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

[BirdBodhisattva]

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!

Spoiler: Or if you'd rather hear it from someone else

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)

 

[Ericwinter]

[] The Greatest Wedding Party

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You seem to be missing a personal action, since the second wedding action is a free action. It's cost is neglecting the Bureau, not an AP.

Also, you're absolutely certain you want to leave absolutely nobody on guard? I ask just in case it got lost in the reshuffles.

 

[Earth-Destroyer]

You seem to be missing a personal action, since the second wedding action is a free action. It's cost is neglecting the Bureau, not an AP.

Also, you're absolutely certain you want to leave absolutely nobody on guard? I ask just in case it got lost in the reshuffles.

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Silky by word of GM always takes the guard the family action. And I am sure Stormchaser does as well when he is home.

Will double check the action amount tomorrow, night.

 

[SmashQueen]

I. Silky is a child? Silky cannot guard the family seriously especially when the Lores are involved. She is not a valid answer for guarding everyone. Stormchaser is not enough against the forces Velvet faces.

Honestly Comet would probably be a decent bet imo because although he hates Velvet, he has nothing against her family.

ETA: Soft then? Alright. Point still stands. Goodness sakes, Comet nearly killed Shining earlier and he was a trained royal guard. Literally no one in Velvet's family can defend everyone atm.

 

[Ericwinter]

No, it wouldn't. Rarity participating wouldn't really change the end result.

A lot of times I can visualize how another pony helping could be useful, and how things could become better or less risky with more help. But here, despite all the narrative, the promise is very mechanical. "One Velvet action equals one more pick". So, narratively nice as it might be, I can't in good conscience say that Rarity would have any impact on it.

So yeah, don't have Rarity help on the wedding actions with her own focus.

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Hmm. Actually, @BirdBodhisattva question. What happens if we have Marinette assist with the Wedding? As in, she does the "help Velvet in her actions", not "do an action for Velvet"? Because the way you word this makes me think it wouldn't do anything either?

Silky by word of GM always takes the guard the family action. And I am sure Stormchaser does as well when he is home.

Will double check the action amount tomorrow, night.

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I think you mean Soft Sweeps, not Silky. Silky is the youngest girl.

And, then, allow me to rephrase. Are you sure You want the only people on guard to be the people We cannot lose or Velvet enters a death spiral? None of which except Velvet has any significant combat ability, and Velvet herself is noticeably fragile.

Like, if you truly expect there to be a minimal chance of assault that's fine, but otherwise this seems to be an extremely reckless plan.

 

[Ralakesh]

Can Mareinette take the second fleeting opportunity action about the wedding, where if we do it we neglect our duties as the Commisioner?

 

[Ericwinter]

Can Mareinette take the second fleeting opportunity action about the wedding, where if we do it we neglect our duties as the Commisioner?

Click to shrink...

As I understand it, yes, but that means giving her control over whatever the reward is, and apparently nobody trusts her to make any decision ever despite Bird clarifying that she doesn't invent new choices, only chooses out of whatever options Velvet would have been presented herself. Granted, the narrative of what exactly comes out of those choices can be different, but they're the same choices.

Apparently when a QM tries to give you a super social god that you had to work to get and tells you it's fine to use it for its intended purpose, it only breeds suspicion and fear.

 

[jelloloaf]

Granted, the narrative of what exactly comes out of those choices can be different, but they're the same choices.

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It's exactly the narrative differences that I'm worried about. This is a narrative quest; how we go about things can be just as important as the things themselves. As we've already seen in the recent Mareinette apocrypha, she can definitely make a good, useful mechanical decision that is at the same time not something that we want to have happen narratively. Sure, we're enemies with Copper and "disappearing" her is probably a good option with how many sacraments require a prisoner, but I don't think Velvet would decide to keep Copper in a barrel for decades and force her to have children specifically just to eat them later. I don't want to see Mareinette's idea of a great wedding, not without some assurances first that this won't irrevocably change our relationship with Cadence.

 

[Talon TigerDino]

A reminder that our current set-up for summons is perfectly functional; there is only a risk of Suspicion when using it now. It's not a guaranteed thing.

 

[Ericwinter]

It's exactly the narrative differences that I'm worried about. This is a narrative quest; how we go about things can be just as important as the things themselves. As we've already seen in the recent Mareinette apocrypha, she can definitely make a good, useful mechanical decision that is at the same time not something that we want to have happen narratively. Sure, we're enemies with Copper and "disappearing" her is probably a good option with how many sacraments require a prisoner, but I don't think Velvet would decide to keep Copper in a barrel for decades and force her to have children specifically just to eat them later. I don't want to see Mareinette's idea of a great wedding, not without some assurances first that this won't irrevocably change our relationship with Cadence.

