Isle Del Sol Session IX

Session Start: Sun Aug 10 13:03:26 2014
Session Ident:#FalloutEquestriaPNP2
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[14:24] ->> Topic is: * Current rulebook:  http://derpy.me/foerp | Dicebot/OOC: #FalloutEquestriaDice2 | Character sheets:  http://derpy.me/mk17k | All the forum threads you could possibly need!: http://derpy.me/pnpboard
[14:24] ->> Topic set by Dimestream on 1/29/2014 3:13:58 AM
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[14:33] * Jackelmandingo ([email protected]) has joined #FalloutEquestriaPNP2
[14:39] * Somber ([email protected]) has joined #FalloutEquestriaPNP2
[14:39] * ChanServ sets mode +h Somber for #FalloutEquestriaPNP2
[14:41] * Scorch_Mechanic[A] ([email protected]) has joined #FalloutEquestriaPNP2
[14:42] * Scorch_Mechanic[A] is now known as Scorch_Mechanic
[14:42] * Scorch_Mechanic is now known as Callie
[14:50] * Candlelight_Sonata ([email protected]) has joined #FalloutEquestriaPNP2
[14:53] * Jackelmandingo is now known as Harris
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[15:01] * ChanServ sets mode +o Ilushia for #FalloutEquestriaPNP2
[15:01] * Ilushia is now known as Naphtha
[15:02] * Callie is now known as Vera
[15:02] * Vera is now known as Callie
[15:02] * Callie is now known as Vera
[15:21] * Aria ([email protected]) has joined #FalloutEquestriaPNP2
[15:22] * Aria is now known as Calamine
[15:25] <%Somber> The companions had discovered a plot.  A valuable component in the shipment had been the valuable thing of worth and the reason why Silver Broach was so determined to get it back.  Now there was just the question of what the companions would do next?  Go back to the sugar refinery to verify the medical supplies were taken, or find where Coupon had run off to.
[15:29] * Vera is quite cheerful. "So! We can go find where Coupon went off to and probably get into a shooting battle, or we can go track down the medical supplies and get into a shooting battle later. Either way, I think there's gonna be some shooting and some battle!"
[15:30] * Naphtha looks up to Sonata. "We need to get back to the refugees. Fast! I think... I think Coupon's going to go and try to get the medical supplies right now!"
[15:30] * Calamine nods, although she looks physically and mentally drained. "We have to help them."
[15:31] * Candlelight_Sonata is a little dismayed about how cheery Vera seems.  "Um, I think I think I agree with Naphtha.  Them folks don't deserve the kinds of hurt that Coupon could be ready to rain down on them.  But I don't want to jump to conclusions with him, neither.  Let's go!"
[15:31] * Harris nods to Vera and Naphtha "Yes back to the refugees. Thats where to find Coupon. Now quickly go."
[15:32] * Vera shrugs. "Hey, you guys are the bosses! I'm just the help. I'm here to help /you,/ remember?"
[15:33] <%Somber> It takes about an hour to rush back to the refinery.  They find Hoe and the others have restored their meager defenses, but when they see the friends approach they rise.  "Come around to the right.  We found a few more mines, but you should be safe if you hug the right side of the road!"
[15:35] * Calamine is absolutely exhausted as they arrive. She simply nods and sticks to the right side of the road.
[15:36] * Vera "Sure, sure. They are yours, after all!"
[15:36] * Candlelight_Sonata flutters slightly above the right side of the road, making sure that Naphtha and Calamine make it through ok.  She assumes Harris and Vera will be fine.  Strifer probably won't try to play hug the mine.  Probably.
[15:37] * Naphtha swallows nervously. "If... If he's not here, and the supplies aren't, that means he's already gotten them. S-so someone here must know when they saw him and maybe have some idea where he went."
[15:37] * Strifer has no intention of hugging mines, they mess her mane up oh so much. They also hurt, a lot
[15:37] <%Somber> They're able to get around to the sugar refinery. Hoe frowns at the friends.  "What's going on?" the scarred earth pony asked.
[15:40] * Candlelight_Sonata looks to Hoe.  "Hoe, we just..."  She pauses and shakes ehr head to collect her thoughts.  "Something changed.  Ya'll didn't happen to have any interactions with a pony named Coupon?"
[15:41] * Harris follows up from the rear giving the mines a look from a distance
[15:41] <%Somber> She frowns but nods.  "He provided us with the weapons to attack the train.  Why?"
[15:42] * Vera "Really? Out of the kindness of his heart?"
[15:42] * Naphtha fidgets. "There was a box of medical supplies on the train, worth more than all the food on it put together. W-we think he wanted to steal it, so he gave you the information knowing you'd attack that train, then he could get the medical supplies and pin the attack on you. Then when then Silvers found out they'd get him to try and fix it, he'd hire mercenaries to wipe you
[15:42] * Naphtha out, you'd all die, the supplies would go missing and he'd pocket the money from it."
[15:43] * Harris moves up to Hoe and Candlelight_Sonata "Can we have a look at the stuff from the train? There may be some meds that are for some ponies."
[15:44] <%Somber> Her eyes popped wide.  "You mean that box of healing potions?  They'd wipe us out for that?!"  She scowled as she stepped aside and gestured to the train car.
[15:44] * Candlelight_Sonata waves a hoof from pony to dragon to griffon before shrugging.
[15:45] * Calamine sits down in a corner, trying to meditate, but almost immediately falls asleep sitting up.
[15:45] * Candlelight_Sonata shakes her head.  "From what we were told, they weren't just plain old healing potions."
[15:45] <%Somber> "Well that was the only thing 'medical' on the train.  That was the first thing we checked." Hoe said sourly.
[15:46] * Naphtha chewed her lower lip. "They were supposed to be rare herbal remedies. Something that was difficult to grow and harvest on the island. Theyw ouldn't have been labeled as medical, probably. J-just some herbs packed in a box."
[15:46] * Strifer mutters something about these ponies probebly just smoked it all...
[15:46] <%Somber> She shook her head.  After an hour of searching and checking the inventory, at least a half dozen things are missing... all very valuable items.
[15:47] * Naphtha flopped over backwards as they stopped with the last box and fidgeted nervously. "H-he must have already come and gotten it from someone here..."
[15:47] * Candlelight_Sonata looks worried.  "But how...?"
[15:49] * Vera "Wrong question. Question is, who?"
[15:50] * Candlelight_Sonata looks to Hoe.  "Look, thing is, there were some valuable herbs in here that were bound for ponies who were really ill.  The Silvers don't care about the food.  They..."  she coughs.  "Ahem, more or less could do to lose it.  But I really don't want to see them coming down on you folks because that's missing."
[15:51] * Harris sits going through some of his stuff, then looks up at the rest "And now Coupon has had a good two hours head start on us. Should have just gone after him. Oh well." giving a shrug
[15:51] <%Somber> "We don't want them coming down on us either!  We have infants here!  But I'm telling you, these goods yer after aren't on this train."
[15:52] * Strifer kicks at the ground. "Well, this was a big fucking waste of time.  Now what?"
[15:53] * Vera "Somepony here must have seen /something./ Let's ask around. Starting with you, Hoe. Is there anypony here that you don't trust?"
[15:54] <%Somber> "No.  I trust all these girls.  Coupon approached me.  Said he sympathized with us starving out here and had a crate of surplus weapons and ammunition and told us where and when to hit.  Said we just needed to take the last car."
[15:55] * Strifer nods at Hoe. "Yo, these weapons you got, Coupon traded them here or did you meet up somewhere else?"
[15:56] <%Somber> "He left them at an abandoned farm house north east of Costa Del Sol.  Blue one with a windmill behind it."
[15:56] * Candlelight_Sonata looks to Strifer.  "Think that's were we better go?"
[15:57] * Strifer smirks. "Aight, think we have our next target."
[15:57] * Strifer nods at Candlelight_Sonata. "If you had to bail, youd probebly go to somewhere you think was safe. That's what Id do. And if he's doen trading there..."
