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Scorch_Mechanic

Fallout: Beyond Equestria, 91: Origin Story (Part 8)

Scorch_Mechanic
Jul 2nd, 2014
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  1. 2014-06-25 13:36:22] <Mare-Do-Well> 3In a one-pony hail of gunfire and explosions, Golden_Dream makes short work of the two turrets. And the ferns. And the other underbrush. Not to mention a few of the boxes, and rendering the (non-salvageable) troop transport into scrap.
  2. [2014-06-25 13:37:52] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Ahead, through the trees, is a rocky ridge, the wall climbing about two dozen feet. At the base, there is an opening carved into the hill, lined with stonework. The entrance is framed with heavy, greenish stones carved in ancient glyphs.
  3. [2014-06-25 13:39:05] <Mare-Do-Well> 3In front of the entrance, a legion troop wagon lists, rusting. Several boxes are scattered about. More are stacked just inside the "cave" hall. Smoke and debris are scattered about where Golden_Dream took out the two turrets guarding the entrance.
  4. [2014-06-25 13:39:21] <Mare-Do-Well> 3 Fire gutters along one fern, but after the rain, everything is too wet for fire to spread.
  5. [2014-06-25 13:41:29] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Above, atop the ridge itself, is a large, carved obelisk of ancient and weathered stone.
  6. [2014-06-25 13:43:08] <Mare-Do-Well> 3When Get_Lost, Shatara and Golden_Dream each got close enough to the site, an E.F.S. message flashes. A string of gibberish followed by >> DDA Report III found. Download complete. <<
  7. [2014-06-25 13:43:15] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
  8. [2014-06-25 13:43:41] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Shatara quietly and awkwardly fistbumps Golden_Dream.
  9. [2014-06-25 13:43:47] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Golden_Dream giggles awkwardly, then gets out of the muck to go back to the others. "Thing's dead. We can go in now."
  10. [2014-06-25 13:43:55] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Bookwright is still worried about the pulse, but he's let his spell collapse.
  11. [2014-06-25 13:44:01] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Golden_Dream spots Copycat looking depressed. "Hey. What's wrong?"
  12. [2014-06-25 13:44:08] <Mare-Do-Well> 3CopyCat stammers, "I remembered a bad dream."
  13. [2014-06-25 13:44:15] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Golden_Dream chokes up. "... CopyCat, did you dream about Lenore?"
  14. [2014-06-25 13:44:25] <Mare-Do-Well> 3CopyCat trembles beside Get Lost and Noble_Heart. "Yes. B-bad dreams are supposed to go away in the morning."
  15. [2014-06-25 13:44:31] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Shatara tilts his head at CopyCat with concern.
  16. [2014-06-25 13:44:40] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Noble_Heart nuzzles CopyCat's cheek. "Sometimes bad dreams are windows into the past. It doesn't make them easier, but they don't tend to go away easily."
  17. [2014-06-25 13:44:48] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Golden_Dream fidgets. Time to share with the class. "... CopyCat, I don't know what I'm really sayin' here, but I been thinkin' it for a long time. Folks use each other and get used by each other all th' time. I know for a damn fact that I couldn't have gone through th' castle if it weren't for you."
  18. [2014-06-25 13:44:54] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Golden_Dream continues. "But th' thing you can choose, sometimes, is who uses you, and that all depends on what y' are t' yourself. I chose t' let Mare-Do-Well use me t' eat breakfast. I chose t' let Crimson use me for this fool's errand. I chose t' use my dad's dyin' deed t' hide from th' world."
  19. [2014-06-25 13:44:59] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Bookwright grimaces, but nods. "We're here for you Copy Cat. Let us help /you./"
  20. [2014-06-25 13:45:11] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mare-Do-Well alights next to CopyCat and nods seriously.
  21. [2014-06-25 13:45:17] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Golden_Dream finishes up. "It ain't th' who you are that y' should be worried about. That'll stay the same, no matter what. It's how you use the world that defines th' perspective of the pony you are. And that's can changed, through how y' use what's around you, and how you let it use you. Alright?"
  22. [2014-06-25 13:45:22] <Mare-Do-Well> 3CopyCat looks up, her red eyes wet with tears. "You know? And you don't..." her last words are almost a whisper, "you don't hate me?"
  23. [2014-06-25 13:45:28] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Noble_Heart shakes her head. "We would never hate you."
  24. [2014-06-25 13:45:33] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Golden_Dream chuckles a little bit. "Why would I? Y'did nothin' wrong, just wound up gettin' used, if it were you in that dream. Sometimes, y' don't get th' choice in what happens to you."
  25. [2014-06-25 13:45:40] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Bookwright is nodding vigorously as Golden_Dream speaks.
  26. [2014-06-25 13:45:46] <Mare-Do-Well> 3CopyCat smiles. A genuine smile that lights up her face. "Thank you."
  27. [2014-06-25 13:45:59] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mare-Do-Well tries to hug CopyCat. Can't. Settles for, "You're my friend. I'd never hate you."
  28. [2014-06-25 13:46:06] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Golden_Dream smiles. "Mare-Do-Well, any time y' wanna possess me t' give folks hugs, you do that as long as I get some say in it."
  29. [2014-06-25 13:46:39] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mare-Do-Well is truly touched by the offer. But she smiles back, saying, "I think you need to be able to give her your own hugs right now more than I do."
  30. [2014-06-25 13:46:47] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Golden_Dream giggles. "Aw, dammit. I'm all covered up in muck n' stuff from th' explosion, and I wanted t' blame you fer it if she got muddy. Now, I'll have no excuses. How dare you?" She raspberried for good measure.
  31. [2014-06-25 13:46:54] <Mare-Do-Well> 3CopyCat tries to wrap her wings around Golden_Dream, Shatara, Bookwright, Get_Lost, and Noble_Heart. "Thank you."
  32. [2014-06-25 13:47:00] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Bookwright hugs CopyCat back.
  33. [2014-06-25 13:47:05] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Golden_Dream hugs vigorously. Gets CopyCat muddy.
  34. [2014-06-25 13:47:12] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Shatara shifts a little awkwardly.
  35. [2014-06-25 13:47:20] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Noble_Heart giggles a little then smiles and just wing-hugs CopyCat.
  36. [2014-06-25 13:47:31] <Mare-Do-Well> 3DDA Report III waits.
  37. [2014-06-25 13:47:56] <Mare-Do-Well> 3As does the mysterious zebra-made cave and obelisk.
  38. [2014-06-25 13:49:20] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Fallout: Beyond Equestria, Session Ninety-One: Origin Story (Part Eight) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SSUQxGjZZ4
  39. [2014-06-25 13:49:21] <Mare-Do-Well> 3--- Session Begins ---
  40. [2014-06-25 13:49:28] * Get_Lost checks for the recordinf! yay!
  41. [2014-06-25 13:50:14] * Shatara leans against pones and pokes at his pipbuck curiously.
  42. [2014-06-25 13:50:46] * Noble_Heart keeps a wing around CopyCat as she looks towards the strange obelisk entrance. She wasn't sure what they would find within, but that seemed their next stop.
  43. [2014-06-25 13:51:28] <Mare-Do-Well> 3====================
  44. [2014-06-25 13:51:35] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Third mission report.
  45. [2014-06-25 13:51:47] <Mare-Do-Well> 3I dared a high-altitude aerial recon of the Basin. Probably shouldn’t risk that again. The zebra’s has eyes on the skies. But I was able to glimpse Legion activities around many of the ancient obelisks like this one.
