Fallout Equestria: Muffins and Murder ( BnP IC)

[Pokonic]

Well we've got to find this information out somehow, or else we're likely in trouble, again. So unless Sari's next job is particularly time sensitive, this has priority because it is time sensitive. As for Viridia, well she's apparently thrown her lot in with us. She can still walk away any time she wishes, but she's decided to stick with us for now.

And spirits do exist. After Discord nopony really doubted that anymore. But if you aren't sure, then come meet the spirit we're dealing with next time. I'll make sure to wake you up first next time.

"Well...Discord was like a one time thing, probably." Joyous replied lamely, "I'm not too sure about this whole 'spirit' thing, really. Couldn't this thing you saw be, I don't know, anything else, like a magical creature or something?"


Livewire sighs, "I guess I'm limited to being creative about the stuff I can understand right now... I'll... need more context and broader knowledge to really make useful plans in the things I don't yet have a good grounding in. But I disagree with some of what you said; cyberponies are a thing, aren't they? Those rumors of metal ponies don't come from nowhere! I mean, how many methods of empowerment, exotic self-improvement, or genuine ascension do you think there are? And even if you limit it to a smaller set of relatively sane methods for any of that, there has to be more than one of those, right?"

"I'v seen five cyberponies and one cyberzebra since I have been alive." Heavy Draft replied grimly, "Only one of them was all there in the head, and one of them was almost just a robot with some skin around the edges. Girl, if I thought sticking some metal parts in me would help me, I assure you, I would've done so. But if you want to make yourself stronger, first you need to figure why you want to do so. Self improvement for the sake of self improvement never works."



"I wouldn't recommend it." Viridia added with a smile. "That thing was quite unpleasant to look at."

"What did it look like?" Noise said, taking another sip of her soup, sounding skeptical about the whole thing.


"Well pup, you want to help find the others?" Doc asked. "See if you still got some hunting instinct in you. Find Viridia, little one, Viridia..."


PER roll to locate the others
[roll0] out of 7.

It wasn't too hard to find where they ended up; Joyous was the only pony who was staying on the seventh floor, and with four ponies all in the same room the source of the noises wasn't so hard to find either.

[Hazuki]

"What did it look like?" Noise said, taking another sip of her soup, sounding skeptical about the whole thing."Like a rotting pig with sewn-on minotaur fetus hands." Viridia answered with a nod at the mental image, at least as she recalled it.

[Pokonic]

"Like a rotting pig with sewn-on minotaur fetus hands." Viridia answered with a nod at the mental image, at least as she recalled it.

"Oh. Well, I guess that's a spirit, then." Joyous replied, sounding rather amused by the description then anything.

[Hazuki]

"Or the name of my first single." Viridia added with a similar smile, quite pleased that the ghoul had started drinking her gift. Though the lack of hangover complaints was something of a letdown; ghouls will be ghouls, she supposed. "Hey, you never did mention what your dream was like. Care to share?"

[DigoDragon]

Doc walked over to the group. "Keeping the team's spirits up, V?" he lightly joked. The stallion pointed to the pup. "Well, this little guy behaved like an angel. And speaking of which, who here remembers the zebra that we got Sari's package from last night? One guess who I met out back behind the hotel while walking the pup."

[Pokonic]

"Or the name of my first single." Viridia added with a similar smile, quite pleased that the ghoul had started drinking her gift. Though the lack of hangover complaints was something of a letdown; ghouls will be ghouls, she supposed. "Hey, you never did mention what your dream was like. Care to share?"

"Oh, it was about a tapir telling me that my head was all messed up and I needed to get medicated or something."

Joyous Noise, after a few moments, groaned and sipped at her soup before talking. She sounded somewhere between embarrassed and annoyed.

"Horsefeathers."

[Hazuki]

Doc walked over to the group. "Keeping the team's spirits up, V?" he lightly joked. The stallion pointed to the pup. "Well, this little guy behaved like an angel. And speaking of which, who here remembers the zebra that we got Sari's package from last night? One guess who I met out back behind the hotel while walking the pup.""Oh, there's my little guy." Viridia smiled. "And the dog, too!" She giggled softly to herself, calling the pup over to her with a light whistle. She didn't know anything about what happened in the bar while she was out walking Mirror Armor.


"Oh, it was about a tapir telling me that my head was all messed up and I needed to get medicated or something."

Joyous Noise, after a few moments, groaned and sipped at her soup before talking. She sounded somewhere between embarrassed and annoyed.

"Horsefeathers.""Odd... Well, I'm certain you'll be fine. I've never heard of furniture giving solid medical advice, and I doubt I'm about to start."

[DigoDragon]

"Oh, there's my little guy." Viridia smiled. "And the dog, too!" She giggled softly to herself

"Oi, I think I'm prettier than a dog," Doc countered in jest. "Though if you want some real dogs, we might be having one gunning for us later."

[Hazuki]

"We're going to be fighting dogs?" Viridia asked with an arched eyebrow. "Or rather, fighting at all? It didn't seem like there were going to be many difficulties with Sari's meeting...at least, from what I gathered."

[DigoDragon]

"Well, not exactly dogs like this little pup here," Doc explained. "Okay, I met the zebra from the bar last night out back behind the hotel. The one I got Sari's package from. He said that he was here just like we were, 'after a fashion'. Apparently he has a debt to pay off, and it's bigger then ours. I asked him about who he's seeing to pay off the debt and he got pretty angry about that. Last thing he said to me was some advice that we should be prepared to kill in Sari's name."

Doc leaned against the wall. "I take no offense if anyone calls be paranoid, but I reckon the olives might be sending mercs after us. If we were killed by some mysterious 3rd party, I'm sure the olives would just play it off like an accident of the wasteland."

[Hazuki]

"Well...that's not so bad." Viridia replied after a few moments of pondering. "If we kill mercenaries, it won't get any more blame put on our shoulders, as opposed to if they were to send some of their own against us."

[Gavinfoxx]

"Only one of them was all there in the head ... Girl, if I thought sticking some metal parts in me would help me, I assure you, I would've done so. But if you want to make yourself stronger, first you need to figure why you want to do so. ... "

Livewire goes back to spending at least some attention on the armor manufacturing. "Do you know if there is a causal relationship between metal parts and madness, or it was self selection; only ponies that weren't all there were willing to do it? And, as for the second question, I have some fantasies about putting together a small foundry/smelter/smithy/forge, maybe with a place to recycle all that old scrap metal everywhere as well, and a machine shop to go with it, the whole supply chain in one town. But, I read that the only way that real industry can happen if there is food security -- I haven't heard of any places gearing down to have a functioning pre-industrial economy, like with a town blacksmith and such, maybe a whitesmith for pewter and stuff... and I really expected that to happen by now.

She pauses and gets some water, looking at it for a bit, then continues, "So I think what is stopping that is probably reliable access to a surplus of food and water. You need lots of that stuff for ponies and other races to be able to spend time becoming specialists! I once read a leading-up-to-the-war book that predicted that after the bombs fell, the places where nature was 'wild' would run rampant, and more of the tamed places would become wild, and that after lots of ponies were gone, there would simply be lots of magically radioactive plants and short-lifespan animals everywhere. It would all be dangerous to eat, and the longer-lived varieties and lots of the higher-order creatures wouldn't survive, but it would be there. Plus plants would filter water of non radioactive contaminants. What I want to do is figure out why that didn't happen, and maybe figure out how to kick-start it. Life is better than absence of life, and if there are lots of things growing, all we need to worry about is a way to replicate lots of rad-away or something similar. Or, I suppose a way to figure out how to remove the poison from some area of land, even a little bit at a time, to do traditional crops. Or perhaps a way to change ponies to be able to get sustenance from a much, much wider variety of things -- that's part of what I was thinking of the cyberpony thing for. Things like water talismans and air talismans and cyberpony enhancement for this issue would be shortcuts, since you can't make those with a pre-industrial society, but shortcuts can be useful Thoughts?"

[RCgothic]

"Er, what?" Stellar says in response to the suggestion that talking to the city's ghouls might be next on their agenda. "I don't remember agreeing to that. This city's Reavers are Celestia-tier invulnerable and have a equicidal hatred for anypony still breathing. I don't know about everypony else, but I'm going to do what Sari asks, and try and find a way not to make permanent enemies of Greendream or that creature we encountered in the process. That doesn't include wandering into stupidly dangerous parts of the city, even with all the new gear Heavy Draft gave us."

[Hazuki]

"Stellar, we'd obviously not walk into hostile ghoul territory. And doing things for Sari and visiting ghouls are not mutually exclusive. In addition, visiting them is an ideal method of gathering information to help with the deals we've made, which we won't be able to accomplish until we go to sleep anyway. Greendream isn't going to contact us again until we sleep, unless I'm vastly underestimating her magic, so we're going to have to fill our days with something." Viridia responds as calmly as possible.

[DigoDragon]

"Err... what's this about visiting ghouls?" Doc asked. "I'm a little curious why such a field trip idea came up."

[Hazuki]

"Most ghouls come from before the wasteland, don't they? So if we can find a settlement, a few of them might know things about spirits...at least, I think that was the idea."

[DigoDragon]

"Ah, I see now. Not sure how effective it'll be, but I simply know nothing about spirits. I was thinking of asking some of Sari's folks myself. She deals with mages and I was thinking maybe she's got a few ponies to protect her from them."

[Pokonic]

Joyous Noise kept quiet for a while, content in hearing all the strange things being thrown around.

"Look, if you guy's want to chase spirits or ghosts or horses or whatever, I'm fine. But I drew the line at almost being eaten by a giant deer wolf eagle thing. I'd really prefer to just stay here with Chiseled Jaw if you all are really set on tracking down some ghoul or wizard or something to talk about something that might not exist."



Livewire goes back to spending at least some attention on the armor manufacturing. "Do you know if there is a causal relationship between metal parts and madness, or it was self selection; only ponies that weren't all there were willing to do it? And, as for the second question, I have some fantasies about putting together a small foundry/smelter/smithy/forge, maybe with a place to recycle all that old scrap metal everywhere as well, and a machine shop to go with it, the whole supply chain in one town. But, I read that the only way that real industry can happen if there is food security -- I haven't heard of any places gearing down to have a functioning pre-industrial economy, like with a town blacksmith and such, maybe a whitesmith for pewter and stuff... and I really expected that to happen by now.

She pauses and gets some water, looking at it for a bit, then continues, "So I think what is stopping that is probably reliable access to a surplus of food and water. You need lots of that stuff for ponies and other races to be able to spend time becoming specialists! I once read a leading-up-to-the-war book that predicted that after the bombs fell, the places where nature was 'wild' would run rampant, and more of the tamed places would become wild, and that after lots of ponies were gone, there would simply be lots of magically radioactive plants and short-lifespan animals everywhere. It would all be dangerous to eat, and the longer-lived varieties and lots of the higher-order creatures wouldn't survive, but it would be there. Plus plants would filter water of non radioactive contaminants. What I want to do is figure out why that didn't happen, and maybe figure out how to kick-start it. Life is better than absence of life, and if there are lots of things growing, all we need to worry about is a way to replicate lots of rad-away or something similar. Or, I suppose a way to figure out how to remove the poison from some area of land, even a little bit at a time, to do traditional crops. Or perhaps a way to change ponies to be able to get sustenance from a much, much wider variety of things -- that's part of what I was thinking of the cyberpony thing for. Things like water talismans and air talismans and cyberpony enhancement for this issue would be shortcuts, since you can't make those with a pre-industrial society, but shortcuts can be useful Thoughts?"

Heavy sipped at a cup of coffee he had made within the last hour or so, pour a bit of scotch in it, and sat down close to the desk, looking thoughtful.

"I would think that ponies just aren't built to be made out of metal. It takes a pretty steady stream of drugs to keep a lot of cybernetic creatures alive, and that wouldn't be really good for the mind, neither. I'v seen a mare get turned into a cyberbrain bot; she lasted a week before she drove herself off a cliff. It's not natural, especially for ponies. Making yourself all metal kills the magic that's a part of ponies, just like blood and bone is."

He took a drink.

"That book you read is all pure bunk, though. The only thing's I'v ever read that was made before the war that was ever helpful was a paper on esoteric magics. That writer probably didn't know what the zebra warheads were packing; the necromantic part of 'necromantic radioactive dragonfire' is the most deadly part of it."

He paused, blinked slowly, and shook his head. He sounded a bit agitated.

"Now, girl, you said something about 'expecting it to happen by now'. What in the name of Celestia gives you the right to stand back from the rest of the world and comment on how everypony's doing? Where was the rock you crawled out from under, where your so surprised nopony has the right gun or a metal smelting shop or that everypony hasn't shoved the right metal parts in them?"

[Gavinfoxx]

"I would think that ponies just aren't built to be made out of metal. It takes a pretty steady stream of drugs to keep a lot of cybernetic creatures alive, and that wouldn't be really good for the mind, neither. I'v seen a mare get turned into a cyberbrain bot; she lasted a week before she drove herself off a cliff. It's not natural, especially for ponies. Making yourself all metal kills the magic that's a part of ponies, just like blood and bone is."

He took a drink.

"That book you read is all pure bunk, though. The only thing's I'v ever read that was made before the war that was ever helpful was a paper on esoteric magics. That writer probably didn't know what the zebra warheads were packing; the necromantic part of 'necromantic radioactive dragonfire' is the most deadly part of it."

He paused, blinked slowly, and shook his head. He sounded a bit agitated.

"Now, girl, you said something about 'expecting it to happen by now'. What in the name of Celestia gives you the right to stand back from the rest of the world and comment on how everypony's doing? Where was the rock you crawled out from under, where your so surprised nopony has the right gun or a metal smelting shop or that everypony hasn't shoved the right metal parts in them?"

Livewire thinks, "It was a... pretty sheltered upbringing. Not a Stable, but pretty close. And it's not really judgment, I just thought I would see more wood-fired blacksmiths and smelters and simple pre-industrial living. I suppose I'm just sad that that sort of back to basics rebuilding hasn't happened, yet? And there are mechanical things that interact with and channel magic, it seems like it means that it should be possible to make augmentations that don't mess the minds and magic of ponies up. Even if they haven't quite been discovered yet. As far as the book... I suppose it might have been a crock or propaganda. Though plants that resist and purge, or safely store in some nonessential part, necromantic taint might be useful. If that was easy though, they probably would have been developed before the bombs fell."

[Pokonic]

Livewire thinks, "It was a... pretty sheltered upbringing. Not a Vault, but pretty close. And it's not really judgment, I just thought I would see more wood-fired blacksmiths and smelters and simple pre-industrial living. I suppose I'm just sad that that sort of back to basics rebuilding hasn't happened, yet? And there are mechanical things that interact with and channel magic, it seems like it means that it should be possible to make augmentations that don't mess the minds and magic of ponies up. Even if they haven't quite been discovered yet. As far as the book... I suppose it might have been a crock or propaganda. Though plants that resist and purge, or safely store in some nonessential part, necromantic taint might be useful. If that was easy though, they probably would have been developed before the bombs fell."