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While I do understand that, I find it very hard to believe she could turn the wedding into an atrocity, if only because she really won't be the only person deciding everything, or even most things from the sound of it, and she probably doesn't want to ruin Velvet's relationship with Cadence. If for no other reason than she wants Velvet to like her. Copper's theoretical fate was explicitly something that would be completely unnoticed by anyone else in either version. This will be public and have to consider the effects of her actions beyond whether one pony disappears.

Also, when Bird says something isn't a trap option, I tend to believe them. But maybe that's just me.

 

[jelloloaf]

Also, when Bird says something isn't a trap option, I tend to believe them. But maybe that's just me.

Click to shrink...

I appreciate the analysis, and I get where you're coming from, but I find myself in the strange position of trusting Bird but not Mareinette. Yes, Bird, a real person, has full narrative control over Mareinette, a fictional character, but I don't like her. What if she breaks free of the narrative or something? I'm aware that this worry isn't particularly reasonable or grounded in fact, but it's how I feel, and I'm still working on being able to change my feelings about things by simply deciding to.

 

[Ericwinter]

I appreciate the analysis, and I get where you're coming from, but I find myself in the strange position of trusting Bird but not Mareinette. Yes, Bird, a real person, has full narrative control over Mareinette, a fictional character, but I don't like her. What if she breaks free of the narrative or something? I'm aware that this worry isn't particularly reasonable or grounded in fact, but it's how I feel, and I'm still working on being able to change my feelings about things by simply deciding to.

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Mm. No, that's perfectly understandable. Does it help if I point out that there are, in fact, characters in either setting who are, if not directly stated to have such fourth wall breaking powers, then at least heavily implied to do so? And, this is the important part, Marinette is not one of them?

Baldomare, Pinkie Pie, Discord, maybe one or two of the Hours. Those are the ones I would fear, myself. Marinette has a very… I don't want to say predictable, but her danger tends to fall into a certain category which isn't Fourth Wall bullshit. At least, from my understanding of her, but I haven't thoroughly explored Cultist Simulator or Book of Hours so I might just be missing something.

 

[Abodmuthkat]

Apparently when a QM tries to give you a super social god that you had to work to get and tells you it's fine to use it for its intended purpose, it only breeds suspicion and fear.

Click to shrink...

In all fairness, Mareinette was introduced as an obstacle preventing the climb and as a danger, not as an useful ally. And to be perfectly honest, "dangerous" is still a pretty good mindset to have about Miss Kronos, even though they're on a leash and playing nice (for now).

Mareinette is also genuinely good at a lot of things, not just social. Abstaining from using them for social actions isn't a huge imposition, because she could also be running expeditions, pulling off a guaranteed ritual to clear out Velvet's Frightened trait, guarding against the physical assault that Copper is almost certainly going to throw at Velvet this turn, etc.

That said, I'm more than okay with siccing her on Velvet Pride. It'd be a good dry run on someone who we ultimately aren't that attached to, while still getting something potentially valuable accomplished. (And also, I suspect that the resulting scene would be funny as hell)

 

[Iustus Vitae]

I would just like to point out that people have been concerned about doing IotH on the wound because Candace might pick up on the Grail. And now people want to drag along Marinette in our wedding actions?

 

[jelloloaf]

That said, I'm more than okay with siccing her on Velvet Pride. It'd be a good dry run on someone who we ultimately aren't that attached to, while still getting something potentially valuable accomplished.

Click to shrink...

I agree, I'd feel a lot more comfortable if we could do a lower-stakes trial run of Mareinette's social abilities than planning Cadence's wedding.

 

[Iustus Vitae]

[] Plan: Gotta do that Sacrament sometime. (Marinette finding ritual location.ver)
-[] [AotL] Lanterm, to see what is needed for the next Door.
-[] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
-[] [Forge] Free Reagent creation action. Create 1 Reagent.
--[] Knock 2 Edge 1 Reagent cost 45 Bits.
-[] [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)
-[] [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)
-[] [COMMISSIONER] Ingrain loyalty to us in the wider organisation.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Filthy Rich, a well-to-do and wealthy businesspony. (Free Action)
-[] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple.
-[] A fleeting opportunity
--[] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
-[] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus
--[] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 0/3) (THIS IS A DANGEROUS ACTION)
-[] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[] [GUARD] Our family.
-[] [RARITY] Act as your emissary.
--[] 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.
-[] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about…
--[] 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.
-[] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…
--[] [SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
-[] [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.
--[] At Jade's old house.
-[] [MAREINETTE] [WRITE IN] Find us an out of the way secret location where we can safely and discreetly do a 3 circle ritual.
-[] [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 DoA next turn. The Bureau we let do it's thing hunting down expeditions to maybe explore later on our own or threw 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. Jade gets her rest because she needs 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 siccing her on our brother as that issue needs to be dealt with and she is the best to do so (both because Rarity and she relates to his goal). Steppes we ask to visit us and help us (Rarity really) with the brother issue. The only fleeting opportunity we take is the wedding one (not the one we ditch the Bureau responsibilities in) and we 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 for the DoA summoning 'cause of the suspicion thrown on our current set up.

