Fallout Equestria: Sorbet and Slaughter

[Dalinale]

Viridia blinked, then pushed forward through her companions to flash the ghoul a winning smile. "Hey, I'm Viridia. I love what you're doing with your skin." She beamed."You'll have to give me tips, if I ever end up dead. You know about necromancy stuff?"

The ghoul seemed pleased by Viridia's presence, and shrugged. She spoke easily. Her bad eye roiled around in it's socket when she turned her head to look at the pegasus.

"Thank you. My secret is whisky and pills. I'm Strata Survey, former research professor of cultural equinology for the University of Tauronto, current patient of Tauronto General Hospital. As for necromancy, yes, I know enough about it that the government didn't like it. Not enough to get sent to a high security prison, though. Just enough to get sent to a secret mid-security and get a drug cocktail to keep me asleep most of the time and dumb when I wasn't asleep."


Doc checks the dead ghoul to see if it had any pills on it?

[Roll perception]

[DigoDragon]

[Roll perception]

PER [roll0] vs. 7

[Dalinale]

PER [roll0] vs. 7

The ghoul's pajamas had no pockets on them, so it was unlikely that she was carrying anything around, actually.

[Hazuki]

The ghoul seemed pleased by Viridia's presence, and shrugged. She spoke easily. Her bad eye roiled around in it's socket when she turned her head to look at the pegasus.

"Thank you. My secret is whisky and pills. I'm Strata Survey, former research professor of cultural equinology for the University of Tauronto, current patient of Tauronto General Hospital. As for necromancy, yes, I know enough about it that the government didn't like it. Not enough to get sent to a high security prison, though. Just enough to get sent to a secret mid-security and get a drug cocktail to keep me asleep most of the time and dumb when I wasn't asleep.""Hmm...hm..." Viridia put a hoof on her chin. "Hmmmm... Oh! Do you think you could tell me anything about this?" She asks, as she pulls out her Blueblood Blade by the base of the blade, so she doesn't get frightened. "That's not a threat, by the way. My sword got black stuff on it when I killed a necromancy thing and nopony's been able to tell me anything except 'It's not doing anything'!."

[DigoDragon]

The ghoul's pajamas had no pockets on them, so it was unlikely that she was carrying anything around, actually.

With that question answered, Doc is quote sure this ghoul will need to be relocated. He keeps a look out while V is chatting with her, glancing at his other companions to see what they are doing.

[Inspector Valin]

The ghoul's good cheer faded slightly, but she still had a weak smile on her leathery face. She briefly glanced at Choro. Then she frowned.

"Hey, kid, that book's banned." the ghoul deadpanned, before breaking out in a big smile. Her teeth was roughly the same shade of green as her skin. She chuckled before she spoke again. "If you're trying to resurrect your dead parents, there's a outline for a necromantic ritual on page one hundred and seventy-five. If you're looking for control over life and death, the sidebar in the section about forbidden zebra shamanistic practices should help you with that. I wrote that bit, so if you have any questions, you're free to ask."

The deadpan proves indescribably effective against Choro. The young mare glances frantically back at her pack, where the book was indeed still sticking out. She had ended up stealing, after all. Reddening, the mage withdraws the volume from her pack, looking across at the green tinted ghoul with honest worry. She pulls her hat down briefly, murmuring, "Sorry! I'm sorry! I..."

Still, the smile was oddly reassuring. At least Strata seemingly wasn't that angry. After returning the volume to the ghoul, Choro tries to smile. "I wasn't sure why you had a banned book. I was just going to check it, really! In case there was something dangerous." Which there probably was, but this pony knew what she was doing by the sound of it. Compared to some people she's met on her travels, this ghoul seems friendly enough, appearance aside. Dichoro's smile grows a little more genuine as she takes a step back. "Cultural equinology led to you studying magic? Zebras and Changelings, I guess..."

Way to state the obvious! Choro neighs a little, stepping forward and offering a hoof. "I'm Dichoro by the way. Travelling wizard and scholar. Nice to meet you, Ms. Strata!" Hoof offered, the young mage ties to think of what else to ask. This was a professor, a pre-fall magician she could talk to! What should she ask? Should she just ask questions? Would that be rude? The stablepony stammers, "I... erm..." before shaking her head and backing away a little.

[Dalinale]

"Hmm...hm..." Viridia put a hoof on her chin. "Hmmmm... Oh! Do you think you could tell me anything about this?" She asks, as she pulls out her Blueblood Blade by the base of the blade, so she doesn't get frightened. "That's not a threat, by the way. My sword got black stuff on it when I killed a necromancy thing and nopony's been able to tell me anything except 'It's not doing anything'!."

Strata Survey seemed rather surprised at Viridia pulling her sword out, but quickly directed her attention to the Blueblood Blade as Viridia told her tale.

"Have you killed anything else with the sword since it got stained?" Strata Survey asked, looking at Viridia with her good eye and sounding like she wanted to know that she wouldn't judge Viridia either way, "Any recent bouts of nausea or vomiting? Hearing voices or seeing little faeries?"


The deadpan proves indescribably effective against Choro. The young mare glances frantically back at her pack, where the book was indeed still sticking out. She had ended up stealing, after all. Reddening, the mage withdraws the volume from her pack, looking across at the green tinted ghoul with honest worry. She pulls her hat down briefly, murmuring, "Sorry! I'm sorry! I..."

Still, the smile was oddly reassuring. At least Strata seemingly wasn't that angry. After returning the volume to the ghoul, Choro tries to smile. "I wasn't sure why you had a banned book. I was just going to check it, really! In case there was something dangerous." Which there probably was, but this pony knew what she was doing by the sound of it. Compared to some people she's met on her travels, this ghoul seems friendly enough, appearance aside. Dichoro's smile grows a little more genuine as she takes a step back. "Cultural equinology led to you studying magic? Zebras and Changelings, I guess..."

Way to state the obvious! Choro neighs a little, stepping forward and offering a hoof. "I'm Dichoro by the way. Travelling wizard and scholar. Nice to meet you, Ms. Strata!" Hoof offered, the young mage ties to think of what else to ask. This was a professor, a pre-fall magician she could talk to! What should she ask? Should she just ask questions? Would that be rude? The stablepony stammers, "I... erm..." before shaking her head and backing away a little.

Strata Survey's demenure turned rather cautious when she turned her attention to Choro, as if her presence unnerved her. When the filly finished, however, she lowered her head slightly and smiled.

"Cultural equinology led me to studying ancient Unicornian texts. It spiraled out of control from there." she said, giving Choro a small nod, "As for the book, I was allowed it because I got to choose what my room looked like. I allowed myself to be admitted, instead of being forced to admit myself, and letting me pick my light reading was part of the deal. You can have it, if you ask politely."

[Hazuki]

Strata Survey seemed rather surprised at Viridia pulling her sword out, but quickly directed her attention to the Blueblood Blade as Viridia told her tale.

"Have you killed anything else with the sword since it got stained?" Strata Survey asked, looking at Viridia with her good eye and sounding like she wanted to know that she wouldn't judge Viridia either way, "Any recent bouts of nausea or vomiting? Hearing voices or seeing little faeries?""I hit a robot and killed a rat." Viridia answered honestly. "No, and not any more than normal."

[Dalinale]

"I hit a robot and killed a rat." Viridia answered honestly. "No, and not any more than normal."

Strata Survey nodded three times, although that last bit left her looking slightly confused.

"Well," she said, glancing back at the sword, "the first thing I would do would be to kill something substantial with this sword and see what happens. That's about the crudest and most rudimentary method I can think of, but sometimes the crudest method is the one that's going to work, and necromantic effects can almost always be triggered by death. Killing something with a weapon stained with necromantic gunk should do something, anyway. I'd try and go for something something about the size of a goat or a large dog."

Strata, very carefully, raised a skinny leg and gently prodded the blade of the sword.

"I'm getting a tingly feeling." she effectively announced after a few seconds, sounding rather impressed by the turn of events, "Didn't know that could happen."

[Inspector Valin]

Studying Unicornian texts led to you learning about necromancy?

That's a depressing line of thought to Choro. It was likely true; she'd just been reading of Anatomy Lesson, after all. Black magic predated Unicornia. Still, she'd liked to see those old mages as good in a way. Trying to understand and learn and make the land a better place. Unicornia was the time just before the Princesses and Starswirl, when Pony civilization was starting to emerge. She'd always thought of the realm as just... a slightly older Equestria. It's a shame that history doesn't exactly bear that line of thought out. Even back then, some ponies fell into darkness.

The young wizardess follows Viridia's conversation with Strata Survey, blinking a little at the goop stained blade. She has little to add: necromancy, chemistry, neither were her field of expertise. Still, that in turn made one thing quite clear. The blue pony coughs politely, "Ms Strata, if we're going to be experimenting with necromantic... whatever this is, could I please borrow your book?" Her previous nervousness fading, Choro meets the ghoul mare's gaze with a smile. "I don't know very much about the subject. If things go wrong, a few pointers to check could be very useful. Though I... don't think I'll be needing that 'restore my parents to life' spell, thank you. They're both fine."

[Dalinale]

Studying Unicornian texts led to you learning about necromancy?

That's a depressing line of thought to Choro. It was likely true; she'd just been reading of Anatomy Lesson, after all. Black magic predated Unicornia. Still, she'd liked to see those old mages as good in a way. Trying to understand and learn and make the land a better place. Unicornia was the time just before the Princesses and Starswirl, when Pony civilization was starting to emerge. She'd always thought of the realm as just... a slightly older Equestria. It's a shame that history doesn't exactly bear that line of thought out. Even back then, some ponies fell into darkness.

The young wizardess follows Viridia's conversation with Strata Survey, blinking a little at the goop stained blade. She has little to add: necromancy, chemistry, neither were her field of expertise. Still, that in turn made one thing quite clear. The blue pony coughs politely, "Ms Strata, if we're going to be experimenting with necromantic... whatever this is, could I please borrow your book?" Her previous nervousness fading, Choro meets the ghoul mare's gaze with a smile. "I don't know very much about the subject. If things go wrong, a few pointers to check could be very useful. Though I... don't think I'll be needing that 'restore my parents to life' spell, thank you. They're both fine."

Strata's big blind eye locked on Choro before the mare herself replied to her. The blind eye somewhat resembled a big, glossy cocktail onion and it wasn't clear if there was even a working pupil under all the milky whiteness.

The smile Strata gave Choro was small and kind. Her working eye was narrowed slightly. The green glow that Choro's Pipbuck was providing did not flatter the unicorn ghoul's ragged appearance.

"You're free to have it." Strata replied, "As for pointers, you seem to have a good education. Start small, and work your way up. Magic's a ocean; it's not about how deep you go, because you can drown in a puddle if you trip and screw up. With necromancy, it's about how far away from solid ground you are. Does that make sense to you?"

[DigoDragon]

Doc glances over at Moonshadow's pipbuck. "Any new blips on the map?" he asks.

[Forum Explorer]

Moonshadow shrugs and checks.

[Dalinale]

Moonshadow shrugs and checks.

Strata was coming up as a green dot; other then that, there wasn't any other blips coming on the Pipbuck's map. Viridia was still coming up as two green dots standing on top of one another, though, which was weird.

Wait, no; there was a yellow dot that was clearly located west of where she was standing; it was on the very edge of the Pipbuck's detection range but it looked like it was moving slowly towards the group's general direction.

[Forum Explorer]

Well something is coming...eventually. It's pretty slow. Moonshadow said.

[DigoDragon]

Well something is coming...eventually. It's pretty slow. Moonshadow said.

"Ain't moving very fast either," Doc says. He does seem curious why Viridia shows up as two dots. He glances at the mare and then back at the pipbuck. Then he looks at the sword and once again back at the pipbuck. Doc quietly looks over to Moonshadow.

"Moonie, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"

[Inspector Valin]

The question makes Choro fall quiet, thinking Strata's words over carefully. Magic was great and powerful and there was always risk with using it casually. That risk though intensifies with Necromancy. While you could still drown wherever, you need to be close to land. You need something to stabilize you, to help you pull yourself back up? Even if you don't fail exactly, you need to focus back on other, positive things rather than risk losing yourself in darkness. Slowly, the blue mare nods to the ancient ghoul. "I think so."

If she understood right, then Strata had given good advice. Bowing politely, Choro retrieves the book and places it in her pack. She glances to Moondancer at her words, double checking her reading with her own Pipbuck, before turning back to Dr. Survey, still looking a little apologetic. "Thank you, Professor. If I have questions, can I come back and talk to you some more?" Dichoro tries to make eye contact with the ghoul; a slightly strange feat given her blind eye, but the wizardess makes an effort at least "I came out into the Wasteland to learn about magic. Having someone to talk to about it would be..." Wonderful? Perfect? Amazing? An actual pre-fall mage to talk to was still an almost impossible prospect for Choro. Eventually, the young mare settles on "nice." grinning at the ghoul.

[Dalinale]

The question makes Choro fall quiet, thinking Strata's words over carefully. Magic was great and powerful and there was always risk with using it casually. That risk though intensifies with Necromancy. While you could still drown wherever, you need to be close to land. You need something to stabilize you, to help you pull yourself back up? Even if you don't fail exactly, you need to focus back on other, positive things rather than risk losing yourself in darkness. Slowly, the blue mare nods to the ancient ghoul. "I think so."

Strata stared at Choro for a few moments, before shrugging.

"Good." she replied.


Bowing politely, Choro retrieves the book and places it in her pack. She glances to Moondancer at her words, double checking her reading with her own Pipbuck, before turning back to Dr. Survey, still looking a little apologetic. "Thank you, Professor. If I have questions, can I come back and talk to you some more?" Dichoro tries to make eye contact with the ghoul; a slightly strange feat given her blind eye, but the wizardess makes an effort at least "I came out into the Wasteland to learn about magic. Having someone to talk to about it would be..." Wonderful? Perfect? Amazing? An actual pre-fall mage to talk to was still an almost impossible prospect for Choro. Eventually, the young mare settles on "nice." grinning at the ghoul.

Strata Survey raised her good eyebrow, and took a few moments before she replied.

"The Wasteland, huh?" she muttered, mostly to herself and sounding amused, before actually replying to Choro with a smile, "Sure, you can ask me anything you want to know. I'm not good for much else, these days."

Strata then looked at Choro more closely. She quickly frowned.

"You seem to be a smart filly." she began, her tone becoming somewhat concerned, "So who taught you to dress like a that? You look like one of those dorky kids who run around in robes and wave foam swords around. Doing that is never good, even if you're smart and actually good at magic. You won't make friends if you look like a idiot."

[Inspector Valin]

"I..."

That was not where Choro pictured this conversation going. The unicorn pony rears back a little, averting her eyes, trying to compute what the professor had said. She... doesn't look that bad, does she? Her hat, her robes.... this was how wizards were supposed to dress! Back to the time of ancient mages, showing their style and commitment to their study of the art. But here was a professor, a teacher from before the fall, looking at her and saying that straight to her face. All of a sudden, Choro is second guessing herself once again. The mage spends a while locked in silence, mind ticking over how to deal with this, before realizing how quiet the room has gotten.

The travelling unicorn coughs, trying hard to grin at the ghoul. "Thank you for your advise, Professor Strata." Choro tries her hardest to sound sincere. The young mare chuckles, holding up a hoof to look down at her painted sleeve. "If I can find other clothes, I'll think about changing. But for now... this is what I have. And it was good enough for Starswirl, wasn't it?"

[Forum Explorer]

"Ain't moving very fast either," Doc says. He does seem curious why Viridia shows up as two dots. He glances at the mare and then back at the pipbuck. Then he looks at the sword and once again back at the pipbuck. Doc quietly looks over to Moonshadow.

"Moonie, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"

I don't think so. I'm to busy pondering about how you are pondering about Viridia glitching out my pipbuck's FOF identification, cause I didn't tell you about that. Moonshadow whispered back.

I'd like to ask when was the last time you visited the surface, cause fashion has changed in the last two hundred or so years Moonshadow added. Regardless, you want to come with us, or should we come back for you? We still need to find the squatters, and I'd rather get moving before that yellow blip gets here.

[DigoDragon]

Doc mentally files some ideas away for later and nods in agreement with Moonshadow to move on.

[Hazuki]

"Well," she said, glancing back at the sword, "the first thing I would do would be to kill something substantial with this sword and see what happens. That's about the crudest and most rudimentary method I can think of, but sometimes the crudest method is the one that's going to work, and necromantic effects can almost always be triggered by death. Killing something with a weapon stained with necromantic gunk should do something, anyway. I'd try and go for something something about the size of a goat or a large dog.""But killing stuff is hard. And the only thing I can think of is a dragon. I mean, she sucked at fighting - I mean, she ran away from a few pirates, like, hello? - but still, and she wasn't actually hostile, so I wouldn't really want to. Any ideas for substantial things that I can kill without being a certified badass?"



"I'm getting a tingly feeling." she effectively announced after a few seconds, sounding rather impressed by the turn of events, "Didn't know that could happen.""That's probably because of me." She winked.

[Dalinale]

"If I can find other clothes, I'll think about changing. But for now... this is what I have. And it was good enough for Starswirl, wasn't it?"

Strata Survey looked at Choro with something approaching pity.

"There's a laundry room a few halls down, kiddo. I'd try and grab something down there." Strata said, "If you want to look intelligent, get a lab coat or something along those lines."



I'd like to ask when was the last time you visited the surface, cause fashion has changed in the last two hundred or so years

Strata paused when Moonshadow spoke, but after a few moments she looked away from Choro and started talking.

"The last time I had to leave this room was about fifty months ago." Strata replied, coolly, "I didn't get my opiates on time, so I went to get them. Verdant," she motioned over towards the ghoul Moonshadow headshotted, "had locked himself in the closet and was all gone in the head when I found him. I had to train him to get me water and pills again."

Strata paused, and looked at the dead ghoul again, this time longer. Her mouth twitched slightly.


Moonshadow added. Regardless, you want to come with us, or should we come back for you? We still need to find the squatters, and I'd rather get moving before that yellow blip gets here.

Strata looked back at Moonshadow again, this time looking slightly amused.

"Well, you have everything worth having that I own, so I might as well leave." she replied, in good humor, "I guess it's time to stretch my legs a bit."

Strata took a few moments, and stretched out her right leg. A string of loud popping sounds occurred, but the ghoul didn't seem worse for wear.


"But killing stuff is hard. And the only thing I can think of is a dragon. I mean, she sucked at fighting - I mean, she ran away from a few pirates, like, hello? - but still, and she wasn't actually hostile, so I wouldn't really want to. Any ideas for substantial things that I can kill without being a certified badass?"

Strata looked at Viridia, then at her sword, and hummed.

"A large dog or goat would work. Anything smaller, and it would be a lot like asking if something would float, but not wanting to toss it in water."


"That's probably because of me." She winked.

Strata Survey raised her good eyebrow, looking rather surprised, but smiled back, regardless. There was a hint of a playful grin, as well.

"You're being rather necroromantic." Strata replied, sounding like she knew she just made a bad joke and was exulting in it, "And there's no way you're over twenty."

There was a pause.

"Sweet." Strata replied, rather cheerfully, "I'll lead the way."

Strata Survey's horn lit up, and bluish magic picked up a object that was on the ground, quite close to the dead ghoul's left leg. It was a set of plastic keys cards; Strata jingled it slightly in the air, and tossed them toward's Doc, possibly just to get his attention.

[DigoDragon]

Strata Survey's horn lit up, and bluish magic picked up a object that was on the ground, quite close to the dead ghoul's left leg. It was a set of plastic keys cards; Strata jingled it slightly in the air, and tossed them toward's Doc, possibly just to get his attention.

Doc will catch the keys and give them a quick glance before looking at Strata.

[Inspector Valin]

The slightly dejected looking young wizard holds up a sleeve of her outfit, pulling a little at the shiny star that's been threaded on. She mumbles under her breath "This was a..."

Choro sighs to herself, not sure what to say aloud. Whatever! There were plenty of ponies in the Wasteland who wear sillier things than her, she's sure of it. If you want to be a wizard, you have to dress the part. Otherwise, how will other ponies know? Choro straightens her hat with a few careful taps of her hooves and falls in behind the professor, trying not to think about what the ghoul's expression meant. Instead, she brings up her EFS, trying to find the yellow dot Moonshadow had mentioned. Always more risk.

[Dalinale]

Doc will catch the keys and give them a quick glance before looking at Strata.

The ghoul shrugged.

"What?" the unicorn replied, giving Doc a somewhat dismissive wave, "I'm sure you wanted to break into the rooms and steal things. There's a master key; it's the blue one. "



Instead, she brings up her EFS, trying to find the yellow dot Moonshadow had mentioned. Always more risk.

The area Choro's Pipbuck covered wasn't as large as Moonshadow's, just due to the nature of the spell, but Choro did get a glance of a yellow dot in the far corner of her EFS's range.

