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.
The author does not intend to (and should not be interpreted as intending to) break the site's Terms of Service or site rules at any point.
None of the above subjects are condoned, glorified or encouraged by the author, and their presence in this story is purely for narrative purposes.
If you do not wish to be exposed to any of the subjects cited above, you should STOP READING IMMEDIATELY.
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[X] Plan Nightmare's Revenge (Forma Social Awareness)
-[X] 3 personal actions -[X] (Shopping) Purchase Edge 3 artifact
-[X] Deny it. (Will destroy a Wrong Key) -[X] (Other) Give Stormchaser a Wrong Key to use while he's away, just in case.
-[X] (Servants) Work on the ground level of Jade's old house. -[X] (Rarity) Focus on her work
-[X] (Fluttershy) Train
-[X] (Jade) Investigate Selene
-[X] (DoA) Knock Influence
-[X] (Mareinette) Grail lesson
-[X] (Selene) Edge -[X] (AotL) Lantern: Edge Artifact
-[X] (Forge) Moth 3
-[X] (Knock) Explore beyond the Ruined Church -[X] Study: Edge 3 artifact, Lantern 6 book
-[X] [COPPER] Perform The Path Through Nightmares aimed at this opponent
--[x] Sacrifice Moth 3 reagent
--[X] At Jade's House. (if this is somehow not available use the Rarity's House)
-[X] Fleeting Opportunity: Cadance
You are Commissioner Velvet Covers.
And just a few moments ago you heard something that, to put it simply, surprised you a little bit.
"I am sorry, could you repeat that?" you ask, your tone calm and neutral.
Causing the stallion to shiver slightly.
Right now, you are at the Lunar Bureau. It is the first day of the week and you are (or rather, you were) in the middle of a meeting. Together with you in your office you have Shining Armor and a select group of ponies who have been picked to perform critical roles within the Bureau. Ponies assigned to be leaders within their squadrons and investigation groups, figureheads of the Bureau's departments, and other ponies besides.
These weekly meetings, that you are still getting used to, were Shining's suggestion. A weekly "staff brief", as he called it, that according to him is commonplace in the Guard. Still, for all that you never had to do this sort of thing back when you were managing the farmlands, the Bureau is an entirely different creature. And you can certainly understand why these meetings, where you can gather everypony and set out the Bureau's… or rather, your expectations, are so useful.
Still, the fact remains that this little brief of yours has just been interrupted.
And the stallion responsible for it is, of all things, practically stammering in front of you.
"I-I said, Lady Commissioner… t-that I am not at liberty to discuss that."
Standing in the middle of the room is a thin-looking, bespectacled earth pony stallion. He is wearing a cloak, of all things. But given how expensive the thing looks, and how wrong it looks on him, you can tell that it is more of a uniform than anything else. A way to conceal his cutie mark, probably. The locked saddle-bag he has on his back also follows the same design, but you can tell from his build and mannerism that he is not simply a courier.
"So you cannot tell me where you are from," you repeat what he just said to you, slowly. Raising an unimpressed eyebrow which, you can tell, causes the stallion's legs to tremble slightly. "And you also can't tell me why you are here either? Then what in Equestria are you doing here?"
The earth pony tries to answer you, but all he can manage to do is stammer and choke on his own words. His body freezing as he stares back at you, even though you aren't even glaring at him. His eyes darting from you to the small crowd that is gathered around him, the several investigators, former guards and constables eyeing him with expressions that go from mild interest to outright suspicion.
You think he manages to say something about "following orders" and "Crown's business", but at this point the stallion is less useful than a shy colt.
And not in a way you find endearing.
You let out a sigh, looking away from the interloper and towards one of your agents who is waiting by the door. The one who brought the earth pony here.
"Do you have any idea of what the hay this is about?" you ask, your impatience slowly bleeding into your voice.
But unfortunately, the uniformed mare shakes her head. Her eyes telling you that she probably went through the same thing you are experiencing right now.
"No, Commissioner. He arrived through the underground tunnels, escorted by Royal Guard nonetheless, and his paperwork was legit. I wouldn't have brought him here and interrupted the brief if it wasn't the case."
She says that, but unfortunately that doesn't really tell you anything you don't already know.
Because, even if you are not used to it yet, the only ponies who can come into your office uninvited are the Princesses themselves. Or somepony acting on their orders, of course, which is the case of the earth pony standing… shaking in front of you.