  46. [2014-06-25 13:52:03] <Mare-Do-Well> 3To most, these would obelisks would seem to be, at best, particularly evocative ruins; photogenic, the markings on their sides would perhaps be interesting to anthropologists or zebra historians, but the structures themselves of little consequence. I know better.
  47. [2014-06-25 13:52:12] <Mare-Do-Well> 3These obelisks were build by Rasdon. They are magical nodes, part of a web of spiritual magic laid across the entire basin.
  48. [2014-06-25 13:52:19] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The Radiant Shield of Rasdon. The Legion is trying to control the sun.
  49. [2014-06-25 13:52:33] <Mare-Do-Well> 3I’m going to assume that this mission report is being read by a group of military ponies in a bunker or headquarters somewhere in Equestria, and that at least one of you just scoffed. But before you make a cough into your hoof that sounds suspiciously like “Celestia”, let me remind you that Celestia’s power is not supreme.
  50. [2014-06-25 13:52:41] <Mare-Do-Well> 3She’s been overpowered before. Remember Chrysalis? And her control over the sun has been successfully contested. Remember Nightmare Moon? Endless night?
  51. [2014-06-25 13:52:51] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Spirits can be very powerful. Observe Discord. Powerful spirits, especially if they work in tandem, can be truly godlike. There is a reason that the Elements of Harmony, fueled by the Spirits of Harmony, working together under the direction of those whose virtues resonate with Spirits of Harmony, are the single most powerful magical force in our world.
  52. [2014-06-25 13:52:58] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The Radiant Shield of Rasdon is not the Elements of Harmony, but it is far more powerful than I suspect most ponies are willing to accept. And its central focus is an enchanted object on par with one of the Elements.
  53. [2014-06-25 13:53:08] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Dash was right about this mission. If Legate Jua takes control of the Radiant Shield, we’re all in trouble. Unfortunately, this means we don’t have time to send reports and wait for the Lunar Army to come up with a plan. I’ve got to intervene now, before Jua can get what she’s after.
  54. [2014-06-25 13:53:34] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Open Third Pad y/n?
  55. [2014-06-25 13:53:40] <Mare-Do-Well> 3====================
  56. [2014-06-25 13:56:57] * Get_Lost mumbles "a structure that can control the sun.... this is..." pauses for a long while, probably looking for the best word "fascinating"
  57. [2014-06-25 13:57:09] * Get_Lost then presses Y
  58. [2014-06-25 13:57:33] <Mare-Do-Well> 3At the press of "y", the mission text is replaced with several pages of rough draft for a book:
  59. [2014-06-25 13:57:41] <Mare-Do-Well> 3====================
  60. [2014-06-25 13:58:07] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Over the next few days, I made it my mission to get to know A.K. Yearling and, if possible, become her friend. I’d celebrate my rousing success, but truth be told, A.K. made it easy. A.K. was a wonderful mare, once I started to pull her out of her shell.
  61. [2014-06-25 13:58:19] <Mare-Do-Well> 3She was reserved and proper (as, I assumed, an ambassador’s god-daughter ought to be), but within she held a vibrancy just waiting to express itself. Not to mention an inspiring creativity.
  62. [2014-06-25 13:58:29] <Mare-Do-Well> 3We may not have had much in common, me being an athlete and aspiring archeologist (or “treasure hunter” as she insisted on calling me) and her being her, but we bonded over a surprising mutual interest: a shared love of writing.
  63. [2014-06-25 13:58:41] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Despite obligations and scheduling doing their best to keep us apart, A.K. and I spent a decent amount of time in each other’s company. At one point, a zebra photographer was taking pictures of the Ambassadorial Manor, and I nudged her to shoot one of A.K. and myself that we could keep as a memento.
  64. [2014-06-25 13:58:50] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Well timed, as no sooner had the photograph been taken than Goldentongue briskly informed me that our departure for Bahari Soko had been moved up. I had to break off my time with A.K. abruptly, having been given merely an hour to repack and join the others.
  65. [2014-06-25 13:58:57] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Bahari Soko was a large, seaside trading town and the true beginning of our summer adventure.
  66. [2014-06-25 13:59:05] <Mare-Do-Well> 3~-------~ oOo ~-------~
  67. [2014-06-25 13:59:46] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Daring Do swooped eagerly from the deck of the /Mzigo Msichana/ and landed upon the the wooden pier below. The wind carried the scents and sounds of Bahari Soko – the smell of sweat, strange animals and foreign spices mixed with the splashing of waves and the creaking of ships, the trot of hooves and shouts in what (to Daring Do) was a most exotic tongue.
  68. [2014-06-25 13:59:54] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Her eyes took in the zebra city, stretching backwards from the sprawling ports and along the river.
  69. [2014-06-25 14:00:09] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Ships of all sizes carefully navigated the crowded harbor. A coal transport was departing for Equestria, the zebras along its pier pulling up the ropes that had tethered it in place. The docks were busy with zebra workers, some guiding ships to their piers, most loading or unloading cargo.
  70. [2014-06-25 14:00:16] <Mare-Do-Well> 3One nearby ship was dropping off cargo to be transported by train to the Crystal Empire. Another was loading up on crates of spiney, hairy fruits meant for Roam.
  71. [2014-06-25 14:00:24] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Along the far edges of the docks, between zebras working out of the backs of wagons, Daring Do saw waiting rickshaws, their drivers waiting in anticipation. She suspected one of those was waiting for the ambassador. She rather hoped others were waiting for the rest of them, as a rickshaw ride would be a new experience.
  72. [2014-06-25 14:00:32] <Mare-Do-Well> 3“I’ve sent word ahead to the primi ordines,” Goldentongue was saying as he and Professor Underhill trotted down the gangplank behind her. “She is expecting your arrival. Likewise, I have procured four hours for you and your students at Bahari Soko’s Hall of Exhibitions.”
  73. [2014-06-25 14:00:39] <Mare-Do-Well> 3“Excellent,” said Underhill. “That will be a perfect start…”
  74. [2014-06-25 14:00:45] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Daring Do missed hearing the rest, distracted by a loudly whispered “Psssst! Over here!”
  75. [2014-06-25 14:00:54] <Mare-Do-Well> 3She turned to see a very large box set amongst many smaller crates. A box with a canvas tied down over it. There was a tear in the canvas, and a large, auburn eye was staring at her through it.
  76. [2014-06-25 14:01:04] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Daring Do looked around. Zebras had rushed to the edge of the boardwalk, shouting and waving at a steamboat that had mistakenly turned to dock at the pier already occupied by the Mzigo Msichana. Goldentongue and his assistants had turned to stare. The professor was shouting at Packer to corral the rest of the students off the ship.
  77. [2014-06-25 14:01:13] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Nopony was paying any attention to Daring Do.
  78. [2014-06-25 14:01:20] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Daring Do inched forward towards the covered box and the eye staring through the canvas. A voice from behind the canvas called to her in a rumbling whisper. “Free me!”
  79. [2014-06-25 14:01:38] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Reaching the box, Daring Do bent down to look under the tarp. The box was a metal cage, the door held closed by a padlock and chains. Within was a creature with the body of a lion and the wings of an eagle – but Daring Do had seen griffins before and this was no griffin! The creature was much larger, the size of a manticore, and her face was like that of
  80. [2014-06-25 14:01:49] <Mare-Do-Well> 3a zebra without stripes.
  81. [2014-06-25 14:01:55] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The creature turned her eyes on Daring Do, locking her gaze. “My value becomes lesser with each who knows about me. What am I?”
  82. [2014-06-25 14:02:03] <Mare-Do-Well> 3“What?” Daring Do blinked, befuddled by both the question and the questioner.
