MLP The Cycle 2: Eclectic Twist-a-loo: Ultimatum - Shut Up and Save the World! Gaiden [Archive]

Derjuin

2016-05-15, 12:52 PM

Peacefully sequestered in your various rooms and homes across Ponyville, an air of laziness has crept in from the outside - another day off from your various youth-based attachments, such as school, has left you with little to do. Although it feels like it was forever ago, only a month back you believed you had been picked to participate in AliCorp's big beta launch of their new magical phenomenon, "The Cycle". Strangely, you haven't heard one word of it since. So much for the "phenomenon" part?

It's still early in the day, the sky clouded over and the sun struggling in its ascent to shine through this windy day in May. Glancing outside, you notice the alluring red swingy-flappy dealie on the mailbox, drifting lazily at the side, though ever ready to let an astute pony know that there's mail to be picked up. Or do they let the mailmare know there's mail to be taken to the post office? Such enigmas remain wrapped in mysteries, one not meant for such young foals to probe.

Thankfully, the red swingy-flappy dealie is not, in fact, singing its siren song of mail-possession - it seems your parent(s/al figure(s)) have already de-mysterized the enigma, and retrieved the mail for you (and probably for themselves, too). There's a small, thin package, placed with care on a sturdy surface for whenever you awoke and felt like plundering its depths. There's a letter, too; both addressed directly to you, though both are lacking a sender and return address.

There is, of course, only one way to find out what your mail contains: by opening it.

What will you do?

Theoboldi

2016-05-15, 01:25 PM

Silver Lining, self-proclaimed pegasus wizard extraordinaire, awakens that day much like any other. Feeling the warmth of the sun over his face, the young colt slowly opens his eyes and gives a short yawn, taking in the warmth and comfort of his bed for a last few seconds. Inside his head, already there are thoughts swirling around of what this new day might bring.

Maybe he's gonna meet up with Bric-a-Brac, see what Gadgets his friend is working on. Maybe he'll play catch with some of the other foals in town square. Maybe he'll show off a few of the card tricks he has been practising?

Yes. That one. That one is really good.

Stretching his hooves and wings every which way, Silver maneuvers himself into an upright position, letting gravity sort out the mess his hair has twirled into in his sleep. Another yawn, this time a little longer, and then he jumps out of bed to fully shake himself awake. Throwing an excited glance to tidily kept box full of tools and items useful for any growing magician, he swiftly goes to make his bed, before heading to the bathroom to gussy up for the day.

.....

Only, there was something out of the place there, wasn't it? Turning around, Silver notices something on his nightstand. Amidst various notes and carefully planned routines (few of which a colt his age could actually perform), lie a package and a letter. In all his enthusiasm, he didn't spot them at first, but now they truly have caught his attention. Who would possibly want to send him a letter? All of his friends live in Ponyville. Unless.....

"Grandpa Clock?"

Head over hooves, Silver charges at the letter, using his wings to swiftly rip open its envelope. As his eyes fly over it, he goes on to exact the same violence on the package.

DigoDragon

2016-05-15, 01:42 PM

There's a small, thin package, placed with care on a sturdy surface for whenever you awoke and felt like plundering its depths. There's a letter, too; both addressed directly to you, though both are lacking a sender and return address. There is, of course, only one way to find out what your mail contains: by opening it.

What will you do?

Dawn Star

Dawn reaches for the package with a hoof. However, as she was lying in bed and the package was on her desk across the bedroom, there just wasn't enough reach. She'd have to get up out of bed, but at the same time she was in one of those perfect comfortable positions in her bed. What's a filly to do? "Eh, give up."

...

"Oh wait, unicorn." Dawn, having just realized an easier option, turns over in bed and points her horn at the package. She uses her telekinesis to carefully lift it and bring it over to her. Once she has it in her hooves, she sits up with a gentle yawn. The filly opens the letter first to read it.

Zelphas

2016-05-15, 02:12 PM

With neither school to face or rehearsal to look forward to, Curtain Call had every intention to sleep in late and stay inside for the day. Any unplanned meetings with anypony he knew would just be awkward, as usual, so staying inside definitely appeals. He still needs to get some of his lines down, in any case, so he has an excuse if his parents prod him to "make new friends" or "get out more", too.

Finally pulling himself awake, the young foal yawns and stretches, splaying his ruby wings out in the warmth of the summer sun. Still mostly asleep, he clops over to the bathroom for a quick bath, using his wings to run a comb through both mane and tail. Just because he doesn't plan to see anypony today doesn't mean he shouldn't look his best; presentation and appearance are half the job of an actor, after all.

Curtain call gives his golden mane one last flick to settle it into place and leaves the bathroom, running through his lines for the Ponyville Community Theatre's production of The Sound of Music in his head. "I'm encour--incorrigible. Uncorrigible?" he mutters under his breath as he pushes his room door open, his eyes falling almost immediately on the package. "Hm?" Who would send me anything? Curiously, Curtain call moves over to the package and letter, delicately picking up the letter with his wings and opening the envelope to read what's inside.

Dudeons

2016-05-15, 02:14 PM

Bric-a-Brac wakes up, finding his head resting on his desk. He wipes a line of dried spit off the corner of his mouth, opening his eyes as the dim glare of the lamp assaulted them. Pulling his head out of the spotlight, he blinks clearly as he tries to assert his vision. Pushing his scraggly hair out of his eyes, he looks back at the desk. In front of him were several pieces of papers, one of which he had been lying on. They had scribbled notes and half-done designs. Bric had been trying to recreate Clockwork, the frankenfigurine that he had lost. However, none of the designs were right and none of the parts he had seemed like they would do it. He sighs and begins folding one of the incomplete designs into a paper airplane. As he does so, he notices the package and letter sitting in front of him.

"Huh. What are these doing here?"

Bric reaches across his desk, grabbing the letter. After confirming it's addressed to him, he carefully opens it, careful not to tear anything. After reading the letter, he intends to go for the package and give the same treatment to it.

userpay

2016-05-15, 03:57 PM

Brazen Hoof

Shuffle, shuffle, thud. With a small groan Brazen slowly wakes to the feeling of cold metal pressed against his face. Eyes blearily blinking open to figure out what he was using as a pillow. "Seriously? Another ingot?" Brazen grumbles pushing the thing out of his bed with a hoof to thud solidly to the floor. He still wasn't sure how the darned things kept getting into his bed. One of his family members? Well they certainly seemed to be keeping a straight face. Sleepwalking? Not out of the question yet wouldn't his mouth taste more like iron?

The outstretched hoof is used to pull the large colt to the edge of the bed to similarly flop out. Narrowly missing the floored ingot. Slightly more awake now Brazen stands and looks about in the morning light, eyes settling on the letter and package. "Strange... They usually wake me if I got something." Shrugging he ambles over to carefully open the letter, read it, then opening the package.

Derjuin

2016-05-16, 01:13 AM

With great force, you wrench the envelope open, only narrowly missing tearing the paper within in twain. On the inside of the paper is a short note, seemingly penned by a shaky, rushed hoof.

Hi,

I don't think we know each other...

And this might sound weird to say, but uh...

Be strong. I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say... good luck?

- SOM

In the corner, you see some more writing...

sorry this is so small... i mean obviously it's small, but anyway
i think there's something different about the disc that's with this letter. it's not like the one my friends and i got. i hope that means something good for you and your friends

Your violent approach to the package quickly reveals its treasure - a small, round object, wrapped up in some kind of soft, cornflower-blue cloth. Upon pulling the cloth away, a bright green light begins tracing a floral design - not unlike a lotus - on one surface of the disc, all on its own; once finished, the drawing glows for a moment before the light settles back into it.

On the cloth itself, the words "THE CYCLE" are scrawled - or rather, hastily sewn. It looks unfinished, actually. On the other side, there's a small tag - one side, the letters "TOB" are embroidered; on the other, there seem to be... directions?

The note unfolds lazily in your magical grasp, and bright cerulean ink figuratively jumps off the page and into your still-waking eyes. Reading it over, it seems like whoever wrote it was in a hurry.

Hey,

So, uh... you're about to play a game, I think.

It's weird and no one really says exactly what they mean. Be careful.

A lot of ponies... and others, are waiting for your help.

- TOL

Only a moment later, you hear a knocking at your bedroom door.

"Bonjour, Dawn! Es-tu réveillé?" You know that voice... it's your mother's. It sounds like she might have something for you to do... or maybe it's breakfast?

Once the envelope is opened, a somewhat crinkly, folded piece of parchment easily makes its way into your wings and/or hooves. Unfolding it, you see a hastily-scrawled message in crayon...

please don't lose hope like we did

everyone in equestria is counting on you and your friends

you can win! i know it...

- MOD

At the bottom, you see a little pink filly doodled, and a skull and crossbones drawn in black crayon.

After a moment, you hear hoofsteps outside your door, and also the existence of a conversation, though there's simply too much distance and too many doors between you and it to discern anything currently. You can tell it's definitely between your Mother and Father, however.

The letter you find in your hooves is sharply written, but at the same time, pretty brief. Oddly, it's written in a striking red ink.

Hey.

This is going to sound weird, but you and your friends are about to play a game.

Don't trust the skeletons, they're bad news.

- KOH

Your gentle approach to the package eventually reveals its treasure - a small, round object, wrapped up in some kind of soft, dark reddish-pink cloth. Upon pulling the cloth away, a bright green light begins tracing an intricate floral design - not unlike a lotus - on one surface of the disc, all on its own; once finished, the drawing glows for a moment before the light settles back into it.

On the cloth itself, the words "THE CYCLE" are scrawled - or rather, hastily sewn. It looks unfinished, actually. On the other side, there's a small tag - one side, the letters "MOH" are embroidered; on the other, there seem to be... directions?

Unsheathing the letter from its envelope, the letters on it are almost hard to read. It's not that they're sloppily written, but rather, when you try to focus on them, they almost look like they start to vibrate in place.

Hi!

With this letter you'll find a really fun game. I hope you and your friends all got their copies at the same time; my friends and I actually need a bit of help in it, and you and your friends would be a perfect fit!

See you soon!

- QOT

The letters "QOT" in particular feel like they're drilling into your mind, but as quickly as they start, the odd feeling passes and the note itself feels... normal.

Your careful approach to the package reveals that the box was quite sturdy, and its quarry, safe - a small, round object, wrapped up in some kind of soft, dark red cloth. Upon pulling the cloth away, a bright green light begins tracing a floral pattern - not unlike a lotus - on one surface of the disc, all on its own; once finished, the drawing glows for a moment before the light settles back into it.

On the cloth itself, the words "THE CYCLE" are scrawled - or rather, hastily sewn. It looks unfinished, actually. On the other side, there's a small tag - one side, the letters "KOB" are embroidered; on the other, there seem to be... directions?

Zelphas

2016-05-16, 01:29 AM

Curtain Call reads and rereads the small note, his snout crinkled in confusion. "Everyone in Equestria..." The note doesn't make sense, not without context. Maybe it's a joke, a prank by one of the fillies at school; he's had his share of bullying as the awkward, quiet kid in class. No matter what's happening, it couldn't be serious...

'Hero of Equestria'... now that's a role... the little voice in his mind, the one that pushes him to aim for bigger and bigger roles on stage, whispers in his mind. Unconsciously, Curtain Call's neck straightens, his head rising slightly into a more confident pose. He ignores the voices outside his room--If they need me, they'll call-- and places the note gently on the table, picking up the package in one hoof. "Okay then, MOD, let's see what 'Everyone in Equestria' is counting on," he mutters to himself, quickly opening the package.

DigoDragon

2016-05-16, 05:46 AM

The note unfolds lazily in your magical grasp, and bright cerulean ink figuratively jumps off the page and into your still-waking eyes. Reading it over, it seems like whoever wrote it was in a hurry.

Hey,

So, uh... you're about to play a game, I think.

It's weird and no one really says exactly what they mean. Be careful.

A lot of ponies... and others, are waiting for your help.

- TOL

Only a moment later, you hear a knocking at your bedroom door.

"Bonjour, Dawn! Es-tu réveillé?" You know that voice... it's your mother's. It sounds like she might have something for you to do... or maybe it's breakfast?

Dawn Star

The filly puts the letter down. Hoping it's the call for breakfast, she lets out a yawn as she slowly gets up. "Oui, maman!" Dawn replies. She uses her telekinesis to open the door, running a hoof hastily through her hair to be presentable.

"Bonjour, maman. How are you, this morning?"

Theoboldi

2016-05-16, 08:03 AM

userpay

2016-05-16, 09:47 AM

Brazen Hoof

An eyebrow arches in surprise as he reads over the letter. A game? QOT? Something flutters in the back of Brazen's mind but just as quickly as it's felt its gone. Then the real reveal. Brazen's eyes go large as "THE CYCLE" is revealed, gaze darting between the words and the forming lotus. Brazen had never gotten a game presented quite like this before. The lotus, the cloth, it certainly was living up the the mystique surrounding it. KOB... Brazen wondered if the game was going to be full of names like that. In that regard it was certainly annoying but perhaps one way to deal with spoilers? Eagerly the colt reads over the accompanying tag, though not without a glance at the letter. If the others also got a copy... Well wouldn't be a bad idea to try and get a head start!

Dudeons

2016-05-17, 08:48 AM

Bric looks over the message, curious about the ambiguous nature of it. It was almost ominous about how impersonal yet direct it was. Shrugging this off as paranoia, Bric tries to examine the package. However, it does little to demystify this mystery.

"KOH? MOH? Skeletons?" Bric questions, "Who does this guy think he is?"

He starts reading the directions, hoping for something a little more straightforward.

Derjuin

2016-05-17, 02:02 PM

In your hooves, the package comes apart easily; within it, you find a small, round object, wrapped up in some kind of soft, pale yellow cloth. Upon pulling the cloth away, a bright green light begins tracing a floral design - not unlike a lotus - on one surface of the disc, all on its own; once finished, the drawing glows for a moment before the light settles back into it.

On the cloth itself, the words "THE CYCLE" are scrawled - or rather, hastily sewn. It looks unfinished, actually. On the other side, there's a small tag - one side, the letters "BOH" are embroidered; on the other, there seem to be... directions?

ALPHA RELEASE 2.1.45238

PLACE DISC ON FLAT SUMMONING CLOTH, LOTUS SIGIL UP

INCANT THE PHRASE OF POWER

"DO WHAT YOU WILL"

FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS AS GIVEN BY TRANSFER SPRITE

WELCOME TO "THE CYCLE", BARD OF HOPE

Beyond that, there's nary a trace of what else either object could be used for.

"Oh! You are awake! I did not expect you to be up so early," Morning says with a smile. "I am well. Did you find your package? Your father and I are both curious as to what you have received," she turns around and nods toward the kitchen. "Come, there are still oats and hay for your breakfast. Bring the package too, non?"

She heads toward the kitchen, and you can hear your father, Reuben, saying something from there, though you can't quite make out what it is.

Reading the instructions, they are quite brief and truncated, as if done in a hurry. You get the feeling that maybe this wasn't ready for any kind of public release...

ALPHA RELEASE 2.1.45238

PLACE DISC ON FLAT SUMMONING CLOTH, LOTUS SIGIL UP

INCANT THE PHRASE OF POWER

"DO WHAT YOU WILL"

FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS AS GIVEN BY TRANSFER SPRITE

WELCOME TO "THE CYCLE", THIEF OF BREATH

In the distance, you hear a door swing open and then shut, and then the faint clip-clop of hooves on flooring. It sounds like your mother's just come home.

Reading the instructions, they are rather short and to-the-point, as if done in a hurry. You get the feeling that maybe this wasn't ready for any kind of public release... in fact, they read more like sheet notes than actual directions.

ALPHA RELEASE 2.1.45238

PLACE DISC ON FLAT SUMMONING CLOTH, LOTUS SIGIL UP

INCANT THE PHRASE OF POWER

"DO WHAT YOU WILL"

FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS AS GIVEN BY TRANSFER SPRITE

WELCOME TO "THE CYCLE", KNIGHT OF BLOOD

As if reacting to your eagerness, a circle - approximately the same size as the disc - lights up on the cloth in a deep red light. It seems like it wants you to start playing as much as you do.

Reading the instructions, they are - thankfully - much more straightforward than the mysterious letter, though they still don't explain themselves.

ALPHA RELEASE 2.1.45238

PLACE DISC ON FLAT SUMMONING CLOTH, LOTUS SIGIL UP

INCANT THE PHRASE OF POWER

"DO WHAT YOU WILL"

FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS AS GIVEN BY TRANSFER SPRITE

WELCOME TO "THE CYCLE", MAGE OF HEART

Suddenly, there's a sharp knock at your door, which shortly thereafter swings open and your father pokes his head into the open space. "Hey Bric, your mom and I are about to head on over to Hayburger. Do you want anything?" He cranes his neck around, his eyes stopping on the package, the cloth and the disc, though he doesn't say anything more.

DigoDragon

2016-05-17, 06:06 PM

"Oh! You are awake! I did not expect you to be up so early," Morning says with a smile. "I am well. Did you find your package? Your father and I are both curious as to what you have received," she turns around and nods toward the kitchen. "Come, there are still oats and hay for your breakfast. Bring the package too, non?"

She heads toward the kitchen, and you can hear your father, Reuben, saying something from there, though you can't quite make out what it is.

Dawn Star

Dawn was going to suggest she'd come down a bit later, but the smell of food caused her stomach to rebel with a light growl. Instead she only nods in agreement. "I'll bring the box, yes."

She concentrates on the package with her telekinesis, carefully keeping her focus on it and not tripping on her hooves at the same time. When the filly reaches the kitchen table, she sets the package down and climbs onto a seat.

"Bonjour, père," Dawn says with a hungry look at the breakfast. She starts wondering how she could open the box and eat at the same time. She only had the magic skill for one task at a time... perhaps hooves on the box and magic for food? No, no, spilling the food would be bad. Hooves on food first, magic on box! Dawn starts peeling the box open with her tk while she reaches out to get some breakfast the mundane way.

userpay

2016-05-17, 06:10 PM

Brazen Hoof

Brazen's brow scrunches as he reads over the instructions. They'd mentioned magical phenomenon but this seemed somewhat ridiculous. He eyes the now glowing circle upon the cloth, tugging at the edges to make sure the cloth was laid out flat properly. I wonder how much testing they did in barn... Still that thought is chased away by a cocky grin as Brazen lays the disk down upon the proper spot. Stilling before it with a flick of his tail. "Do what you will." You strange little thing... Brazen watching eagerly to see what happens.

Dudeons

2016-05-17, 06:35 PM

Reading the instructions, they are - thankfully - much more straightforward than the mysterious letter, though they still don't explain themselves.

ALPHA RELEASE 2.1.45238

PLACE DISC ON FLAT SUMMONING CLOTH, LOTUS SIGIL UP

INCANT THE PHRASE OF POWER

"DO WHAT YOU WILL"

FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS AS GIVEN BY TRANSFER SPRITE

WELCOME TO "THE CYCLE", MAGE OF HEART

Suddenly, there's a sharp knock at your door, which shortly thereafter swings open and your father pokes his head into the open space. "Hey Bric, your mom and I are about to head on over to Hayburger. Do you want anything?" He cranes his neck around, his eyes stopping on the package, the cloth and the disc, though he doesn't say anything more.

Bric doesn't answer right away, feeling engrossed in the mysterious device. He reads the instructions carefully, looking up after completing them. He considers asking his father about the origins of the box, but hesitates. If his father indeed left the box, then he'd learn nothing new. However, if the box wasn't from his father, then he would take it away and investigate it himself, leaving Bric out of the loop. The desire for knowledge and possession clashed in Bric's young mind, eventually resolving with possession taking dominance.

"The usual," Bric says nonchalantly, setting the instructions down and waiting for his father's response.

Zelphas

2016-05-17, 06:55 PM

Curtain Call sees what's in the package... and his wings flutter a little in excitement. The Cycle! He had signed up for the beta testing as a way to try new things; after all, role-playing games were just acting with statistics tacked on the end, right? He hadn't known that they'd be having supplemental content! They even have props, which makes everything so much better! Granted, this supplemental content didn't really make much sense right now, and he is kind of disappointed that from the looks of it he doesn't get to choose his role in the game, but still it's right in his comfort zone!

Exitedly, Curtain Call lays the cloth down in his room, pushing aside stacks of scripts and random bits of costume to make room. He places the disc on the cloth and straightens up, taking a few deep breaths and shaking out his mane. He pauses for a short moment before intoning in his best Canterlot Royal voice, "Do What You--Oh! Hold on!"

Curtain call hurriedly canters over to his door and pushes it open, calling out in a much more reserved tone, "Mom! Dad! I just got a new game in here, so I'm just going to try it out quick, okay? Do you need me before I start?" He waits for an answer before shutting the door once more and returning to the disk. He gets himself situated, raises his voice, and chants:

"Do What You Will!"

Theoboldi

2016-05-18, 09:40 AM

Thief of Breath? For a moment, Silver begins to grin. Yeah, he could get used to being called that. If this copy is directed specifically at him, that is. Behold, Ponyville, as wizard extraordinaire Silver Lining steals away the very breath from your lungs and makes you gasp in su-

Hearing his mother coming home snaps him out of it, however, and his young mind returns to some semblance of reality. "All flattery aside, this is still really dang weird." Alas, by this point nothing can stop him anymore. He places the cloth down on his table alongside the city, then quickly heads out of his room.

"Mom, that Cycle game I applied for finally got delivered! I'm gonna test it out in my room!" Not even really waiting for the answer, the little colt rushes over to the bathroom, where he spends a few minutes to make himself look presentable. After all, even if it isn't a multiplayer game, he won't be caught dead looking like he just got out of bed.

Derjuin

2016-05-19, 12:43 AM

"Hey, Dawn," your father chirps, watching you unpack the box while eating at the same time. "That came in the mail for you today. Weirdest thing, huh? It doesn't even have a return address or anything. I wonder how it even got into the mail system?" He ponders, looking on.

As you open the package, your mother turns back around to see its contents unveiled into your magical grasp. She gives an approving coo to the bright yellow cloth, which is wrapped around a small, round disc with a hole punched through the middle. Almost immediately after the cloth comes off, a bright green light flashes into being and traces a floral pattern - much like a lotus - on one side of the disc. The cloth itself is silky and has "THE CYCLE" hastily embroidered onto it; a small tag sticks out from its edge. On one side, the letters "HOL" are stitched; on the other, there appear to be directions.

ALPHA RELEASE 2.1.45238

PLACE DISC ON FLAT SUMMONING CLOTH, LOTUS SIGIL UP

INCANT THE PHRASE OF POWER

"DO WHAT YOU WILL"

FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS AS GIVEN BY TRANSFER SPRITE

WELCOME TO "THE CYCLE", HEIR OF LIGHT

Both your mother and father seem intrigued by the disc's lightshow, curious themselves what it's for. Distracted, they don't seem to notice the cloth - a pattern has started to form on it involving six hexagons, several interconnecting and intertwining circles behind them, and in the center, what appears to be a wheel containing two galaxies. Three of the hexagons are blank; in the other three, there's stylized images of a gear, a droplet of ...water?, and a pair of feathery pegasus-looking wings.

As you finish uttering the words, the lotus pattern once again begins to glow as the disc spins in place, hovering up and over the cloth. It continues spinning up - faster and faster - until the disc begins to wobble around the center. Soon, all you can see is a black-and-green flashing sphere. Then, with a burst of brilliant light, it is no more, including the cloth; in the aftermath, the fading light coalesces into a ball of light, inhabiting a ghostly-looking helmet and "wielding" a spear and a regal-looking shield.

It looks... floats? In your general direction, and you feel an odd sensation, as if a voice were being projected directly into your head.

"Knight of Blood! The time has finally come. We will usher you to your destination, the realm of the Cycle. You need only follow our instructions." It then simply floats there silently.

"Gotcha. Hey, don't have too much fun while we're out." Cart Wheel says, turning around and trotting away, leaving your door hanging open just an inch. Then, he pops in again, looking toward the package again. "Oh hey, is that the package that was in the mail? When we get back, you'll have to show us what was in it. So mysterious!" A sudden growling from his stomach wrenches his train of thought back, however; he chuckles and adds, "After lunch. Be back soon!"

He trots away and you can hear a conversation spring up, just in time for it to be further muffled and then silenced by the front door. Turning your attention back to the package, you notice something odd about the cloth - a pattern has started to form on it involving six hexagons, several interconnecting and intertwining circles behind them, and in the center, what appears to be a wheel containing two galaxies. Three of the hexagons are blank; in the other three, there's stylized images of a gear, a droplet of ...water?, and a pair of feathery pegasus-looking wings.

"Oh, good morning dear! I don't think there's anything right now, so have fun."

As you finish uttering the words, the lotus pattern once again begins to glow as the disc spins in place, hovering up and over the cloth. It continues spinning up - faster and faster - until the disc begins to wobble around the center. Soon, all you can see is a black-and-green flashing sphere. Then, with a burst of pearlescent light, it is no more, including the cloth; in the aftermath, the fading light coalesces into a ball of light, framing what looks like a very basic representation of a dog. It's got the ears, snout, tail and paws, but everything looks sharp and at angle.

It slowly floats down, its angular legs going through swimming motions until it finally sets foot/paw on the ground. It then looks up to you, and a voice rings in your ears - certainly not a voice belonging to a dog, however.

"Bard of Hope! It's been a long time! Finally, we can take you to the realm of the Cycle!" After a few moments, it barks loudly and runs in a circle.

"What was - Curtain, what was that noise? Curtain? Is there a dog up there?!" You can hear your mother's voice like a peal through crisp morning air, and then heavy galloping towards your room.