You also saw the "paperwork" your agent mentioned. And you wouldn't have believed the thing was real if you hadn't checked it for counterfeiting yourself. After all, a scroll giving somepony the authority to "access any areas in the Royal District" is as broad as it is vague. And you are sure this pony would have been detained for questioning long before he ever reached you, if not for the fact the scroll had been written with magical ink and has Celestia's own signature on it.
So, you know that the stallion in front of you is somepony important. You can tell, from inference and context, that he has been chosen by Princess Celestia herself, and that maybe his situation is not so different from your own.
However…
However, you realized all of that by means of reason and deduction.
Because why in Equestria is the pony in front of you acting like he is a third of his age?!
You are all adults, he clearly has a job that is important, and whatever he is doing is for the sake of the Crown.
So why… doesn't he just…?
"Alright, alright," you say, letting out a long, frustrated sigh. "Everypony out. Now," you say that, clicking your metal horseshoes against each other in a loud noise.
Almost instantly several sets of chairs are pulled back, a small crowd heading for the door as Shining Armor silently ushers your ponies away.
"Not you, for Tartarus' sake," you say, the earth pony almost jumping up in surprise. The sudden relief he had in his face immediately vanishing as he realizes that you are emptying your office so you can talk to him.
Goodness gracious, what is wrong with him?
…
"So, are you at liberty to talk to me now?" you ask, and the earth pony winces slightly at the annoyed inflection you have in your tone.
You are not going out of your way to be rude to him, but to be honest you don't really blame yourself for being slightly irritated.
After all, there is a bright line that separates a pony's personal life from their professional life. And what is understandable timidness on one side of that line is nothing short of incompetence on the other. And you have little patience for incompetence.
"Yes, Lady Commissioner. And I, well, thank you", he says, sitting down on one of the chairs you have in front of your desk.
"Just Commissioner is fine. Or better yet, call me Velvet Covers. Now, how can I help you Mister…?" you say, letting the question for his name hang for a few moments.
"Please, call me Midday Dew, Commissioner," he says, although it took him a bit longer to realize what you were asking him than you expected.
"Right. Midday Dew," you say, storing the information in your brain. "So, you were brought here by Royal Guards, and the document you showed me says you have a very broad authority. And I am sure you are not here for a leisure tour of our facilities. So, how may I serve the Princesses?"
The stallion looks at you for a few moments. And you can see, the way his eyes slowly go wide, that he is probably overthinking about everything you just said. His lips turning into a thin line as he wonders how much you know, and several other fears visibly running on the back of his head.
And for a few seconds, you begin to dread that you might be here for a while. Your first few interactions with Fluttershy coming to mind, as the pony once again closes his mouth shut for too long.
That is, until he takes a long, deep breath. Then another. Then another, in a way that seems practiced, and maybe even ritualistic. Which makes you sigh in relief as you realize that this stallion, at the very least, is used to his own antics, and apparently has already learned how to navigate through them.
Because even if it takes him almost half a minute, he eventually settles down from his little breathing exercise, and finally speaks to you like a normal pony.
"Yes, the Princess' orders… that. I am here to deliver you something very important, Lady Commissioner," he says, talking to you as much as he is talking to himself.
He then unstraps the saddle-bag he is wearing, carefully placing it on your desk. He then reaches for a key inside one of his pockets, and slowly unlocks it.
You keep your expression neutral, even though you finally notice that his saddle-bag was locked in a way you wouldn't be able to open. Not without effort, at least. The thing, you can tell, is magical. And you have never seen a saddle-bag that required this level of protection before.
"Princess Celestia has tasked me with delivering you our lates-… I-I mean, with delivering you this."
He then slowly, almost fearfully, pulls out a small pouch from within the saddle-bag. A small cloth bag, maybe the size of your hoof, that is tied with a knot. He places it in front of you, and carefully unties it with his mouth.
"I will please ask you not to manipulate this with your horn, Lady Commissioner."
The untied pouch opens up, finally revealing… a small pile of crystallized dust. Maybe a hoof's worth of transparent fine powder, that reminds you of grinded glass.
However, you also immediately realize there is something else about this dust. Something that…
You look at the crystal particles more carefully, inching forward on your chair as you try to confirm if it is really…
Oh.