  83. [2014-06-25 14:02:10] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Before she could contemplate further, another head joined hers under the canvas. Professor Underhill smiled. “Ah, a sphinx! Best move away, Daring. They are dangerous spirit creatures, sphinxes. Treacherous. And their riddles are said to either bring great insight or drive ponies mad.”
  84. [2014-06-25 14:02:18] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The sphinx narrowed her eyes. Glowering at Professor Underhill, she asked, “My value becomes greater with each who knows about me. What am I?”
  85. [2014-06-25 14:02:28] <Mare-Do-Well> 3“Come along, now, Daring...” the professor began to say, only to be cut off by a resounding crash. Daring Do’s head shot out from under the canvas at the sound of shouts and of groaning, splintering wood.
  86. [2014-06-25 14:02:51] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The paddleboat had collided with the /Mzigo Msichana/, its prow tearing a swath from the side of the larger ship. The /Mzigo Msichana/ was leaning, supplies and student luggage sliding across the bow. Daring Do saw Fleetwing swoop to capture some of them before they tumbled through the railing.
  87. [2014-06-25 14:03:00] <Mare-Do-Well> 3A frightened squeal pulled her eyes upwards. For some reason, Bluebell had been walking across the bowsprit like tightrope when the boats collided, throwing her. “I can’t swim!” she cried out, dangling by a single forehoof from the rigging just beneath the tip of the spar. Her grip was slipping.
  88. [2014-06-25 14:03:09] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Daring Do spread her wings and pushed off with a hard thrust, shooting up to Bluebell and catching her just as her hoof slid free. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you!” she said with a grin. It felt good to save the day.
  89. [2014-06-25 14:03:16] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Bluebell didn’t give her the response she expected. Instead, Bluebell gasped, staring ahead.
  90. [2014-06-25 14:03:45] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The steamboat’s engine hadn’t shut down, and the ship was now sliding along the side of the /Mzigo Msichana/, rending further along its side. The hull of the steamship smashed into the pier, collapsing several meters of it, dropping ponies and zebras into the water. Zebra dockworkers stopped shouting up at the steamship’s crew and ran back for the docks.
  91. [2014-06-25 14:03:53] <Mare-Do-Well> 3One of Goldentongue’s assistants yelped the wood beneath her buckled and she fell with a splash. The other grabbed the ambassador, hauling him towards safety.
  92. [2014-06-25 14:04:12] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Bluebell pointed. Daring Do spotted several cloaked figures moving forwards across the steamship, two of them leaping the distance to board the /Mzigo Msichana/. Another pulled something out of a saddlebag and tossed it onto the bow where it erupted in a wash of smoke.
  93. [2014-06-25 14:04:19] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The smoke grew, bellowing as it became an unnatural pitch-black wave that washed over both ships and swollowed part of the docks.
  94. [2014-06-25 14:04:35] <Mare-Do-Well> 3As Daring Do’s world was plunged into blackness, she could hear somepony cry out. “It’s an attack!”
  95. [2014-06-25 14:05:11] <Mare-Do-Well> 3====================
  96. [2014-06-25 14:05:36] * Get_Lost mumbles "could be a secret?"
  97. [2014-06-25 14:05:38] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Pad includes addition writing. Open Pad addendum y/n?
  98. [2014-06-25 14:05:40] <Mare-Do-Well> 3====================
  99. [2014-06-25 14:06:57] * Noble_Heart taps her chin. "A secret typically becomes less valuable, not more when more know it."
  100. [2014-06-25 14:07:42] <Mare-Do-Well> 3There are two riddles. They are very similar, but with a key difference.
  101. [2014-06-25 14:10:10] * Noble_Heart contemplates that and frowns. Something which grew more valuable the more who knew about it. Less valuable was, most likely, secrets. "Knowledge spreads and becomes more meaningful the more who share it. But We are not certain We would say it becomes more valuable."
  102. [2014-06-25 14:11:55] * Shatara hmmms. "There were two riddles... Daring's was 'lesser', the professor's was 'greater'...is each answer separate, or related...?"
  103. [2014-06-25 14:13:06] * Golden_Dream thinks about it. "A secret becomes less valuable th' more know about it, I think. I mean, if you go tellin' it t' folks, and they tell other folks, it might as well not even be a secret."
  104. [2014-06-25 14:13:41] * Get_Lost nodnods to golden "exactly"
  105. [2014-06-25 14:14:00] * CopyCat peers over Shatara's shoulder and absentmindedly rubs the catbird's neck as she reads. "A /riddle/ would also have less value as more ponies know it. But I think you might be right. Now what about the second?"
  106. [2014-06-25 14:14:01] * Get_Lost also, presses Y again!
  107. [2014-06-25 14:14:16] * Get_Lost is being a yes-pony, lately
  108. [2014-06-25 14:14:43] * Golden_Dream likes riddles. It gives her stuff to think about that doesn't make her head feel hot and stuffed with cotton.
  109. [2014-06-25 14:16:12] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The writer revisit this bit of the rough draft, adding considerably more, well beyond what was useful for the Pad. At the press of "y", the additional text replaces the functional pad:
  110. [2014-06-25 14:16:13] <Mare-Do-Well> 3====================
  111. [2014-06-25 14:16:17] * Noble_Heart tilts her head t one side considering that. "It is hard to say what might be more valuable the more know of it. Most treasures, for certain."
  112. [2014-06-25 14:16:35] <Mare-Do-Well> 3A single flare of light flickered in the darkness, growing swiftly larger, until the flame arrow struck into the jib less than a wing’s length from Daring Do. The jib began to burn, the fire spredding to the nearby jibs and rigging. Other flares of light slashed through the darkness.
  113. [2014-06-25 14:16:42] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Daring Do swooped towards the ground, hearing running hooves all around her. Bluebell called out for the professor the moment her hooves touched solid wood.
  114. [2014-06-25 14:16:52] <Mare-Do-Well> 3A light burst forth. The black cloud was swept back, creating an eye in the darkness centered on Goldentongue’s horn. Daring Do’s eyes widened as the expanding ring of visiblity revealed a cloaked figure standing less than two meters behind the ambassador, a hoof raised.
  115. [2014-06-25 14:16:59] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Strapped to the zebra’s leg was a small, mechanical crossbow, the arrow made of flamewood.
  116. [2014-06-25 14:17:07] <Mare-Do-Well> 3“Ambassador!” Bluebell cried in warning.
  117. [2014-06-25 14:17:16] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The cloaked figure turned towards the voice. Daring Do charged her without thinking. The shot from her hoof crossbow went wild as Daring Do slammed into her. The clasp of the zebra’s cloak caught above Daring’s left ear, slashing across her scalp. The two crashed into one of the stacks of crates marked for the Crystal Empire.
  118. [2014-06-25 14:17:23] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Bundles of ice arrows and jars of crystal polish spilled over them in a wave of splintered wood and packing rice.
  119. [2014-06-25 14:17:37] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Daring Do backed away, staring down at the would-be assassin. The zebra was out cold, Daring’s blood dappled the metal clasp, looking like wet rubies against the stylized feathered serpent’s head. Her gaze slid down to the crossbow.
  120. [2014-06-25 14:17:44] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Celestia’s army had swords and spears, but Daring Do had never heard of them using those weapons against anything other than monsters – at least, not outside of her adventure books. Ponies (or zebras) attacking each other with murder in their hearts was the stuff of stories. But this was real... and that made it altogether different.
  121. [2014-06-25 14:17:59] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The screams behind her yanked Daring Do out of her momentary reverie. She felt herself shaking. Looking about, she saw that the attackers hadn’t killed anyone yet, but not for lack of trying.