[DigoDragon]

"What?" the unicorn replied, giving Doc a somewhat dismissive wave, "I'm sure you wanted to break into the rooms and steal things. There's a master key; it's the blue one. "

"Question answered. Thank you," Doc replies. He pockets the keys for use later when the team moves further down the basement.

[Dalinale]

"Question answered. Thank you," Doc replies. He pockets the keys for use later when the team moves further down the basement.

Strata looked at Doc for a few seconds, and smirked.

"So, you're a little old to be hanging out with teenagers." she said, briefly glancing towards Moonshadow before looking back at Doc,"What's your story, Mr. I Have Functioning Prescription Glasses?"

[DigoDragon]

"Well, I'm a traveling physician from Manehattan, so it's Dr. I Have Functioning Prescription Glasses to my patients," Doc replies with a smile. "I left home with the goal of mastering cybernetics to help those who are four-leggedly challenged. Came to this city by caravan and have been going around from place to place taking odd jobs and keeping these folks healthy."

[Dalinale]

"Well, I'm a traveling physician from Manehattan, so it's Dr. I Have Functioning Prescription Glasses to my patients," Doc replies with a smile. "I left home with the goal of mastering cybernetics to help those who are four-leggedly challenged. Came to this city by caravan and have been going around from place to place taking odd jobs and keeping these folks healthy."

"Oh, that's nice." Strata said, clearly satisfied by Doc's answer, "Good to see that medicine is still being practiced. Cybernetics are not my field, but it's good to hear that ponies even know what they are."

Strata paused, and took a few steps down the hall. Her gait was a little wobbly at first, but quickly stabilized. She took a moment to look around, despite the fact that it was almost pitch black outside the immediate light that the Pipbucks were throwing off.

"Alright, this place is shaped like a big horseshoe with some side hallways." she said, turning back around to look at the group, "Laundry rooms and the main offices are near the center. Anyway, the short one said something about squatters? They're probably either in the boilers or the laundry. Boilers are on the other side, but we could cut through the offices."

[Forum Explorer]

Moonshadow nodded, and set off towards the boilers, following Strata's instructions.

[DigoDragon]

Moonshadow nodded, and set off towards the boilers, following Strata's instructions.

Doc will move with the rest of the group. If they pause a couple minutes to give Moon her 'Stealth Space', he'll wait too.

[Dalinale]

Strata began walking down the hallway, in good cheer. The concrete floor and the concrete walls did not provide any real distractions from the relative dirtiness of the hallway, even with the lack of lighting.

"So, what are you going to do if there's ponies slumming it down here?" Strata asked, clearly sounding interested in the answer that would be provided, "Will you make them move out, or will you just kill them and take their stuff?"

[DigoDragon]

"Well, those ideas are probably our Plan A and Plan B, respectively," Doc replies quietly.

[Inspector Valin]

Choro is mostly focusing on her PipBuck: trying to keep the second EFS spell online. Focusing on that was a convenient distraction from the conversation she'd just had. The young mare looks up at Stara's words, blinking at the ghoul. She's joking, right? She has to be. Professor Strata had studied some bleak things in the past, she probably has a strange sense of humour. Trying to force a smile, Choro fidgets a little with her hat, looking off to the side of the concrete corridor.

Still, thinking about the squatters causes a question to crystallize in the young Unicorn's mind. Choro coughs, "Why would somepony be down here anyway? I didn't think the hospital upstairs was that crowded." There were plenty of rooms, plenty of floors... at least, she'd thought there were. And there seem to be a lot of empty space closer to the surface than wherever these ponies had decided to put their hooves up. Choro hums quietly to herself as she goes, turning the prospect over. "Are they worried about their safety or something?"

[DigoDragon]

"Are they worried about their safety or something?"

"Maybe they're cooking drugs down here, skimmed off Dr. Stitchheart's medicine supply," Doc quietly suggests. "She's got more stuff lying about than one pony could keep track of."

[Dalinale]

"Are they worried about their safety or something?"

"Don't know." Strata replied, starting to turn towards the right as the hallway began to take on a slight curve, "How's the company up there?"

[Inspector Valin]

Choro raises an eyebrow at Doc's suggestion. Why would ponies want to steal drugs? This is a hospital! Shouldn't Docor Stitchheart offer drugs to those who need them? At Strat's question, the young Unicorn hums to herself, remembering Computer Case and that hefty buck on the door... before glancing between Wagon, Moonshadow and Viridia with smile. "The ponies I've met have been all right."

[Dalinale]

Choro raises an eyebrow at Doc's suggestion. Why would ponies want to steal drugs? This is a hospital! Shouldn't Docor Stitchheart offer drugs to those who need them? At Strat's question, the young Unicorn hums to herself, remembering Computer Case and that hefty buck on the door... before glancing between Wagon, Moonshadow and Viridia with smile. "The ponies I've met have been all right."

Strata looked back at Choro, stared at her quizzically, and shrugged.

"Well, you are from Manehatten. You're biased." Strata commented, sounding like she was doing her best to sound conversational with Choro, "Honestly, the first thing I am going to do when I leave this place is to find a falafel stand."

Strata turned towards a door on the left side of the hallway; it looked about as fortified as the other ones down the hall, but this one was labeled 'Offices' and seemed to be open. Strata glanced at the sight of the smashed card reader, but opened the door and stepped inside, regardless. After a few seconds of silence, the ghoul peaked her head back out into the hallway.

"All clear." she said, sounding chipper.

[DigoDragon]

Doc is going to listen first.

PER [roll0] v. 7

[Dalinale]

Doc is going to listen first.

PER [roll0] v. 7

The only sound he could hear was the ambient noises four sets of hooves made when standing on concrete and shuffling around slightly. Strata seemed to find his attempt to hear something amusing, regardless.

[DigoDragon]

"So, what's your motivation here?" Doc curiously asks Strata. He casually studies Strata's eye defects. "We're here prospecting and hoofing out eviction notices, but you're being pleasantly helpful despite that you might get the boot too. Not that I don't appreciate your help. I'm just wonderin' what you're looking to get out of it."

[Dalinale]

"So, what's your motivation here?" Doc curiously asks Strata. He casually studies Strata's eye defects. "We're here prospecting and hoofing out eviction notices, but you're being pleasantly helpful despite that you might get the boot too. Not that I don't appreciate your help. I'm just wonderin' what you're looking to get out of it."

Strata smiled.

"If it's gotten to the point where ponies are going to come down into this hole in the ground and take things from me, then I guess it's time to leave." Strata replied, with a small smile on her face, "I need my peace and quiet. After this, if there's nothing in the city that could keep me in it, I have a lake home in the Adirondock's that I'll be heading towards."

Strata chuckled after she said that, as if she had just said a joke that she didn't expect Doc to get.

On the other hand, Doc would notice that Strata's bulging eye was almost certainly dislocated and was almost certainly entirely sightless. Neither of those two things were impossible to approach from a medical perspective, but Strata being dead could certainly complicate things.

[Forum Explorer]

Moonshadow, presumably, was scouting ahead of the group, like she was before.

Stealth
[roll0] vs 78

Perception
[roll1] vs 10

[DigoDragon]

"Hmm, well you're taking this remarkably well. Impressive," Doc comments with an approving nod. He mentally filed away the discussion on her Exophthalmos for later. Maybe.

Doc peeks into the offices, carefully looking around for anything unusual.

PER [roll0] vs. 7

[Dalinale]

Moonshadow, presumably, was scouting ahead of the group, like she was before.

Stealth
[roll0] vs 78

Perception
[roll1] vs 10

The offices walls were painted a shade of cheery yellow, but the floor was concrete. A small dead plant was near the door, shriveled and a stiff breeze away from turning into dust. There were six rooms in the hallway; five looked locked, but one was missing a good chunk of the lock and was, consequently, open. The room that had been busted open was labeled 'Meeting Area', accordingly to the sign that was present on the door.

A turret was present above the door; it was low powered and looked like it was the sort that fired energy blasts. However, it was not currently powered and presented no threat to anyone at all.


"Hmm, well you're taking this remarkably well. Impressive," Doc comments with an approving nod. He mentally filed away the discussion on her Exophthalmos for later. Maybe.

Strata shrugged.

"Well, it's that or loosing my mind. I have enough problems before I need to lose my mind." she commented.


Doc peeks into the offices, carefully looking around for anything unusual.

PER [roll0] vs. 7

Doc would notice that all the office doors were locked.

[Forum Explorer]

Moonshadow nodded to herself, and remembered that Strata had given a master key to the group. She'd leave them to explore the locked rooms, while she moved on ahead to look for the squatters.

[DigoDragon]

Doc takes out the plastic keys and looks for the reader to open one of the doors. Best to check if anyone is hiding in these rooms.

[Dalinale]

Moonshadow nodded to herself, and remembered that Strata had given a master key to the group. She'd leave them to explore the locked rooms, while she moved on ahead to look for the squatters.

There was no obvious signs of equine habitation down the hallway, but there was signs of old, old fighting. There was a sizable brown-red smear on the floor, near a water fountain. Next to the smear, there was a small knife, which was generously smeared with dried blood.

[There's a poor quality Switchblade up for grabs.]

Besides the possible stabbing scene, the offices ended with what looked like a waiting room. The waiting room looked like it had seen some interesting post-war shenanigans; there were three skeletons on a couch, looking as if they were piled on top of one another, and the one low table in the room was covered in liquor bottles.

[For additional loot, succeed a appropriate roll. Survival or Perception would work.]


Doc takes out the plastic keys and looks for the reader to open one of the doors. Best to check if anyone is hiding in these rooms.

Door number one hid a rather mundane office, with faded posters on the wall and with a cheery yellow-pink color scheme. There was a terminal on the desk; it was currently powered down. No signs of any corpses, however.

[Hazuki]

"I wonder if there's anything good in these old desks that we never really check." Viridia mused out loud. "Probably just boring files about life before **** went down, but you just know somepony's hiding some Gentleponies' Special Interests magazines in their office.""

[DigoDragon]

"Too bad for Livewire I reckon," Doc comments. He checks the desk, why not?

PER [roll0] vs. 10
Survival? [roll1] vs. 30

[Forum Explorer]

There was no obvious signs of equine habitation down the hallway, but there was signs of old, old fighting. There was a sizable brown-red smear on the floor, near a water fountain. Next to the smear, there was a small knife, which was generously smeared with dried blood.

[There's a poor quality Switchblade up for grabs.]

Besides the possible stabbing scene, the offices ended with what looked like a waiting room. The waiting room looked like it had seen some interesting post-war shenanigans; there were three skeletons on a couch, looking as if they were piled on top of one another, and the one low table in the room was covered in liquor bottles.

[For additional loot, succeed a appropriate roll. Survival or Perception would work.]


Moonshadow snags the switchblade, and take a quick look for anything extra, before moving on.
Perception
[roll0] vs 10

[Dalinale]

"I wonder if there's anything good in these old desks that we never really check." Viridia mused out loud. "Probably just boring files about life before **** went down, but you just know somepony's hiding some Gentleponies' Special Interests magazines in their office.""

"Ah, 'Gentleponies'. Good to see that ponies today still have open minds." Strata commented, a good few feet away from Viridia.


"Too bad for Livewire I reckon," Doc comments. He checks the desk, why not?

PER [roll0] vs. 10
Survival? [roll1] vs. 30

This office seemed to have formally belonged to a mid-tier records manager, and the desk, accordingly, looked like a glorified filing cabinet from the back. There were few personal affections on the desk; no pictures, no do-dads, not even a name plate. However, Doc would have noticed some oddities, due to having grown up in a large hospital himself; first off, all the cabinets had locks on them, but none of them were currently locked. Secondly, the cabinets themselves contained very few files; there was only one that was labeled 'Patients', and that cabinet contained roughly three dozen folders. A casual look would confirm that 'Survey, Strata' had her own file. The other two cabinets that contained files were far fuller and were labeled 'Testing' and 'Incident Reports', respectively.

The final cabinet contained nothing but some personal belongings. There was a bottle of Sparkle Cola and a bottle of what appeared to be peppermint flavored rum, along with a set of shot glasses; this was paired up with a tin of Party-Time Mint-Als that had a plastic red bow tied onto it, and a plain gift card that had 'For Your Hard Work' written inside it with pink marker. Nestled behind the drugs was a heavy-looking revolver that did not look to be loaded; the bullets were nestled in their own tin, placed under the drugs.

[The Revolver is a Police Pistol; there's six bullets for the gun present in the desk.]

Placed under all the illicit goods, however, there was a file. It was unmarked, rather thin, and was black in color. It had a thick layer of dust covering it and was otherwise completely mundane.

[Hazuki]

"Ah, 'Gentleponies'. Good to see that ponies today still have open minds." Strata commented, a good few feet away from Viridia. "Sure do. Lots of 'em are eager to open your mind, too." Viridia mimicked the action of loading a rifle. "Hey, so, weird question, but do...y'know, ghouls who've gone hollow, in the head, attack other ghouls, like they do everything else?"

[DigoDragon]

Doc will take the two drinks, glasses, PTMAs (not sure what to do with it, but it could make a good distraction for a drug-addict), and the gun. He'll inspect the gun before loading it. Certainly seemed like a nice weapon.

The stallion picks up Strata's file, but the black file held his curiosity more strongly. Doc carefully cracks the file open to read it, trying not to disturb too much dust.

[Dalinale]

"Sure do. Lots of 'em are eager to open your mind, too." Viridia mimicked the action of loading a rifle. "Hey, so, weird question, but do...y'know, ghouls who've gone hollow, in the head, attack other ghouls, like they do everything else?"

Strata grinned when Viridia mimicked the rifle, but she became quiet when Viridia popped the question. She didn't seem offended or cautious, just surprised.

"Assuming ghouls are a label for fine dead ponies like myself," Strata replied, sounding as if she working her way around being called a 'ghoul', "I don't know. Verdant took some time to go rotten in the head, but some of the other staff were far gone when I came to, after the bombs dropped. They preferred their routines, whenever possible. When even that broke down, or became impossible, they tended to wander off. I never saw any evidence that one ever harmed another, but Verdant once complained that one of the rotten nurses shoved him when he tried to take a book off her desk. If the ones that slunk upstairs did so to start eating pony brains, I wouldn't know."

Strata paused, and frowned.

"Did Verdant seem hostile?" she asked, sounding as if the question was heavily weighing on her mind, "He hadn't spoken for some time, but he still had basic self awareness."


Doc will take the two drinks, glasses, PTMAs (not sure what to do with it, but it could make a good distraction for a drug-addict), and the gun. He'll inspect the gun before loading it. Certainly seemed like a nice weapon.

The gun was of a good quality and seemed to have been mostly unused, but perhaps not especially well kept.

[Gun counts as Good quality.]


The stallion picks up Strata's file, but the black file held his curiosity more strongly. Doc carefully cracks the file open to read it, trying not to disturb too much dust.

The black file contained copies of several photographs.

- One was of a fine, large house, with big trees in the lawn but still looking relatively urban, with brick walls and white paint. The photo looked like it had been taken in the mid-morning, and light reflected off the big glass windows.

- One other photo of a house was present in the collection; it was a shabby apartment complex that appeared to be of the sort that dominated the area around Oakville, actually.

-Another was what appeared to be a family photo; a earth pony couple and a chubby pegasus colt that looked to be about three or so years old. The stallion was skinny and wore a black suit; the mare wore pearls and had her hair in a bun. The colt was dressed as a sailor.

- Another photo, this time of a zebra mare and what was presumably her foal, was present. The mare had a deep frown on her face and had her hair styled in a mohawk; in addition, she had a large, prominent tattoo on her chest, which resembled the letter P with a X overlayed on top of it. The picture was clearly taken in a small, dark room, and her foal was placed on a high chair; the foal was looking at the camera with wide eyes and a large smile. Given that the photo was black and white, it was clear that the foal only had substantial stripes around his legs and neck.

- The last photo in the stack was of the skinny stallion in the first picture standing inside what appeared to be a lobby of some kind; it could have been a hotel or the very hospital Doc was currently in, but it was rather hard to tell given that the stallion was standing in a corner, past some chairs. The stallion was wearing a casual suit and seemed as if he was slightly inconvenienced by at something, such as bad weather. The individual he was speaking with seemed to be the same zebra mare from the third photo; she was wearing a hospital gown and had a leg in a cast. She seemed rather deflated and was not looking at the stallion in the eyes.

Besides the photos, there was a small slip of paper present in the folder. On it was written, in pen;

'Keep up the good work, Index. Your job is a confidential one.'

[DigoDragon]

Doc will check the back of the photos to see if anything was written on them before he puts the black folder back where he found it. Then he reads Strata's folder.

[Hazuki]

"Did Verdant seem hostile?" she asked, sounding as if the question was heavily weighing on her mind, "He hadn't spoken for some time, but he still had basic self awareness."]"I don't know." Viridia frowned. "Moonshadow was scouting and I think I was upstairs when she decided to shoot him. I know I didn't have a say in the decision...and I know that's not really helpful."

[Inspector Valin]

Choro, who had fallen into a puzzled silence at Strata's last remark, is now listening closely to the Professor's dialogue with Viridia.She hadn't considered this point before, but if some of the dead-ponies were still able to think, and some weren't... what did that mean? Could it provide some clue as to the origin of the condition? Might it even be cureable? She glanced over towards Wagon with a growing smile on her face, she'd have to ask the doctor about this later. Choro starts to turn a few idle thoughts over in her head, trying to consider the question scientifically. If there were differences between ghouls, and a time issue... could the lucid ghouls be preserved? Could degenerated ghouls be brought back towards lucidity? Celestia: who could say that ghouls were really dead...

At the question about Verdant, Choro doffs her hat, looking down with a sad expression on her face. As cool as the professor might act, she was still just a pony. Losing a friend like that had to hurt.

[Dalinale]

Moonshadow snags the switchblade, and take a quick look for anything extra, before moving on.
Perception
[roll0] vs 10

One of the whisky bottles on the table didn't seem to be opened, so there was that.

Two of the skeletons had stuff on them. One of them had the tattered remains of a doctor's coat on it, and in front pocket was a wallet with a few bits on it. The other skeleton didn't have anything on it besides a plastic identification ring that still hung from one of it's front legs, had three golden molars that looked loose enough to pry off.

The hallway that led out of the room was shorter then the one before and looked to be a little more of mess. Both rooms were opened and the door to the room on the right side of the hall looked seriously dented. The door at the end of the hall, the one that presumably led out of the office area, was open as well.


Doc will check the back of the photos to see if anything was written on them before he puts the black folder back where he found it. Then he reads Strata's folder.

There were no marks on the photos themselves.

Strata's folder was a proper medical file; some highlights included;

- She was apparently in for 'Slow Unicorn-Pattern Schizophrenia', and was self admitted about a year before the bombs struck. The 'treatment', it seemed, was a daily serving of sedatives and enough pethidine to knock out a bull bison. The written justification for the unorthodox dosage was simply 'Cooperative Non-Violent Patient'.

- She had two job titles listed; one was "Research Professor of Cultural Equinology', while the other was 'Social Science Adviser, MoI'.

- She had two incidents listed; one was a attempt to access the hospitals intranet for a purpose she never disclosed, and the other involved her somehow getting access to a small bag of dried mushrooms that never ended up being identified. That latter incident looked like it bumped up her security level one grade.

- Strata was not allowed visitors, but it was noted that one of the medical personnel, 'Verdant Lawn', was a former janitorial worker at the University of Tauronto and had previously admitted that he knew her. The overseeing professional for Strata's case, one 'Dr. Pressure Monitor', did not see this as a issue.


Choro, who had fallen into a puzzled silence at Strata's last remark, is now listening closely to the Professor's dialogue with Viridia.She hadn't considered this point before, but if some of the dead-ponies were still able to think, and some weren't... what did that mean? Could it provide some clue as to the origin of the condition? Might it even be cureable? She glanced over towards Wagon with a growing smile on her face, she'd have to ask the doctor about this later. Choro starts to turn a few idle thoughts over in her head, trying to consider the question scientifically. If there were differences between ghouls, and a time issue... could the lucid ghouls be preserved? Could degenerated ghouls be brought back towards lucidity? Celestia: who could say that ghouls were really dead...

At the question about Verdant, Choro doffs her hat, looking down with a sad expression on her face. As cool as the professor might act, she was still just a pony. Losing a friend like that had to hurt.


]"I don't know." Viridia frowned. "Moonshadow was scouting and I think I was upstairs when she decided to shoot him. I know I didn't have a say in the decision...and I know that's not really helpful."

Strata seemed disappointed by Viridia's answer, but seemed to accept it.

"That's fine." she said, sounding like she didn't think it was, "What's dead is dead, and who's dead is going to stay dead. I guess if he wandered off, he'd be shot anyway."