Oh dear.
Yes, you are sure of it.
It is so faint, so subtle, that you almost couldn't feel it at first. So weak that it is barely there.
But this little mound of dust, or at least parts of it is undoubtedly charged with the slightest hint of Lantern.
The earth pony clears his throat, and you turn your attention to him once again.
"At the Princess' request, this is the solution that we-… I mean, this is a solution that was found to deal with the… with the threat, that we are both aware of."
You already know what this is. You already know what this is for.
And the method used… the implications of it, even, makes your heart begin to beat more quickly. Is this a good thing? Is this a bad thing? You wanted something like this to happen, of course, but should you be worried?
Several thoughts run through your mind, but you don't let any of them reach your expression.
Not that you think Midday Dew would be able to notice it, of course.
Still, you make sure to pretend you don't know. Just in case.
"And by threat, you mean… what exactly?" you ask.
"The, well… the shapeshifters, Lady Commissioner." He says that, and then he points at the small pile of pulverized crystal. "We call it Candle Dust. A portable way of identifying and uncovering the shapeshifters. Contact with Candle Dust forces a shapeshifter to return back to normal… most of the time."
You light up your horn to bring the pouch closer to you, only to remember he asked you not to manipulate it with magic. Still, you pull it towards you and eye it more carefully.
And several thoughts come to your mind, as you look at the Candle Dust.
For starters, Midday Dew is… well, he is clearly somepony. Somepony important, that is. At least as important as you. And as you think back on some of the conversations you had with Cadance, you realize that she was looking for several ponies in her efforts to stabilize the government. Ponies who would be vetted by Princess Celestia herself, you think, for very important tasks.
You were one of them. And even though you are still getting used to your position, it has already dawned on you just how important your seat at the Lunar Bureau is.
And this Midday Dew fellow seems to be another one. He wouldn't have a "do whatever you want" document signed by Princess Celestia herself if he wasn't.
But what is his remit? What is his task, exactly? It is obviously linked with research, but what kind of research?
You remember, of course, the facilities you saw in passing as Princess Celestia took you to see the changeling she has in captivity. The one she was keeping in a room with that Lantern mirror that was so strong you actually think is dangerous.
However, that doesn't answer the critical question of… how much does he know, exactly?
Because sure, if he is connected to (or perhaps in charge of) those facilities marked with the eclipse symbol, that means he has access to that Lantern mirror. But even if he has access to it, and even if he just presented you this "Candle Dust" of his… that doesn't mean he know what he is doing.
This could be a coincidence. Or a stroke of luck. Or just a fluke. Or maybe he has an entire library of Lore knowledge that you would sell a hindleg to be allowed to enter.
The only thing you know for sure, is that you don't know.
"You said this can uncover them most of the time," you say, pushing the questions inside your mind away for now. "How reliable is this?"
You push your internal concerns away, and instead focus on the things that really matter for your job.
Because even though Midday Dew has not said it with all the words, you can clearly see he is presenting this for Bureau usage. At the Princess' order, nonetheless. So, you need to know what you are dealing with.
And you don't really feel inspired with confidence as you watch the stallion fidget again.
"Maybe… one in three times, Lady Commissioner."
You narrow your eyes at that. The earth pony whimpers slightly, as if it is his fault.
Well, maybe it is his fault, technically speaking. But if he has no idea of what he is doing, then you can hardly blame him for doing something so unreliable. Still, this gives you yet another glimpse of who you are dealing with. And Midday Dew, if he is even purposefully researching the Lores at all, is probably still in the stage of stumbling in the dark.
Although you actually think he isn't even doing that much. He probably isn't even aware that the Lores exist to begin with, and the Candle Dust before your eyes is probably the result of more mundane scientific methods, trying desperately to mimic what the Lantern mirror can do.
But still, you wouldn't want to give your agents a mere one-in-three chance of figuring out if somepony is a changeling or not. Unless, of course, this is the best you can give them.
You can already feel the alternatives and fail-safes coming to your mind… but that is neither here nor there.
"I understand. Thank you for your time, Midday Dew," you say, closing the pouch and pushing it back towards him so he can tuck it away once again. "I take it that we will be in touch from now on? If nothing else, I at least need to know who I can speak to in order to get a supply of this thing. Say, are you working on that section underneath the Royal Quarters? The one with the eclipse symbols on the doors?"
