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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[X] "The real Hours don't meet the Gods-from-Nowhere, but the Ring-Yew meets the Mare-in-the-Tree in where the Wood grows lush. Their couplings are forbidden, and forbidden things have power, and this is the story of their coupling."
 
[X] "So the seeds . . . were planted, though for long years [they will be] nothing but an unfulfilled ache."
[X] Keep it in reserve (Velvet will keep the Leash to herself, and consider using it if an unexpected circumstance arises, such as Twilight Sparkle or something else.)
Dream Logic said:
Regardless, it seems ambiguous which one of us would correlate to which Hour. Though it may simply be the act itself since it is not as central to them as the Diad.
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I would guess that Velvet is the Malachite, if they must be specific hours, given that the Leash Soft Sweeps option very specifically invokes the Ring-Yew with the succulence and renewal line. And if this is such a re-enactment then I want no part in it, because the Malachite loved the Thunderskin, who was a mortal musician flayed and destroyed by Grail before he became the Vigilant Storm, the Heart Unceasing. This is not a good path, if we want to prioritize Stormchaser's well-being.
 
tricholysis said:
[X] "So the seeds . . . were planted, though for long years [they will be] nothing but an unfulfilled ache."
[X] Keep it in reserve (Velvet will keep the Leash to herself, and consider using it if an unexpected circumstance arises, such as Twilight Sparkle or something else.)

I would guess that Velvet is the Malachite, if they must be specific hours, given that the Leash Soft Sweeps option very specifically invokes the Ring-Yew with the succulence and renewal line. And if this is such a re-enactment then I want no part in it, because the Malachite loved the Thunderskin, who was a mortal musician flayed and destroyed by Grail before he became the Vigilant Storm, the Heart Unceasing. This is not a good path, if we want to prioritize Stormchaser's well-being.
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Well, it's similar, but also seems to be in reverse somewhat. It's more like Velvet steals Rarity right now, assuming more controling role. So while it's echoes some myths, it's also does it either imperfectly or weird. It's worries me, but also seems fine right now? Unlike Wolf and his regrettable actions, we don't firmly locked into some consequenses, and we can stop this course later, if we want. In fact, we wanted to do so, would it starts to become harmful.
 
Man, it's really freaking weird to think that we don't have Rarity leashed anymore, at least while also not having Twilight back yet. That was basically the one thing Velvet has hated herself most for, and it's just… gone. The relief is palpable.

Also I really hope we actually get to see how much we bulldoze the disassociation action. We've already got our servants falling all over themselves to do whatever Velvet says, the lesser Cult members will get utterly wrecked.
 
Ericwinter said:
Man, it's really freaking weird to think that we don't have Rarity leashed anymore, at least while also not having Twilight back yet. That was basically the one thing Velvet has hated herself most for, and it's just… gone. The relief is palpable.

Also I really hope we actually get to see how much we bulldoze the disassociation action. We've already got our servants falling all over themselves to do whatever Velvet says, the lesser Cult members will get utterly wrecked.
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I mean, to those who know about the occult Velvet is pretty obviously rocking a massive grail buff. so... not sure how effective the dissociation action will be, especially if we're talking in Red all the time.
 
Aranfan said:
I mean, to those who know about the occult Velvet is pretty obviously rocking a massive grail buff. so... not sure how effective the dissociation action will be, especially if we're talking in Red all the time.
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Velvet also doesn't spend a lot of time in town though, so it not like there's a lot of opportunities to notice "local noblemare touting terrifying amounts of Grail".

Edit: And presumably we'd be talking to people as 'the Loremaster', or at least 'mysterious cloaked pony', while at the Club.
 
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I hate all of this situation. Viscerally. Lesser evil, here we go. May Velvet be able to still look herself in the mirror after this.

[X] "So the seeds . . . were planted, though for long years [they will be] nothing but an unfulfilled ache."
[X] Keep it in reserve (Velvet will keep the Leash to herself, and consider using it if an unexpected circumstance arises, such as Twilight Sparkle or something else.)
Shaper47 said:
And acting self righteous got Spike killed and Twilight kidnapped.
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It was refusing to crush her hopes, break her heart to save her, and then being too afraid of father dearest and his money shortage powers to go back and explore under the castle. There was very little indication of what would have been found, which yes, felt like there was nothing that could've been done to save either of them. However, it was logically the best place for food/prisoners.
 
[X] "So the seeds . . . were planted, though for long years [they will be] nothing but an unfulfilled ache."
[X] Keep it in reserve (Velvet will keep the Leash to herself, and consider using it if an unexpected circumstance arises, such as Twilight Sparkle or something else.)
 
