (Costs two actions. Goodbye, Selene.)


to rephrase the above in a slightly more readable format, the important bits:

VELVET ACTION 1: wedding
VELVET ACTION 2: Pride
VELVET ACTION 3 (from constables): Climb Mansus (with the free one, 3 points: 2 up, 1 temple of the wheel)
VELVET ACTION 4: wedding (from neglecting work)
BUREAU: working on loyalty to us, to make up for neglect
REAGENT: Knock 2 Edge 1, to get the best odds with Axe next turn
FREE SOCIAL: Teach Rarity
FLUTTERSHY: Have Comet guard our home
MAREINETTE: Incision, and FINALLY we remove the malus, which makes us better in combat too if we're attacked.
BALDOMARE: Searches for a location for the ritual WITHOUT Tapestry (she has +80, come on, it's not necessary!)

What am I giving up? 3 things for the most part

1)I'm delaying the key scrying because I'm focusing on finding a location to actually summon Axe in, which is more important. I'm also spending bits on the reagent for that, and on FINALLY removing the frightened malus we've carried on for so long
2)I don't have Mareinette guard us, BUT Velvet is gaining a +10 in combat, which is NOT little, and has narrative value too. I kinda wanted to do the Canterlot Expedition, but in the end I went for the reagent instead
3)I'm admittedly neglecting work a bit, but the effects on loyalty are manageable (especially with our work being on that), and this is won't happen again anytime soon.


My expectations for next turn, ignoring the Luna elephant in the room: Next turn we summon Axe with the best reagents possible (key + knock 2 edge 1), hopefully in the location Baldomare will find (if not we take a risk in a barn again), we probably bring at least one and possibly multiple confidants at lore 4. We scry the same turn Axe is summoned, and go to get the Frangiclave the turn after that.


What I'm NOT DOING

1)I'm not working on our sacraments right now. Next turn hopefully, and I know how it sounds
2)I'm not working on making new confidants
3)I'm not scrying for the key

What I'm DOING
1)Finally removing Velvet's frightened debuff, hopefully in time for a possible attack on us
2)I'm doing triple wedding picks, while also working on bureau loyalty to mitigate the hit on reputation
3)I'm doing Pride on person, to hopefully start befriending him for real
4)I'm doing 3 points of Mansus Climb, two to go up (and presumably reach the door) and one on the Temple of the Wheel)
5)I'm searching for a ritual location, but with Baldomare without a ritual to save money.

 
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