[15:57] * Naphtha nods her head, standing up. "It's a place to start, at least." She swallowed nervously. "I think... I think the goods were never -on- the train to begin with though. He had them stolen before they could be loaded..."
[15:57] * Calamine snoozes quietly while somehow looking like she's meditating still.
[15:58] * Vera finishes Naphtha's thought. "...and used the theft of the traincar by these poor hungry ponies to cover it up."
[15:59] * Naphtha nods her head a little sadly. "Y-yeah. It'd be easy to pass off the missing supplies as being used or sold by the ponies here. Nobody would likely dig any deeper than that."
[16:00] * Vera "We're digging it up. Obviously it isn't working."
[16:00] * Candlelight_Sonata nods in agreement, then shakes her head.  "I just... this is tartarus more complicated than I thought.  But I agree, Naphtha.  we should try to the house, see if we can't beat Coupon in his own... double triple crossy game.  Thing."
[16:01] * Strifer flicks her tail back and forth. "We've wasted enough time, lets get out of here." She says, starting to make her way back out of the camp.
[16:01] * Harris gives a snort "Or if them Silvers us a unicorn to go ripping through there heads like an old MoM agent."
[16:02] * Naphtha chews her lower lip, climbing up on Sonata's back again. She wasn't sure where this would end, but it wouldn't be pretty for someone.
[16:03] * Strifer blink blinks, rounds back and poke poke pokes at Calamine. "Oi, we're leaving."
[16:03] * Calamine shakes herself awake. "Wha!? Oh, I, um... I'm sorry."
[16:04] * Candlelight_Sonata looks at Harris curiously.  "MoM?"
[16:04] * Strifer scrunches at Calamine. "Don't be sorry." Then she starts to leave again
[16:05] <%Somber> The companions reverse course immediately.  Halfway to the farm house though, they come across a group of a half dozen of the baron's soldiers from the train depot.  They seem to be looking for some one.
[16:05] * Calamine gets up, rubbing her eyes, and following.
[16:06] * Candlelight_Sonata continues trotting, figuring they aren't looking for her in particular, but raises her wings slightly to shield Naphtha
[16:06] * Harris looks at Candlelight_Sonata "The Pinks, the you better be happy ponies or eles." sighs a bit "The old Equestria's secret police. They scoop you up and rap your mind if they felt like it."
[16:06] * Calamine watches them as they keep trotting. "Maybe they're looking for Coupon, too?'
[16:07] * Vera continues to hover gently through the air towards their destination, paying the soldiers no mind.
[16:07] * Strifer does not care much for the baron or what his soldiers are  doing, just moves past.
[16:07] * Naphtha looks up in the direction of the military ponies. "I don't think there here looking for us. They're probably looking for someone else. Like Coupon, o-or whomever he had working at the train loading depot."
[16:09] * Harris stops and asks one of the troopers if they have seen Coupon
[16:10] <%Somber> As Harris stops they immediately draw their weapons at point them at the griffon.  "That's the one!  He's the last one that left the shop!"  The leader snaps.  "Turn out your bags.  You've been reported for theft!"
[16:11] * Harris looks agast "But thats why where looking for Coupon, there his things" hads them the bag of items "He needed them, and now we'er looking for him, have you seen him?
[16:11] <Harris> "*
[16:12] * Candlelight_Sonata raises an eyebrow at Harris.  "I think you've got the wrong griff, Sir."  She says to the trooper "But best do as lawman says, Harris."
[16:12] * Strifer freezes up, slowly turning her head from Harris to the soldiers then back again. "..the fuck."
[16:13] * Calamine blinks. "Wait. Did Coupon report a shipment of Healing Potions stolen?"
[16:13] <%Somber> "No.  After you left his shop, Silver Broach sent a pony to watch the merchandise, only MUCH of it was stolen.  250 buttons worth.
[16:14] <%Somber> "This griffin was the last one seen leaving the shop."
[16:14] * Naphtha fidgets. "W-what 250 buttons worth?" SHe had a sneaking suspicion she knew what was 'missing'...
[16:15] * Vera "Wow, two-hundred-fifty buttons! What was it?"
[16:16] <%Somber> "Yes."  They opened up the goods Harris handed over.  "In fact, it's these goods your griffin friend is holding on to."  He jabbed a hoof at him.  "For returning them, we'll chalk this up as a 'misunderstanding'.  But you people should be more careful of the company you keep."
[16:16] <%Somber> And the six soldiers return towards Costa Del Sol.
[16:16] * Strifer waves "Okaybyenow! ... fuckers."
[16:17] * Candlelight_Sonata shakes her head.  "That..."  She lets out a breath.  "I'm glad that went better than expected."  she said, looking to Harris.  She put a hoof on the griff's shoulder.  "Good thinking!"
[16:17] * Calamine looks confused. "What was supposedly taken? I don't understand?"
[16:17] * Vera is equally confused.
[16:19] * Vera turns her questioning gaze to Harris.
[16:19] * Naphtha fidgets. "Because he bought it the last time we were there. S-so Coupon probably didn't record the deal he made. When they went over the inventory, it was probably stuff that was missing and they didn't know where it went."
[16:19] * Harris looks to the rest with a slow blink "What?" and then heads of the the abandoned farm house
[16:20] * Vera "So you just... handed over the stuff that we bought? Oh well, easy come, easy go!"
[16:21] * Candlelight_Sonata eyes Harris a little shiftily.  "Uh huh..."  She says, trotting after him and trying to figure out how she feels about him.
[16:21] * Strifer shrugs. "Atleast they didnt take my armor, got that from Coupon too.. Ugh,, this is all to fucking wierd. Lets just get to this place and be done with it."
[16:23] * Vera nods, cheerful demeanor returning instantly. "Right! Let's go find that swindling jerk and hold him upside down until we get our money back!"
[16:23] * Candlelight_Sonata chuckles at Vera.  "You know, that like... I might be ok with that.  Strifer, you up for shaking him?"  She asks.
[16:24] <%Somber> They're able to reach the farm house.  Like most of them, it's been fortified, but looks abandoned.  The fields are full of weeds.  On the roof is a zebra with a rifle.  Two more are outside the front door.
[16:24] * Strifer nods slowly. "Looks like someone is home.."
[16:25] * Naphtha squeaks a little and nods her head.
[16:25] * Candlelight_Sonata looks to the party.  "So... how we wanna run this?  Assume he's in the wrong and charge, or try to talk our way in?"
[16:27] * Strifer yawns heavily, shaking herself. "I.... I bet he'll be more talkative if he dont have any guards around."
[16:27] * Harris wispers to Candlelight_Sonata "Well the lets be friends thing works, but I'll sit back on this one. Just to see how things go." lifts his rifle
[16:30] * Vera smiles at the guard zebras. "Hiya! Is Coupon in? We've got a business meeting with him!"
[16:30] * Naphtha swallows nervously. "I d-don't think the gu-" she was cut off by Vera going to introduce herself.
[16:31] * Candlelight_Sonata had opened her mouth to start planning, then immediately facehooves as Vera wanders up to the door.
[16:31] * Strifer eyerolls and joins Vera. "Really fucking smooth there, good job."
[16:32] * Candlelight_Sonata takes a moment to set Naphtha on the ground and sinks low, readying her rifle.
[16:32] * Strifer cracks her neck, left, then right.
[16:33] * Naphtha did her best to stay low in the grass. Not tha she was any good at being stealthy.
[16:33] * Harris slowly moves off into the cover of the jungle
[16:34] * Calamine stares. "Did she just? Did they? I..."
[16:38] <%Somber> As soon as they approach, one pulls out a revolver and blasts Vera.  One immediately swings her machette at Strifer.  The riflepony on the roof opens fire on Candle.
[16:41] * Calamine gasps as a bullet strikes Candlelight_Sonata. "Sona!" she cries, already in the process of pulling out her medkit.