"Oh, neat! I didn't think that was still a thing that existed. Be careful, don't break anything, okay?" You hear your mother yelling back, though where exactly she is can't be determined. After tidying up and returning to your room, you notice something odd about the cloth - a pattern has started to form on it involving six hexagons, several interconnecting and intertwining circles behind them, and in the center, what appears to be a wheel containing two galaxies. Three of the hexagons are blank; in the other three, there's stylized images of a gear, a droplet of ...water?, and a pair of feathery pegasus-looking wings.

Zelphas

2016-05-19, 12:52 AM

Curtain Call stares at the dog. It's just a basic-looking dog, it's not anything... he shrinks a little bit into himself, his confident pose drooping. Why'd they have to pick a dog as the symbol for this sprite thing? He sighs, unsure of whether he really wants to keep playing the game...

And then the dog speaks. Curtain Call is suddenly rigid, his eyes locked on the movements of the little dog. "Wh-what? Long time..." He murmurs. His mother's call barely registers for him, but he tries to answer. "S-sort of..." he chokes out, then clears his throat. "It-it's part of the game, mom! It's not a real dog! At least, I don't think it is..." He clears his throat again, suddenly unsure about anything that's going on. "S-Scamper?" he whispers, sounding much younger than he is.

DigoDragon

2016-05-19, 05:49 AM

userpay

2016-05-19, 08:02 AM

Brazen Hoof

Knight of Blood...? Oh! Personalized titles? Brazen had just assumed that had been a signed name but this was an interesting turn. The disappearance of the cloth and disk had briefly worried the colt but with the apparition before him chased that away.

"Well they've certainly gone all out... But aye I'm ready. What's the next step?" The shield draws a curious look from Brazen even as his mind turns over the possible implications of his title. Tail swishing eagerly behind him.

Theoboldi

2016-05-19, 08:47 AM

Once again, Silver Curtain stops for a moment, eyeing the strange symbols now covering the cloth. What are those things in the hexagons supposed to be? Cutie Marks? And what are all those circles supposed to mean. But just like at every other chance to take a more reasonable option, the young colt simply decides to carry on, a determined expression forming on his face.

"Come on, Silver! You're not gonna be afraid of a litttle magic, are you?" In truth, he is somewhat anxious at whatever may come next. He signed up for a game, not...well, not this! Breathing out sharply, he checks whether the band holding his mane together will hold, and mentally prepares himself for what he assumes will be a magic comic-book-like experience.

Then, places the disk on the cloth as described in the instructions, and does what he does best: speaking the magic words, firm and clearly. "Do what you will!

Dudeons

2016-05-19, 11:32 AM

"Sure thing, Dad," Bric says, still engrossed in the new toy. He shoves the incomplete diagrams and loose parts off to the side, spreading the cloth out on the desk. He adjusts his desk lamp, analyzing the patterns and committing them to memory. Strange, but more intriguing than confusing. Bric grabs the disk and sets it on the cloth.

"Do what you will," Bric says.

Derjuin

2016-05-20, 02:04 AM

"Are you okay, honey?" You hear, just outside your door. She doesn't open it, though.

Again, the dogsprite runs in a circle, then looks out toward the backyard to your home. "Something like that!" And again, a voice in your head - though the dog doesn't even move to indicate whether it's making the voice or not. "Now, come with me! I have to take you to the tree!"

It runs full-speed at the wall then, getting closer...

"Come out back!"

...and then it phases through the wall, with little more than a wavering sound. Out a nearby window, you can see the sprite sitting patiently near a tree, its eyes trained on you.

As you finish uttering the words, the lotus pattern once again begins to glow as the disc spins in place, hovering up and over the cloth. It continues spinning up - faster and faster - until the disc begins to wobble around the center. Soon, all you can see is a black-and-green flashing sphere. Then, with a burst of opalescent light, it is no more, including the cloth; in the aftermath, the fading light coalesces into a ball of light, which drops to the table...

...and bounces up, off, and down with a tink! sound, landing on an empty chair; it continues to bounce, and eventually seems to settle near a nearby open window...

...until it leaps up, clearing the ledge of the window and escaping to the out! Another flash of light sends rays through the open window and around the edges of the door. A little voice chirps in your ears, but you're not sure where it could have come from. Your parents, meanwhile, look dumbstruck between the door and you.

"of light... outside! come on!" Again, the voice speaks, this time a little louder, and it sounds an awful lot like you, except smaller...?

"All of life is a test. This will be no different - a knight is nothing if not the product of his trials and tribulations. This is but the first in your journey." The helmsprite's shield disappears, then materializes, attached to one of your forelegs. It feels weightless and is still ghostly in appearance, but it moves when you do...

"Show me your resolve! En garde!" The sprite says, shifting in the air and thrusting its spear toward you!

Need a BODY roll! Reminder in case you need it: rolls are made 2d6 + your appropriate score (if fatal flaw doesn't apply) + any edge bonuses you have.

As you finish uttering the words, the lotus pattern once again begins to glow as the disc spins in place, hovering up and over the cloth. It continues spinning up - faster and faster - until the disc begins to wobble around the center. Soon, all you can see is a black-and-green flashing sphere. Then, with a burst of coruscating light, it is no more, including the cloth; in the aftermath, the fading light coalesces into a ball of light floating high off the floor, and the gruff visage of an elderly-looking unicorn - clad in a star-dotted, wide-brimmed hat and short-trimmed, rough beard - fades in from the light. It reminds you of somepony, though the bleach-white color of the face and the ball behind it makes it tough to say who it could be.

"Thief of Breath. We have waited so long to show you the path... it's finally time for you to enter the realm of the Cycle." With a flash of magic from the wizardsprite's horn, a grandfather clock appears behind it and gently floats to the floor. It is entirely grey, and even the face and hands are tinged with the color; in fact, it looks as if it's lost all color.

"You merely need to follow my lead..." With that, the sprite's form discombobulates and begins spiraling towards the case, which violently rips open and begins pulling the sprite inside. In mere moments, the interior of the clock becomes pure blackness, interrupted only by the sprite's gleaming form, though it's growing smaller by the minute - or, perhaps, farther away. From where you're standing, however, the door doesn't look nearly big enough to fit you.

As you finish uttering the words, the lotus pattern once again begins to glow as the disc spins in place, hovering up and over the cloth. It continues spinning up - faster and faster - until the disc begins to wobble around the center. Soon, all you can see is a black-and-green flashing sphere. Then, with a burst of coruscating light, it is no more, including the cloth; in the aftermath, the fading light begins settle on the floor in two pieces - one a simulacrum of a pony, though it could easily fit in your hoof - and the other, something akin to a winding crank for a toy.

Each piece slowly dims until they appear to be mundane, if bleached a stark white that seems too solid a color to be real. After a moment, the two pieces remain silent...

Zelphas

2016-05-20, 02:22 AM

Curtain Call blinks, trying to comprehend everything that's going on. He turns to his door, ready to rush out and go to the back yard-- But no, Mom's right there, and she'll ask a bunch of questions and try to see this new game and be all worried and Scamper might be gone!

He clears his throat again, rapidly making up his mind for what to do. It's just another role. Your family can't know about your secret Equestria-saving activities, so you need to sneak out to protect them. "I'm fine, Mom," he says aloud, stepping softly around his room to reach the window. "It's just... a part of the game. It could be fun! I'll get through all the introductory stuff, and then I'll be down for breakfast." he moves to the sill and nudges the window open, praying to Celestia that the hinges don't creak. Then, he takes a deep breath and holds it, waiting for his mother to go back downstairs. I really should have learned to fly better by now... he berates himself, going over the next part of his plan.

DigoDragon

2016-05-20, 05:44 AM

As you finish uttering the words, the lotus pattern once again begins to glow as the disc spins in place, hovering up and over the cloth. It continues spinning up - faster and faster - until the disc begins to wobble around the center. Soon, all you can see is a black-and-green flashing sphere. Then, with a burst of opalescent light, it is no more, including the cloth; in the aftermath, the fading light coalesces into a ball of light, which drops to the table...

...and bounces up, off, and down with a tink! sound, landing on an empty chair; it continues to bounce, and eventually seems to settle near a nearby open window...

...until it leaps up, clearing the ledge of the window and escaping to the out! Another flash of light sends rays through the open window and around the edges of the door. A little voice chirps in your ears, but you're not sure where it could have come from. Your parents, meanwhile, look dumbstruck between the door and you.

"of light... outside! come on!" Again, the voice speaks, this time a little louder, and it sounds an awful lot like you, except smaller...?

Dawn Star

Dawn reciprocates the confused look, between her parents and the window. "Uh... guess I should... go find where it bounced off to."

She takes a moment to stuff another hoof-full of food in her mouth before sliding out of her chair and making her way to the door. Again, her telekinesis opens it up for her. Dawn looks around for where the light bounced off to. She never thought she'd think up of a sentence like that in her mind.

userpay

2016-05-20, 10:29 AM

Brazen Hoof

"A test?" Brazen muses, lifting a hoof to inspect the shield closer. Brazen didn't care for tests much or at least not the ones at school. Those were boring. Looking back up Brazen's next question dies on his lips as the sprite bursts into motion. The colt recoiling from the spear as the shield shrouded hoof instinctively moves between them.

[roll0]

Theoboldi

2016-05-20, 10:30 AM

Silver at the transformation that takes place before him with wide eyes, his heart pounding like a jackhammer. That face, that whole display, it reminds of something, of someone....but who? He shakes his head, in a vain attempt to throw off the uncomfortable feeling he has during all of this, barely able to listen to the sprite's words.

Mesmerized as he is, he almost doesn't react when the sprite moves away from him, though the clock's case ripping open does its part to shake him him out of it. "H-Hey! Wait! Where are you going?!" The young magician, or 'Thief of Breath', as this game seems to want to call him, takes a glance over his shoulder, at the door to his room. "....Well, Mom does know what I'm doing...."

Not hesitating any longer, he looks back at the slowly dimming light inside the clock, his brows furrowing with determination. Is that little creature trying to test him? Any magician worth his salt can slip through a space like that! How else would they ever escape from a locked box? His eyes locked on target, he rushes, no, charges forward, ready to contort however he must to catch up to the ghostly figure inviting him.

"Now hold up a second! You're not losing me that fast!"

In case a check is needed to get through the case, I'm hoping that my Skill Training (Stage Magic) applies? [roll0] + 1 (Body?) = 7 Total

Dudeons

2016-05-20, 12:14 PM

"Eh?" Bric remarks, his eyes following the light. When it took the form of a miniature pony and windup key, he couldn't help but think of Ol' Clockwork. He watches them cautiously before hopping of his chair and walking over to the miniature. He gives the pony a poke, seeing if it responds. If it doesn't, he picks up the pony and the key, seeing if there was a slot for them to combine.

Derjuin

2016-05-21, 01:21 PM

There's a bit of silence at the door, and luckily, the window is well-oiled and make little more than a slipping sound as you lift it up. "Okay, dear. Have fun." You hear some quiet clip-clops in place, then more as she trots away. Looking down from the open window, the roof thankfully isn't too steep as it approaches the ground, and you see the angular dog below, standing underneath the old tree near old toys, forgotten but not lost from the last summer.

It ***** its head to the side and sits down, its tail warping through several positions - you think it might be trying to wag its tail, but there isn't much actual motion to it.

Looking outside, you see the cobblestone walkway of your front lawn flanked by patches of well-trimmed grass - and above the one to the left, a bright burst of light causes something to fall into the grass. You can't quite make out what it is, but it looks like some kind of floppy plush toy.

"Heir of Light! It's finally time. The realm of the Cycle needs you." You hear the voice calling you again, eerily close to your own.

The spear deflects harmlessly off the shield with little sound, the sprite recoiling and hoisting the spear high to its side again. "Excellent. Now try the same with me." In a flash of light, the shield disappears from your hoof, and a phantasmal spear appears floating before you. "Show me your strength!"

If you decide to take up the spear and strike, it'd be another Body roll.

As you close with the clock, you feel something tugging at you, pulling you closer. Once you're upon it, the feeling is overwhelming; any chance to turn back feels like it may have just slipped away.

You easily find your way into the clock's case, and it feels bigger than it originally appeared. All around you, there is only blackness; but then, small pinpricks of light flare into existence around you - yellow, blue, red, and white. It looks an awful lot like the night sky, except all around you. Ahead, you see a white circle floating, which occasionally warps as your perception changes with the distance. Behind, you can still see your room, though it all seems to be wavering. Your momentum is still sending you toward the circle, and it feels like you're picking up speed...

While neither pony nor key reacts to your touch, you do find a slot on the pony's back, just between its shoulders, for something to be inserted - with your experience, the windup key looks like the right size and fit for it. In fact, you notice now that both the key and the pony share a mark - a small, stylized tyrian purple heart, once on the key and on the pony's flank, like a cutie mark.

DigoDragon

2016-05-21, 01:30 PM

Looking outside, you see the cobblestone walkway of your front lawn flanked by patches of well-trimmed grass - and above the one to the left, a bright burst of light causes something to fall into the grass. You can't quite make out what it is, but it looks like some kind of floppy plush toy.

"Heir of Light! It's finally time. The realm of the Cycle needs you." You hear the voice calling you again, eerily close to your own.

Dawn Star

"Okay, that's kind of different," Dawn whispers. curiosity pushes her to approach the grass that the floppy toy landed in. She looks around the grass for it.

"Just my luck that this game turns out to be like a scavenger hunt. Not sure I wanna go walking all around town for random stuff."

Roll: [roll0] +2 Mind = 11

Theoboldi

2016-05-21, 04:37 PM

As he stumbles into the vast, empty blackness of this strange place, Silver feels a sudden lump in his stomach, the realisation that there's no way back now hitting him like a train. But to his credit, it does not distract him. He made a choice to charge in here, and now he's not letting that sprite (that unicorn?) get away.

Without pause he moves forward, only gasping shortly when he notices the lights flaring up around him, letting him pause just long enough that he is longer really trotting, rather moving forward by his own momentum.

The night sky around him, and what seems to be his target far ahead of him, this whole strange world drifting by like in a dream, Silver stretches out his wings around almost subconsciously. "Am I flying?" is all that goes through the young colts head, the whole sensation so strange and unusual to him that he is unable to find any other explanation. Maybe, if he flaps his wings just a little, he can catch up with that strange white circle?

He doesn't look back, not even once. There's only one way, and that is forward. Flapping his young wings as fast as he can, and holding his hooves to his body in a mad recreation of actual flight, he gives it his all to arrive at his destination as soon as possible.

Dudeons

2016-05-21, 05:26 PM

Well, this strange but straightforward," Bric remarks. He grips the key and inserts it in the pony. If it doesn't respond, he gives the key a few cranks to see what happens.

Zelphas

2016-05-21, 05:31 PM

Curtain Call takes a few deep breaths, teetering on the edge of the sill. Carefully, he steps down onto the angled roof, walking slowly in the hopes that his hooves won't make too much noise. Once he reaches the end of the roof, he glances over the edge at the sprite. "What did it call me... Bard of Hope, right? So I guess this is the leap of faith, then," he mutters to himself, looking over the paltry gap. He takes a few deep breaths, and then leaps off the edge of the roof, spreading his wings out in the hopes that he'll glide quietly to the ground rather than land with a thump.

Body Check (?) for the leap: [roll0]

userpay

2016-05-21, 05:50 PM

Brazen Hoof

Brazen almost stumbles, perhaps expecting a bit more force behind the incoming blow. Backing up a step the colt eyes the sprite warily as if expecting another blow before their tools swap. Now Brazen pauses, considering. This should all be a game but it was certainly something different than normal... He gingerly takes hold of the spear, readying it, then leaps at the sprite. At the last moment though Brazen twists, forgoing striking with the point to swing the blunt end at the sprite.

[roll0]

Derjuin

2016-05-22, 01:56 PM

You easily find the toy amidst the grass, but once upon it, you immediately recognize it for what it is:

The lost Princess.

In your mind, in your heart, you can easily recall the melody it once sang to you.

There's no voice now; only the breeze through grass, the shuffling and clip-clop of ponies passing by, and your mother looking out the door at you. But somehow, in some way, it feels like the toy is begging you to be picked up.

Dashing hoof-first toward the circle does indeed make you feel like you're flying; as you approach the strange sphere, you notice that it's getting smaller... it's most definitely coming closer, however. In just a few moments, the circle is nothing more than a ball no larger than a snowglobe, and as it shrinks, its interior changes, too. You see large, swooping clouds surrounding a bright blue sea - or perhaps it's a sky? - and the lotus pattern once printed on the disc now sits at the center of that sphere.

You don't feel the attraction the circle had on you before, though you still seem to be floating. In fact, you could now probably reach out and simply grab onto it... it could easily fit in your hooves.

Once. Click.
Twice. Click.
Thrice. Click.

Suddenly, the toy leaps from your hands, doing an acrobatic pirouette through the air and landing on the desk behind you. "Thank you, Mage of Heart! It's finally that time, then?" It stops to look at you, as if expecting you to know what it's talking about. Then it ***** its head to the side and nods, as if listening to something. "Oh, right, we're talking circumstantial simultaneity, not spatial or timeline. Um... well, I'm going to take you to the medium in which the Cycle is propagated! I could have sworn they sent out pamphlets with this. Oh well."

"So! I wanna hear - are you ready?!" The toy does a backflip, its forelegs splayed in the air.

Either through the whim of Celestia herself or by some luck with your wings, you manage a slow descent from the roof, even gliding a small amount before your hooves alight on the ground. Dogsprite jumps up and runs in a circle again, looking even more excited than before. "Over here! Under the tree! Come look!" You hear in your mind, then it dashes off behind the tree, out of view.

With shield held high, the fightsprite reacts to your thrust, but fails to account for the twist in your attack - the blunt of the spear connects with the side of its helmet. It pauses for a moment, and you realize that the spear is stuck - with you hanging off of the handle. "So that is the kind of knight you will become... You pass!" After a moment, the spear, shield and helmet are sucked into the light, dropping you unceremoniously on the ground. From the light an orb appears; inside you see large, swooping clouds surrounding a bright blue sea - or perhaps it's a sky? - and the lotus pattern once printed on the disc now sits at the center of the sphere.

DigoDragon

2016-05-22, 02:37 PM

Dudeons

2016-05-22, 02:38 PM

When wound and released, windup toys normally move forward in a straight line. Of course, that assumes they're on a flat surface and they're stood up properly. If they weren't, they would just fall over and jitter in place for a minute. Ol' Clockwork could perfectly replicate a pony's walk, even on inclined surfaces, which is why Bric was so fond of him. However, the beloved frankenfigurine had nothing on this more realistic-looking one. Bric looks over the little pony, wondering how such an elaborate device could've been constructed.

"Hold on a minute!" Bric exclaims, "What are you? And what do you mean by 'Mage of Heart'?"

Theoboldi

2016-05-22, 03:19 PM

A feeling of triumph washes over Silver, and his mouth turns into a joyful smirk. Finally, he caught up to this....thing. Whatever it is, now it can't run anymore. If this is even the same creature he has been chasing all this time.

But no matter. With a cheerful "Ha!", Silver extends his hooves towards the orb, greedily grasping it. "Told you I'd get you! Now tell me what's going on here!"

userpay

2016-05-22, 03:39 PM

Brazen Hoof

Brazen blinks. He'd mostly wanted to just disable the thing, still uncertain whether it was merely a tutorial, or an 'enemy'. Thus trying to knock it out had seemed to be the best plan of action. Being suspended by the spear though was certainly a surprise. When dropped to the ground Brazen scrambles to sit upright once more. At first he just peers at the orb and if nothing more seems to happen moves to touch it.

Zelphas

2016-05-22, 07:11 PM

Curtain Call alights softly atop the dewy grass of his back yard, frozen for a moment in astonishment. That shouldn't have worked so well... The wind must have caught me, or something.

He's distracted from his rationalizing by the excited dog-sprite talking in his mind. "Wait! I'm coming, Scamper!" He calls out in a hoarse whisper, cantering towards the sprite and looping quickly around the tree.

Derjuin

2016-05-24, 02:31 AM

"Dawn? Are you alright?"

In your hooves, the Princess feels just as soft as you remember. You feel the music box, too; you can imagine the toy playing its song alongside your humming, the box within striking each note as you remember it. When your song comes to a stop, the music box within begins to turn, and a new song begins to play...

Complementary Media (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_6ipAgWhK8)

Above you, you see the shining light again, now a glimmering circle framing the face of what looks like your princess doll. It floats there, gazing down at you as the song plays, waiting for it to finish.

"A new song, for a new hero... Heir of Light, it's finally time for you to begin your journey." The circle begins to condense into a smaller sphere, not unlike a snowglobe; inside you see large, swooping clouds surrounding a bright blue sea - or perhaps it's a sky? - and the lotus pattern once printed on the disc now sits at the center of the sphere.

"What happened? Was that a part of the game?" Your mother calls, more curious than worried.

"Eh? I... uh. Hold on." The toy shakes its head, then shrugs. "I'm drawing a blank on any reason not to tell you, so... I'm Clocksprite, your transfer sprite! And you, my young transferee, are the Mage of Heart! Cutie P- uh, my master told me so. Sh-they said it's destiny! That five young heroes - the Thief of Breath, the Heir of Light, the Knight of Blood, the Bard of Hope, and the Mage of Heart would release Equinia from its curse upon the turning of the next Cycle."

Clocksprite looks away for a minute, then casts its gaze to the ground. "I feel like I've said too much..."

Upon initiating contact with the sphere, you feel connected to a faraway place, like you're suddenly standing elsewhere - even though you're still in what appears to be the night sky, surrounded by ebbing galaxies and twinkling fields of closer stars. Just above and behind the orb, you notice the Wizardsprite slowly spiral into being again.

"You are being transferred to Equinia... the cursed realm. It needs your help, your magic, to throw off the yoke of a millenia-old tyrant. But you are not only going there to save Equinia... in doing so, you will save Equestria, as well. For should the tyrant succeed in her terrible plan, there will be nothing left that we know." Wizardsprite floats solemnly, just out of reach; for the first time since its recent appearance, it cranes its neck down and looks at you. You no longer see the empty eyes it had before, but ones filled with a kind of pride, though it might be tinged with sadness. "Thief... no, Silver. I believe in you." It winks at you, and suddenly you feel yourself being pulled into the cloudy orb in your hooves.

Upon initiating contact with the sphere, you feel connected to a faraway place, like you're suddenly standing elsewhere - even though you're still in what most definitely is your room.

Though it can't be seen, you hear the voice of Fightsprite again, in your head...

"Though you do not know it yet, you are very brave to foray into this tangled web of tyrants and heroes... upon your actions, the continuation of existence - and with that, the very existence of reality as we know it - rests. Though, and it is not my place to say it... I think you are capable, along with your friends, of succeeding." Suddenly, you feel yourself being pulled into the cloudy orb, the lotus sigil glowing brightly.

Upon careening around the side of the tree, you see something like a snowglobe, half-buried in dirt. Dogsprite is nowhere to be seen. In the globe-like object you see large, swooping clouds surrounding a bright blue sea - or perhaps it's a sky? - and the lotus pattern once printed on the disc now sits at its center. There's an odd attraction you feel toward the orb, as if something's compelling you to touch it.

Zelphas

2016-05-24, 02:36 AM

Curtain Call grinds to a halt, looking around wildly. "Scamper? Come back!" His eye falls upon the snowglobe and the lotus patterning, and he immediately reaches for the object. "I don't wanna lose you again..." he whispers. His left forehoof touches the globe.

DigoDragon

2016-05-24, 05:40 AM

Theoboldi

2016-05-24, 11:49 AM

"Gra-Grandpa?" Silver stutters, more to himself than the apparition before him.

How? How can this be? Is this game reading his mind? That is, if this even really is a game. What kind of game would be designed like this? A thousand questions race through the little colt's head, each one followed by even more. He cannot believe what he is seeing, what he is hearing, and for a moment he is deathly afraid.

"My magic? But I'm not rea-"

Right at that point, he stops himself. Apparition or not, he is still talking to Hypno Clock! The most amazing wizard in all of Equestria! The best grandpa anypony could ever ask for! And if he believes in Silver, who would question him?

Hastily, he blurts out "Y-you can count on me! I'll stop her!" It's all that he can say, his mind addled as it is, before he has to relent and let the orb pull him away.

Dudeons

2016-05-24, 10:18 PM

"Eh? I... uh. Hold on." The toy shakes its head, then shrugs. "I'm drawing a blank on any reason not to tell you, so... I'm Clocksprite, your transfer sprite! And you, my young transferee, are the Mage of Heart! Cutie P- uh, my master told me so. Sh-they said it's destiny! That five young heroes - the Thief of Breath, the Heir of Light, the Knight of Blood, the Bard of Hope, and the Mage of Heart would release Equinia from its curse upon the turning of the next Cycle."

Clocksprite looks away for a minute, then casts its gaze to the ground. "I feel like I've said too much..."

Bric tilts his head to the side, staring at the strange toy that called him Mage of Heart. He tries to recall what he can of The Cycle. He remembers cutting up a newspaper article about it when he was making paper mache for one of his projects, but details had been scarce. Clocksprite was another question entirely. Was he some kind of introduction guide to the game? He referred to a master; perhaps the maker of this game? Best to just follow along and be ready for anything.

"Alright then, Clocksprite," Bric says, adjusting his vest, "Ready when you are."

userpay

2016-05-25, 07:35 AM

Brazen Hoof

The colt can't even blink even as the sprite speaks into his head. Enraptured by the strange feeling that's come over him. The speech seems to be the standard intro for almost any rpg, yet something almost nags at Brazen. Yet that is interrupted as a new sensation comes over the colt. Panicking somewhat though unable to move as it feels like his muscles are locked up as he's pulled into the orb.