Strata took a few moments to think.

"How many other undead are up there?" she asked, sounding curious and eager to change the subject, "My theory was that only those at a very narrow margin of necromantic exposure turned into undead. Does that sound right to you?"

[DigoDragon]

Doc puts Strata's file back, mentally noting her condition. He leaves the office to rejoin the group.

[Dalinale]

Doc puts Strata's file back, mentally noting her condition. He leaves the office to rejoin the group.

Strata glanced at the loot Doc obtained when he walked out of the room, and let out a low whistle.

"Oh, hey, mind if I have mints?" she commented, glancing at the bow-wrapped tin with clear interest.

[DigoDragon]

"Oh, hey, mind if I have mints?" she commented, glancing at the bow-wrapped tin with clear interest.

"These are the strong party kind, so don't overdo it." Doc will open the tin so Strata can have a mint (quick count on how many there actually are in it) and then close the tin back up carefully. He wanted to preserve the bow. He'll then check if there are other offices to unlock for everyone to rummage through.

[Forum Explorer]

One of the whisky bottles on the table didn't seem to be opened, so there was that.

Two of the skeletons had stuff on them. One of them had the tattered remains of a doctor's coat on it, and in front pocket was a wallet with a few bits on it. The other skeleton didn't have anything on it besides a plastic identification ring that still hung from one of it's front legs, had three golden molars that looked loose enough to pry off.

The hallway that led out of the room was shorter then the one before and looked to be a little more of mess. Both rooms were opened and the door to the room on the right side of the hall looked seriously dented. The door at the end of the hall, the one that presumably led out of the office area, was open as well.


Moonshadoe cheerfully takes everything of value, and then checks her Pipbuck to scan each room for entities.

How much worth in Caps? I figure I can just save some time and convert the teeth and bits straight to money.

[Inspector Valin]

Choro hums to herself, mulling over Strata's question. Eventually, she nods. "I think that fits. There's a few dead-ponies. I've only been out on the surface for a relatively short time, and I've seen several. But they don't form even a unified minority." The blue unicorn taps her hoof on the ground, frowning a little. "It's hard to tell for sure though. It's been a long time since the megaspells hit. More could've been created from the after effects, and some could've... moved on?"

Choro looks towards the professor pensively. Was that even possible? She should probably read a little of that book as soon as possible, if the subject was going to linger on necromancy.

[Dalinale]

"These are the strong party kind, so don't overdo it." Doc will open the tin so Strata can have a mint (quick count on how many there actually are in it) and then close the tin back up carefully. He wanted to preserve the bow. He'll then check if there are other offices to unlock for everyone to rummage through.

[There's twenty mints in the tin, or two servings.]

Strata seemed to find Doc's warning funny.

"Heh, I'v had the original recipes. They weren't to hard to find around here, back then." she replied, eagerly taking the mint with a wink.

Strata took the pinkish, chalky-looking mint and started to chew on it like it was candy. After a few moments, she spoke.

"Hey, I'm getting a buzz." she replied, sounding pleased.

Strata then proceeded to stare at the potted plant that was near the entrance for a solid thirty seconds.

[Each of the five other offices in the hall looked to have the same lock that his master key would open up.]


Moonshadow cheerfully takes everything of value, and then checks her Pipbuck to scan each room for entities.

How much worth in Caps? I figure I can just save some time and convert the teeth and bits straight to money.

The office with the dented door was a bit of a mess. The desk was destroyed and the skeleton of what was presumably a horse was splayed on top of it. A second skeleton, this one of a smaller and with some shattered ribs and a collapsed eye socket, was behind the desk. Nothing came up on EFS, but there also wasn't much of value to take.

Room number two was more or less intact; the most immediate thing Moonshadow would notice is that a corpse was sitting at the desk in a sleeping position, with it's head placed on a stout pile of paperwork. The corpse was wearing the tattered remains of a suit and looked more putrid then leathery, with a missing nose and exposed cheekbones. It was not, however, coming up on EFS; either it was a corpse, or a sleeping ghoul.

[Each of the teeth are worth twenty caps. Gold bits are gold bits and serve as a alternative currency in the wasteland; they're a item in themselves, and should be listed accordingly, much like the zebra coins.]


Choro hums to herself, mulling over Strata's question. Eventually, she nods. "I think that fits. There's a few dead-ponies. I've only been out on the surface for a relatively short time, and I've seen several. But they don't form even a unified minority." The blue unicorn taps her hoof on the ground, frowning a little. "It's hard to tell for sure though. It's been a long time since the megaspells hit. More could've been created from the after effects, and some could've... moved on?"

Choro looks towards the professor pensively. Was that even possible? She should probably read a little of that book as soon as possible, if the subject was going to linger on necromancy.

Strata quickly turned to look at Choro when she began to spoke, and then quickly turned to Viridia after she finished. She sounded relatively normal, though.

"She has some good points." Strata said, briefly giving Choro a look of a approval before turning back to the pegasus, "About time and being a unified block. If the conditions after the bombings were as bad as I remember, and if the ratio of necromantic energy required to animate favored those in places not directly on the surface or otherwise shielded, then most large groups that would reanimate as members of the undead after the bombs would be in places unfavorable for their mental state. I remember having a vague sense of self for several days after I awoke, but I stayed within my room and did little that could harm myself or others around me. I would suggest that, if I was in a unpleasant situation for a extended period of time during that state, I could have suffered a mental break of some kind, or at least a gradual mental degeneration."

Strata paused. She looked at the tin Doc had in his hooves, and blinked at it.

"Huh." she said, "They must have changed the recipe while I was in. I used to grind those up and sprinkle them in coffee."

[DigoDragon]

"Hey, I'm getting a buzz." she replied, sounding pleased.

Strata then proceeded to stare at the potted plant that was near the entrance for a solid thirty seconds.

While Buzz Ghouldrin is in orbit, Doc will go unlock the other five offices. "If anyone wants to prospect for useful goods, feel free," he says to Viridia and Choro.


"About time and being a unified block. If the conditions after the bombings were as bad as I remember, and if the ratio of necromantic energy required to animate favored those in places not directly on the surface or otherwise shielded, then most large groups that would reanimate as members of the undead after the bombs would be in places unfavorable for their mental state. I remember having a vague sense of self for several days after I awoke, but I stayed within my room and did little that could harm myself or others around me. I would suggest that, if I was in a unpleasant situation for a extended period of time during that state, I could have suffered a mental break of some kind, or at least a gradual mental degeneration."

"That sounds about right. If a ghoul forgets who they are, they seem to quickly lose their mind and just be this walking empty shell," Doc says. "I reckon some kind of socialization or community helps them retain their mental edge."

He puts the tin away in a pocket. "I've rarely had coffee, wouldn't know what sprinkling this stuff into it would taste like."

Doc will check one more office.
PER: [roll0] vs. 7
Survival [roll1] vs. 30

[Inspector Valin]

"Sure! I'm here to help." Choro grins at Doc, happy for the chance to actually assist the group. The young unicorn darts swiftly through the now open door, holding her PipBuck up and looking across the empty room. A second later, the wizardess pops her head out of the door, looking between her new friends. "Should I be looking for anything in particular?"

[roll0] Survival: 3. Yeah, I know, but we had to establish that at some point. And hey, Choro can't do anything too terrible in an abandoned office, right?

[DigoDragon]

"Should I be looking for anything in particular?"

"Look for whatever you think you or the team would find useful or valuable," Doc answers.

[Forum Explorer]

Moonshadow throws a bone at the corpse to see what happens. If nothing happens she takes a look around the room for further loot.

Perception [roll0] vs 10
Survival [roll1] vs 25


OOC: How many bits exactly then?

[Dalinale]

"That sounds about right. If a ghoul forgets who they are, they seem to quickly lose their mind and just be this walking empty shell," Doc says. "I reckon some kind of socialization or community helps them retain their mental edge."

"Could be stress, could be environment, could be a lack of self-awareness. Could be a combination of effects resembling dementia or just general insanity, over the course of years and years." Strata rambled off, sounding less like she was replying to Doc as just voicing her personal opinion.


He puts the tin away in a pocket. "I've rarely had coffee, wouldn't know what sprinkling this stuff into it would taste like."

"Minty." she replied, giving Doc a big grin.


Doc will check one more office.
PER: [roll0] vs. 7
Survival [roll1] vs. 30

The office seemed to belong to someone of lesser status then the first and had far less interesting stuff in the office Doc checked... but there was another black folder, placed in the lowest cabinet to the floor.


"Sure! I'm here to help." Choro grins at Doc, happy for the chance to actually assist the group. The young unicorn darts swiftly through the now open door, holding her PipBuck up and looking across the empty room. A second later, the wizardess pops her head out of the door, looking between her new friends. "Should I be looking for anything in particular?"

[roll0] Survival: 3. Yeah, I know, but we had to establish that at some point. And hey, Choro can't do anything too terrible in an abandoned office, right?


"Look for whatever you think you or the team would find useful or valuable."" Doc answers.

"Drugs, you should find drugs." Strata said, almost as if she was trying to egg Choro on. "They should be valuable."


Moonshadow throws a bone at the corpse to see what happens. If nothing happens she takes a look around the room for further loot.

Perception [roll0] vs 10
Survival [roll1] vs 25


OOC: How many bits exactly then?

[There were twenty bits in the coat pocket.]

After the bone connected with the corpse's forehead, Moonshadow heard a low grown and a shuffling noise. The ghoul began to slowly right itself, in place; Moonshadow heard popping noises as the ghoul's started to move, and the ghoul made quiet noises that were quite odd, coming from the throat of a equine.

After a few moments, the ghoul was looking at Moonshadow with filmy, half-closed eyes. Slowly, it pushed the stack of papers it was previously using as a pillow towards the other side of the table, towards Moonshadow. After doing so, the ghoul let out a indignant grunt, and leaned back into it's chair.

[Forum Explorer]

Moonshadow checks her pipbuck. I absolutely love the automatic FoF identification these things have. she thought, keeping a wary eye on the ghoul in case it does something more overtly hostile.

[DigoDragon]

The office seemed to belong to someone of lesser status then the first and had far less interesting stuff in the office Doc checked... but there was another black folder, placed in the lowest cabinet to the floor.

"Musta been orientation day during the bombs," Doc remarks as he opens this black folder.

[Inspector Valin]

"Okay!"

It's a little hard to tell if Choro's response is to Strata or Doc. Either way, the young unicorn ducks back around the door to resume her search. The sounds of light crashing and banging echo out of the room for a little, as furniture is shifted about in the wizard's attempted search. Then the blue coated mare slowly trots out of the room. She looks over to Strata curiously. "What do drugs look like? Boxes or something? Just pills?" It's a legitimate question. Regardless of the offer, Choro peers in the other newly opened door, shaking her head sadly at Doc. "I... don't really see much in there. It's just another empty office, I'm afraid. Sorry"

[Dalinale]

Moonshadow checks her pipbuck. I absolutely love the automatic FoF identification these things have. she thought, keeping a wary eye on the ghoul in case it does something more overtly hostile.

The ghoul was coming up green.

The ghoul, as Moonshadow glanced at her Pipbuck, slowly prodded the paperwork stack slightly closer towards the pegasus. While it's mouth was toothless and slack, from the nose up it was practically glowering at Moonshadow.


"Musta been orientation day during the bombs," Doc remarks as he opens this black folder.

This black folder just contained a transcript; two ponies with blacked-out names seemed to be talking about where to move a large amount of poppy seeds that they had recently managed to obtain, and eventually decided on selling the plants off to a local gang.


"What do drugs look like? Boxes or something? Just pills?"

Strata looked at Choro in amazement. She blinked a few times.

"They usually come in bottles, or small cardboard boxes." she replied, sounding slightly stunned.

[DigoDragon]

This black folder just contained a transcript; two ponies with blacked-out names seemed to be talking about where to move a large amount of poppy seeds that they had recently managed to obtain, and eventually decided on selling the plants off to a local gang.

"Well that was a waste of time," Doc thinks to himself. He puts it back where it was from and leaves the office, approaching Choro and pulling out his medical bag.

Doc shows Choro some of the various drugs he has stored within. "Like this stuff-- pain killers, sedatives, Dash... not sure where I got the Rage from, but that ought a be fun for the next party. Like Ms. Strata said, some come in bottles, some in little boxes."

[Inspector Valin]

"Oh, medicine?" Choro's eyes lighten at that, starting to understand. Medical herbs and substances... that made sense. Doctor Wagon could use them, and there have to be extra supplies around in a hospital, right? The unicorn sighs, coming back to reality with a frown. "Well, I didn't see anything like that either, I'm afraid. It's just an office"

[DigoDragon]

"It's alright, I reckon for every office with useful stuff we gotta sift through four or five empty ones," Doc said encouragingly. "Just keep your senses sharp."

[Dalinale]

"-not sure where I got the Rage from-""

"I'v had day's like that." Strata said, cheerfully. "And some weeks, actually."


"Oh, medicine?" Choro's eyes lighten at that, starting to understand. Medical herbs and substances... that made sense. Doctor Wagon could use them, and there have to be extra supplies around in a hospital, right? The unicorn sighs, coming back to reality with a frown. "Well, I didn't see anything like that either, I'm afraid. It's just an office."

Strata seemed slightly annoyed, as well. She took a few steps into the room Doc just searched, but quickly stepped back out into the hall, with a scowl on her face, "Well, they used to be offices used by ponies in a large, semi-legal operation that cooperated with the government. If there's no dirt in them, then they're probably in the terminals. As for drugs, the good stuff's in the supply closets."

[Forum Explorer]

The ghoul was coming up green.

The ghoul, as Moonshadow glanced at her Pipbuck, slowly prodded the paperwork stack slightly closer towards the pegasus. While it's mouth was toothless and slack, from the nose up it was practically glowering at Moonshadow.



Moonshadow shrugged, took the paperwork, and looked around for a pen.

[DigoDragon]

"Well, they used to be offices used by ponies in a large, semi-legal operation that cooperated with the government. If there's no dirt in them, then they're probably in the terminals. As for drugs, the good stuff's in the supply closets."

"Semi-legal operation?" Doc asks inquisitively. "Did you know what kind of things they did down here?"

[Dalinale]

Moonshadow shrugged, took the paperwork, and looked around for a pen.

The ghoul, apparently sensing Moonshadow's dilemma, knocked over a cup that was placed near the terminal on the desk. The cup contained a pen, which conveniently rolled near Moonshadow.

The paperwork looked like it was a release form, for one 'Happy Fields'. There was a big Ministry of Peace logo on the top and there were flowers between the margins. It looked charming. It was also one page of a stack of about fifty pages.


"Semi-legal operation?" Doc asks inquisitively. "Did you know what kind of things they did down here?"

Strata shrugged.

"Well, that's not the right phrase, but everypony on this floor was either a political prisoner or just someone who pissed off someone important. They just kept everyone on this floor fed and watered and in the dark. Now, from what I know, they did things in the basement, because that's where they put the actual crazies and the ones nopony would miss; zebra gang members who were not going to make it and the like. You'd see ponies escorted downstairs, but they'd never come back up unless they were wearing a labcoat or scrubs. That blond Neighponi was one of the ones who worked down there, and I know she once tried to upgrade the security level of the guy who lived in the room next to me because they needed another 'subject'."

Strata paused, and a unpleasant look passed over her face.

"Her special talent wasexperimental surgery, and the government gave her a six figure job and a mansion in Casa Loam, so I don't know what the hell she used to do down there, but it made some ponies very happy. She was a good motivator to make you down your happy pills and go asleep, too. She wasn't the only one who made big money here, though. I doubt anyone who worked down there was hurting for cash. As for what they did down there, I don't want to know."

[Forum Explorer]

The ghoul, apparently sensing Moonshadow's dilemma, knocked over a cup that was placed near the terminal on the desk. The cup contained a pen, which conveniently rolled near Moonshadow.

The paperwork looked like it was a release form, for one 'Happy Fields'. There was a big Ministry of Peace logo on the top and there were flowers between the margins. It looked charming. It was also one page of a stack of about fifty pages.


Moonshadow nods, smiles, takes the paperwork, and leaves the room. She then writes a note stating that the room was inhabited by a mostly harmless ghoul, and should be passed on. She then leaves said note on the door before heading down the hallway.

[DigoDragon]

Doc nodded politely. "Well, Dr. Stitchheart asked us to go down there to fetch her something, but I'll spare you any details I might find."

He'll look through one last office and then catch up with Moonshadow.

"Alright, let's see who's blackmailed in this one."

PER [roll0] vs. 7
Survival [roll1] vs. 30

[Dalinale]

Moonshadow nods, smiles, takes the paperwork, and leaves the room. She then writes a note stating that the room was inhabited by a mostly harmless ghoul, and should be passed on. She then leaves said note on the door before heading down the hallway.

Moonshadow got a glimpse of the ghoul before she headed down the hall; it seemed to be slowly closing it's eyes, and sinking down into it's chair.


Doc nodded politely. "Well, Dr. Stitchheart asked us to go down there to fetch her something, but I'll spare you any details I might find."

He'll look through one last office and then catch up with Moonshadow.

"Alright, let's see who's blackmailed in this one."

PER [roll0] vs. 7
Survival [roll1] vs. 30

This desk just had a bottle of Sparkle Cola resting on top of it. The black file, in this case, was rather petty; it was three police reports about the same older colt who was caught with possession with sell, within a two-year period. Then there was a dim photograph of a young unicorn stallion using his magic to hold what looked like several plastic bags containing pills, outside what looked like a nightclub of some kind. Given the angle of the shot and the outstretched hoof near the center of the photo, the picture was probably taken from a tiny hidden camera.

[DigoDragon]

This desk just had a bottle of Sparkle Cola resting on top of it. The black file, in this case, was rather petty; it was three police reports about the same older colt who was caught with possession with sell, within a two-year period. Then there was a dim photograph of a young unicorn stallion using his magic to hold what looked like several plastic bags containing pills, outside what looked like a nightclub of some kind. Given the angle of the shot and the outstretched hoof near the center of the photo, the picture was probably taken from a tiny hidden camera.

Doc scratches his head and takes the soda. "I wonder if any of you ended up in the lower basement?" he thinks. Exiting the office, he looks at everyone.

"Any last rummaging to be done, or shall we move on?"

[Hazuki]

"Wait, what did Stitcheart want from down here? I wasn't told about that." Viridia asked, taking a break in adjusting her many garments to pose the question.

[Dalinale]

Doc scratches his head and takes the soda. "I wonder if any of you ended up in the lower basement?" he thinks. Exiting the office, he looks at everyone.

"Any last rummaging to be done, or shall we move on?"

"Oh, can I have the cola?" Strata asked, looking at the Sparkle Cola with sudden interest, "It's been a while."


"Wait, what did Stitcheart want from down here? I wasn't told about that." Viridia asked, taking a break in adjusting her many garments to pose the question.

Strata blinked, looked at Viridia, and then at Doc. She seemed confused, and wanted that confusion addressed.

[DigoDragon]

"Wait, what did Stitcheart want from down here? I wasn't told about that." Viridia asked, taking a break in adjusting her many garments to pose the question.

Doc gives Strata the cola as he answers Viridia's question. "Stitch had asked Moon and I to retrieve two files from the third basement. They're yellow with pink stripes around the binding and a glow-in-the-dark 'Classified' label. Can't really miss something that bright."

"One file is supposed to be in the main office below, the other in the lab."

[Forum Explorer]

Moonshadow got a glimpse of the ghoul before she headed down the hall; it seemed to be slowly closing it's eyes, and sinking down into it's chair.


She kept walking, occasionally checking her pipbuck as she moved forward.

[Dalinale]

Doc gives Strata the cola as he answers Viridia's question. "Stitch had asked Moon and I to retrieve two files from the third basement. They're yellow with pink stripes around the binding and a glow-in-the-dark 'Classified' label. Can't really miss something that bright."

"One file is supposed to be in the main office below, the other in the lab."

Strata quickly started to gulp down the soda like she hadn't had anything to drink in days, which was probably accurate, actually.

"If there's a lab down there, then I'm not going down." Strata said, after fully consuming the delicious sugar water, "And I draw the line at taking classified information for a crazy filly. That's the sort of stuff that got ponies sent to dungeons back then. Or eaten by a dragon. I'm pretty sure that happened at least twice."


She kept walking, occasionally checking her pipbuck as she moved forward.

The yellow dot that Moonshadow saw earlier was rather close, now; two hallways down, at most. Other then that, there were not any other dots coming up on her Pipbuck that weren't her friends and Strata. The ghoul she just met wasn't coming up on her map, either, which was probably good to note.

The hallway she was currently seemed to simply be a continuation of the one she first saw on this floor, which matched with Strata's description, but there were far more signs of pre and post-bomb carnage. Two skeletons were slumped next to each other near a janitorial cart, and there were old bloodstains on the floor around them. While most of the rooms just seemed to be more patient quarters, the laundry room was right in front of Moonshadow and the door was ajar.