You ask that, and the stallion once again freezes, his eyes going wide open for several long moments before he stammers out a practiced-
"I a-am not at liberty t-to discuss that!"
-which, of course, tells you everything you need to know.
And you are about to ask Midday Dew if there is anything else, when he picks up yet another item from his saddle-bag.
"More importantly, Lady Commissioner. Princess Celestia asked me to deliver you this."
He says that as he delivers you a sealed letter.
And that gives you pause. After all, you have not spoken or seen Princess Celestia ever since her last decree, on the day she named you Commissioner and took you to see the imprisoned changeling.
Ever since that day, you have been busy setting up the Lunar Bureau. But you have also been waiting to hear one particular thing from her…
You light up your horn, undoing the wax seal on the letter and quickly reading its contents.
And you immediately realize that the letter, written by the Princess herself, contains the one piece of information you had been waiting for this whole time.
You nod to yourself, slowly, taking in a deep breath as you prepare for what you are about to do. You can see Midday Dew open his mouth to say something, probably his goodbyes, but before he has the chance to do that-
"Deputy!"
-your whiplash-like shout makes the earth pony jump up from his seat. Not that you particularly care, of course. You have more important things to worry about right now.
And to nopony's surprise, Shining Armor immediately opens the door to your office. The stallion, you know, had been waiting right outside this whole time. Together with your entire staff.
Well, perhaps Midday Dew is slightly surprised at that. But again, you have neither the time nor the patience to care, and if he was going to tell you something that was actually secret he should have told you so upfront.
Besides, everything he told you can, and must, be spread to the rest of your agents as quickly as possible anyways.
"Yes, Commissioner?" Shining asks, his tone formal and straight to the point.
"Gather everypony. I need to address the Bureau as a whole."
The stallion nods. Several hoofsteps echo down the corridor as the rest of your staff begins to move at a wave of Shining's hoof.
"We don't have a brief room big enough for everypony. Is the hangar good?"
"Yes, yes, sure. That sounds like a place we can use to muster everypony. Now go, I will be there in fifteen."
He gives you a short salute, more out of habit than anything else, and closes the door right after. Leaving you alone with Midday Dew.
You eye the thin stallion for a few more moments, wondering if he will just up and leave or if he has anything else to say.
Well, he doesn't have anything else he needs to tell you. But if he won't take the initiative to excuse himself, then you don't see a reason why you can't ask him a few more questions.
"So," you ask, leaning back on your chair to try and sound a little more informal. It doesn't work on him, given how tense he is, but it was worth a shot. "Can you at least tell me your station? Or the name of the place you are in charge of? I think I will just call it Eclipse, if you don't want to tell me how it's called."
The stallion purses his lips, looking around as his expression becomes more and more nervous.
You already know what he is going to answer you, of course. You can practically see the words forming in his mouth.
Still, it doesn't hurt you to at least try and get something more out of him.
- - -
The underground parts of the Lunar Bureau are large. Much larger than its aboveground, Mansion-like front building suggests.
It is connected to the underground passages that crisscross the Royal District, of course, but the Bureau runs a lot deeper than that hidden entry point. With several levels of rooms, storages, and even cells digging into the mountain where Canterlot is perched.
But none of those places is larger than the one you are standing in right now.
The cavernous hall that pierces the mountain's side, nicknamed the "hangar" by your agents for obvious reasons, stretches out before you. And it is the singular place where you can gather the entirety of the Lunar Bureau all at once.
Not that you have that many ponies working for you to begin with. Granted, you number more than a hundred, but that is when you include your support staff and administrative personnel. Your agents, neatly divided into investigation groups and squads, comprise less than half of the total number.
Still, you can confidently say that each and every one of them is competent. Competent, and most importantly trustworthy. Every last one of them were hoof-picked by you and Shining Armor, and you know they are more than capable of getting the job done.
They have to. You have to. Because if even this select group of ponies turns out not to be enough, well…
You forcefully push those grim thoughts away.
You are standing on top of one of the midnight-black flying carriages you have at your disposal. Shining mentioned he could have a podium or a lectern brought down, but you waved him away. Everypony can see and hear you, so this is more than enough for you.
And most importantly, everypony here is cleared to listen to what you are about to say.