"You think too highly of what ponies can do." Heavy Draft replied, sounding comparatively non-judgmental, "There's hardly a lot of wood to go around, unless you count the Everfree, and it's not like there's not a lot of stuff still around from the wars. Forging your own stuff isn't needed when you can dig around in a Stable and get enough stuff to live for a year in fifteen minutes, really. And they did develop stuff to negate radiation. They call it Rad-Away. If you're walking around in Canterlot or step in a taint puddle, though, no happy pill or special herb would save your butt. Your face would be sliding off your skull long before anything like that could help."

[Gavinfoxx]

She thinks, "The main thing about rad-away..." she says, going to a selection of drugs and benign chems, picking out a bag and prodding it, examining it, "...though useful, in a bag so it can be given intravenously if needed, and orange-flavored so it can be drunk, is that... isn't all of this stuff generally from before the bombs fell? So isn't there a limited amount that will eventually run out? And if society is going to really expand and recover, we'll need more of this stuff, or something like it, won't we? And on the other topic, if not wood, what renewable heat-causing fuels are there? There's dung from animals that can graze on what little grasses there are, I suppose. And... any herbivore's dung is generally flammable when dried, so there's always that as long as ponies are getting fed. And there are some plants that can be used almost directly as well, right? I guess you could just make a unicorn-horn-recharged magical device to make useful heat... I suppose I'd have to look into those plants and that sort of thing. What did ponies do at wood-scarce places before coal was a thing?"

[Pokonic]

She thinks, "The main thing about rad-away..." she says, going to a selection of drugs and benign chems, picking out a bag and prodding it, examining it, "...though useful, in a bag so it can be given intravenously if needed, and orange-flavored so it can be drunk, is that... isn't all of this stuff generally from before the bombs fell? So isn't there a limited amount that will eventually run out? And if society is going to really expand and recover, we'll need more of this stuff, or something like it, won't we? And on the other topic, if not wood, what renewable heat-causing fuels are there? There's dung from animals that can graze on what little grasses there are, I suppose. And... any herbivore's dung is generally flammable when dried, so there's always that as long as ponies are getting fed. And there are some plants that can be used almost directly as well, right? I guess you could just make a unicorn-horn-recharged magical device to make useful heat... I suppose I'd have to look into those plants and that sort of thing. What did ponies do at wood-scarce places before coal was a thing?"

"I think they froze." Heavy Draft said with some amount of amusement, "But as for everything running out, that'll take a long while. I'd give it two or three more generations before the last snack cake get's eaten, and those things are pretty in demand even now because they taste decent. I mean, half the things in here are older then me, including all the stuff you just put on that gun of yours."

[DigoDragon]

"Oh, speaking of Sari," Doc said, switching gears, "I saw her with Sunrise and Kapikulu in the lobby. They were talking with a petite earth mare, one with a pastel green coat and pink hair I believe. Sari and her buddies looked kinda pissed when I passed by."

[Hazuki]

"Was she cute?" Viridia immediately asked.

[Gavinfoxx]

"I think they froze." Heavy Draft said with some amount of amusement, "But as for everything running out, that'll take a long while. I'd give it two or three more generations before the last snake cake get's eaten, and those things are pretty in demand even now because they taste decent. I mean, half the things in here are older then me, including all the stuff you just put on that gun of yours."

Livewire frowns, "Okay, so if things in general aren't all that scarce, than why hasn't civilization come back yet, in a big way? I had my scarcity hypothesis, do you have a better one? What's the constraint?"

[DigoDragon]

"Was she cute?" Viridia immediately asked.

"On a scale of one to ten? Maybe a six? Something about her rubbed me the wrong way, but I remember she had an Olive Branch and White Dove cutie mark. I dunno, to obvious for a family member of the Olives?"

[Hazuki]

"Too obvious for what?" Viridia asked with an amused smile.

[DigoDragon]

"Too obvious for what?" Viridia asked with an amused smile.

"Well, I was thinking she was the peaceful one of the Olive bunch with that cutie mark of hers."

[Forum Explorer]

Joyous Noise kept quiet for a while, content in hearing all the strange things being thrown around.

"Look, if you guy's want to chase spirits or ghosts or horses or whatever, I'm fine. But I drew the line at almost being eaten by a giant deer wolf eagle thing. I'd really prefer to just stay here with Chiseled Jaw if you all are really set on tracking down some ghoul or wizard or something to talk about something that might not exist."


Well you were looking for traces of your past right? If anypony would remember who you were, or even parts of your history it would be the local ghouls. Besides that, I don't trust Sari or her ability to protect you when things start going wrong. And with our latest cryptic warning it seems that moment is closer then ever. It seems everypony is afraid of these ghouls, so you should be safe with them.

If you're worried about their reputation, well I wouldn't be. Ponies all over the Wasteland have always made up stories about ghouls to make them look bad. Since these ghouls are nigh-invulnerable, they could leverage those stories to make everypony else leave them in peace.

As for why the rest of us should come, well I don't see any other sources of information. The ghouls might know what we want to know, but Sari's library certainly doesn't, and we can't trust the mages. I don't know of any other group that would have the information we want so it seems like they are our best choice.

[DigoDragon]

"Are you really experienced with ghouls, Supply?" Doc asked.

[Forum Explorer]

"Are you really experienced with ghouls, Supply?" Doc asked.

I guess so. Back when I was a little filly on the caravan routes with my parents it wasn't unusual for a ghoul to be working for us, or to buy from us on the road. We didn't have any problems selling or buying from ghouls you see. Plus one of our regular buyers from town was another ghoul pegasus. Supply said with a shrug. Way I see it, ghouls are just another form of pony.

[Pokonic]

Livewire frowns, "Okay, so if things in general aren't all that scarce, than why hasn't civilization come back yet, in a big way? I had my scarcity hypothesis, do you have a better one? What's the constraint?"

"Ponies have the ability to find food, water, and shelter. They just don't have the ability to make any of those things on a scale big enough to support anything greater then a town. That's how a group of ponies who can grow a hundred pounds of produce a year can talk with warlords on equal terms."


Well you were looking for traces of your past right? If anypony would remember who you were, or even parts of your history it would be the local ghouls. Besides that, I don't trust Sari or her ability to protect you when things start going wrong. And with our latest cryptic warning it seems that moment is closer then ever. It seems everypony is afraid of these ghouls, so you should be safe with them.

If you're worried about their reputation, well I wouldn't be. Ponies all over the Wasteland have always made up stories about ghouls to make them look bad. Since these ghouls are nigh-invulnerable, they could leverage those stories to make everypony else leave them in peace.

As for why the rest of us should come, well I don't see any other sources of information. The ghouls might know what we want to know, but Sari's library certainly doesn't, and we can't trust the mages. I don't know of any other group that would have the information we want so it seems like they are our best choice.

"Supply, I'm not worried about myself. I can just fly somewhere else if everything gets rough. But I'm worried about you, because you're not the one who can heal if you soak your face in a irradiated puddle. I don't want you to get hurt because you think your doing something you have to do that you don't."

[Gavinfoxx]

Livewire nods, "So what would it take to support a genuine city? Or a town that actually starts the foundation of a functioning, non-scavenging-based society that actually supports a lot of experts and specialists and such, where ponies actually have some sort of hope for the future and can work for it?"

[DigoDragon]

Way I see it, ghouls are just another form of pony.

"Fascinating," Doc said, listening to the mare. "I haven't the experience with more than maybe seeing a feral one, but of course when one's occupation tends to end at the point where a pony stops living... Seeing Joyous drunk last night was a first I heard of a ghoul affected by alcohol."



"I don't want you to get hurt because you think your doing something you have to do that you don't."

"I'm honestly not fond of the prospect of traveling to dangerous locations while we're still under the scrutiny of so many others, but if we want non-partisan information, I don't see many options. I think the closest I got so far was from Heavy in the basement who's advice amounted to 'shoot first, shoot often.'"

[Pokonic]

Livewire nods, "So what would it take to support a genuine city? Or a town that actually starts the foundation of a functioning, non-scavenging-based society that actually supports a lot of experts and specialists and such, where ponies actually have some sort of hope for the future and can work for it?"

"Clean water that isn't controlled by domineering merchants, workable land that isn't owned by brahman barons or private farmers, a functioning social structure, the ability to generate electricity, and waste disposal that's more sophisticated then dumping it in a sewer or burning it in a pit. Then, once the one and only completely sustainable settlement has been created and has managed not to be raided by warlords or raiders or ponies who just want to be on top in the best place in the world, you would actually have to maintain that status qo in the face of all those threats and the ones from inside. If you would want specialists and actual ponies who know anything more then how to work a toaster, then you would have to deal with Steel Rangers and groups similar to them, who would also be interested in taking over what you have and converting it into one of their bases while kicking out everypony they don't care about, which would be anyone who they wouldn't offer membership into the Steel Rangers. Then, somehow, if you manage to support a functioning settlement that's even close to how the pre-war days functioned, then it could only go downhill from there because nopony's making anything new and the resources needed to make any of the big pre-war wonders don't exist anymore in bulk."

[Gavinfoxx]

Livewire sits and thinks for several moments. "Well. Alright. That's a number of separate problems. Some of these can be worked on. So, in order... One. The freshwater issue and that monopoly. Two. Creating workable land or getting the buy-in of the ponies that have it, though they might have access to their own clean water somewhere. Three. A not terrible sewer that is linked to something like a waste treatment plant or something like that. Four. Security against raiders and warlords, and internal security and social cohesion. Five. Inevitable interaction with the Steel Rangers, and what sounds like an inflexible dogma of theirs. Six. The long term sustaining of this: since Equestria doesn't have coal or similar, and the society would have to be based off of new or different sources of energy input, and the city would have to be weaned off of scavenging and be producing things, again with different than normal inputs than pre-war, before all of that stuff you mentioned earlier wears out."

She clicks a bit, "Unless I missed anything, well, that's a lot of problems, but that doesn't mean that a lot of progress can't be made on each of those in a single area, and that there will never be solutions to all of those, such that by the time all that scavenged stuff starts running out in a few generations, there won't be at least one viable City-State with all of that, right? Ponies just need to work on what of those we can make progress on in a particular place."

[Pokonic]

Livewire sits and thinks for several moments. "Well. Alright. That's a number of separate problems. Some of these can be worked on. So, in order... One. The freshwater issue and that monopoly. Two. Creating workable land or getting the buy-in of the ponies that have it, though they might have access to their own clean water somewhere. Three. A not terrible sewer that is linked to something like a waste treatment plant or something like that. Four. Security against raiders and warlords, and internal security and social cohesion. Five. Inevitable interaction with the Steel Rangers, and what sounds like an inflexible dogma of theirs. Six. The long term sustaining of this: since Equestria doesn't have coal or similar, and the society would have to be based off of new or different sources of energy input, and the city would have to be weaned off of scavenging and be producing things, again with different than normal inputs than pre-war, before all of that stuff you mentioned earlier wears out."

She clicks a bit, "Unless I missed anything, well, that's a lot of problems, but that doesn't mean that a lot of progress can't be made on each of those in a single area, and that there will never be solutions to all of those, such that by the time all that scavenged stuff starts running out in a few generations, there won't be at least one viable City-State with all of that, right? Ponies just need to work on what of those we can make progress on in a particular place."

"No." Heavy Draft said, simply, "There's actually plenty of individual, nearly self-sufficient places in the wasteland. There is a town in the south that hunts radgators and has a water distiller, and it's been going strong since the bombs dropped. Tenpony Tower and Liberty City are both populated, independent settlements that are bastions of trade and civilization. Eagle Rock is a small island with a harbor city that's a hundred strong and supports itself with fish and desalinated water. That's just in a month's brisk walk from here. The problem is, you have all these ponies who want to keep what they already have and don't feel like they need to go out of their little bubble in the wastes. And they are right; the only reason a pony would want to leave any of those places is if they get kicked out. Ponies don't think of progress; ponies think about being happy. And for the most part, that thinking's sound, because when you talk about progress you don't think about the fact that, right now, you haven't seen how most ponies live. You came up from Manehatten from one of the best places in the world, and you're here in one of the other best places in the world."

Heavy Draft paused.

"It's the accent."

[Forum Explorer]

[COLOR="#DAA520"]"Supply, I'm not worried about myself. I can just fly somewhere else if everything gets rough. But I'm worried about you, because you're not the one who can heal if you soak your face in a irradiated puddle. I don't want you to get hurt because you think your doing something you have to do that you don't."

Well I can just teleport away if things get too dangerous. So don't worry so much. And I want to help you Noise. You wanted to find your past so we came up here to investigate. And since we've gotten here it's just been one thing after another and we've gotten nothing done. But now we've got an opportunity to look into your past, and hopefully get some information about one of our other problems at the same time.

[DigoDragon]

"Uh... should I stay behind?"

[Gavinfoxx]

Livewire is quiet for a good bit of time. "Damn, you're good. Yes, Tenpenny. Yes, I got kicked out. Yes, they had a lot of books, and yes I spent most of my time reading them and dreaming about the things in them. But, okay. I have these ideas, and I haven't seen quite how s--- it was, and one fight against a bunch of raiders on the way here isn't quite enough for me to see how bad things are. But, I pray to the goddesses that when I see how bad things are, I can still have and keep hope for the future alive. And maybe it takes somepony with a truly bizarre background to seriously think about and break down and inspire others, or give ideas to the pony who will inspire others, or whatever, but regardless, one of the 'best places in the world' is still a logical place to start, right? Pick one of those bastions of civilization, a worthy one, just start doing what it takes to improve this list of things for it and get others to contribute to solving those problems, at scale. I guess that means, Seven. Get ponies out of their comfort zone and to really think they have a chance at progress and a better future for a big number of their foals, and give them a cohesive identity as part of a much bigger, large group with a future."

[Forum Explorer]

I can teleport multiple ponies, though it does make things a lot harder on me. Supply said quickly, wanting to reassure Doc. But perhaps splitting up would be wise anyways. I don't think a fact finding mission requires everypony, and the ghouls might be more inclined to trust us if we don't show up en mass.

[DigoDragon]

"Well, guess I'm a bit of a fifth wheel," Doc said nonchalantly. "I'd hate to split the team, but I don't fly and I don't magic. If you're dead set on seeing the ghouls and flying from danger, I'll just stay behind and try to keep up with the ongoings around here till you get back."