[Hazuki]

Strata quickly started to gulp down the soda like she hadn't had anything to drink in days, which was probably accurate, actually.

"If there's a lab down there, then I'm not going down." Strata said, after fully consuming the delicious sugar water, "And I draw the line at taking classified information for a crazy filly. That's the sort of stuff that got ponies sent to dungeons back then. Or eaten by a dragon. I'm pretty sure that happened at least twice.""Ooh!" Viridia's eyes widened. "Speaking of forbidden things, have you heard of the necronomicon?"

[Dalinale]

"Ooh!" Viridia's eyes widened. "Speaking of forbidden things, have you heard of the necronomicon?"

Strata turned to Viridia. She seemed rather surprised, and she let out a low whistle.

"That's another one of those things that can get you sent to the moon. There's a couple of names for it, but yeah, I have; the Ministry of Image put it right under Discord's autobiography, threat level wise. How do you know about it?"

[DigoDragon]

Doc will motion to walk-and-talk so the party doesn't get too far behind Moonshadow. As he moves along, he'll keep an eye out for evidence Moonshadow was around. Maybe doors left open or disturbed dust?


"How do you know about it?"

"A salty ship captain mentioned it."

[Hazuki]

"Among others." Viridia nodded. "How about worshipers of 'Nightmare Moon'? Who use dark magic, like, literally dark? And collect artifact?"

[Dalinale]

Doc will motion to walk-and-talk so the party doesn't get too far behind Moonshadow. As he moves along, he'll keep an eye out for evidence Moonshadow was around. Maybe doors left open or disturbed dust?

[Best to roll Perception, then. It's nearly pitch black, however, so roll with a -1.]


"A salty ship captain mentioned it."

Strata didn't seem to find that helpful, but she shrugged and accepted it, regardless. She also began to start following a few feet behind Doc; she looked like she was waiting him to pass by each door before she walked forward, as well.


"Among others." Viridia nodded. "How about worshipers of 'Nightmare Moon'? Who use dark magic, like, literally dark? And collect artifact?"

Strata chuckled.

"The appeal of being in forbidden cults never really caught on in this country; the only real cults of Nightmare Moon that ever existed in Equestria were restricted to bat ponies. The average pony back then who called themselves a follower of Nightmare Moon was usually just a serious tax protester or a unicorn who didn't want to trade in all their black clothing. There's never been any proof that Nightmare Moon could influence the world while trapped on the moon; if you wanted Celestia to influence the world, you could write a petition. To the average pony, Luna only ever showed up when Celestia needed backup to take out serious threats. There probably would have been a more serious outcry if Celestia couldn't handle the sun and moon by herself, but she could, so the average salt of the earth farmer didn't really care if the purple moon pony was sent to the moon."

Strata paused before she tackled the rest of Viridia's questions, and also sounded like they held more weight then the topic of cults.

"As for dark magic and artifacts, that's a more complicated question. Dark magic is any magic ponies can't handle, and most ponies have about the same tolerance for irregular types of magic that middle schoolers have for whisky. Unicorns stumbling on sources of dark magic was a major issue in the years before the war, and it took one unicorn with access to Alicorn Magic to take over the Crystal Empire.

As for magical items, Equestria had two big dumping sites for those. One was Celestia's personal vault, which was also the horde of the Canterlot Dragoness, and the other was the Crystal Empire, which holds all of Sombra's old stuff along with most of the stuff dredged up during the war. The government went on a big buying spree at the beginning of the war and tried to pick up any magical items that was laying around in noble estates or hidden tombs and the like, so they would be the main hoarders of magical artifacts, honestly."

[DigoDragon]

Per [roll0] vs. 6

"Just to hoard them or to use them in the war?"

[Hazuki]

Viridia nodded in understanding. "Do you know whether those cults had any symbols of rank, like, say, ugliness? Because I met this one Priestess of Nightmare Moon who was really ugly. Like...haunting. She looked like an avocado that had sex with an older, more disgusting avocado. Not gently. Like, it was hateful. There was something wrong with the relationship and that was the only catharsis they could find without violence."

[Dalinale]

Per [roll0] vs. 6

Something was odd with the floor in the hallway right outside the offices. Irregular patches of flooring were just a hair lower then the rest, and generally seemed to be a darker color. A quick examination of the walls also confirmed that something similar was going on, as well, but the indents were far smaller and patchier and formed patterns that resembled splatter.


"Just to hoard them or to use them in the war?"

"Same thing." Strata replied, with a small frown, "Most of those types of items were way too unpredictable to use in any real capacity, and for every magic wand they dug up Arcane Science had cranked out five hundred energy rifles. There's only a few things made back then that could compete with what Sparkle's ponies could cook up."


Viridia nodded in understanding. "Do you know whether those cults had any symbols of rank, like, say, ugliness? Because I met this one Priestess of Nightmare Moon who was really ugly. Like...haunting. She looked like an avocado that had sex with an older, more disgusting avocado. Not gently. Like, it was hateful. There was something wrong with the relationship and that was the only catharsis they could find without violence."

Strata was giggling about halfway though Viridia's description, but she gave what sounded like a honest answer.

"Bat pony history was declared a state secret before I graduated, but those kinds of cults tended to follow a pattern. There's always chaff involved, the sort of ponies who are easily led, and then there's the leaders, who might actually have plans that resemble coherent plots for global domination. The real Nightmare Moon worshipers usually wanted ponies around them to do what they wanted, so you don't really hear much about devout Nightmare Moon worshiping farmers who live in the middle of nowhere. There's nothing appealing about doing that. Did your avocado priestess have a congregation or anything? Any mumblings about world domination or eternal night? Was her name Doomdark Von Spookytime, or anything along those lines? Did you check her back for wings?"

[Hazuki]

Strata was giggling about halfway though Viridia's description, but she gave what sounded like a honest answer.

"Bat pony history was declared a state secret before I graduated, but those kinds of cults tended to follow a pattern. There's always chaff involved, the sort of ponies who are easily led, and then there's the leaders, who might actually have plans that resemble coherent plots for global domination. The real Nightmare Moon worshipers usually wanted ponies around them to do what they wanted, so you don't really hear much about devout Nightmare Moon worshiping farmers who live in the middle of nowhere. There's nothing appealing about doing that. Did your avocado priestess have a congregation or anything? Any mumblings about world domination or eternal night? Was her name Doomdark Von Spookytime, or anything along those lines? Did you check her back for wings?""It actually was! Priestess Shade. And she did this whole appearing-out-of-shadows thing. And she had this weird family in an old church. It's like, hello, did I walk into a cheap comic book?" Viridia beamed.

[DigoDragon]

Something was odd with the floor in the hallway right outside the offices. Irregular patches of flooring were just a hair lower then the rest, and generally seemed to be a darker color. A quick examination of the walls also confirmed that something similar was going on, as well, but the indents were far smaller and patchier and formed patterns that resembled splatter.

'Acid spill perhaps?' Doc thinks to himself. V's description of Shade though... Heh, avocado priestess.

(OOC: Excellent Dead Pool reference)


"Choro, any dots on your pipbuck?" the doctor asks her.

[Dalinale]

"It actually was! Priestess Shade. And she did this whole appearing-out-of-shadows thing. And she had this weird family in an old church. It's like, hello, did I walk into a cheap comic book?" Viridia beamed.

Strata immediately frowned.

"What? A church to Nightmare Moon? In Equestria? How big was it?" she asked, plainly surprised and confused in equal measure, "Was it in this city, or elsewhere?"

[Hazuki]

"Uhh, to the South, by the big ol' lake? Near a bunch of slums that had some bunkers in them." Viridia answered.

[Dalinale]

"Uhh, to the South, by the big ol' lake? Near a bunch of slums that had some bunkers in them." Viridia answered.

Strata now looked stumped.

"It must have been made after the bombs, then, because I think I would've remembered a church to Nightmare Moon, especially in the southern docks. That area was nearly a quarter zebra, if I'm right, and I wouldn't think a church to Nightmare Moon would've lasted fifteen seconds without being ransacked."

[DigoDragon]

"Maybe you should get out more, Strata," Doc suggests.

[Hazuki]

"Must have been." Viridia shrugged. "Or it was redecorated at some point.. Oh, what about magic? Pony magic? Do you know about anything that lets non-Unicorns do proper magic, not lame stuff like making the wind a little dusty? Like, could I change shape or something?"

[Dalinale]

"Maybe you should get out more, Strata," Doc suggests.

Strata rolled her good eye.

"Hey, hiding under a rock's kept me alive. You, on the other hoof, might want to get a grip. Respect your elders. I'm giving quality exposition at reasonable prices. After this little misadventure, I'm off to a lake house in the middle of nowhere."


Oh, what about magic? Pony magic? Do you know about anything that lets non-Unicorns do proper magic, not lame stuff like making the wind a little dusty? Like, could I change shape or something?"

Strata, after turning back to Viridia, seemed rather surprised by Viridia's line of questioning.

"You'd need a enchanted potion, or a magical item, or something else along those lines. There's some serious spells that could do it, but you'd need a unicorn to do that, and I don't think you're the type who wants that. As for items, I'd try and track down a zebra, if there's any still left; they have forgotten more about enchantments then ponies ever figured out."

Strata paused.

"Why the interest in unicorn magic?" she asked, sounding as if she was clearly interested in Viridia's response, "Looking at you, I'd guess you grew up well enough, so I'm confused about where you're getting 'proper magic' from. Are you going for Alicornhood or something?"

[Hazuki]

"Why the interest in unicorn magic?" she asked, sounding as if she was clearly interested in Viridia's response, "Looking at you, I'd guess you grew up well enough, so I'm confused about where you're getting 'proper magic' from. Are you going for Alicornhood or something?""I'm not even entirely sure I know what an alicon is." Viridia shrugged. "But, it's like, unicorn magic is really sweet. They can shoot fire out of their faces, move things without touching them, make force fields, and stuff. And all Pegasi get is flying, which Unicorns can copy so what even and making wind go faster. And Earth Ponies don't even get that! Their magic is believing in themselves or whatever. And it's not like Unicorn magic isn't way better; one of the most dominant forces in the wasteland is a bunch of wizards! You don't see a band of Earth Ponies strutting around in charge because they can lift up a piano. Sure, Pegasi have the Enclave, but that's only 'cause they have the results of decades of co-operation with other ponies, which is just cheating."" She paused. "It just seems like things in general would be a lot better if everypony could learn to do Unicorn magic."

[DigoDragon]

"Have to agree there," Doc says. "Unicorns have a pretty sweet deal going with their magic. If I raise enough caps, I might be able to get a pair of cybernetic wings, but there's no tech that can duplicate a unicorn's magical horn."

[Forum Explorer]

The yellow dot that Moonshadow saw earlier was rather close, now; two hallways down, at most. Other then that, there were not any other dots coming up on her Pipbuck that weren't her friends and Strata. The ghoul she just met wasn't coming up on her map, either, which was probably good to note.

The hallway she was currently seemed to simply be a continuation of the one she first saw on this floor, which matched with Strata's description, but there were far more signs of pre and post-bomb carnage. Two skeletons were slumped next to each other near a janitorial cart, and there were old bloodstains on the floor around them. While most of the rooms just seemed to be more patient quarters, the laundry room was right in front of Moonshadow and the door was ajar.

Time to find out what that thing is, Moonshadow thought to herself, moving slowly towards the dot, and keeping to cover as best she could.

[Dalinale]

"I'm not even entirely sure I know what an alicon is." Viridia shrugged. "But, it's like, unicorn magic is really sweet. They can shoot fire out of their faces, move things without touching them, make force fields, and stuff. And all Pegasi get is flying, which Unicorns can copy so what even and making wind go faster. And Earth Ponies don't even get that! Their magic is believing in themselves or whatever. And it's not like Unicorn magic isn't way better; one of the most dominant forces in the wasteland is a bunch of wizards!

Strata didn't seem impressed by Viridia's argument.

"In order for a unicorn to have the ability to do anything beyond moving a paperweight, they have to undergo magical training that can go up to six years. That training is so ten year olds don't accidentally kill themselves by half-remembering a spell or forgetting how levitation works. After that, about five percent of unicorn foals that go through that training might be allowed to take higher-tier magic training, if they want to spend the next ten years or so of their lives dedicated to doing one thing, and one thing only. The reasonable alternative to that, of course, is to go for a Arcane Science specialty degree and get a nice, fat government job, instead of being able to make small fireballs with your mind and be broke. You know what else can make small fireballs? Grenades. Pegusi can fly, and earth ponies can earth pony. "

Strata briefly looked at Choro, and lowered her head so the two were roughly at eye level.

"Hey, help me with this." she half-whispered to the filly.


You don't see a band of Earth Ponies strutting around in charge because they can lift up a piano.

Strata raised a eyebrow.

"I would have thought that would a very useful skill, up there."


Sure, Pegasi have the Enclave, but that's only 'cause they have the results of decades of co-operation with other ponies, which is just cheating."" She paused. "It just seems like things in general would be a lot better if everypony could learn to do Unicorn magic."

Strata seemed confused by what Viridia just said, but shrugged, eventually.

"No comment on that first part, but no, everything would suck if everyone was a unicorn. Imagine a world where everyone had a pistol attached to their foreheads and the only gun safety manuals are five hundred pages long, and you need to memorize every word of it or else ponies would start dying really quickly. And if you have just one depressed ice cream gobbling unicorn who finds the right spell, then she could start manipulating reality as they see fit or turn a country into slaves or open a portal to another dimension or whatever they want. I mean, pegusi can cause tornados and earth ponies can make pipe bombs with their eyes shut, but at least they can use their magic without a immediate risk of backfiring."


"Have to agree there," Doc says. "Unicorns have a pretty sweet deal going with their magic. If I raise enough caps, I might be able to get a pair of cybernetic wings, but there's no tech that can duplicate a unicorn's magical horn."

"Now see, that's stupid, because that's earth pony magic." Strata said, turning to Doc with a small smile on her face, "If you stuck a pair of wings on Choro there, her body would reject it in a few months. Earth ponies have the strongest constitutions on the planet, and have a natural knack at working with most material objects. They live the longest, too."


Time to find out what that thing is, Moonshadow thought to herself, moving slowly towards the dot, and keeping to cover as best she could.

The yellow dot, it seemed, was a pony.

It was wearing a sea-green hat and blouse; clearly, some sort of nurses uniform. Most of the pony's neck was wrapped in a thick layer of gauze, which was stained with reddish-brownish patches. It's legs were thin and leathery and had some exposed bone, which outed the 'pony' as a ghoul, quite obviously. It was standing in a hunched position that caused it's spine and shoulder blades to be visible under it's shirt, and it's steps were careful and it's gait slow.

This was likely caused by what was carrying in it's mouth; it looked like a chunk of the wall that had been ripped out The concrete slab at the end of the rebar rods was stained reddish-brown, and the ghoul's outfit had numerous bloodstains on it, as well. The ghoul's mouth looked to be mostly ruined, but it was biting down hard on what looked like a towelette that was wrapped around the rods, which was likely more pleasant then biting down on metal for a few hundred years.

The ghoul itself was simply walking down the hall; it seemed to take great pains to not drag it's weapon on the floor or walls. As far as cover in the hallway went, there was nada and zilch. As for relatively good news, the ghoul was just now stepping out of the boiler rooms.

[If Moonshadow wants to sneak down the hall, there's no cover on the ground but she can do some sneaky ninja moves on the ceiling, so there's no penalties for that. The ghoul has the Lunar Sight perk, but Moonshadow has flight, so there's no penalties to Stealth involved here. There's about forty feet between Moonshadow and the ghoul, at the moment.]

[DigoDragon]

"Now see, that's stupid, because that's earth pony magic." Strata said, turning to Doc with a small smile on her face, "If you stuck a pair of wings on Choro there, her body would reject it in a few months. Earth ponies have the strongest constitutions on the planet, and have a natural knack at working with most material objects. They live the longest, too."

"I wouldn't consider having a strong constitution magical. More just evolution cause we can't fly out of danger or conjure up a magical shield. We just kind of... well, take it."

[Hazuki]

Strata didn't seem impressed by Viridia's argument.

"In order for a unicorn to have the ability to do anything beyond moving a paperweight, they have to undergo magical training that can go up to six years. That training is so ten year olds don't accidentally kill themselves by half-remembering a spell or forgetting how levitation works. After that, about five percent of unicorn foals that go through that training might be allowed to take higher-tier magic training, if they want to spend the next ten years or so of their lives dedicated to doing one thing, and one thing only. The reasonable alternative to that, of course, is to go for a Arcane Science specialty degree and get a nice, fat government job, instead of being able to make small fireballs with your mind and be broke. You know what else can make small fireballs? Grenades. Pegusi can fly, and earth ponies can earth pony. ""Grenades depend on your ability to gather resources and put them all together in the right place, which also means having to go through a bunch of learning crap, and you can't just make one poof into existence." Viridia replied. "And as for all that difficulty...well, most unicorns have got on fine in the wasteland without it, unless they just happen ot be part of a particular guild, y'know? Maybe that's how they did it before, but there are plenty of bandits and raiders and just militia ponies who've never studied under the government who can use magic pretty well."




"No comment on that first part, but no, everything would suck if everyone was a unicorn. Imagine a world where everyone had a pistol attached to their foreheads and the only gun safety manuals are five hundred pages long, and you need to memorize every word of it or else ponies would start dying really quickly. And if you have just one depressed ice cream gobbling unicorn who finds the right spell, then she could start manipulating reality as they see fit or turn a country into slaves or open a portal to another dimension or whatever they want. I mean, pegusi can cause tornados and earth ponies can make pipe bombs with their eyes shut, but at least they can use their magic without a immediate risk of backfiring.""Only if everypony's an idiot and doesn't tell anybody else how to use magic. Which they would, because parents don't want their kids dead, or their friend's kids dead." She added. "...and what kinda magic is making a pipe bomb? Anypony can do that."

[Forum Explorer]

Moonshadow looks at the ghoul. Well it's holding a weapon. That might make it intelligent. Moreso then the last ghoul at least. That doesn't mean it's friendly though. Hmmm... Moonshadow thought, trying to see if the ghoul's current path will hit the group or not.

Using the Pipbuck's radar to see where the group is if that isn't obvious. If they aren't in radar reach, Moonshadow does have Choro's tag.

[Dalinale]

"I wouldn't consider having a strong constitution magical. More just evolution cause we can't fly out of danger of conjure up a magical shield. We just kind of... well, take it."

Strata stared at Doc for a few moments. Then, she started to laugh a little.

"Of course it is. Statistically, a earth pony stallion will live up to a decade longer then a zebra stallion of equivalent health, and will have one eight the chance of having any serious health issues relating to the heart or liver. About fifty percent of Equestria's centenarians were earth ponies. Unicorns have the worst mental health out of any of the three major tribes, pegusi have a big slew of bone and blood related illnesses that only pop up in them, donkeys have issues with lipid distribution, and so on and so on. But hey, you're a doctor. You clearly know better then I do. Hey, has there been a earth pony case of purpura hemorrhagica, yet?"


"Grenades depend on your ability to gather resources and put them all together in the right place, which also means having to go through a bunch of learning crap, and you can't just make one poof into existence." Viridia replied.

Strata nodded.

"Yeah, but you haven't seen a ten year old filly break one down and rebuild it like it's one of those puzzle cubes." she replied, sounding wistful.


"And as for all that difficulty...well, most unicorns have got on fine in the wasteland without it, unless they just happen ot be part of a particular guild, y'know? Maybe that's how they did it before, but there are plenty of bandits and raiders and just militia ponies who've never studied under the government who can use magic pretty well."

Strata shrugged, again, because apparently she liked moving her shoulders and making sure she wasn't developing arthritis or something.

"Special talents are still a thing, right?" she asked, briefly looking at Choro before turning back to Viridia, "Yeah, of course they can. Most unicorns can do at least one thing pretty well. If you have a toothbrush cutie mark, you might be able to do a mid-level gentle cleaning spell pretty well. Can they make a spell matrix, or know the relationship between conjuring fire and extreme cold, though? I wouldn't think so. I'd imagine most of them still carry around guns, too. Would I be wrong?"


"Only if everypony's an idiot and doesn't tell anybody else how to use magic. Which they would, because parents don't want their kids dead, or their friend's kids dead."

"Hey, how many idiots do you know?" Strata asked, rather pointedly, "I was surprised that you didn't show up wearing a outfit made of spikes and bondage gear, honestly, so my standards are pretty low, but there were complete morons back then and I don't think that's changed after a good hundred and seventy years. "


She added. "...and what kinda magic is making a pipe bomb? Anypony can do that."

Strata nodded. "They sure could. Anyone can make a splint, too."