  122. [2014-06-25 14:18:07] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Goldentongue and Packer were making quick work of the darkness. The ambassador’s assistants (one of them quite wet) were engaged in hoof-fights with two of the cloaked figures while Professor Underhill hid behind the covered cage with several of the students.
  123. [2014-06-25 14:18:13] <Mare-Do-Well> 3One of the cloaked zebras fired at Fleetwing. The young pegasus blocked the shot with a rescued duffel bag which promptly caught fire. Fleetwing spun in the air, hurling the burning luggage back at the assassin, who dove out of the way and into the harbor.
  124. [2014-06-25 14:18:19] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Flames were climbing over a small mountain of crates where the unconscious assassin’s rogue arrow had landed. A pungant, peppery-sweet aroma filled the air as a box containing Roaman spice went up in a scarlet blaze.
  125. [2014-06-25 14:18:35] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Daring Do grasped an ice arrow and took to the air, dodging several flame arrows. The scene below was desparate and frantic.
  126. [2014-06-25 14:18:47] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The ambassador and Packer were taking turns casting stunning spells at a pair of cloaked figures hiding behind a stack of barrels. The two unicorns were pinned behind dark wooden crates that resolutely refused to catch fire no matter how many flamewood arrows were shot into them.
  127. [2014-06-25 14:18:56] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Another cloaked zebra was stalking around the cargo behind which the professor was guarding the rest of the students. She flew above them. She couldn’t spot Fleetwing or Bluebell.
  128. [2014-06-25 14:19:10] <Mare-Do-Well> 3No, wait, she spotted the tip of Bluebell’s tail. She was hiding beneath an abandoned wagon. One of the zebra assassins was standing on it, directly above her.
  129. [2014-06-25 14:19:18] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Daring Do didn’t really think the cloaked attackers were after a bunch of pony students – they couldn’t be, could they? – but she didn’t want to risk seeing what the attacker would do if he spotted her.
  130. [2014-06-25 14:19:24] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The assassin moving towards Professor Underhill and the other students drew flush with the corner of the covered cage. In a moment, she would round the corner and catch them.
  131. [2014-06-25 14:19:34] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Daring Do aimed with the ice arrow, tucked in her wings, and dropped from the sky. The arrow snagged into the canvas, ripping downwards with ice forming on each side of the sliced cloth, and slammed into the padlock. The metal of the padlock and chains turned frosty and brittle, then shattered in a burst of ice.
  132. [2014-06-25 14:19:40] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The assassin spun, aiming at Daring Do, only to be barreled over by the escaping sphinx. The swinging cage door hit Daring across the face, sending her sprawling.
  133. [2014-06-25 14:20:12] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Shaking off the stars that danced on the edges of her vision, she looked up to see most of the assassins had turned to face the spirit monster unleashed in their midst. The sphinx sent one flying with a mighty swipe of a paw.
  134. [2014-06-25 14:20:28] <Mare-Do-Well> 3“Follow me!” Daring Do gasped, getting back onto her hooves. She swooped towards the wagon that Bluebell was hiding under, spinning to buck the sphinx-distracted zebra out of the back. She landed and started strapping herself in, hearing the stampede of hooves heading towards her.
  135. [2014-06-25 14:20:48] <Mare-Do-Well> 3She could feel the weight as first Bluebell then several others clambered into the back. The wagon quickly became too heavy for her to lift, but Daring Do didn’t have to fly to be fast. She was an athlete. She could run.
  136. [2014-06-25 14:20:56] <Mare-Do-Well> 3And she did run, from the moment she heard Professor Underhill shout “Go!” Daring Do poured all the speed she could into her legs, leaving dust in her wake. Five of the cloaked zebras ran after her, stopping to bully two of the zebra drivers out of the way as they claimed their rickshaws. The chase was on.
  137. [2014-06-25 14:21:27] <Mare-Do-Well> 3====================
  138. [2014-06-25 14:21:29] * Bookwright ponders. "The first is definitely a 'secret'. Perhaps the second riddle is the opposite? A legend? A story of heroism? Perhaps a lie?"
  139. [2014-06-25 14:21:31] <Mare-Do-Well> 3End of Pad.
  140. [2014-06-25 14:22:35] * CopyCat rubrubs. "Or a threat."
  141. [2014-06-25 14:22:52] * Bookwright "No, a rumor. Rumors grow in strength with each telling.'
  142. [2014-06-25 14:23:00] * Golden_Dream blinks, having one of those lightbulb moments. "A story."
  143. [2014-06-25 14:23:38] * Get_Lost "could be a rumor, or a legend, i think... a lie... it is possible, but it depends on how you mean it"
  144. [2014-06-25 14:23:51] * Get_Lost "a story could work too, yes"
  145. [2014-06-25 14:23:53] * Bookwright nods. "Yes, but not just any story. It has to be enticing. It has to be one that grows in the telling, gaining power as people hear about it. Legends are one kind of story that can do it, but the only thing that fully matches that description is gossip.
  146. [2014-06-25 14:24:07] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mare-Do-Well listens, then offers up, "Fame."
  147. [2014-06-25 14:24:29] * Golden_Dream looks at Mare-Do-Well. "That works."
  148. [2014-06-25 14:24:42] * Noble_Heart contemplates that and nods her head. "Fame would make sense, yes."
  149. [2014-06-25 14:25:04] * Bookwright muses. "All these things we speak are facets of the same kind of thing, the same kind of memetic tale that tantalizes the listeners and encourages them to pass it on."
  150. [2014-06-25 14:25:07] * Mare-Do-Well 3blinks and frowns. "Well, obviously not 'a fame'. But stories, legends... all the things that work... they're all fame, really."
  151. [2014-06-25 14:25:33] * Mare-Do-Well 3nods to Bookwright.
  152. [2014-06-25 14:25:41] * Shatara cant help but mumblesing a tune from the stable radio. "I'm gonna liiiive foreeeeverrrrr~..."
  153. [2014-06-25 14:25:54] * Mare-Do-Well 3shoots Shatara a look.
  154. [2014-06-25 14:26:02] * Get_Lost "hey, that's catchy!"
  155. [2014-06-25 14:26:34] * Mare-Do-Well 3has, after all, had some experience with fame. Both craving it, and having it. Also, some experience in living forever... after a fashion.
  156. [2014-06-25 14:26:59] * Get_Lost "i know something about infamy...."
  157. [2014-06-25 14:27:13] * Golden_Dream looks at the rest of the group. "It's easy. A secret is knowledge that y' don't want folks knowing, right? So, when it gets told around, it loses purpose as a secret. But knowledge what's purpose is to spread around? I think Mare-Do-Well's right on the caps."
  158. [2014-06-25 14:28:38] * Bookwright nods. "Fame, stories of heroism, yes..."
  159. [2014-06-25 14:29:36] * Shatara meep and blushgrins innocently back at Mare-Do-Well.
  160. [2014-06-25 14:30:09] * Get_Lost calls for parlay and as soon as the flying saucer arrives, gives diretions to her "take a look around, check for turrets or anything pony or zebra made outside this camp in a range of five seconds of flight... be careful, please"
  161. [2014-06-25 14:31:12] * Noble_Heart looks up towards the obalisk. "Years ago, a pony tried to seize control of the sun and moon. He paid for his choices. It makes Us wonder whether controlling them again would be for the best at all. Doubtless many would seek to oppose such domination."
  162. [2014-06-25 14:33:10] * Golden_Dream trots up to the purple alicorn. "... Says the group that's going to the Zebra Lands t' pull up a balefire bomb t' bring it back t' somepony."