[Pokonic]

Livewire is quiet for a good bit of time. "Damn, you're good. Yes, Tenpenny. Yes, I got kicked out. Yes, they had a lot of books, and yes I spent most of my time reading them and dreaming about the things in them. But, okay. I have these ideas, and I haven't seen quite how s--- it was, and one fight against a bunch of raiders on the way here isn't quite enough for me to see how bad things are. But, I pray to the goddesses that when I see how bad things are, I can still have and keep hope for the future alive. And maybe it takes somepony with a truly bizarre background to seriously think about and break down and inspire others, or give ideas to the pony who will inspire others, or whatever, but regardless, one of the 'best places in the world' is still a logical place to start, right? Pick one of those bastions of civilization, a worthy one, just start doing what it takes to improve this list of things for it and get others to contribute to solving those problems, at scale. I guess that means, Seven. Get ponies out of their comfort zone and to really think they have a chance at progress and a better future for a big number of their foals, and give them a cohesive identity as part of a much bigger, large group with a future."

"That's the thing; nopony has the resources to even consider trying to go out and do anything on your little list if they haven't already done so. That 'comfort zone' your ratting on is, to some ponies, all they have. You can't just tell a bunch of ponies who've worked hard all their lives that they better get everything into shape and start acting like how you think ponies should be acting. It's herd mentality; get thirty ponies, have them live together for a year or two or a generation, and try and get them to bow to anyone who's not them. There's nothing the matter with it, really, because that's just natural. Larger absolutely doesn't mean better. There's been more failed states in the wasteland then I have teeth, hon, and they fall apart because ponies just don't tend to care how's a town five day's travel from their home is doing if they're struggling to feed themselves. You got to realize that your idea's aren't that unique, and it's been done, and whenever a pony tries to do something like that the wasteland just eats them up, and you get either a batch of raiders or a bunch of dead ponies."


I can teleport multiple ponies, though it does make things a lot harder on me. Supply said quickly, wanting to reassure Doc. But perhaps splitting up would be wise anyways. I don't think a fact finding mission requires everypony, and the ghouls might be more inclined to trust us if we don't show up en mass.

"Uh, Supply? I don't think anypony's ever said 'splitting up would be a good idea' in the history of Equestria without trying to be ironic. I really wouldn't want to go someplace where I would be the one pony keeping other ponies from getting hurt."

[Gavinfoxx]

Livewire slams her hoof down on the counter. "No! It can't be impossible. Just because it hasn't happened yet and it's improbable and difficult doesn't mean it can't happen ever! The wasteland has had heroes, right? Exceptional ponies that inspire others to be better? If enough heroes work on this, it HAS to be possible. Things can get better! And can't ponies get resources? Delve enough hellholes, and you get incredible resources and learn incredible things about the world you live in, because there is so much that can be learned beyond what is normal, right?"

[Forum Explorer]

Well I can keep us safe by magic if we can't keep things peaceful. So you wouldn't be the only pony. But really, this is one of the few cases where it would be better if there was less ponies coming along. The more ponies that come, the less I can teleport, the more danger we will be in. Plus if it comes to a chase, I know I'm sneaky enough to hide, but I know most of the rest of us aren't very good at stealth. I suppose Viridia could come along easily enough since she can fly if she needs to run away, and she's a good enough speaker to help keep things peaceful.

[Pokonic]

Livewire slams her hoof down on the counter. "No! It can't be impossible. Just because it hasn't happened yet and it's improbable and difficult doesn't mean it can't happen ever! The wasteland has had heroes, right? Exceptional ponies that inspire others to be better? If enough heroes work on this, it HAS to be possible. Things can get better! And can't ponies get resources? Delve enough hellholes, and you get incredible resources and learn incredible things about the world you live in, because there is so much that can be learned beyond what is normal, right?"

"There isn't no such thing as heroes." Heavy Draft shot back sharply, "There's just ponies, bad ones and good ones and all the ones in between, but there an't no such thing as heroes. Tell me, do you think you're some special hero, coming down from the nice tower to go and save the wasteland from itself with your enlightened ideas? You don't know Fillydelphia from the Hoof, and you think you can set down and tell me what you think should happen? You might as well go around and paint yourself up and tell ponies you're Rainbow Dash, because going around and saying you're going to help save them from themselves is going to get the same reaction out of them."


Well I can keep us safe by magic if we can't keep things peaceful. So you wouldn't be the only pony. But really, this is one of the few cases where it would be better if there was less ponies coming along. The more ponies that come, the less I can teleport, the more danger we will be in. Plus if it comes to a chase, I know I'm sneaky enough to hide, but I know most of the rest of us aren't very good at stealth. I suppose Viridia could come along easily enough since she can fly if she needs to run away, and she's a good enough speaker to help keep things peaceful.

Joyous Noise didn't look so joyous when Supply Route finished talking.

"...I don't know what's gotten into you." she said, finally, "I don't like it."

[Forum Explorer]

Supply Route sighs, well what do you want Noise? Unless you've given up on your past then we'll have to meet with the ghouls eventually. And if you have given up on your past, well then...we don't have much of a reason to stay in this city. And plenty of reasons not to.

[Gavinfoxx]

Livewire looks him dead in the eye, something that it is obvious she normally can't do, but something is driving her. "No. I'm not a hero. I'm wet behind the ears and don't know anything. But one day I will be! And I won't do it by going around saying I would save them from themselves, I'll do it by going out and actually bucking making things better!"

[Pokonic]

Supply Route sighs, well what do you want Noise? Unless you've given up on your past then we'll have to meet with the ghouls eventually. And if you have given up on your past, well then...we don't have much of a reason to stay in this city. And plenty of reasons not to.

Joyous Noise, carefully, put the food she had in her lap on the ground, before she took to the air, flying just close enough to Supply Route to where she could have touched her horn with her forehead, if she moved another foot or so.

"I have not given up on myself but I have not given up on you, either! You have problems, Supply, but we all have problems, and one of those problems is the small army of pony's outside who know your name who want you dead. I trust Sari, Supply, but I need to trust you, too. Clearing your name, yeah, your name is a bigger priority to me then whatever distraction you can come up with to face your life!"


Livewire looks him dead in the eye, something that it is obvious she normally can't do, but something is driving her. "No. I'm not a hero. I'm wet behind the ears and don't know anything. But one day I will be! And I won't do it by going around saying I would save them from themselves, I'll do it by going out and actually bucking making things better!"

Heavy Draft, very slowly, nodded.

"Then stop sitting around and talking about it and do it. You got your gun and you got some ideas. I want to see you use both. One day, filly, I want you to come tell me, in the face, that you built a city in the wasteland, and when I see it with my own two eye I will give you everything I own to help you out."

Very slowly, Heavy Draft smirked, and took a sip of his scotch coffee.

[Gavinfoxx]

Livewire stops and blinks, anger draining out of her, and looks down in... shyness? "First, I need to set things up so I live through whatever tomorrow throws at me. Don't want to do much with my dreams until I do something to increase my chances of survival in trying to achieve them. Be prepared and all that!"

With that, she goes back to work. That gun wasn't quiiiite finished yet, after all. And neither was the armor. Or the headgear. At least she had figured out which brand of ammo her gun seemed like it would like best...

She works for a little bit, and then speaks up, "Say. What do you think of using wind power, windmills to generate electricity, or magical power, or physical power stored in flywheels? Was that ever a thing pre-bombs Equestria tried to do? Maybe around the perimeter of the Everfree or something? Is there any other wild weather, or at least wild wind, location you know of?"

[Forum Explorer]

Supply turned away, refusing to look Noise in the eye. You know who and what I am Noise. Do you really think I could have a peaceful life here? This sort of **** is my life. Supply said bitterly, tears welling up in her eyes. The least I can do is to provide you with a better one before it all gets too out of control.

[Pokonic]

Livewire stops and blinks, anger draining out of her, and looks down in... shyness? "First, I need to set things up so I live through whatever tomorrow throws at me. Don't want to do much with my dreams until I do something to increase my chances of survival in trying to achieve them. Be prepared and all that!"

With that, she goes back to work. That gun wasn't quiiiite finished yet, after all. And neither was the armor. Or the headgear. At least she had figured out which brand of ammo her gun seemed like it would like best...

She works for a little bit, and then speaks up, "Say. What do you think of using wind power, windmills to generate electricity, or magical power, or physical power stored in flywheels? Was that ever a thing pre-bombs Equestria tried to do? Maybe around the perimeter of the Everfree or something? Is there any other wild weather, or at least wild wind, location you know of?"

Heavy Draft tilted his mug in her direction.

"Now, there's only two problems with that. First off, Equestria had a old trade agreement with the griffon nation that reduced the amount of modern wind generators they could make, because the griffons were the ones to come up with that and Celestia needed griffon resources before the war broke out. So, there's only a few really good wind-powered systems around the country, and I would bet you money that the Pegasus Enclave either controls most of them or has tried to destroy them at some point. Now, wild weather's all over, not just from the Everfree but up from the coasts, too. Manehatten usually just get's what comes down from the cloud cover, but most of the windy day's you would have gotten came from wild weather."


Supply turned away, refusing to look Noise in the eye. You know who and what I am Noise. Do you really think I could have a peaceful life here? This sort of **** is my life. Supply said bitterly, tears welling up in her eyes. The least I can do is to provide you with a better one before it all gets too out of control.

Noise stared at the back of Supply Route's head for a few moments before shaking her own head and descending to the ground.

"I think you can live a peaceful life, Supply. Life isn't a cutie mark."

[Gavinfoxx]

Livewire nods, "So a pony would have to find an appropriate space, and either fabricate something from scratch, or re-purpose something or somethings else to be a farm of modern style generators, and maybe disassemble and ship the one single full one that probably is left and outside of Pegasus Enclave hooves. Or maybe go find some of the weird alternate, smaller scale designs that ponies had thought of but which really weren't in use much, and start making a bunch of those. Probably, it would be a mix of all of the above. Do you think it could be done, though?"

[Pokonic]

Livewire nods, "So a pony would have to find an appropriate space, and either fabricate something from scratch, or re-purpose something or somethings else to be a farm of modern style generators, and maybe disassemble and ship the one single full one that probably is left and outside of Pegasus Enclave hooves. Or maybe go find some of the weird alternate, smaller scale designs that ponies had thought of but which really weren't in use much, and start making a bunch of those. Probably, it would be a mix of all of the above. Do you think it could be done, though?"

"I suppose, but I would think that rechargeable magic batteries are pretty much the epitome of alternate power sources. There's a reason why robots can go around for two hundred years without ever needing replacements."

[Forum Explorer]

It's my destiny Noise. Just take a look at this whole situation. And you heard Doc, there'll be more blood before our 'debt' is repaid. Not to mention the other threats out there. It's safer and better for everypony if I just give in and do what my cutie mark tells me to instead of making destiny force my hoof. Supply tries to wipe away her tears with the sleeve of her jacket.

[Gavinfoxx]

She grunts, "Yea, but a lot of that stuff was used with power from, ultimately, from zebra-imported fossil fuels which fueled the old power plants, and don't most ways of refueling them these days require a unicorn actually sitting there and charging them with their own magic? Isn't the point of a power source rather than just a storage device to remove the need for ponies to provide the push, whether it is to make the weather do something, or to walk in a circle moving something heavy, or it is charging something by horn? Again, at some point, new inputs to pump into the system will be needed? Even if it is a looong time from now?"

[Pokonic]

It's my destiny Noise. Just take a look at this whole situation. And you heard Doc, there'll be more blood before our 'debt' is repaid. Not to mention the other threats out there. It's safer and better for everypony if I just give in and do what my cutie mark tells me to instead of making destiny force my hoof. Supply tries to wipe away her tears with the sleeve of her jacket.

"The only pony who cares about fate right now is you, Supply!" Joyous said with a little bite, wings flaring in anger, "If you keep thinking you're 'destiny' makes you some sort of killer, then what does that make you right now!"


She grunts, "Yea, but a lot of that stuff was used with power from, ultimately, from zebra-imported fossil fuels which fueled the old power plants, and don't most ways of refueling them these days require a unicorn actually sitting there and charging them with their own magic? Isn't the point of a power source rather than just a storage device to remove the need for ponies to provide the push, whether it is to make the weather do something, or to walk in a circle moving something heavy, or it is charging something by horn? Again, at some point, new inputs to pump into the system will be needed? Even if it is a looong time from now?"


"There's no such thing as a perfect power source, but magic's sure as heck a lot less messy then oil and coal and it's a lot more reliable then wind. Making magical batteries makes up a lot of the wizard guild's business, as a example."

[Forum Explorer]

...A monster. Supply whispers before running out of the room.

running away to go hide and cry. [roll0] /47 for hiding.

[Hazuki]

Viridia blinked and looked over to Doc, then spoke in a whisper. "I don't think I'm much use, here. Mind if I go and speak with Livewire?"

[RCgothic]

Stellar shuffles her hooves uncomfortably. When the silence grows too tense she suggests they all go to visit Sari.

[Hazuki]

"...or Sari." Viridia finished the whisper, not quite knowing why Stellar was so eager to meet with the horse, but understanding it nevertheless. "Sure, let's go meet Sari." She said with an encouraging smile to the Pegasus, then looked to Joyous. "I hope you enjoy your meal."

[DigoDragon]

"Livewire may be another hour or so with her tinkerin'," Doc finally spoke up, "But we do still owe Sari another job. Hopefully she's in a better mood from whatever twisted her tail earlier. Joyous, if Supply happens to come around, let her know we'll be chatting a bit with Sari. And that we still would like her on the team."

[Gavinfoxx]

"There's no such thing as a perfect power source, but magic's sure as heck a lot less messy then oil and coal and it's a lot more reliable then wind. Making magical batteries makes up a lot of the wizard guild's business, as a example."

She sighs, "So pick my battles, don't make a mountain out of a molehill, and don't make absurdly powerful ponies upset unnecessarily."

[Pokonic]

Joyous Noise, startled and visibly upset at Supply Route leaving so suddenly, picked up her plate of food and sat down in the bed, and promptly began to look like one misspoken word would send a plateful of food in the face of whoever said it.


She sighs, "So pick my battles, don't make a mountain out of a molehill, and don't make absurdly powerful ponies upset unnecessarily."

"That's a way to put it." Heavy Draft replied, "But I would add 'don't do things that you wouldn't do if you were calling the shots' to that. You only live once, and you should do things that you want to do, and if that involves helping ponies, that's great."

[Hazuki]

Viridia left Joyous' room, quite content to seek out Sari along with Doc and Stellar.

[DigoDragon]

Doc left the room as well. He shook his head with a bit of a smirk. Something in his mind amused him. "Hopefully the pony Sari was talking to has left by now."

[Gavinfoxx]

"That's a way to put it." Heavy Draft replied, "But I would add 'don't do things that you wouldn't do if you were calling the shots' to that. You only live once, and you should do things that you want to do, and if that involves helping ponies, that's great."