Strata then turned to Doc. There was a odd expression on her face, as if she was considering something she hadn't before.

"Hey, you were trained by somepony and raised somewhere nice. Let me guess, two earth pony parents, both involved in medicine. You were probably part of some sort of commune or community, probably in a Ministry of Peace hub or something. There might have been unicorns around in powerful positions, but they were useful for diagnostic and medical spells, most of the time. There were unicorns doing the grunt work, but earth ponies did most of the actual heavy lifting, as far as making ponies feel better. Am I wrong?"


Moonshadow looks at the ghoul. Well it's holding a weapon. That might make it intelligent. Moreso then the last ghoul at least. That doesn't mean it's friendly though. Hmmm... Moonshadow thought, trying to see if the ghoul's current path will hit the group or not.

Using the Pipbuck's radar to see where the group is if that isn't obvious. If they aren't in radar reach, Moonshadow does have Choro's tag.

The group was currently at the very edge of Moonshadow's map radius.

[Forum Explorer]

If the ghoul looks like it'll end up crossing the group's path, Moonshadow will follow behind it on the ceiling. Otherwise, she'll sneak past it and continue on down the hallway.

Stealth roll [roll0] vs 78

[Dalinale]

If the ghoul looks like it'll end up crossing the group's path, Moonshadow will follow behind it on the ceiling. Otherwise, she'll sneak past it and continue on down the hallway.

Stealth roll [roll0] vs 78

The ghoul was slowly traversing down the hall, and if it followed the same obvious route Moonshadow did, it would end up to where the group was. However, it was moving at a rather slow pace, and logic would dictate that following it from behind would make the most sense.

[Moonshadow's at the other end of the hallway, still on the ceiling.]

[DigoDragon]

"Of course it is. Statistically, a earth pony stallion will live up to a decade longer then a zebra stallion of equivalent health, and will have one eight the chance of having any serious health issues relating to the heart or liver. About fifty percent of Equestria's centenarians were earth ponies. Unicorns have the worst mental health out of any of the three major tribes, pegusi have a big slew of bone and blood related illnesses that only pop up in them, donkeys have issues with lipid distribution, and so on and so on. But hey, you're a doctor. You clearly know better then I do. Hey, has there been a earth pony case of purpura hemorrhagica, yet?"

"So if an earth pony walked into a place where magic was inhibited, they'd get frail and weak? I don't think earth ponies work that way. Sure we're hardier, I don't disagree there, but that's not due to some kind of magical effect. It's just natural selection," Doc explains diplomatically. "And yeah, an earth pony can get complications from the Strangles. You treat it with aggressive steroids, and antibiotics if those are available."


Strata then turned to Doc. There was a odd expression on her face, as if she was considering something she hadn't before.

"Hey, you were trained by somepony and raised somewhere nice. Let me guess, two earth pony parents, both involved in medicine. You were probably part of some sort of commune or community, probably in a Ministry of Peace hub or something. There might have been unicorns around in powerful positions, but they were useful for diagnostic and medical spells, most of the time. There were unicorns doing the grunt work, but earth ponies did most of the actual heavy lifting, as far as making ponies feel better. Am I wrong?"

Doc raises an eyebrow. There's a slight smirk on his face. "Are you asking who was better suited to be the nurses and caretakers? If so, the answer is the pegasi. The answer is always pegasi." After a beat he waves away his answer.

"Kidding obviously. Your race doesn't really factor much in being a good nurse or not."

[Forum Explorer]

Moonshadow waits for the ghoul to pass her, and then begins the painfully slow journey of following the damn thing as it makes her way to her friends.

[Dalinale]

"So if an earth pony walked into a place where magic was inhibited, they'd get frail and weak? I don't think earth ponies work that way."

Strata shook her head, and at this point had a 'oh, for cripes sake' look on her face.

"No, they would just be on the same physical level as a healthy donkey."


"Sure we're hardier, I don't disagree there, but that's not due to some kind of magical effect. It's just natural selection.[/COLOR]" Doc explains diplomatically.[/COLOR]"

Strata stared at Doc for quite a long time.

"Ah, yes, the natural selection which allows two earth ponies to have a set of twins that are a unicorn and a pegasus." Strata replied, rather slowly and with emphasis one quite nearly every syllable. "The one where griffons can mate with equines and produce viable offspring. The one that produced breezies as a viable form of life."


Doc raises an eyebrow. There's a slight smirk on his face. "Are you asking who was better suited to be the nurses and caretakers? If so, the answer is the pegasi. The answer is always pegasi." After a beat he waves away his answer.

"Kidding obviously. Your race doesn't really factor much in being a good nurse or not."

"Nope, except when it does." Strata replied, still frowning, "Oh, for bucks sake, let's end this. I'm not interested in arguing."


Moonshadow waits for the ghoul to pass her, and then begins the painfully slow journey of following the damn thing as it makes her way to her friends.

The ghoul, about halfway though the trip, did something odd; it paused, and carefully leaned it's weapon up against a nearby wall, looking as if it was straining it's entire body as it did so. Then, it took out what looked like a piece of jerky that was stashed under it's clothing, and began munching on it with gusto. The happy chewing noises it made were loud and rather gross.

[Hazuki]

"What's a breezie?" Viridia asked, with a head tilted in very convincing curiosity.

[Inspector Valin]

Choro has been looking a little shellshocked for a while. Talk of Nightmare Moon worshippers, classified files, secret experiments .... in Equestria. Everypony here seems quite serious and sure of themselves, it left it hard for her to find a way to argue with what was being said. This place was a hospital! It was a hospital from during the war, sure, but... political prisoners, death, fear, everything sounded wrong. Things hadn't been that bad before the bombs hit, had they?

Even after the direct invitation from Strata, the young magician is still silent, lost in thoughts of the place around them. Eventually though, she coughs, voice quiet as she enters the discussion... just as it was ending. "Ms Strata is correct. Most Unicorns learn spells naturally that supplement their Special Talent. That's how it's supposed to be. Empirical Magic, dates back to the time of Starswirl. Wizards and... Scientists I guess are the ones who go beyond that. Wizards usually have a talent for all magic, or are very dedicated to learning. Scientists break magic down into rules and formulae; sort of like reverse occultism. Those are jobs though, not something anypony with a horn can do. Just like not any pegasus wants to be the superfast Wonderbolt, or every Earth Pony ends up being a farmer. For all of us, our races are a part of who we are, but our talents are what define us."

... and that's what makes Equestria great! Choro has to stop herself from completing the well worn phrase. In this conversation of conspiricies, cults and classified files,... well, the last thing she wants is for the ponies around her to think of her as more foalish. Instead, she tries to grin at Strata Survey. "You're taking it a little far though, Professor. Very science-y of you, all those figures and possibilities. I mean, I'm one of the best wizards I know. I've studied loads of spells and a good amount of arcane history. But my parents were both Earth Ponies. So were their parents. And I do take traits from them. My mother's coat, my fathers eyes, ect. The only unicorn blood in my family dates back to the Fall. Who you're born as or where you live doesn't determine your Special Talent. Nopony really knows what determines that. Science tries to impose rules on magic, on ponies and what they can do, but that doesn't always work."

That was... probably a bit too strong. Choro falls silent again, looking anywhere but in direction of her fellow ponies. It's easy to see patches of blue coat to either side of her nuzzle darkening. The travelling wizard tries to hum to herself, thinking back over recent conversation. Then a point comes to her, and she looks back to Viridia, eyes wide. "Wait... how do you not know what an alicorn is?! I... what?" The concept seems legitimately shocking to Choro. They'd just been talking about Nightmare Moon's history. Had the tales of ascension been lost to time as well? Would explain why everypony was so confused when I brought that up in the lobby.

Ok, it's almost midnight now. Hope all this is right/works. Good night! :smallbiggrin:

[Hazuki]

. "Wait... how do you not know what an alicorn is?! I... what?" The concept seems legitimately shocking to Choro. They'd just been talking about Nightmare Moon's history. Had the tales of ascension been lost to time as well? Would explain why everypony was so confused when I brought that up in the lobby."I kinda know. Super special ponies, like what would happen if you had an Earth Pony, a Unicorn, and a Pegasus, and they fused together to become some kind of Neighponi mecha-creation." Viridia replied.

[DigoDragon]

"Oh, for bucks sake, let's end this. I'm not interested in arguing."

The stallion shrugs. "Very well. We're probably coming up on our destination."

"Alicorns are... yeah, like a fusion. A pony with traits of earth, pegasus, and unicorn rolled into one. Supposedly what Celestia and Luna were."

[Forum Explorer]

The ghoul, about halfway though the trip, did something odd; it paused, and carefully leaned it's weapon up against a nearby wall, looking as if it was straining it's entire body as it did so. Then, it took out what looked like a piece of jerky that was stashed under it's clothing, and began munching on it with gusto. The happy chewing noises it made were loud and rather gross.

I am really starting to hate this ghoul. Moonshadow thought, glaring at the back of the ghoul's head. Doesn't help that my friends are somehow moving even slower then it! What are they doing, having a lesson on pony genetics or something? she thought, looking at her Pipbuck's radar and noting the sad lack of movement on the group's part.

[Dalinale]

"What's a breezie?" Viridia asked, with a head tilted in very convincing curiosity.

"Oh, they are really tiny bug ponies that live in a alternate dimension. They were stupidly pathetic. They couldn't actually fly without a existing breeze and you could knock one out by a raindrop falling on their teensie little heads. Their one job was to carry pollen around, that's how tiny they are, and they needed pony assistance to do that." Strata explained, with a smile. "The Zebras probably managed to nuke them or sneak a frog into their home dimension or something, so I wouldn't worry too much about them."



Even after the direct invitation from Strata, the young magician is still silent, lost in thoughts of the place around them. Eventually though, she coughs, voice quiet as she enters the discussion... just as it was ending. "Ms Strata is correct. Most Unicorns learn spells naturally that supplement their Special Talent. That's how it's supposed to be. Empirical Magic, dates back to the time of Starswirl. Wizards and... Scientists I guess are the ones who go beyond that. Wizards usually have a talent for all magic, or are very dedicated to learning. Scientists break magic down into rules and formulae; sort of like reverse occultism. Those are jobs though, not something anypony with a horn can do. Just like not any pegasus wants to be the superfast Wonderbolt, or every Earth Pony ends up being a farmer. For all of us, our races are a part of who we are, but our talents are what define us."

... and that's what makes Equestria great! Choro has to stop herself from completing the well worn phrase. In this conversation of conspiricies, cults and classified files,... well, the last thing she wants is for the ponies around her to think of her as more foalish. Instead, she tries to grin at Strata Survey. "You're taking it a little far though, Professor. Very science-y of you, all those figures and possibilities. I mean, I'm one of the best wizards I know. I've studied loads of spells and a good amount of arcane history. But my parents were both Earth Ponies. So were their parents. And I do take traits from them. My mother's coat, my fathers eyes, ect. The only unicorn blood in my family dates back to the Fall. Who you're born as or where you live doesn't determine your Special Talent. Nopony really knows what determines that. Science tries to impose rules on magic, on ponies and what they can do, but that doesn't always work."

That was... probably a bit too strong. Choro falls silent again, looking anywhere but in direction of her fellow ponies. It's easy to see patches of blue coat to either side of her nuzzle darkening. The travelling wizard tries to hum to herself, thinking back over recent conversation. Then a point comes to her, and she looks back to Viridia, eyes wide. "Wait... how do you not know what an alicorn is?! I... what?" The concept seems legitimately shocking to Choro. They'd just been talking about Nightmare Moon's history. Had the tales of ascension been lost to time as well? Would explain why everypony was so confused when I brought that up in the lobby.

Ok, it's almost midnight now. Hope all this is right/works. Good night! :smallbiggrin:

Strata listened to what Choro said with obvious interest.

"Hey, kid, you were probably born two hundred years late." Strata said; it sounded like a complement.


"I kinda know. Super special ponies, like what would happen if you had an Earth Pony, a Unicorn, and a Pegasus, and they fused together to become some kind of Neighponi mecha-creation." Viridia replied.




"Alicorns are... yeah, like a fusion. A pony with traits of earth, pegasus, and unicorn rolled into one. Supposedly what Celestia and Luna were."

Strata's good eye widened. Her bad eye stopped rolling around and manged to lock on Viridia. She briefly looked like she was going to have a stroke, but she was dead, so really it was just her body going through the motions.

"Uh, crap. Er, the Crystal Empire's still around, right? It wasn't bombed, was it? Anyone know if Cadance is alive to do the whole 'move the celestial bodies' shebang?" Strata asked, sounding rather like she was reconsidering leaving the safe confines of the basement.


I am really starting to hate this ghoul. Moonshadow thought, glaring at the back of the ghoul's head. Doesn't help that my friends are somehow moving even slower then it! What are they doing, having a lesson on pony genetics or something? she thought, looking at her Pipbuck's radar and noting the sad lack of movement on the group's part.

The group was actually moving at a moderate pace; they'd be where the nurse ghoul is in a few minutes.

Till then, Moonshadow would have to cope with the ghoul consuming it's lunch.

[Hazuki]

"Oh, they are really tiny bug ponies that live in a alternate dimension. They were stupidly pathetic. They couldn't actually fly without a existing breeze and you could knock one out by a raindrop falling on their teensie little heads. Their one job was to carry pollen around, that's how tiny they are." Strata explained, with a smile. "The Zebras probably managed to nuke them or sneak a frog into their home dimension or something, so I wouldn't worry too much about them."Wait, was Andante a proper Breezie or was it just a Breezie-like form? Viridia asked herself.


Strata's good eye widened. Her bad eye stopped rolling around and manged to lock on Viridia. She briefly looked like she was going to have a stroke, but she was dead, so really it was just her body going through the motions.

"Uh, crap. Er, the Crystal Empire's still around, right? It wasn't bombed, was it?" Strata asked, sounding rather like she was reconsidering leaving the safe confines of the basement."I think some of it's still around, yeah. I don't know all the details, though." Viridia answered, honestly.

[DigoDragon]

"Hard to tell the effectiveness of moving celestial bodies, since it's heavily overcast 24-7," Doc says.

[Forum Explorer]

The group was actually moving at a moderate pace; they'd be where the nurse ghoul is in a few minutes.

Till then, Moonshadow would have to cope with the ghoul consuming it's lunch.

As disturbing the ghoul's lunch may have been, it had nothing on Iris enjoying her freshly caught meal. Moonshadow settled in to wait with no difficulties beyond impatience.

[Dalinale]

Wait, was Andante a proper Breezie or was it just a Breezie-like form? Viridia asked herself.

Well, why beat around the bush? She's still sleeping. How could waking her up hurt?


"I think some of it's still around, yeah. I don't know all the details, though." Viridia answered, honestly.

Strata exhaled.

"Okay, good."


"Hard to tell the effectiveness of moving celestial bodies, since it's heavily overcast 24-7," Doc says.

Strata's mood then soured.

"So, do you get nuclear winters, or windigo winters?" Strata asked, rather pointedly, "Can Manehatten get fifty feet of snow during the middle of summer, glasses boy?"


As disturbing the ghoul's lunch may have been, it had nothing on Iris enjoying her freshly caught meal. Moonshadow settled in to wait with no difficulties beyond impatience.

After a few solid minutes, the ghoul finished it's lunch break and took up it's weapon again. It then started walking down the same path it was going down before.

[Rest of the group should roll Perception, to notice the sound of hooves on tile. Choro can see the ghoul on her Pipbuck, regardless.]

[Hazuki]

Well, why beat around the bush? She's still sleeping. How could waking her up hurt?I can't do it while the gang's around, or I'll betray her trust. I'd prefer to do that when she doesn't know about it.

"...glasses boy?"Viridia snickered.

[DigoDragon]

Strata's mood then soured.

"So, do you get nuclear winters, or windigo winters?" Strata asked, rather pointedly, "Can Manehatten get fifty feet of snow during the middle of summer, glasses boy?"

"Why don't you crawl out from under your rock and go see for yourself?" Doc replies coolly.


PER [roll0] vs. 7

[Hazuki]

Oops I forgot. I think Viridia's is 7.

[roll0] vs 7

[Dalinale]

"Why don't you crawl out from under your rock and go see for yourself?" Doc replies coolly.


PER [roll0] vs. 7

Strata leaned in slightly, so that she was looking at Doc roughly in the eyes. The smile on her face turned into a smirk.

"Hey, I don't care about Manehatten. It's a silly place and I heard it got nuked. Stars will aid in her escape and all that." Strata said, with front legs raised out, looking as casual as a dead pony could be, "But you're under my rock."


Oops I forgot. I think Viridia's is 7.

[roll0] vs 7

Doc and Viridia could both hear the faint sounds of hoofsteps, sounding like they were coming down from the next hallway down.

[Hazuki]

"You know anypony who patrols these halls?" Viridia asked of Strata.

[DigoDragon]

Hearing the hoofsteps, Doc looks down the corridor they're coming from, keeping his gun close just in case. 'Well it's probably not Moon', he thinks.

[Dalinale]

"You know anypony who patrols these halls?" Viridia asked of Strata.

Strata had to think about the question, which probably wasn't a good sign.

"It's one of the nurses. I think we should go in there." Strata said, sounding slightly alarmed and pointing at the nearest available room, which was another patient's quarters.

[Hazuki]

"You go in there and we'll check it out." Viridia offered with a smile.

[Dalinale]

"You go in there and we'll check it out." Viridia offered with a smile.

Strata nodded, and smiled at Viridia.

"I like that idea." she said, hovering out the key card she previously gave Doc and cheerfully opening the door. When she walked in, she briefly peeped outside it with her big eye before shutting it. The sound of a lock being reset was heard.

[DigoDragon]

Doc continues to watch the hallway, expecting something to come out swinging or shooting.

(OOC: did she give back the card or did she keep it?)

[Hazuki]

Viridia whistled softly, waiting for the creature to come along.

[Inspector Valin]

Choro stands next to Viridia and Doc, facing the faint sound of hoofsteps. She doesn't draw her rifle however, but instead turns her attention to her PipBuck. The young Pony mutters to herself. "Ms. Moon?" If this was Moonshadow or somepony else, she should be able to tell with her EFS. And if this was one of those feral ghouls... well, she'd need her PipBuck's targeting suite, right?

[Dalinale]

Doc continues to watch the hallway, expecting something to come out swinging or shooting.

(OOC: She kept the card. This is likely due to a combination of genuine wariness of not having the key while in a securely locked room and forgetting that Doc might have wanted it back. Selfish unicorn is selfish and doesn't think tactically.)


Choro stands next to Viridia and Doc, facing the faint sound of hoofsteps. She doesn't draw her rifle however, but instead turns her attention to her PipBuck. The young Pony mutters to herself. "Ms. Moon?" If this was Moonshadow or somepony else, she should be able to tell with her EFS. And if this was one of those feral ghouls... well, she'd need her PipBuck's targeting suite, right?

There was a yellow dot less then fifty feet away from them, and a green dot seemingly a few feet behind the yellow dot. The green one with the name 'Moonshadow', so that cleared up a few things.


Viridia whistled softly, waiting for the creature to come along.

Soon enough, the sounds of hooves on tile were close enough as to that they could only be coming from down the hallway. Whatever it was, it did not seem to react to Viridia's whistle and simple continued to advance down the hall; it would be near the group within a minute's notice, if they did not proactively react.

[Inspector Valin]

Hmm... Moonshadow is fine. Has she made a new friend? Choro hums to herself, puzzling over this. If the yellow dot was hostile, Ms Moon wouldn't have let it come towards the rest of them. She'd have probably just killed it. If there was a danger, she'd have at least done something to warn them. So... this is probably safe. One more ghoul like Ms Strata, just surviving down here. They're probably kinda worried too. She should diffuse the situation, right?

Well, best hoof forward! Choro calls out down the hallway softly, trying to hide her nerves, horn still lowered and ready to cast. "Hello?"

[DigoDragon]

(OOC: She kept the card. This is likely due to a combination of genuine wariness of not having the key while in a securely locked room and forgetting that Doc might have wanted it back. Selfish unicorn is selfish and doesn't think tactically.)

Doc is not surprised, but it's alright. Strata probably won't wander off until the nurse is dealt with and the team has a backup master key. [a.k.a. Moonshadow]



Viridia whistled softly, waiting for the creature to come along.

"By the way," Doc whispers, "Was Andante feeling alright when she gave you the sweater? When she went to get drunk?"

[Hazuki]

"She was being a bitch." Viridia replied. "So, yeah, she was fine."

[DigoDragon]

"She was being a bitch." Viridia replied. "So, yeah, she was fine."

Doc nods at the legitimacy of that statement. "Okay then. Sorry, I was just thinking of the cold and remembered that Andante complained a lot about it, but she gave you her hoodie to go drinking. Ah well. You wear it better anyway."

[Hazuki]

"The day I can't pull off an outfit is the day hope dies."