"Good morning everypony. I called you all here today because I have three important things to tell you all. Every last one of you has already spoken to me, one way or another, and everypony here knows the importance of our job. So, I only say this as a formality when I remind you all that none of this can leave this hall."
Most of the ponies in front of you simply look up at you expectantly. A few of them nod, mostly the ones who came from the Guard, while the ones from a more academic background purse their lips slightly.
To some of them, this is just another day, just another mission. Even if it is an incredibly important one. To others, this might be the first time it dawns on them how serious and real the situation is.
"The Catastrophe, as you all know, was caused by simultaneous attacks on several pony cities. They were intentional, orchestrated, and above all else planned in advance. Everypony knows this, and perhaps everypony in Equestria has their suspicions about the smaller details… But what very few ponies know, but I can confirm to you all here and now, is the nature of those monsters. They were, and are, shapeshifters, capable of taking the form of anypony, and perhaps even other creatures besides."
This crucial detail, of the nature of the changelings, is met with a swathe of different reactions. After all, the shapeshifting nature of the monsters had not been revealed to the public, so as to avoid panic from spreading. However, you know that several ponies already knew, or at least suspected, about that.
Because the Catastrophe happened everywhere, all at once. So, it is obvious that several survivors witnessed how their loved ones transformed into monsters. So even if the information was never confirmed by the Crown, and even if it only spread in the form of rumors that could be dismissed as paranoia, you realize some ponies already knew.
You can even see it in front of you. Most of the detectives and former guards look unsurprised, even if grim. A sharp contrast to the administrators and technicians who are even now looking around them with fear and apprehension.
"That was the first thing I wanted to tell you. This piece of information, this secret that is kept by the Crown, and now by us, is the nature of the monsters this very Bureau was founded to uncover. The second important announcement that I have, is that we now know how to fight back."
You then explain to them about the Candle Dust.
Of course, you are also fully frank about its reliability. The "one in three times" Midday Dew told you is not really enough to dissuade anypony's fears. However, you make it very clear that this new piece of equipment is a tool.
But the official procedure, and your orders, are made very clear. Any pony who is suspected of being a changeling, regardless of the Candle Dust's responsiveness or not, is to be jailed on the spot. You tell them that there is a better, more accurate way of determining if a pony is a changeling or not, but that method can only be performed within Canterlot.
And finally…
"Finally, we have received our first order from Princess Celestia."
You say that as you take the open letter from one of your pockets, floating it in front of you.
And you read from it once again in silence. Twice. Three times. Just to make sure you are not about to say the wrong name, and that you are not about to make a mistake that will all but condemn the wrong ponies to what is about to happen.
Everypony patiently waits as you do that. The resolve in your agents' eyes almost palpable. The concentration in your administrators' posture plain for all to see.
"Princess Celestia has ordered the Lunar Bureau to conduct a full and broad investigation… of the Blueblood family. For any and all crimes that might be uncovered, up to and including their possible cooperation with the changeling threat that caused the Catastrophe."
You read those words out loud, and then you float down the letter. Looking down to face the gathered crowd before you, you see several different expressions.
You see surprise in some eyes, as you openly proclaim that their very first mission… that their very first target is the oldest and most powerful noble family in Equestria.
You can also see determination in several faces, or perhaps even a sense of trust and relief, as they realize the Lunar Bureau will indeed be employed to combat evil and crime wherever it may be hiding.
And you think you can even spot vindication in some ponies. After all, even though everypony understands that following the Princesses is correct, not all ponies agree with the nobility that governs under them.
Still, none of that matters. Not right now, at least.
Instead, you focus on making sure everypony understands what must be done. That everypony understands how it must be done. And most importantly, you make sure everypony hears it from your own mouth, so there are no questions about it later.
You tell them that no place is off limits. In fact, given how recent the Bureau is, and how nopony really had time to prepare, you actually expect your agents to start from their home towns. Go back to their turfs, tap into their already-existing informants and sources. Almost nopony here was born and raised in Canterlot, but they have been working as constables and detectives almost everywhere else. And the Blueblood's influence reaches far, so they might just find something if they start from the outskirts and work their way back towards the Capital.
You also tell them that no authority is above them. Save, of course, for the Princesses themselves. They were all hoof-picked for their impeccable backgrounds, so you trust none of them will abuse their power. However, if they detect any attempt that somepony might be trying to hinder them, through red tape or otherwise, you want to be the first to know.