She seems a bit hung up on something else. "Wait a minute. If you can have a perfectly viable society with a bunch of unicorns refilling mana batteries of various sorts to power things... than why did we end up at war??

[Pokonic]

"Hopefully the pony Sari was talking to has left by now."

She hadn't.

She was actually the only pony in the lobby at the moment; she was reading one of those old thick-bound books that tend to serve as fancy decorations, as apposed to actual reading material, and was sitting in one of the plush reclining chairs that similarly decorated the room but seemed to be partially off-limits due to general politeness.

The mare closed the book when the first pony came into the lobby with a small thud. Her smile was demure, but her eyes didn't shine or twinkle or were even slightly reassuring.


She seems a bit hung up on something else. "Wait a minute. If you can have a perfectly viable society with a bunch of unicorns refilling mana batteries of various sorts to power things... than why did we end up at war??

"Magical storage units small enough for a pony to carry only got developed in the last few years, and it's hard to convert magical energy into electricity on a scale grand enough to work on a national level." Heavy Draft said, smoothly, "Ponies developed many different alternate energy sources during the war; there was some speculation that Equestria wouldn't need a ounce of coal within fifty years, if everything kept going as smoothly as it did. But, that's war for you; eventually, the reason doesn't matter."

[DigoDragon]

She hadn't.

Pickles.

Doc attempted to act relaxed. He continued walking with Viridia and Stellar into the lobby and casually went for the hallway toward Sari's room.

[Pokonic]

Pickles.

Doc attempted to act relaxed. He continued walking with Viridia and Stellar into the lobby and casually went for the hallway toward Sari's room.

Olive Pit, the pony who Viridia had a brief conversation with, walked inside the hotel right around the time the doctor turned around to head back. A rather large rifle was attached to a green-painted battle saddle, and he was wearing a full set of combat armor. His steely expression turned into a wince when he spotted Viridia and the little dog, too.

The pony sitting on seat made a small beckoning motion with her left hoof.

"There's no need to rush along, the day is still young. Please, I think we need to talk." the mare said, smiling lightly. "It's in eveypony's best interests."

[RCgothic]

Stellar visibly winces at that suggestion, but complies reluctantly anyway. She walks slowly across to the mare and sits in front of her, wings (and wingblades) neatly folded. She derives some cold comfort from the fact that this came at a moment while she wasn't totally defenceless.

"All right. I'd really like this to go as painlessly for everypony as possible. I suppose you want to know what happened the other night?"

[DigoDragon]

Doc stopped and turned toward the mare in the chair. He didn't say anything, but gave her most of his attention. 'Most', because it was hard to ignore a fully armored pony with a rifle.

[Hazuki]

Viridia leaned down and scooped up the dog as they entered the room with Olive Pit and the mare that was apparently the one Doc had encountered before, placing the canine on her cloaked back as she found a seat to lounge in. She sat on it fairly comfortable, and gave a sly smile to Olive Pit, just so the mare wouldn't notice it, then turned to face her. For the moment, she said nothing, and allowed her companions to speak.

[Pokonic]

Viridia leaned down and scooped up the dog as they entered the room with Olive Pit and the mare that was apparently the one Doc had encountered before, placing the canine on her cloaked back as she found a seat to lounge in. She sat on it fairly comfortable, and gave a sly smile to Olive Pit, just so the mare wouldn't notice it, then turned to face her. For the moment, she said nothing, and allowed her companions to speak.

Olive Pit, for a brief second, smiled back, only to turn his smile upside down a few moments later.



"All right. I'd really like this to go as painlessly for everypony as possible. I suppose you want to know what happened the other night?"

"Not especially." the mare said, voice light and small, "I merely wish to know who you are. Sari was very clear about what I was allowed to say, so I just have a few questions about yourselves, and where you came from."

[Hazuki]

"I pray you don't mind if I ask your name?" Viridia queries with a pleasant smile on her lips, as she meets the mare's eyes. "It's dreadfully gauche to keep referring to you as ma'm, m'am."

[Pokonic]

"I pray you don't mind if I ask your name?" Viridia queries with a pleasant smile on her lips, as she meets the mare's eyes. "It's dreadfully gauche to keep referring to you as ma'm, m'am."

"How rude of me!" the mare exlaclaimed, putting a hoof over her mouth and looking almost sincere, "My name is Olive Branch."

[Gavinfoxx]

Livewire continues working for a bit, "So I was thinking city-states. The only real pre-war true 'city-state' that I remember reading about that was even remotely near Equestria proper is the Crystal Empire. What happened to it when the bombs started falling, and after?"

[Pokonic]

Livewire continues working for a bit, "So I was thinking city-states. The only real pre-war true 'city-state' that I remember reading about that was even remotely near Equestria proper is the Crystal Empire. What happened to it when the bombs started falling, and after?"

Heavy Draft didn't seem especially happy at that question, apparently.

"It vanished right before the bombs dropped, and no bombs hit it, apparently. Someponies think it never existed, but I'v been to the outskirts of the place. It's not a good place to visit if you want to live; it's Windigo territory now, but they're fighting what's left of the crystal ponies that are up there. You better keep hoping that the Windigo's keep winning."

[DigoDragon]

"Doc Wagon," he introduced, "From a community in the Manehattan area."

[Gavinfoxx]

Livewire is silent for a while, "Oh, I'm pretty sure it existed.... Hmmm. So the current... denizens of the area are really, really bad, on both sides. But it's possible that the city still exists somewhere, with a large population of crystal ponies, which may or may not be corrupted, by something which may or may not be related to the war, in some sort of existence wherever the city was taken."

She blinks, "Wow. Talk about a high risk, potentially high reward situation. Yyyyeaaaah, not gonna touch that mess if I can help it."

[Pokonic]

"Doc Wagon," he introduced, "From a community in the Manehattan area."

"Well, that's quite nice. How about something that I couldn't learn by hearing your voice and talking to Sari?"


Livewire is silent for a while, "Oh, I'm pretty sure it existed.... Hmmm. So the current... denizens of the area are really, really bad, on both sides. But it's possible that the city still exists somewhere, with a large population of crystal ponies, which may or may not be corrupted, by something which may or may not be related to the war, in some sort of existence wherever the city was taken."

She blinks, "Wow. Talk about a high risk, potentially high reward situation. Yyyyeaaaah, not gonna touch that mess if I can help it."

"I wouldn't think that the local Dark Lord would appreciate it, no." Heavy Draft replied.

[Gavinfoxx]

Her eyes widen, "A Dark Lord? As in, a mystically empowered, dark-magic fueled, evil tyrant despot? Even non mystically empowered evil tyrant despots are bad enough! Who is that? And do you know of any other Dark Lords?"

[Hazuki]

"Well, that's quite nice. How about something that I couldn't learn by hearing your voice and talking to Sari?""With all due respect, Olive Branch, perhaps you could try asking specific questions? Asking Doc to guess something you find interesting is somewhat obtuse. This conversation will go far more smoothly if we know what answers you seek." Viridia suggests, mildly irked by the woman's condescension towards the good doctor.

[Pokonic]

Her eyes widen, "A Dark Lord? As in, a mystically empowered, dark-magic fueled, evil tyrant despot? Even non mystically empowered evil tyrant despots are bad enough! Who is that?"

Heavy Draft didn't seem too concerned about the question, and rather looked like he wanted to change the topic.

"That bit was a joke, but I would think anypony who could round up a bunch of vicious crystal ponies and combat a horde of ice creatures could count as a Dark Lord."


"With all due respect, Olive Branch, perhaps you could try asking specific questions? Asking Doc to guess something you find interesting is somewhat obtuse. This conversation will go far more smoothly if we know what answers you seek." Viridia suggests, mildly irked by the woman's condescension towards the good doctor.

Olive Branch frowned.

"Fair enough. I was hoping to know why one of you killed my sister, mostly."

[DigoDragon]

"Fair enough. I was hoping to know why one of you killed my sister, mostly."

"So, you'd like to know who we are as a way to understand our character, yes?"

[Pokonic]

"So, you'd like to know who we are as a way to understand our character, yes?"

"Yes." Olive Branch replied, without any hint of anger or suspicion.

[Gavinfoxx]

Livewire considers, "Are Windigoes sentient? Or just like dumber types of animals? Are they enemies of pony life in general? I've never been exactly clear on what a Windigo is, in a way that isn't likely outdated legend and mythology."

[Pokonic]

Livewire considers, "Are Windigoes sentient? Or just like dumber types of animals? Are they enemies of pony life in general? I've never been exactly clear on what a Windigo is, in a way that isn't likely outdated legend and mythology."

"All I know about Windigo's is that they feed on strife, so if they got out in the Wasteland, things would get a bit colder."

[Gavinfoxx]

Livewire thinks, "They're emovores? Know anything about entities that feed on thoughts or emotions in general? There's this spirit thing that seems to feed on something to do with dreams in town, and anything you know about... well, the genus? I guess? Of things that feed on thought patterns or whatever would be useful in dealing with it and any other things like that."

[Hazuki]

Despite being many, many rooms away, Viridia suddenly gets the urge to slap Livewire very hard.

[Pokonic]

Livewire thinks, "They're emovores? Know anything about entities that feed on thoughts or emotions in general? There's this spirit thing that seems to feed on something to do with dreams in town, and anything you know about... well, the genus? I guess? Of things that feed on thought patterns or whatever would be useful in dealing with it and any other things like that."

"One of you already mentioned the spirit, and I still don't know anything about them. As for any connection to one thing that eats emotions to another, I might start comparing one thing that eats grass to another, because there would probably be the same difference. Emotions are probably just easily available, or it's weird magic crap. I an't a unicorn."

[Gavinfoxx]

Livewire looks at him, "Well, you can make broad and useful generalizations about the anatomy and evolutionary stresses and biology and likely behavior patterns of things that eat grass. I was hoping to do the same with things that eat thoughts or emotions. In fact, now that I think of it, the group had a pretty fresh changeling horn -- aren't they supposed to be emovores too? No wonder the topic was tickling my brain. Anyway, that's why I guess I thought it was so important figure out some of the patterns of that sort with things that eat emotions or thoughts and such. If you don't know anything, do you know who in town might be an expert on that? What unicorn would likely be the closest to an expert on such things?"

[RCgothic]

Stellar tries hard to be unmoved by any undertone she picks up in some of the comments. This will go a whole lot better if she can remain calm and unconfrontational.

"My name is Stellar Blaze, daughter of Solar Flare and Radiant Burst. I grew up in nearby Bolton. My best friend was Saphire Eyes, and we kept a small brown bunny called Thumped. That was because the other rabbits picked on him. I have always been a dutiful daughter, and I used to help my parents with their caravan. I got my cutie mark when I recognised a hidden and undetonated megaspell, allowing everypony to get clear safely. Though I can get over-emotional under excessive stress, I'm still only usually violent in defence of my friends and loved ones and to the minimum possible extent. Is that enough about me?"

"As for what happened the other evening, I was only there for the end of it. When the riots started I left the bar to investigate. When I got back I found the bar half-destroyed, and our acquaintance Supply Route standing over a wounded Olive Leaf. I didn't know who she was at that point. Supply Route despatched her just as I got close. I believe the mare thought she was granting Olive Leaf a mercy. I... were there not a doctor right on hand I might have done the same. I would have understood if Doc could not bring himself to treat the mare that just tried to kill him, but unless my judgement's wrong I don't think our doctor is has it in him to let a mare bleed out if there's any way he could help." Stellar smiles gently at the stallion, touching his shoulder with her hoof. "Though I despise her personally -and I really can't believe I'm about to defend her - if Supply did wrong, it was in not even considering the possibility of trying to save her foe's life. But I was not a witness to the fight itself. Perhaps Doc has some comments?"

[DigoDragon]

"Perhaps Doc has some comments?"

"Well Olive Leaf had made an attempt to kill me, which is why Supply attacked her," Doc added. "I wanted to move, to treat Leaf's wounds, but I had frozen up in fear. I'm not a fighter and that was the first time I had been attacked by somepony with lethal magic. Maybe I could of helped her, but then again I couldn't say for certain as there was a battle goin' on nearby and treating someone in the field is a lot more difficult than in a clean clinic."

[RCgothic]

Stellar waits patiently whilst Doc says his piece, nodding her approval of her correct judge of character. When it becomes clear he's not going to elaborate further on the lead up to the fight, Stellar continues for him.

"The way I hear it happened, Doc, Joyous Noise, Chiseled Jaw and Supply Route went out to investigate somepony setting up a turret opposite the bar. They were intercepted by Olive Leaf, though Supply Route kept a low profile to cover them."

"Olive Leaf asked if they had anything to do with the riot at the drug lab. Doc said no."

"Olive Leaf explained what was going on at the drug lab, and Doc thanked her and tried to withdraw."

"Olive Leaf said 'no you don't', used racial slurs against our friends Noise and Chiseled, and asked if we had a camel with us."

"Seeking to protect Adawsa, Noise attempted to tell Olive Leaf we were peaceful ponies and that we wanted no trouble. Olive Leaf retorted with another racial slur, said she wasn't born yesterday, and gave them a 15-second ultimatum to explain what we were doing here. She started casting a scary looking spell."

"Doc tried to explain again that we were just passing through, but Olive Leaf wasn't listening. When it became clear our friends were out of time, Supply Route preempted her, slashing her throat. The spell went off anyway with a greeny-black hue and demolished the bar. Olive Leaf was defeated and begged for help, and Supply Route granted it the only way she knows how."


Stellar turns to Doc for confirmation. "Isn't that right, Doc? I believe every attempt was made to avoid the fight. I really am sorry it turned out the way it did for Olive Leaf, but if Supply had let her finish casting she could have killed them all."

[DigoDragon]

Doc nodded slowly. "That is how it all played out, miss Branch. Olive Leaf was so aggressive against us that she refused to listen to reason." He shifted his stance a bit.

"And we're not without empathy. Addawsa said Olive Leaf was gathering medical supplies for an orphanage and asked that we explain the situation to the Olive family. We agreed, and even offered to acquire the meds for the orphans as a sign of good faith that we were good folks at heart. However, Addawsa led us to a building occupied by a Peryton and left us there to die. That just weren't right and we were lucky enough that the critter was in a talkative mood to spare our lives. Shortly after that encounter was when Sari's troupe found us and we accompanied them to this place."

[Pokonic]

Olive Branch nodded her head when the doctor finished, and spoke lightly and without any urgency in her voice.

"Yes, I thought as much. Olive Leaf's biopsy confirmed that she had large amounts of Dust in her system, which goes against what Addawsa stated when he came to me. If the spell had a black-green hue to it, then that means she had a awful lot of it. A point in your favor, certainty."