[Dalinale]

Hmm... Moonshadow is fine. Has she made a new friend? Choro hums to herself, puzzling over this. If the yellow dot was hostile, Ms Moon wouldn't have let it come towards the rest of them. She'd have probably just killed it. If there was a danger, she'd have at least done something to warn them. So... this is probably safe. One more ghoul like Ms Strata, just surviving down here. They're probably kinda worried too. She should diffuse the situation, right?

Well, best hoof forward! Choro calls out down the hallway softly, trying to hide her nerves, horn still lowered and ready to cast. "Hello?"


Doc nods at the legitimacy of that statement. "Okay then. Sorry, I was just thinking of the cold and remembered that Andante complained a lot about it, but she gave you her hoodie to go drinking. Ah well. You wear it better anyway."


"The day I can't pull off an outfit is the day hope dies."

The creature came into view, soon enough.

It was a pony wearing a green nurses uniform that was splattered with reddish-brown stains; it's face was almost entirely covered by a thick layer old bloody gauze that stopped only around the jaw. It held it's head out lowly, at a angle, and it's back was arched in a angle that was almost certainly incredibly painful. The reason for it's unnatural posture was almost certainly the giant weapon it was carrying around; it was a collection of metal rods with a pony head-sized chunk of concrete attached to the far end of it. The makeshift club wasn't immediately identifiable as concrete, however, due to being caked with what was presumably dried blood.

The ghoul stopped it's lurching, pained gait when it was roughly on the outskirts of the light provided by Choro's horn. After a few brief moments of standing still, the ghoul began to make a scratchy, low pitched nickering sound. It sounded rather mocking.

[Hazuki]

Viridia looked at the gang, then at the nurse and asked her a question.. "Have you seen a little filly? Short, black mane. She just turned seven last month..."

[DigoDragon]

"Like residency at Alchemilla all over again." Doc readies his big gun in case the ghoulish nurse attacks.

[Dalinale]

Viridia looked at the gang, then at the nurse and asked her a question.. "Have you seen a little filly? Short, black mane. She just turned seven last month..."

The ghoul did not have a immediate reaction to Viridia's question; however, after a few seconds, it began to back up slowly, into the dark, making it's shoulders painfully visible under its outfit and moving at a ponderous gait. It did not cease making the creepy pony noises, however. Eventually, the sound of hoofsteps stopped altogether.

[Moonshadow would see that it's roughly twenty feet away from the party.]

[Hazuki]

"J think she likes me." Viridia commented. "Buuut might be a good idea to take away her hammer. Now's not the time for it."

[DigoDragon]

Doc keeps a wary stance. "Alright, how should we take that toy away? You want to try your charms?"

[Hazuki]

"It's not really 'charming' if they're not cognizant. But I'll give it a whack." Viridia replied, then reached into her pack to retrieve one of her last two rations of prepared food and steadily approached the ghoul. She slightly unwrapped the food so that the ghoul would probably be able to smell it, if the gauze didn't stop it, and tried some calming words to soothe the pony.

Charisma

[roll0] vs A Perfect 10

[DigoDragon]

"I don't believe she's all-feral," Doc mentions. He will continue to keep his gun trained on the nurse.

[Forum Explorer]

Moonshadow is on high alert as Viridia approaches. That light turns red, or that ghoul makes an aggressive move, and she'll unload into it. Better safe then sorry.

[Inspector Valin]

Choro tries her hardest not to look at the food as Viridia moves forward, her eyes focusing on the spot of shadow where she believes the Ghoul to dwell. It... she hadn't done anything too horrible to them yet, but backing away into the darkness could have multiple meanings. If their new friend decides to try and eat them instead, they'll have to fight her off. And she has to help with that.

[Dalinale]

"It's not really 'charming' if they're not cognizant. But I'll give it a whack." Viridia replied, then reached into her pack to retrieve one of her last two rations of prepared food and steadily approached the ghoul. She slightly unwrapped the food so that the ghoul would probably be able to smell it, if the gauze didn't stop it, and tried some calming words to soothe the pony.

Charisma

[roll0] vs A Perfect 10

After a few long, tense moments, the ghoul stopped nickering and began walking forward, towards Viridia; in a rather short amount of time, the ghoul was just a few feet away from the pegasus. Viridia heard some wet noises that might have been the ghouls attempt to work what was left of it's nose, and then she heard a low sound come from the back of it's throat.

The ghoul craned it's head at a angle that probably would have broken the neck of any living pony, to lean it's roughly Choro-sized weapon against a close wall. It's mouth was a putrid mess of rotten teeth and black nubs.

The ghoul nurse leaned in closely to Viridia; whatever expression that was on it's face was obscured by the mass of cotton and gauze that covered most of it's head and the presumable uselessness of it's jaw. The ghoul then began to eat out of Viridia's hooves, taking careful bites of the cold potato-and-beans glob like nothing else but a gentle lamb. The ghoul took more time to chew it's food then most of the ponies Viridia probably knew growing up did but it made really gross gulping noises when it swallowed it, but it also seemed like it was actively attempting to not touch Viridia's hooves with it's mouth and was also not currently eating Viridia's face, so it probably counted as a win.

[DigoDragon]

'Even death don't stop mares eating out of her hooves,' Doc thinks. Course the question now is what to do with it. Doc was thinking of getting it to turn around and then quietly put a bullet in the brainpan, but he was going to wait and see what other ideas come up first. "Somepony got a step 2?" he asks quietly.


WWSRD?

[Hazuki]

Viridia pointed at the big-ass weapon with one of her wings.

[DigoDragon]

Doc nods and slowly makes his way over to the concrete-rebar club, gently reaching for it and pulling it away from the placated nurse.

[Dalinale]

Doc nods and slowly makes his way over to the concrete-rebar club, gently reaching for it and pulling it away from the placated nurse.

The nurse didn't seem to notice Doc taking it's weapon, content at eating out of Viridia's hooves.

The rebar club had a matted towel wrapped around where the ghoul was biting down on it, so the nurse wasn't completely destroying her teeth when she was gripping it. The same method would work for Doc, if he didn't mind risking getting infected with ghoul slobber germs. Luckily, it wasn't that heavy, and he could haul it without it scraping against the floor.

[It's a Used Rebar Club.]

[Hazuki]

"There y'go." Viridia smiled at the gauze-covered ghoul and placed the last of the prepared meal on the floor, in its opened tupperware box, to let her have at it while they moved on.

[DigoDragon]

Doc puts the rebar club down next to the door, keeping it away from the ghoul nurse.

"Hey Fan Knife, can we keep her? She followed us home," Doc said to himself, not seriously. He is impressed that Viridia so far is 2 for 2 on befriending the local squatters.

[Hazuki]

"Uhhh. Might want to put in your pack." Viridia recommended.

[Dalinale]

"There y'go." Viridia smiled at the gauze-covered ghoul and placed the last of the prepared meal on the floor, in its opened tupperware box, to let her have at it while they moved on.

The ghoul seemed inordinately happy at being able like to eat like a pony should (grazing, apparently) and was perfectly content to not pay any attention to the ponies around it as they spoke. The icky gulping sounds didn't stop, though, which sort of killed the mood.

[The ghoul changes from yellow to green, for those with Pipbucks]


Doc puts the rebar club down next to the door, keeping it away from the ghoul nurse.

"Hey Fan Knife, can we keep her? She followed us home," Doc said to himself, not seriously. He is impressed that Viridia so far is 2 for 2 on befriending the local squatters.


"Uhhh. Might want to put in your pack." Viridia recommended.

Strata opened the door to the room she was holed up in, and peeked out of it. She quickly exited the room, and quickly began staring at the nurse ghoul.

"Heh." she muttered, sounding like she was gloating a bit.

[DigoDragon]

"Uhhh. Might want to put in your pack." Viridia recommended.

"Actually was thinking of locking it away in the office here," Doc says. He hides the large club in the office somewhere and then ensures the door is locked. "This way it stays out of sight."

[Hazuki]

"Actually was thinking of locking it away in the office here," Doc says. He hides the large club in the office somewhere and then ensures the door is locked. "This way it stays out of sight.""Works for me."



Strata opened the door to the room she was holed up in, and peeked out of it. She quickly exited the room, and quickly began staring at the nurse ghoul.

"Heh." she muttered, sounding like she was gloating a bit.Viridia glanced at the ghoul, then at Strata. "Enemy of yours?"

[Dalinale]

"This way it stays out of sight."

"Oh yeah, hide the big club in a place with zombies in it." Strata said, sounding like she didn't actually care about Doc's personal choices but still sounding as if she just wanted to comment on it.



Viridia glanced at the ghoul, then at Strata. "Enemy of yours?"

Strata briefly looks at Viridia before glancing back at the ghoul.

"Nope, just a nurse. I'd guess she was someones, though." Strata replied, raising a hoof ever so slightly, as if she was considering trying to peel off the gauze; she looked liked she thought better of it, however, within a few moments. "Or just some vain brat. Hardly matters now."

Strata stopped looking at the ghoul, and looked around the hall.

"Where's the short pegasus?"

[Hazuki]

"She's padfooting about. And her name is Moonshadow." Viridia replied. "Likes to be called Moonylicious, though."

I WILL MAKE HER BELIEVE IT.

[roll0] vs 5000

[DigoDragon]

"Oh yeah, hide the big club in a place with zombies in it."

"Well, you know, hindsight is twenty," Doc casually says.

[Dalinale]

"She's padfooting about. And her name is Moonshadow." Viridia replied. "Likes to be called Moonylicious, though."

I WILL MAKE HER BELIEVE IT.

[roll0] vs 5000

Strata looked like she believed it. Actually, she didn't seem especially surprised.

"Eh, I once had a kid one year named Pole Dancer. I'm just glad none of you guys are named Scourge or Fragile Nugget or anything stupid like that. I think Moonylicious was a local band, though."


"Well, you know, hindsight is twenty," Doc casually says.

Strata snorted.

"Did you hear that a lot from you're parents, growing up?" she asked Doc, with a raised eyebrow.

[Hazuki]

Strata looked like she believed it. Actually, she didn't seem especially surprised.

"Eh, I once had a kid one year named Pole Dancer. I'm just glad none of you guys are named Scourge or Fragile Nugget or anything stupid like that. I think Moonylicious was a local band, though.""Hmm..." Viridia rummaged in her packs for a few moments before retrieving her unicorn horn diamond ring with the initials A.S on it. "Speaking of names, any idea who this might have belonged to? I really doubt there's some jeweler out in the wastes, so I figure it's got to be pre-war, and you seem to know your stuff."

[DigoDragon]

Strata snorted.
"Did you hear that a lot from you're parents, growing up?" she asked Doc, with a raised eyebrow.

The doctor shakes his head. "Nope."

[Inspector Valin]

"I did!" Choro chimes in unhelpfully. The young mare's spirits have risen now that the encounter with the scary ghoul is over. "Mum always used to say that when I made a mistake in the workshop. It always used to make me feel better. Every time." The wizard sighs contentedly, hoof on her hat for a second as she pictures the memory, before trotting onward.

[Forum Explorer]

"She's padfooting about. And her name is Moonshadow." Viridia replied. "Likes to be called Moonylicious, though."


Sure, why not? Moonshadow said, giggling as she dangled from a broken light fixture by her tail. Glad I didn't have to kill the ghoul. she added, nodding towards it.

[DigoDragon]

"I did!" Choro chimes in unhelpfully. The young mare's spirits have risen now that the encounter with the scary ghoul is over. "Mum always used to say that when I made a mistake in the workshop. It always used to make me feel better. Every time." The wizard sighs contentedly, hoof on her hat for a second as she pictures the memory, before trotting onward.

Doc wasn't sure if Choro failed to notice his stealth insult to Strata or was trolling, so he just shrugs it off and follows Choro onward into the hallway.

[Dalinale]

"Hmm..." Viridia rummaged in her packs for a few moments before retrieving her unicorn horn diamond ring with the initials A.S on it. "Speaking of names, any idea who this might have belonged to? I really doubt there's some jeweler out in the wastes, so I figure it's got to be pre-war, and you seem to know your stuff."

Strata stared at the ring for a few seconds, and shrugged.

"Where'd you get it? It's a wedding ring. Weddings still happen, right?"


The doctor shakes his head. "Nope."

Strata seemed to find that slightly funny.


"I did!" Choro chimes in unhelpfully. The young mare's spirits have risen now that the encounter with the scary ghoul is over. "Mum always used to say that when I made a mistake in the workshop. It always used to make me feel better. Every time." The wizard sighs contentedly, hoof on her hat for a second as she pictures the memory, before trotting onward.

Strata nodded, and smiled at Choro.

"With magic, if you have a square peg and a round hole, you just have to keep slamming the peg into the hole until it fits. That's just the magical process."


Sure, why not? Moonshadow said, giggling as she dangled from a broken light fixture by her tail. Glad I didn't have to kill the ghoul. she added, nodding towards it.

Going by how the ghoul was enthusiastically eating it's meal, it was probably happy it didn't have to kill the group.


Doc wasn't sure if Choro failed to notice his stealth insult to Strata or was trolling, so he just shrugs it off and follows Choro onward into the hallway.

Strata let out a small yelp when Moonshadow popped down from the ceiling, but quickly recovered.

"So, anything hanging out near the boilers?" she asked Moonshadow, as she began to walk forward, along with the rest of the group.

[DigoDragon]

Per [roll0]

Doc continues along.

[Forum Explorer]

Strata let out a small yelp when Moonshadow popped down from the ceiling, but quickly recovered.

"So, anything hanging out near the boilers?" she asked Moonshadow, as she began to walk forward, along with the rest of the group.

I didn't get that far. I saw our friend there, and decided to keep an eye on it in case it proved to be hostile. Moonshadow said. Give me a sec, and I'll go back to scouting, Moonshadow added, returning to the ground and heading off.

[Dalinale]

Per [roll0]

Doc continues along.

Doc, looking back, noticed that the door he just passed by a few seconds ago said 'Laundry Rooms'; it was actually right in front of the offices. Boy, if only he had a friend who could see in the dark.


I didn't get that far. I saw our friend there, and decided to keep an eye on it in case it proved to be hostile. Moonshadow said. Give me a sec, and I'll go back to scouting, Moonshadow added, returning to the ground and heading off.

Moonshadow returned to where she first spotted the ghoul in short notice. The door was made of steel and was currently open, and nothing new was coming up on her Pipbuck.

[DigoDragon]

Doc silently points out the laundry room to whoever is around that can see him and then he'll wait for Moonshadow to do her scouting thing.

[Hazuki]

"Not proper ones." Viridia shrugged and put the ring away. "And I found it...somewhere? I don't know. I've got a whole bunch of stuff. Like a few decks of Magic: the Befriending, which nopony will play with me."

[Forum Explorer]

Moonshadow returned to where she first spotted the ghoul in short notice. The door was made of steel and was currently open, and nothing new was coming up on her Pipbuck.

Back to sneaking and scouting. In that order. Going through the door.

Stealth [roll0] vs 78
Perception [roll1] vs 10

[Dalinale]

Doc silently points out the laundry room to whoever is around that can see him and then he'll wait for Moonshadow to do her scouting thing.

That would be Choro, Strata, and Viridia. Strata immediately spotted what Doc was pointed at, and briefly looked like she wanted to take a quick peak, but eventually decided against it.


"Not proper ones." Viridia shrugged and put the ring away. "And I found it...somewhere? I don't know. I've got a whole bunch of stuff. Like a few decks of Magic: the Befriending, which nopony will play with me."

"Huh, those pieces of cardboard survived the nukes, but Luna didn't?" Strata asked, sounding more contemplative then really concerned for Viridia's hoarding problems.

"Oh, hey, quick question," she asked Viridia, rather suddenly, "What was the biggest city near where you grew up?"


Back to sneaking and scouting. In that order. Going through the door.

Stealth [roll0] vs 78
Perception [roll1] vs 10

The boiler room was somewhat narrow, and long. Stepping into the boilers was like stepping back in time; the floor and walls were made of red brick and the ceiling was obscured by masses of piping. The boilers themselves were very large, brassy things covered in dials and knobs and rust, and were almost certainly obsolete by the time the war kicked into high gear. The room smelled of mold and iron and brick dust. Trash covered the floor, some probably pre-war and some probably post-war. At the far end of the room, there was a door that was partially obscured from Moonshadow's line of sight by some stray pipes.

Moonshadow would probably be most concerned by the fact that she didn't spot the bear trap that was placed near the boilers and disguised with some stray rags.

[Moonshadow rolls Agility at a -3 penalty to avoid the trap.]

[Inspector Valin]

"Not proper ones." Viridia shrugged and put the ring away. "And I found it...somewhere? I don't know. I've got a whole bunch of stuff. Like a few decks of Magic: the Befriending, which nopony will play with me."

"No more weddings?" That thought made Choro sad. She understood it, there seems to be less community than in the old days of Equestria, so anything to mark that bond would have to be more informal. Still... even the Stable had weddings! Anytime two ponies wanted to get together, everypony'd celebrate in the main hall, the Overmare would give a speech... it was tradition! One more tradition that kinda faded away in the here and now.

Though some things the surface preserved instead. Choro looks quizzical as Viridia brings up some card game. With... more than one deck? How would that work? The young mare coughs. "I'm... not sure what that is, Ms. Viridia but I'll play with you!" She glances around their surroundings and qualifies. "Once we're done here, anyway. I can tell you a bit more about Alicorns, if you want."


"Huh, those pieces of cardboard survived the nukes, but Luna didn't?" Strata asked, sounding more contemplative then really concerned for Viridia's hoarding problems.

That wiped any joy off Choro's face in an instant. She'd kinda figured the Princesses weren't here any more, they couldn't be, but to hear their most likely fate said out loud... the young pony takes a deep breath, pulling her hat over her eyes and stopping for a moment. Sometimes, she forgot this was the Wasteland.

[DigoDragon]

"No more weddings?" That thought made Choro sad.

Doc held up his forehoof with the promise ring, hoping that'll dispel the sad thought. "I assure you that weddings still happen up there in the wasteland, my friend."

[Inspector Valin]

"Aww, Doctor... Congratulations!" Choro sniffs a little, but she's smiling over at Doc. It's always nice to see evidence of happiness in the Wasteland. The young unicorn cough, clearing her throat. "Whose the lucky mare? Somepony back in Manehattan?"

[Hazuki]

"Oh, hey, quick question," she asked Viridia, rather suddenly, "What was the biggest city near where you grew up?"Viridia briefly informed Strata of the nearest city.

I forget whether this was ever established, sooo...halp?



Though some things the surface preserved instead. Choro looks quizzical as Viridia brings up some card game. With... more than one deck? How would that work? The young mare coughs. "I'm... not sure what that is, Ms. Viridia but I'll play with you!" She glances around their surroundings and qualifies. "Once we're done here, anyway. I can tell you a bit more about Alicorns, if you want.""Great! I don't have all the rules, but I think I've got a good idea on how it's meant to be played. We can do it once we're done here."


"Aww, Doctor... Congratulations!" Choro sniffs a little, but she's smiling over at Doc. It's always nice to see evidence of happiness in the Wasteland. The young unicorn cough, clearing her throat. "Whose the lucky mare? Somepony back in Manehattan?"Viridia rolled her eyes. "Remember when I said 'no proper ones'? Somepony he knew for less than a month. I had my last period before he met her."

[DigoDragon]

"Whose the lucky mare? Somepony back in Manehattan?"

"Thanks. Not a Manehattanite, she's from a little island way up north," Doc answers.

[Forum Explorer]

The boiler room was somewhat narrow, and long. Stepping into the boilers was like stepping back in time; the floor and walls were made of red brick and the ceiling was obscured by masses of piping. The boilers themselves were very large, brassy things covered in dials and knobs and rust, and were almost certainly obsolete by the time the war kicked into high gear. The room smelled of mold and iron and brick dust. Trash covered the floor, some probably pre-war and some probably post-war. At the far end of the room, there was a door that was partially obscured from Moonshadow's line of sight by some stray pipes.

Moonshadow would probably be most concerned by the fact that she didn't spot the bear trap that was placed near the boilers and disguised with some stray rags.

[Moonshadow rolls Agility at a -3 penalty to avoid the trap.]

Being a pegasus, Moonshadow jerked into the air faster then the trap could close.
[roll0] vs 6
endurance [roll1] vs 6 (doesn't matter, passed the agility test)

[Dalinale]

Viridia briefly informed Strata of the nearest city.

It never was. :smalltongue: Tindew was a mining town, and it also sounded like it was in a more 'wasteland-ish' area of Equestria, unless I'm wrong. For practicality reasons, it be anywhere from near Salt Lick City to Detrot. It's Viridia's opportunity to lay claim to whatever accent would fit her best!