[16:43] * Candlelight_Sonata squeaks loudly as a bullet slips in between the plating in her duster, biting deeply into her back.
[16:43] * Strifer groans and spits as she gets hit by the cleaver.
[16:45] * Candlelight_Sonata lifts her rifle and returns fire
[16:46] * Strifer rounds on the machete wielding enemy and starts to straight up brute for pummel it down.
[16:48] * Strifer roars as her blows dosnt seem to penetrate. "Why won't you just die!"
[16:49] <%Somber> "After you!" the earth pony spits.
[16:52] * Vera grins a feral grin as she draws her shotgun. "Shee!? Shoo'ing Ba'le!" She fires twice into the one with the revolver.
[16:54] * Calamine holds some bandages in her hooves. "Do you need medical attention, Sona?"
[16:55] * Candlelight_Sonata looks up at Calamine.  "Oh, probably.  My back hurt something fierce."
[16:56] * Harris takes aim at the one on the roof and fires three round at them 'pitff, pitff, pitff' they go
[17:06] <%Somber> The zebra jerks as two more bullets strike from no where.
[17:06] <%Somber> Then the nowhere is uncovered when Harris slips and comes tumbling out of the bushes.
[17:10] * Calamine nods, and quickly applies a magically infused bandage to Candlelight_Sonata's bullet wound.
[17:11] * Naphtha bit her lower lip and swallowed nervously. She got up and did her best to move around the far side of the building, away from where all the fighting was going on.
[17:16] * Candlelight_Sonata grunts again as she's shot, the bullets penetrating her duster.  This was not going well...
[17:17] * Calamine screams as the bullet almost hits her and does hit Candlelight_Sonata. "Stop hurting my friends!" she cries before pulling out healing potion.
[17:17] * Strifer screams in pain and stumbles to the side as the machet strikes true in her right leg.
[17:19] * Candlelight_Sonata takes aim once again, and focusses her shots, wanting to make every one count.
[17:21] <%Somber> The zebra was getting pretty bloody.
[17:21] * Candlelight_Sonata reloads, gritting her teeth in pain as each movement reminds her that bullets do, in fact, really hurt
[17:22] * Strifer just keeps swinging, not much else to do!
[17:23] <%Somber> Machette was looking pretty ragged too.
[17:24] * Vera keeps working the lever on the shotgun in her mouth, still shooting at Revolver.
[17:26] <%Somber> After three shotgun blasts, the stallion with the revolver is a bloody mess.
[17:33] * Harris takes a well aimed shot at the zebra on the roof, then a quick shot at the pony fighting Strifer the earth pony
[17:35] * Calamine quickly administers a healing potion to Candlelight_Sonata before noticing the shape Strifer is in and rushes to attend to her as well.
[17:35] * Candlelight_Sonata swigs down the healing potion, starting to feel much better as the magic takes its effect
[17:36] * Strifer chugs potion hile trying to keep the machete pony at a distance. Spitting the empty container in the enemies face. Tactical battle potion!
[17:37] * Vera releases her shotgun and lets it swing from her tail. She fills her lungs and shouts, "Yield! You're not paid enough to die!"
[17:39] <%Somber> Pistol drops his pistol in his hooves, dumping the spent cases, then flips it and with five bullets in his mouth, spits them into the chambers, clacks it closed, and tosses it back up in the air, catching it in the mouth, and blasting her in the face!
[17:40] * Candlelight_Sonata racks her newly reloaded repeater and opens fire at pistols.  "Strifer, continue with the smashing!"
[17:42] * Vera is hurt, less by the bullet and more because the zebra didn't pay any attention at all! She argued from the position of money!
[17:42] <%Somber> Machette tries to dice up Strifer some more and fails miserably, breaking her weapon in the process.
[17:43] <%Somber> And rifle only gets one shot on Candlelight.
[17:43] * Strifer gives the machete pony a bloody grin. "Time to die!"
[17:45] * Strifer moves forward and atempts to hit machete pony in the face with two precise strikes.
[17:47] <%Somber> And Strifer succeeds at smashing her face in, blood and brains coming out her ears as she dies.
[17:47] * Calamine is filled with sorrow as she sees that spiritually these ponies are already dead. To be so destitude that your own life doesn't matter stuns her momentarily.
[17:49] * Vera reloads her shotgun, aiming carefully down the barrel at Revolver zebra, her attempt at combat diplomacy an abject failure. She fires a single blast.
[17:55] * Calamine looks at the pony with the crushed face and closes her eyes before turning to the others fighting them. "Please! Stop fighting! This isn't worth it!"
[17:56] * Harris fires one shot at the zebra, then zeros on the other just as he sees a nad' in the hoof of the zebra and fires off at them in the hopes to save some lifes "NAD...." he yells out to the rest but they may never hear him
[17:56] <%Somber> The two have their chances to shoot, and instead back away from the fight.  They leave their fallen companion, limping away warily.
[17:57] * Candlelight_Sonata stands upright, still bleeding and aims at the retreating enemies.  "Well... that went sideways quick."
[17:58] * Vera finally realizes she's been shot. "Oh. Oh. Ouch. Ow. Dang, this is pretty painful." She smiles though. "Hey, could somepony with medical knowhow help me out here? I'm feeling kind of shot up here."
[17:58] * Calamine nods to them and whispers, "Thank you," before rushing over to attend to the wounded.
[18:01] <%Somber> With all the shooting over with, the farm house is eeriely quiet...
[18:02] * Strifer groans, sitting down she atempts to pull the machete blade out of her armor.
[18:02] * Candlelight_Sonata looks to Strifer.  "Break down the door."  She asks quietly, reaching over with her wings to help pull out the machete.
[18:03] * Strifer snorts as the blade clatters to the ground. "Aight..." First she moves up and checks if the door is locked.
[18:03] * Harris ducks down low moving around to the rear of the farm house
[18:03] <%Somber> It's not locked.
[18:04] * Vera "Ahh... Thanks. Hey, you know doctory stuff, maybe you can help me answer this question. Um. Do you know any diseases that cause mane and coat shedding and make you never feel tired or hungry...?" She bites her lip. "Asking for a friend."
[18:04] * Vera addresses this to Calamine.
[18:04] * Calamine blinks. "Uh..."
[18:04] * Candlelight_Sonata looks to Stifer and blushes, realizing she'd resorted to violence first and then Strifer did the smart thing and check the door.  "Well, or just... open it."  She says, looking down.
[18:04] * Strifer nods, charging inside. "Coupon! We're here to fuck you up! Come out come out!"
[18:05] <%Somber> Strifer charges in and a tripwire goes TWANG and a shotgun pointed at her head wired up inside goes BLAM!
[18:05] * Candlelight_Sonata swears vociferously.
[18:06] * Candlelight_Sonata runs to Strifer's side as the gun goes off.
[18:06] * Harris moves up next to Naphtha with a smile "So... need any help with him? Or is he just a nice fat pillow to sit on."
[18:07] * Calamine whips around at the sound of the gunshot. "No!" she screams, charging over to the doorway and then Strifer.
[18:07] * Strifer oofs and stumbles to the side. "..fucker... I just bought this thing! You're making holes in it! Wherethe fuck are you!?" She isn't very hurt, just angry, going through the house like a storm chasing down coupon
[18:08] * Calamine puts a potion to Strifer's lips. "Drink this."
[18:08] * Vera whips her head around, startled by the noise. "Hey! You okay? You set off a spring-gun in there? You silly pony, you gotta be more careful! I coulda used the ammo!"
[18:08] * Calamine suddenly looks up and goes, "Oh... Oh no... It-It can't be that, can it?"
[18:09] <%Somber> In the back, they find Coupon.  He's passed out, scratched to hell, with Naphtha sitting on top of him.  Next to him is a large silver case.
[18:09] * Strifer does not drink, scrunches. "Save that shit for someone who's hurt."