Derjuin

2016-05-26, 02:23 AM

"G-good answer! Let's get go-OH my goodness, we're almost late. Sorry about this!" Clocksprite winds up a foreleg, then throws a sphere - like a snowglobe, filled with sweeping, swirling clouds and a sea of blue - straight at your head. As it gets closer, you feel gravity shifting around you toward the sphere.

As you touch the sphere, a shadow spreads across the ground, even deeper than those left by trees and even yourself. Looking up, a huge, black spot - looking more like a hole punched in the sky than an actual object - has appeared, and it very quickly grows. You feel yourself being pulled into the cloudy globe at your hoof, yet everything else is being pulled toward that spot.

Everyone

Complementary Media (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrxtedscrUI)

You feel yourselves being pulled into the sphere, and away from Equestria. Everything turns white for a minute, and overwhelming sensations assault your minds - a collage of confusion, determination, fear, and happiness. Scenes flit through your memories as if floating on a whim, clouded over by some kind of aetheric swirl of dark purple and blue clouds. You see a family of four ponies - two very regal-looking alicorns, not unlike Princess Celestia and Princess Luna; and two unicorn children, a filly and a colt. Suddenly, the two alicorns disappear, and now only two fillies remain.

In the next scene, the two fillies have grown, and each stands to one of your sides - one with an army of golden-armored pegasi behind her, and the other with a horde of creatures at her back. Between them, a black ball streaked with teal lightning fades in and then out, and you see the two sides clashing.

In your left ear, you hear a calm, yet dominating voice.

"Please, help us win this war against the encroaching chaos."

In your right ear rings a strong, yet pleading voice.

"Please, help me save my sister and my home."

And then suddenly, everything goes black.

...

...

You feel solid ground under your hooves again, though some of you may be feeling it through your back or perhaps even your face. You appear to be in a giant basin, littered with small rocks and the occasional tuft of grass and flowers. The edges of the basin are too high to see out of from your current spot; at the center, there's a truly enormous tree - bigger than any you've seen on Equestria - rising up and blocking out most of the sky with its boughs. It looks unhealthy, though - the bark is torn and ripped in places, giant branches threaten to crack and fall, and most of the leaves on the lower branches are grey and tattered.

Wrapped around the giant, exposed roots of the tree is the skeletal remains of some kind of snake-like creature, its horned skull half-buried in the dirt. The top of its skull and most of its right eye socket are scorched black. For want of animal sounds, you can clearly make out the sound of a gentle breeze through the branches of the tree and the hollows of the skeleton; but even over that, you can hear the sound of hooves, clip-clopping slowly and lazily over stone, over the basin's edge. As the sound grows louder, you can also make out the sound of several muddied voices.

Zelphas

2016-05-26, 02:37 AM

Curtain call springs up from his sprawl on the ground, his wings flapping in agitation. "Scamper? Scamper, where--" belatedly, the magnitude of what he has just witnessed hits him. The hole in the sky, the mass of sounds and sights, the two sisters... he stops and shrinks in on himself, his wings folding themselves tightly against his side.

"This is a game." His voice sounds thready, barely audible in the quiet of the basin. He clears his throat and tries again. "This is a game." Better. Now, if he just kept that in mind then he should be fine! It's just a game, and he's the Bard of Hope; so that means he has to keep everyone's spirits up, right?

Speaking of everyone... Curtain call panics for a moment when he notices the four other foals in the basin with him, shrinking down even more. "U-um... hello.." You're playing a game with them! Act the part! he takes a deep breath and speaks again. "S-some opening cinematic for the Cycle, huh? They really pulled out all the stops... hopefully the rest of the game can live up to it!"

DigoDragon

2016-05-26, 05:41 AM

Dawn Star

"Wha-? Game?" Dawn gasps as her surroundings are no longer her front yard. She quickly gets up and looks around. "Mom?! Dad?!" the filly calls out. She is clearly confused and a bit scared. Where did... where did she end up?

She looks around to see if her princess doll came with her.

Theoboldi

2016-05-26, 10:56 AM

Having come to a sudden, screeching halt from his wondrous flight, his face now firmly pressed into the dirt, Silver slowly pushes himself off the ground. "That was....something..." He presses a hoof against his head, trying to fight back against the encroaching headache caused by his painful landing and all the madness he has witnessed so far, while giving his surroundings a cursory examination.

Immediately, the gigantic skeleton catches his attention, and the young colt wonders momentarily what could have killed such a creature. And perhaps, whether confronting it will be yet another thing on the large list of tasks that seem to await him in this world. In this game.

....No, wait. This isn't just a game! Who just said that? Perking up, he now notices someone else talking, a familiar voice coming from nearby. "Shut up, Curtain.." Silver mumbles to himself almost reflexively. Then, his eyes widen, as his brain fully realizes what he just said.

"Curtain Call? Is that you?" Quickly, he begins running in the direction of the voice, now spotting the other foals in the area. Seems like he's not the only player ("This can't be just a game, Silver!") around. In that moment, Dawn cries out in panic, causing the young magician to stumble in place.

"Woah! H-Hey, is everything okay over there?" By this point, he only really has recognized Curtain Call's presence.

DigoDragon

2016-05-26, 11:19 AM

"No, it's not okay! Where is this place?" Dawn shouts. Looking around again, she now spots the skeletal remains of a... thing. "AHHH!"

She jumps back, tripping over her hooves and falling over onto her back.

Zelphas

2016-05-26, 10:00 PM

"Silver Lining!" Curtain Call replies, relief audible in his voice. Another stage pony! Thank Celestia! He trots towards the other pony he knows...

And then the unicorn filly screams. Curtain Call dives behind the nearest rock, crouching down as low as he can. His head, however, pops over the top, swiveling to look all around him. "What? Enemies? Is this a fighting game?" He belatedly notices the skeleton and gazes at it curiously. "Interesting choice for a spawn point. What burned it, I wonder?"

Derjuin

2016-05-26, 11:26 PM

Dawn

Your calls are met without immediate response; however, in your flailing and falling, you feel yourself nearly landing on something soft and cloth-like, to your side. The little pony princess lays there, dress moderately soiled by the dirt-strewn floor of the basin, but she otherwise appears to be unharmed.

Curtain

Upon gazing at the skull of the monster, you see something twinkle in the burned eye socket for what feels like an incredibly short moment, before the burned area begins to fall away into ash. There's nothing left where the burn was, and you see a squirrel scamper up the tree in a hurry. Now, there's but another huge hole in the side of the skull. It seems somehow even deader than dead, if such a thing were at all possible.

Everyone

Upon Dawn's cry of surprise, the clacking of hooves grows quicker and louder, and you can vaguely make out a conversation approaching; it sounds like there are two mares and a stallion.

"What was that? It sounded like a filly!"

"What would a filly be doing way out here? It's so dangerous!"

"Come on, we have to see if she's okay."

"It might not be a filly at all. It could be one of those gorgon... uh, siren... snake monster things. The ones that sing."

"I hope not..."

DigoDragon

2016-05-27, 05:35 AM

Dawn Star

Dawn slowly sits up. She picks up the doll again, brushing off the dirt where she can. There are voices coming! Dawn thought about meeting them; maybe they could help her (and the others here if they're all lost too). On the other hoof, maybe she should hide if they're not good ponies. Or ponies at all?

She ends up just... sitting there, for lack of a decision.

Dudeons

2016-05-27, 10:24 AM

"Wait, wh- WHOA!"

Bric shields his face with a hoof as Clocksprite threw the orb at him. As he found himself being transferred through... whatever he was being transferred through, Bric is more confused then scared, reminding himself that it's only a game. Once he's deposited with the others, he looks about blankly. Clocksprite was nowhere to be seen; instead, there were four other strangely familiar ponies, including...

"Hey Silver!" Bric exclaims, trotting over to his friend, "So you got the game too, huh? Which role are you? I got Mage of Heart."

Theoboldi

2016-05-27, 11:38 AM

By this point, Silver has noticed just who the screaming filly is, and he gives a heavy sigh. Great. It's Dawn Star. And she's causing a panic. Why would anypony call her here too? She's way too lazy to help with anything." Shaking his head, he turns around to the other ponies, glad to see some familiar faces he actually likes.

"Bric! You got a copy, too?" Seems like all his friends are certain this is a game. Didn't they get as weird of an opening as he did? "Dude, you're gonna get to be the mage? No fair! I only get to be the Thief of Breath. What about you, Curtain?" There is something slightly challenging to his tone, as if daring Curtain to outdo him. After all, rivals like the two of them are in constant competition. Or at least, that's what Silver tells himself.

After a short bit of hesitation, he adds "Hey, uh, did any of you notice anything weird during the opening cinematic?", throwing a nervous glance over his shoulder. He wants to figure out as much as he can before those three voices arrive, whoever they may be.

Zelphas

2016-05-28, 01:46 AM

"Oh, I'm Bard of Hope," Curtain replies theatrically, taking a moment to pose before scrambling towards the tree. "I think it's a support class... did anyone see that?" He trots quickly to the skull, examining it for whatever shiny thing had been within.

Investigating the skull to find that shiny thing. Is that a Mind skill? If so the roll is: [roll0]

if not, subtract 1 from the roll.

userpay

2016-05-28, 07:58 AM

Brazen Hoof

Brazen blinks lazily as the visions fade and the 'real' world comes into focus once more. Weird... Why are they all upside down...? Another heartbeat and the colt realizes that it is him who is upside down, though it's not until Dawn's scream that makes Brazen scramble back to his hooves. "Everyone alright?" He moves towards the others. Scanning their surroundings warily.

DigoDragon

2016-05-28, 08:10 AM

Dawn Star

"Uh... I think I'm okay."

Derjuin

2016-05-29, 03:24 AM

Curtain

Peering into the shadowed, gaping hole in the side of the skull, you see the faintest, gold colored vapor-like trail rise up out of wrecked socket, and dissipate into the air. A few sparkles descend from where it disappears; otherwise, it's merely an empty skull with a carpet of dirt and small pebbles underneath. There's also a few acorns on the ground, some clawed up and missing their caps.

Brazen

You notice an old road, probably made of cobblestones, winding through the basin. Where the road ascends to your left - cutting a gentle slope into the basin's walls - you hear the sound of hooves striking stone and the whisper of guarded conversation.

Everyone

Just over the edge of the basin, from where the voices are coming from, you see a teal-ish blue stallion's head poke over the edge. It disappears, then reappears with two mares' beside him - one light grey, and the other purple. The blue and grey ponies look like they're wearing some kind of armor or uniform, while the purple one looks to be wearing cloth. It's tough to tell for sure from the distance, but you can hear them mumbling between each other again.

"Oh wow, there's a bunch of them. But how did they get this far out here by themselves?"

"Why would a group of foals be out here at the tree? Are they looking for..."

"Don't start with all that 'hero' prophecy silliness, Breeze. For whatever reason they're out here, I don't think it's 'because they just flew in from another world'-"

"- and, boy, are their wings tired? Sorry, I had to."

"I swear, you two... Gale, don't discard the prophecy so fast. You know what today is, right? They could be a sign."

The purple pony disappears behind the basin's edge, only to reappear on the path downward. She stops halfway down, waving a hoof and smiling. She glints in the dull light that pours over the edge of the basin, little golden sparkles alighting on her fetlocks and neck. You can hear their jingle-jangle with each movement.

"Oh, uh, hi there, little ones!" she calls, turning around and motioning to the other two ponies behind her. "What are you all doing so far out here?"

DigoDragon

2016-05-29, 06:55 AM

Dawn Star

Dawn lets out a breath of relief that a group of ponies have found them. "Hey... um, I think we're really, really lost. Where in Equestria are we?"

Theoboldi

2016-05-29, 09:17 AM

Silver reflexively ducks down a little when the adults' heads poke over the edge of the basin, still not entirely sure what to make of them. However, as the disappear again, and don't appear to be in any way dangerous, he quickly relaxes again, attempting to listen to what they have to say.

"Wait, did they just mention something about prophecies and heroes? Grandpa, is that what you were talking about?"

His eyes widen, though for now all that he says to the adult ponies is "Uh, hi there too. Otherwise, he waits until they've answered Dawn's question, before nervously bringing up his own topic of interest. "So, um, I kinda overheard you talking earlier, something about heroes and prophecies and that kinda stuff. What was that about?" His attempt to play it cool is not very good.

Zelphas

2016-05-29, 10:53 PM

Curtain Call sticks a hoof right where he saw the golden... something disappear, waggling it about a little just in case he ends up finding something interesting. Who knows; this might be the kind of game where poking into everything ends up getting you hidden items and secrets! He considers chasing down the squirrel to see if it took anything, but decides against it. He's not the best climber, and he can't talk to squirrels anyway.

Once the new pony adults show up, Curtain Call hastily tries to get in character. So, what exactly is a 'Bard' in this game anyways? Am I supposed to be the comic relief, or is it more of the 'storyteller' aspect? he listens to the filly's--Is she in my class at school?--and Silver's replies, and decides that they've asked the important questions to kick-start the tutorial quest. One thing did seem to be missing, though...

"Aw, I like it when there's a dialogue wheel," he mutters, mostly to himself.

Derjuin

2016-05-30, 05:49 AM

Curtain

Nothing seems to come from the cloud, but as your hoof passes through it, a hoarse and throaty whisper invades your ears.

"...the queen... has won..."

The fragment of a voice sounds utterly hopeless, like the last words of a tragic victim.

Everyone

"Equestria? Oh, I see..." the purple pony looks up, toward the tree. "I can't really say, dear. You're not in, uh, 'Equestria' anymore. You're nearly smack-dab in the middle of the principality of Equinia. Her Majesty, Princess Lily, rules this land." She looks around, almost nervously.

"Today is a very important day, you see," she walks a little closer, smiling. Her two comrades begin descending with her, though they stay behind her. "A little background for you - my name's Fetty. Fetty Lock, minstrel extraordinaire! My troupe and I are actually heading to the capital today to perform for Li- uh, Princess Lily for this special day. She says the ancient prophecy of the Cycle will begin its conclusion today, with the lifting of the Veil. So, my fellow ...performers, are going to give the Princess a show she'll never forget, to commemorate this day!" The grey and blue ponies glance at each other and slowly nod.

"The prophecy says that when the Veil is lifted -" she points behind her, and on the slit of a horizon you can see, you notice there are dark grey clouds on all sides "- the Heroes will revive the elements and all of Equinia will revel in an eternity of peace."

"Buuuut," the grey pony, who you now notice is a pegasus, flaps over to Fetty's side and holds a hoof up. "The prophecy's been wrong before." Fetty flashes the pegasus a cocked eyebrow, which the pegasus returns. "You remember how it was supposed to start! The King of Monsters was supposed to try to make peace, according to the Prophecy. Now he's... well... dead. That wasn't part of the original Prophecy. It's changing..."

DigoDragon

2016-05-30, 06:43 AM

Dawn Star

Dawn was still quite rattled and confused trying to make sense of all this. "Equinia... Princess Lily... King of... the veil... Am I, er, are we part of this prophesy thing?"

Theoboldi

2016-05-30, 11:18 AM

"Well, prophecy or no prophecy, I want to help with whatever is troubling this land anyways!" Silver shouts, not really paying head to anyone else's thoughts on the matter. This is a decision he already made the second Grandpa Clock showed asked him to safe this world.

"But, uh, why do you need an eternity of peace? Is some sort of war going on? Did it kill this...uh, thing?" He points at the large skeletal creature behind him, still unsure of what to make of it.

There are some other questions I would like to ask, but I think I'll leave them for the other to pose. Don't want to steal the conversation for myself. :smallsmile:

userpay

2016-05-30, 05:53 PM

Brazen Hoof

Brazen's head swivels towards the approaching noises. Trotting towards it somewhat before stopping, just barely in front of everyone else, but off to the side. Watching as the new ponies approached. Not in Equestria? Well if this is a game it would make sense that they'd say that but so far this seemed eerily realistic. The colt scuffs a hoof against the cobbles.

"This prophecy... Whose to say its changed? If one king dies does not another take their place?" Brazen asks, tilting his head.

Dudeons

2016-05-30, 06:10 PM

"Ha ha, yeah..." Bric says, "What Silver said."

Bric was too busy going over what he had learned so far. This place wasn't Equestria, so it was safe to assume nothing would be like it was back home. Best to be patient but perceptive. He looks over the new ponies, looking for anything unusual about them that evaded first glance.

Mind: [roll0]+2

DigoDragon

2016-05-30, 06:25 PM

"Well, prophecy or no prophecy, I want to help with whatever is troubling this land anyways!"

"Ha ha, yeah..." Bric says, "What Silver said."

Dawn Star

"Uh, do you even know what you're getting into?" Dawn asks the colts.

Zelphas

2016-05-30, 06:39 PM

Curtain Call keeps his hoof in the air for a long moment, trying to fit the words in with the narrative given by the tutorial pony Fetty Lock. He has a flash of inspiration, and spins around towards the group excitedly.

"You said that the 'King of Monsters' was supposed to try and make peace," he begins abruptly. I'm the Bard. I'm allowed to go off on random tangents, I suppose. "Is there a Queen of Monsters? What does she think of making peace with ponies?"

Derjuin

2016-05-31, 02:30 AM

Bric

Your investigation gives you a little more detail than what was originally gleaned. Inside Fetty's loose purple robe, you see a tighter garment wrapped around her neck, breast and shoulder; sitting curiously in between some of the folds of the garment, you notice a small, glimmering purple pendant. It looks like its shape makes a six-point star, but that's assuming the hidden bottom half mirrors the top. Starting at the top of her shoulder, though hidden by her clothing, you see the beginning of a neon green tattoo, though what it could be currently evades you.

You notice that each of Fetty's companions have a cloak covering up the rear of their armor, in the same purple color as their friend's robe.

Fetty nods to Dawn's question, her eyes closed. "Possibly. You could very well be the fated heroes, come to deliver us. Honestly, a lot of us ponyfolk here in Equinia don't really pay the prophecy much mind anymore - which is why the Princess's declaration was suddenly a really big deal." At that, the grey pegasus - Gale - rolls her eyes, but stays quiet.

"Yeah. A long time ago, there was a big war between Purgist and Gildaea - the two moons that grace our sky. They say the monsters of Purgist wanted a new world to live on, and came here, to Equinia. When Gildaea caught wind of it, they came here, too... but the ancient unicorns, King Chicory and Queen Lotus, struck a deal of peace with them to at least leave Equinia alone. That deal... well, it didn't last. When the King and Queen mysteriously vanished, Gildaea was the first to come down and try to instate their ways." Fetty glances up to the sky, hidden by dark clouds and the boughs of the tree. "While Lily negotiated peace with them, they still left their mark on us, and now the war they wage with Purgist threatens to spill onto Equinia again."

When Brazen brings up his point, Fetty looks like she's thinking over a way to put it, and Gale instead steps forward. "The original Prophecy named him Helial. So, not the first king of monsters -" she points to the skeleton wrapped around the tree's roots "- nor apparently the second. Since he's dead. If you read the Prophecy now, it talks about the ancient Prince of Life becoming the sovereign slayer, and throwing Purgist into turmoil." Gale shakes her head, and Fetty sighs. "If the Prophecy keeps on changing, it's not really a prophecy, is it?"

"As for the Queen!" The stallion jumps up, holding a hoof in the air. Fetty chuckles and gestures toward your group. "She's supposedly out looking for her daughter, who was lost somewhere around Equinia many, many moons ago. Purgist hasn't seen her since the Veil locked Equinia away. We can't really guess much about it, but if she really is on Equinia somewhere, she must not mind us ponies too much."

Fetty looks back along the path, toward the top of the basin. Shadows begin to loom over the ridge, and she fidgets for a moment, pawing at the dirt with a hoof. "While I'd love to stay and tell you all about more of Equinia's past, I'm not sure we have the time. My friends and I are heading to Mareinev City, the capital. It's where the Princess resides, so if you wanted to learn more about it, you could always come with us and see if she'll talk to you. If what you've said is true - that you came from... uh... Equestor? and woke up here, then I'm sure she'll want to help you out."

DigoDragon

2016-05-31, 05:43 AM

Dawn Star

Dawn gets up, carrying her doll magically alongside her. Maybe their princess is as wise as Celestia and can get Dawn home! "I hope she can help us."

Theoboldi

2016-05-31, 08:20 AM

Silver answers Dawn's doubts with an annoyed "Hmpf!" turning his head up high.

"I know that this world needs heroes, and somepony important asked me to be one. That's all I need to know. And the same goes for Bric and Curtain! Right, guys?"

The young colt steps between his best friend and greatest rival, expecting them to fully agree with what he just said. However, his attention is quickly snatched away again when Fetty and her companions being to finally give some answers to the questions that plague his mind. Granted, the answers he does get raise even more questions of their own, but at least he now has something of a clear image of what kind of world he is in.

For a moment, he gives the shadows looming at the edge of the basin a look, curious that Fetty has suddenly gotten so anxious. But before he spends any time investigating them, he turns back to the group of minstrels, pompously declaring. "You bet I'm gonna come with you! There's loads of questions I still want answered, and your princess sounds like she can really use our help! Besides, I do fancy myself something of a showpony as well, so it'd only make sense for us to travel together."

DigoDragon

2016-05-31, 08:43 AM

Dawn Star

Dawn shakes her head, still doubtful that she was picked for anything. She doesn't even get picked for dodge ball in P.E. class. "I wish I had your confidence. I'm not a... 'Heir of Light' or whatever the voice called me. I just... well, I don't know. Maybe the princess can tell us what's going on and how to get home."

Zelphas

2016-05-31, 07:12 PM

"Hmm..." Curtain Call squints at the stallion after he finishes speaking, trying to come up with a good theory in his mind. Maybe the Queen is only pretending to look for her daughter, and is really planning to take over Equinia? Maybe she went crazy after her daughter disappeared, and is more of the sympathetic monster type? Or... maybe the dragon-skull thing here was evil, and the Queen winning was a good thing! We could be duped into working for the bad guys, and then find out halfway through the game; then we'd have to gain the trust of the other side while working against the group who helped us at first! Maybe...

"Sure!" Curtain responds to Silver decisively. The filly's reaction catches his attention, though, and he trots over to her. "This is a game, right?" he begins, his voice noticeably less confident than before. "W-well, if it is, the best way to get home would be... to win the game. So... let's do that."

Theoboldi

2016-06-01, 12:17 AM

As he overhears Curtain's insistence that this is all just a game, Silver's enthusiasm suddenly dampens a bit, a shadow falling over the colts face. "This...no, it can't be just a game. Not a normal game, at any rate." However, he doesn't comment on it for now, and before too long his expression returns to normal again.

userpay

2016-06-01, 09:32 AM

Brazen Hoof

Brazen's face scrunches up as he processes what they're being told. "Well if prophecies aren't infallible then wouldn't that make a malleable prophecy a dangerous one? Or perhaps it's just been misinterpreted." The colt shrugs. "Anywho I'd love to get back into town. Perhaps there's more answers for us there..." He ***** his head as the others talk of heroes, a smile crossing his face. That would be nice indeed...

DigoDragon

2016-06-01, 09:46 AM

Dawn Star

"Better than hanging around this... dead thing," Dawn mutters. She tries to climb up out of the basin.

Derjuin

2016-06-01, 09:45 PM

Fetty grins at Silver, her ears twitching. "Great! Hopefully you'll like our performance. It might even persuade you and your friends to join us on further ...uh, ventures." She motions behind her, and starts to trot off. "While this might seem like a light-hearted affair, it's certainly no game," she says without turning around. "And there's more to the prophecy than just what's written. Visions of the future are changing to align with it, too." At that, Gale looks pointedly at Fetty, who holds up a hoof as if to ease her.

"Let's just get to the city. I don't like being outside strong and sturdy walls for long. Gives me that creeping feeling..." Gale shudders and quickly takes to the air to land on the basin's edge. She whips her tail and looks down at Breeze, Fetty, and your group.

"And don't worry about meeting the Princess. She loves to meet new ponies, especially foals." Breeze waits for all of you to follow Fetty and Gale up, before bringing up the rear. "She and the Grand Magus are always interested in meetings. I think they'd be even more interested in you, given... well, all that you might be."

Upon ascending the crest of the basin, you see before you a landscape covered in grass in every direction, occasionally dotted with thin and weak-looking trees, their leaves sparse and barely green. Above, the sky is utterly cluttered with dark clouds, though there doesn't feel like there's a threat of storm or even rain; perhaps due to the total cloud cover, everything looks like a pallid tone of grey. A path (most likely of the same cobblestone under your hooves) snaking away in three different directions. A sign is planted nearby; one of them points behind you, reading "To Shetland"; to the right, one reads "To Mareinev"; and the last points directly away from you, and reads "To Arakyss". In that direction, on the horizon, you can see a All three of the travelling ponies head on the much-wider road that streaks away to the right, and upon a hill farther away, you see what is possibly the only beautiful thing in sight: a tall city, gleaming in a column of light that seems restricted to the city itself. The towers of the walls are topped with banners, fluttering in a distant wind; behind the walls, you see an immense, curving and sweeping castle, its parapets and crenelations appearing more decorative than useful. Indeed, the entirety of the design seems to be for looks rather than defense.

In all other directions, there are few landmarks; across the basin, you see what seems to be a town, far away, at the base of a great series of mountains; unfortunately, the boughs of the tree in the basin hide much of the mountains' majesty. The rest of the area appears flatlands and hills, until they disappear into minute collages of grey-tinged color and muddled shapes. As the trio start their trot, Fetty takes in a deep breath.