[X] "The real Hours don't meet the Gods-from-Nowhere, but the Ring-Yew meets the Mare-in-the-Tree in where the Wood grows lush. Their couplings are forbidden, and forbidden things have power, and this is the story of their coupling."
 
[X] "So the seeds . . . were planted, though for long years [they will be] nothing but an unfulfilled ache."
[X] Keep it in reserve (Velvet will keep the Leash to herself, and consider using it if an unexpected circumstance arises, such as Twilight Sparkle or something else.)

Playing Mansus-roles is... just like that past choice of playing the role of Colonel vs. Sweeps the Lionsmith, it is dangerous.
After all, it is deemed forbidden fruit by Mansus. It's a power from transgression. Even if Storm will be cool with it, reality reflects Mansus.
 
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Eh, screw it. In for a penny, in for a pound.

[X] "The real Hours don't meet the Gods-from-Nowhere, but the Ring-Yew meets the Mare-in-the-Tree in where the Wood grows lush. Their couplings are forbidden, and forbidden things have power, and this is the story of their coupling."
[X] Keep it in reserve (Velvet will keep the Leash to herself, and consider using it if an unexpected circumstance arises, such as Twilight Sparkle or something else.)

Also this way we'd dodge the inevitable argument every time we want to call a Grail Influence about how we shouldn't aim for a +40 because it will minion-ify Rarity again :V
 
[X] "So the seeds . . . were planted, though for long years [they will be] nothing but an unfulfilled ache."

[X] Keep it in reserve (Velvet will keep the Leash to herself, and consider using it if an unexpected circumstance arises, such as Twilight Sparkle or something else.)
 
Ericwinter said:
Man, it's really freaking weird to think that we don't have Rarity leashed anymore, at least while also not having Twilight back yet. That was basically the one thing Velvet has hated herself most for, and it's just… gone. The relief is palpable.

Also I really hope we actually get to see how much we bulldoze the disassociation action. We've already got our servants falling all over themselves to do whatever Velvet says, the lesser Cult members will get utterly wrecked.
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Honestly, this super-Grail bonus we've got going on here? That doesn't seem much different from the Leash. Sure there are a few extra steps, but mega-magic seduction buff isn't morally all that different from an explicit mind control leash.

I mean why did we want the Grail bonus in the first place? Because we thought this turn we'd have to do alot of "convincing". And we chose to augment that using eldritch magic. I doubt Velvet's gonna feel all that relieved, in many ways this seems like an escalation from the use of the Leash.
 
PurposefulZephyr said:
Playing Mansus-roles is... just like that past choice of playing the role of Colonel vs. Sweeps the Lionsmith, it is dangerous.
After all, it is deemed forbidden fruit by Mansus. It's a power from transgression. Even if Storm will be cool with it, reality reflects Mansus.
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And the Mansus reflects reality because nothing can be simple.

I do wonder why it was forbidden though? I thiiink The Rite of Sky was created to limit the Longs but what should bind love between hours?

...Actually maybe that's a good idea. Forge and Sun did not have a good breakup.
 
afreaknamedpete said:
Honestly, this super-Grail bonus we've got going on here? That doesn't seem much different from the Leash. Sure there are a few extra steps, but mega-magic seduction buff isn't morally all that different from an explicit mind control leash.

I mean why did we want the Grail bonus in the first place? Because we thought this turn we'd have to do alot of "convincing". And we chose to augment that using eldritch magic. I doubt Velvet's gonna feel all that relieved, in many ways this seems like an escalation from the use of the Leash.
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The difference, at least from my perspective, is that this really is a self-buff compared to the Leashes targeted effect. Sure, it makes Velvet more, but all the magic is directly on her. She's the one getting mentally affected—however much that may be—and carrying the weight. Other people's reactions to it are just a natural consequence of Velvet herself being different.
Dream Logic said:
And the Mansus reflects reality because nothing can be simple.

I do wonder why it was forbidden though? I thiiink The Rite of Sky was created to limit the Longs but what should bind love between hours?

...Actually maybe that's a good idea. Forge and Sun did not have a good breakup.
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Actually, the reason for the particular tryst being referenced to be forbidden is because one member was a God-from-Nowhere, who the other Hours aren't supposed to interact with.
 
Dream Logic said:
And the Mansus reflects reality because nothing can be simple.

I do wonder why it was forbidden though? I thiiink The Rite of Sky was created to limit the Longs but what should bind love between hours?

...Actually maybe that's a good idea. Forge and Sun did not have a good breakup.
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Cause it isn't 'proper' for the Mansus-Gods to interact with Gods-From-Nowhere.
 
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