[18:10] * Naphtha chews her lower lip nervously as she fidgets. "Um. S-sorry..." She looks up towards the others. "I wanted to get away from the fight and found him trying to run away. I... Um... I guess I got a little rough..."
[18:10] * Calamine blinks. "You just took a shotgun to the face. Are you sure?"
[18:10] * Candlelight_Sonata raises an eyebrow at Naphtha, then starts laughing.  "I... good job Naphtha.  Excellent work!"  She says wrapping a wing around the baby dragon.
[18:11] * Naphtha blushes a little and fidgets a little more.
[18:14] * Strifer totaly didnt do any of that stuff. Instead: Cries out in chock as she takes the blow to the face, body going limp as she stumbles into some old furniture, bleeding profusely her head is spinning and she seems to be having trouble hearing aswell as seeing properly. Why did everything feel so numb..
[18:15] * Calamine pours the potion and administers every bit of medical attention she can.
[18:15] <%Somber> Strifer blissfully passes out, missing the fact half her face is bloody hamburger.
[18:17] <%Somber> Coupon comes to as the others find him out back, silver case next to him.
[18:18] * Candlelight_Sonata points her rifle right at his face.  "Welcome back.  Stay still, or the dragon gets to keep having fun."  She says, kicking the case away with her foreleg.
[18:21] * Vera "Ooh, ooh, dibs on the shotgun shells!"
[18:22] <%Somber> His eyes rolls as he realizes he's in deep deep shit.
[18:23] <%Somber> Then a pale gray earth pony stallion clears his voice from a little ways away.  He's dressed in a black suit and fedora and has a PipBuck on his leg.  "Well now.  This is interesting."
[18:23] * Harris puts his gun away as he moves to where Candlelight_Sonata kicked the case "Becareful... we don't know if there's any thing fragile that can break in it." picking it up with some care "Ok got this. So now what do we do with him."
[18:23] * Naphtha blinks and looks up at the new arrival. That was weird.
[18:24] * Vera smiles at the newcomer. "Now that's not fair. You have us at a disadvantage, mister...?"
[18:25] * Candlelight_Sonata keeps her gun pointed at Coupon.  "Interesting indeed.  What can we do ya for, Stranger.  I'm afraid we're a might busy at the moment with a particularly masterful piece of scum."
[18:25] <%Somber> "If I'd just been an hour early... teach me to dwadle over in Del Luna," he shook his head and gave a casual smile.  "Mr. Gray.  And if you don't mind me saying so, he's more an amaturish piece of scum."
[18:27] * Candlelight_Sonata rolls her eyes.  "Amature, masterful.  Point is this pile of brahmin dung has been hurting ponies left and right and been running us all over this damned island."  She looks at the fedora'd stranger.  "What can we do ya for, Mr. Gray?"
[18:27] * Naphtha swallows nervously. "He's here for the herbs. He's Coupon's buyer. or an agent of his buyer..."
[18:28] <%Somber> Coupon stammers.  "It's there, Gray!  It's right there!  Just... just deal with them and it's yours!"  The earth pony regards Coupon with amusement and sighs, shaking his head.  "Well, I did come with the intent to purchase some goods from Mr. Coupon there.  Apparently he's no longer in possession of them, and you are.  So my business is with you."
[18:28] * Harris gives this newcome a good looking over "So you would be the professional that she mentioned to us, am I right?"
[18:29] * Harris eyes narrow as he gets that this is not the pony Miss Silver spoke of
[18:30] <%Somber> "Well, I am certainly a professional.  And a professional doesn't make desperate grabs for the prize." he said casually.
[18:30] * Candlelight_Sonata looks at Mr. Gray.  "Sorry to say, mate, but our business ain't with you.  This is going back to wehre it belongs.  To the ponies that need these meds.  If you want this pile of trash, he's yours.  The case is ours."
[18:31] <%Somber> "You haven't heard my offer yet," he replied with a cock of his brow.
[18:31] * Vera looks down at Coupon and says, brightly, "I don't think anypony wants this piece of trash at all."
[18:31] * Candlelight_Sonata narrows her eyes.  "What part of what I just said makes you think that matters to me?  I ain't the kind to be bought."
[18:31] * Harris gives the surrounding jungle a hard look "Oh and let me guess. You'er working for the Baron am I right."
[18:32] * Calamine stares at the pony, a bit taken aback by his stoic aura.
[18:32] <%Somber> "Oh, I think you'll find the Silvers will want him a great deal.  Particularly if you have witnesses who can corroborate his deals." Gray says with a chuckle.
[18:32] * Vera gives Harris a smile that competes with mirrors for shine. "He works for whoever pays, Harris. Can't you tell?"
[18:33] * Calamine blinks. "Are you saying you're willing to testify against Coupon?"
[18:33] * Harris "No the refugees, I their still a live after all this."
[18:33] <Harris> if*
[18:34] <%Somber> "I'm an intermediary.  Who I work for shouldn't concern you, but the drugs will get to the pony who needs them.  They're useless to all but a very few."  He gives Calamine a little chuckle.  "Oh, no.  That's a bit much."
[18:34] <%Somber> He nods to Harris.
[18:35] <%Somber> "In any case.  I can pay you a significant amount personally, or I can provide resources for said refugees so they can start a new life in Costa Del Sol.  Expensive, but I can manage it.  You can say the drugs were already sold when you found him."
[18:35] * Calamine looks over at the box. "May I see the drugs? I have a bit of skill as an herbalist and doctor. Perhaps I could figure out a way to produce more of it?"
[18:37] <%Somber> "Doubtful.  Again, they are extremely specific and difficult to obtain."
[18:37] * Candlelight_Sonata looks at Mr. Gray with distrust before looking to Calamine.  "Anything in the spirits world telling you anything?"  she whispers quietly.
[18:38] * Vera cocks her head to hear the voices of the dead.
[18:38] * Harris sighs "What significant amount are we talking here. Becuse a hit on my head from the Silvers would have to be alot."
[18:38] * Naphtha fidgets nervously. She didn't know much about alchemy. Well, didn't know anything about it really. So it was hard for her to know if this stuff would be dangerous in the wrong hooves or not.
[18:38] * Calamine pauses for a moment before saying, "I come from an island that has a bounty of different medicinal herbs. Perhaps they are more common on my home island?" she says before shaking her head towards Candlelight_Sonata.
[18:39] * Candlelight_Sonata frowns
[18:39] <%Somber> "Two thousand, five hundred in buttons," he answered calmly.
[18:40] * Vera nods once. "He's good for it."
[18:41] * Strifer groans as she comes too, coughing, ugh feels like her head is going to split open.
[18:41] * Candlelight_Sonata looks at Mr. Gray.  "I don't know.  How do we know that the meds will get to where they need to?  And that the refugees will be taken care of in Costa Del Sol?"
[18:42] * Harris sit down onto his rump with that old scratching a talon under his beak, giving Mr Gray's word some thought
[18:42] <%Somber> "Again, I can pay it to you and you can do what you will, or I can pull strings and get those refugees relocated to a new future."  He looked at Sonata.  "You don't.  But as I said, I am a professional.  It would do me little good to ruin my reputation for such paltry stakes."
[18:43] * Strifer stumbles outside, swaying back and forth as her vision is swimming. Getting only a few steps before throwing up on the doorstep. Bfah.. Taking a few more steps she lays down outside.
[18:44] * Vera "I don't particularly care how these drugs get to the pony who needs them, but how could we possibly know that they got to their proper recipient? And why go through all this trouble to steal them if they're going to end up in the same place as they were if you left the shipment intact?"
[18:44] <%Somber> "As I said, they are for a strict few patients.  They'd be worthless to anypony else."
[18:45] <%Somber> He gave a smirk.  "Well, it depends on who's delivering it, what they're paying, and who they're grateful to.  But that's all you need to know.  Suffice to say that I will take care of things."