"O, we're off to see the Princess, the wonderful Princess of-"

"PLEASE, if you're going to sing, sing something else." Gale frowns and shakes her head, as if ready to lodge her hooves into her ears.

DigoDragon

2016-06-01, 10:13 PM

Dawn Star

Dawn whispers a song her mother taught her years ago.
"Au clair de la lune
Mon ami Pierrot
Prête-moi ta plume
Pour écrire un mot
Ma chandelle est morte
Je n'ai plus de feu
Ouvre-moi ta porte
Pour l'amour de Lune"

She sang it more to comfort herself than anything else, and it made her feel better about the whole situation.

Zelphas

2016-06-01, 10:25 PM

Curtain Call perks up when he hears the word "performance". "Oh, you're an acting troupe! I'm sorry, I missed that part of your introduction. Allow me to introduce myself; my name is Curtain Call, and I am an aspiring actor myself, though I doubt that I have reached the level of skill that your troupe likely possesses. If you will, would you please tell me what performance you will be giving for the fair Princess once we arrive?"

Curtain Call looks over the city with no small amount of awe, though his mind is still putting everything in context as a game. This could be the starting city, a safe zone for the most part and where we find allies; or, if the Queen is actually misunderstood like I thought before, this beauty could be a trick to make us work for the badguys... I wish they'd said what kind of game this was in the instructions.

He waits politely for Dawn Star to finish singing quietly to herself, before clearing his throat. "May I try?

Roads go ever ever on,
Over rock and under tree,
By caves where never sun has shone,
By streams that never find the sea;
Over snow by winter sown,
And through the merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over stone,
And under mountains of the moon.

Roads go ever ever on
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar.
Eyes that fire and sword have seen
And horror in the halls of stone
Look at last on meadows green
And trees and hills they long have known." He looks around, somewhat self-conscious. "That one's more for coming home then traveling, I suppose, but you seem to know Mareinev pretty well..."

Performance Check? Why not! [roll0]

Add 1 if this is a Mind Skill instead of Heart, add 1 if Royal Canterlot Voice applies.

DigoDragon

2016-06-02, 05:24 AM

"That was really nice," Dawn compliments Curtain.

Theoboldi

2016-06-02, 12:51 PM

Once he climbs over the edge of the basin, Silver is awe-struck momentarily. His eyes wide, and mouth slightly open, he stands in the kind of awe one feels at witnessing not a moment of wonder, but one of great sadness. This place, it looks....well, like the inside of the basin. So drab, and empty of life. And there, in the distance, that large glimmering beacon. It stands more like a model than a bastion of hope against this pale background.

Even as he starts walking with the others, Silver cannot stop himself from having that strange feeling of dread. And deep down, another feeling spreads within him. One that is melancholic, longing for his home. How would his mom and dad ever find him in this place? Already, it feels as though he has a long journey behind him, full of ordea-

"No, wait. That's just Curtain's song." Still, Silver cannot help but be happy about his rivals singing. That song was quite nice to listen to, Dawn is right about that one. "Hey, Curtain? Can you sing that one again once we've saved this place?" he says, sounding entirely serious. Which he is.

Then, he turns towards the travelling group again for a moment, something having caught his attention. "Hey, by the way, my name's Silver Lining. I'm pretty much the greatest magician (in training) ever where I come from, but you can just call me Silver.

You, uh, mentioned some kind of 'Grand Magus'? Who's that? What's his name?"

userpay

2016-06-03, 11:12 AM

Brazen Hoof

Brazen looks about with interest as they leave the basin. The town certainly is something that draws attention to itself though the colt finds his eye straying to the partially hidden mountain. Perhaps a light tugging in the back of his mind at having something that reminded him of the mines where he grew up that set him more at ease. He chuckles as Gale puts a stop to Fetty's singing. "Let me guess, one of her favorite songs?"

Derjuin

2016-06-04, 12:24 PM

"Only on this trip," Gale grunts at Brazen. "But she's already sung it at least twenty-six times." Fetty, meanwhile, takes in a deep breath. "Don't you dare try to make it twenty-seven!"

With a chuckle and a roll of her eyes at Gale's insistence, Fetty turns to look at Curtain. "We're a bit of both, actually," Fetty answers to Curtain's question, twirling a hoof in the air. "I sing, and we put on a performance for it. Usually. Sometimes it's just entirely a performance, sans song." She shrugs and grins, looking back to Gale (who promptly rolls her eyes). "But what fun is that?"

"Fetty likes to think she's the best singer ever, but-" Gale stops when Dawn starts her song, enraptured by the words. "Now that's a pretty song," Gale says after Dawn finishes. She slows down to walk beside the filly, eyes filled with curiosity. "What language was that? It didn't sound like anything we speak here..."

Breeze, meanwhile, lines himself up next to Curtain, his own song catching the stallion's attention. "Gale and I are actually from Mareinev, so it's a nice enough song. It's been a while since we were back home." Gale nods, looking forward again as the group trots. "It's nice to remember the city before the Monster Accords..."

Fetty does a quick hop about and starts trotting backwards, eyes locked on Silver. "The Grand Magus, Star Spotter, is Princess Lily's most esteemed unicorn advisor. Though, she knows more about odd lore and arcane esoterica than magic itself. She's more like a librarian than a wizard, really; she only inherited the title from her predecessor, Starcutter - the greatest archmage Mareinev has ever had - because he disappeared one day. Maybe you can show her a thing or two, and she'll live up to her title." With a wink, she turns back around and flicks her tail.

The cobblestone path you all follow snakes gently through the grass, a wide berth given so that you could all spread out if you really wanted to. Though there are trees sprinkled along the path, you start to notice that the skies are eerily quiet - there don't seem to be any birds around. As you crest a hill, you see a smattering of small farmhouses outside Mareinev's walls, along with a steady stream of ponies and large wagons entering the city through a huge portcullis gate. In the sky above the city, you see a collection of pegasi, twinkling as they soar through the air, around spires and in square formations.

Being away from the tree-basin, you can finally see more of the wilderness to the east; hills become mountains in short order, though the mountains are mostly low peaks that slowly rise to meet in an impossibly tall, skinny needle-like spire. It is so tall, in fact, that you can't even see the top - it merely disappears into the grey carpet of clouds overhead.

DigoDragon

2016-06-04, 12:55 PM

Gale stops when Dawn starts her song, enraptured by the words. "Now that's a pretty song," Gale says after Dawn finishes. She slows down to walk beside the filly, eyes filled with curiosity. "What language was that? It didn't sound like anything we speak here..."

Dawn blushes a little. "It's Prench. My maman taught me using songs and stories."

Being away from the tree-basin, you can finally see more of the wilderness to the east; hills become mountains in short order, though the mountains are mostly low peaks that slowly rise to meet in an impossibly tall, skinny needle-like spire. It is so tall, in fact, that you can't even see the top - it merely disappears into the grey carpet of clouds overhead.

"So... what is that place?" Dawn asks curiously, pointing at the spire.

Theoboldi

2016-06-04, 04:25 PM

Fetty does a quick hop about and starts trotting backwards, eyes locked on Silver. "The Grand Magus, Star Spotter, is Princess Lily's most esteemed unicorn advisor. Though, she knows more about odd lore and arcane esoterica than magic itself. She's more like a librarian than a wizard, really; she only inherited the title from her predecessor, Starcutter - the greatest archmage Mareinev has ever had - because he disappeared one day. Maybe you can show her a thing or two, and she'll live up to her title." With a wink, she turns back around and flicks her tail.

Silver sighs in disappointment. What was he hoping for? That his grandpa had also somehow ended up here? In hindsight, that idea was pretty stupid, wasn't it? more under his breath then out loud, he mutters "Oh. Well, sounds like she knows enough already if she got her title as an inheritance." There seems to be a slight bitterness to his tone, a mixture of disliking what he has heard about this Star Spotter and anger at himself.

Still, his mood lightens up a bit once the distance between him and Mareinev closes, as he sees that quite a few other ponies are also drawn to this place. "Woah...that city looks pretty busy. Did all those ponies come here for the princess' celebrations?"
He watches the pegasi up in the sky with some interest, trying to see if they belong to some specific group.

To the other colts and fillies in his group, he asks "Hey, do you think they've got their own version of the Wonderbolts here?"

userpay

2016-06-04, 06:30 PM

Brazen Hoof

The colt can't help but grin at Gale's dismay. "Practice makes perfect does it not? Certainly take many more tries than that to learn how to shape metal." The spire draws Brazen's eyes, squinting as he peers at where it disappears into the clouds. "Yea what's up there?"

Zelphas

2016-06-04, 07:22 PM

One of the advantages of having red fur: nopony could see you blush. "Thanks. I liked yours too," he responds to Dawn shyly, nodding towards Silver after he speaks. "Sure."

Curtain call resists the urge to just say "tell me more about the Monster Accords". The dialogue system in this game is a little more advanced than that. "Did the Monster Accords change something about the city, then?" he asks instead.

Derjuin

2016-06-06, 03:22 PM

"Huh. That's interesting. Here, most of us all speak the same language, unless you go up to Cloudheim or deep down into Shetland. Or into Arachyss, but uh, that's probably not a good idea unless you get Star Spotter to go with you. She's apparently friends with all the spiders out there. Creeps me out," Gale shudders and shakes her head, her wings flapping up erratically. When both Dawn and Brazen point out the mountain, Gale flaps up and begins to tread air, pointing toward where the mountain meets the clouds.

"That mountain there is Luna's Needle. They say Purgist was once attached to this world by way of a great chain, and that chain was anchored at the top of the Needle. Now, though, it's just a shrine to the Night Goddess, Luna, and the primary way for earth ponies and unicorns to get to Cloudheim. Oh, there's also some kind of cult of the Night deep inside the mountain - a group of bat ponies that call the whole place 'Nocturne'."

To Silver's questions, Breeze answers. "Yep. Mareinev is a pretty popular city, even without the celebration. Most unicorns live there, so if anypony ever needs anything magical done, they come here. So while a lot of the ponies are here for the lifting of the Veil and the big celebration, some of them are here incidentally." Fetty looks back and nods over her shoulder. "Yeah. There are still some ponies that don't really care about a prophecy - they just want a reason to party. While I'm not necessarily against that, I feel like today's a day that they should probably take seriously. Call it a hunch," she says with a wink. Breeze and Gale, meanwhile, snort in unison.

"You bet your bottom bit the Accords changed the city," Fetty suddenly grunts after Curtain's question. "The whole city became militarized. It really wasn't our choice, though - the books all say that our allies from Gildaea made the Princess ramp up the guard presence and air squadrons, to defend the city against roaming monsters from Purgist. We even had to build walls," she points toward Mareinev, now even closer, and you can definitely tell a difference in construction between the walls and the castle now. The walls look utilitarian and bland with the exception of the colorful banners, while the castle's extravagance seems to inspire.

"As part of the Accords, ponies weren't allowed to mingle with monsters anymore. They had to leave the city, which is why Cloudheim is so overcrowded now - it's a pegasus AND griffon city. The giant spiders went and made their own nation, deep in the forest. Every other monster just kind of... scattered. Mostly," Fetty adds with a grin. "A few stayed behind in defiance of the Accords. That's how the Monsters' Resistance got started, really, though it's based out of Shetland now, rather than Mareinev."

Through all the talking, you suddenly come upon the very gates of the city of Mareinev itself, hardly noticing that the tide of ponies has been stemmed for some time, and the guards - mostly earth ponies in a variety of coat colors, each wearing gilded armor on their barrels and a crested helmet on their heads - seem happy that your group is expected. Without even questioning you, they wave Fetty inside; both Gale and Breeze are informed of their caravan's arrival near the palace, and your group enters the city.

Before you stretches a wide stone bridge, with ramps leading down into a lower city - comprised of brick and wood buildings, some built into the walls and others standing freely, though they are almost all covered in shadow. There are already celebrations going on below, with firepits and entertainers drawing crowds. Built into the edges of the immense bridge ahead are more houses, some of them appearing to be storefronts or warehouses - but these all seem to be much nicer and extravagant than the ones below. Trellises full of vines and flowers adorn the houses here, with plants and grass growing in neatly-trimmed hedges and garden plots along the road itself.

Ornate balustrades are wrapped with ribbons and curling flower stems, the work of a team of foals even younger than yourselves that dash between undecorated spots to spiffy them up. One thing they seem to leave alone, however, is a gigantic marble statue of two cresting unicorn mares, each wearing an elaborate stone crown embedded with real gemstones of purple, red, and green. Ahead, you see the enormous, twisting and spiraling towers of the palace, towering over everything else, with teams of pegasi glinting in the light that seems to be coming out of the clouds overhead. Occasionally, a streamer or rose petal falls on the ground, only to be picked up by a pony and thrown back up into the breeze. Guards, armed with halberds bearing banners of purple and gold and armored in heavy gilded plate, march across the bridge, with families nearby cheering to them.

There are several carts set up, with salesponies politely hocking their wares to a mostly-unicorn crowd, its members dressed in sleek, summery dresses and shirts. Almost all of them have flowers for sale, though some are selling sweets or baked goods as well. From out of one crowd trots an older pony, in a crisp cornflower blue uniform decorated with untold numbers of badges and ribbons. He approaches your group with a smile and a twinkle in his eye, heading for Fetty in particular.

"It's about time you showed up, miss Sight! Uh, I mean, Lock," He says, much like a chirp though the gravelly voice he sports makes it hard to think such a thing possible. His cheeks turn red and he chuckles nervously.

"Hey, you know not to call me that, Blue Tooth. Fetty will do." She pulls the hood up on her cloak-slash-dress, obscuring all but the muzzle on her face. "Think you can escort us to the palace without blowing my cover?"

Blue puts a hoof to his wizened-looking chin, looking over the rest of the group - to you five foals, in particular. "Who are they?" He looks suspiciously to each of you, his brow narrowing.

DigoDragon

2016-06-06, 07:58 PM

Dawn Star

Dawn took a slight step back from the question. "Uh, we're... foreigners. Fetty is showing us around," she hesitantly says.

Theoboldi

2016-06-07, 08:54 AM

As the two adults talk, Silver throws the rest of his group a weirded-out glance. His stance already tensing up, he answers Blue Tooth's question in the kind of innocent and casual voice only a professional charlatan knows

"Yeah! We're not from around here, but when Miss Lock told us about the celebrations we really wanted to come see them! Uh, hey, Miss Lock? You never told us you had a stage name. That's, like, pretty cool."

Potential bluff check to convince Fetty and Blue that Silver is clueless and draw them into dropping more hints?

[roll0] + 2 (Heart) = 8

userpay

2016-06-07, 07:33 PM

Brazen Hoof

Brazen turns a slow circle as they enter the city, somehow still managing to continue moving in a mostly straight line, to look at the surroundings. One of the rose petals lands on the colts muzzle. The flowery smell tickling his nose before a sneeze sends it back into the air. At the older pony's slip of the tongue Brazen glances at Fetty. Didn't they slip another name earlier...? Considering that for several moments before speaking. "Well I suppose we're just travelers now..."

Zelphas

2016-06-08, 11:25 PM

"Hmm..." Curtain Call starts making a mental note of all the locations that have been mentioned so far. Cloudheim, the Spider Forest, Gildea, Purgist... they were all fleshed out a little in the conversation, so they'd probably end up going to each place on some quest or other. He frowns to himself; this looks like it's going to be a pretty long game. Which was great, story-wise, but it meant that they weren't getting home soon. Unless there were save points up ahead, or something.

"Wait, Luna's Needle?" he asks suddenly. "So, Luna's in charge of raising the moon here too?"

--

"As my companions have said, we are foreigners, travelers, wayward souls looking for our purpose," Curtain Call chimes in, giving a deep dramatic bow to the older pony. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mister Blue Tooth."

Derjuin

2016-06-10, 10:01 PM

Curtain

"Huh? Are you implying there's a Luna where you're from too?" Gale asks, quizzically. She seems to be paying more attention to your question, despite not looking directly at you. "Here, most ponies just think of her as a myth, an old story. Those true of faith know she does indeed live, however." She looks over her shoulder to you and winks. "It might not be at the top of the Needle, but she is somewhere."

Everyone

Bric nods along with the others, content to remain silently analytical of the whole scene. Blue glances from Fetty to your group, then to Gale and Breeze. He almost looks ready to disbelieve, but then shrugs and nods to the side. It seems Silver's casual nonchalance has convinced Blue of the truth of your responses. Then, to Silver, Fetty nods. "Fetty's my stage name. I don't drop my real name around anyone anymore, really. It causes too much trouble." She whispers to the colt; when she stands back up, Blue gives her a wry smile. "Eh, who am I to challenge who a famous performer brings along as her entourage? I hope you kiddos enjoy the city, and the celebration. It's going to be a big one - and I know you probably don't fully understand why it's so important..."

A number of ponies pass by you, each giving the cloaked form of Fetty a curious glance - some more curious than others, as they overhear the old uniformed pony mentioned a 'famous performer'. Blue, however, steps in quickly and waves them away with a disarming smile, his dimpled cheeks wrinkling up in their age.

"Do you know how much chaos that could have caused?" Fetty grunts under her breath, sounding disgruntled. You hear Blue whisper a response, but the most you can make out of it is "Re... ...stripes... a twist. I've... ...this f... years." Looking over his shoulder at your group, he gives all of you a smile. "I was the Princess' personal guard, y'know. Before I got too old and Gildaea intervened, 'course. Now I mostly just trot down the streets and wave at the younger mares and stallions in their guard posts, all brimming with pride..."

DigoDragon

2016-06-10, 10:42 PM

Dawn Star

"A personal guard for the princess, huh?" Dawn whispers to Blue. "Guess that's pretty cool. That why you're able to take us there?"

Theoboldi

2016-06-11, 06:42 AM

Silver responds to Fetty's nod with a nervous one of his own. "Oh, I totally get it. It's gotta be hard to set up performances or lead your daily life when there's just fans everywhere, trying to chat you up." In truth, the young colt is not convinced at all. "So you're using your stage name of all names to stay anonymous? Yeah. Riiiiiight....."

He clears his throat, attempting to get rid of the sudden dryness his worry has caused him. With some curiosity, he sneaks over towards Gale and Curtain, passing Brazen on his way. To Brazen, he as quietly as he can whispers "I don't think she's really a performer." before moving on on his path.

"I don't think they're the same person, but our Luna was also kind of a myth for a long time. Then she came back, though, just like the legends said she would. Come to think of it, what is your Luna like? She sounds pretty different from our own."

Zelphas

2016-06-11, 11:47 PM

"Does she have a sister?" Curtain Call chimes in about Luna. If Celestia is known in this world too, it would make understanding the in game religion a whole lot easier.

He squints at Blue. "'Before Gildaea intervened'? Sorry, we're from far away, so we don't know much about the important things happening around here. What does Gildaea have to do with your position as a Royal Guard?" Side quests were all well and good, but Gildaea and Purgist had the feeling of "main quest" to them, and main quest meant getting home... and maybe seeing Scamper again.

userpay

2016-06-12, 07:56 AM

Brazen Hoof

The colt gives Silver a glance as they pass by. "That... Is a possibility. Or perhaps she's someone important that the name isn't connected to." He whispers back before turning to Blue with interest over his mention of being part of the personal guard.

Dudeons

2016-06-13, 06:28 PM

Bric quietly follows, pondering over what he has learned so far. He had too much information to analyze to manage much of a response to anyone. He simply listens to what the guard has to say, hoping to learn even more about this strange place.

Derjuin

2016-06-15, 05:54 PM

Blue moves closer to the group, lowering his voice when he speaks. "Mm-hmm. Captain of the Royal Guard and the Princess's personal guard. Ever since Gildaea offered to the Princess their own guard, I've just been retired. Not that I'm salty or nothin' about it - I still get to talk to the Princess and the other guards treat me good as gold. I just... don't trust that angel they put in. I don't trust any of 'em. The whole thing reeks of a heinous plot." He looks up and around, smiling and waving at a group of passing unicorns, garbed in summery dresses of pale pastel colors and decorated with flowers.

"Sweet Celestia, Blue, you sure are spilling a lot of beans there. Why not profess your dissension to the entire population of Mareinev all at once?" Fetty snipes, jabbing Blue lightly in the ribs. The old stallion pretends to recoil for a second, before chuckling under his breath. "It's not dissension if it doesn't lead to discord," he replies, again under his breath while making another passing wave at coming-and-going ponies.

Fetty giggles and smiles from under her hood at Silver's comment about fans. "If I might spill a bean or two of my own - there are actually five Fetty Locks in our group, each one of us a different pony. It's a whole thing we do. Gale and Breeze are our roadies. Normally, all the Fetties travel together, but I have a special performance to do today. It's more than just about the show - it's personal."

Meanwhile, Gale and Breeze continue their theological discussion, nearly oblivious to Fetty's explanation.

"Well, in our world, Lady Luna and her sister, Lady Celestia, are these mythical beings - ponies that possess both wings and a horn - and they protect and guide Equinia from their celestial abodes. Originally, we thought Purgist and Gildaea were their homes, but unless something really drastic has happened, there's a good chance they're not on the moons." Gale looks to Breeze, who continues. "Some people think that the Sisters live on Equinia somewhere. The current theory is that they live through monuments built to them, and they can manifest near them - but while we've found a statue to Lady Luna, we haven't seen hide nor hair of a monument to Lady Celestia. Also the only pony who's made the claim of seeing Luna manifest was the hermit who lives on the top of the Needle, not far from the statue itself. Most ponies think he's insane from separation..." Gale shrugs almost nonchalantly, while Breeze chuckles to himself nervously.

DigoDragon

2016-06-15, 06:24 PM

Dawn Star

"You have a Prin-- You have a Lady Celestia too?" Dawn starts to wonder if they might just be in some really far off edge of Equestria somewhere. Well, it did give her renewed hope that getting home is a possibility.

"Maybe we should visit the needle. what do you all think, guys?" she comments in question to her fellow colt friends.

Theoboldi

2016-06-16, 09:03 AM

Silver feels an odd chill run down his spine as he listens to Fetty's explanation, his eyes unintentionally glancing over at Blue a couple of times. Somehow, it seems as though she just hinted at something, though the young colts mind just cannot make the connection.

"Uh, sounds really exciting. Are you putting on a special performance because those monsters from Gildaea are here today? We had some yaks visit our home town a little while back, and one of the Pies threw them a big, special party in the style of their culture. It was pretty cool."

Welcoming the distraction, he for a moment turns away towards Dawn. "Maybe, if it'd help Equinia. They sound like they could use a Celestia and Luna of their own. But I don't think we should rely on some crazy hermit. When our Luna showed up, she was pretty public about the whole thing."

DigoDragon

2016-06-16, 10:13 AM

"Maybe, if it'd help Equinia. They sound like they could use a Celestia and Luna of their own. But I don't think we should rely on some crazy hermit. When our Luna showed up, she was pretty public about the whole thing."

"Public showing... right... um, are we talking her first visit or the second?" Dawn asks.

Theoboldi

2016-06-16, 10:22 AM

"Both, duh!" Silver leans back and crosses his front hooves. "Don't act like you didn't cower in terror like everypony else both times."

DigoDragon

2016-06-16, 10:37 AM

Dawn's ears slowly slide down the side of he head as she digs a hoof into the ground. "Well... yeah, I did cower. Just thought that, you know, Luna's Needle. Might have a Luna. Luna's a good idea... I don't know what I'm talking about anymore."

Zelphas

2016-06-16, 11:55 PM

"The entire royal guard is made up of Gildaeans?" Curtain Call asks, uneasy. A group of guardsmen who aren't loyal to the person they're guarding, given as a 'gift' by a nation that's not all that well-liked by some of the populace... he knows that story.

He looks over at Fetty, trying to distract himself from his dark thoughts. "So you're the only 'Fetty' here now?" he asks curiously. "Where is the rest of the group? How far do you all travel? What do you perform?" I wonder if I'll be able to recognize any of the show names...

Theoboldi

2016-06-17, 05:48 AM

Silver, slightly taken aback by Dawn's reaction, quickly averts his head from her. A slight blush forming on his cheeks, he says "L-look! I didn't mean it like that! All I'm saying is that we can't rely on a princess to suddenly show up and drag us out of this."

Though he himself does not move an inch in an attempt to play it cool, Silver's eyes then quickly glance over at the filly again, trying to judge her reaction. "I mean, we can still check it out. If, um, we have no other ideas. It could lead us somewhere, I guess."

DigoDragon

2016-06-17, 07:04 AM

Dawn smiles a bit at Silver. "It is at least worth investigating. Well, after we see the princess here."

userpay

2016-06-17, 11:13 AM

Brazen Hoof

Brazen's muzzle scrunches in confusion. "Why would you use guards that aren't your own as your personal guard? Honorary maybe but personal?" The colt seems genuinely confused over this development, though perhaps this is related to the 'game' they were supposed to be playing.

As talk turns towards the needle some more Brazen looks towards the others. "Might not be a bad idea to check it out... Might be a good way to learn the lay of the land some. Sure ya'll are ready for that kind of climb though?"

Derjuin

2016-06-20, 12:03 PM

After hearing you likening the Gildaean angels to monsters, Fetty grins. "Not quite. I like the words you've chosen, though," she says, taking a step toward the palace. "None of their involvement was welcomed by most of ponykind - but the Princess said it was for the greater good, and most of the cowards in her court agreed - they just didn't want to fight it." Blue joins her, nodding slowly. "While I would have fought it, there's little a single pony can do against their numbers. Thankfully, a few of the nobles have thrown in their support."