Livewire looks at him, "Well, you can make broad and useful generalizations about the anatomy and evolutionary stresses and biology and likely behavior patterns of things that eat grass. I was hoping to do the same with things that eat thoughts or emotions. In fact, now that I think of it, the group had a pretty fresh changeling horn -- aren't they supposed to be emovores too? No wonder the topic was tickling my brain. Anyway, that's why I guess I thought it was so important figure out some of the patterns of that sort with things that eat emotions or thoughts and such. If you don't know anything, do you know who in town might be an expert on that? What unicorn would likely be the closest to an expert on such things?"

Heavy Draft shrugged his shoulders, frowning.

"I would think if you don't feel up to heading back to Tenpony to run through Sparkle's records, I would think one of the mages would be specialized in that sort of thing. Now, there is a old building on the east side of the city that used to be the main hub for the Biology wing of Sparkle's Ministry, but it still has working defenses that nopony's managed to crack yet, so it's probably not practical to go in there."

[Gavinfoxx]

Livewire groans, "Ugh. By the time I have enough reputation and clout for the first of those, or combat badassness for the second, I'll have probably stumbled through --with distinctly suboptimal results-- interactions with half a dozen myriad emovores! I just know it -- Equestria acts weird with the destiny thing, and she, even now, has a morbid sense of humor. They never let me where the important books were --well, almost never-- though sometimes ponies took those books out of that area for a bit, or I could figure out what sorts of things were in there..."

[DigoDragon]

"A point in your favor, certainty."

"Do you have any other questions for us?"

[Pokonic]

Livewire groans, "Ugh. By the time I have enough reputation and clout for the first of those, or combat badassness for the second, I'll have probably stumbled through --with distinctly suboptimal results-- interactions with half a dozen myriad emovores! I just know it -- Equestria acts weird with the destiny thing, and she, even now, has a morbid sense of humor. They never let me where the important books were --well, almost never-- though sometimes ponies took those books out of that area for a bit, or I could figure out what sorts of things were in there..."

"That's life for you, kid."


"Do you have any other questions for us?"

"Well, I would like to know what you think of this situation." Olive Branch replied, sounding at least a little curious.

[RCgothic]

"Well, I would like to know what you think of this situation." Olive Branch replied, sounding at least a little curious.

"I wish with all my heart that Supply Route hadn't gone that extra step, that we'd never got caught up in this mess. I could have been home by now, with my parents and sister, rather than caught up at the last step of the way. We're not heartless or unreasonable ponies. Not most of us anyway. We know nothing can bring Olive Leaf back, but I think I speak for most of us when I say we would be willing to perform some reasonable service to demonstrate our regret. But we won't allow ourselves to be caught up in disproportionate and unjust retribution. We would resist that."

[DigoDragon]

"we would be willing to perform some reasonable service to demonstrate our regret."

"In fact, the reason we've been here the past couple days is to perform several tasks for Sari to show our character as reasonable folks willing to work this out."

[Pokonic]

Olive Branch smiled lightly.

"Ah, yes, that I know. Sari has actually informed me of what she has in mind for your final task, and I must say that, if you complete it, you will have nothing to fear from my people. It involves the nullification of a individual who is detrimental to this great society, you must understand. A warlord."

[Gavinfoxx]

Livewire concludes the conversation, and continues with adjusting her weapon, and adding the hardened leather reinforcement to various parts of her clothing, and continues fabricating her headgear, making a final push to check everything and finish everything...

[Hazuki]

"Which one?" Viridia asked curiously, petting the puppy. "It seems like everypony is calling themselves a warlord nowadays."

[Pokonic]

"Which one?" Viridia asked curiously, petting the puppy. "It seems like everypony is calling themselves a warlord nowadays."

"Oh, he's a local figure, and perhaps 'warlord' is a loaded term, but I assure you he is far from a kind figure. He was involved in the deaths of Sari's own parents, for example, and it is rumored that some of the courtesans he keeps are not there on their own terms. His name is Abbaas, and he lives not too far from here."

[DigoDragon]

Doc nodded. On the one hoof, the prospect of killing a pony didn't thrill him. On the other hoof, he didn't like the idea that this Abbaas fellow held ponies against their will. Courtesans? Well, the fun has been doubled...

"Any particular reason you or Sari haven't taken him down yet? Well armed? Hidden? A political figure?"

[Pokonic]

Doc nodded. On the one hoof, the prospect of killing a pony didn't thrill him. On the other hoof, he didn't like the idea that this Abbaas fellow held ponies against their will. Courtesans? Well, the fun has been doubled...

"Any particular reason you or Sari haven't taken him down yet? Well armed? Hidden? A political figure?"

"The same reason most mortal evils survive; he's very well protected and very rich. He's one of the three individuals in the city who control the water trade, and one to sell it at the lowest price per pint. He has fifty bodyguards on him at any one time and he's rarely accompanied alone, and the area he has domain over is one of the safest in the city as well. He gives out water for free for those who swear to his name, you see."

[Gavinfoxx]

After a few minutes, Livewire believes she is actually done. She quickly tries out the armor and headgear, putting it over her (unclothed for the work, she only HAD the one pair of clothes...) form. Her headgear... she had managed to find some durable lenses that fit her vision needs, and placed them in some aviator's goggles, and had managed to find some lightly tinted polarized film which seemed to improve her detail vision while she was using it. Of course, combined with some durable leather and padded headgear (with a visor for shade!), she had managed to come up with a preeettyy swank wasteland explorer headgear. As far as her clothing, the blue utility jumpsuit, with the extra pockets and the 'I'm a mechanic working hoofs deep in a hot machine so I don't zip up the top of the jumpsuit' look, was now reinforced by various bits of leather armor in strategic places. To top it off, the whole thing is put together with a heavy leather duster. It was a very serious, 'I can take down a bunch of raiders and then fix the water pumping facility that they were squatting on top of' sort of look! She was very proud of her work! And the shotgun... oh it gleamed, and smelled like that perfect smell of gun oil, with various new bits attached to it.

With a wave and a brief this-is-kinda-awkward-for-me sidehug, she smiles at the old pony. "Thanks, Heavy Draft! All of this stuff is great! I'm going to go meet my friends again now. See you soon!"

And with that, she stepped out of the basement to figure out... where the heck her friends went!

[Pokonic]

After a few minutes, Livewire believes she is actually done. She quickly tries out the armor and headgear, putting it over her (unclothed for the work, she only HAD the one pair of clothes...) form. Her headgear... she had managed to find some durable lenses that fit her vision needs, and placed them in some aviator's goggles, and had managed to find some lightly tinted polarized film which seemed to improve her detail vision while she was using it. Of course, combined with some durable leather and padded headgear (with a visor for shade!), she had managed to come up with a preeettyy swank wasteland explorer headgear. As far as her clothing, the blue utility jumpsuit, with the extra pockets and the 'I'm a mechanic working hoofs deep in a hot machine so I don't zip up the top of the jumpsuit' look, was now reinforced by various bits of leather armor in strategic places. It was a very serious, 'I can take down a bunch of raiders and then fix the water pumping facility that they were squatting on top of' sort of look! She was very proud of her work! And the shotgun... oh it gleamed, and smelled like that perfect smell of gun oil, with various new bits attached to it.

With a wave and a brief this-is-kinda-awkward-for-me sidehug, she smiles at the old pony. "Thanks, Heavy Draft! All of this stuff is great! I'm going to go meet my friends again now. See you soon!"

And with that, she stepped out of the basement to figure out... where the heck her friends went!

"Hopefully not too soon, kid." he replied, back turned and going through a filing cabinet.

[Livewire should just be able to walk up the stairs and see the group being interrogated right now]

[Gavinfoxx]

Livewire looks at the group, surprised to see them so close. "That's... as far as you got? You barely got past the stairs! I mean, really!"

[Hazuki]

Viridia gave a wolf whistle as she spotted Livewire yelling at them, having worked out an excellent formula for figuring out what Livewire was trying to say, and paying little attention to what she was actually complaining about. "Wow, Livewire, aren't you looking fine? Come and join us. I promise I won't bite." She called over to the mare and patted the seat beside her.

[RCgothic]

Stellar ruffles her feathers at the prospect of what they're been asked to do. "Well won't this be right up Supply Route's street. I can kind of understand why it needs doing, but..." she sighs heavily. "But nothing. It needs doing and three of us have no choice in the matter. Still, fifty would be a pretty high bodycount. Do you know if Sari wants to see us before we go, or should we just start preparing?"

[Pokonic]

Stellar ruffles her feathers at the prospect of what they're been asked to do. "Well won't this be right up Supply Route's street. I can kind of understand why it needs doing, but..." she sighs heavily. "But nothing. It needs doing and three of us have no choice in the matter. Still, fifty would be a pretty high bodycount. Do you know if Sari wants to see us before we go, or should we just start preparing?"

"Sari will likely try to guilt you into following through with it with some kind words." Olive Branch replied, sounding like she was on the verge of telling a joke, "Along with getting you a way inside his compound. However, I haven't talked to the pony who has caused me to drag most of my family into spending a night under a tarp."

[RCgothic]

Stellar rubs the side of her face with a hoof. "She, um..." She looks sideways at Doc and Viridia. "Anypony have any idea where we can find her?"

[DigoDragon]

"I reckon we can try her room first," Doc said to Stellar. "Maybe check in with Joyous and if not then, we go to Sari. She hopefully didn't leave the hotel."

[Gavinfoxx]

Livewire listens to the conversation for a bit, confused. "Fifty? What are we killing fifty of? Giant rats? Wild dogs?"

[DigoDragon]

"Heh, I like your optimism," Doc said, "But it's more than likely 50 ponies."

[Hazuki]

"We should meet with Sari before discussing this any further." Viridia comments from her seat. "As for Supply...she's going through some emotional duress right now." She informs Olive Branch. "The running away and hiding kind of duress."

[Gavinfoxx]

Livewire's jaw drops, and she becomes very, very still. It seems like she has become silent, but slowly, it becomes evident that, very, very quietly, a faint, continuous 'eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee' sound is emanating from the back of her throat. After what seems like forever, she snaps out of it. "Wait! Who is trying to get us killed doing this? Can we get out of it? Oh goddesses, what if we really have to do it! Who are these fifty ponies? How are they trained? How are they led? How are they equipped? Are they fanatics? What is their schedule, organization, and day to day activities like? Do we know anything about their psychology in general? Do we have to kill all of them or just defeat a group of fifty? Where are they? What is the terrain? Are they in a building? Can we set it on fire? Are they spread out? Are they in lots of different groups, or will they all rush us at once? Maybe we can give them all food poisoning, give them all a case of the trots for a day or two. Or does the building or buildings they are in have a working hvac system? Maybe we can make them all a bit loopy? Oh Luna's teats, I don't think I have enough ammo for an extended firefight with that many ponies, especially if a good chunk of them wear armor, even if it was a shooting gallery!"

[Pokonic]

Livewire's jaw drops, and she becomes very, very still. It seems like she has become silent, but slowly, it becomes evident that, very, very quietly, a faint, continuous 'eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee' sound is emanating from the back of her throat. After what seems like forever, she snaps out of it. "Wait! Who is trying to get us killed doing this? Can we get out of it? Oh goddesses, what if we really have to do it! Who are these fifty ponies? How are they trained? How are they equipped? Are they fanatics? Do we have to kill all of them or just defeat a group of fifty? Where are they? What is the terrain? Are they in a building? Can we set it on fire? Are they spread out? Are they in lots of different groups, or will they all rush us at once? Maybe we can give them all food poisoning, give them all a case of the trots for a day or two. Or does the building or buildings they are in have a working hvac system? Maybe we can make them all a bit loopy? Oh Luna's teats, I don't think I have enough ammo for an extended firefight with that many ponies, especially if a good chunk of them wear armor, even if it was a shooting gallery!"

Olive Branch seemed rather taken aback by Livewire's barrage of questions, but when she answered she spoke as calmly as ever.

"I wouldn't imagine Sari has it set up for you to fight fifty bodyguards, especially as she mentioned something about a dinner party. You would be going there as bodyguards to Sari's chosen emissary, who would also be assisting you in the mission. However, I would like to see this 'Supply Route' mare, if only for a short time."

[DigoDragon]

"Livewire, ya might wanna turn back the voltage there in your head a bit," Doc warned. "I wouldn't want you to short yourself. Now, no one is forcing you to join this job if you don't want to. However, Supply, Stellar, and I got a blind date with destiny and I don't intend on chickening out." He pats the mare friendly on the shoulder and turns to Olive Branch.

"Ma'am, been nice talking with you and thank you for the tip. I think we should see Sari now as we got a job to do."

[Hazuki]

Viridia sighs softly and gets to her hooves, placing the pup on her back once more and moving to leave the room.

[Pokonic]

"Ma'am, been nice talking with you and thank you for the tip. I think we should see Sari now as we got a job to do."

"I would rather see the unicorn first." Olive Branch said politely, "And, I assure you, Sari has many problems on her mind, and you and I are all rather low on her list."

Olive Pit did not move from his position at the doorway, and, rather, took a step forward.

[DigoDragon]

"Ah," Doc said simply. "Well, we're not sure where Supply ran off to, but since we need her anyway, would you care to tag along or would you like to wait here and we'll fetch her?"

[Hazuki]

Viridia levels her eyes plainly on Olive Pit, simply staring at the stallion as Doc tries to reason with Olive Branch.

[Pokonic]

"Ah," Doc said simply. "Well, we're not sure where Supply ran off to, but since we need her anyway, would you care to tag along or would you like to wait here and we'll fetch her?"

Olive Branch smiled a small smile, and nodded her head just slightly enough to be noticeable.

"I would prefer to stay down here as you get her. There are chairs down here, you understand, and the topic on hoof is hardly for me to discuss while standing up."



Viridia levels her eyes plainly on Olive Pit, simply staring at the stallion as Doc tries to reason with Olive Branch.

Olive Pit gave Viridia a brief embarrassed grin when Viridia focused her gaze on him, apparently trying to look casual about the situation.

[DigoDragon]

"Very well, we will be back." Doc tipped his hat respectfully and then began the search for Supply. His instinct was to first check the guest room they had been using for the past couple nights.

[RCgothic]

"We'll have a better chance of finding her if we split up. She can teleport, so she could be outside, perhaps hiding the roof. I'll take a flight around the building just in case. Meet back here in 10 minutes?"

Stellar spreads her wings and prepared to take off.


PER [roll0] vs 3

[Forum Explorer]

Supply is currently sitting in the shadow of one of the ventilation things that you can find on the top of some buildings. She's staring out over the city, her face blank, but composed at least.

[RCgothic]

Stellar alights on the roof and takes a few steps forward as she folds her wings.

"So this is where you got to."

She settles herself down a polite distance away and looks out over the city in the same manner as Supply Route. She sits there in not-quite companionable silence for a minute or so before broaching the reason she came looking.