And finally, you remind them of the purpose of the Lunar Bureau. You are all here to protect ponykind from dangers, not to create new ones. So, none of them are to do anything they wouldn't be ready to explain to you, and none of them are to do anything that you wouldn't be able to explain to Princess Celestia.
And as you dismiss everypony, you realize that there are still a lot of things that are still out in the open. There is still a lot of things, crucial things, that must still be decided. Procedures, methods, and most importantly limits that your agents must adhere to. You still have an entire manual's worth of things to decide, so your agents know what they can do on their own, and in what scenarios they should stop everything and send you a courier letter asking for your decision.
In fact, you even realize that you don't know what questions you even need to ask. You realize you don't have the experience, or the foresight, to even guess at what dangers, traps and unexpected situations might await you.
But that is why you have your staff. That is why you have surrounded yourself with ponies who do know those things, and who do have the necessary experience. You just need to sit down and sort through everything, even if the task ahead of you looks like a tall and forbidding mountain.
"Deputy," you snap out, as you climb down from the carriage and make your way to the exit. "Gather the group leaders in my office in one hour. I want our carriages flying out of here by the end of the week at the latest, so I need to know what we need to get our ponies out there."
"Yes ma'am!" you hear him answer from somewhere behind you. The entire hall waiting for you to leave before they finally step out of their ranks.
There is a lot to be done, and the Crown expects you to deliver a noble family on a silver platter in… well, Princess Celestia did not specify a deadline.
But from what you remember, the Princess of the Sun is most likely not in a patient mood as of late.
You have met Midday Dew. An anxious earth pony stallion who, somehow, seems to have gained Princess Celestia's trust. Or at least her respect for his competency. He has been added to your contacts list but, for now, may not be socialized with or contacted outside of professional settings.
"Eclipse", as you have come to call whatever research group Midday Dew is leading, has developed "Candle Dust". Single-use Lantern artifacts of Level 0. Worthless for your purposes, but the absolute best they can do considering they are still stumbling in the dark. The Lunar Bureau will be supplied with Candle Dust for its investigations.
Velvet Covers has discovered that ponies at the Crown's service have stumbled upon the Lores. She does NOT know how formal, deep or organized this knowledge is, if at all. She only knows for sure that they have access to at least one powerful artifact, and that they can produce Candle Dust. Future decisions that are offered, to either spread or suppress the Lores towards the Lunar Bureau, will be based on that knowledge.
The hounds have been set loose. The Blueblood Family's days are numbered.
This is good news. If Celestia is willing to approve the use of the lores, then she won't instantly vaporize us if she finds out we know about them. Only be very suspicious and prepared to vaporize us. But hey, talking our way out of things is what the Grail 4 reroll is for.
This is good news. If Celestia is willing to approve the use of the lores, then she won't instantly vaporize us if she finds out we know about them. Only be very suspicious and prepared to vaporize us. But hey, talking our way out of things is what the Grail 4 reroll is for.
Not… necessarily. The problem is that they probably don't actually know what it is they're doing. Level 0 disposable artifacts that only occasionally works? This stinks of how technically anybody could invoke the lores if they just got really lucky, since at their most basic they are, quite simply, laws of reality. Like gravity.
It would be like asking Isaac Newton not to freak out when a modern physicist strolls up and explains what they know about gravity… except this Isaac Newton had a brother who was driven mad and then kidnapped by someone with a gravity gun.
"Princess Celestia has ordered the Lunar Bureau to conduct a full and broad investigation… of the Blueblood family. For any and all crimes that might be uncovered, up to and including their possible cooperation with the changeling threat that caused the Catastrophe."
Velvet Covers has discovered that ponies at the Crown's service have stumbled upon the Lores. She does NOT know how formal, deep or organized this knowledge is, if at all. She only knows for sure that they have access to at least one powerful artifact, and that they can produce Candle Dust. Future decisions that are offered, to either spread or suppress the Lores towards the Lunar Bureau, will be based on that knowledge.
Now, while we can't just reveal our current knowledge of the Lores, the Candle Dust is very useful in that, between it and the Mirror, Velvet has just enough plausible impetus to go looking for the Lores. From an outside point of view. Which should hopefully let us push their more proper discovery. Velvet can't tell them shit, but she can probably guide them to look in the right place. And, in a couple of months, maybe show off some lower level books or artifacts or something.