"And those few that have done so publicly no longer live here. The royal guard is quick to banish anyone to the Weirdweald, which serves as a pretty good reason to not oppose them - no one wants to go to the forest where the Spiders built their kingdom, and magic rules itself. I'll tell you what, though - it's not all that bad." A group of pastel-coated ponies in celebratory attire pass by your group, Blue greeting them with what looks like the most manufactured smile you've ever seen. When they slow down, he ushers them along with a kind, but firm, word.

"The guards at the palace were all replaced with angels, yup," Blue says, quietly. "The rest of the City guard are ponies. Some of them transferred from palace duty, others hired... by the angels, of course. I swear, half of the newbies I see around here wouldn't know how to handle a spear if it came with instructions. They're all good folk, though." He shakes his head and sighs, a frown darkening his face. "But they have to go. There's no way for us to legitimately defend ourselves with the current system in place."

"That's why we're here... so don't worry."

Gale takes over for Fetty when your inquiries take a turn toward their group. "The rest of the Fetties should be in Shetland right now. That's where we're based out of. Really, this little expedition doesn't have much to do with our musical group - it's a personal project."

"Yup. We're also members of the Monsters' Resistance. I've seen some things, and talked to a few ponies. I need to convince the Princess that the Gildaean alliance is going to cost Equinia greatly... while we are here to do a show, it's the chance to talk to the Princess that I jumped on. I just don't want the rest of the Fetties to be here, in case things go south."

It's difficult to keep talking to Fetty and Blue as they inadvertently start making their way toward the Palace, and you find yourselves keeping up with them. Soon, the houses and shops on the sides of the street thin out to a huge stone wall that encircles the palace itself, the immense, golden portcullis barring any from entering. Just outside, Blue approaches one of the ponies posted outside the gate, and after a short, quiet conversation, the guard disappears into a doorway in the side of the gate, then pops back out a second later. With a horrible wrenching sound, the portcullis slowly lifts out of the ground and into the air, and Blue rejoins your group.

As you pass under the archway, you notice the grandeur of the courtyard beyond. Immense statuary trees, carefully carved and trimmed into the shape of a huge unicorn, adorn a circle of marble pillars, each supporting great stone slabs arranged into a circle around a central fountain. There are few ponies here, though those that do appear are richly dressed - some with monocles or glasses, while they all sport a snooty attitude that only softens when they catch sight of Blue Tooth.

Now closer, you can clearly make out the intricate construction of the Palace itself. It glimmers in the oddly strong sunlight cast about it, the surface of the opalescent stone itself shimmering like a rainbow. Bands of gold and silver are woven into the surface, like an obscenely complex filigree. Though you recall seeing groups of pegasi in the air around the palace, they don't seem to be out anymore. In fact, around the palace itself, there doesn't seem to be anyone at all, with the exception of a single being standing on two legs at the heavy entry doors.

It stands far taller than the ponies around, its skin completely white and shiny like polished marble. Its limbs end in weird collections of smaller digits, and its face seems scrunched up and small on a muzzle-less face. A tiny mane of golden hair sits atop its round head, and a billowing, silky robe drapes lazily off its shoulders, itself dominated by a stylized sun.

"Your business, old stallion?" The creature asks, staring intently at Blue with blank, featureless eyes. Its voice doesn't seem hostile, or even condescending - it sounds more like that of an old friend to the ex-royal guard. "I don't recall there being visitors to the Palace today."

DigoDragon

2016-06-20, 12:23 PM

Dawn Star

'W-what is this thing?' Dawn thinks to herself. It stands up kind of like a... but the arms are too short... and it doesn't have horns like a... and not hairy enough to be... what is it even? Uh, an angle? No, angel? Shoot, what did Fetty say about these creatures?

Theoboldi

2016-06-20, 12:32 PM

In response to Brazen, Silver simply quips "Heck yeah I'm ready! I'm not really able to fly yet, but no mountain can stop me!", before turning to listen to Fetty and Blue's answer.

And what an answer it is. By the end of it, Silver's mouth hangs slightly open. He certainly did not expect them to be so honest about a plan like that. Even if, to his own fully deserved credit, he did much to coax it out of them. His head sunk, mind deep in thought, he mutters "I...woah...You totally have my support in this....", not really paying attention whether they heard it. Then, he quickly rushes after them, eager to keep up.

Still, despite everything, the castle courtyard does get a few "ooh"-s and "aawww"-s from him. This place is absolutely dazzling, full of splendor and grandeur. No wonder those...angels?....monsters?...monster-angel people from outer space?....would like to stay in such a place.

Speaking of which, Silver is slightly taken aback by the strange creature they encounter, probably one of the supposed angels. It's quite impressive, he has to admit, but also kinda uncanny. Like some freakish living piece of modern art. Still, with a firm voice, he answers "Hey! We're not just visitors! We're performers! I'm Silver Lining, magician extraordinaire! And that's the fabled Fetty Lock! And these are our friends! We're here for the festivities!"

DigoDragon

2016-06-20, 12:43 PM

"And to, you know, see the princess. If that's okay with you?" Dawn adds hesitantly.

Zelphas

2016-06-22, 11:15 PM

By Starswirl's hat... uprising or coup? Curtain Call thinks to himself as he listens to the conversation. It sounds like Fetty just wants to talk to the Princess, but if the rest of her 'Monster's Resistance' isn't so friendly... it looks like uprising's the best bet. Maybe a failed uprising followed by a coup?

Curtain Call gives a little squeak when he sees the weird creature guarding the door, but regains his composure. He steps forward and gives a small bow. "I am Curtain Call. As Silver Lining and Dawn Star have said, we came to enjoy the festivities, and ask for leave to see the Princess, sir... or madame?" he falters, questioningly.

userpay

2016-06-23, 08:14 AM

Brazen Hoof

Monsters... Angels... Resistance... This whole situation had Brazen wondering if perhaps there was some sort of coercion going on behind the scenes that led to the Guard being replaced. As they travel to the nicer parts of town and eventually into the palace ground the colt looks about with awe. Though the sight of the strange creature guarding the doors makes Brazen unconsciously shift protectively in front of his friends.

Derjuin

2016-06-25, 12:52 PM

The being smiles, an oddly warming smile despite its alien facial structure, and nods. "Yes, yes. Fetty Lock, we've been expecting. The children, not so much-"

"Oh, no need to worry about them, Barachiel. I assure you - they're with me," Fetty says, taking a step forward. "I hoof-selected them myself to help. They also wouldn't mind seeing the Princess... which I'm sure she'd be open for." She flashes Barachiel a knowing smile, while he listens to your introductions. "I see... allow me a moment so that I might speak with the Princess about this..." he murmurs, disappearing in a wink.

Blue heaves a sigh, shaking his head. "When I was here, there wasn't so much runnin' back and forth to the Princess. She gave us her trust. I guess that's one thing I can feel better about, though." He looks to Fetty with a small smile. "It could be easier than we think to win her back over. Especially with the news we have to share with her."

"...wait, do you mean-" Blue stares at Fetty in a mix of hope and shock.

"Yep. Old friend... she's back."

With a crackle of lightning, Barachiel appears before you again, looking distressed. "Ah, you may... uh, your meeting has been approved. Unfortunately, I could not schedule an actual meeting for you, so you'll have to speak to her in the presence of the Royal Guard, as well as the Patron." He scratches the back of his head, and offers a weak smile. He pushes open the doors behind him and gestures for your entry. Fetty, meanwhile, looks a little hesitant to continue, but eventually trots past Barachiel and into the palace.

Should you choose to follow Fetty inside, you find yourselves in a grand receiving hall made of some kind of polished faint-purple stone. It looks almost like dyed marble, with swirling and swishing patterns swimming up pillars and across tiled floors. A soft, velvet carpet leads you past a series of stained-glass windows, each depicting what appears to be a family of four unicorns throughout the ages, and eventually up to a set of windows on either side of you that depict only one unicorn each - on your left, a unicorn in a fanciful, hearts-covered dress over the backdrop of a lily; on your right, a unicorn with creepy, bone-colored wings alight with green fire and a crown of curved horns sweeping back from her head. Before you stands another being - most likely another angel - only this one is covered head-to-toe in metal and wears a hood that completely shrouds its face in darkness.

Theoboldi

2016-06-25, 01:39 PM

Silver throws the other ponies of the group a glance that seems to say "Can you believe this guy?" So much for that audience with the princess. Hopefully, Fetty and Blue will have a backup plan. Which is likely, given the sheer amount of things they seemingly have not revealed yet. "Her? Who are they talking about now? That queen? Their Luna? Urgh...."

A deep feeling of annoyance spreading throughout his mind, he stomps past the weird statue thingy, muttering to himself. "And he can teleport too. Looks like everypony and their grandma can do magic now. Stupid unicorns and angels." Still, the hall he steps into manages to snap him out of it to some degree, if only because they might be a good jumping point to get all of this to make more sense.

Looking at the windows as he walks, he poses Fetty and Blue a few quiet questions. "So, who are those unicorns? Are they, like, the princess' family? And who is mister dark and gloomy over there?" For a short moment, he points at the angel-like being before him with his wings, just long enough to not be subtle.

DigoDragon

2016-06-25, 01:56 PM

"And he can teleport too. Looks like everypony and their gerandma can do magic now. Stupid unicorns and angels." .

Dawn didn't quite catch what Silver said, but heard the latter questions. "Calm down, Silver. I'm sure they're... um, supposed to work here or something."

Theoboldi

2016-06-26, 07:05 AM

Silver grinds his teeth for a moment, before letting out a heavy sigh.

"I don't wanna calm down. I want to understand this stupid place. How else am I gonna h-..how else are we gonna get home?" he says, a hint of tiredness slipping through his tone.

userpay

2016-06-26, 08:21 AM

Brazen Hoof

Brazen looks at Fetty with some curiosity. Who was back? The colt wondered even as he leaned ever so slightly away from where the angel had disappeared from. That kind of magic had never sat well with him for some reason, perhaps due to not knowing where they'd pop back up. As they enter his eyes are also drawn to the windows, particularly the bone one, which makes Brazen look back and forth between it and Fetty. Perhaps they were talking about that unicorn?

"I'm sure we'll get some answers soon Silver, or at least an idea of where to go from here." Brazen says over his shoulder as he trots along near the head of the group.

DigoDragon

2016-06-26, 12:26 PM

Dawn nods with Brazen. "Yeah, we're going to get home somehow. If their princess is anything like ours, it shouldn't be too hard."

Theoboldi

2016-06-26, 01:05 PM

Silver still responds only hesitantly, though he at least throws Brazen a hint of a smile.

"I-...I guess so." Despite his words, the colt still seems bothered by something. Deep down, Silver wishes he could say that leaving this place isn't exactly his number one priority. "But I still wanna know what these windows are all about...."

Derjuin

2016-06-27, 10:41 PM

Blue nods to Silver, glancing across the room to the multitude of stained glass windows. He points at the first, containing an older mare and stallion, and a filly and colt. "That there is the old family. The first King and Queen - King Chicory Root and Queen Lotus Bloom - and their children, Prince Intybus and Princess Lily. Oh, I could spin tales for quite a long time about the old family. The children, especially." He points next to another window, this one containing two young mares, an older mare and a stallion, the elders looking especially old.

"It's... a... well, I can't say what happened to young Intybus. I've been sworn to secrecy, so I'll just jump to this one here, after Princess Rose was welcomed into the family." He starts to point toward another window, when Fetty interrupts. "Sorry, old friend. I know you love talking about the royal family, but we don't really have time to explain everything. Hopefully, when this all blows over, we can talk more about it..." She looks up to the angel clad in armor, who disappears without a word in a column of light as the doors slowly clank open. Probably operated by machinery due to the loud noises, a long and wide throne room expands before you.

The same marble and carpet welcomes you, and while the architecture of the exterior of the castle was fanciful, this seems tame in comparison. Bland wooden doors line either side of the throne room, a colonnade supporting a second-floor balcony that wraps around the inside of the room. More angels, like the gloomy fellow that stood at the doors to the room, stand at attention along the pillars of the colonnade. In the center of the room is an elevated throne, tapestries of lilies and golden swirling vortices hanging behind it. Upon the throne rests a large unicorn, her coat a pale cornflower blue with a pink mane and tail. She wears an elaborate gold crown with a single, large red heart-shaped gem set in it, and a regal dress with many more gems, especially around its intricate collar. To her right, a pegasus pony mare floats in the air, though there's something about her that doesn't seem right at all. Her tail extends all the way to the ground, and even then coils up more like a snake's tail than a pony's; her wings seem far too big, and she's barely flapping them to stay aloft. Her hoofs are clasped together in front of her and she leans close to the Princess, though neither appears to be saying anything.

"Greetings, your Ladyship, Princess Lily - it is I, famed performer, singer, actress - etc. and so forth, Fetty Lock!" Fetty says, bowing her head before entering. She stops momentarily, looking back to your group. "I didn't expect the Patron to be in here. So I'll do my thing quick, and hopefully there'll be plenty of time for you to ask your questions. Okay?" Princess Lily looks on, a smile on her face and that of her companion, though the Patron seems more immediately concerned about your unexpected presence.

Zelphas

2016-06-28, 12:27 AM

Curtain Call is... well, this entire expository period to start up the main game is starting to make him very nervous. There are "angels" that the decent people they've met seem to dislike, two strange countries living on moons that want to invade, a sort-of-clandestine meeting that they just got dragged into... honestly, he's expecting to be attacked by revolutionaries, "angels" staging a coup, and/or freedom-fighting monsters any minute now. Which is why, although interested by the story of the pony royalty and the lavish decorations of the hall, he doesn't say anything, seemingly much more interested in seeing if he can look three different ways at once.

When they enter the throne room and see what Curtain Call assumes is the "Patron" floating next to the Princess, the young pegasus colt makes a small "meep" and scurries to the back of the group. The Princess has an evil advisor, too... we're going to be thrown in jail and have to break out, aren't we? I like the games better where we can cooperate with authority!

DigoDragon

2016-06-28, 07:07 AM

Unsure what kind of royal protocols they have in this city, Dawn copies Fetty's lead, bowing respectfully before entering. "Your ladyship," she adds.

Theoboldi

2016-06-28, 07:57 AM

Still somewhat annoyed that his questions again were not fully answered, Silver throws the contents of the throne room a wary glance. "So this is the princess and her royal guard, huh? Wonder who this patron mare is."

When Curtain runs behind the group, Silver takes the opportunity to step forward and show his rival how it is done. Though, to any onlooker (and Curtain in particular), it could have looked more like he was moving up to protect a friend. Standing next to Fetty, as though considering himself her equal, the young colt copies her bow to the best of his ability.

"Greetings, your Ladyship. And greetings to you too, your, uh, patronship. I am Silver Lining, magician extraordinaire and thief of breath! It's a pleasure to make your aquaintance." The title just slips his tongue, having stuck around in his head as a great title for a stage magician for a while now. Really, though he bows as well as he can, his words sound more like the opening to a magic act.

userpay

2016-07-02, 08:02 AM

Brazen Hoof

As the doors open Brazen glances to either side, taking note of how many guards there were. Is there even a need for this many guards in the room? Heck they could be hidden behind the doors... The colt bows, as is common courtesy for royalty, before following along behind Fetty. Shifting to be on the opposite side of her from Silver as they move to join him at the forefront.

Derjuin

2016-07-02, 02:15 PM

"Aha! Most excellent," Princess Lily exclaims, beckoning you closer. Her look changes from one of excitement to one of anticipation. "I've waited some time for your return, Fetty. Your performances are truly legendary." At this, both Fetty's and Blue's ears perk up. Though Fetty doesn't look back to the group, instead approaching the princess, you notice that Blue's smile is fiercer than before, more determined.

You see the floating pegasus-thing lean down in a way most incongruous with the idea that she's flying. It looks more like a snake leaning over, in fact. She starts to say something, but the Princess quickly lifts a hoof to her. "I appreciate the warning, Marekabah, but there is no need to worry. I welcome all foals into my kingdom, even if some of them present trouble. But I do not think they will cause any," she says, coming to stand up from her throne. "Now, children, I must ask you to please... stay away from this dangerous criminal." She points to Fetty, whose ears fold down upon hearing the claim. "...already?!" you hear her exclaim.

Suddenly, four angels appear beside Fetty, golden swords held at the ready. "Future Sight, revolutionary leader and wanted for magical crimes against the alliance of Gildaea and Equinia... did you really think your illusions could hide you from us?" The Princess growls, while Marekabah behind her smiles calmly, yet remains silent.

"I suppose it's a good thing I only came with the aim to deliver a message," Fetty quickly responds, ignoring the question. In a flash of light, she becomes enshrouded with a cocoon of cascading purple and black magic, levitating off the ground. Suddenly, her form starts to shed like a snake, and wisps of magic trail away from her body; what's left is a grey and black-striped equine, purple sigils upon her body glowing. Even in this compromised position, Fetty-slash-Future Sight grins. "In casting your lot with the 'Light', you have forgotten what is right. What I see in the future is an Equinia that has burned... with the return of the sister that you have spurned." A small, purple bubble appears above Future Sight, growing larger each second...

Theoboldi

2016-07-02, 03:06 PM

In the moment that Fetty Locks, or rather Future Sight, drops her disguise, millions of warning lights flash up in Silver's mind. "Already? Did she think she'd get caught?

Spurned sister? What? You mean, like Nightmare Moon?

She's casting a spell?!?"

That last one is what truly sends him off. His eyes narrow, and his brows furrow deeply. There's no more time to think, no more time to ask questions. And good riddance too. Neither of these two phonies ever gave him a straight answer. With an angry shout of "You liar!" he charges ahead, attempting to slam into Future and stop whatever she is doing.

Uh, body roll, maybe? Don't think I'll be faster than the angels, or even get past Blue, but Silver's angry.

[roll0] + 1 (Body) = 9

Don't think my skill training applies here.

DigoDragon

2016-07-02, 05:20 PM

"Er- But- That- meep?" Everything is suddenly rushing together so quickly that Dawn simply knee-jerks into the first action that came to her mind. She focused her telekenisis on Silver and gives him an added 'umph' with his slam.

Working in Harmony with Silver by using telekinesis to push him harder into Future Sight.
+1 per pony working together (Silver + Dawn)

Bumps up his 9 to an 11 now.

Zelphas

2016-07-02, 09:49 PM

Yep. Totally saw this coming, Curtain Call thinks with slow dread as the situation unravels before him. But maybe I should have tried to warn everyone else... "Wait!" he calls out, darting forward much too late to stop Silver from barreling into Fetty--Future Sight.

"We just got here! We don't even know whose side we should be on yet!" All right, deep breath, wings flared, let the pause linger, and... Curtain Call stomps down with his forehooves and yells, "Can someone PLEASE tell me what's going on?!?"

Activating Show Stopper, after Silver Lining makes his move. No one in this Scene can take aggressive action for one full turn. Hopefully I won't need that Valor Point soon...

userpay

2016-07-05, 12:09 PM

Brazen Hoof

A slow blink. Dangerous criminal? Revolutionary? As magic begins to grow above Future Sight the colt is all for staying out of the way but then Silver tries to charge. Brazen reflexively springing forward to try and interpose himself between Silver and Future to protect the other colt. Either halting Silver or adding more mass to the tackle if he doesn't catch up in time.

[roll0] Body. Minus the fatal flaw penalty if you think it's relevant for this particular situation and assuming Show Stopper doesn't also put a stop to Brazen's attempt.

Derjuin

2016-07-07, 10:26 PM

With a resounding "BOING!", you bounce harmlessly off of Future Sight's magical sphere, though the shock of the screams causes her to falter. "Are you insane...?!" she shrieks as you cascade into her shield, the deluge of foals obviously off-putting to the zebra. While the ball of light continues to grow, Future Sight herself is nearly pinned to the ground by encroaching angels, each ready to draw a sword from their side.

Everyone in the room, however, is even more taken aback by Curtain's sudden explosion. Even the angels look surprised, though they seem unable - or unwilling - to draw their blades now. "I'll be happy to explain, young one," Princess Lily says, smirking. "This here is Future Sight, the leader of the Monsters' resistance initiative. Most of their ilk are ruthless in trying to 'prove' that monsters and ponies can co-exist. Zebras, however, are not welcome in Mareinev, as per the Accords. Nor are guerrillas, especially when they are spearheading said group. Somehow, she thought that using the Fetty Locks' anonymity as cover would let her run rampant through the country, sowing discontent for the Gildaean alliance... but that's simply not true." Lily looks up to the growing sphere of magic, her smile wry.

"I do not deny that I lead the downtrodden, but to paint me as evil is really quite rotten. 'Monsters' stripped of friends and family, such unfortunate souls... do you see now what I mean, little foals?" She asks, looking back to each of you. "I did not want to trust you right away, and I am sorry that I led you into such disarray. I-" Suddenly, Future's bubble levitates into the air, and Princess Lily approaches her. The angels disperse, though a few hang closer than the rest.

DigoDragon

2016-07-08, 06:30 AM

"I do not deny that I lead the downtrodden, but to paint me as evil is really quite rotten. 'Monsters' stripped of friends and family, such unfortunate souls... do you see now what I mean, little foals?"

"Well okay hold up a second," Dawn speaks up. "Fetty- er, Future Sight, you can't just come in throwing magic around and call yourself 'not the bad mare'. That's just making a bad impression for us foals, especially if you're only delivering a message. And, ah, Curtain here has a good point that we have no idea who among you all here is telling the truth and who isn't. We only just got here (wherever here is) and really aren't qualified to deal with... Ponangemon* politics. I just want to go home, okay?!"

The filly covers her eyes momentarily, trying to hide welling tears. Wiping her face, she takes in a deep breath. "I'm sorry... I just... we've been pulled here because of some prophesy that Fetture Light** here said and I'm just tired and hungry and... confused."

* Mashup of Pony, Angel, & Monster
** Mashup of Fetty Lock and Future Sight names

Theoboldi

2016-07-08, 09:58 AM

His head pounding from his magically empowered impact against the shield, Silver Lining spends a few seconds lying on the floor, tears forming in the corner of his eyes. He only distantly hears the words of the Princess and Future Sights, like an echo at the far end of a hallway, as his own thoughts drown out anything else.

"You couldn't even get past a simple spell like that. How is Grandpa ever supposed to rely on you?"

However, as his grip on the world around him grows stronger again, he suddenly hears another voice. One that, to his surprise, he finds himself very much agreeing with. Is that Dawn Star, the laziest and sluggish filly he knows? When did she grow that much of a spine?!?

Nevertheless, he can't let himself be outdone be her, swallowing his own fear and grinding his teeth, he slowly gets back up, putting (or perhaps resting) a hoof on Dawn's shoulder.

"Who....who the heck do you think we are? Just some random foals you can drag along to whatever plan you've got without telling them? You bring us here, telling us you won't hurt anypony, and then you just expect me to stand by as you cast a spell that could do Celestia-knows-what? And what if the princess wasn't as generous with us? WOULD YOU JUST LET HER ARREST MY FRIENDS AS YOUR ACCOMPLICES?!?"
At the last sentence, his voice cracks noticeably, and the next few words he speaks sound about as tired as Dawn's.

"I don't care that I have no idea who's in the right here. All I know is that I want nopony to get hurt. So stop it, all of you!"

userpay

2016-07-08, 10:45 AM

Brazen Hoof

One second Brazen is on his hooves and the next he's staring at the ceiling, said hooves now pointing towards it, the force of the impact having sent the foal flank over teakettle. ...That went well. A voice seemed to say sarcastically in the back of his mind which Brazen in turn brushed off as he twisted to stand upright once more. "Seriously? You 'sneak' into the center of government, foals in tow, and expect us to blindly agree when you cause a ruckus casting something?" The colt makes to rear up and swat at the globe but before he can it levitates higher, leaving Brazen to stare up at Future.

"Stripped of friends and family... Suppose we can sympathize with the later considering our own situation being in a strange land and all but surely the 'monsters' have friends and family of their own amongst each other. And there's gotta be somewhere where everyone can meet together despite what this accords say. Buck it! Wouldn't the better idea have been to work nicely to form a neutral zone for the two sides to mingle!?" While for the most part Brazen stares at Future he also gives pointed glances to the Princess and the angels about the room. Granted Brazen only knew of little of the situation between the two groups besides what Future Sight had told them, which perhaps couldn't be relied upon, but it just did not seem pony-like for there to be no way of resolving this besides what Future was doing.

Zelphas

2016-07-08, 10:21 PM

The moment everyone in the room stops, Curtain Call has to hold back a happy grin. Nothing is better than a captive audience.

As each of his companions come forward and state their lines, it's almost like he can see the script. Curtain Call lets his wings droop to his sides, hanging his head. "Like Dawn said, we just got here, and we don't really know what's going on. All I know is that Fetty Lock--or Future Sight, or whoever--has been nice to us, but she hasn't been telling us the whole truth. And Princess, we just met you, and you went to arrest the only person we know so far." He looks around at the gathered group, working to keep just the right amount of tiredness and confusion in his voice. "Maybe we're just young ponies who don't know what's going on, but I have to ask: has it gotten so bad here that attacking each other is the only option? Isn't there a better way?"

Persuasion to keep everyone talking, instead of fighting (Using Royal Canterlot Voice bonus): [roll0] Subtract 1 if this doesn't count as a Mind skill.

DigoDragon

2016-07-09, 07:36 AM

Persuasion to keep everyone talking, instead of fighting (Using Royal Canterlot Voice bonus): [roll0] Subtract 1 if this doesn't count as a Mind skill.

Seeing the others pick up the conversation, Dawn backs away a little to let them do the work. She does nod in agreement with Curtain. "There's got to be a better way," She says softly.