[] Plan: Gotta do that Sacrament sometime. (Marinette doing Applejack social.ver)
-[] [AotL] Lantern, to see what is needed for the next Door.
-[] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
-[] [Forge] Free Reagent creation action. Create 1 Reagent.
--[] Knock 2 Edge 1 Reagent cost 45 Bits.
-[] [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)
-[] [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)
-[] [COMMISSIONER] Ingrain loyalty to us in the wider organisation.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Filthy Rich, a well-to-do and wealthy businesspony. (Free Action)
-[] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple.
-[] A fleeting opportunity
--[] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
-[] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus
--[] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 0/3) (THIS IS A DANGEROUS ACTION)
-[] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[] [GUARD] Our family.
-[] [RARITY] Act as your emissary.
--[] 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.
-[] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about…
--[] 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.
-[] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…
--[] [SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
-[] [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.
--[] At Jade's old house.
-[] [MAREINETTE] Act as your emissary. (Pick an action from Velvet's list. INCLUDING social actions private to Velvet)
--[] Much to your own satisfaction, you now have a personal life outside of your maids, immediate family and business related meetings. You could choose to spend some time with…
---[] Applejack, daughter of the Apple Clan and older sister to your daughter's friend
-[] [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 a social in our stead with Applejack as some people want to social both Rich and Apple. It does leave us without a hidden 3 circle ritual site though.

[] Plan: Gotta do that Sacrament sometime. (Marinette doing the expedition.ver)
-[] [AotL] Lantern, to see what is needed for the next Door.
-[] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
-[] [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)
-[] [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)
-[] [COMMISSIONER] Ingrain loyalty to us in the wider organisation.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Filthy Rich, a well-to-do and wealthy businesspony. (Free Action)
-[] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple.
-[] A fleeting opportunity
--[] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
-[] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus
--[] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 0/3) (THIS IS A DANGEROUS ACTION)
-[] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[] [GUARD] Our family.
-[] [RARITY] Act as your emissary.
--[] 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.
-[] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about…
--[] 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.
-[] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…
--[] [SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
-[] [BALDOMARE] Something else (WRITE IN a suggested action)
--[] [LEARN] It all fits together, somehow… or so you hope.
---[] [LEARN] "Unknown Ritual – A Memory of Light" Step one (Progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)
-[] [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)
--[] [EXPEDITION] "Beneath the Royal Castle, pt. 2"
---[] [EXPEDITION] You know enough, and there is not much time. Gather your followers and head out. (Costs TWO actions and 70 bits, as specified)
-[] [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.

[] Plan: Gotta do that Sacrament sometime. (Marinette Guarding us.ver)
-[] [AotL] Lantern, to see what is needed for the next Door.
-[] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
-[] [Forge] Free Reagent creation action. Create 1 Reagent.
--[] Knock 2 Edge 1 Reagent cost 45 Bits.
-[] [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)
-[] [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)
-[] [COMMISSIONER] Ingrain loyalty to us in the wider organisation.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Filthy Rich, a well-to-do and wealthy businesspony. (Free Action)
-[] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple.
-[] A fleeting opportunity
--[] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding! (Expand, and pick one more item from, the list of Royal Wedding opportunities)
-[] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus
--[] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 0/3) (THIS IS A DANGEROUS ACTION)
-[] [JADE] "You do you." Let her do whatever she wants for once. It might do her some good, both mentally and personally.
-[] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[] Search for a safe and hidden location in the forest where we can do a 3 circle ritual
-[] [RARITY] Act as your emissary.
--[] 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.
-[] [STEPPES] There is no guarantee he will be able to help you, but you will write him about…
--[] 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.
-[] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…
--[] [SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
-[] [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.
--[] At Jade's old house.
-[] [MAREINETTE] Something else (WRITE IN a suggested action)
--[] [GUARD] Our family.
-[] [Selene] Go play, one last time. (Costs two actions. Goodbye, Selene.)