That wiped any joy off Choro's face in an instant. She'd kinda figured the Princesses weren't here any more, they couldn't be, but to hear their most likely fate said out loud... the young pony takes a deep breath, pulling her hat over her eyes and stopping for a moment. Sometimes, she forgot this was the Wasteland.


Doc held up his forehoof with the promise ring, hoping that'll dispel the sad thought. "I assure you that weddings still happen up there in the wasteland, my friend."


"Aww, Doctor... Congratulations!" Choro sniffs a little, but she's smiling over at Doc. It's always nice to see evidence of happiness in the Wasteland. The young unicorn cough, clearing her throat. "Whose the lucky mare? Somepony back in Manehattan?"


Viridia rolled her eyes. "Remember when I said 'no proper ones'? Somepony he knew for less than a month. I had my last period before he met her."


"Thanks. Not a Manehattanite, she's from a little island way up north," Doc answers.

Strata's contribution to the conversation was a brief snicker at Viridia's description of time.

"So, Nova Scolta?" Strata guessed, "Or one of the tiny little islands in the lakes?"


Being a pegasus, Moonshadow jerked into the air faster then the trap could close.
[roll0] vs 6
endurance [roll1] vs 6 (doesn't matter, passed the agility test)

Moonshadow managed to avoid the trap with great ease. Well, that was a sign of pony habitation, regardless of what the distinct absence of living ponies would indicate.

[Roll a Easy Survival check for loot; the check is Easy due to there being a potentially large amount of metal scrap to be gained.]

[DigoDragon]

"So, Nova Scolta?" Strata guessed, "Or one of the tiny little islands in the lakes?"

"Everfrost, actually," Doc answers casually. "It's quite a ways out."


Moonshadow managed to avoid the trap with great ease. Well, that was a sign of pony habitation, regardless of what the distinct absence of living ponies would indicate.]

Doc looks into the room, hearing a snap. "Moon, you okay in there?"

[Inspector Valin]

"Great! I don't have all the rules, but I think I've got a good idea on how it's meant to be played. We can do it once we're done here."

Viridia rolled her eyes. "Remember when I said 'no proper ones'? Somepony he knew for less than a month. I had my last period before he met her."


"Thanks. Not a Manehattanite, she's from a little island way up north," Doc answers.


Strata's contribution to the conversation was a brief snicker at Viridia's description of time.

"So, Nova Scolta?" Strata guessed, "Or one of the tiny little islands in the lakes?"

"...She's from Everfrost. Right?"

Dichoro closes her eyes, focusing inwardly for a moment, trying her hardest to process this information. It isn't enough to complete the puzzle, but it at least explained the reason for Dr. Wagon's earlier inquiry. He was trying to find out more information on his beloved's homeland. If it was true though, that would mean there was a small parallel civilization to Equestria. A unicorn civilization, that had been studying magic separately since before the time of the Two Sisters. That had in some way made contact with the rest of ponykind after the fall.

This whole idea is both amazing and terrifying. What would it be like? Why hadn't Celestia and Luna stepped in after Equestria was unified? Could magic there have taken a parallel path? If the nation was founded on the idea of rejecting the unity of the Unicorn Tribe, then how would an inhabitant...

Too many questions! Something such as this deserves a lot more thought and study. She can't let it pray on her mind right now. Instead, Choro opens her eyes and bows her head to Doc. "I hope you're happy together. May there be harmony in your lives and wonder in your days." It's an old blessing, and said with sincerity. A second or two later, the young mage mutters to herself. "Really need to find a journal. And a pen."

Dichoro taps her hoof on the floor, weighing a thought briefly to herself. She shouldn't investigate too much further, but... this was a unique opportunity to ask an expert. One she might not have after they leave this place. She turns to Strata, smiling at the ghoulish scholar. "Professor, you studied necromancy. Have you ever heard of a pre-Unicornia or early Unicornian era wizard called Anatomy Lesson? A court mage?" The stable-mare tilts her head, keeping eye contact "He was known to practice the dark arts. Biographies on ponies like that aren't easy to come by."

[Hazuki]

Too many questions! Something such as this deserves a lot more thought and study. She can't let it pray on her mind right now. Instead, Choro opens her eyes and bows her head to Doc. "I hope you're happy together. May there be harmony in your lives and wonder in your days.""Mirror's happy, at least. She gets to sit in her comfy hotel with nary a care in the world, while her hubby's off taking dangerous quests during the most hazardous time of year."" Viridia commented, with feigned cheeriness. "Some might say it sounds ridiculous to, as a competent mage with actual abilities, abandon somebody you love to potential death when you have a chance to help. But pfft...those people have never experienced the joy of seeing somebody sometimes over a few weeks. That kind of bond is unbreakable, even if one of you lies dead in a snowdrift."

[DigoDragon]

Something such as this deserves a lot more thought and study. She can't let it pray on her mind right now. Instead, Choro opens her eyes and bows her head to Doc. "I hope you're happy together. May there be harmony in your lives and wonder in your days." It's an old blessing, and said with sincerity. A second or two later, the young mage mutters to herself. "Really need to find a journal. And a pen."

"Thanks Choro, that's very kind of you to say.," Doc warmly replies.


"Mirror's happy, at least. She gets to sit in her comfy hotel with nary a care in the world, while her hubby's off taking dangerous quests during the most hazardous time of year."" Viridia commented, with feigned cheeriness.

Doc makes an unsure expression on the thought of Mirror being here right now. "Mirror has been in two combats with us and has frozen up in both fights. The only time she picked up a weapon was when she was mind controlled. I thinks it's best she stays at the hotel for now."

[Inspector Valin]

Choro shakes her head at Viridia's words, frowning slightly. The unicorn chuckles to herself, gesturing upwards. "Love is a powerful thing. We're close to the Crystal Empire too, a place with more emotion based magic than anypony ever dreamed of. I'm not going to anger the spirit of the Crystal Heart, or Princess Cadenza by judging other ponies feelings. Especially somepony I don't know. That sort of thing tends to end badly."

Still, Choro is left humming a little, looking back towards Doc thoughtfully. "I wonder if my teleport spell would be far enough to take you back to that hotel... How far away is it?"

Would it? Choro has Advanced Teleport. She couldn't bring the whole party in one trip, but in theory... might that be helpful?

[Hazuki]

Doc makes an unsure expression on the thought of Mirror being here right now. "Mirror has been in two combats with us and has frozen up in both fights. The only time she picked up a weapon was when she was mind controlled. I thinks it's best she stays at the hotel for now.""Fighting isn't the only reason a mage could be useful, Doc. And it doesn't really matter if she'd be useful, because if she actually cared, she wouldn't want you to go out alone. Half of our group doesn't fight, and they still came along." Viridia replied. "All I'm saying is that, if she actually cared, I think she'd be here - to help keep you safe, to spend as much time together as possible just in case you do die, to not spend weeks or months wondering if you're dead. Maybe I'm way off-base, maybe that's just how ponies have to deal with 'reality' nowadays, but it sure isn't a fairy tale romance like y'all are making it out to be."


Choro shakes her head at Viridia's words, frowning slightly. The unicorn chuckles to herself, gesturing upwards. "Love is a powerful thing. We're close to the Crystal Empire too, a place with more emotion based magic than anypony ever dreamed of. I'm not going to anger the spirit of the Crystal Heart, or Princess Cadenza by judging other ponies feelings. Especially somepony I don't know. That sort of thing tends to end badly.""Supporting something you don't know is just as dangeorus as judging something you don't understand." Viridia replied, not unkindly.

[DigoDragon]

Still, Choro is left humming a little, looking back towards Doc thoughtfully. "I wonder if my teleport spell would be far enough to take you back to that hotel... How far away is it?"

Would it? Choro has Advanced Teleport. She couldn't bring the whole party in one trip, but in theory... might that be helpful?

Doc thinks for a moment. "Well, about a week away by hoof? I'm not sure how far your magic can reach."


"Fighting isn't the only reason a mage could be useful, Doc. And it doesn't really matter if she'd be useful, because if she actually cared, she wouldn't want you to go out alone. Half of our group doesn't fight, and they still came along." Viridia replied. "All I'm saying is that, if she actually cared, I think she'd be here - to help keep you safe, to spend as much time together as possible just in case you do die, to not spend weeks or months wondering if you're dead. Maybe I'm way off-base, maybe that's just how ponies have to deal with 'reality' nowadays, but it sure isn't a fairy tale romance like y'all are making it out to be.".

"Well, she wanted to go back for something. Considering she was part of the hotel guard, maybe she needed to tie some ends without burning bridges. I did plan to make my way back after River was escorted to Last Stop, but... maybe Choro has a trick up her sleeve?"

[Hazuki]

"Well, she wanted to go back for something. Considering she was part of the hotel guard, maybe she needed to tie some ends without burning bridges. I did plan to make my way back after River was escorted to Last Stop, but... maybe Choro has a trick up her sleeve?""She can't make sure her beloved is safe because of social obligations?" Viridia asked skeptically. "I know my opinion probably doesn't matter, it hasn't before, but those kind of priorities sound pretty crappy." She sighed. "Well, whatever, I'm not going to change your mind in a ghoul-ridden cellar."

...

"No offense, Strata." She smirked.

[Dalinale]

"Everfrost, actually," Doc answers casually. "It's quite a ways out."


"...She's from Everfrost. Right?"

Strata's good eye started to twitch.

"The Duchy of Everfrost still exists." she mumbled to herself, sounding rather like a drunk who was starting to remember some unfortunate event from the night before.


Dichoro taps her hoof on the floor, weighing a thought briefly to herself. She shouldn't investigate too much further, but... this was a unique opportunity to ask an expert. One she might not have after they leave this place. She turns to Strata, smiling at the ghoulish scholar. "Professor, you studied necromancy. Have you ever heard of a pre-Unicornia or early Unicornian era wizard called Anatomy Lesson? A court mage?" The stable-mare tilts her head, keeping eye contact "He was known to practice the dark arts. Biographies on ponies like that aren't easy to come by."

"Yep, sure do." Strata replied to Choro, voice sounding strained, "Hard to forget a necromancer who helped found a unicorn supremacist colony."


"Mirror's happy, at least. She gets to sit in her comfy hotel with nary a care in the world, while her hubby's off taking dangerous quests during the most hazardous time of year."" Viridia commented, with feigned cheeriness. "Some might say it sounds ridiculous to, as a competent mage with actual abilities, abandon somebody you love to potential death when you have a chance to help. But pfft...those people have never experienced the joy of seeing somebody sometimes over a few weeks. That kind of bond is unbreakable, even if one of you lies dead in a snowdrift."

Strata turned and stared at Viridia, and then at Doc.

"Everfrost unicorns kept earth ponies in barns, you know." she said, looking at Doc with wide eyes; she didn't even sound like she thought the idea was funny.



Doc makes an unsure expression on the thought of Mirror being here right now. "Mirror has been in two combats with us and has frozen up in both fights. The only time she picked up a weapon was when she was mind controlled. I thinks it's best she stays at the hotel for now."

When Doc mentioned 'mind control', it didn't help Strata's mood, at all. She looked like she was going to overheat or explode or something along those lines.


Choro shakes her head at Viridia's words, frowning slightly. The unicorn chuckles to herself, gesturing upwards. "Love is a powerful thing. We're close to the Crystal Empire too, a place with more emotion based magic than anypony ever dreamed of. I'm not going to anger the spirit of the Crystal Heart, or Princess Cadenza by judging other ponies feelings. Especially somepony I don't know. That sort of thing tends to end badly."

"Cadenza, or some say Cadence." Strata muttered, sounding like she wanted to distance herself from the current conversation like it was on fire.


Would it? Choro has Advanced Teleport. She couldn't bring the whole party in one trip, but in theory... might that be helpful?

[Choro would also be traversing somewhere that she's not immediately familiar with, while the spell assumes she already has ("You no longer need to have line of sight to the destination, as long as it’s a familiar place."). If she's shown a detailed map of the area (such as on a Pipbuck!) then that penalty wouldn't be applicable. There's also a decent difference between actual wasteland towns and pre-war towns, which the spell probably assumes the former. Her teleport spell could easily send the party back to the hospital lobby, though.]

[DigoDragon]

"She can't make sure her beloved is safe because of social obligations?" Viridia asked skeptically. "I know my opinion probably doesn't matter, it hasn't before, but those kind of priorities sound pretty crappy." She sighed. "Well, whatever, I'm not going to change your mind in a ghoul-ridden cellar

"Well, I wasn't going to force her to drop everything and run off with me. It wouldn't be right, Doc says. "I'll deal with it in its due time. Till then I'm here as the team medic."


"Everfrost unicorns kept earth ponies in barns, you know." she said, looking at Doc with wide eyes; she didn't even sound like she thought the idea was funny.

"I'm a bit impressed you know about Everfrost. I've learned a bit about it myself, and Mirror seems to be aware and not comfortable about what Everfrost is. Last time she was reminded of it, she was pretty upset."


When Doc mentioned 'mind control', it didn't help Strata's mood, at all. She looked like she was going to overheat or explode or something along those lines.

Doc raises an eyebrow. He looks around. "This place was not kind to you during your stay. You... you want to share? None of us are the doctors who treated you then."

[Dalinale]

"I'm a bit impressed you know about Everfrost. I've learned a bit about it myself, and Mirror seems to be aware and not comfortable about what Everfrost is. Last time she was reminded of it, she was pretty upset.


Strata took in a deep breath.

"They're the only group of ponies Celestia asked to be integrated into Equestria who said no." Strata replied, "Geopolitics wise, they were one gigantic embarrassment. I'm actually surprised that they weren't nuked by us or the zebras, because Equestria never had a navel base there, but we tried to."

Strata paused, and then sounded indigent. "They eat whales, too. Whales have a language. We actually translated a fifteen hour opera sung by blue whales two years before Luna's term."


Doc raises an eyebrow. He looks around. "This place was not kind to you during your stay. You... you want to share? None of us are the doctors who treated you then."

Strata shot Doc a hard look.

"Nope. You are absolutely not like them." Strata replied, voice dripping with sarcasm; however, there was a hint of defensiveness in her tone, "What does a twentysomething have to do to get named Doc, anyway? Anything like the blond Neighponi you're running errands for?"

[DigoDragon]

"They're the only group of ponies Celestia asked to be integrated into Equestria who said no." Strata replied, "Geopolitics wise, they were one gigantic embarrassment. I'm actually surprised that they weren't nuked by us or the zebras, because Equestria never had a navel base there, but we tried

Doc listens and gives one nod. It sounds quite like what he's read in the books.



"Nope. You are absolutely not like them." Strata replied, voice dripping with sarcasm; however, there was a hint of defensiveness in her tone, "What does a twentysomething have to do to get named Doc, anyway? Anything like the blond Neighponi you're running errands for?"

The stallion's shakes his head slowly, slightly amused by what was said, but not smiling much for it. "I go by Doc because it's a friendly-sounding name and my parents aren't the most creative. Doctor Wagon sounds too formal coming from anyone other than a supervisor at the hospital."

[Forum Explorer]

Moonshadow managed to avoid the trap with great ease. Well, that was a sign of pony habitation, regardless of what the distinct absence of living ponies would indicate.

[Roll a Easy Survival check for loot; the check is Easy due to there being a potentially large amount of metal scrap to be gained.]

Moonshadow looks around for loot.

[roll0] vs 45 (25+20)

[Dalinale]

The stallion's shakes his head slowly, slightly amused by what was said, but not smiling much for it. "I go by Doc because it's a friendly-sounding name and my parents aren't the most creative. Doctor Wagon sounds too formal coming from anyone other than a supervisor at the hospital."

Strata still looked at Doc with suspicion, and sounded as much.

"It used to take a few years before you could call yourself a doctor." Strata said, with no small amount of bitterness, "It used to be something that took dedication and a good heart. When the war came around, like a lot of things, something got lost. That's how you get kids brought in from failed states shoved into government labs and smarmy brats in Moral half the age of the ponies who they're responsible for. They liked them young and dumb, and I guess the world still does."

Strata shook her head when she finished. By the time she was finished, she gave Doc a brief, apologetic look.

"Bah, at least you're not calling yourself a meat technician or something stupid like that. Let's keep on trucking so we can track down those guys you're here to murder."


Moonshadow looks around for loot.

[roll0] vs 45 (25+20)

Scavaging the room turned up with a whole lot of nothing of value.

[There's seven units of Scrap Metal and eight units of General Trash in the room. There's also three lead pipes and a tire iron up for grabs, all of Poor quality. If Moonshadow wanted to raid the actual boiler itself for parts, it would be a normal Mechanics check.]

[Hazuki]

"Bah, at least you're not calling yourself a meat technician or something stupid like that. Let's keep on trucking so we can track down those guys you're here to murder.""We literally just gave food to Nurse Warhammer so we didn't have to kill her." Viridia nodded towards the nomming nurse. "If we were murderers, we'd be the worst murderers ever."

[Dalinale]

"We literally just gave food to Nurse Warhammer so we didn't have to kill her." Viridia nodded towards the nomming nurse. "If we were murderers, we'd be the worst murderers ever."

"I'm not talking about the dead ponies who are still dead," Strata said, also taking a brisk glance at the happy undead who was currently finishing up on it's jellied bean-potato lump, "I'm talking about the living ponies who need to be removed from the premises. I thought that was doublespeak for skull-capping them."

[Forum Explorer]

Moonshadow moves on, redoubling her guard after her close call.

Can I redo stealth and perception after that? if so;

Stealth [roll0] vs 78
Perception [roll1] vs 10

[Inspector Valin]

"I'm not talking about the dead ponies who are still dead," Strata said, also taking a brisk glance at the happy undead who was currently finishing up on it's jellied bean-potato lump, "I'm talking about the living ponies who need to be removed from the premises. I thought that was doublespeak for skull-capping them."

"Wha... No!" Choro seemed honestly shocked that Strata's comment was honest belief rather than just a very macabre joke. "We're just here to get them to move out of the dark dingy basement to somewhere safe. Right?" She glances between Doc and Viridia, looking for confirmation.

[DigoDragon]

"If murder was the double-speak meaning of removing folks from the basement, you wouldn't be standing here complaining about it," Doc comments to Strata. He continues on with everyone, keeping an eye out for anything that might be following.

Per [roll0] v. 7

[Dalinale]

Moonshadow moves on, redoubling her guard after her close call.

Can I redo stealth and perception after that? if so;

Stealth [roll0] vs 78
Perception [roll1] vs 10

[New rolls are appropriate, yeah.]

The door at the end of the hall was unlocked; when Moonshadow opened the door, she was hit with a wave of warm air.

Moonshadow had stumbled onto what seemed to be a camp; there were half a dozen bedrolls, a office-style water cooler that was currently full, and a small trash pile on roughly opposite sides of the room. A large electrical lamp was placed in the middle of the room, and was currently turned off or out of power. At the opposite end of the room, a broken Mr. Handy was slumped in a corner. A small pile of canned veggies seemed to be the only food around.

Four of the sleeping bags looked to be occupied by ponies; one stallions, a mare, and two kids who were young enough that it was hard to tell. The other two sleeping bags were occupied by zebras; one stallion that had longish hair that covered his eyes, and a thin mare with a shaved head and a big tattoo of a red P with a X overlayed on top of it on the top of her head. No one stirred from their sleep when Moonshadow opened the door.


"Wha... No!" Choro seemed honestly shocked that Strata's comment was honest belief rather than just a very macabre joke. "We're just here to get them to move out of the dark dingy basement to somewhere safe. Right?" She glances between Doc and Viridia, looking for confirmation.


"If murder was the double-speak meaning of removing folks from the basement, you wouldn't be standing here complaining about it," Doc comments to Strata. He continues on with everyone, keeping an eye out for anything that might be following.

Per [roll0] v. 7

Statra seemed to think that Choro's view on the subject was rather quaint, if her smile and tone was any indication, but that smile vanished after Doc spoke.

"Yeash, way to make murder not a cheerful group activity." Strata complained.

The group arrived to the boiler room, soon enough. Strata seemed intent on watching someone enter it first.

[Forum Explorer]

Moonshadow looks around, trying to see if there are any stashes of weapons.

[DigoDragon]

Doc looks into the room first to see if there's anything dangerous on the floor.

Per [roll0] v. 7

[Dalinale]

Moonshadow looks around, trying to see if there are any stashes of weapons.

The pillow the pony mare was using had what looked like a decent sized blade placed under it, defiantly larger then a knife, and next to the sleeping zebra stallion was a baseball bat. It seemed likely some were sleeping with their guns, however; there were small bullet casings in the trash bin.


Doc looks into the room first to see if there's anything dangerous on the floor.

Per [roll0] v. 7

Doc noticed a bear trap that looked like it had recently been set off, located near the boilers. In addition, sharp metal edges abounded due to rusty pipes and general post-war decay, so if anyone decided to fling themselves into, say, a nearby wall, stitches would probably be needed.