[Acting in Harmony with Curtain]

Derjuin

2016-07-12, 01:15 AM

"A message I have, indeed - one of magic, waiting to be freed." Future Sight says, her voice muffled by double-layers of telekinetic magic. She looks up to the orb, which now peacefully rotates on a varying axis. After hearing Dawn's outburst, Future curls upon herself, avoiding the filly's gaze. "I am so sorry, little one. Your tale, I saw of Heroes' cloth spun. I thought... I thought-" Princess Lily narrows her eyes at Future, shaking her head. "Don't be so quick to play the innocence card. But... I can't help but be curious, now. What message could you bring that would be worth risking everything for? Do you not care for the monsters you claim to lead?" The angels and Lily both approach Future's bubble, slowly.

Future is about to retort, when Silver breaks them up again with a well-timed shout. And then Brazen, and then Curtain. Both parties seem shocked, and the angels take a few steps back, though Future and Lily remain close - the former still suspended in the air.

"Such is not possible. Gildaea will not tolerate the spawns of Purgist, who lead the unwary and the weak to walk with the Unclean. Thus, the Veil. Thus, the Accords. And soon, the eradication of Purgist, and all who cast their lot with Chaos." A booming voice comes from behind, and you see Marekabah staring at your group. Princess Lily stands up straight, eyes locked on the sphere above. "We will hear your message, Unclean one. Perhaps by some miracle, it will lead to your redemption at the hoof of -" you most definitely hear a sound come from Marekabah's mouth, but it's nothing your mind can make sense of "- herself."

A mote of red magic escapes Princess Lily's horn, and finds its way into the sphere above... which begins to vibrate rapidly.

(OOC: Bonus optional media (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbGc6sOprBM))

The orb ceases its spinning, instead ellipses of very light blue light begin collapsing into it and it starts giving off a bright white light. As if resisting, beams of red light fire out of the sphere, shining over each of you, the Princess, Marekabah, Future, and the gallery now full of angels. The lights show is hypnotic, though it too slows, and the sphere twists and churns to become nothing but darkness - you can't see a surface to it at all now. Suddenly, it explodes into a circle surrounded by a thick, purple rim, and the semi-transparent image of a tall unicorn appears in its depths.

Her pale blue coat resembles that of Princess Lily's, though it is slightly darker - perhaps that's just from its surroundings. Upon her head is a grand crown of white gold, with a single purple gem set in the middle - much like an eye. Above, two horns of the same metal cruelly curl back and up, while the rest of her head seems to be encapsulated by the crown's rim, which is sculpted into the shape of a jawbone bearing jagged teeth. Her eyes burn with what can only be assumed to be magic - her pupils are purple instead of black, and the irises red. You notice two wings sprouting from her mid-barrel; though, unlike the wings of pegasi and the Princesses back home, these wings are framed in more white gold, with sickly green fire erupting from them, as if they were tattered cloth whipping in wind. Her chest, forelegs and neck are covered in small and thin lattice-like filigree, though how it stays on is anyone's guess - it certainly doesn't move as if independent from her...

And suddenly, a hideous sound erupts from the image.

http://i.imgur.com/COjH8yL.png

Yet in your mind, you can understand it so clearly... all around you, you see the angels slowly fall to their knees, some struggling against the grating sound.

"Greetings, sister."

http://i.imgur.com/2Mgag30.png

"Wh- what is this hideous-" Marekabah clasps her hooves over her ears and hunches over, some of the feathers from her wings falling free and wilting to ash in seconds. Though the sound seems like it should be painful to you, it has ceased causing pain, and now seems like normal, everyday speech...

"It has been such a long time, has it not?"

In all the middle of this, however, Princess Lily stands, eyes transfixed on the image. She doesn't even move, or breathe. Suddenly, a bolt of pink lightning arcs between Lily and the blackness.

"R...Rose?" There's a softness to her voice and a strange serenity you hadn't heard before, before her eyes gloss over with a strange, teal light.

http://i.imgur.com/Mkc583n.png

"I sincerely hope my messenger did not cause you much trouble."

Another bolt arcs between the two, but this time, you notice a faint crackling of teal sparks around Lily's head.

http://i.imgur.com/AijbOys.png

"But now is not the time for such trivialities. You may want to turn your eyes to the sky."

You see a thousand different emotions on Lily's face, as if each were fighting for the right to be shown. In the end, however, they fall to a blank stare, as the darkness begins to recede. One final keening utterance echoes from the darkness before it fades entirely:

http://i.imgur.com/GBKTzDV.png

"With love, Princess Rose."

You notice now that the stained glass windows, once lit with merry outdoor light, have all darkened, as if a truly massive cloud were passing over. Princess Lily remains standing in place, a faint teal and black aura surrounding her head for another moment before disappearing. Marekabah and the angels slowly rise, some of them visibly shaken. Future, meanwhile, remains stationary in her shield, Lily's telekinesis having worn off.

"I lead no longer." she says with a smile.

DigoDragon

2016-07-12, 06:42 AM

Dawn shakes her head, trying to dismiss all the strange abstract bits of what she just saw so she could understand what just happened. A few seconds later things fall into place. That other pony in the visage looked similar to Lily in some defining way, didn't she? A relation perhaps? They certainly knew each other...

"Princess Lily? Who... who is Rose?"

Theoboldi

2016-07-12, 09:55 AM

Silver, finally letting go of Dawn's shoulder after a long period of standing motionless with shock, begins to panic for a moment. Running as fast as his little legs allow, he runs up to the nearest angle, trying to shake it awake. "Get up, you idiot! Your stupid veil and accords and eradication failed! Come on, get up!" His voice is loud and panicked, but comes to a sudden stop when he turns around and notices the smile on Future Sight's face.

In that moment, a jolt of realisation courses through him, bringing his yelling to a screeching halt. The colt mutters "Is this what you were talking about, Grandpa?" under his breath as his brows furrow. "Do we need to save these jerks from each other?"

Quickly, he rushes back over to Future Sight and Blue, stomping his hoof down hard and looking as though he's about to charge the shield yet again. "Now hold it right there, Future! You're not done doing anything here! You promised us answers, so tell me! What did you just do to the Princess? And what's going on out there?!?"

DigoDragon

2016-07-12, 10:22 AM

Silver's yelling agitates Dawn a little. Where did he get all that energy? Geez. The filly gives her doll a squeeze for comfort "Hey, Great and Powerful Silver? You might want to, maybe, reign in the anger a little? Please?"

Theoboldi

2016-07-12, 10:36 AM

"What did you just call me?" Silver is genuinely offended by Dawn's words. How dare she compare him to that.....that....jerk-y braggard? To that self-important unicorn who nearly took over the town once? For a second, it seems like he's about to retort, but he just about manages to keep himself from doing so.

"Deep breaths, Silver. Count to five."

"Urgh, fine. But I'm still demanding answers. And those angels are still idiots. I mean, did you hear what their leader said? That was awful.."

Zelphas

2016-07-13, 01:03 AM

As the sky rips asunder and the fireworks begin, Curtain Call steps back, simply enjoying the spectacle of a good cut-scene. It's getting clearer... Gildaeans are 'pure', in every sense of the word. No one who doesn't make the cut is allowed, which apparently covers all the 'monstrous' races. Purgist is dark and monstrous, but not necessarily bad. And Gildaea, at least, refuses to compromise. He looks between Lily and her sister Rose, noting the motes of teal light. Is Princess Lily being mind-controlled? That would make the Purgists the bad guys, I suppose--but maybe there aren't any bad guys? Maybe we're supposed to choose a side? This is why instruction manuals are usually more than a few sentences long!

Then the sky darkens, and Future Sight says a line that just drips with foreshadowing. Curtain Call gulps, sidling over to his friend Silver's side. "Hey Silver? I'm all for backstory and motivations, but I think we just hit the Inciting Incident. Exposition's over." He indicates the darkened windows. "Princess Rose--she is a Princess, right? Anyways--she said to look to the sky. I think we might have to get ready for a fight."

userpay

2016-07-13, 09:52 AM

Brazen Hoof

Brazen cranes his head as the form of the other princess appears above them. One part of his mind recoiling, especially as her voice rolls over him, but the other half watching in morbid fascination. As the apparition disappears however the colt looks about. "Yes I think that's raised more questions than anything..." His friends however have asked the questions for the most part so Brazen trots over to one of the clearest panels of glass in the room to try and peer outward.

Derjuin

2016-07-15, 02:17 AM

It takes Lily some time, but she eventually - as the teal and black aura fades - shakes her head and slowly turns to look at Dawn. "Rose is my sister. She disagreed heavily with the Accords, to a point where we risked not just war with both Purgist and Gildaea, but with each other, too..." she sighs, putting a hoof to her head. "When Purgist offered her the Crown of Chaos, she took it. I had no choice but to banish her until heroes arrived that might be able to save her from it, but... the spell shouldn't have worn off already. Someone out there is actively helping her."

Meanwhile, Future casts her gaze down upon Silver. She actually looks quite worried now. "I had my suspicions that Lily's will was not her own... but now my trepidation has only grown. Princess Rose's magic should have freed her mind, but the spell has done naught but fizzle and unwind. This power at work is greater than either Purgist or Gildaea..." Blue, meanwhile, remains silent - his face showing that he's been speechless this whole time. "She's back... she's finally back...!" he mumbles under his breath when at last he seems to have collected himself.

Brazen, meanwhile, is able to find - with little difficulty - a clear enough window to gaze skyward. Where once there was an endless blanket of clouds and rays of sunlight shimmering down upon the citadel, there is starry blackness above. While there's a familiarity to it, you can't help but feel that this night sky is utterly alien at the same time. You can't find any of the stars you could in Equestria's sky, but you do find two large, glimmering orbs in the sky - a golden one, much closer and larger in the sky than the barely-larger-than-a-pinprick purple one. Perhaps these are Gildaea and Purgist? Though, there seems to be something odd about the coloration of Gildaea - about half of its visible surface is awash with a rainbow of colors, most prominently red.

From beyond the walls of the castle, you begin to hear the rising echo of hoofbeats and voices, as if an immense crowd of ponies were clamoring, galloping and generally approaching the castle in an unsettled way.

DigoDragon

2016-07-15, 08:06 AM

Dawn starts thinking and putting two and two together. She gets five (more than she wanted).

"À la fin, I see where this is going," the filly says. "Princess Lily, your sister is under that crown's... uh, curse I guess is what you implied, and you are awaiting heroes to free her. And Future here earlier mentioned to us some kind of prophesy about the Purgist and Gildaea war spilling here, and that when the Veil is lifted (whatever that is) a group of heroes are going to show up."

"And we here... well just showed up to this world." Dawn points to herself and the other colts that arrived. She is half proud of herself for figuring out the connections, but at the same time the thought of being a hero was a bit frightening. "Mon Celestia, I think we have a purpose coming here."

That last part was way softer than the rest of her speech.

Zelphas

2016-07-16, 12:27 AM

Curtain Call nods to Dawn Star. She'd gotten the setup of the game's story down, it seems. However... he thought back to the weird vision just before the gameplay began--the opening cutscene. Both of the Princesses had asked for their help. And the first person to mention believing in a prophecy was Future Sight, who supported Princess Rose.

"Definitely," Curtain Call replies to Dawn Star, just as quietly. "But which side?"

Theoboldi

2016-07-16, 09:52 AM

Silver momentarely stares at Princess Lilly and Future Sight with an expression that seems to scream 'are you actually bucking kidding me?'. With an annoyed sigh, he says "You know, something similar to this happened back in our world. Maybe you should stop blaming everything on your friends being mind-controlled, and consider that you're working together with somepony who uses a crown of chaos and some weird angel thing that talks about eradicating people. That might pu some ponies off. Just a thought."

With that, he turns towards Dawn and Curtain, giving them a confirmative nod. "That sounds about right. To be honest, theres actually something I haven't gotten to tell you yet."

Speaking somewhat less surely than before, he scratches the back of his head. "When I came here the first time, my Grandpa actually appeared and told me this world needed my help. That I needed to fight some kind of.... ancient tyrant or something like that. No idea what he meant by that. But I trust him. And right now, we've gotta save these ponies from themselves. Let's see what's going on outside and stop trying to chose a side in their conflict."

Sorry for the low quality of the post, but I wanted these things said and can only use my phone now.

By the by, come to think of it, Silver just held Futureelse to a promise and then deliberately broke a word that he gave earlier by retracting his support. That's a pretty 'Thief of Breath'-thing to do. :p

userpay

2016-07-16, 04:48 PM

Brazen Hoof

"Well that seems strange... But then I haven't stayed here a night either so I've no idea if that's normal." Brazen mutters before turning to rejoin the others.

"I'm not entirely certain we're supposed to side purely with one side or the other." He comments, sitting and scrunching his face trying to concentrate on a wisp of memory. "I think remember hearing two voices before we arrived. One wanted to win against the chaos and the other wanted to save her sister and home." The colt then looks towards the princess before them trying to think of whether the first voice he'd heard matched up.

Not sure if I need to roll something to try to match the voices. Just in case here's a mind roll. [roll0]

In your left ear, you hear a calm, yet dominating voice.

"Please, help us win this war against the encroaching chaos."

In your right ear rings a strong, yet pleading voice.

"Please, help me save my sister and my home."

And then suddenly, everything goes black.

Derjuin

2016-07-18, 09:31 PM

Brazen Hoof

You're easily able to recall the voices from your trip here, though putting them together is slightly more difficult. After hearing Princess Lily speak again, though, you match up her voice with the one that asked for your help in ending the war against Chaos. This would presumably mean that Rose is the one asking you to save her sister...?

Everypony

"Indeed, the crown of chaos is a kind of double-edged sword... it is absolutely corrupt with the power of Chaos itself, but wearing the thing will overwhelm any mind with that power. She is blind to anything but the whims of the Crown itself now..." Lily sighs heavily, trotting toward the throne room's doorway. "Had I the ability, I would relieve her of the crown myself, but what little I know of its magic implies that the bearers of the Elements of Creation are the only ones who can counter the crown's magic. Not even Gildaea's greatest angels can affect it."

"Yet I feel your words will have no purchase - hopefully these foals will soon see that Purgist's cause is righteous. The Crown only gives her freedom and clarity - it does not consume her mind. Such a conclusion would, of course, be reached by angelkind."

Outside the castle, the shouts and hoof-stomping grow even louder, and Lily looks about as if exasperated. Then, the angel you saw before appears in a flash of light.

"Thousand pardons, your highnesses Lily and Marekabah - but you must see this! The Veil - it's gone! And... and Gildaea-" From outside, you hear a variety of screams and shouts, and banging on the heavy, outer doors. Blue Tooth glances between the doors and Future, looking concerned for both the growing sounds outside and his friend.

"Where did the sunlight go?!"

"Princess! What's happening to the moon?!"

"Is this part of the ceremony?!"

"What is going on?" Through the chaos outside, you hear a few loud voices, trying to shout over the noisier group.

Lily's brow furrows, and she glares at Future and Blue. "I will deal with you two later. I banish you from this city - do not set hoof in it again, or the consequences will be severe." Future looks as if to say something, but a huge, teal orb of magic crackling with black lightning flies over Lily's head and envelopes the zebra and her accomplice. Then, in an instant, both orb and its prisoners are simply gone without a trace.

You notice that when the orb appeared over Lily, her horn was not lit up with the normal aura of magic associated with her, but the same colors that appeared around her head during the appearance of Rose.

"Everypony and non-pony, listen up," she states frankly, looking around and holding a hoof up. "My sister is now loose. The angels' home of Gildaea is most likely in grave danger, and by extension, Equinia. We need to rally the ponies of the city and defend against whatever may be coming..." Her eyes fall over your group, and she smiles. The angels, meanwhile, are in a fluster - some of them are readying their weapons and standing by Lily's side, while others are consulting Marekabah. Lily steps closer, and you see a strange determination in her eyes. "You four, however - I believe you are not just the heroes I have waited for, but are fated to be the bearers of the Elements of Creation. Will you help us here?"

DigoDragon

2016-07-18, 09:43 PM

Dawn Star

Dawn looks around at the rallying ponies and non-ponies. She turns back to the princess. "I'm... not sure what I could really help with, your majesty."

Her mind is full of mixed emotions on what is currently happening and the princess' strange off-colored magic.

Zelphas

2016-07-18, 09:55 PM

Curtain Call hesitates. This seems like the kind of game where the NPCs remmeber your words and actions later, and I don't know which side to choose yet... Finally, he clears his throat and speaks. "There is obviously trouble in this land. If I can help to cure it, I would be happy to assist," he states, looking around at the other three foals with him. Come on, don't commit to anything, please...

Theoboldi

2016-07-19, 02:48 AM

"We're gonna wield some elements? Now you're talking!"

Silver steps next to Curtain, attempting to meet the Princess' determined gaze with one of his own. "What he's trying to say, your majesty, is 'No'. We won't help you exterminate or purge anything." Momentarely, his eyes slip towards the still weakened angels, letting Lily know what he is talking about.

"But we'll make sure your sister doesn't get anyone hurt with that crown, including herself. And then we'll do all in our power to help you two reunite! That's what Grandpa would want me to do...." As usual, Silver's attitude and worldview are amazingly simple.

Not writing this from my own computer, but from a computer nonetheless. Mostly thanks to a slow day at work. The second one in a row, curiously enough. Huzzah?

userpay

2016-07-19, 05:10 PM

Brazen Hoof

Brazen stomps a hoof. "I certainly wouldn't mind giving a helping hoof where I can but I have to echo my friends concerns as well. I don't think we can pick sides just yet." The colt paces back and forth several steps. "One of the voices certainly sounded like yours which would make the other voice your sisters... Perhaps she took up the crown because she was in turn worried about the effect of the angels."

Derjuin

2016-07-22, 01:30 AM

"Your words are wise beyond your years, little ones," the Princess says with a smirk. "Perhaps you are the heroes we've all been waiting for." She looks up to Barachiel, then to Marekabah who has by now rallied most of the angels. "Everyone, let's go. To you four -" she nods to your party "You can help us, or you can leave, but I can't let you stay in here." The Princess begins to usher you along with her entourage outside; it looks like she's really not going to let you stay inside.

Once outside, Lily's horn immediately lights up with a soft pink glow. A majority of the crowd gathered at the gates bows, but some are too panicked to stop themselves from jumping or shaking in place. She begins to address the crowd, while her eyes wander upward.

Above, you see a night sky covered in stars whose patterns make no sense to you. There's not a single cloud in the sky, and all light that shone over Mareinev is gone. Two moons sit in the sky, a very small purple one that seems to be far too bright, and a large, golden one. Over half of the golden moon, however, you notice colors - mostly reds, but also greens, purples and blues - shifting across its surface. Stranger still, there seems to be some kind of meteor shower tonight, in the same part of the sky as the golden moon - and some of the streaks of light look to be moving closer at a pretty disquieting pace.

"Subjects of Equinia and citizens of Mareinev," Lily begins, her voice loud, strong and stable. "I am afraid that I must ask you to return to your homes, immediately. The Royal Guard will be taking to the streets to help you should you need it. There will be time soon for your questions to be answered, but it is imperative that you seek shelter and safety now."

The gathered ponies, however, don't seem too pleased with this. They raise all manner of questions, most of which can barely be understood...

DigoDragon

2016-07-22, 06:05 AM

Dawn turns to her friends. "So... what now? That big golden moon looks pretty ominous."

Theoboldi

2016-07-22, 08:06 AM

"We're gonna have to find the Elements, I guess." Silver says with a shrug. Even he appears to be uncertain of what exactly to do next, now that they are no longer being led around. As such, he walks over to the Princess, giving the sleeve of her dress a short tug to get her attention.

"Uh, your highness, where exactly are the Elements of Creation or whatever you called them? Future and her friends didn't tell us too much about the prophecy."

DigoDragon

2016-07-22, 08:23 AM

Dawn turns to whoever is nearby her. "Is Silver allowed to do that? Tug a princess' dress?" she whispers.

userpay

2016-07-22, 05:51 PM

Brazen Hoof

"Riiiight so that wasn't normal. Probably should have mentioned that earlier then..." Brazen comments idly while peering up at the sky once more. Still whatever seemed to be approaching made the colt's coat crawl, hoof pawing at the ground. At Dawn's whisper Brazen looks over towards Silver and the princess. "Probably not but I think everyone has other concerns at the moment. But regardless maybe we could help out a bit here first... Though not certain how we can do that either just yet."

DigoDragon

2016-07-22, 06:21 PM

But regardless maybe we could help out a bit here first... Though not certain how we can do that either just yet."

"We could... maybe help convince all these ponies to go home?" Dawn looks at the group, pondering who to get to start talking. Well, Dawn could do the talking, but that's a lot of work to just come up with a speech on the fly. Easier to prop someone else up and just follow along. Her eyes settle down on Silver. Yeah... he seems to be a hammy colt who likes being in front of crowds. Right?

Dawn elbows Brazen and points to Silver. "Got our spokespony."

Zelphas

2016-07-25, 02:37 PM

Curtain Call glances up at the sky nervously. If those streaks of light are enemies, we'll probably have to fight our way out of the city for the level one quest. He's content to let Silver speak for now; the other colt seems to have calmed down, so there's less of a chance for losing sidequests by offending somepony. He does glance at the crowd with interest, though. No one's listening to PRincess Lily. She needs to control her audience, before this turns into a riot.

Derjuin

2016-07-27, 02:18 AM

The Princess looks around the crowd, her patience obviously wearing thin from her narrowing brow. "By royal decree, I hereby ORDER all citizens of Mareinev into their homes! This is not a drill - the situation will be explained in further detail to all of you when the danger has subsided!" Though her words boom over the gathered ponies - which grows even larger as more and more frantic and panicking ponies approach. Foals with their mothers and fathers approach now, and the crowd begins taking on members from the lower city. Of note, you see that almost everypony gathered is a unicorn.

"All of you are to cooperate with the royal guard. Return to your homes at once!" She holds up a hoof, and the crowd finally begins to settle down, though most of it still refuses to budge. Shaking her head, Lily looks down to Silver.

"Most of the elements of Creation are held here, in the Palace. The elements of Breath, Hope, Light, Blood, and Heart are kept in our vaults. We don't know where the remaining elements are, unfortunately... those of Life, Time, and Magic." She glances back toward the palace and scrunches up her nose. "There are a lot of theories about where the others are, but... we don't really have the time for that. Those streaks of light you see in the sky are monsters, and not the friendly kind. The ones we had to banish for their violent natures," Her gaze rolls skyward, her eyes fixed on the part of the sky dominated by the golden moon. "They were kept on Gildaea, but I presume that - with my sister's newfound freedom - she freed them, as well."

"Okay, so here's a crash course in the Prophecy. At its very core, the Prophecy states that heroes would come from another world to save everything we hold dear. Obviously, this means different things to different ponies, because everypony considers something different to be 'what they hold dear'. These heroes are supposedly the ones who can awaken the true potential of the Elements of Creation, which would be the tools used to save us - by opening the way to Elysius and guiding all creatures in this world to peace." In between statements, Lily looks out over the crowd. The most raucous of the group have quieted down, though they still are hanging around - some of them giving the Princess looks of incredulity as she prioritizes a handful of foals over the crowd.

DigoDragon

2016-07-27, 05:53 AM

Dawn I Got a Bridge to Sell Star

She quietly trots over between Silver and Curtain, watching the crowd nonchalantly as she does so. Dawn then plants a little suggestion in two friends with a little goading. "Hmm, guess these ponies don't want to listen to their princess. I guess the silver lining to this is that here we have a charged crowd wanting to see a show. Would be a perfect curtain call for some brave heroes to change their minds, wouldn't it?"

Theoboldi

2016-07-27, 09:21 AM

After hearing both Lily and Dawn speak, a huge, utterly smug grin begins to form on Silver's face. With an aura of utmost confidence, he holds up a hoof to stop Dawn from speaking, and says something he never imagined he would say. "For once, I agree, Dawn. Your majesty, we've got this!"

Almost without warning, he grabs Curtain Call by the hoof, attempting to drag the poor colt with him in to the front of the crowd. "Lights!" he says, though whether or not he gets any spotlight he continues unabashedly.

"Citizens of Mareinev! Didn't you hear your queen? She's asking you to return to your homes! And for good reason too! Everypony, please take a good hard look at the sky above us." He waits a moment for the crowd to obey his demand, though once again continues whether they do or not. "Those streaks in the sky; They're trouble! They're a huge, hungry toothy trouble headed right in this direction! Trouble that's just about ready to gobble all of you up in a big tasty stew! But there's no reason to worry! Because tonight, and just tonight, you're gonna be witnessing the debut of 4 prophesied heroes of legend, who've come here all the way from the world of Equestria!

Isn't that right, Curtain Call?!" He gives his unwilling partner a moment to answer, confident to have perfectly set up for him to give Silver's own name to the crowd.

Zelphas

2016-07-27, 11:31 PM

Curtain Call gives Dawn Star an incredulous look a moment before he is dragged away by Silver Lining. "That's not even what Curtain Call means," he mutters to himself, and then he's before the crowd. Though she's not wrong; this crowd does need some attention...

The young colt takes a moment to steady himself as Silver Lining speaks, trying to figure out where to go from his friend's rambling speech. Presentational acting; representational will always be my true passion, but Silver Lining's style fits better here, I suppose. We need to calm the crowd and get them to go home, though, not rile them up more. "That's right, Silver Lining," He answers finally, stepping away from the other foal to address the ever-growing crowd. "Stallions and Gentlemares!" He booms, his light tenor voice ringing across the packed square. "As my friend Silver Lining revealed, my three companions and I are from a far off land, another world in fact! We came to your land today, each of us heralded as a Hero while we journeyed hither; I myself was named as the hero of Hope!" Watch the 'hithers' and 'heralds', Curtain. This isn't Shakesmane. "I promise you, my companions and I will do all we can to see the prophecy fulfilled and the way to Elysius opened!"

