FoE PNP Group Unlucky 13 Session 80

 [03:34.31] <TenMihara|GM> *****PnP Group 13, Hoofington Sucks: Session 80*****
 [03:35.11] <TenMihara|GM> Sacrifice
[03:35.37] <TenMihara|GM> It is said that no one can gain anything without giving something up
[03:35.53] <TenMihara|GM> The reasons people might give something up tend to differ from one to the next
[03:36.33] <TenMihara|GM> From a simple exchange of currency for provisions
[03:36.49] <TenMihara|GM> To laying down one's life to protect friends or family
 [03:37.48] <TenMihara|GM> Not all tradeoffs are equal however
[03:38.04] <TenMihara|GM> What might be worth a great deal to one, might be worthless to another
[03:38.19] <TenMihara|GM> What will our wastelanders have to give up in order to get what they want?
[03:38.23] <TenMihara|GM> I guess we'll find out...
[03:38.28] <TenMihara|GM> *****Session Begins*****
[03:38.50] * Purple Kay follows the others best he can.
[03:39.46] <TenMihara|GM> In the massive chamber at the end of the entrance tunnel, the party had come face to face with upwards of a hundred taintlings. However, none of them could penetrate the field generated by Logic's broadcaster, leaving them at a standstill. Logic boldly demanded to be taken to the taintling's leader.
[03:41.05] * Proverb has remained hidden in the shadows, her aim shifting from one changeling to another, in case one of them actually did pierce the field.
[03:41.20] * Logic curls his lips in on each other. He vaguely questioned the value of his mortality as he realized, well. There's like. A bunch of bugs around. Eh, fuck it. Teleporting is awesome.
 [03:43.56] <TenMihara|GM> The taintlings look confused as they hover around the edge of the broadcaster's entrancing field. A few of them lay unconscious on the ground below after falling into a trance and subsequently falling to the bottom of the cave. They stare intently at Logic, and the rest of the ponies they can see.
[03:47.46] * Logic attempts to head deeper in the cave. Stallion-mode, LG. Stallion-mode. "Purple, I'm thinking I might need your wiles and silver tongue." Is what he meant to say. What he actually said was, "Hey, Purple. Come here and be talkypony."
[03:49.41] * Purple Kay quirks a scarred brow. Wits he may have, silver tongue.... only his wife thought so.
[03:50.16] * Proverb might agree with that...
[03:53.30] <TenMihara|GM> Logic finds the incline steep, and there's a cloud of that taintling mind control dust pooled at the bottom of the cavern
[03:54.20] * Proverb searches the area for a place that she could remain hidden, but still follow Logic from.
[03:55.25] * Logic sucks on his lip. "Uh. Who thinks they're good at talking and stuff? I- You know what? Fuck it. Group hug, we're all going in. This is your teleportation alarm."
[03:57.22] * Green_Field puts his hoof around Daisy in preparation.
[03:58.44] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy was about to raise her hoof, but eeps and braces herself for the port
[03:58.55] * Proverb blinks at Logic. "This can only end badly." But puts a hoof around Logic in preparation anyway.
 [04:02.39] * Logic looks down and attempts to zot his way into the cavern with an emerald explosion. "Next stop, the way the hell out of here. Please keep your hooves and flanks on the Logic at all times." He recited, looking around while striking up a light with his horn.
[04:03.44] <TenMihara|GM> A bunch of taintlings drop as the field suddenly moves. Startled, a bunch of them scatter backwards from where Logic reappeared. There are about six cocoons within reach from where he landed.
[04:05.41] * Proverb drops into a defensive stance, eyeing their new surroundings.
[04:07.23] * Green_Field keeps his hoof around Daisy, doing the same.
[04:08.13] <TenMihara|GM> They are much lower in the main chamber now, and on the opposite side where they saw many of the taintlings hauling the cocoons containing ponies towards. They are still a few feet above the dust cloud, and the pile of discarded things on the floor of the cave
[04:10.13] * Proverb looks over at Logic. "After you LG."
[04:11.19] <TenMihara|GM> A couple of taintlings stand deeper in this tunnel, at the edge of the field, dropping the cocoons they were carrying and trying to bar the path. "This one demands to know what you have done to our kin!"