  163. [2014-06-25 14:33:33] * Shatara also retroactively blushes from CopyCat's rubbings way back there
  164. [2014-06-25 14:34:26] * Noble_Heart blinks and looks down to Golden Dream. "A single balefire bomb is not nearly as dangerous as what might be done with the sun. You may be too young to remember Celestia One, but We are not."
  165. [2014-06-25 14:35:49] * Bookwright "As I recall, the Equestrian megaspells were solar-based."
  166. [2014-06-25 14:37:59] * Get_Lost "well, technically, with the sun you can hardreset life on the planet... only, there could be no restart"
  167. [2014-06-25 14:39:24] * Get_Lost "with a balefire bomb you can only be, at worst, a giant asshole who deserves anything bad that will come to him"
  168. <CopyCat> * CopyCat smiles at Shatara and rejoins the conversation. "But the important thing is that these obelisks are part of some magic network and our note-leaver thwarted plans to use them against Equestria."
  169. [2014-06-25 14:42:47] * Golden_Dream looks up at the obelisk. "... So. Who wants in first?"
  170. [2014-06-25 14:44:53] * Noble_Heart stands up, folding her wings again and moving towards the obelisk. "We shall lead the way." She causes her horn to glow as she steps into the darkness.
  171. [2014-06-25 14:45:00] * Get_Lost lets the most adventurous ones check the cave. instead, she will check the boxes and salvage the salvageable
  172. [2014-06-25 14:49:41] <Mare-Do-Well> 3A moment after Parley flies off, the group hear the mechanical sounds of more turrets firing somewhere above them. There appear to be several on top of the ridge, guarding the obelisk itself or something up there with it.
  173. [2014-06-25 14:50:16] * CopyCat eeps and tries to hide under somepony.
  174. [2014-06-25 14:50:34] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Parley swoops balefully back, draped in glistening netting, and beeps forlornly at Get_Lost.
  175. [2014-06-25 14:50:56] * Shatara blinkblinks, finding the larger alicorn beneath him. He blushes a lot.
  176. [2014-06-25 14:52:54] * Bookwright "Well, it was a noble try, Get Lost."
  177. [2014-06-25 14:53:19] * CopyCat gasps. "Look, they are trying to catch us in nets! I'm not a fish and I'm still not a bird!"
  178. [2014-06-25 14:54:56] * Bookwright "And you're not a pony either. You're all of those things, and MORE!"
  179. [2014-06-25 14:55:04] * Bookwright has madness glinting in his eyes.
  180. [2014-06-25 14:55:19] * Bookwright shakes it off after a moment, and all is normal again. Probably.
  181. [2014-06-25 14:55:26] * Get_Lost frowns "okay, scouting was a bad idea... stay here with me, dear" thinks twice "ah... have you seen any giant spider out there? HEY CAN YOU MAKE LESS NOISE WITH THE TURRETS!?"
  182. [2014-06-25 14:55:35] * CopyCat blinks. "I'm... all the things?"
  183. [2014-06-25 14:56:00] * Bookwright nods eagerly. "All the things. I've confirmed it with SCIENCE!"
  184. [2014-06-25 14:56:41] * Noble_Heart face-hoofs. "Bookwright, you should really not confuse her that way." She shakes her head and moves further in. "The turrets above are likely defense against pegasi and other flying creatures."
  185. [2014-06-25 14:57:59] * Golden_Dream gives a good-hearted chuckle. "Yer science is silly." She looks at the netted up thing. "... We should try t' sneak around th' turrets." She looks at Shatara. "Better yet. Shatara, why don't y'all get a bird's eye view and try t' snipe 'em off from a distance?"
  186. [2014-06-25 14:58:19] * Golden_Dream cringes. "Or, well. Noble's right. Prolly not a good idea."
  187. [2014-06-25 15:00:19] * Golden_Dream churns that thought around in her head. "Shatara, yer' th' military tech buff. Whaddy' think we should do here?"
  188. [2014-06-25 15:01:20] * Bookwright sighs, and agrees to abide by Noble_Heart's wishes... For now.
  189. [2014-06-25 15:01:53] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Noble_Heart's horn lights up the tunnel. The stonework walls have a line of glyphs running down the center. The hall is not long, and descends only a few steps before reaching a central chamber. Two other halls, nearly identical, also meet in this chamber, and daylight can be seen from the ends of them.
  190. [2014-06-25 15:02:39] * CopyCat winks at Bookwright and loudly whispers: "It's okay, we both know the truth."
  191. [2014-06-25 15:03:19] * Bookwright remembers the pulse of magic. "Whatever Daring Do did, she didn't shut down this place entirely. There's still a spark in this old stonework. We should be careful not to throw and levers or press any big, red, candylike buttons."
  192. [2014-06-25 15:04:38] <Mare-Do-Well> 3In the center of the chamber is a large stone carving -- a glyph-covered column enwrapped by a coiling, feathery serpent. The stone couatl's eyes are large rubies.
  193. [2014-06-25 15:04:42] * CopyCat gains her own mad gleam in her eye. "Big, red, candylike buttons, you say?"
  194. [2014-06-25 15:05:10] * Bookwright immediately regrets his words.
  195. [2014-06-25 15:05:33] * Noble_Heart blinks at Bookwright's concept of what might be here, then chuckles. "Perhaps we should avoid engaging in any omnious zebric chanting, as well." She moves forwards and looks up at the strange obelisk. "A feathered serpent. Like the pins which were being worn by Daring Do's attackers."
  196. [2014-06-25 15:06:48] * Bookwright waves a dismissive forehoof. "Yes, yes, I'll be sure to refrain from any klaatus, baradas, and niktos."
  197. [2014-06-25 15:07:13] * Golden_Dream looks around for errant spirit magic bullcrap. "Figure this might be their turf."
  198. [2014-06-25 15:07:18] * CopyCat nods. "And if anyzebra offers you some precious eagle cactus fruit... do not eat it."
  199. [2014-06-25 15:08:18] * Bookwright narrows his eyes. "Is that stuff the same thing as 'bird shit'?"
  200. [2014-06-25 15:09:34] * Golden_Dream looks up at the rubies. She becomes very visually conflicted.
  201. [2014-06-25 15:11:53] * Noble_Heart slowly walks around the odd shrine, looking at the walls and center again. "Perhaps this was the focal point? There must be many others which are feeding power here. Or were once."
  202. [2014-06-25 15:14:35] * Golden_Dream tilts her head. "Now, see, this is th' part of th' book where th' greedy old stallion goes up and steals th' rubies, and then th' whole place comes down and a bunch of manticores come pourin' out of th' walls, and it's all his fault. I'm not a greedy old stallion, but I still think those'd prolly fetch a pretty couple of caps."
  203. [2014-06-25 15:16:26] * Golden_Dream scratches her chin. "So, I'm worryin' whether or not that th' folks what made this place knows that's what happens."
  204. [2014-06-25 15:16:32] * Bookwright "Did you literally just explain that stealing those jewels would be a very bad idea in a storybook, and then proceed to declare your intent to steal them!?"
  205. [2014-06-25 15:18:03] * Noble_Heart looks up at the gems and contemplates that. "It is unlikely that they would cause this obalisk to collapse. More likely, the spirit to whom it is dedicated would curse you in some horrible way. Gemstones such as those are commonly used in zebra spirit-binding magic as a sacrifice or home for the spirit which is providing power." She frowns a bit. "Such large gems in such
  206. [2014-06-25 15:18:04] * Noble_Heart a specialized shrine, no doubt the spirit of this place is powerful indeed."