[Forum Explorer]

Moonshadow backs off, returns to the group, and tells them what she saw.

[DigoDragon]

Moonshadow backs off, returns to the group, and tells them what she saw.

"Hmm, did any of them look sick or injured? I could treat them if they agree to relocate elsewhere."

[Inspector Valin]

"Everypony was asleep?"

Somehow, that surprised Choro more than the presence of Zebras. She glances around the group, a little uncertainly. "I thought you always kept a watch in the Wasteland. They have weapons... but didn't leave somepony awake in case of trouble?" Hard to tell what that means but it feels significant.

[DigoDragon]

Doc nods in agreement with Choro that not having a watch is a bit unusual. He looks over to Strata. "You know anything about this group; Temperament, skill, when they go scavenging?"

[Hazuki]

"Maybe Strata is their super-undercover spy leader who's been judging after our intentions this whole time." Viridia suggested, mostly in jest.

[Forum Explorer]

"Hmm, did any of them look sick or injured? I could treat them if they agree to relocate elsewhere."

Moonshadow just shrugged.


"Everypony was asleep?"

Somehow, that surprised Choro more than the presence of Zebras. She glances around the group, a little uncertainly. "I thought you always kept a watch in the Wasteland. They have weapons... but didn't leave somepony awake in case of trouble?" Hard to tell what that means but it feels significant.

They did have a trap by the door. But I'm thinking they've simply been here for a while without any trouble. They likely don't think they need to set a guard anymore.

[Inspector Valin]

Choro nods at Moonshadow's words. These ponies feeling safe here seems to be the logical explanation, and with some warmth, that made a bit of sense. Though they can't have asy access to food down here. The young unicorn glances around the group. "So... do we just go in there and talk to them?" She isn't sure how best to start with that conversation. After all, it amounts to telling ponies to just leave their new home. But... well, what else can they do? It isn't safe down here. Shouldn't telling them the truth be enough?

[DigoDragon]

"Yeah, reckon we try peaceful negotiation first," Doc says. "Let them know Fan wants them out."

[Dalinale]

Doc nods in agreement with Choro that not having a watch is a bit unusual. He looks over to Strata. "You know anything about this group; Temperament, skill, when they go scavenging?"


"Maybe Strata is their super-undercover spy leader who's been judging after our intentions this whole time." Viridia suggested, mostly in jest.

"Nope." Strata said, looking at both Doc and Viridia before replying to both.


"So... do we just go in there and talk to them?" She isn't sure how best to start with that conversation. After all, it amounts to telling ponies to just leave their new home. But... well, what else can they do? It isn't safe down here. Shouldn't telling them the truth be enough?

Strata looked at Choro, in deep thought.

"Well, I don't think I'd give the right impression, but a lost filly could." she said, briefly looking over towards Moonshadow, possibly for approval, "There were kids in that room, right? They might not be the type to just shoot a teenager right in the face, then."

[Hazuki]

"I must look rough today." Viridia commented, after the teenager remark.

[Forum Explorer]

Strata looked at Choro, in deep thought.

"Well, I don't think I'd give the right impression, but a lost filly could." she said, briefly looking over towards Moonshadow, possibly for approval, "There were kids in that room, right? They might not be the type to just shoot a teenager right in the face, then."

Well, probably not. But I'm more concerned about them not taking us seriously then them attacking us. I think it's better we wake them up as a group then sending in a single pony. Moonshadow said. On that note; why don't we just knock on the door?

[DigoDragon]

"I agree, approach them as a group... and, knocking on the door couldn't hurt. Safer than all of us barging in at once."

[Dalinale]

"I must look rough today." Viridia commented, after the teenager remark.

"It's best for me to think of you as a young adult." Strata replied, with a straight face.


On that note; why don't we just knock on the door?

"I agree, approach them as a group... and, knocking on the door couldn't hurt. Safer than all of us barging in at once."

Strata seemed to find that funny.

"Honestly, you two are being more polite then most of the ponies I knew back before society collapsed."

[Hazuki]

Viridia whistled innocently closer to the door, then rapped on it. "Fillyscout cookies!"

[DigoDragon]

"Honestly, you two are being more polite then most of the ponies I knew back before society collapsed."

"I get that a lot," Doc admits.

He moves closer to the door and waits to see how the sleepers react to Viridia's interesting call.

[Dalinale]

Viridia whistled innocently closer to the door, then rapped on it. "Fillyscout cookies!"

After a few moments, the door opened. Viridia found herself first staring into a bright light. There was a muffled 'Sorry', and then whoever in the back of the room who was angling around with the light moved it so it wasn't shining directly into Viridia's face, and instead just illuminated enough for Viridia to see who opened the door.

It was a zebra mare; she was of middling height and looked rather thin, but she had a shaved mane and a big tattoo that resembled a large black X with a capital P overlayed on top of it which covered most of her forehead. The mare's eyes were dark orange and the white stripes on her neck were dyed a bright blue. The mare looked at the group in front of her, and lingered on the sight of Strata. Strata, for her part, didn't say anything, but the unicorn was openly staring at the zebra's tattoo. The zebra mare didn't seem to especially care, and looked at Viridia like Viridia was a problem. It took nearly a minute before she spoke.

"What is a filly scout?" the mare asked, her rather deep voice having a trace of some implacable accent; she sounded both annoyed and confused, "What is the meaning of this? Why are cookies being offered to us? Is this a tribute or a bribe?"

Someone in the back of the room, presumably the same stallion who was holding the flashlight, audibly muttered "For f*cks sake.", but then someone, presumably a mare, said "Quiet you moron!", and that was about the extent of the extra chatter going on.

[Hazuki]

"Okay, I'll level with you - we don't actually have any cookies." Viridia beamed, after checking the zebra out. "I'm Viridia Dawn, this is Doc, Moonyshadow, Choro, and Strata," She leaned in and whispered conspiratorially. "She's new." Then stood up properly, still smiling. "Who are you fine folk?"

[DigoDragon]

While Viridia has them in conversation, Doc is sizing them up to see if they have their weapons on them.
He had holstered his own gun, to make conversing easier.

Per [roll0] vs. 7

[Forum Explorer]

Moonshadow is more then content to let Viridia handle introductions and talking. She'll keep an eye on the squatters to make sure no one is going to do something stupid.

Empathy and perception
[roll0]

[Dalinale]

"Okay, I'll level with you - we don't actually have any cookies." Viridia beamed, after checking the zebra out. "I'm Viridia Dawn, this is Doc, Moonyshadow, Choro, and Strata," She leaned in and whispered conspiratorially. "She's new." Then stood up properly, still smiling. "Who are you fine folk?"

The zebra patiently listened to Viridia's explanation, and replied in turn. She seemed satisfied by Viridia's words, and she sounded far less harsh then she originally sounded.

"I am Caesennia Victricia Variala Vatia, of the Propoli tribe. I am a member of the Northern Zebra Legion, as is the rest of those who dwell here. I am the auxiliary prefect of this group." the mare replied, nodding at Viridia after she finished. "Your lack of cookies is noted, and accepted. If you are weary, you are welcome to enter."

Strata continued to stare at the zebra. She looked like she was about five seconds away from having a stroke, which was highly unlikely, but she looked like her brain was doing her best.


While Viridia has them in conversation, Doc is sizing them up to see if they have their weapons on them.
He had holstered his own gun, to make conversing easier.

Per [roll0] vs. 7

Caesennia Victricia Variala Vatia saw Doc hostler his pistol, and seemed to approve.


Moonshadow is more then content to let Viridia handle introductions and talking. She'll keep an eye on the squatters to make sure no one is going to do something stupid.

Empathy and perception
[roll0]

The zebra commander (probably the right term) looked like she wore her emotions on her face. Not much of a planner, but more of a doer. If she was plotting to stab them all and move them over to another room, she looked like the type who'd already have done so.

The stallion and the mare in the back, though, argued like a couple and sounded rather older; the pony stallion had a grey coat and was rather doughty and the mare wasn't in Moonshadow's direct line of sight. They didn't sound scared or hostile, so that was a plus. The smaller figures looked like they were staying in their sleeping bags for the time being, possibly asleep; no sign of the other zebra, though.

[Hazuki]

The zebra patiently listened to Viridia's explanation, and replied in turn. She seemed satisfied by Viridia's words, and she sounded far less harsh then she originally sounded.

"I am Caesennia Victricia Variala Vatia, of the Propoli tribe. I am a member of the Northern Zebra Legion, as is the rest of those who dwell here. I am the auxiliary prefect of this group." the mare replied, nodding at Viridia after she finished. "Your lack of cookies is noted, and accepted. If you are weary, you are welcome to enter."

Strata continued to stare at the zebra. She looked like she was about five seconds away from having a stroke, which was highly unlikely, but she looked like her brain was doing her best.Viridia needed to buy time to consider what she said. The zebra army, and a bunch of normal ponies, in a ghoul's basement? "Thank y-" She coughed for a few moments, then briefly tapped her chest with her hoof. "Whew, had that in my throat all morning! Anyway, thank you!" She looked to the rest of the group, then went to walk inside.

To see if she's legit about being a member of the Legion (AKA if she's lying). I thought they were from the war?

[roll0] vs The Glory of Hypnotoad

[DigoDragon]

Well, if Strata somehow has that stroke, Doc at least could help. Would make for an interesting paper to write home about. Anyway, Doc nods and follows Viridia's lead. As he steps inside he looks at each resident to see if any of them show visible signs of illness.

Medicine [roll0] vs. 85

[Inspector Valin]

"You have a lot of names." The Great Dichoro murmurs, half to herself, half to Casettia Victoria Variable Violet. Turning her head slightly, Choro notes Strata's expression with a worried frown. The war must still seem real to her. The Zebra calling herself a member of a legion probably doesn't help with that. With a grin, she takes a step forward, standing just between the zebra and ghoul, and tapping Strata's hoof with her own. "No need to worry, Professor. I'll keep you safe. I promise."

Assurance given, Choro turns back towards the tattooed zebra mare, nodding her head politely. "Are you in need of anything? Your camp is very deep into this place, and we've just come from the surface." After the offer's made, a thought strikes the magician. She hums. "If you're the axillary prefect here, is the full prefect all right?"

[roll0] Per 6. On the off chance.

[Hazuki]

"You have a lot of names." The Great Dichoro murmurs, half to herself, half to Casettia Victoria Variable Violet."There used to be more names in general, before the war." Viridia said. "But nowadays, with all the factories destroyed or inoperable, there are only so many names to go round. Most ponies have to make do with just two. Caesennia Victricia Variala Vatia has four names, which means she's earned her stripes and then some!"

[Dalinale]

Viridia needed to buy time to consider what she said. The zebra army, and a bunch of normal ponies, in a ghoul's basement? "Thank y-" She coughed for a few moments, then briefly tapped her chest with her hoof. "Whew, had that in my throat all morning! Anyway, thank you!"

Ceasennia nodded, although she did seem mildly surprised by Viridia's voice suddenly changing.

"No thanks are required." she said.


She looked to the rest of the group, then went to walk inside.

Caesennia Victricia Variala Vatia of the Propoli tribe decided to hold the door and let Viridia pass.

Viridia found herself looking at a rather poor wasteland camp. Two ponies were in the room, in the back; one was a small-ish mare with a orange coat and a electric green mane while the other was a soft-looking unicorn stallion with a grey coat who was currently holding a flashlight. Two of the sleeping bags were occupied by filly-sized bodies which didn't look like they were going to stir, if the commotion was any indication.

The other stallion in the room was a zebra, who was currently rocking the 'crazy street preacher' vibe. His hair was long enough to brush past his shoulders, even though it resembled a ball of tight curls which nearly hid his ears, and he looked like he could use a sandwich or twenty; his ribs were visible, along with his shoulder blades. Choro probably had a stone or two on him, and he could've seen eye to eye with Northern Light. He had green eyes and wore a large beaded necklace which covered the vast majority of his neck; the beads were green and black and red and did the colors did not seem to form a pattern.

The zebra smiled at Viridia when she spotted him; he apparently took lessons from the same guy who taught half the creepy people in the wasteland how to smile. It was probably the way that he narrowed his eyes just slightly and how he managed to not really raise the sides of his mouth when he smiled.


To see if she's legit about being a member of the Legion (AKA if she's lying). I thought they were from the war?

[roll0] vs The Glory of Hypnotoad

Ceasennia didn't seem to be lying; she really didn't seem to be the sort who would lie, unless she was told to.

[As for who they were, the 'Northern Legion' was that thing Brutus belonged to. Viridia probably hasn't forgotten the hippo.]


Well, if Strata somehow has that stroke, Doc at least could help. Would make for an interesting paper to write home about. Anyway, Doc nods and follows Viridia's lead. As he steps inside he looks at each resident to see if any of them show visible signs of illness.

Medicine [roll0] vs. 85

Well, Caesennia was lean but was otherwise in perfect health. Her hooves had some wear on them, but nothing especially alarming. The two ponies in the back also looked like they were in decent health; the stallion had probably taken a few bottles to the face, but otherwise the two of them could've been plucked from Tenpony. The two colt-sized lumps in the sleeping bags were probably healthy, as well. The skeleton with fur and green eyes, though, looked like a dead stallion walking. It was amazing that he wasn't loosing hair or teeth or bent over dying.


"You have a lot of names." The Great Dichoro murmurs, half to herself, half to Casettia Victoria Variable Violet. Turning her head slightly, Choro notes Strata's expression with a worried frown. The war must still seem real to her. The Zebra calling herself a member of a legion probably doesn't help with that. With a grin, she takes a step forward, standing just between the zebra and ghoul, and tapping Strata's hoof with her own. "No need to worry, Professor. I'll keep you safe. I promise."

Strata didn't seem especially reassured by Choro's promise, but managed to not faint or explode or anything else particularly embarrassing, like fall on Choro or pick her up and use her as a meat shield.



Choro turns back towards the tattooed zebra mare, nodding her head politely. "Are you in need of anything? Your camp is very deep into this place, and we've just come from the surface." After the offer's made, a thought strikes the magician. She hums. "If you're the here, is the full prefect all right?"


Caesennia immediately turned towards Choro as she began speaking; the zebra's orange eyes, bearing down on Choro with intent, was not a sight that inspired joy or enthusiasm. When she spoke, however, she sounded approving.

"You are not correct, but your thinking is sound. None here but myself is a true member of the Northern Legion. While it would be quite good to be attached to a larger force, at the moment I am the only standing officer required here. If this group was present in a larger detachment, I would take orders from a senior officer of the legion. At the moment, communications within the base camp has been extremely limited, but my equivalents among the legionaries have not likely been harmed in the last few weeks."


"There used to be more names in general, before the war." Viridia said. "But nowadays, with all the factories destroyed or inoperable, there are only so many names to go round. Most ponies have to make do with just two. Caesennia Victricia Variala Vatia has four names, which means she's earned her stripes and then some!"

Caesennia didn't seem to know what to make of what Viridia just said, but when she heard 'earn her stripes', she laughed lightly.

"My rank is that of decanus, despite my lack of proper uniform." she said, looking at Viridia with a smile on her face, "Although my names have nothing to do with my rank. I come from a family with holdings in Roam, yes, but it is a humble one. My parents deemed that it would enhance my chances at a good life if I had a name similar to that of a senator."

[Hazuki]

Viridia looked at the decanus with wide eyes. "Do you happen to know Brutus the hippo?"

[Dalinale]

Viridia looked at the decanus with wide eyes. "Do you happen to know Brutus the hippo?"

Ceasennia blinked, and was clearly surprised.

"Brutus of Dameiata is one of the three centurions the Northern Legion currently supports, and was the officer I was told to meet with within this city once I arrived. I am surprised that you know of him. Is he well?"

[Hazuki]

"Should be! He was working with some sailors in Oakville. We fended off a pirate raid together!" Viridia explained. "But, I don't know if he's still there. The Olives came into town, and they're...*******s."

[Inspector Valin]

Choro follows the strange Zebra mare's words closely, smiling at the mentions of ancestors and Roam. Do Zebras choose their names? Or are they given them as foals? Perhaps they do both, and that explains why she has so many names. The traveller is lost in thought upon the topic for a while, and looks about as surprised as Ceasennia at Viridia's words. Hippos and ponies attached to a Zebra legion? The young mage grins at Viridia's mention of a pirate attack, however. Viridia meeting a hippo legionnaire was unusual. Doing so during a pirate attack... somehow seems more believable. She bows her head at the conclusion, hiding beneath her hat, though if it's out of respect for Brutus or mild embarrassment at Viridia's colourful language is hard to say

Soon though, Choro has recovered enough of herself to cough and address Ceasennia more directly, "Ma'am Decanus... if you don't mind me asking, what is an officer of the Northern Legion and a handful of other equines doing in the basement here?" The young unicorn bows her head, looking a little rueful at the direct question. "It seems like a strange place to camp. Though I'm still learning about things like that, I'm afraid."

[Dalinale]

"Should be! He was working with some sailors in Oakville. We fended off a pirate raid together!" Viridia explained.

Ceasennia blinked again. The two ponies in the back looked dumbfounded and exchanged glances of confusion. The creepy zebra dude was still smiling, but looked like he had taken a few steps back into the shadows.

"It is a fine thing to hinder the scum of the earth, especially in this ruined world we live in. Pirates are among the worst of those scum." she replied, briefly lowering her head towards Viridia, which was probably the closest thing to a bow she could do, given her position, "I see that the stories regarding the Northern Legion were unfounded."


"But, I don't know if he's still there. The Olives came into town, and they're...*******s."

"The olives?" Ceasennia asked, clearly confused again, "Olives? Olives grow here? The climate is entirely wrong."

A brief look at the ponies behind her pretty much confirmed that they didn't have a clue what Viridia was talking about, either.



Soon though, Choro has recovered enough of herself to cough and address Ceasennia more directly, "Ma'am Decanus... if you don't mind me asking, what is an officer of the Northern Legion and a handful of other equines doing in the basement here?" The young unicorn bows her head, looking a little rueful at the direct question. "It seems like a strange place to camp. Though I'm still learning about things like that, I'm afraid."

Ceasennia turned her attention towards Choro.

"We are camped here due to the climate. To travel outside would lead to our doom, and to take shelter above could lead to conflict. While this is far from optimal, it is preferable then the alternatives."

[Hazuki]

"It is a fine thing to hinder the scum of the earth, especially in this ruined world we live in. Pirates are among the worst of those scum." she replied, briefly lowering her head towards Viridia, which was probably the closest thing to a bow she could do, given her position, "I see that the stories regarding the Northern Legion were unfounded."Viridia actually blushed slightly. "Thanks."



"The olives?" Ceasennia asked, clearly confused again, "Olives? Olives grow here? The climate is entirely wrong.""They're a family of ponies called the Olives, they're basically an organized crime group who overwhelm small business into near-destitution, blackmail ponies into working for them, and let their drugged-up family members run rampant with magic."

[DigoDragon]

"So, who are your companions here with you?" Doc asked.

[Dalinale]

Viridia actually blushed slightly. "Thanks."

Ceasennia shook her head.

"No thanks is required."


"They're a family of ponies called the Olives, they're basically an organized crime group who overwhelm small business into near-destitution, blackmail ponies into working for them, and let their drugged-up family members run rampant with magic."

Viridia's words seemed to make Ceasennia agitated.

"I believe I understand." she replied, nodding her head and eyes narrowed, "Such a group will eventually have to be dealt with."


"So, who are your companions here with you?" Doc asked.

Ceasennia looked at Doc for a few moments, before replying. It was possible that she was surprised that he spoke up.

"Two of my solders are peregrini from a small city in the south. The mare is Lantana and the stallion is Aenetus. They are still undergoing training."

After Ceasennia spoke, the two ponies behind her realized that she was talking, and quickly attempted to look dignified. The orange mare managed to do so, while the unicorn stallion just looked bumbling for a few moments, and nearly stepped on a tin can when he scrambled to stand straight.

Ceasennia waited for the flurry of hooves to stop, looked like she was resisting the urge to sigh, and then motioned towards her right, where the spooky zebra was. The spooky zebra was actually still looking at Viridia, and was apparently content with not speaking up or doing anything.

"Zozesue was a shaman from a tribe once known as the Phoenix Ashes." Ceasennia explained, "They have since dissolved. As he is a shaman, I do not have true authority to command him, as he will likely be attached to a cohort once we arrive to our destination."

Ceasennia coughed, and briefly motioned over towards the two sleeping shapes who were still on the floor.

"The names of the children are Chain Checker and Floor Pump. They are young Equestrian zebras who the Northern Legion will give a home and a purpose, along with a proper nutrition plan." she explained, "They are the main reason we are camped as we are. I would not risk the lives of two colts for the sake of a quick journey."

[Forum Explorer]

Which direction are you guys going? We might be able to take you part way there. Moonshadow said.