 [04:12.38] * Logic nickers. "Alright." It strikes him that he wished that he had power armor or some shit before going in here. Eh. The worst that can happen is that you make them all pissed off and kill you and make Rime's life miserable with regret and loneliness. "Which ones?" He answers.
[04:13.52] <TenMihara|GM> The two taintlings point in unison to one of the unconscious taintlings.
[04:14.21] * Proverb swings her aim around to the two taintlings ahead.
 [04:19.14] * Logic looks back. "Oh. Those two." He thought for a moment, and for once decided bragging about how something worked that was currently screwing them was a bad idea. "Oh. We have magic bullshit on us. They'll be fine in a little bit. Don't get near us, though."
[04:20.11] <TenMihara|GM> The taintlings scowl, but don't move form their position. Then, suddenly, their expressions turn vacant, and they stare eerily at Logic.
[04:22.39] * Logic scrunchfaces. "You gonna move or say something, or...?"
[04:22.57] * Proverb flips the safety off on her rifle. "Just give me the word Logic."
 [04:29.07] * Logic sucks on his teeth. "We're not here to be big time killers. Although we totally can do that."
[04:29.34] * Purple_Kay clicks over his ammo to honeycomb, since it's in close.
[04:30.27] * Green_Field stands ready and waits for the decision.
[04:30.53] <TenMihara|GM> The taintlings continue to just stare vacantly, before speaking out in eerie simultaneity. "Why have you come?"
[04:31.31] * Green_Field pulls Daisy close.
[04:31.59] * Proverb chambers a round. "I'm really not licking this Logic..."
[04:33.33] * Logic smacks his lips. Now was the time for tact and subtlety. "I heard that the queen got her mind fucked by evil goop and I wanna fix that." Nailed it.
[04:39.51] <TenMihara|GM> "You know nothing!" Bellow the pair of taintlings, who still look vacant.
[04:40.38] * Purple_Kay leans over to Logic. "Think yer talking to the lady herself." He whispers.
[04:45.48] * Logic nods his head to the side. "Yeah, I knew. Just making sure, Purple." He clops his hoof on the ground. "Bullshit, I don't. I do my research. First hoof account. The fucker in charge dunked these poor fucks in the evil goop and killed, like, bunches of her own buggy people doing so. I mean, shit, we killed less changelings than she did. I'm here to get the queen back that actually gived half a damn about the bugs under her."
[04:47.37] <TenMihara|GM> "You think you understand, but you are a fool. There are forces at work far beyond you. The harvest must continue!"
[04:49.17] * Logic parks his rump on the cave floor below. "Continue. I want to hear the thing that's worth killing people that love you."
[04:51.31] <TenMihara|GM> "For the good of all, some must be sacrificed. You do not know what is to come."
[04:53.09] * Logic rolls his hoof. "No, please, continue sounding like a vague paranoid with delusions of grandeur. That'll get the point across."
[04:54.34] <TenMihara|GM> "If you knew what I knew, could hear what I hear, you would not be so insolent."
[04:55.13] <Proverb> "Then what can you hear?" Proverb pipes up.
[04:57.44] * Logic notes to himself that she's not even self-aware what her words would sound to him to be. Maybe it was a dopamine surplus in her brain? Nah, it wouldn't be that easy.
[04:59.36] <TenMihara|GM> "You may not know what I know, but I know you. I have seen you before through the eyes of my children."
[05:02.02] * Logic furrows his eyebrows. "So, you're 'this one'? The one that was in the stable the day the resin went up in flames?"
[05:03.21] * Green_Field gives Daisy a slight squeeze with his leg as he remembers what day that was.
[05:03.57] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy shrinks back a little
[05:04.46] * Proverb growls defensively.
[05:04.59] <TenMihara|GM> "I see all that my children see. One of them saw you twice. Another saw you and then was severed from me."
[05:06.53] * Logic recoils a bit and gives the queenlings a nod. "Oh. I don't remember them. Can you tell me their name?"