[18:46] * Candlelight_Sonata again narrows her eyes.  "If this is a matter of life and death for-"  she pauses as Strifer wanders out and lays down.  "For those who need it, then it does matter a great deal.  However..."  She feels conflicted, wanting to help the escaped servants and those who need the meds...
[18:46] <%Somber> "Either the Silvers will sell it to them, or my clients will.  Either way..." He gave a casual shrug.
[18:47] * Calamine nods. "If it will help the refugees and these others who need the medicine, I don't see why this is bad. The Silvers were the ones who put our new friends through so much pain and suffering, after all."
[18:47] * Naphtha looks to Sonata. "It's not about -who- gets them its about -how- they get them. It's... Um... A trader's conflict?" She scratches her head searching for words. "Like... Like there's two stores in town both trying to sell someone something they need, but there's only enough of it for one of them to sell it, so they're trying to steal it from the competition to sell it so
[18:47] * Naphtha taht the people they sell it to will like them -more- than the competition."
[18:48] * Naphtha contemplated that a little longer. "I bet the drugs are for the Baron's life-extension medicine."
[18:48] * Harris just looks at Vera then back to Mr. Gray "Well you offer does sound tempting... we may have to think it over." looking to the rest "So if we could have a moment to talk this over, between ourselfs."
[18:49] <%Somber> He looks surprised at Naphtha and chuckles then nods.  In the sweltering heat, he doesn't even break a sweat.
[18:50] * Candlelight_Sonata looks to her friends, trotting over and sitting on her haunches next to Strifer.  "What do you all think.  I'll make the call, but... much as I'm not fond of it, I'm inclined to think we'll get the best deal for everypony if we help Mr. Gray.  I just..."  she looks down and gently strokes an uninjured part of Strifer's mane.
[18:51] * Harris moves to the front of the farm house jestering for the rest to follow him
[18:51] * Naphtha tilts her head to one side. "Well... I think he's telling the truth about it going to the same place no matter who we give it to. It's just a question of if we'd rather be on the good side of the Silvers, or support Mister Gray's unknown parties."
[18:52] * Calamine looks down at Strifer. "I can help her better if we can get her back to town. I need more supplies. She's stable, at least."
[18:52] * Vera shrugs. "I suppose the only thing that really differs is the reward we get. Money, support for those refugees, or something from the Silvers."
[18:52] * Naphtha points out, "The Silvers probably won't change if we help them. But I don't think Mister Gray would go back on his word to help the refugees if we took that as payment. It'd be bad business."
[18:53] * Vera "If we took the money, we could send the refugees off to the Baron's men. Take care of the refugees /and/ get paid a lot of money!"
[18:53] * Strifer groans as she's petted, seemingly lost conciousness again.
[18:54] * Candlelight_Sonata shrugs and nods to Calamine.  "I know.  I want to help folks, even though it means little for us.  I'm ok taking a dark mark from the Silvers if it means we help those them."  She looks down with concern at Strifer.  "Callie, I've got bandages.  They ain't magical, but... would that help her?  Fraid I ain't much more than a combat metdic."
[18:55] * Calamine nods. "It will help a bit," she says, taking the bandages and applying them to Strifer's wounded head.
[18:56] * Vera looks pleased as punch at coming up with her solution.
[18:58] * Candlelight_Sonata shoots Vera a very, very harsh look.  "That ain't an option, Vera.  That's awful.  We said we'd help the refugees.  I think Mr. Gray is our best bet."
[18:59] * Naphtha fidgets. She wasn't strongly invested in the wellbeing of any group outside her friends at the moment. But she wasn't going to complain either.
[18:59] * Vera is completely unfazed. Her hundred-watt smile doesn't even flicker. "Sure, okay! I'm just making sure we're considering all our options."
[19:00] * Candlelight_Sonata looks to Harris.  "You ok with giving him the meds to Mr. Gray in exchange for helpin' folks.  Or you with Vera and sorta lack of fucks either way."  She asks.
[19:03] * Harris sighs as no one was following him, just truns around and walks right up to Mr. Gray. "Ok. Heres the deal. You pay us 200 buttons each half barss, half bone. And you help them refugees. At lest I know the syndicate can do as you say. By at lest giving them a fresh start." holds out a talon "So what do you say we have a deal?"
[19:05] <%Somber> "I think I laid out the terms fairly clearly," Gray said simply, his voice steady and firm as a rolling boulder.
[19:06] * Candlelight_Sonata shoots Harris a sympathetic look.  "We're doing this for doing this, Harris."  She says, turning to the pretty stallion with lots of... "Ahem.  We'll take your terms, Mr. Gray."
[19:06] * Candlelight_Sonata nods her head toward the case.  "The case for a new life for the refugees."
[19:07] <%Somber> He extends a hoof to them for the case.
[19:07] * Candlelight_Sonata nods to Harris. "Mr. Harris, if you please."
[19:07] <%Somber> Coupon just blubbers, sprawled out on the grass, seeing his life is completely over.
[19:10] * Vera idly swats at a mosquito with her tail, flicking the carcass at Coupon. "What about the trash here? Should we kill him and dump the body?"
[19:10] * Candlelight_Sonata glares at Coupon and wanders over to Strifer, pulling out the machete.  She trots over to Coupon and points the blade down at him.  "I need you to answer me straight: were you going to help the refugees, or try to sell them out like I think you were?"
[19:11] <%Somber> "I wanted to help them!  I was going to help them!  I swear!  Oh please!  Please!" he begged.
[19:11] * Vera doesn't even look at coupon, she just kicks kicks him in the side. "Shut up."
[19:11] <%Somber> Gray gives a minimal shrug.  "Well, I suppose he might have given some of his twenty five hundred bits to them."
[19:12] * Naphtha bit her lower lip. "He hired us to -murder them- without talking to them. It was part of his plan. He never intended to help them. Just use them as a scapegoat."
[19:12] * Vera smirks. "I've heard everything I need to hear. It's up to the rest of you ponies what you want to do with this guy. Hey, maybe we could get a reward from the Silvers for turning him over to them!"
[19:13] * Harris just looks to Mr. Gray "The newcomers don't know you but I do. And a simple deal as I but forth is more then fare. But then we are at the point that all I have to do is just blow up the meds and we all can get fucked." as he pulls out a mine "But you don't want that, do you."
[19:13] <%Somber> "Doubtful," Gray sniffed.  "And if he tells them that you gave the drugs to me rather than them... well..."
[19:14] * Vera snarls at Harris. "No. Let it go, Harris. These ponies have made their decision, and it's yours and my duty to back them up on it, not go around them. Put that away."
[19:16] <%Somber> Gray looks at Harris like he's quite amused.  His voice seems to adopt a deeper gravity as he stairs at the griffin.  "Sir.  I think you misunderstand.  Yes.  You could certainly blow up those drugs.  But while it would be a blotch on my record, it would be something I could live with.  On the other hoof, you..." he paused, his smile disappearing.  "would
[19:16] * Naphtha looks at Harris in shock and more than a little confusion. "Wh... Why?"
[19:16] <%Somber> quite certainly be fucked."
[19:17] <%Somber> From somewhere near by comes the whirr of a high speed motor.
[19:18] * Candlelight_Sonata looks at Naphtha.  "Thank you Naph.  I'd forgotten that part."  She leans down and looks at Coupon.  "That's twice you've tried to fuck us over.  Three times, actually.  I don't like getting shot.  And I ain't even had sex yet."  She says with utter seriousness.  "I ain't happy.  But I do try to be a good pony."  She shoots Harris a look.  "Oh put that away.  I'll give you 150 buttons if you need it."
[19:19] * Calamine looks to Candlelight_Sonata and her anger and frustration. "Please, everyone, be calm.
[19:19] * Grim ([email protected]) has joined #FalloutEquestriaPNP2
[19:20] * Harris smiles "Like we aren't fucked I we turn this asshole over to any one, he'll just tell the Silvers that we made a deal with you and the they will be after us till they kill us. So ya we'er a bit fucked, they don't see it but I do."