The final 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.

 

[Ericwinter]

I would just like to point out that people have been concerned about doing IotH on the wound because Candace might pick up on the Grail. And now people want to drag along Marinette in our wedding actions?

Click to shrink...

Uh… that first sentence makes zero sense whatsoever. None of those thins have anything to do with each other except Cadence and the Wound. Certainly, we can't do Forge's redemption, and Cadence did notice our Grail influence, but it was handwaved away, and IotH is relatively hard to notice compared to either of those. Also Marinette has been confirmed to not be problematic, even when interacting with Alicorns.

 

[Ralakesh]

[] Plan: "Man, this wedding rocks. I bucking love these people"
-[] [AotL] Lantern, to see what is needed for the next Door.
-[] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should…
--[] [SERVANTS] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.
-[] [DETECTIVES] There are still changelings out there. Hunt them. Look for them, and for the ponies who colluded with them.
-[] [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)
-[] [COMMISSIONER] The Lunar Bureau is not the only recently-minted institution in Equestria. Try to contact the others.
--[] Eclipse(?), and Midday Dew.
-[] [SOCIAL] Teach Rarity, and make her a Disciple.
-[] [RARITY] Act as your emissary.
--[] 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.
-[] [JADE] "You do you."
-[] [BALDOMARE] Act as your emissary.
--[] [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.
---[] At Jade's old house.
-[] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[] [GUARD] Our home.
-[] [MAREINETTE] Act as your emissary.
--[] "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."
-[] [SELENE] Go play, one last time. (Costs two actions. Goodbye, Selene.)
-[] [KNOCK] The Only Way Up
--[] [KNOCK] Keep going up. You are so very close now. So. Very. Close.
-[] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus
--[] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 0/3) (THIS IS A DANGEROUS ACTION)
-[] A fleeting opportunity
--[] Royal. Wedding! Royal. Wedding! Help. Plan. The Royal. Wedding!
-[] [MANSUS] The Woods
--[] [MANSUS] Explore the Temple of the Wheel (Mansus Expedition)
-[] [MANSUS] Beyond the Tribal Door
--[] [MANSUS] The Crumbled Concursum leads upwards. So up we go

That's my plan for this turn.

 

[Spector29]

It feels like we never have room for failure; when every setback (directly derived from our action plans, not from game obstacles like Copper or the Suspicious Ritual Circle business) is potentially ruinous it leads players to play with a lot less risk. Contesting Baldomare was the riskiest thing we've done since the quest restarted, and I'm still lightly amazed that managed to pass.

I think if we let Marionette out of the cellar this time it's unlikely to blow up in our faces, but I have full confidence the second a majority of players think she's reliable Bird will have her commit a small-to-moderate atrocity. Same thing for Luna's Awakening; we'll have probably two major hoops to jump through before we can call her an uncomplicated ally. It's just how the quest goes.

 

[Kymecho]

For plans that don't involve Velvet Pride, consider the impression being given when his love problems- big, head-over-heels, Love At First Sight love problems, are being ignored.

This is happening as his still very distant sister, who his trusty Uncle Steppes "pointed out" as being better off for getting married, is gallivanting off to Canterlot to rub shoulders with the Princess of Love. Who, wouldn't you know, is also getting married.

There are enough family issues to worry about. Really not excited for another one to crop up, and he could even potentially be useful later.

 

[Ericwinter]

For plans that don't involve Velvet Pride, consider the impression being given when his love problems- big, head-over-heels, Love At First Sight love problems, are being ignored.

This is happening as his still very distant sister, who his trusty Uncle Steppes "pointed out" as being better off for getting married, is gallivanting off to Canterlot to rub shoulders with the Princess of Love. Who, wouldn't you know, is also getting married.

There are enough family issues to worry about. Really not excited for another one to crop up, and he could even potentially be useful later.

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To be fair, they're potentially enemy nobles. His first thought might just be "at least she's not sabotaging me". Or worse, trying to take advantage of him through said first love who was her guest. As would very much be in her power.

Oh, wait, isn't that exactly what we're trying to do?

(Admittedly it's for his own good, but really. When people start going on about how he's vulnerable and all, and it's a perfect opportunity to strike...)

 

[Iustus Vitae]

Uh… that first sentence makes zero sense whatsoever. None of those thins have anything to do with each other except Cadence and the Wound. Certainly, we can't do Forge's redemption, and Cadence did notice our Grail influence, but it was handwaved away, and IotH is relatively hard to notice compared to either of those. Also Marinette has been confirmed to not be problematic, even when interacting with Alicorns.