  207. [2014-06-25 15:18:19] * Golden_Dream sharply exhales. "No, I'm just kinda angry that stuff that happens in story books wound up starting to show up in real life."
  208. [2014-06-25 15:19:14] |<-- Get_Lost has left irc.canternet.org (Quit: Leaving)
  209. [2014-06-25 15:19:25] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Get_Lost unfortunately finds nothing in the remaining crates worth salvaging.
  210. [2014-06-25 15:22:23] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Golden_Dream appraises the gems. (Beauty 12, Rarity 6... very impressive!)
  211. [2014-06-25 15:23:45] * CopyCat oogles the jewels. "Ooo, purdy."
  212. [2014-06-25 15:24:37] * Golden_Dream bites her lip. "Celestia darnit!" She bucks the air behind her. "Those would prolly feed y'all for a week!"
  213. [2014-06-25 15:25:25] * Shatara blinks and tilts his head.
  214. [2014-06-25 15:25:52] * Bookwright "Just... leave it, okay?"
  215. [2014-06-25 15:26:11] * CopyCat blinks at Golden_Dream. "Feed me? But..." She suddenly turns to Bookwright. "Am I a dragon, too?"
  216. [2014-06-25 15:26:54] * Golden_Dream sucks in air between her teeth. "Yeah, I will, it just friggin' sucks is all."
  217. [2014-06-25 15:27:15] * Bookwright nods. "Yes. Also, a carnivorous, pony-eating plant."
  218. [2014-06-25 15:28:31] * Noble_Heart groans and closes her eyes as Bookwright continues to make CopyCat's troubles with self-identification worse. She sighs quietly and looks to Golden Dream. "You would have to find someone willing to buy them. Which means finding an intact Zebra town. Which we have not done so far."
  219. [2014-06-25 15:28:40] * CopyCat glees. "Oh, let's open a little shop!"
  220. [2014-06-25 15:30:29] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mare-Do-Well floats alongside Golden_Dream. "Well, we are in a Daring Do story." She looks to Bookwright, "To be fair, you were the one talking about big, red, candylike things."
  221. [2014-06-25 15:30:52] * Golden_Dream circles around the place. "Left hoof rule. Left hallway from th' entrance. Let's go there, darnit."
  222. [2014-06-25 15:32:24] * Bookwright "Yeah, I was saying we shouldn't tempt fate by messing with such things! They were examples!"
  223. [2014-06-25 15:32:33] * Mare-Do-Well 3considers that advice, then flies straight up, disappearing into the ceiling.
  224. [2014-06-25 15:38:57] * Mare-Do-Well 3sticks her head back down through the ceiling a moment later. "Yep. This thing is directly beneath the obelisk." She adds, "Also, four turrets and a missile wagon."
  225. [2014-06-25 15:39:14] |<-- Stupid_Steps has left irc.canternet.org (Quit: ChatZilla 0.9.90.1 [Firefox 30.0/20140605174243])
  226. [2014-06-25 15:39:49] * Golden_Dream frowns. "Th' left exit over there look clear?"
  227. [2014-06-25 15:40:39] * Shatara ooohs "Missiles?"
  228. [2014-06-25 15:42:11] * Bookwright "So in other words, /definitely/ don't go prying the gems out. Gotcha."
  229. [2014-06-25 15:42:25] * Bookwright gives Golden_Dream a severe look. "Got it?"
  230. [2014-06-25 15:43:10] * Golden_Dream huffs. "Left it is!" She begins going left. She's not stupid. She's opportunistic.
  231. [2014-06-25 15:43:36] * Noble_Heart blinks and moves off down the side tunnel as well. This place was definitely doing some job, but she wasn't certain what job.
  232. [2014-06-25 15:48:35] * CopyCat stares at the rubies, letting their reflection fill her deep red eyes. "Com~ing," she sings, and follows her friends through the left passage.
  233. [2014-06-25 15:55:18] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The left hallway quickly exits into bright jungle daylight -- another entrance into the ridge from a different side, showing the ridge itself to be an upthrust of rock no more than a hundred yards across at its widest, forming a miniature plateau amongst the dense foliage.
  234. [2014-06-25 15:55:42] <Mare-Do-Well> 3>whirrr< <Pah-thunk!>
  235. [2014-06-25 15:57:43] * Noble_Heart blinks. "Back inside! There's another turret out here!" She backs away from the entrance towards the interior. Hopefully the turrets were built to only cover the exterior areas.
  236. [2014-06-25 15:58:38] * CopyCat gasps. "I don't want to be covered in bread crumbs!"
  237. [2014-06-25 16:00:15] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The turret hidden within the wall of leaves just outside fires point-blank at Golden_Dream... but no projectile shoots forth.
  238. [2014-06-25 16:01:43] * Bookwright "Er, is it out of ammo?"
  239. [2014-06-25 16:03:05] * Shatara tires to get a better look at the offending automation
  240. [2014-06-25 16:03:21] * Golden_Dream backs off quickly out of line of fire. Hopefully. "It's two hundred years old in th' middle of a jungle! It prolly just jammed!"
  241. [2014-06-25 16:04:12] * Noble_Heart shakes her head. "It would seem unlikely to be out of ammo. None of the others we have encountered are. And likely none come here."
  242. [2014-06-25 16:04:41] * Bookwright "So... I guess it jammed then? This is a prime opportunity to take it apart! Go for it, Shatara!"
  243. [2014-06-25 16:11:59] * Shatara tries to see if there are any other turrets covering it before charging into the open.
  244. [2014-06-25 16:12:34] * Golden_Dream pulls her shotgun. This is going to be loud, reverberat-y, and will suck if she actually has to use it.
  245. [2014-06-25 16:13:13] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Shatara quickly spots the second turret... or, at least, what's left of it. It looks like it got stepping on by something unreasonably large several decades ago.
  246. [2014-06-25 16:20:21] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The live turret continuously makes futile attempts to shoot Golden_Dream as Shatara goes to work, soon deactivating and dismantling it. The firing mechanism is a mess, and the sensor array has degraded significantly, but Shatara is able to salvage six odd canisters and a reservoir of liquid poison (thankfully without contacting any of it).
  247. [2014-06-25 16:20:43] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Eleven doses of the unidentified poison.
  248. [2014-06-25 16:22:35] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The function of the turret's firing system is easy for Shatara to glean: the canisters contain nets, and are designed to break apart when they near their target. As the canister is fired, the turret injects the canister with a dose of the poison, soaking the net with it.
  249. [2014-06-25 16:27:45] * Golden_Dream looks at it around the corner. "Oh! Neat! Y' think y' can detach it and use th' gun?"
  250. [2014-06-25 16:30:50] * Shatara takes a closer look at the firing mechanism, to see how hard it would be to slap a trigger on it.
  251. [2014-06-25 16:33:56] * Noble_Heart tilts her head to one side. "A live capture system might be useful, yes."
  252. [2014-06-25 16:36:35] * Shatara hmmms. "It looks like it's pretty beat up...the mechanism basically tried to eat itself. We'll need parts if we want it servicable again."
  253. [2014-06-25 16:37:58] * Noble_Heart nods. "Perhaps we can find the power supply for the turrets or control terminals somewhere within the monolith."
  254. [2014-06-25 16:40:40] * CopyCat tilts her head. "Soooo, more exploring the stone corridors?"
  255. [2014-06-25 16:40:49] * Bookwright "Perhaps CopyCat can throw the stun nets at our enemies with her enormous hands?"
  256. [2014-06-25 16:41:38] * CopyCat blinks at her hooves and experiences a minor existential crisis.