He pauses a moment, then continues at a slightly lower volume, though his words still fly across the square. "For now, however, we ask each of you to return to your homes. Fighting monsters and mastering the Elements of Creation will be dangerous work, and we do not wish to see anyone harmed as we see the prophecy fulfilled. Please, listen to your princess and keep yourselves safe. Extend to us a small measure of your trust this unnatural night, and we will return that trust tenfold when the dawn of Elysius rises." Curtain Call ends his speech, fighting down an urge to clear his throat as he waits for the audience's reaction.

Persuasion to convince the crowd to disperse: [roll0] (Subtract 1 if this isn't a Mind skill, subtract 1 if this isn't a new scene and Royal Canterlot Voice can't be used again.)

DigoDragon

2016-07-28, 05:52 AM

Dawn stands behind Curtain and Silver, trying to look convincing as a... hero of sorts for Curtain's speech.

(Acting in Harmony)

Derjuin

2016-07-31, 12:57 AM

The crowd is instantly mesmerized by your words, and as soon as you start dropping phrases like "Prophecy", "another world", and "heroes", their faces turn from those of confusion and disdain to those of hope and happiness.

"This must be what the Princess meant! About the prophecy!"

"The Heroes are here?!"

"Can you believe it?"

"They're so young!"

"All hail, Lily and the saviors of Equinia!"

At this last shout, Princess Lily holds her hoof up. "Yes! Yes indeed, these are the heroes of myth and legend. While our futures have all been brightened this day, we must first see to our safety. There won't be a future to rejoice in if we do not save ourselves now," She motions to the angels, who have given some pause at the crowd's rejoicing. Behind you all, however, Marekabah appears and nods to each of the two largest groups of angels.

"Worry not, Princess; we will guide your people to their homes and keep them safe. Now, you should arm your heroes so that they might be prepared for the first onslaught. While I do not believe the worst of Gildaea's prisons have been compromised, there will surely be some beasts and demons that escape even the Archangels' vigilant eyes." Marekabah looks up into the sky and scowls. She focuses on the golden, shimmering orb of Gildaea for some time, seeming almost statuesque. The crowd starts to disperse, finally, though they all are still primarily focused on shouting praise to both your group and the Princess.

"Of course, Marekabah."

Nobility

"It's time, little Nobility..."

How long had it been since the darkness began? You feel tired, for some reason, though that hasn't really changed since you said those awful words. "Do what you will"...

"Rise up, Seer of Heart... your tale is only just beginning."

You feel a hoof on your shoulder, and in spite of any shock or nervousness, it somehow fills you with comfort.

"The Heroes of Equinia need you now more than ever. Good luck, little filly..."

Suddenly, all around you, you feel warmth, in stark contrast to the coldness that enveloped you for who-knows-how-long. Then, a loud crashing sound echoes from somewhere in the distance, all around you, and the light begins to fade in...

Everyone Else

Suddenly, a keening, blazing streak of light pierces the canopy of carefully pruned topiary trees and crashes into the square where just a moment ago many ponies were gathered - thankfully all of them having evacuated just in time. A wave of dust washes over everyone nearby, and for a moment Marekabah's entire form glows bright red. When the dust does eventually clear, a small pegasus filly is in the clearing, apparently unharmed...

If it's not apparent, the filly is Nobility :smallwink: You may enter, igor!

DigoDragon

2016-07-31, 06:57 AM

"Uh... that's not the onslaught, right? Mister Marekabah, did you summon that filly?"

igordragonian

2016-07-31, 07:14 AM

A pretty golden coated filly with white cyan curly mane, struggling to get up, on her gentle hooves.
She might a bully to some of you. "Class Princess' to else, and maybe even source of admire (or disgust)- but you'l probably recognize her as Nobility, the snob pegasi rich filly.

"Stupid commoner game... uggh.' Nobility grunted.
She blinked looking around with terror and shock.

Theoboldi

2016-07-31, 08:22 AM

Silver's approach to this sudden change in situation is, as strange as it sounds, comparable to a chainsaw being revved up only to run out of fuel before it makes contact with the tree. There is a short shriek of surprise, then another, more determined and courageous one.

"If it isn't our first challenger! Come here, monster!" Wings fluttering wildly in a failed attempt at achieving flight, the young colt immediately charges at the source of the explosion, a loud battlecry on his lips. But then, he notices something.

Wait, isn't that a-

Oh. Oh no. No, that can't be.....why her?

His shout suddenly dying down, and his speed slowly decelerating, he comes to a stop only a few inches from the pegasus filly.

"No-...Nobility?" he says, incredibly confused. "What are you doing here?"

DigoDragon

2016-07-31, 08:48 AM

"Wait, you know her? Who don't you know, Silver?"

igordragonian

2016-07-31, 09:29 AM

Nobility held her head in pain. And than all of the sudden another pegaaus tried to play as train- but stopped all of the sudden.
"Silver Fail?!" she called with shock.
And then she frowned.
"Is this lame game is your new trial to break world record for amount of failed tricks for one week?!" she snapped.
"Do you think it's funny Silver Fail?!" her tones raised to an octuba which might cause headace for few ponies.
"Because I do NOT think this is funny! Take me home-NOW!" she commanded.

Zelphas

2016-07-31, 09:51 AM

As the first star falls, Curtain Call tenses for a fight... then he sees what--or who--it is.

"Oh, horseapples," he mutters, his confident demeanor from a moment ago vanishing into nothing. He shrinks back against the palace wall, hoping that she doesn't notice him. "I was having fun with this game, too..."

Theoboldi

2016-07-31, 10:21 AM

His expression immediately snapping back to one of contempt and defiance, Silver leans forward to stare the filly down. "My name's not Silver Fail! And wouldn't have wanted to bring you here in the first place! Me and the others got trapped here just like you!"

With that, he turns around, heading back to the rest of the group. "Now if you'll excuse me, we've got important hero business to take care of. Dunno why you are here, but we were brought here because this world needs heroes."

DigoDragon

2016-07-31, 10:22 AM

Dawn cringes at the yelling. Okay, this filly has lungs. "Believe me, we'd love to take you home, but we're rather stuck here, same as you... uh, Nobility was it?"

igordragonian

2016-07-31, 03:35 PM

Nobility gasped.
"HOW DARE YOU?!" she yelled with drama queen tones which might scar few ear drums.

She grabbed Silver by his tail.
"I most certainly do NOT excuse you! I won't let a failure like you to drag me to one of your dorky Daring Do Cons!"
She passed her stare over the medival like city.

"And YOU!" she pointed at Curtain Call.
"Bore Call! Don't think for a moment I have missed you!"
she stared at Dawn.
"You have no shame?!" she dragged again Silver's tail.
"You also has dragged Freckle Face into your dorky con?!" ignoring her... sort of?

userpay

2016-07-31, 04:48 PM

Brazen Hoof

As the speeches spill forth Brazen trots back and forth keeping a wary eye skyward as the others work to convince the crowds. A patrol with a short lead if one would. Granted the colt was just as wide eyed as any of the others watching the streak of light impact the park but with a shake to fling the dust free he's charging right after Silver. Though as the dust properly settles the big colt slows to a stop a few feet away and sighs, plopping his flank down to sit. "Not sure this is any better than a monster..." He mutters.

As the shouting continued on however Brazen stood back up and trotted over to squirm his way between Nobility and Silver. "Righto. Nobility this is not the time nor the place." He starts turning to stare her in the eye. "Besides its your fault for turning on the game in the first place."

DigoDragon

2016-07-31, 05:51 PM

Dawn rubs her cheeks. "Freckle face? What's wrong with my freckles?" she softly pouts to herself.

igordragonian

2016-08-01, 01:25 AM

Nobility stared at Brazen.

"Dirt Hoof?" she has asked puzzled.
Sure. Silver and Curtain- she could believe ANYTHING about this duo. But Brazen Hoof? He was a simple pony, but he wouldn't be a part of stupid tricks.. right?

"I don't want to take part at this Daring Do con!" she whined.
"Hey! How could I know that Silver Fail and Bore Call would mess up with the game I have ordered? They are SOOOOOO getting into troubles for that!"

Derjuin

2016-08-01, 02:45 AM

"Is this... a friend of yours? A fellow hero?" Lily asks, concerned. The angels are on edge now, including Marekabah. They regard Nobility with unease, some splitting off from the groups escorting ponies home to ensure there's no danger about the new filly. Suddenly, Lily shakes her head and nods.

"I see; you're the Hero of Heart, then. When you all are ready... I'll be in the palace. The vault is just behind the throne." Lily begins trotting inside the palace, her hooves making a faint clip-clop-jingle-jangle sound against the carpeted hallway floor. The meteors overhead continue growing larger and - presumably - closer, while the initial flock of angels begin to disperse. Only Marekabah remains at the entrance, her gaze returning to the sky.

DigoDragon

2016-08-01, 06:26 AM

"Uh... maybe we should... take this argument inside?" Dawn suggests as she looks at the falling sky.

Theoboldi

2016-08-01, 02:16 PM

Silver, with considerable effort, pulls himself free of Nobility's grasp, toppling over in the process.

"I didn't drag you into anything! Much less Dawn! She doesn't even appreciate her own magic, so why should I invite her to one of my shows?" he says, dusting off his fur.

"And I didn't mess with anypony's game. How would I even do that? Do I look like some sort of tech expert?"

With that, he turns back around, following Princess Lily while keeping his tail tucked up tightly. "Anyways, I'm gonna be busy being hero who gets to wield cool magical elements. That's what I was called here for. I have no idea why the Princess thinks you're a hero too, but you can do whatever." Momentarily, he glances over his shoulder at Brazen Hoof. "Are we still going with the whole 'this is a just a game'-thing? Cause, for the record, I don't think that's the case."

DigoDragon

2016-08-01, 02:24 PM

"Much less Dawn! She doesn't even appreciate her own magic, so why should I invite her to one of my shows?"

Dawn takes in a deep breath and lets it out slowly. 'And this is why I don't have friends'. She trots over to Nobility. "Hey, uh, you said you just ordered a game? Like, was it a small disc in a soft cloth, made you hear a voice and it moved around just before sucking you into this place?"

igordragonian

2016-08-01, 05:09 PM

Nobility stared dumb struck- the princess, the falling skies...
And a whole city? It... looked too much even for fanatic nerds.
But.. it can't be real... now can it?
"Yes. Go play with your dolls! Silver Fail!" she called after him with rage.
But.. some voice told her.. that the heroes needed her?
And the beatiful princess...
Could it be? This bunch of losers heroes? For real? If that the truth, they are in desprate need for her!

Freckle Face surprsingly was nice.
She was a loser as well- but she couldn't ignore such kindness.

"Yes.' Nobility nodded, getting closee to who seemed to her, one of the only sane ponies around.
"There were such bizzare instructions..some voice called me "Seer Of Heart" and also said that the heroes of Equinia need me..?" she said puzzled.
"Are you trying to tell me, that you are playing this game as well, Freckle Face?"

userpay

2016-08-01, 06:26 PM

Brazen Hoof

Brazen rolls his eyes at Nobility's nickname for him, though it tended to be soot not dirt, before looking at Silver and shrugging. "It might have started out as one and grew to something more. We'll just have to find that one out won't we? Besides, ordering? I think someone might know a bit more about what's going on than they realize." He says starting to nudge the others towards the vault even as Nobility stares around. "Frankly it's probably for the best you come along with us, whether you think you're 'playing' or not."

DigoDragon

2016-08-01, 07:39 PM

"Are you trying to tell me, that you are playing this game as well, Freckle Face?"

Dawn cringed a little at being called that. "It's Dawn, but yeah, we're all stuck here in this... place."

"Seer of Heart huh? I think I got called Heir of Light. I don't know what it means, but um, I think we're going to need to stick together. You know, not fight so much. But hey, it's nice to have another filly on the team. Right?" When she's nudged by Brazen, she starts moving toward the others.

igordragonian

2016-08-02, 12:43 AM

Nobility started to breath fast, her pupils wandering arounf trying to grasp what going on.
"You are the heir of Light?!" Nobility said with such surprise, that some may believe she understand the meaning of this.
Surprisngly, she didn't gotten histeric. Actually she gotten excited, and a smug grin has conqured her expriession with "noble'-know it all-arrogant expriession.
Was it a game? Was it real? It didn't mattered to Nobility. Ponies needed her.
It seems that Silver stated himself as the Loser Lord of her class's losers.. they can't win on such conditions!
Crazy voice were right- those supposed heroes needed HER.
She forced herself to show body launguage of calm and self security.
"I see. Very well, Freckle Face. Let's go' she said with an authorative tone.
'Now... I want to know more about this princess and what she need us for.' trying to sound like a grown up

DigoDragon

2016-08-02, 06:03 AM

'Now... I want to know more about this princess and what she need us for.' trying to sound like a grown up

"Okay... this is the city of Mareinev, in the land of Equinia. It's ruled by Princess Lily over there. She's pretty nice. Has a sister, Rose, who apparently put on a cursed crown given to her by the monsters of the moon Purgist, up there." Dawn is pointing out everyone and thing as she's trying to recap what she knows. "So Princess Lily has the angels of Gildaea, the second moon, to help her defend Equinia. She banished her sister to Purgist until such a time as some heroes will come to free Rose from the crown and restore order between the three worlds. Or something like that."

Dawn waits a second for the exposition dump to sink in. "So, the princess needs us to free her sister from the curse. Somehow."

userpay

2016-08-02, 08:35 AM

Brazen Hoof

"To be honest I'm not to sure about the angels either..." Brazen mumbles, hopefully out of hearing of the remaining angel in the area. "But yea we all seem to represent something. Like I'm the Knight of Blood." The colt can't help but be bemused at Nobility's seeming turn around. Perhaps she's getting into the spirit of things... Might be hope for her yet. He thinks bringing up the rear, occasionally taking a peak backwards to make sure nothing new has popped up.

igordragonian

2016-08-02, 05:21 PM

Nobility paused a bit, thoughtfully, waving her long mane."Hmmm... it does sound heavily inspired by Equestria history isn't it? But I guess, the purpose of the game is to make us feel heroes like Rarity and her friends..'

She stared at Brazen Hoof, and smiled. "Awww. You are trying to be a knight? It's so sweet!" she cooed, in quite motherly AND patronizing tone. The she blinked
"Wait... knight of WHAT? Ugh... Dirt Hoof!" she said with a sigh.
"I can understand you aren't afraid to dirt your hooves.. but BLOOD?! It's like... worth BILLION of ugh and yucks... can't you be a knight of something cuter?"

userpay

2016-08-02, 09:06 PM

Brazen Hoof

"Says the 'seer'."The colt tilts his head. "Besides what do you think knights do? And soot is totally different than dirt!" Brazen says, flicking his tail.

DigoDragon

2016-08-02, 09:08 PM

"Maybe it's blood in a... different sense? Like, passion or anger?"

igordragonian

2016-08-03, 12:11 AM

"Well I haven't chosen the title. I'm just saying you should change it!" Nobility said to Brazen Hoof, and then sheperked her ears and listened to Dawn Star.
"Passion...' she hummed."I guess, it could be that, but still.. it doesn't sound cute at all'

Derjuin

2016-08-03, 02:54 AM

Following the Princess's lead, it's actually a pretty straight shot to the vault. Though, you could probably assume that on any other day, the whole place would be teeming with royal guards. And, of course, the presence of the Princess herself. The walls of the room just before the vault are thick and trellised with metal bars, and not a single window adorns any of them. You get the feeling that this area is much more structurally sound than anywhere else in the palace, and for good reason.

The huge door of the vault, however, is decorated to an incredible degree, despite being nearly twice as tall as the Princess. A stylized lotus, folding in on itself what seems to be a thousand times, spirals into a central hole in the door. Around the hole there are eight circular plates of gold, each embedded with a different-colored gemstone held by silver filigree and decorated with gold leafing in ornate patterns, each one slightly different from the others. The Princess focuses her gaze on the hole in the center, just large enough for a key to fit.

"This is where we keep the elements... at least, the ones we've collected. No pony in this kingdom, neither peasant nor noble, has seen the three rogue elements." She looks up to the five smaller circles above, whose gemstones are lit up with a faint light. "The elements of Creation represent more than just their namesake, you see. We've managed to piece that together from what little we do know about them." She points at a red gemstone in the door, then to Brazen.

"Blood is more than just, well, what's coursing in your veins. It's more abstract. Think... family. Best friends. Ponies you'd never want to lose. Those bonds that keep everyone strong, as a unified and loving whole." For a moment, you could have sworn you saw her eyes misting up, and a tear escaping into the light fuzzy fur on her cheeks before disappearing. "The others are just as well, though some of them are a little more obvious."

Her horn glows with magic, and a spark dances within the keyhole. The door slowly, heavily and loudly begins to swing open, and a simple wooden box sits atop a simple wooden stand within. "These," Lily says, the box lifting up and careening through the air as she turns around to show you its contents, "are the elements of creation. The Element of Blood -" she levitates a necklace featuring a red gemstone cut into a stylized droplet and places it around Brazen's neck "- for the Knight of Blood, Brazen Hoof." Four more similar necklaces float up, each bearing a gemstone with a stylized shape - a blue cloud, a dark pink heart, a yellow sun, and a cream feathered wing. "The Thief of Breath, Silver Lining; the Seer of Heart, Nobility; the Heir of Light, Dawn Star; and the Bard of Hope, Curtain Call."

As each necklace is fitted around your neck, something feels simultaneously right and wrong about each. They feel heavy, but as if they were crafted specifically for your size and shape. They almost feel like mundane - if exotic and expensive-looking - jewelry, rather than what mystical artifacts should probably feel like. "I'd be happy to explain more about what we know of the Elements, but I think the situation at hoof is a little more important..."

igordragonian

2016-08-03, 04:52 AM

Nobilty stared with awe. There were a lot to digest.
Rouge elements?
Elements of Creation?
All those strange titles..her heart felt heavy- finally- a responsibility has fallen on her shoulders. The necklace strangely reminded her of her earings. Coindence?
Was it really a game?
Nobility stared at the other ponies, as each gotten a necklace- trying to see if the necklaces has changed them.. she supposed to know- she supposed to lead them! This was her destiny! That was the fate of her bloodline!
But.. she felt scared and alone... why Paladin has over slept, and why couldn't she wait for her brother?

She bowed deeply when she has accepted her necklace and title, she bowed with grace, closing her eyes.

She.. expected it to glow.. or SOMETHING.
But she won't complain. Fate gave her a chance to prove herself- she'l win with what ever she got!
"Thank you, your highness. I won't disapoint you" she said with a grin that looked a bit forced.

What are they going to do? She didn't knew. She'l make up something on the way.
She had to.
"Very well. We are ready for action, your highness Nobility said in formal tone, trying to mimic her mom who were Guard Captain. She added a bow and a salute, combining gracefully, between lady gesture with a military one.

DigoDragon

2016-08-03, 06:05 AM

Dawn Star

Did you ever have that feeling where you just weren't living up to your parents' expectations? Dawn felt it on occasion, in no small part of learning about some of the many adventures her parents had been on when they were younger. But now here she is, the little Star, wearing some important-sounding necklace. Sure, it didn't really look like anything spectacular, but she's seen pictures of the Elements back home and they didn't look all that impressive. At first.

It was a little hard to tell if Dawn was going to cry or that her eyes were just that wide open at receiving this gift. "I, uh... wow. So this is what responsibility feels like. I guess, what Nobility said. Ready to do... something."

Theoboldi

2016-08-03, 09:52 AM

Silver almost stumbles a little bit upon receiving his necklace, surprised by its weight. So this is it, huh? A real, honest-to-Celestia Element. And he's wielding it. Him, of all ponies! Sure, Dawn Star and Nobility are each wearing one as well, but still! Pride wells up in the young colt's chest. If only his parents could see him now! If....if only grandpa could see him now.

The grin on Silver's face fades away, replaced with an expression of sheer, stubborn determination. While he has no idea how to do it yet, it is his privilege and duty to wield an Element's power. His head held up high, he loudly and firmly says what he feels deep down.

"Silver Lining, the Thief of Breath, is ready, your highness!"

userpay

2016-08-03, 09:04 PM

Brazen Hoof

Brazen was about to retort to Nobility before the Princess began to speak once more, the corner of his mouth curling upward in a smile as she talks of what his title represented. While he barely knew some of their little forming group the colt certainly felt something of a bond. One that solidified further as each of them was gifted an element. The colt's frame giving the barest of shivers as he regards the red droplet with fascination. Such a small thing. Yet behind it was so much more waiting to be discovered...

Planting his hooves firmly to the floor with a click Brazen looks up to the Princess with a resolute look in his eye. "This colt is ready to stand firm."

Zelphas

2016-08-03, 10:29 PM

Several times, Curtain Call thinks about interjecting in the conversation going on, but it seems like none of them believed that this was a game anymore, and besides it meant that Nobility might look at him... he decides to remain silent.

The young foal perks up as they are bestowed their Elements, though he is slightly disappointed that their abilities aren't revealed in some sort of spreadsheet or in-game inventory menu. They're quest items, so they're probably only useful as MacGuffins during scripted battles... unless these are fakes. I'm still not too sure the Princess is the right side to choose, and if she's the villain this would be a good way to keep us from realizing our true power. Then again, if that's the case we'll discover the Elements just in time to defeat her dastardly scheme, so I don't need to worry.

Curtain Call realizes the other foals have expressed their resolve, and figures it's his turn to speak. How did she know all of our titles, anyways? Either the writers of this game just made a plot hole, or the legend gave our titles as well as our elements. Funny, though, that's the first time she's mentioned them. "I am ready to help this land with my Element," Curtain Call says finally, carefully not giving allegiance to any ruler in particular.

Derjuin

2016-08-06, 01:58 AM

"Good. I'm glad the heroes can be trusted this- ah, uhm, let's get going," she starts to stutter, giving a shy smile as she cuts herself off. "Hopefully we can catch the monsters before too much damage is dealt to the city and its people." At a loud, low rumbling echoing through the palace halls, the Princess breaks into a gallop and calls back to you.

"Quickly! There's no time!"

Back outside the palace, there are several new craters in the square, some of which are occupied by smaller creatures, while others are empty. You see some that wouldn't be out of place in Ponyville, even - a handful of wildly-differently colored griffons and what you could probably guess was a donkey. There's some kind of weird bug-looking pony, too, with wings like a wasp and a horn to boot - though it shortly disappears into the fighting. Most of them are already embroiled in combat against the angels, somehow keeping the armored and armed beings at bay. Suddenly, Marekabah appears above the melee and glows bright red, several nearby monsters disappearing in a shower of sparkles. While the angels seem grateful for the magic of their leader, there are a few that look... almost disappointed. "At least the courtyard is relatively secure..." Lily comments, glancing skyward before jerking her head away and closing her eyes.

With another flash of light, a balance-threatening rumble and a wave of dust, something strikes the stone immediately in front of you - some kind of weird snake-looking beast, with a single arm ending in a ridiculously long talon, uncoils from the depression its impact caused. Its head is conical, but it lacks any kind of eyes... or nose, or mouth? Its skin looks leathery and is covered in scars. "And she said the worst prisons were still secure?!" Her horn starting to glow with magic, the Princess is interrupted as the beast unleashes a keening screech from somewhere, and springs forth right toward her, talon outstretched!

Reactions:

I need a reaction from each of you due to the creature's burst of violent activity. You can, for example, use a Body check to cover your ears against the screech, try to rationalize any fears a la Mind, or just use your personality to refuse to be scared via Heart (or anything else you want to do! These are just examples). You can also try to interact with it but the DT might be higher if you do.

DigoDragon

2016-08-06, 07:25 AM

Dawn Star

The screech causes Dawn to instinctively cover her ears. "Ahh, what is that thing?!"

Body check: [roll0]
+1 Body

Total: 8

Theoboldi

2016-08-06, 08:37 AM

The scream of the horrible creature causes Silver to shiver in fear, the potential dangers of being a hero suddenly having lost their status as 'potential'.

"Come on, Silver! It's no more dangerous than any of your tricks! You can do this!" he mentally cheers himself on as does his best to stand straight. "Come here, you overgrown lizard! Try and burninate me if you can!"

Because I forgot, my roll's over on the OOC thread.

igordragonian

2016-08-06, 05:19 PM

Nobility gasped.
Her pupils shrinked and she was about to scream with panic.
But then she remembered her mother. She was a Captain! From! The! Royal! Guard!

Could Nobility face her, if she'l run away at the first danger?

And those foals needed her.
She greeted her teeth,trying to force her legs stop shaking.
She stomped- it probably weren't heard because of the havoc around.

"STOP THIS SQUIRMING! YOU BIG WORM!" she shouted out, trying to turn her fear into rage.
"I AM NOBILITY! AND I WON'T ALLOW YOU ACT THIS WAY!!!!" she yelled, with tears of fear escaping her eyes, trying to sound dominante as she could.

heart-

[roll0]+3

Zelphas

2016-08-06, 05:50 PM

Curtain Call glances around at the griffins and donkeys in the craters, getting himself back into the spirit of the game. All right, so the 'angels' are obviously a little more morally ambiguous than they want us to think. I figured as much, but it's nice to have some hard evidence.

As the giant worm-snake thing lands in front of them, he whistles appreciatively. "Good monster design; that thing is terrifying," he comments, watching the thing move. "Looks like combat's starting!"

userpay

2016-08-08, 11:05 AM

Brazen Hoof

As the creature thuds down in front of them Brazen instinctively starts to put himself between the thing and his friends. Then the screeching starts. The colt partially hunches down, ears laying flat against his skull, teeth grinding against teeth as he tries to ride out the sonic assault.