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Oh I think it's stupid to but the last time the topic of IotH was brought up and I said we decided not to do it because our injury would be healed would be discovered a bunch of people said that the real big reason the thread has so far decided to not to do it was that Cadance would pick up the Grail on us like she did the Influence. I said that that unnecessarily limits any Grail actions in a turn where we're expected to meet Cadance and they were like yeah, as if it was self evident.

 

[Iustus Vitae]

Also can someone do me a favour and post my vote alongside their own? I'm going to be busy and so won't manage. I'll later post it myself and you can edit it out.

 

[quantum lurker]

Yeah, I trust Bird but not Marienette if that makes sense, and I want her guarding us anyway so the point is moot.

 

[Abodmuthkat]

Actually, weird and probably irrelevant question. Confidants like Fluttershy and Rarity have options to tag along and assist with Velvet's actions, like so.

-[] [RARITY] Accompany you, and lend her hoof. (Pick TWO of Velvet's personal actions for her to aid you in)

Meanwhile, Mareinette can steal actions from Velvets personal action list:

[] [MAREINETTE] Act as your emissary. (Pick an action from Velvet's list. INCLUDING social actions private to Velvet)

Does that mean that in theory, Rarity could assist on an action which Mareinette stole from Velvet?

 

[Steady Gaze]

Spoiler: Copyedits for Bird

@BirdBodhisattva:

Her saying to easily that you are at "war" is already bad enough, even though you know the mare is right.

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Should be "so". Maybe "too" could work but "so" is better to my ear.

-[] [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.)

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I believe this is confusing "ingrain" with "ingratiate".

-[] [CONSTABLES] The Commissioner is just too important to leave unattended. Run security. (Default target is Velvet's home. WRITE IN if targeted at Stormchaser, if he is "Away". Adds two 3/3 health, "+15 Personal Combat" ponies as bodyguards, if the target is attacked during this turn)

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-[] [FLUTTERSHY] Ask for a favor, from your... mutual friend.
--[] [GUARD] Our home.

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I think all these plans are pretty sensible, actually. One minor thing: for all the plans that do both, do you think we need Comet Feet as a guard if the Constables guard us? I don't know if having Comet Feet guard is completely free; Comet Feet could easily ask for something of us now or in the future (although maybe he's more likely to just refuse). Although they do say that getting a favor from someone paradoxically makes them like you more (the Ben Franklin effect).

My general thoughts:

• I'm not that attached to taking our sacrament, but I'm not mortally opposed to taking it either if the thread really wants it and it only costs one extra action.
• I'm maybe also not too worried about the consequences of slacking, but I'm not opposed to putting in the "normal" amount of work either.
• Velvet Pride could turn into a disruptor if we don't parley with him, though I don't know if that will actually happen? The positive reasons like possibly reducing the impact of suspicion, helping a young and lost family member, and making Velvet Steppes proud are more compelling to me.

I thought about making my own plan just to experiment with plan making, but I have faith in the thread (and poor time management skills ).

Now, in terms of what happened with Silky and Baldomare...

It takes a second. No, less than a second. In fact, scratch that. It doesn't even make sense.

Because the moment Baldomare started opening the door, but before either of you entered your family's sight, you hear the voice of your daughter.

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I was just rereading this when I had a thought. Do we know Silky's lore attributes? Since based off this sentence, I'm starting to guess Lantern or SH.

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We taught her a bit of moth in a previous update (the party at our estate):

Then, while your husband is flying around the party and searching the rooms of the building, you get into the game yourself. And as your daughter holds on tightly to your neck, holding back her giggles, you begin to teach her all the best hiding spots. Both the ones that ponies forget to check, as well as the ones that ponies simply don't know how to look for.

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I admit this doesn't fully show whether she actually gained a lore level. And either the character sheet hasn't been updated or this wasn't enough to register:

-Silky Stream:

Spoiler

-Your daughter, the pegasus who you absolutely adore. She has her father's eyes, and a sweet tooth you hope she will grow out of. Despite her cleverness she is still young and needs to be watched closely, but as far as you can tell she channels her earnestness towards good causes. She sees her maid and guardian, Soft Sweeps, as an older sister of sorts, and you hope that said feeling doesn't "fade" as she grows older.
-You have discovered that she seems to have inherited, at least partly, her father's "sense" to notice when something is particularly important.

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In any case, it makes sense if she has a big natural talent for moth that she can surprise/juke Baldomare if she wasn't expecting it. Like mother, like daughter! I can see the reasoning for this being due to lantern (seeing through walls?) or secret histories (Silky was on a slightly different history for a bit) as well.