  257. [2014-06-25 16:41:42] * Noble_Heart groans and face hoofs. She turns in place and faces Bookwright, looking down at him in annoyance. "Our sister is suffering from long term problems identifying herself and what she is and who she is. You. Are. Not. Helping." she prods him in the chest with a forehoof after each word.
  258. [2014-06-25 16:41:43] * Shatara blinks. "...hands?"
  259. [2014-06-25 16:42:00] * Shatara begins to join in CopyCat's confusion.
  260. [2014-06-25 16:42:29] * Shatara shakes it off. "Right...so...let's gather all this up and get moving..."
  261. [2014-06-25 16:44:30] * CopyCat touches her own face.
  262. [2014-06-25 16:45:09] * Bookwright "...Right. Sorry. I'm just being silly today, I don't mean that seriously, Copy Cat. It was a joke, and I apologize."
  263. [2014-06-25 16:46:33] * CopyCat blinks again. "Oh? Oh! So that's why I can't pick my nose. I thought something was wrong with me."
  264. [2014-06-25 16:47:12] * Bookwright "But you can pick your friends!"
  265. [2014-06-25 16:47:26] * Bookwright sombers up. "But you can't pick your friend's noses."
  266. [2014-06-25 16:47:49] * Noble_Heart sighs quietly and shakes her head briefly before turning back towards the main chamber.
  267. [2014-06-25 16:51:32] * Mare-Do-Well 3mutters something about "..well, technically you can..." but only Golden_Dream and Get_Lost can hear it.
  268. [2014-06-25 16:51:59] * Golden_Dream follows it, kind of feeling a tad uncomfortable.
  269. [2014-06-25 16:55:00] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Noble_Heart and Golden_Dream soon find themselves back in the main chamber, staring at the column beneath the obelisk, and the ruby-eyed feathered serpent.
  270. [2014-06-25 16:55:23] * Noble_Heart looks off for other exits from the room. Somewhere that might actually lead to a different chamber.
  271. [2014-06-25 16:56:19] * Bookwright "A bunkmate of mine was always saying that you could pick your friends, and you could pick your nose, but you couldn't pick your friend's noses... I was never really sure what it meant."
  272. [2014-06-25 16:59:49] * CopyCat stares at the rubies again. "It means he needs to work on his yuri hooves... Are we sure we shouldn't try taking those?"
  273. [2014-06-25 17:00:29] * Bookwright shakes his head. "Every single Daring Do book I've read says that taking those jewels would only cause the floor to fall away and reveal lava or something."
  274. [2014-06-25 17:00:42] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The last hallway doesn't seem to offer much more. It is longer, but even from here, Noble_Heart can see the daylight at the end of the tunnel.
  275. [2014-06-25 17:00:49] * Golden_Dream starts to bring out her rope and ties it with her winter outfit. Hopefully, her plan won't ruin it. Hopefully. "Alright. Bookie, do yer seein' magic thing t' ping down th' hall and see if there's any more o' those."
  276. [2014-06-25 17:01:32] * Bookwright focuses his magic, and scans.
  277. [2014-06-25 17:01:55] * Noble_Heart frowns, focusing her magic into a shield before heading down the last hallway. Looking for any side tunnels off of that one.
  278. [2014-06-25 17:03:20] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Again, Bookwright witnesses the pulse of magic, flowing down the lines of glyphs in each hallway simultaneously, moving inwards towards the column. The magical wave reaches the chamber, the glyphs on the column briefly light up, rising upwards into the stone ceiling.
  279. [2014-06-25 17:04:53] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Noble_Heart finds several crates stacked alongside the tunnel wall, but no alcoves or side passages. This place seems relatively small and straightforward.
  280. [2014-06-25 17:05:21] * Bookwright releases the spell. "Same pulse of magic flowing along the glyphs I saw before, Golden Dream."
  281. [2014-06-25 17:06:33] * Noble_Heart frowns and opens the crates curiously. "Perhaps this is just one of the relay towers, and not the central tower to which Daring Do eluded?"
  282. [2014-06-25 17:06:35] * Bookwright "Otherwise, nothing else."
  283. [2014-06-25 17:07:46] * Golden_Dream sighs. "Then prepare fer th' nets. Get ready t' dodge, everyone." She slowly creeps through the right hallway, tense as a violin string. She glances at her pipbuck map to see if there's anything around.
  284. [2014-06-25 17:11:51] * CopyCat clears her throat. "We could also try to distract the turrets so Shatara can dismantle them safely. Our shields should help against those nets."
  285. [2014-06-25 17:13:14] * Golden_Dream blink blinks. Shit, that's a good point. "Actually, why don't you and Noble go on ahead with them shields and just walk on through. Not like th' poison'd be touching you at any rate.
  286. [2014-06-25 17:13:21] * Bookwright mentally conflates alicorn shields to yaoi hooves and grants himself the pleasure of a small smile before dismissing the thought.
  287. [2014-06-25 17:13:41] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Inside the crate, Noble_Heart finds several cloaks, folded neatly. Each with a clasp in the form of a serpent's head surrounded by feathers.
  288. [2014-06-25 17:16:08] * Noble_Heart nods her head. "That was indeed Our plan." She frowns. "These cloaks look like the ones which Daring Do described in her story." She shook her head and turned to continue down the passage. They didn't mean anything to her, right now, after all.
  289. [2014-06-25 17:16:40] * Bookwright pops up next to Noble_Heart and grins excitedly. "So! What'd you find? Are they made of skin?"
  290. [2014-06-25 17:17:48] * Noble_Heart blinks in confusion and surprise. "Um. We... Don't believe so? They look to be normal cloth cloaks. You are welcome to take a look at them."
  291. [2014-06-25 17:17:50] * Mare-Do-Well 3floats nearby, flapping her wings mostly out of centuries of habit. "When I was younger, I'd be so geeking out. It's like we're in a Daring Do story. And we're getting bits of her never-printed final book too! So... awesome!" She squees a moment, then her face falls. "But then I remember that I sent her here. And the real-ness of everything."
  292. [2014-06-25 17:18:36] * Noble_Heart looks up to Mare-Do-Well. "Why DID you send her here? Do you remember? She has not specified a mission beyond gathering intelligence, after all."
  293. [2014-06-25 17:18:38] * Golden_Dream comes over to examine them. Were they any more sturdy than the cloak she had on?
  294. [2014-06-25 17:18:58] * Bookwright inspects the cloaks closely. They do seem to match the story quite well. "The word we were using when we were kids was 'bummer', Ar-Bee-Dee".
  295. [2014-06-25 17:20:21] * CopyCat immediately attempts to put one of the cloaks on. "I'm Supermare!"
  296. [2014-06-25 17:21:07] * Bookwright shakes his head. "You can't be. Your name doesn't start with the letter 'C'."
  297. [2014-06-25 17:22:44] * CopyCat puts a hoof up to her lip to Shhh Bookwright. "Nopony must know my secret identity."
  298. [2014-06-25 17:23:04] * Mare-Do-Well 3nods. "We knew the Legion was doing something in the Basin. That was her turf... so to speak. She knew it like she knew her flank... best pony to send in for recon." She frowns, looking at the cloaks. "These are just like the ones worn by the bad guys in /Daring Do and the Griffon's Goblet/."
  299. [2014-06-25 17:23:52] * Bookwright "Evidently, Daring Do's novels were less fictional than they purported to be."
  300. [2014-06-25 17:24:32] * Golden_Dream blinks. "You'd think you'd know yer hoof better than you'd know yer flank."
  301. [2014-06-25 17:25:16] * Mare-Do-Well 3disagrees. "Who doesn't know their cutie mark better than any other part of their body?"