Body [roll0]

Derjuin

2016-08-09, 01:03 AM

Through your display of bravado and/or lack thereof, you manage to avoid the dangers of the beast's screech and its unsettling movements entirely; even the Princess seems spurred on by your reckless show, and manages to put up a telekinetic shield to bounce the creature away just in time. It doesn't seem too deterred by this, though, and coils up as if ready to make another attack.

Additional Media (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLQbr45pGJw)

"Rip Tide's experiments gone wrong," Lily grunts, eyeing the beast as her brow furrows. "We need to dispatch this one before more arrive. I don't care what the others are like - this one has to go." From here, you notice that the leathery skin of the creature has actually started to shimmer and sharpen, as if it were turning to glass, or crystal. "If more arrive, they'll all start looking like that. It - that crystal coat - reflects magic," she says with a pained sigh. "We sealed those that didn't die in Gildaea. Seems we'd have been better off getting rid of them entirely."

Overhead, several more streaks of light grow closer. Around you, griffons, huge spiders, and even smaller dragons start to appear as more impacts strike the city's streets - though most of the "monsters" look lost. Those that don't jump into the melee are swiftly enveloped by Marekabah's magic, their bodies displaced by a serene shower of sparkles.

Round 1 is a go!

You all get an action, and no one takes any damage (yay high rolls! (and theo's, which barely squeaked by :smalltongue:)). Based on what Lily has said, directly trying to affect it with magic might be a bad idea.

DigoDragon

2016-08-09, 06:13 AM

Based on what Lily has said, directly trying to affect it with magic might be a bad idea.

http://i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/190/829/131933146075.jpg

Dawn Star

"It reflects magic?!" Dawn shouts. Oh great, well that pretty much nixes all her little magic tricks. Might as well just throw the fight and leave... wait. Could that work? The filly concentrates some magic from her horn around herself, supercharging her telekinesis. The energy builds up around her to a glistening amethyst shield. "This is dumb this is dumb this is dumb..."

Dawn releases the buildup all at once, launching herself at the creature like a canon ball. "Yeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!"
Spellcasting: [roll0]+2 Mind = 8

Telekinetic Throw
Target: Individual
Range: Seen
Duration: Immediate
Effect: Animate, Forge
Subject: Construct or Body, Energy
Spell Level: 8 (Easy, DT 5)
Description: By supercharging their telekinetic abilities, the caster can hurl a character or object with far more force than normal. This Spell is normally used for offense, but can be used for more practical purposes as well, such as slinging ropes over large obstacles.

Spent 5 Will to power

igordragonian

2016-08-09, 04:44 PM

Nobility tried to ignore the doubts, which started to risen, seeing the "monsters"
she had this monster to take care of!

Wait.. freckle face did now.. what?!
she gasped and her chin fell to the floor.

Nobility weren't strong, nor had magic. She couldn't even fly.
But!
She sure knew how to hog the attention!
"Dirt Hoof, attack from behind!" she barked a command(?), and then she galloped forward, and... screamed.
Simply screamed at the serpent like monster, so he would ignore the ponies who were under her protection.

"FEEL THE POWER OF THE ELEMENT OF HEART!!!! RRRRRRRRAAAAAAGGGH!!!!!"

[roll0]+3=10

Theoboldi

2016-08-10, 07:32 AM

Seeing the monster charge, Silver is sweaty, knees weak, hooves are heavy. There's sweat on his fur already. He's nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready to drop magic. In any case, the young colt is slowly beginning to realise what kind of trouble he really is in. That's a monster he's going up against. A true, honest-to-Celestia monster. It's a miracle his legs aren't giving away.

But then, he sees something that until this day he has considered a physical impossibility. Dawn Star, the otherwise so lazy and uncaring filly, is throwing herself at the monster in a crazed, chaotic charge, backed up by her own casting. And not just that, Nobility of all ponies is putting herself into harm's way, attempting to distract the monster with.....the power of Heart?

"Really? That's it? I was expecting something a little more flashy.

Still, not to be outdone, he looks around for something he can use to fight this overgrown gummy worm with. And then, he spots it. A ripped off banner, embroidered with some kind of fancy symbol, one end very much on fire. Quickly, he runs over to pick it up with his wings, dragging it onto his back like some kind of overly large, burning cape.

Now, it is time for a death defying stunt.

"Behold...

And as everypony in Ponyville knows-

"...as Silver Lining, the Thief of Breath.."

-death defying stunts are his forte.

"MAKES THIS MONSTROUS WORM DISAPPEAR!"

With the aid of the distraction that Dawn and Nobility provide, he himself charges the worm immediately after the magical filly. Just a few feet away from it, he comes to a sudden stop, and flings the banner off his body onto the monster, attempting to entangle the creature in the large, burning cloth.

Uh, body roll, I guess. Hope that my skill training applies to this, as a stage magician would have some experience with the dexterity require to manipulate large pieces of cloth like this for various vanishing acts?

[roll0] + 1 (Body) = 6

Geeze, the dice don't like Silver at all....

userpay

2016-08-10, 10:55 AM

Brazen Hoof

"Is there even a behind to this thing?" Brazen shouts back, shaking off the last traces of the sonic assault. It's almost hoof face worthy as all the others swarm at the beast before he even as a chance to get to the forefront. Knowing there was no way he could catch up to Dawn that quickly he dashes ahead of Silver and tries to weave in front of Nobility. Swinging around the beasts side, hopefully distracting it from the others, until the banner is laid onto it. Turning abruptly to deliver a double rear hoof buck at the hopefully now shrouded serpent.

Body [roll0] Buckin time!

Zelphas

2016-08-11, 12:04 AM

As combat began, Curtain Call made a sudden realization. "Oh, fetlocks," he mutters to himself. "I'm a non-combat class."

He watches the rest of the group charge forward, whistling in admiration at Dawn's cannonball tactic. Finally, he shrugs. "Well, nothing for it, I guess." He canters forward, aiming to simply kick a hoof in wherever he can find a spot.

Body!: [roll0]

Derjuin

2016-08-12, 04:45 PM

As the five of you concentrate on the crystalline snake beast, Lily stands back and watches, as if evaluating. Dawn's charge distracts the creature, and it turns to its side, though not fast enough to avoid having a filly strike the smooth surface of its shoulder. Cracks spread up into its body as chips of crystal fly free, and it recoils from the impact. While Nobility's scream does indeed get its attention, it responds by lifting its crystal talon high, reaching to slash at the offender - but luckily, a banner wraps around it at just the right time to wrench the claw away, its swing going wide.

As it struggles against the banner, the simultaneous bucks from Brazen and Curtain cause its body to crunch and splinter, the cloth wrapped around it keeping each kick from exploding in a shower of sharp crystal shards. Its movements become jagged and slowed, and with each movement, more cracks form over its body. With a high-pitched screech, it thrashes about, its talon now making quick work of the cloth that bound it - though at this point, it looks like it's about to crumble. "Excellent work, little ones. It's nearly down!" Lily shouts, before looking around. "Be swift. I feel time is growing short before more of these beasts arrive." The Princess's own horn glows a mix of black and teal, and one of the white meteor-like objects heading toward you veers far to the left, as if knocked off course by her magic.

There's no immediate danger to react to, as the banner trick forced the crystal monster to waste time freeing itself, so you all get another go!

userpay

2016-08-13, 08:18 AM

Brazen Hoof

Brazen prances side to side for several moments. A cocky grin spreading across his face even as the thing tears free from its confinement. "One more push everyone! Lets do this!" He waits for an opening, using the time to try and spot a good place to strike, in the flailing before darting forward again. This time using all four hooves to propel himself shoulder first into the things body.

Theoboldi

2016-08-13, 10:08 AM

Despite his bindings not holding the monster down too long, Silver throws Nobility a victorious grin, calling attention to how he just prevented her from becoming mincemeat. Still, he doesn't let himself be distracted for too long, too eager to bring this battle to its conclusion. Especially since, as Lily is saying, more of these creatures might arrive at any moment.

He begins fluttering his wings wildly, building up energy for one tremendous charge. One he sees what he considers an opportunity, he rushes forward, ready to smack his hoof into that creature's side and break it apart once and for all. This is gonna be his finishing move, and his finishing move alone! "Now what to call it? I need a good name to shout out..."

igordragonian

2016-08-13, 04:49 PM

"Not bad" Nobility grumbled toward Silver.

She decided that screaming had done it's charm already. She looked at Silver and decided- what ever he is going to do, she'l do it better!
"Let's finish the uncute thing!" she called enthusticly, her wings buzzing as Silver's- but with much slower rate.
And then she charged forward paralel to Silver and rush her hoof to the monster's other side.

Body
[roll0]+1
Maybe acting in harmony with Silver?

DigoDragon

2016-08-13, 06:49 PM

Dawn stumbles a little after the impact. She mentally notes not to pretend she's a cannon ball anymore. Seeing Silver and then Nobility tag team in a second charge was kind of inspiring... meh, one self-throw was enough.

However, she spotted Brazen jumping at the creature and almost landing a good blow. She focuses her telekinesis to nudge Brazen into a more precise hit.

[OOC: Acting in Harmony with Brazen, raising her total Roll to a 10]

Zelphas

2016-08-13, 07:22 PM

Curtain Call nods in approval as the first round ends. Okay, first enemy fight isn't going to destroy us. That's a plus. He notes that everyone else is striking again, and hurries to strike as well. If I hit at the same time as... Brazen, I think? we might be able to knock this thing over... can it be upside-down?

If possible, Curtain will Act in Harmony with Brazen as well, bumping his roll up to an 11.

If not, Body: [roll0]

Derjuin

2016-08-15, 11:30 PM

As you close in on the crystal beast, each hoof strike finds purchase - and with each, a sickening CRUNCH sound as the broken crystal hide becomes even more fragile. With a hideous screech, the beast spirals in on itself and its body cracks entirely - and a moment later, explodes into a shower of crystal fragments! Thankfully, they don't seem to be too sharp, though some of them fly at an incredible speed.

At the same time, two more meteorites strike the nearby cobblestone, and two new snake beasts crawl from their dusty craters - one a pale white, almost milky color, and the other blue with mottled orange spots...

One of them begins hunching over and flexing its single talon, and with each movement there's a grotesque snap and crack as the flesh looks like it's growing. As the cords of its muscles twitch, so too do the same ones in the other beast - the same splintering sound, as if bones and muscles were breaking, yet growing stronger. Just as the sounds stop, the blue and orange beast doubles over as if in pain, and two tiny appendages stretch forth from its back. They initially look like little webbed claws, until the protrusions elongate and they begin to resemble a bat's wings. Slowly but surely, the same changes occur on the white one...

"More experiments!" Lily calls out, her horn lighting up and a blast of magical energy launching into the blue beast. Before it can even react, one of its wings begins to sizzle away, and it looses another screech. "I don't know why we ever paid those crazy mermares for making these. I swear, had I not known better, I'd have thought Tide to be insane." Somehow, Lily remains above the chaos with her attempts to make small talk...

All around, the frequency of meteors has slowed down, though above you see a truly massive number heading for the city. While your vision is mostly limited to the courtyard and gardens, even the buildings beyond the inner gates don't look too damaged. Monsters have stopped disappearing as Marekabah is nowhere to be seen, and almost the entirety of the angelic host that did battle in the courtyard have left, those few remaining keeping a watchful eye on creatures bound in ropes and cuffs of pure light.

Reaction time!

Everyone is currently in danger of the Crystal Explosion. I need a Body roll, unless you can come up with a way to make a Mind or Heart roll make sense here :smallwink:

DigoDragon

2016-08-16, 05:31 AM

Dawn Star curls up into a little ball, covering up her face in the ensuing explosion.

[roll0]+1 = 8

Theoboldi

2016-08-16, 05:40 AM

With not much time to react, Silver leaps to the side, attempting to find cover behind a nearby statue.

[roll0] + 1 (Body) = 9

Once the immediate danger has passed, and two more horrible creatures arrive on the scene, he delivers a bit of still-flustered sarcasm to the princess. "Are there any dangerous monsters up there you didn't make yourselves? Heck, you should have stopped after one of these!"

igordragonian

2016-08-16, 11:13 AM

"By Rarity's last design line!" Nobility yelled, jumping to take cover behind a broken crate.

[roll0]+1

When she hearing Silver sarcasm she getting out from her hideout scolding him:"Silver Fail! This is not a way to talk to a lady! Especialy a princess lady!"

Zelphas

2016-08-16, 11:47 AM

Curtain Call flinches back from the shower of crystals. Enemy detonates at the end of the fight. Good to know.

Body: [roll0] + 1 = 9

After the blast has subsided, the young colt looks at the two new monstrosities, as well as the chained griffons and donkeys all throughout the courtyard. He glances back at Princess Lily as she admits that the monsters were designed for their use at some point in the past. "Anyone else get the feeling that we might be hitched to the wrong wagon?" he asks under his breath.

userpay

2016-08-19, 12:52 PM

Brazen Hoof

Brazen stumbles backwards, the telekinesis assist while useful throwing him off a bit on the recovery. He barely has enough time to get his hooves back under him before the shards start to fly. Forcing the colt to hunch down against the ground to try and avoid them.

Body: [roll0]

Derjuin

2016-08-21, 01:01 AM

Your reflexes carry you far away from the dangerous glass shards, each of you sustaining not even a single scratch from the explosion. At Silver's sarcasm, the Princess smirks and takes a step to the side. "Would you believe me if I said that it wasn't my idea? An ambassador from Aquestria thought it might unify our two empires if we helped them with their research. What they didn't tell me is that they were experimenting by playing Goddess. And so, the Shardlings were born." She motions to the snakes with a hoof, a disdainful look in her eye.

"Most of these experiments are mindless vermin. Not unlike a house fly or mosquito. I couldn't begin to tell you about the advanced shardlings, though. Those are sealed within Rip Tide's laboratory, deep inside Aquestria. At one point, it was top secret information. Now, it's merely forgotten by the few that knew it." While the muscular-looking shardling with both of its wings starts to slither closer, the one whose wing was blasted off by Lily's magic backs off, its conical head zipping from side to side, as if looking for something.

Round 2! Action time~

Muscle Shardling is approaching, while Winged Shardling is advancing in the opposite direction.

DigoDragon

2016-08-21, 07:19 AM

Muscle Shardling is approaching, while Winged Shardling is advancing in the opposite direction.

Dawn Star

"I don't like this place anymore," Dawn meekly says. Her heart is pounding hard in her chest with fear. She looks for some of the sharp shards that just rained around her, scoops them up, and then concentrates magic around the bundle.

Just half a moment later she releases the charged up magic in another telekinetic throw at the winged creature.

Casting Telekinetic Throw again~
[roll0]
+2 Mind

Total = 9
Cost: 5 Will

Theoboldi

2016-08-21, 08:47 AM

"Gotcha. Friendship is black magic around here, apparently." Silver responds to Lily's explanation, not having lost one ounce of snark. Then, noticing that one of the serpents is attempting to slither away, he jumps back into action, quickly running after it.

When he notices Dawn scooping up some of the crystals for her to throw at the creature, he comments "Good idea." However, he figures that if these creatures are fragile enough to break apart from the bucks of young children, he'll only need something a little bit firmer to take them apart. Something like.....

Silver's eyes fall onto a broken off piece of cobblestone, blown away by the earlier meteor impacts. "Yeah, that'll do." He picks it up with one of his wings, carefully aiming at the creature's wings. Though the stone is a bit heavier than he is used to, it's really no different to throwing knives and other assorted dangerous objects. Granted, his parents have long since forbidden him from practising such tricks, but it's not like that ever really stopped him. As such, he flings the stone at the Shardling's wings, hoping to stop it dead in its tracks.

"Don't you run away!"

Yeah, Silver's throwing a rock at the winged Shardling's wings. Assuming that my skill training applies here...

[roll0] + 1 (Body) = 13

Also, the word 'wings' has lost all meaning for me after I said it this often.

igordragonian

2016-08-21, 05:41 PM

Nobility wasn't pleased at the princess bothering to answe Silver 'Fail'. If she were the princess, at best she would ignore him- but such insolence should be punished! She was about to say something, but some uncute Shardlings have distracted her.
Luckily for Silver Fail!

She had an idea, how to stop both uncute things. When she was mad, she could make butlers, maids, classmates, and sometimes random ponies freeze with pain, from the high octavas. She actually remembered the time, when she yelled so much at Curtain that she has shattered the window of the class.

So she hoped to stop them from moving, and maybe even shatter them.

'IN THE NAME OF PRINCESS LILLY AND THE ELEMENT OF HEART! HALT!'

2d6+3

userpay

2016-08-22, 11:54 AM

Brazen Hoof

"Either way the only thing that matters is that they're here now. They might have still happened even without your assistance." Brazen shrugs as he rises back to his hooves after the spray of shards. Brazen barely has to look between the two shardlings before he's already charging at the muscled one. The others seemingly unconcerned for the one heading directly for them so it fell to Brazen to head the thing off.

"Over here big guy!" The colt shouts kicking off the thing, trying to slow it down and draw its attention.

Body: [roll0]

Zelphas

2016-08-22, 07:35 PM

Curtain flinches as Nobility shrieks at the Shardlings, feeling a pang of sympathy for the game constructs. "I'l just go help Brazen with the other one then..." he mutters, moving quickly away.

As he trots towards his teammate and the Shardling, he glances quickly around him, searching for something he could use. He finally spots a fallen pole, its banner burned away. Just a long bar of metal, with a pointed end...

Grunting, Curtain Call drags the pole over to where Brazen was charging the muscly Shardling, managing to clumsily wedge it at an angle between some broken stones in the courtyard. "When I say 'now', dodge right," he says in a stage whisper to Brazen Hoof, before raising his voice to address the Shardling directly. "Come on then, monster! Surely two little colts aren't too much for you to handle!"

Mind to set the trap and bait the Muscle Shardling into charging, smashing into the pole: [roll0]+2 = 12

Derjuin

2016-08-24, 02:15 PM

Dawn's crystal shards elicits a shriek from the creature, as it ducks under its functional wing from the shower of the pieces of its former comrade. Silver's stone flies true and impacts the wing at its joint, and those nearby hear a sickening CRUNCH from the shardling, who collapses with another whiny shriek.

With Nobility's cry, the winged shardling curls up with its tail over its head and its broken wings, which only incites the larger of the two to charge toward the little filly. While Brazen's attempt at intercepting its path works, he now finds himself imminently face-to-snakey-face with a shardling much bigger and bulkier than the crystalline one. The previous had been sleek and refined, while this one ripples with the kind of raw strength you see in a wild animal. Thankfully, though, he's not alone - and Curtain's pole attack goes off without a hitch, slamming into the shardling in the face and leaving a large, swelling bruise across the impact.

This is, unfortunately, not enough to deter it - it sweeps low with its scythe-like talon, a much thicker and sturdier-looking claw than that of either the winged or crystalline shardlings. The winged shardling, while not dead, seems to be out of the fight entirely - only its tail is moving, which occasionally writhes over its body. Overhead, another meteor is fast approaching, with two smaller trails to its side...

"I think that's enough," Lily suddenly calls out, a black-and-teal cloud of magic converging on the winged shardling. A moment later, it disappears in a shower of sparkles. The wings on the muscled shardling wither and die, though it doesn't seem at all inconvenienced by it. "Feel free to criticize, just know that my reasons for associating with any of this have always been for the peace, security and well-being of my people." Her eyes flash teal for a moment, and wisps of magic eke out from the corners. Suddenly, her brow narrows and she snarls. "You don't know what we've had to do just to get as far as we have. You don't know what we've had to give up - or what I've personally had to suffer through just to make things work. You know, just - sometimes, changelings make mistakes, okay?" She grunts, and she glares out over the broken courtyard.

Reaction tim!

Curtain, Brazen and Nobility are all in danger of being leg-swept by a pretty sharp and nasty-looking talon.
Dawn and Silver are currently safe at the distance they're at.

igordragonian

2016-08-24, 04:40 PM

Nobility gasped, trying desperately to fly with her too lazy wings.
Instead, she simply trying to jump from the way of the talon.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!"

[roll0]+1

Zelphas

2016-08-24, 05:30 PM

Curtain Call, grimacing in disappointment as the metal spike fails to impale the creature, freezes up when he hears Princess Lily's next statement. "Changelings?" he stammers out. Well, that's a curve. "Hitched to the wrong wagon, with the wrong supplies, and following the wrong road, my dad would say," he mutters, just barely noticing the sweeping talon heading towards him.

Body: [roll0] +1 = 13

userpay

2016-08-25, 08:18 AM

Brazen Hoof

"Buh?" Brazen seems rather distracted by the last bit that the Princess said. "What do changlings have to do wi-" Then there's the claw coming at him. Interrupting the colt into a attempt at a little hop and a skip to try and hoof the creature again.

Avoid [roll0]

Attack [roll1]

DigoDragon

2016-08-25, 09:18 AM

Nobility gasped, trying desperately to fly with her too lazy wings.
Instead, she simply trying to jump from the way of the talon.

[3]+1

Upon seeing Nobility struggle to get airborne, Dawn tries to use her TK to help lift her up.

Acting in Harmony to raise that dodge to a 6. Might not help, but worth a try.

Theoboldi

2016-08-27, 12:28 PM

After seeing his throw hit perfectly on-target, Silver pumps his hoof into the air, accompanied by a victorious shout of "YEAH!"

However, as he overhears Princess Lily explaining herself, his good mood dies down a little again. "Uh-huh. You mean mistakes like locking up all of the changelings together with the mons- WAIT YOU'RE A WHAT?!?" The pegasus colt nearly stumbles over himself, too surprised by what he has just heard.

Derjuin

2016-08-29, 08:40 PM

Luckily for Nobility, Dawn's magical prowess is just enough to get her over the talon, like a barely-cleared hurdle in a race. Were this the Wide Wide World of Equestrian Sports, she'd probably have been docked a point. But it's not! And yet, both Brazen and Curtain execute evasive acrobatic pirouettes the likes of which have not been seen in said World of Equestrian Sports in ages. Were it not for the lack of an official judge, their flawless execution would likely have landed them gold medals, if that was a thing that they were doing. (Un?)Luckily for them, they completely clear the offending talon and land in a possibly accidental stylish flourish. The muscle shardling seems utterly stunned by the display, and looks as if it's having second thoughts now.

It takes some time for Lily to return her attention to you, her gaze locked over the destruction of the city. "I'm a what? Wait, what's this about ...changelings? Who said anything about them?" She tilts her head to the side, one eyebrow raised. "Do... do you know anything about changelings?" She trots closer to your group and another magical aura envelops the muscular shardling, though instead of the shower-of-sparkles disappearing act the other monsters have received, this one seems to simply be... erased from existence. Above, the shower has significantly slowed, and even the greatest of the meteors is still only slowly approaching. It seems you have some time to relax before the next thing lands...

Zelphas

2016-08-29, 08:51 PM

An unintentional flourish? Curtain Call was the Bard of Hope! Any flourishes, pirouettes, or other displays of showmanship were always completely--all right, that was a complete accident. But he didn't have to admit that out loud! "That's right, you should back up!" he cries out in triumph as the shardling hesitates, only to blink in surprise as it is demolished from the map. "Do you think we still get EXP for that? How does the level-up system work in this game, anyways?"

The young colt glances over at Princess Lily as she speaks, connecting the flash of teal and some of Lily's stranger statements together. So, the leader of the supposedly good and orderly side of the conflict is mind-controlled, or brainwashed, or both. That's... great. "Our home kingdom had a run in with changelings, Princess," he answers, glancing up at the approaching meteors. "It... was not exactly a pleasant encounter, from the stories I've heard."

DigoDragon

2016-08-29, 08:58 PM

Dawn Star

Dawn flops on the ground, dirty coat be damned. She gently presses a hoof against the base of her horn and flinches. "Oww... too much magic. Mon... tout est fatigué."

Her mane is a complete mess too. "Changelings? Those are... the bug ponies that imitate us ponies?"

Theoboldi

2016-08-30, 06:02 AM

Dawn Star

Dawn flops on the ground, dirty coat be damned. She gently presses a hoof against the base of her horn and flinches. "Oww... too much magic. Mon... tout est fatigué."

Silver, who luckily is somewhat near Dawn at this point, quickly rushes over to her, catching her before she hits the ground. "H-Hey! Don't relax yet! There's more meteors coming down!" Making sure that at least she doesn't flop painfully, he then lets go of her, leaing her to either resume standing or to gently drop on the stone floor.

"You're relying way too much on your magic, you know." he comments under his breath, already turning away from the filly.

On his way to the Princess, he walks past Nobility, stopping suddenly after a few long moments of attempting to ignore her. "Um, thanks for that distraction earlier." he mutters, barely audible. "I don't think I could have trapped that monster without somepony to do that."

L
It takes some time for Lily to return her attention to you, her gaze locked over the destruction of the city. "I'm a what? Wait, what's this about ...changelings? Who said anything about them?" She tilts her head to the side, one eyebrow raised. "Do... do you know anything about changelings?"

Silver gives Princess Lily a closer look, focusing particularely on her eyes. Didn't he see something in them before? "What Dawn and Curtain said. I think they eat love, too, whatever that means. Are you sure you're alright, princess?" After waiting for her reaction for a bit he turns his head a little to look at the rest of the courtyard, hoping that he can spot the bug-like pony creature he saw earlier again.

Cape-up-picking will ensue later. Didn't quite feel like the right moment yet.