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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BirdBodhisattva said:
You just gave me the best idea as to where exactly Windy might run and who he might fatefully meet.

Also, guys, come on. This is an easy vote. You either vote for "Happy QM" or "Unhappy QM". I mean, I just write the story, so how bad can the effects of my disappointment be? :V
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I am happy to be of service :D

...And I know it's a joke, but I have had bad experiences with QMs fucking over the players for not dying as planned before so yip
 
Also, on back stabbing note: remember that there's increased attention from the guard, or at very least impressions of such. That should slow down going to... Hot phase? Cold phase of hostilities?

BirdBodhisattva said:
You just gave me the best idea as to where exactly Windy might run and who he might fatefully meet.

Also, guys, come on. This is an easy vote. You either vote for "Happy QM" or "Unhappy QM". I mean, I just write the story, so how bad can the effects of my disappointment be? :V
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On the other hand, the longer we delay, the more reasons you can throw our way to make any plan to murder the best Alukite look stupid :V

Because I am sure you would be a little bit worse than disappointed if we kill her, right :V?
 
Really liking the ideal of sending her to handle Hills, she has +70 and a reroll. She has a very decent chance of hitting the 150DC, keeping even 40bits per turn from the old job would be a major improvement.
 
Starlit Horizon said:
On the other hand, the longer we delay, the more reasons you can throw our way to make any plan to murder the best Alukite look stupid :V
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Her usefulness does would do that enough, I imagine.
Greymere said:
See: Mr. I'm Totally the Loremaster I Swear!

But tbh if the fake Loremaster takes control, that's pretty good for us. After all, that means we have an easy target for the Bureau right in Ponyville. Eventually. And it's not like the fake Loremaster is actually good at their supposed job.
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Do you think he could?

No, seriously, it seemed to me that most of the actual powers would be at best dubious.

…I'm not entirely certain we could send her to negotiate with Hills. @BirdBodhisattva os that a thing we could do?
 
Starlit Horizon said:
Just to be clear, if we summon Mareinette, how do you plan to get Edge 4, people?

Or are you ok will Selene rolling for sanity? Just answer that to yourself.
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I'm currently back in my "indecisive phase", so take my words with a grain of salt, but we could probably scry an expedition that rewards an Edge artifact, send DoA after it, and include it in a study action all the in same turn, as I've mentioned before. It's certainly messier, and it requires that we have the DoA make Wrong Keys this turn (since we want those on hand for summoning fodder and/or ritual defense just in case).

(Edit: Or we could send Mareinette after it, I suppose? Her general bonus is almost as good as DoA's specialty bonus in expeditions. Which hilariously also makes her almost as good in combat despite not having any Edge.)

It would... probably end up cheaper but. Again. Messy. And requires us, personally, to scry the artifact since Jade will be busy.
 
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Earth-Destroyer said:
Edge is turn after next. At least 3 easy way to get the last edge scrap.
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Um, what are they? Can you say them? Because I see at most 2:

1) Comet, but it is unclear if he's willing to teach us due to his state and us betraying his trust by telling Fluttershy everything (not a rational reason, but so are people)
2) books, but that's AP on both turns 16 (searching) AND 17 (reading) spent, which eats into our action economy something fierce.

Edit: ok, missed Pittauro. Edge Influence, but it's also far from guaranteed.

It's something, I guess.
 
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Earth-Destroyer said:
Actually better ideal send Mareinette to handle the meeting with Hills.

That would do wonders for Velvet's mental state.
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Yeah, what's the worst that could possibly happen?

Scene flash

Mareinette: "[Grail]."

Velvet: "Glad that's dealt with but what did your mean by enjoyed yourself?"

Mareinette: "[Grail]."

Velvet: "Egh, well he can be charming when it suits him. Did you make sure Soft Charm doesn't know? I wouldn't want any complications?

Mareinette: "[Grail]."

Velvet: "She joined in!" And what do you mean, in detail, about an unexpected event happening?

Mareinette: "[Grail]."

Velvet: "I'm going to have another sibling? Well Soft Charm bearing fruit isn't that much of a complication.

Mareinette: "[Grail]."

Velvet: "Wait, if Soft Charm isn't the one who will bear fruit that means...

Drool drops from Mareinette's mouth to the ground.
 
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Pittauro said:
book search. Comet Lesson. Edge Influence ritual.
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Mm.

@BirdBodhisattva correct me if I'm remembering wrong, but I think you did once say the roll to teach Selene would be an Edge roll? Would an Influence help with that?

I mostly ask because we can't guaruntee a level three there, but we can at least get something, so I'm just curious if there would be a use even if we didn't succeed.
Byzantine said:
The plan was to run through a bunch of starts, one character after another as the previous one died. Only the first one never died. More or less every time they get bored, which is often, something goes off the rails randomly.
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Name? I think I might have read that one, but I can't remember any like that where the QM is actively cruel except Marked For Death.
 
Ericwinter said:
Mm.

@BirdBodhisattva correct me if I'm remembering wrong, but I think you did once say the roll to teach Selene would be an Edge roll? Would an Influence help with that?

I mostly ask because we can't guaruntee a level three there, but we can at least get something, so I'm just curious if there would be a use even if we didn't succeed.
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Didn't we ask this before? And the answer was something like "Selene's the one rolling to learn, so no"? But I may be misremembering.
 
[X] Summon Mareinette, Our Lady of Wires (will cost one action from Turn 16)

Scaling the Mansus is about reaching Glory, at any cost. Also, I'm more scared of what Bird might do if we don't pick the right option than what Mareinette might do.
 
Byzantine said:
The plan was to run through a bunch of starts, one character after another as the previous one died. Only the first one never died. More or less every time they get bored, which is often, something goes off the rails randomly.
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Sounds like marked for death.
There's a reason you don't see the player that are active on that quest anywhere else.
 
Greymere said:
Didn't we ask this before? And the answer was something like "Selene's the one rolling to learn, so no"? But I may be misremembering.
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I remember it being asked, but not the answer. That's why I'm asking again.
jelloloaf said:
[X] Summon Mareinette, Our Lady of Wires (will cost one action from Turn 16)

Scaling the Mansus is about reaching Glory, at any cost. Also, I'm more scared of what Bird might do if we don't pick the right option than what Mareinette might do.
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I would say Bird's not that bad, but…

Glances at the last half a dozen turns

Well.
 
That was more due how we dig ourselves in the earlier turns trough.
This quest may or may not be one of the 2 that serves the reason i grew to dislike purely moral stances. Or moralistic arguments.
 
jelloloaf said:
[X] Summon Mareinette, Our Lady of Wires (will cost one action from Turn 16)

Scaling the Mansus is about reaching Glory, at any cost. Also, I'm more scared of what Bird might do if we don't pick the right option than what Mareinette might do.
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Eh, it is a joke. A turn of delay isn't bad.

Rule #0 of QMing: don't offer options that you are not willing to write.

And BirdBodhisattva is familiar with it.

As to scaling higher, honestly, we are not ready yet. Level 5 is far too dangerous. If we weren't lucky to have Influence, we would have dropped to Grail 2,if not worse.

Let's fix some of our maluses before trying to go higher.
 
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