"It's time for your interview. Olive Branch would like to see you in the hotel lobby. The other interviews so far have gone better than could really be expected, if you can believe that."

She lets that sink in for a few moments. Celestia this is awkward!

"And we know what our last mission for Sari is. We could really use your help."

[DigoDragon]

Doc checked out the guest rooms. Supply wasn't here. On a whim he peeked into the bathroom just in case, but still found no sign of the unicorn. He decided to check upstairs with Joyous. Hopefully the ghoul was in a better mood now.

[Gavinfoxx]

Livewire spent some time exploring the building they were in and the streets surrounding it, and the open surrounding buildings, looking for Supply.

[Pokonic]

Doc checked out the guest rooms. Supply wasn't here. On a whim he peeked into the bathroom just in case, but still found no sign of the unicorn. He decided to check upstairs with Joyous. Hopefully the ghoul was in a better mood now.

Joyous was not in her room, and some of her cloths were missing. The obvious solution to this, probably, would be that she had gone out for a flight or something.

[DigoDragon]

Joyous was not in her room, and some of her cloths were missing. The obvious solution to this, probably, would be that she had gone out for a flight or something.

Doc took a look out the window, just to see what the view was like.

PER: [roll0]/7
(ha!)

[Pokonic]

Doc took a look out the window, just to see what the view was like.

PER: [roll0]/7
(ha!)

The view of the city was pretty good, really; from up here, one could see a Pegasus-eye glimpse of the city, complete with a view of the glorious sight of shattered glass-windowed buildings and cracked concrete monoliths that dominated the skyline. The Celestia National Tower in all it's emerald-glowing radioactive glory was visible as it tended to be, but from here it looked more like a actual tower as apposed to a evil rift in the sky.

Nothing flying around, though.

[Hazuki]

Viridia left the room and decided to spend the ten minutes they had visiting the guard barracks, expecting to have slightly more success with finding ponies to flirt with in there.

[Pokonic]

Viridia left the room and decided to spend the ten minutes they had visiting the guard barracks, expecting to have slightly more success with finding ponies to flirt with in there.

The guard barracks looked less like a traditional barracks so much as a break room with guns in a glass case and an armor stand. Compared to the vast amount of stuff that was downstairs, the sight of ten or so large rifles might have been a little underwhelming.

A lot of it, really, seemed devoted to the furnishings. There was a card table off to the side, under a wooden rack full of various liquors that all seemed to be shades of brown, while there was a large refrigerator that stood off to the side of that in the right corner of the room, presumably full of goodies. Some wooden cabinets took up the rest of the back wall.

There was a single brown couch that looked pretty comfrey that was flanked by three matching pleather reclining chairs that looked pretty darn soft; in front of the couch was a single normal wooden table of some size and, lo and behold, what looked like a unbroken television set, complete with a small stack of video cassettes that were in a white plastic holder.

Oh, and Tirkeş was sleeping on the couch, taking up most of it with her legs stretched out and head hanging off one of the sides. She was bare of armor besides the combat helmet on her head, and without anything covering her back a small, long scar was visible that started in at the middle of her spine and led all the way up to her right shoulder.

She also snored; it sounded like a tiny machine was constantly breaking down.

[Hazuki]

Viridia looked around the break room for the guards and frowned only slightly as she noticed that there was scarcely anypony around to chat with, most likely wandering around the hotel during the apparently-tense meeting between Sari and the Olive family. It was only when she follows the snoring that she smiled, her eyes coming to rest on the surly guard and a mischievous glint appearing in the young mare's eyes. She planted the puppy nearby, upon one of the pleather chairs that would surely be within the unicorn's view when she woke up.

With that done, the Pegasi trotted up to the edge of the couch and started singing a lullaby from her youth, very softly, in the hopes that it would keep the guardspony asleep for the moment. "There was a castle by a waterfall..." She started tentatively until she was sure it was helping instead of hindering, then smiled. "With a pink and purple wall, and a princess living there..." She placed each of her hooves gently upon the guardspony's combat helmet, slowly shimmying it off.

"She had no parents and was all alone, she got by on her own, and she liked it pretty well..." She smiled upon pulling the helmet off entirely, placing it gently on the floor beside her and looking over the unicorn's mess of hair. "'Cause she never wore her socks, she had a pet snake, she bought a rad guitar, and ate a whole cake..." She tilted her head while her eyes followed the scar along Tirkes' back, noting it in case she wanted to talk with the guardspony later, then gently took Tirkes' mane in her hooves.

"And there wasn't anybody there to tell her what to do, so she did what she wanted to. Viridia slowly starts to braid the guardspony's hair, continuing her lullaby as she worked on making Tirkes' hair nice and pretty for the day ahead. "Everybody knew the story of the princess who saved herself..."

[Pokonic]

Viridia looked around the break room for the guards and frowned only slightly as she noticed that there was scarcely anypony around to chat with, most likely wandering around the hotel during the apparently-tense meeting between Sari and the Olive family. It was only when she follows the snoring that she smiled, her eyes coming to rest on the surly guard and a mischievous glint appearing in the young mare's eyes. She planted the puppy nearby, upon one of the pleather chairs that would surely be within the unicorn's view when she woke up.

With that done, the Pegasi trotted up to the edge of the couch and started singing a lullaby from her youth, very softly, in the hopes that it would keep the guardspony asleep for the moment. "There was a castle by a waterfall..." She started tentatively until she was sure it was helping instead of hindering, then smiled. "With a pink and purple wall, and a princess living there..." She placed each of her hooves gently upon the guardspony's combat helmet, slowly shimmying it off.

"She had no parents and was all alone, she got by on her own, and she liked it pretty well..." She smiled upon pulling the helmet off entirely, placing it gently on the floor beside her and looking over the unicorn's mess of hair. "'Cause she never wore her socks, she had a pet snake, she bought a rad guitar, and ate a whole cake..." She tilted her head while her eyes followed the scar along Tirkes' back, noting it in case she wanted to talk with the guardspony later, then gently took Tirkes' mane in her hooves.

"And there wasn't anybody there to tell her what to do, so she did what she wanted to. Viridia slowly starts to braid the guardspony's hair, continuing her lullaby as she worked on making Tirkes' hair nice and pretty for the day ahead. "Everybody knew the story of the princess who saved herself..."

Tirkeş's maroon mane was coarse and actually a little bit curly under the helm, giving her medium length hair a funny bunched-up look to it.

Meanwhile, the dog was content to sit in the chair, but if that was due to it being unable to get to the floor, it couldn't say so.

[Hazuki]

Viridia flashed a smile over to the resting dog, content to let it down if it started to whine or something similar, then looked over her handiwork with Tirkes' coarse hair. She had expected the guardspony to wake up during her braiding, but apparently Celestia gave her a bit of luck. Despite being content with the braiding, she had the urge to do something else nice for the mare, so she wandered over to the refrigerator to look around inside it for any goodies she could prepare.

[DigoDragon]

Doc left Joyous' room as there was no... nah, that was a terrible pun he thought. The stallion decided to go back down the stairs as Stellar had the roof covered. He decided to stop briefly on each floor in case Supply happened to be there, taking an extra few seconds on the floor where the spirit and children were the night before.

[Forum Explorer]

Supply sits in the snow for a moment longer before speaking in a dull monotone, i'm starting to find i like this cold. feeling numb is pleasant. i wish i could feel like this more often. She turned and looked at Stellar, her eyes and voice coming into focus.

My apologies. You did not come up here to hear about my issues. I will go speak to Olive Branch. But who is the pony that Sari wants me to kill? she said, her voice still monotone and cold.

[Pokonic]

Viridia flashed a smile over to the resting dog, content to let it down if it started to whine or something similar, then looked over her handiwork with Tirkes' coarse hair. She had expected the guardspony to wake up during her braiding, but apparently Celestia gave her a bit of luck. Despite being content with the braiding, she had the urge to do something else nice for the mare, so she wandered over to the refrigerator to look around inside it for any goodies she could prepare.

The fridge was stocked with soda, cans of beer, and a whole lot of apples and carrots. There was also enough margarita mix and green olives to support a group of middle aged single women for a year.


Doc left Joyous' room as there was no... nah, that was a terrible pun he thought. The stallion decided to go back down the stairs as Stellar had the roof covered. He decided to stop briefly on each floor in case Supply happened to be there, taking an extra few seconds on the floor where the spirit and children were the night before.

Staying a few extra seconds got the doctor a slight tapping at the shoulder right before he tried to go up the stairs, by a small grey colt with black hair.

Who was floating in the air, and had a single huge eye in the center of it's round, dome-shaped head. The iris was pale pink and a foul purple fluid dribbled from it that evaporated before it hit the floor.

"Hello doctor." said the spirit, sounding casual about the whole thing.

[Hazuki]

Viridia stared at the margarita mix and olives, then looked back to Tirkes, and shook her head. Rather than attempt to prepare anything with her mediocre cooking skills, she took out a can of beer, closed the fridge behind her, and stalked back over to Tirkes. Taking a seat at the foot of the couch, she opened the can and leaned over slightly.

"Tirkes, darling, wake up~" Viridia cooed to the sleeping, snoring mare, holding out the cool can of beer to her.

[DigoDragon]

"Hello doctor."

Doc flinched, not expecting so see him here. "Ah, hello, spirit," he replied in haste to recompose himself. "You startled me there. I was looking for my friend Supply. The unicorn that was with us the other night. Did you happen to see her pass through?"

[RCgothic]

Stellar doesn't react much to the comment about feeling numb. Pegasi like her are used to air temperatures significantly below that at ground level, and she doesn't find the rooftop especially uncomfortable. Still, she doesn't miss the implications.

"You're right, your issues aren't why I came up here. But as I'm here anyway, we can talk about them if you want."

[Forum Explorer]

Supply pauses for an uncomfortably long time, staring blankly at Stellar. Do not worry. I have my issues under control and they will not affect my ability to accomplish this final mission Sari gave us. Afterwards I will no longer be your concern. So do not worry. Supply said suddenly, slowly rising to her hooves and beginning to walk to the door.

[Pokonic]

Viridia stared at the margarita mix and olives, then looked back to Tirkes, and shook her head. Rather than attempt to prepare anything with her mediocre cooking skills, she took out a can of beer, closed the fridge behind her, and stalked back over to Tirkes. Taking a seat at the foot of the couch, she opened the can and leaned over slightly.

"Tirkes, darling, wake up~" Viridia cooed to the sleeping, snoring mare, holding out the cool can of beer to her.

Tirkeş, quite slowly, woke up.

She glanced at the soda, and then, as if as an afterthought, looked at Viridia's face.

She was very still for a few moments.

Then, quite deliberately, she spoke. She sounded somewhere between hostile and annoyed, to go along with the flatly displeased look on her face.

"Who in tarnation let you in here?"


Doc flinched, not expecting so see him here. "Ah, hello, spirit," he replied in haste to recompose himself. "You startled me there. I was looking for my friend Supply. The unicorn that was with us the other night. Did you happen to see her pass through?"

"Alas, I did not. However, I would imagine the source of all the angst upstairs is her. I must question your usage of the word 'friend', I will admit; she does not dream sweet pony dreams, much like the dead Pegasus."

[Hazuki]

"Nopony. But there was no lock, or any signs telling me not to, and I was searching for somepony." Viridia answered, keeping the can of beer held out to the guardspony. "My unicorn friend ran away, and I have a dog that decided to start following me." She gestured to the pup sitting behind her. "But I didn't find anypony who wasn't you. So I thought I could try being friendly." She kept holding out the can, quite insistent on the mare taking it.

[Pokonic]

"Nopony. But there was no lock, or any signs telling me not to, and I was searching for somepony." Viridia answered, keeping the can of beer held out to the guardspony. "My unicorn friend ran away, and I have a dog that decided to start following me." She gestured to the pup sitting behind her. "But I didn't find anypony who wasn't you. So I thought I could try being friendly." She kept holding out the can, quite insistent on the mare taking it.

Tirkeş made a face, but, with some effort took the beer can out of Viridia's hoof, opened it, and took a drink.

Taking a moment to get herself upright on the couch, she continued to look at Viridia until she spotted the dog, who looked pretty happy to see the mare.

Tirkeş sighed.

"Thank's but no thanks. I don't need the company; it hasn't been a good day."

[Hazuki]

Viridia gave a slow nod of her head, smiling slightly at the fact that Tirkeş was willing to accept the gift of alcohol. "I hear you." She spoke softly, trying to get across the message that she wasn't going to force her presence on the mare if she didn't want her there. "But...everypony needs somepony sometimes. And this place looks kind of lonely." She glanced around the almost-empty, weapon-laden break room.

[DigoDragon]

"Well, granted I don't know Supply all that well," Doc said to the spirit, "But our shared experience has been of... perhaps you can say 'fire-forged' friendship? Well, I'll go check upstairs then. Thank you. Oh, and haven't forgotten about your offer. We're working that out as well. It's been quite a busy morning for me."

[Pokonic]

Viridia gave a slow nod of her head, smiling slightly at the fact that Tirkeş was willing to accept the gift of alcohol. "I hear you." She spoke softly, trying to get across the message that she wasn't going to force her presence on the mare if she didn't want her there. "But...everypony needs somepony sometimes. And this place looks kind of lonely." She glanced around the almost-empty, weapon-laden break room.

Tirkeş took another drink; this one drained the can entirely. She sounded like she really didn't want to keep talking.

"Sari told me to take the day off because she said I needed a break. That's why I'm here, alone, while everypony else is outside and scouting the area around the Olives. Because I bucked up last night."


"Well, granted I don't know Supply all that well," Doc said to the spirit, "But our shared experience has been of... perhaps you can say 'fire-forged' friendship? Well, I'll go check upstairs then. Thank you. Oh, and haven't forgotten about your offer. We're working that out as well. It's been quite a busy morning for me."

"It has been such for me as well. When you talk to that Supply Route lass, it might be helpful to tell her that her father loved her or somesuch." the spirit replied, sounding somewhat serious, "She seems like the sort who would have a reaction to that."

[Hazuki]

"Alright." Viridia stepped off of the foot of the couch and picked up the pup, scooping it up onto her back as she walked over to the door. "If you do want to talk, if you're feeling better, feel free to hit me up." She said, as she approached the door and walked partway through it. "Remember, a friend can bring nice things for you in ways you won't expect." She gave a flick of her own fringe as a hint to the sleeping unicorn. Coarse hair looked far better when wrapped up in braids. "Bye!" The Pegasus flashed a grin, then swiftly trotted away, intent on returning to the Olives.

Before she walked in, however, she decided to slow her walk to overhear anything they might have been sharing...