[19:21] <%Somber> "So kill him," Gray says calmly.
[19:21] <%Somber> He speaks as if addressing a child.
[19:21] * Candlelight_Sonata lets out a breath.  "I'm not going to kill him, Calamine.  Because I'm a good pony."  She poked him hard with the blunt side of the machete, hard, in the stomach.  "Ok... maybe I'm just alright."
[19:21] * Vera talks as if trying to explain something to a child. "Harris. If you don't stop antagonizing the nice pony, the rest of us will kill you where you stand. Okay hunny bunny?"
[19:22] * Naphtha just chews her lower lip and fidgets nervously. She was in waaaay over her head.
[19:22] * Calamine puts a hoof on Candlelight_Sonata's shoulder. "No, you're a good pony," she says, giving her friend a warm smile.
[19:23] <%Somber> Gray shakes his head.  "Could you please all move away from Mr. Coupon, please?  This will be a little messy."  Coupon's eyes shoot wide as he scrambles at Candle.  "Oh please!  No!  Don't let him kill me!  Please!"
[19:23] * Harris jumps out of the way
[19:23] * Harris lands with a roll
[19:23] * Vera steps clear. Her smile is still there, but it's hard to see through the shotgun between her teeth.
[19:24] * Candlelight_Sonata looks up at Mr. Gray.  "No, you aren't killing him.  You're taking your herbs, and leaving.  YOu're helping the refugees.  We'll be cleaning up this mess."
[19:25] * Calamine nods in agreement with Candlelight_Sonata.
[19:25] * Naphtha squeaks and leaps down off of Coupon, moving away from him nervously. She wasn't certain that whomever Mr. Grey was employing would care about colateral damage.
[19:26] <%Somber> "Fair enough," he said as he trotted to the case and picked it up, setting it across his shoulders.  "Tell Consuela in Costa Del Sol that the Cabbage Patch will have new tenants.  She'll make the necessary arrangements."
[19:27] <%Somber> "Come along, Mini." he said, and the whirring motor died.  The grass next to Mr. gray began to sway as something massive and invisible walked along side him.
[19:27] * Vera holsters her shotgun. The cheerfulness is back, and any hint of steel is gone. "Consuela is a bleeding heart? Well, I guess I wouldn't put it past her."
[19:28] * Candlelight_Sonata nods.  "Thank you sir."  She says, looking down at Coupon.  "You.  You have betrayed those whom you offered to help, and tried to kill us.  Three times."  She thrusts the Machete into the ground right next to his head.  "You are never coming back to Costa Del Sol.  You are going to run, and you are going to keep running until the moon rises.  And if we EVER see you again, I will let Harris kill you.  Slowly."
[19:29] * Vera adds cheerfully, "Or you could pay me a small sum, and I'll do it quickly! Just a blast to the back of the head, you won't feel a thing!"
[19:30] <%Somber> "Y'all never let me shoot nothin, Mr. Gray." something huge and feminine says next to the suited pony.
[19:30] <%Somber> "Well, the night's not yet begun, Mini."
[19:31] * Harris sighs "You fucking newcomers, the silvers have a network all over the island. He'll just run to someone and BAM there will be one hell of a price on our heads."
[19:32] * Candlelight_Sonata looks deeply concerned from the invisible voice.  "I might suggest not running that direction..."  she says pulling the machete up from beside Coupon's head.  She whirls on Harris.  "Then let there be.  I want to do the right thing, and get off this LUNA DAMNED ISLAND!  I am trying to protect Naphtha and keep her safe, but sometimes you have to do the right hting."
[19:34] * Vera looks uncertain. She unholsters her shotgun and lets it hang from her tail again, as she tries to judge what's going to happen next.
[19:34] * Candlelight_Sonata stands with her wings extended threateningly.  "You may have given up on this place, but like back home, there is always hope."  She turns to Coupon.  "Get out of here.  And if you put a price on somepony, put it on me.  I'd rather die trying to protect my friends and do the right thing than kill somepony in cold blood."
[19:35] * Calamine sighs before speaking up. "In other bad news, I think Vera is showing early signs of ghoulification.
[19:35] * Naphtha swallows nervously and fidgets. "M-maybe it'd be better if we did actually just get rid of him..." She looks down and chews her lip. She wasn't big on hurting others personally, not without good reason, after all. "I... Um... I mean... He..." she fidgets nervously but doesn't seem to have the motivation to do more than that.
[19:35] * Strifer groans weakly.
[19:36] * Candlelight_Sonata seems to vent her anger as Strifer groans, and trots to her side.  "Strifer?"  She asks.
[19:38] * Candlelight_Sonata tries to help the injured mare to her hooves, ignoring the frightened stallion.
[19:38] * Strifer groggily opens her eyes, blink blinks lifting a hoof to shield them from the light. "Ye..." She coughs. "Yeah?"
[19:39] * Naphtha points out. "We could just tell the Silvers that we found him in the middle of the deal, and the other group made off with the materials before we could recover it... I mean, they might believe him over us, I guess. But at this point we can pretty clearly show that he was the only one with knowledge, means and motive to steal the goods and cover it up."
[19:40] * Calamine watches Coupon, trying to figure out if something can be done about his knowledge of their deal with Gray.
[19:40] * Vera "No I'm not, I said I was asking for a f-friend." She looks away and wipes her tail over her face.
[19:42] * Candlelight_Sonata sighs.  "Restrain him.  He's coming back to town and facing what he done."
[19:43] * Harris moves over to Coupon "Well theres one last thing to do." he tells the earth pony as he reachs down to lift him up "No I think there's some good folks you need to have a few words with, so march." as he jabs the pony with his rifle leading him off to the refugees
[19:43] * Candlelight_Sonata blinks.  "Or that works too."
[19:44] * Candlelight_Sonata calls to Harris.  "Meet you at the hotel?"
[19:45] * Vera is looking out into the forest. Everything else is forgotten.
[19:45] <%Somber> They march him back to Costa Del Sol, where a dozen Baronial guard are present.  Broach is quite put out by the whole affair, but handles it coolly and calmly.  Coupon tries to blame the outsiders on passing the drugs on, but she reminds him that it was HE that set the events in motion.  He's drug off to the penal mine at Costa del Silva.  Then Broach asks
[19:46] <%Somber> Candlelight, "While I am certainly not pleased by the outcome of the events, I have to wonder, if what Coupon says is true, why did you not simply bring it back to me?  What arrangement did you made for it?"
[19:47] * Calamine stands beside Candlelight_Sonata, ready to back up anything she says.
[19:48] <%Somber> Redact.
[19:49] <%Somber> Hoe and the other mares make him walk through their mines, blow his legs off, and then finish him off when he's done screaming.  When told about the plan to take care of their debts, the mares are overwhelmed, more so when they hear you're setting up a new place for them to live in Isla Del Sol.  Silver Broach is quite displeased that you failed to get the
[19:51] <%Somber> case, and the baronial troops are dispatched to retrieve the remaining goods from the bandits.  Fortunately, the refugees are long gone by the time they arrive.  Consuela sets up Hoe in a sizable abandoned plantation, and monies appear to magically settle several work contracts with the Silvers.  However the entire affair has clearly left a sour taste in her
[19:52] <%Somber> mouth.  Although they didn't make much money, the outsiders certainly made quite a few ponies in Isla del sol happy.
[19:53] * Candlelight_Sonata puts Strifer to bed, staying with the injured mare through the nice.
[19:55] * Calamine also stays with Strifer to make sure there are no further complications.
[19:55] * Strifer gets all the mares, oh yeah.
[19:55] * Vera doesn't sleep inside. In fact, Vera doesn't sleep at all. She goes out to the beach and stares out into the ocean.
[19:56] * Harris arrives late in the evening and heads to the bar
[19:58] * Naphtha goes to bed early, today had been stressful for the little dragon, after all.