[05:10.33] <TenMihara|GM> "Their names do not matter. Only their purpose, which you have thwarted more than once."
[05:13.42] * Logic puts on a serious face for once in this conversation. "So you're saying that they only exist to be an extension of you."
[05:16.30] <TenMihara|GM> "They serve me, and I protect them. They do what is needed so that I can continue to do so."
[05:19.09] * Logic puts that sardonic, sarcastic look right back on his face. "Oh. So that's why you killed so damn many of them. You're great at this protection thing." Serious mode again. "What has you so scared?"
[05:20.15] <TenMihara|GM> "Enough!" Bellow the taintlings. "If you would know the truth, then you will follow these ones. Perhaps then you will understand."
[05:22.45] <Proverb> "LG... this is a bad idea and you know it."
[05:25.04] * Logic looks at Proverb with a grim smile. "If you want to get out of here right now, I can get you there. But I'm going further. I know it's a bad idea. I'm doing it anyway." His shoulders slump in an uncharacteristic moment of weakness. "Sometimes following a bad idea is the only way to find a good one."
[05:26.55] * Proverb nods to Logic, smiling slightly at him. "I'm sticking with you, don't worry."
[05:28.22] <Green_Field> "This is nuts, but so was coming here in the first place. May as well go, we can leave whenever we need to."
 [05:29.08] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy gulps and sticks close to Green
[05:29.16] * Logic gives Proverb a look that can be described as a little brother looking up to a big sister. A glimpse of love for the ponies he cares about. "Urgh. Sorry. I have to put on my cocky face." And so he put the mask back on again, and started walking forward.
[05:31.24] <TenMihara|GM> The taintlings begin to back further into the cave. They keep their eyes on Logic and stay just outside the field
[05:32.20] * Proverb nods to Logic, giggling softly before trotting after him, keeping her guard up.
[05:34.19] <TenMihara|GM> Two more taintlings fall in behind the group, again staying at the edge of the field and keeping their gazes fixed on Logic. The tunnel descends deeper underground. As they move along, Logic feels something funny at the back of his mind
[05:35.54] * Purple_Kay follows along.
[05:36.27] * Logic furrows his brow. Shit. Shiiiiit. "Guys, keep your thoughts on what drives you. We're walking into a mental magic hotspot."
[05:36.56] <TenMihara|GM> No one else seems to be getting anything in their heads
[05:37.21] * Green_Field nods anyway and keeps his leg tight around Daisy.
[05:41.06] * Logic clenches his eyes shut. Focus. Focus. Focus. You're going to fix this. You're going to see her again. Focus. His eyes open and he grits his teeth. "Purple_Kay, if I do something uncharacteristic of me, I want you to slap me as hard as you can."
[05:41.50] <TenMihara|GM> As they go deeper, Logic feels that nagging sensation grow. However, it's different from the commanding sensation he experienced from Shifter's connection to the Queen when he was inside his head, but it's hard to nail down exactly what it is just yet.
[05:42.20] * Purple_Kay looks down at his power armored leg. "Alright."
[05:44.06] * Logic's mind buzzes with ways to counteract an invasion of mental faculty of some sort. He knew he wasn't going to be able to force her out, not yet. But he could parry her advances.
[05:47.13] <TenMihara|GM> The taintlings lead the group through the narrow tunnel, which emerges into another large cavern, the walls dripping with orange resin. At the back of the room, sitting on a mound of resin in a small lake of taint, is the Queen. The taintlings, already the size of alicorns, are dwarfed by her stature. She is also grotesque to look upon, her hideous face twisted and mutated, and her carapace further reinforced by hardened plates of resin
 [05:51.00] <Proverb> "...Welp. Looks like we've got our work cut out for us."
[05:52.46] * Logic looks at the hideous accountance of the queen. And yet, he could really think of is, gee. There needs to be porn of this.
[05:53.30] * Purple_Kay kicks his ammo back into HE.
[05:54.17] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen's massive horn glows as the party looks on, floating up one of the dozens of cocoons scattered about the room. She opens her mouth wide and, as they watch, drains something from it. It looks like a stream of orange magical light flowing from the cocoon to her mouth. She seems to radiate power.