[roll0] vs 5

[RCgothic]

Supply pauses for an uncomfortably long time, staring blankly at Stellar. Do not worry. I have my issues under control and they will not affect my ability to accomplish this final mission Sari gave us. Afterwards I will no longer be your concern. So do not worry. Supply said suddenly, slowly rising to her hooves and beginning to walk to the door.

With a flick of her wings, Stellar interposes herself between between the unicorn and the door. "You called yourself a monster earlier! It's that what you want to be? How long were you alone before you found Noise? I reckon it was too long!"

"The wastes... It does a pony no good to wander them alone. What's another atrocity or two next to all that evil? You need other ponies to tell you when you're going too far, to pull you back from that edge."

"I know you're not a heartless pony, Supply. Anypony can see how you care about Noise. And how much that argument earlier hurt you. But you have a cavalier attitude towards life and death that isn't healthy! The way you finished off Olive Leaf... I can't even find it in me to say that was wrong... Just... Cold. Unnecessary. When you did that the wasteland won a little. And yes, it shocked Noise to see that side of you."

"But you don't have to be that way. So your special talent is killing? Then make sure it's killing for the right reasons! Otherwise the tide of blood will drown you... Especially on this next job. We buck this up, the body count is not going to be pretty."

Her piece apparently said, Stellar turns and heads for the stairs, leaving Supply to follow at her own pace.

[Pokonic]

"Alright." Viridia stepped off of the foot of the couch and picked up the pup, scooping it up onto her back as she walked over to the door. "If you do want to talk, if you're feeling better, feel free to hit me up." She said, as she approached the door and walked partway through it. "Remember, a friend can bring nice things for you in ways you won't expect." She gave a flick of her own fringe as a hint to the sleeping unicorn. Coarse hair looked far better when wrapped up in braids. "Bye!" The Pegasus flashed a grin, then swiftly trotted away, intent on returning to the Olives.


Tirkes got a brief look at her own braided locks, blinked at Viridia, shook her head, and buried her head into the nearby pillow and groaned into it.



Before she walked in, however, she decided to slow her walk to overhear anything they might have been sharing...

[roll0] vs 5

Viridia managed to get the last bit of what seemed to be a joke;

"-and that is how Equestria was saved." Olive Branch said cheekily.

Olive Pit was laughing really hard at whatever the heck she just said; chances are it was one of the dirty versions of that story or something.

[Hazuki]

Viridia walked into the room after waiting for Olive Pit's laughter to die down, smiling at the pair pleasantly as she found herself a seat and waited for them to finish whatever reaction they might have to her re-appearance. "Hello again."

[DigoDragon]

"She seems like the sort who would have a reaction to that."

"Hmm, I'll try that. Thanks," Doc said honestly. He nodded and returned to the stairs to hoof it up toward the roof.

[Pokonic]

Viridia walked into the room after waiting for Olive Pit's laughter to die down, smiling at the pair pleasantly as she found herself a seat and waited for them to finish whatever reaction they might have to her re-appearance. "Hello again."

"Oh, good to see you." Olive Branch replied, not sounding the least bit surprised, "How are you doing? You certainty look quite well, regardless."

Olive Pit, by contrast, looked slightly spooked by Viridia's reappearance.


"Hmm, I'll try that. Thanks," Doc said honestly. He nodded and returned to the stairs to hoof it up toward the roof.

The spirit did not pursue him, content in floating around and looking like a freaky pony foal.

[Hazuki]

Viridia smirked at the reaction of both ponies to her materialization, taking her seat in a comfortable spot and looking to Olive Branch. "Why, thank you. You're holding up quite well yourself." She resisted the urge to wink. "I'm good, but curious. You seem to be quite comfortable with me, given my semi-involvement in this. Any reason, or am I simply that charming?" With that, she did wink.

[Pokonic]

Viridia smirked at the reaction of both ponies to her materialization, taking her seat in a comfortable spot and looking to Olive Branch. "Why, thank you. You're holding up quite well yourself." She resisted the urge to wink. "I'm good, but curious. You seem to be quite comfortable with me, given my semi-involvement in this. Any reason, or am I simply that charming?" With that, she did wink.

"Sari told me that there would be others in the group who had no part in Olive Leaf's death," Olive Branch replied coolly, "I simply assumed you were one of those ponies. Would I be wrong?"

[Hazuki]

"Not at all." Viridia answered with a smile. "I learned just as much in that meeting as yourself. And I honestly expect most ponies to be a little less reasonable in situations like this."

[Pokonic]

"Not at all." Viridia answered with a smile. "I learned just as much in that meeting as yourself. And I honestly expect most ponies to be a little less reasonable in situations like this."

"I tend to think of myself as a reasonable pony." Olive Branch said, smiling lightly. It wasn't a happy smile, but it showed a lot of teeth. "Rational thinking in times like these, alas, tends to be uncommon as a pretty pegasus."

[DigoDragon]

As doc ascended the stairs, he saw Stellar coming down from the top. He just smiled and gave a little wave.

[Forum Explorer]

Supply stopped moving, letting Stellar get some distance between them. I try, she finally whispered, before taking a deep breath to compose herself and moving down the stairs.

[RCgothic]

Unfortunately Stellar isn't the most perceptive pony, and doesn't hear Supply's last remark. What she does do is meet Doc on the stairs.

"Found her", Stellar mouths at him, before making a worried face and casting a glance back over her shoulder. She keeps moving though, heading down to the lobby.

[Hazuki]

Viridia gives an amused smile to the creepy-smiling mare. "The real question is which most ponies would prefer."

[DigoDragon]

Doc remained optimistic. "Hey," he said with a friendly nod. He proceeded to walk down the stairs with the two mares. "I bumped into the spirit earlier. Or rather, he snuck up on me. Was quite friendly though."

[Pokonic]

Viridia gives an amused smile to the creepy-smiling mare. "The real question is which most ponies would prefer."

"I wouldn't be one to make due on such assumptions." Olive Branch replied with some amount of enthusiasm, "But, I would imagine that as long as both are in a room, the world gets a little better."

Olive Branch winked at Viridia.

Olive Pit coughed awkwardly.

[RCgothic]

"Friendly friendly, or creepy friendly?" Stellar asks as they make their way back to the lobby, trotting in on Olive Pit's awkward cough.

"We have a doctor here if you want to get that looked at," she says, much more at ease than the last time she was in this company. "We found Supply Route for you."

[DigoDragon]

Doc held back on answering, not wishing to give the Olives any insight on the strange beings that wander the upstairs. He simply nodded along with Stellar's statement.

[Pokonic]

[COLOR="#0000FF"]"We found Supply Route for you."

Olive Branch's eyes practicly lit up at the sight of the unicorn.

"Well, now, you're a bit younger then I expected." she said, possibly in a attempt at humor.

[RCgothic]

Stellar takes a place next to Viridia, whom she greets with a friendly nod.

[Gavinfoxx]

Eventually, Livewire comes back, empty-hoofed, and finds that the group is back together again.

[RCgothic]

Stellar waves to Livewire as she rejoins the group.

[Forum Explorer]

Supply cocked her head in confusion, staring at Olive Branch. I'm curious what you were expecting then. she said softly.

[Hazuki]

Would it be entirely inappropriate to flirt with Olive Branch, or just mostly inappropriate? There's plenty of precedence for it, and I don't suppose my companions would judge me, considering they're the ones involved in a murder trial. Or is that bitter? I don't feel bitter. But it would be cruel to hang that over their heads. 'Viridia, did you eat the last cookie?', 'Yes, but you were an accomplice to murder.' She suppressed a giggle.

[Pokonic]

Supply cocked her head in confusion, staring at Olive Branch. I'm curious what you were expecting then. she said softly.

"I was expecting a spiked mohawk, to be frank. Perhaps a few scars." she bluntly replied, "The bactehranian described you as a vicious killer who ended my sisters life with a single swipe of a sword, but you do not seem to be a especially unkind pony. Tell me, is it true, what you did?"

[Forum Explorer]

Ah, you were expecting a monster. Supply's face twists in a bitter parody of a smile. I failed to kill your sister in a single strike, and as a result she almost killed my friends and suffered needlessly. But yes, I was the one who killed her, and the only one who attacked her at all. So leave everypony else out of it. She said, a little bit of power and emotion returning to her voice.

[Pokonic]

Ah, you were expecting a monster. Supply's face twists in a bitter parody of a smile. I failed to kill your sister in a single strike, and as a result she almost killed my friends and suffered needlessly. But yes, I was the one who killed her, and the only one who attacked her at all. So leave everypony else out of it. She said, a little bit of power and emotion returning to her voice.

She raised a eyebrow. She also continued to smile.

"If that is your confession, then I must say that you could have at least faked some guilt into your voice."

[Gavinfoxx]

Livewire is confused, "Why would somepony feel guilty about defending themselves and their friends against unprovoked and excessively violent attack?"

[Pokonic]

Livewire is confused, "Why would somepony feel guilty about defending themselves and their friends against unprovoked and excessively violent attack?"

Olive Branch, perhaps excessively slowly, turned to face Livewire better.

"And how can you say such a thing with so much certainty? You are one of the two newcomers to this group, correct? Do you even know the reason my sister was there that day? I wish to know how much you know about the dear unicorn."

[Forum Explorer]

I don't feel guilty because I don't feel I did anything wrong. If anyone tries to kill those I'm protecting then I will kill them without hesitation. I suspect your guard there would do the same if somepony attacked you on your way home. Supply said bluntly, nodding her head to Olive Pit.

What happened to your sister was a tragedy. It was tragic that we were there that day, tragic that my friends didn't listen when I asked them to stay inside and let me check things out, tragic that the camel didn't come with them when they left, tragic that your sister didn't listen when my friends claimed to be peaceful and that they wanted to go back inside, and it was tragic that your sister thought she could win the fight all by herself. I feel bad for you, her, and the rest of those that cared for her, but I do not accept that what I did was wrong. But if you must blame somepony, I want you to leave my friends out of it.

[Hazuki]

Viridia shuffled slightly in her seat, putting a hoof to her forehead as she resisted the urge to tell Supply exactly what was wrong with what she had done. For that moment, she would let Olive Branch handle herself, as she seemed quite capable of, so the Pegasus leaned over to instead answer Livewire's question. "When you kill a pony who's surrendering, it stops being self-defense. When you kill a pony who is no longer a threat, it stops being self-defense. Supply didn't just kill Olive Leaf; she murdered her. That is why Supply should feel guilty." She whispered in explanation.

[Pokonic]

I don't feel guilty because I don't feel I did anything wrong. If anyone tries to kill those I'm protecting then I will kill them without hesitation. I suspect your guard there would do the same if somepony attacked you on your way home. Supply said bluntly, nodding her head to Olive Pit.

What happened to your sister was a tragedy. It was tragic that we were there that day, tragic that my friends didn't listen when I asked them to stay inside and let me check things out, tragic that the camel didn't come with them when they left, tragic that your sister didn't listen when my friends claimed to be peaceful and that they wanted to go back inside, and it was tragic that your sister thought she could win the fight all by herself. I feel bad for you, her, and the rest of those that cared for her, but I do not accept that what I did was wrong. But if you must blame somepony, I want you to leave my friends out of it.

"I understand your reasoning well enough, and I blame no one in this room for my sisters death besides you. However, I wish for you to understand that if you fail Sari's next task, I will have the ability to act on my own wishes."

Olive Branch paused for a few moments, glanced at the nervious face of Olive Pit, and continued to speak.

"I wish to ask if you would mind visiting the orphanage the Olive family runs, if you complete the task. Olive Leaf often visited the children."

[DigoDragon]

"I think we offered to do that from day one," Doc said softly to Stellar.

[Forum Explorer]

I...suppose we could visit. I know she would, and I find foals are generally friendly company. But will they really be comfortable around us after this whole mess? Oh, and is it true that they need medical supplies? We could go and get some if that is the case.

[Pokonic]

I...suppose we could visit. I know she would, and I find foals are generally friendly company. But will they really be comfortable around us after this whole mess? Oh, and is it true that they need medical supplies? We could go and get some if that is the case.

Olive Branch blinked, and shook her head.

"Ah, that shan't be necessary, from you. The horse you will soon be killing, you must understand, is in fact the leader of the very same drug production facility so close to Humble. In his death, Sari gets her revenge and the Olives get a building full of medical supplies."

[DigoDragon]

"Win-win situation," Doc whispered to himself. Now it's just a question of how to off a pony with a small division of body guards.

[RCgothic]

Stellar just nods along to Doc's commentary, not having much to add.

[Hazuki]

"Will that be all?" Viridia asks Olive Branch.

[Pokonic]

"Will that be all?" Viridia asks Olive Branch.

Olive Branch shook her head.

"I suppose, unless the unicorn has anything else to say to me. If not, then I will be on my way."

[RCgothic]

Stellar stands, looking to Supply Route for confirmation that this is over for now.

"So I our next agenda is a briefing with Sari? Or is this something she'd delegate to Sunrise or Tirkes?"

[DigoDragon]

"I reckon if one of the guards were in charge they'd come looking for us by now. Let's go find Sari."

[Pokonic]

"I reckon if one of the guards were in charge they'd come looking for us by now. Let's go find Sari."

"Sari's in her room." Olive Pit replied immediately.

[DigoDragon]

"Sari's in her room." Olive Pit replied immediately.

"Ah, thank you kindly," Doc said. "Let's go team, this should prove to be an interesting meetin'." He led the way down to Sari's room.

[Hazuki]

"Farewell, Olive Branch. I hope to see you again under more pleasant circumstances." Viridia gave a sly smile and a wave to the mare as she left the room, following Doc.

[Forum Explorer]

Goodbye then, Supply says with a nod.

[Pokonic]

Olive Branch seemed to think that Supply Route's answer was slightly funny, for whatever reason, but stood up and made her way for the door regardless.

"Goodbye, I suppose. Hopefully, we shall see each other again soon enough."

She turned to the door, making a motion for Olive Pit to move out of the way. He did, by starting to trot away from the building at a brisk pace.

Olive Branch paused for a few moments before she left the room, as if she was going to say something, but eventually she just made a tiny shrug and walked out of the hotel.

[DigoDragon]

"Well, that was eerily painless," Doc whispered to his friends. "I hope it's a good sign at least."

[Hazuki]

"Don't get too hopeful, Doc. Ponies like that are trained to make you think what they want. Then, boom! You're in a bathtub filled with ice and no liver."

[DigoDragon]

Doc blinked. "You know, I never understood that," he said. "Why the ice? You wouldn't live long anyway since you'll run out of glucose in your blood. Are they preserving you as a snack for hell hounds or something?"

[Gavinfoxx]

Livewire notices that for the first time or so, the group is together with nopony else around. "So, um. How did we get roped into something to do with killing somepony surrounded by fifty guards? And... do any of you have any big long term goals?"