... How much about Eclipse are we supposed to actually know? Because poor Midday Dew here is acting like we just effortlessly deduced the name, purpose, and status of a top secret organization we're only supposed to vaguely be aware of from just two data points. Which is absurd, we're just and administrator of minor import!
Jokes aside I do wonder if Midday Dew's behavior is just skittishness, Velvet being unintentionally terrifying again, or the secret third option: as Celestia's personal Changeling researcher he understands what her intentions for the Bureau are better than anyone else, and is just terrified of the new High Inquisitor on principle.
Jokes aside I do wonder if Midday Dew's behavior is just skittishness, Velvet being unintentionally terrifying again, or the secret third option: as Celestia's personal Changeling researcher he understands what her intentions for the Bureau are better than anyone else, and is terrified of the new High Inquisitor.
Whaaaat? Nah. We gotta correct this entirely inaccurate first impression. Maybe show off our daughters to him? Gotta do it quick tho before he learns to notice the uh. Everything.
…Hmm. Our latest implies there are other things they have developed. Perhaps the things that got him the Princesses' attention in the first place? Or some other minor lore creations. These are just Lantern, after all. And there are eight other Lores.
Another interesting note. Presumably this means unicorn magic disrupts the effect, which does tend one towards thinking said effect is just a new kind of magic. Realistically though, it's clearly simply because the Lantern aspect is so weak even so minor a change as magic contamination would alter its nature enough to lose the spark.
Jokes aside I do wonder if Midday Dew's behavior is just skittishness, Velvet being unintentionally terrifying again, or the secret third option: as Celestia's personal Changeling researcher he understands what her intentions for the Bureau are better than anyone else, and is just terrified of the new High Inquisitor on principle.
Also worryingly, I would bet actual money on this guy having some lantern affinity, at minimum. He's a terrible liar, a researcher, and managed to stumble into making Lantern artifacts. Honestly, I have to wonder whose bright idea it was to put him in charge of a secret research group, because holy fuck you don't put someone this bad at intrigue in that kind of position. It's just begging for the Changelings to find it and steal all their neat toys. I don't care how good he is at research.
Honestly, him making a weak Lantern Reagent that can out Changelings, if unreliably, is kind of impressive. Remember, Velvet needed to reach Lantern 2 to be able to tell if someone was a Changeling.
That wasn't the issue. It was the "working on that section". Which, now that I think about it may be correct, if the sentence is meant to say they are doing stuff to that section, like construction or painting or whatever. If, however, it's meant to say they are working inside that section, as in it's the place they are doing stuff at, then it's incorrect.
Honestly, him making a weak Lantern Reagent that can out Changelings, if unreliably, is kind of impressive. Remember, Velvet needed to reach Lantern 2 to be able to tell if someone was a Changeling.
Eh… sort of? It's a very brute force chemical reaction kind of method. Sure, mass-producible artifacts, even at 0, is neat, but the difference was that simply having Level 2 personally means you can see through their disguise, not just kick them out of it. And Baldomare could show someone else without letting the Changeling know.
So yes, it's impressive, but comparing it to the other methods of detection might be the wrong paradigm.
Honestly, him making a weak Lantern Reagent that can out Changelings, if unreliably, is kind of impressive. Remember, Velvet needed to reach Lantern 2 to be able to tell if someone was a Changeling.
Well, that was to tell just by looking at them without further preparation. Making a consumable item requires much less, and is probably mostly a Forge thing.
I wonder how Celestia will take us attempting to infiltrate Eclipse. As long as we don't hinder either our work or theirs, we might get away with a little interdepartmental rivalry?
Eric was referring to "working on the team", I think. In that specific case though I do think "on the team" and "in the team" are both used and both mean the same thing, though the specific combination "work on a team" is perhaps less common recently due to some people using "work on a team" as a wordplay for "work on (invest effort into) a team" I think.
Anyways, as for the update...on the one hand, Midday Dew looks pretty pliable. On the other, well...if we ever consider leaking more knowledge about to Lores to the Bureau's R&D through him, I expect he'd struggle to omit where he got his new ideas from for a two-digit number of seconds
Honestly, I'm suddenly having the feeling that we have just met our first Moth-acquaintance (PoV-only ponies don't count). He bumbles a lot so far, but he completed his task and didn't actually reveal anything we wouldn't have reasonably guessed from hearing what the Candle Dust does and receiving the letter. He has the markings of a red-herring-monger.