  302. [2014-06-25 17:25:26] * Bookwright nods sagely.
  303. [2014-06-25 17:26:07] * CopyCat twirls in her cloak and giggles. "And they are just like the one worn by me in /Lenore and the Obsequious Obelisk/!"
  304. [2014-06-25 17:26:25] * Noble_Heart gives a brief glance towards her flank. Which, thankfully, was currently armored and thus not quite as conspicuously blank as it might otherwise have been. She instead moves on towards the light at the end of the tunnel.
  305. [2014-06-25 17:26:34] * Bookwright gapes at CopyCat. "Uh, I don't remember that one..."
  306. [2014-06-25 17:27:47] * Shatara takes a moment to look at his own flank. It is fuzzy.
  307. [2014-06-25 17:28:02] <Shatara> (well, under the armor, at least. x3)
  308. [2014-06-25 17:28:14] * Bookwright notices Shatara's movement. "It's a figure of speech, guy."
  309. [2014-06-25 17:30:34] * Mare-Do-Well 3chuckles at CopyCat's antics.
  310. [2014-06-25 17:30:46] * Bookwright collects a cloak and throws it over his shoulders, latching the clasp. "Hey, this is pretty nice."
  311. [2014-06-25 17:31:21] * Shatara peeks at one of the cloaks.
  312. [2014-06-25 17:31:39] * Golden_Dream tilts her head, and then looks at CopyCat's blank flank. "I'm guessin' them alercorns, fer one." She puts on one cloak over her other one and poses. "Behold villians! Most superheroes have one cape, /but I have two!/ I'm double th' superhero!"
  313. [2014-06-25 17:32:15] * Mare-Do-Well 3nods to Bookwright. "Yeah, you could totally pass for a cultist of the Quetzalcóatl Empress now. Except you're a pony."
  314. [2014-06-25 17:33:03] * Bookwright "A cultist of the pretzel-coddle Empress?"
  315. [2014-06-25 17:33:19] * Golden_Dream narrows her eyes and thinks back. "Hey, refresh my memory on who that one was again?"
  316. [2014-06-25 17:33:26] * Mare-Do-Well 3glares. "You never read the Daring Do books, have you?"
  317. [2014-06-25 17:33:35] * Shatara tosses the cloak over himself. "Pretzels are nice, but I dont think they're very good for cuddling."
  318. [2014-06-25 17:33:39] * Mare-Do-Well 3glares at Bookwright, that is.
  319. [2014-06-25 17:34:53] * Bookwright is flustered. "Of course I have! I've just never, er, heard that name pronounced. One of the disadvantages of reading, y'know."
  320. [2014-06-25 17:35:41] * Golden_Dream waves her hooves. "Hey, Mare-Do-Well. Knock it off. We've only had twenty five years of having trees t' make paper with. Legible books are kinda scarce.
  321. [2014-06-25 17:39:17] * Mare-Do-Well 3sighs. "In /Daring Do and the Griffon's Goblet/, the Cult of the Quetzalcóatl Empress takes over the Tenochtitlan Basin, shrouding it under the Empress' dark magic, but their efforts to summon forth Quetzalcóatl is foiled by Daring Do, who kicks their flanks..."
  322. [2014-06-25 17:41:28] * Mare-Do-Well 3continues, "Then in /Daring Do and the Amulet of Atonement/, Ahuizotl attempts to take the Quetzalcóatl Empress's power for himself, having secured some sort of secret passage in and out of the Basin. Daring Do thwarts him, but just barely..."
  323. [2014-06-25 17:41:57] * Mare-Do-Well 3finishes, "Then, in /Daring Do and the Razor of Dreams/, she finally defeats Ahuizotl and secures control of the Amulet of Atonement, dispelling the dark magic of the Quetzalcóatl Empress, and thus protecting the basin with the Radiant Shield of Rasdon!"
  324. [2014-06-25 17:42:42] * Golden_Dream 's ear perks up. "Mare-Do-Well, where'd they say th' Radiant Shield of Rasdon went?"
  325. [2014-06-25 17:43:50] * Bookwright sighs and shakes his head. "Golden, weren't you listening? We're /in/ the Radiant Shield of Rasdon!"
  326. [2014-06-25 17:44:28] * Bookwright points a hoof upwards, indicating the Obelisk above. "These tunnels, that rock, those glyphs... We're /inside/ the Shield!"
  327. [2014-06-25 17:44:56] * Mare-Do-Well 3noddles sagely.
  328. [2014-06-25 17:45:04] * Golden_Dream looks up. Oh.
  329. [2014-06-25 17:45:16] * Golden_Dream saw now.
  330. [2014-06-25 17:46:01] <Golden_Dream> "... You know, I expected it t' be more gold-bronzy colored."
  331. [2014-06-25 17:46:22] * Bookwright snorts. "It's not El Dorado."
  332. [2014-06-25 17:46:45] * Noble_Heart pauses in the tunnel. "It seems likely to Us that this is but one of the obalisks that powers the shield. Likely the central shield is somewhere else."
  333. [2014-06-25 17:47:26] * Bookwright mutters to himself, "At least, I think. Probably. Unless 'El Dorado' means 'Great Big Rock'..."
  334. [2014-06-25 17:48:19] * Mare-Do-Well 3points to Golden_Dream's PipBuck. "Daring Do said the obelisks were built by Rasdon. Called them "magical nodes in a web of spiritual magic". There's a whole bunch of these all over the Tenochtitlan Basin."
  335. [2014-06-25 17:48:53] * Golden_Dream thinks. "So, Mare-Do-Well. Do you think th' central place where y' can command it to do stuff is actually in th' center here?"
  336. [2014-06-25 17:55:07] * Bookwright "If Daring Do's novels are anything to go on, which at this point we must assume that they are, the control center of the Shield was the Fortress of Talicon, but that was destroyed in /Daring Do and the Ring of Destiny/."
  337. [2014-06-25 17:56:09] * Mare-Do-Well 3would blush if she had blood or flesh. "Yeah..."
  338. [2014-06-25 17:57:59] * Bookwright "I suppose it's possible we could go to the Ruins of Talicon, and see if the controls can be repaired... But I don't know if that's our best option. Something this powerful wouldn't have just one control center. Or at least, /I/ wouldn't build something this powerful without a backup somewhere."
  339. [2014-06-25 17:58:56] * Mare-Do-Well 3perks up. "Well, Daring Do stopped them, right? Do obviously she did something. Probably something awesome!"
  340. [2014-06-25 17:59:39] * CopyCat tilts her head. "Why do we want to find the control center? Nopony has asked us to, have they?"
  341. [2014-06-25 18:00:18] * Noble_Heart tapped her chin. "There must be some way to control it. Or at least some way that the legionnaires thought they could control it."
  342. [2014-06-25 18:00:27] * Bookwright "Well, Golden Dream here asked about it. And I think that making sure nothing untoward is done with it is a good idea."
  343. [2014-06-25 18:02:10] * Golden_Dream ponders. "Same reason we're bein' real watchful of where that balefire bomb goes."
  344. [2014-06-25 18:02:34] * Bookwright "We've still got to find the Element of Laughter too, remember?"
  345. [2014-06-25 18:03:04] * CopyCat nods.
  346. [2014-06-25 18:03:13] * Mare-Do-Well 3nods. Then mutters something about still not being able to imagine that with anyone other than Pinkie Pie.
  347. [2014-06-25 18:04:23] * Golden_Dream looks over the map on the pipbuck for any nearby indicators.
  348. [2014-06-25 18:05:33] <Mare-Do-Well> 3--- End of Session ---
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