[Hazuki]

Viridia couldn't help but think a dirty thought and start giggling to herself at Livewire's last question.

[DigoDragon]

"...any big long term goals?"

"Welp, it shouldn't be hard to figure out," Doc explained. "Supply, Stellar, and I had a bad confrontation with an Olive that was DUI, Dangerous Under the Influence, and after that pony was shoved off the proverbial mortal coil we eventually ended up here doing jobs to prove our character, which in one of them we roped you and Viridia along for the ride. But think of it this way, if we survive this ordeal, then there be one less warlord around and a lot more healthy children. It can't be all that bad."

Doc gave Livewire a smile. "As for long term goals, I dunno. Maybe when I get a bit tired of exploring the countryside I'll settle down someplace with a nice lady. Set up a little practice of my own if I make enough caps for it. Or maybe get established in one of these little bastions of civilization. It's good to keep your options open, right? Well, assuming I live that long, but I'm sure i'll have ideas when I get there. Not so worried about the future right now."

[Forum Explorer]

Long term goals? I guess I don't really have many. Get Joyous Noise settled in and find out what remnants of her past still exist. Befriend the local ghoul community so they don't shoot me on sight. And then I'll think I'll leave. Head off to Vanhoover or something.

[RCgothic]

"Perhaps later," Stellar says declining to get drawn into a discussion right at this moment.

[Gavinfoxx]

Livewire looks around, "Well... before I got to this town, my goals were to run a fully equipped machine shop and maybe the supply chain to go with it. You know, power source, forge, smelter, foundry, metal recycling business, mill, the whole thing. Then, when talking to Heavy Draft, I kinda realized that the reason there isn't that sort of thing is because there isn't enough civilization to support it... and so my new long-term goal is to be instrumental in the upgrading of one of these s--- settlements into a real city-state. And in talking to Heavy Draft, I think I have an idea of the sorts of things needed to do it..."

If nopony stops her, she will spend the next few minutes outlining her conversation with Heavy Draft, including the conversation of the specific things stopping civilization from being in the 'gangs of dozens, with the occasional hundred or two' level, and what sorts of heroes were needed to bring hope and dynamism to ponies, including the seven 'things that need to improve for civilization to happen', including, unbeknownst to her, the water issue that the group seems to be working on already, and maybe how the party can start making progress on getting a reputation as problem-solving heroes that affect positive change? And she also mentions the digression into power sources and how most of the current sources are unicorn-horn-charged and that seems to be okay, but eventually the non-coal alternate sources that were being researched when the bombs fell need to be looked into again, and she also asks about how the party got a changeling horn, does that mean they killed a changeling? and how with Wendigoes, Changelings, and Dream Spirits about, maybe the party should perhaps start looking into lore on emovores, because they will surely encounter others and Destiny and Fate is a real force on Equestria and this group seems like it will be interacting with things like that regularly? And what does the group think about all of that?

[DigoDragon]

Doc nods that he's hearing Livewire's explanation, but this is stuff outside his area of expertise and thus has no more than a layman's understanding of the subject matter. "Well you sure dream big."

[Gavinfoxx]

She shrugs, "Well, it's more of taking my one dream, and figuring out, item by item, what has to happen to make it feasible, and then start working on as many of those as I can make useful progress on. Say, does our current quest support any of this stuff?"

[Hazuki]

"Well, you'll get experience in murdering for political gain. That seems useful for running a city-state." Viridia commented with a smirk.

[DigoDragon]

"Heh, well that too," Doc said with an amused snort.

[Gavinfoxx]

Livewire sighs, "In for a copper bit, in for a gold..."

Perhaps it is her herding instincts that is preventing her from putting up a bigger fuss?

[Forum Explorer]

On that note we should really talk to Sari and see what details she can give us about the target's defenses.

[Pokonic]

For the record, the door to Sari's room was slightly ajar.

[DigoDragon]

For the record, the door to Sari's room was slightly ajar.

"Think that's close enough to apply for an 'open door' policy?" Doc asked his group. The doctor walked up and took a little peek inside.

[RCgothic]

Stellar shrugs, and waits for Doc's report.

[Pokonic]

"Think that's close enough to apply for an 'open door' policy?" Doc asked his group. The doctor walked up and took a little peek inside.

The lights were on, and Sari was in her bed pedestal thing, reading the book they got for her earlier. Her hair looked slightly frizzled, but otherwise she seemed pretty content.

[DigoDragon]

Doc knocks gently on the door. "Miss Sari? It's Doc and company. We wanted to know what you have planned for us today."

[Hazuki]

"Also, questions." Viridia helpfully added to the end of Doc's sentence, her mind drifting to the supposed screwup that Tirkes had committed the night before.

[Pokonic]

Sari looked visibly surprised by the doctor's voice, but she calmed quickly enough and closed her book.

"Come in, then."

[DigoDragon]

Doc opened the door and let everyone in first before following behind and closing the door.

[RCgothic]

Stellar trots in and sits on the floor in front of Sari, having learned from last time that sitting on a sofa might count as too far away! "Well our interviews went about as well as could be expected, though Olive Branch mentioned what our last mission is to be. I'm... a little uneasy about it..."

[Pokonic]

Stellar trots in and sits on the floor in front of Sari, having learned from last time that sitting on a sofa might count as too far away! "Well our interviews went about as well as could be expected, though Olive Branch mentioned what our last mission is to be. I'm... a little uneasy about it..."

Sari, for her part, seemed rather perturbed at Stellar's words, but nodded her head.

"I do hope you would give me a moment to explain myself. One death to repent for another's may seem barbaric, but I assure you that this, in any case, would be for a undeniably good cause."

[Hazuki]

"Forgive me, Sari." Viridia said as she approached the horse and took a seat among the cushions she'd requested the night before. "But may I ask for a full briefing from you, on the task? I don't entirely trust Olive Branch, and there's plenty of opportunity for her to have sown misinformation into her explanation."

[Forum Explorer]

Plus she didn't exactly have a lot of details to give us. The more information we have, the higher our chances for a clean hit. Supply added.

[DigoDragon]

Doc simply sat down close and listened. His friends pretty much asked all his questions.

[Pokonic]

Sari raised her nose at Supply Route's choice of words, but eventually, she continued speaking. Her voice took on a determined tint to it as she spoke.

"Your final task is very simple. A day's travel from here lies one of my kin named Abbaas. He is a shame to this city, and his death will not be mourned. He is a thief, kinslayer, thug, warlord, and smuggler. He keeps unwilling servants in brass collars and consumes meat without shame. His coat is as black as his heart and he took his position of power though bribery and death."

She paused in her speech, looking somewhere between enraged and saddened. Eventually, her expression faded to apparent neutrality.

"I have waited for a chance to have him removed from the mortal coil for some time. As it happens, he is hosting a dinner party within the next two days; his associates will be there. You will be accompanying Tirkeş there, under the guise of her guards."

[DigoDragon]

"Sounds like he's great at parties," Doc said sarcastically. "I reckon his friends are the kind that follow the money and not the loyalty. Are the olives or the mage guild showing up?"

[Forum Explorer]

Supply's mouth twists with distaste. Only two days to plan? Do you have a map of the area, or better yet, blueprints of his house?

[Pokonic]

"Sounds like he's great at parties," Doc said sarcastically. "I reckon his friends are the kind that follow the money and not the loyalty. Are the olives or the mage guild showing up?"

"He has a magi on staff, but that is nothing to be concerned about. The Olives shall not be going, regardless."


Supply's mouth twists with distaste. Only two days to plan? Do you have a map of the area, or better yet, blueprints of his house?

Sari frowned.

"Tirkeş grew up in the general area, which is why I am sending her to be the one to monitor you. However, I would not believe that blueprints are necessary, given you will be welcomed inside and likely be shown a tour of his estate. You will need to be wearing proper attire, of course, which I intend on discussing with you as well."

[Hazuki]

"Are there any particular concerns for secrecy?" Viridia asked curiously, though her mind drifted to what formal attire the horse would be providing them with. Perhaps something that would go with her tie, or be similar to the simply gorgeous bathrobe she'd seen her wearing the night before. "Or are we free to be as overt as we wish? Not that I plan on doing that...and I suspect I'll largely be making certain that nopony else is around to get hurt."

[Pokonic]

"Are there any particular concerns for secrecy?" Viridia asked curiously, though her mind drifted to what formal attire the horse would be providing them with. Perhaps something that would go with her tie, or be similar to the simply gorgeous bathrobe she'd seen her wearing the night before. "Or are we free to be as overt as we wish? Not that I plan on doing that...and I suspect I'll largely be making certain that nopony else is around to get hurt."

Sari grimaced.

"Preferably, I would rather you not draw too much attention to yourselves. Assassinating him within fifteen minutes of walking inside would be unacceptable, of course, but I would not suggest you simply outright shoot him in the middle of the dinner. A quiet smothering, alone in the dark, would probably be for the best."

She blinked.

"Ah, excuse me, that was rather morbid."

[Hazuki]

"Not at all. Being smothered in your sleep is comparatively peaceful." Viridia enthusiastically remarked. "Will Tirkes be...amicable to us accompanying her? And has she figured out that I'm not actually a stallion yet?"

[DigoDragon]

"Ah, excuse me, that was rather morbid."

"It's alright," Doc said. "So we have Tirkeş with us, we're posing as body guards, gotta do this quietly... oh and you want to discuss proper attire."

[Pokonic]

"Not at all. Being smothered in your sleep is comparatively peaceful." Viridia enthusiastically remarked. "Will Tirkes be...amicable to us accompanying her? And has she figured out that I'm not actually a stallion yet?"

Sari seemed relatively unconcerned with what Viridia was saying right up until that last part.

"What was that, now?" she replied, sounding as if she didn't think she heard that correctly, "She thought you were a stallion? How?"


"It's alright," Doc said. "So we have Tirkeş with us, we're posing as body guards, gotta do this quietly... oh and you want to discuss proper attire."

"Absolutely." Sari replied, apparently happy to distract herself from the thought Viridia planted in her mind, "Suit and ties for the stallions and dresses for the mares. Or whatever you may prefer, I wouldn't think it would matter much."

[Hazuki]

Sari seemed relatively unconcerned with what Viridia was saying right up until that last part.

"What was that, now?" she replied, sounding as if she didn't think she heard that correctly, "She thought you were a stallion? How?""Oh, funny story!" Viridia grinned. "I wasn't going to be allowed into the hotel, so I had to say that I'm a stallion, because the word on the street is that you're into prettyboys. I was allowed in after that."

[Pokonic]

"Oh, funny story!" Viridia grinned. "I wasn't going to be allowed into the hotel, so I had to say that I'm a stallion, because the word on the street is that you're into prettyboys. I was allowed in after that."

Sari became very still, as if she had suddenly become a statue. A statue of herself with a rather unflattering expression of her face, yes, but a statue all the same.

With wide eyes and a mouth that was having trouble closing, she replied to Viridia's remark.

"Word on the...well then, I suppose I need to speak with someone about that."

[DigoDragon]

"So..." Doc said, trying to regain control of what just happened, "Are 'bodyguards' allowed any kind of weapons to this party?"

[Pokonic]

"So..." Doc said, trying to regain control of what just happened, "Are 'bodyguards' allowed any kind of weapons to this party?"

Sari seemed very happy to get on with the topic that didn't involve her personal life, which also happened to involve murder.

"Only smaller weapons, naturally. Nothing like the swords Viridia or Supply Route have, or the gun, ah, Livewire has."

[Hazuki]

"They're going to take away my sword?" Viridia asked with an arched eyebrow. "How am I meant to accessories without it?"

[Pokonic]

"They're going to take away my sword?" Viridia asked with an arched eyebrow. "How am I meant to accessories without it?"

Sari seemed to be very confused, until she got a closer look at Viridia's sword by leaning towards her. She made a cooing noise when she noticed the hilt.

"Ooh, perhaps not." she replied, "I agree, that is a object worth making a outfit to wear with. Where did you obtain such a thing?"

[Hazuki]

"I'd love to tell you, but the pony who gave me it specifically requested they not be named. Apologies." Viridia answered sincerely, despite the smile on her face at being complimented.

[Pokonic]

"I'd love to tell you, but the pony who gave me it specifically requested they not be named. Apologies." Viridia answered sincerely, despite the smile on her face at being complimented.

Sari frowned at that, but didn't seem especially concerned.

"How unfortunate. Especially given that such a pretty thing is meant to be stuck into living creatures."

[DigoDragon]

Doc squirmed slightly at the thought of driving that sword into somepony. "Small pistols should be alright then? Plus whatever we can conceal?"

[Pokonic]

Doc squirmed slightly at the thought of driving that sword into somepony. "Small pistols should be alright then? Plus whatever we can conceal?"

"Oh, yes, of course. I wouldn't have you be forced to go in unarmed. A certain amount of subterfuge would be expected, but I would also imagine that they would search you for any abnormal objects you might have in your possession."

[Forum Explorer]

Ugh, even worse. Dressing up and going in unarmed? Not my style at all. And somehow I doubt a tour will include his own personal rooms. Not how I want to tackle this job at all. Hmm, somehow I get the feeling you don't want to know the details on how we are going to exactly kill this stallion. Subtle is preferred, and a minimal of casualties of course.

Still can you tell me more about the stallion himself? Is he arrogant? Paranoid? Bold? Indulgent? These details will make things much easier to predict what he will do and thus where he will be weakest. Also can you at least tell me what sort of building he is in?

[Pokonic]

Not how I want to tackle this job at all. Hmm, somehow I get the feeling you don't want to know the details on how we are going to exactly kill this stallion.

Sari made a face when Supply Route said that, but she didn't reply just then.



Still can you tell me more about the stallion himself? Is he arrogant? Paranoid? Bold? Indulgent? These details will make things much easier to predict what he will do and thus where he will be weakest. Also can you at least tell me what sort of building he is in?

"He lives in a mansion." she said, sounding slightly bitter, "He is arrogant, yes, but he is far too confident in his own personal abilities to be paranoid. He keeps both griffons and other mercenaries on staff at all times, and he has that large private army because of his own personal fortune. He is no fighter, however; killing him is not the hard part, so much as getting to him."

[Forum Explorer]

That's good to hear, and a mansion is even better. So many points of entry to a mansion. Does he have a balcony? That would be perfect if he has a balcony. Though if I were him I'd have a guard up there, 24/7. Likely a griffon too. Hmm, lets see. Perhaps if I disguised myself as a maid or something... Tell me, do you know what those slave mares of his tend to wear? I imagine they are his maids and servants. Ah, and the collar, is it an explosive one, or just a mark of ownership?We really need to get Tirkes involved in this meeting. I've got so many questions! Supply said, wiggling a bit as her cutie mark sent a pleasant tingling through her. She started pacing as she talked and slowly became more animated and excited as she went.