Well, that was to tell just by looking at them without further preparation. Making a consumable item requires much less, and is probably mostly a Forge thing.
Eric was referring to "working on the team", I think. In that specific case though I do think "on the team" and "in the team" are both used and both mean the same thing, though the specific combination "work on a team" is perhaps less common recently due to some people using "work on a team" as a wordplay for "work on (invest effort into) a team" I think.
He was actually referring to 'working on that section' which should have been 'working in that section'. Which just goes to show that 'on' really shows up a lot in English sentences. And that maybe you should bold or italicize any word you want to correct in a quote.
Anyways, as for the update...on the one hand, Midday Dew looks pretty pliable. On the other, well...if we ever consider leaking more knowledge about to Lores to the Bureau's R&D through him, I expect he'd struggle to omit where he got his new ideas from for a two-digit number of seconds
…Hmm. You know, we got Rarity to dream of the Mansus that one time, and IIRC she didn't quite realize what was happening or why until later. Granted, she was Grail, and this guy is… probably Lantern, which might make the "not realize why" bit harder. We also would need to confirm what his affinity even is, first.
But, it's a thought. Velvet has enough Moth and Lantern together and has experience in guiding people to certain realizations without necessarily making it obvious that she was doing so. She might be able to manage it.
He was actually referring to 'working on that section' which should have been 'working in that section'. Which just goes to show that on really shows up a lot in English sentences. And that maybe you should bold or italicize any word you want to correct in a quote.
It might not have been incorrect, as I realized actually. Sort of depends on the specifics of what Bird meant, although the context clues do seem to lead to the incorrect usage.
And yes, I did kind of mess that up on indicating what needed correcting. Fixed now.
But, it's a thought. Velvet has enough Moth and Lantern together and has experience in guiding people to certain realizations without necessarily making it obvious that she was doing so. She might be able to manage it.
And enough Grail to keep them from doubting our intentions. And enough... Well, honestly we're sitting at what, 6 out of 9 Lores at level 4 and three at level 3? Velvet is good at a lot of things.
And enough Grail to keep them from doubting our intentions. And enough... Well, honestly we're sitting at what, 6 out of 9 Lores at level 4 and three at level 3? Velvet is good at a lot of things.
Seven out of nine, after the Grail lesson from Marinette. Heart and Forge are the only two we're lacking level Four in after this turn, and that might change if we can get the right scraps.
Honestly, if we can get one Forge and one Heart scrap, and the whole Selene awakening works out to not need Marinette, we could theoretically get All-Four next turn. Which means we could train our family to the max as well, since there is… very little chance of us ever getting Sacraments for all nine Lores.
I'm not certain how much of Eclipse Velvet isn't supposed to know, and how much is just Dew being panicky by default and deciding to take Celestia's likely command to him to tell no one anything extremely literally.
Velvet knowing the name of the R&D division is, obviously, fine. Even with angry-Celestia. But Dew doesn't want to risk getting anywhere near the line.
Instead of nudging them why don't we just provide them with things to research?
We're cracking open the oldest and most prestigious noble family the amount of Lore books and Artefacts they have to have accumulated without knowing must be quite high even if they're all quite shit. We can just categorise them as anomalous objects, justify our recognition of such via our recognition of such due to our knowledge of this new Candle Dust and the Glass and then throw them at the Eclipse group.
More brownie points with Celestia and Miday plus faster lore research on their part in a way that doesn't backfire on us.
Instead of nudging then why don't we just provide them with things to research. We're cracking open the oldest and most prestigious noble family the amount of Lore books and Artefacts they have to have accumulated without knowing must be quite high even if they're quite shit. We can just categorise them as anomalous objects, justify our recognition of such via this new Candle Dust and the Glass and then throw them at the Eclipse group. More brownie points with Celestia and Miday plus faster lore research on their part in a way that doesn't backfire on us.
I didn't really mean it like that more that we ordered our agents to watch out for weird things with inexplicable magical effects and pass those onto us but that works too I suppose. Bit harder to justify to the agents the random dropping of dust everywhere though.