[19:58] * Calamine makes sure Strifer is stable and apparently sleeping before she turns to Candlelight_Sonata. "Would you like me to help you with your problem?"
[19:59] * Candlelight_Sonata gives Calamine a confused look.  "My problem?"  She asks.  "I'm fine, hun.  Healed up alright and everything!"
[20:00] * Calamine shakes her head. "I do not mean an injury. I mean the source of the frustrations that came out today. I have learned much about these things recently."
[20:01] * Candlelight_Sonata skews an ear to the side.  "Callie... what in tarnation are you talking at?"
[20:01] * Harris just's tries to forget that they just had a run in with the syndicate and are in way over their heads
[20:01] * Vera is now known as Scorch_Mechanic[A]
[20:03] * Calamine blinks and tries to make sure Candlelight_Sonata understands her words. "Um, you said you had not had sex and you seemed frustrated by it. If you wish, I could help relieve those frustrations for you," she says, not trying to sound seductive at all, but seeming more like a doctor prescribing a remedy.
[20:05] * Candlelight_Sonata makes several interesting noises that come across as various squeaks, chirps, and confused mutterings.  She turns bright red from the tip of her nose to the tips of her ears.  "I... uh... Um... thank you, Callie.  But I think... er... I... I don't think that's as much of a problem as... and I... I mean... I mean to say that... not that you aren't a lovely mare but..."  she flails awkwardly.
[20:06] * Calamine takes the thank you and the mention that she is pretty in a different light, leaning in and kissing Candlelight_Sonata as Seabreeze had taught her.
[20:06] <%Somber> As Calamine kisses her, Tsunami, the massive zebra with the harpoon, approaches, looking grimly down at Calamine.  "We must talk.  Alone.  Now."
[20:08] * Candlelight_Sonata crosses her eyes after she's been kissed, then breathes a sigh of relief as Tsunami walks in.
[20:09] * Calamine is surprised by the sudden appearance of the massive zebra. "What? I... Huh? Um, okay?" she says before telling Candlelight_Sonata. "I guess I am needed elsewhere. Let me know if you wish to continue."
[20:10] * Strifer ([email protected]) Quit ( Quit: Why is the alphabet in that order?   Is it because of that song? )
[20:10] * Candlelight_Sonata puts a hoof to her lips and nods.  "Uh... sure thing Callie."
[20:12] * Candlelight_Sonata checks on Strifer, then sneaks out the door after the two zebras.
[20:12] * Calamine follows Riptide. "Is something wrong?"
[20:12] <Calamine> *Tsunami
[20:14] <%Somber> Tsunami was pissed, his eyes dark and flashing.  The wind blowing in off the ocean was far colder than usual, and the waves slammed into the beach with greater than usual force.  "Perhaps.  It depends on how you answer this question," he said as they walked in the growing Twilight.  "Do you casually rape the spirits of others?"
[20:15] * Calamine blinks. "What?"
[20:16] * Candlelight_Sonata lights gently on the sand downwind from the pair of zebras and tries to blend in with the shadows
[20:17] <%Somber> "Do you casually strip away the spirits of others at a whim?  Do you blithely impose them as you wish?"  He said, and on the horizon lightning flashed as he whirled on her.  "What were you taught about the souls of others?!  Were you taught anything?!"
[20:18] <%Somber> The waves growled as they slammed into the beach, coating the sand in their foam.
[20:20] * Calamine blinks again. "I... do you mean the frost spirit that was hovering around the Silvers Mare? I didn't know that the spirit was benevolent. I thought it was the reason she was so cold towards the suffering she was causing to other ponies. I didn't know."
[20:22] <%Somber> "It does not matter if you think it benevolent or malevolent.  It does not matter if you think it is right or wrong.  That was HER spirit.  An integral part of herself, as much as your body or your mind or your soul."  He said as he loomed over her.  "Should I use your body how I see fit merely because I feel it should be so?!  Should I change your glyph mark
[20:23] <%Somber> because I judge it lacking?" He said as he glowered down at her.  "Would you like me to do to you what you did to her?"
[20:23] * Calamine looks terrified. "What? Spirits as a part of a soul? I-I've never heard of that before."
[20:26] <%Somber> "Spirits are reflections of reality!  Change the reflection and you change that which is being reflected!  You change everything!"  He bellowed down at her.  "The gift is so we can see.  So we can understand!  So she had a frost spirit!  What does that matter?  Think of her as frost!  Deal with her as you would the cold.  Was she any better when you forced
[20:26] <%Somber> fire into her?" he demanded.  "Was she!?"
[20:27] * Calamine nearly collapses. "No," she whimpers, tears starting to stream down her face. "I... I didn't know. The spirits act so differently here than they do back home. I didn't even know that was possible. What have I done," she sobs.
[20:29] <%Somber> "What you have done is you have harmed her more deeply than she will ever know.  Even if you had the audacity to try and fix her, that would not change the harm!  Is she is fortunate, she will live her life feeling it is wrong.  That it is not hers.  If she is not, it will drive her mad!"  His roar then dropped to the deep powerful pull of a whirlpool.  "But
[20:30] <%Somber> you harmed yourself far worse by what you have done.  As terrible as it is for the rape victim, for the rapist it is infinitely worse.  When you spoke to Mr. Gray, were you not the least bit tempted to change his spirit?  Make him warmer and softer, to your ideal and expectation?"
[20:31] * Candlelight_Sonata leaves the shadows and slowly makes her way down the beach toward her friend, trying not to bare her fangs at the shaman, realising a lesson is being taught.  She stops well short of Calamine, listening intently to Tsunami's words and worrying for her friend.
[20:33] * Calamine shakes her head. "I didn't... I didn't want something bad to happen again. I didn't know. I didn't know. I-" she cries before collapsing into the sand, sobbing. "I didn't know."
[20:35] <%Somber> "Small mercies," he rumbled, and the waves and wind slackened a little.  "Small mercies indeed.  Because once you start believing you can change spirits at a whim, you become a monster few can possibly imagine.  That shadow is inside you now.  It will always be inside you.  We shamans do not act blithely.  Do you not think that we could not sort out the Baron
[20:36] <%Somber> and the Colonel in an instant, should we wished?  The jungle could devour them whole!  It wants to.  It only needs that little push!  The sea could swallow them up!  The sky could rain lightning and tornadoes.  All if we wished to invoke the spirits to do so.  And there are shamans who wish to do so," he said ominously.
[20:37] * Calamine continues crying, her face and body matted with wet sand and her eyes becoming slowly becoming bloodshot and puffy.
[20:39] <Calamine> "I didn't know. I've never been able to see someone's soul before. I didn't know," she sobs.
[20:39] <%Somber> "Do not join them," he said as his rumble lessened.  "Spirits are potent here.  I know not how they are on your island, but here, they matter.  They are dangerous, but fragile, and the ponies here are at their mercy.  Do not think to use your gift to impose your vision of right and wrong.  A spirit is not malevolent or benevolent.  They simply are.  And to
[20:41] <%Somber> try and change them to your will is profound hubris.  Better I kill you now than allow you to become corrupted in ignorance."  He pointed the harpoon at her.  "Is that preferable?  Do you see your gift as a curse now and wish to be rid of it?"
[20:41] * Candlelight_Sonata trots forward and looks at the giant zebra in defiance, putting a leathery wing around her friend.  She says nothing, but sits quietly next to her friend, glaring up at the massive zebra.
[20:42] * Calamine stares up at him, shaking and unsure of anything anymore. She stares at the spear head, unable to breathe. It is Candlelight_Sonata's wing that stops her from nodding instead she just stares at the harpoon, wide eyed while tears continued streaming down her face.
[20:44] * Candlelight_Sonata looks up at the zebra and leans her head against Calamine's.  She tries to find a way to look apologetic to Tsunami.
[20:45] <%Somber> He pulls the spear away, sticking it into the sand.  "You are outsiders in a place of delicate, precarious balance.  Do you not know what that means?  Even now, your actions have caused shifts.  The people talk about outsiders who helped some that suffered under unfair conditions.  The powerful wonder how this will cut into their profit and power.  You... all
[20:47] <%Somber> of you... have terrifying potential.  Your actions have consequence.  Never forget that.  Little things become great things, and the fall of a drop of water can determine the course of a river.
[20:48] <%Somber> He took a deep breath.  "I am Tsunami.  Shaman of the Sea.  Should you have questions, I will answer what I can."
[20:48] * Naphtha is now known as Ilushia
[20:48] <Calamine> "And the smallest butterfly can set off a typhoon," she whispers, remembering something her grandmother once told her, before breaking down into more sobs. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
[20:49] <%Somber> "Sorry, is easy and it is small.  Learning so you do not repeat the mistake is true apology," he said.
[20:51] * Scorch_Mechanic[A] is now known as Vera
[20:52] * Calamine looks up at him. "I know nothing. Everything I've ever learned leading up to my pilgrimmage seems like it is nothing here. I am no shaman. I'm a monster now..."
[20:53] <%Somber> "Not a monster yet.  Pray you never meet a shaman that has given themselves over to pride and the spirits.  They make that monster you faced in the lake look like nothing.  But the potential is there.  The seed is planeted.  If you met the baron, could you resist the urge to change his spirit?  How about your friend here?  Could she resist urging you to put a
[20:54] <%Somber> spirit of love and community in the heart of the Silver's Patriarch, so he would be a kindly boss to his employees?"
[20:55] * Candlelight_Sonata plants a kiss on the top of Calamine's head.  "Mom used to say the hardest thing to learn was how to make up for a wrong you done, and learnin' sometimes the hardest part is keep on living.  You are no monster.  You're a friend who is young, and learning."  She glares up at Tsunami.  "Not if it costs Calamine her soul."
[20:57] <%Somber> "Her soul.  Such selfishness.  What of the soul of others?  What of them?  What of you?"  He said as he stared down at her.  "Her action has scarred you ever so slightly as well, because you know she could do it.  And it would make everything so simple.  Change the souls of the bad to the spirits of the good.  So simple!"
[20:59] * Candlelight_Sonata resumes baring her fangs.  "What of my soul?  Regardless, I am going to try to make the right choices.  I know it ain't right to try to change ponies aside from just with my own tongue.  Look at her!"  She says, resting a hoof on Callie's back.  "I cannot ask her to go through this.  How could I?"  She looks pained a holds a hoof to her chest.  "I don't like to see those I care about in this much pain."
[21:02] <%Somber> "I can only hope you can keep such convictions," he said, low and steady.  "And she as well.  Many aspiring shamans try to do what is good, convincing themselves that good is synonymous with right."
[21:03] * Calamine looks back up at him. "How? Among my people, the ability to see souls is rare. I didn't have that ability. How do I have it now if I wasn't born with it? I don't understand. I thought it was a spirit, not her soul."
[21:06] <%Somber> "A spirit is a reflection of a soul," he said as he pressed his hoof into the wet sand.  "Just as my hoof leaves an imprint in the sand, so does a soul draw a spirit that reflects it.  Some souls are so strong they create their spirits from nothingness.  When you change the spirit, you impact the soul.  This creates an imbalance.  Over time, it becomes
[21:06] <%Somber> unbearable, twisted, and broken."
[21:06] <%Somber> "Not all can do this.  Not even most.  Just some, but they tend to be powerful people."
[21:07] * Calamine recoils slightly. "Is there any way I can fix this. I have to help her. I can't leave her like this. I can't!"
[21:07] * Candlelight_Sonata pales, wondering what kind of pony Silver Broach is.  She wraps both hooves arond Callie and holds her tight.
[21:08] <%Somber> "You can not fix a mistake with another mistake.  Even if you returned a spirit of cold to her, it would not change the harm inflicted on her soul.  For better or worse, she will be injured until the day she dies."
[21:08] * Calamine starts sobbing again, repeating "I didn't know," and "I'm sorry," over and over again.
[21:11] <%Somber> "Silence.  Ignorance and apology does not mitigate harm, only punishment.  I seek now to prevent a repeat of that harm.  Because as I said, there are shamans who would blithely change the spirits of others.  Who think it good and proper to do so."  He gestured out over the waves.  "During the war, they were active on both sides.  A secret war being fought in
[21:12] <%Somber> the shadows for the spirit of the world itself.  And the savagry of their battle, is every bit reflected in the savagry of the war between the zebras and the ponies.  Spirits reflect reality."
[21:15] * Candlelight_Sonata starts to feel tears running down her face as Tsunami speaks of the war, and again presses her lips to the top of Calamine's head.  She wishes she could give her friend strength, as her friend is fighting a war she'll never understand.
[21:16] * Calamine buries her head in Candlelight_Sonata's chest as she cries before realizing she's matting wet sand into her fur and pulls away. "I'm sorry. I-I can't even cry right..." she whimpers before murmuring under her breath. "I'm useless."
[21:16] <%Somber> "If the burden is too much, die quickly and cleanly.  Return to the spirit, and be reborn anew.  It is far safer than to underestimate who you are and what you can do."
[21:19] * Candlelight_Sonata looks down at Calamine as the small mare pulls away from her.  "Nonsense.  You aren't useless.  You have made a mistake that is far graver than I'll ever understand, but answer me this: are you any worse off than me?  Ponies and zebras have died by my hooves, both directly and indirectly.  But you have your friends to help you."
[21:20] * Calamine whimpers. "I just want to go home. I was supposed to visit the zebra homeland, come home, be a shaman and help my people. I was supposed to be find a husband among the warrior caste and have children. Ever since I came to this island, all it's shown me is that my whole life has been a lie."
[21:21] * Calamine turns to Candlelight_Sonata. "Killing to protect others is far better than what I did. I didn't mean to. I didn't even know I was doing it, but I did..."
[21:23] * Candlelight_Sonata puts hoof to Calamine's cheek.  "I know you want to go home, darlin'.  I want you to go home.  I want all of us to go home.  Life is always going to be uncertain.  Mum used to say 'fate is a tangle, follow one thread.'  Sometimes that thread'll lead you to interesting places.  But you'll always have us to be with you."  She looks the zebra in the eyes.  "I will try to keep you safe and keep you on the proper pa
[21:24] * Candlelight_Sonata looks away.  "Ponies used to think friendship was what actually mattered.  I'd like to think there's still a lingering hope for that.  You once spoke about trying to bolster the spirit of harmony around here.  What you did for the ponies back at the mill helped that.  I know it's hard, but you are slowly learning how to be yourself in a world that isn't always the way you thought it would be."
[21:27] <%Somber> "And I will provide what answers I can.  But be aware... there is a shadow on your spirit now.  Other shamans will seek to lead you down a destructive path.  Be wary."
[21:27] * Calamine nods.
[21:31] * Candlelight_Sonata hugs Calamine tightly.  "Tsunami wants to see you on the proper path.  And so do I.  You are loved, even with a shadow on your soul.  I may not be able to fight your battles, but I can try to help steady you if you need me.  You are still a gentle soul, Callie."
[21:33] * Calamine looks into Candlelight_Sonata's eyes and a small smile breaks through her sadness. She then leans back into the hug and returns it in kind.
[21:34] * Medi_Kit ([email protected]) has joined #FalloutEquestriaPNP2
[21:35] * Vera is now known as Scorch_Mechanic
[21:36] * Harris is now known as Jackelmandingo
[21:36] * Candlelight_Sonata is now known as Heartshine
[21:42] * Ilushia ([email protected]) has left #FalloutEquestriaPNP2
[21:42] * Somber ([email protected]) has left #FalloutEquestriaPNP2
[21:43] * Heartshine ([email protected]) has left #FalloutEquestriaPNP2
[21:44] * Calamine is now known as Aria