[05:55.21] * Purple_Kay looks closer at the cocoon... is she... eating ponies? Or their magic?
[05:55.51] * Green_Field stands so that his body is blocking Daisy's, but still lets her see... if she wanted to. This is actually rather fascinating.
[05:56.29] * Proverb lifts her scope up to get a better look at what the queen was doing, frowning.
[05:56.56] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy shrinks away from the display.
[05:57.43] * Logic bites the inside of his lip. Welp. Do thing, Logic. Do thing now, Logic. "Good whenever. You're large. Let's talk about why you killed your own people." NAILED. IT.
[05:58.10] <TenMihara|GM> As the Queen feeds, the cocoon and its occupant shrivel up like a raisin. When she finishes feeding she drops it onto a wagon littered with shriveled cocooned corpses. A taintling is hitched to it, presumably for disposal, but it isn't moving at the moment.
[05:59.08] * Purple_Kay start taking mental measurements. Distances, splash ranges, can he shoot her if she makes to eat another one?
[05:59.15] <TenMihara|GM> Her portion finished, the Queen looks to Logic directly. Her voice echoes massively throughout the cavern, reverberated out of the mouths of every taintling present. "You can hear it, can't you?"
[05:59.39] <TenMihara|GM> Logic is beginning to get some clarity on that nagging sensation. It's not coming from the Queen, and lacks her authoritativeness. It feels more like... anger.
[06:00.14] * Green_Field pulls Daisy's head into his chest. She definitely doesn't need to see this. That could have been her...
[06:00.34] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy feels like she might puke.
[06:00.48] * Proverb switches her magazine of rounds over to AP, looking over the Queen's massive form for the best place to shoot. Perhaps her battle rifle's incendiary rounds would come in handy here...
[06:01.36] * Logic goes wide eyed. Shit. /SHIT/. He didn't even know that's possible. If his guess was right. "Yeah. Sorta. What is it?" Is it a memetic hazard? Please tell me it isn't a memetic hazard. This would suck if it were a memetic hazard.
[06:06.04] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen seems to smirk as she floats up another cocoon. "It is why there must be sacrifice. You can feel its anger, its strength. Your species is plentiful enough to be harvested, but too weak to do anything else."
[06:06.59] <Green_Field> "Harvested how and for what?"
[06:08.26] * Logic narrows his eyes. "What is /it/?"
[06:08.56] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen opens her mouth to feed on that cocoon. "I must protect us. No one else will be able to stand before the Beast."
[06:09.14] * Logic continues. "What is the Beast?"
[06:09.28] * Proverb looks over at Logic, eyes widening. "Logic... the boat."
[06:10.04] * Purple_Kay scowls. "Put them the fuck down!" One more inch and he's taking the explosive way out of this discussion
[06:13.00] * Logic mutters to himself. "The boat." The audio logs. He remembered them. "... Is the Beast a memetic hazard of some sort?"
[06:13.42] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen doesn't bother listening to Purple_Kay as she feeds again. "It is a creature of unfathomable power and anger. When it wakes, all will be destroyed. I must have the power to stop it."
[06:14.05] * Purple_Kay fires.
[06:16.55] <TenMihara|GM> The instant Purple_Kay Fires the Queen drops the cocoon, her horn remains lit as a magical, hexagon patterned barrier forms around her body. Purple_Kay's shots hammer against it, setting half the resin in the cavern ablaze.
[06:17.58] * Logic doesn't look impressed. "Purple? That might not have been a good idea."
[06:18.40] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen lights up her horn and a wave of magical force fills the room, smothering the fires before they can spread. Her barrier is cracked, but intact.
[06:19.08] * Proverb looks over at Purple_Kay. "Perhaps it would be a good idea to /not/ antagonize her."
[06:19.41] <Green_Field> "What? And, let her feed on all of them? What are we here for?"
[06:20.24] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen frowns at Purple_Kay, "I would prefer not to waste what power I have gained against a fool like you." Her barrier flickers a bit, but she keeps it up. It looks like it couldn't take another round of that kind of punishment though.
[06:24.34] * Logic looks around. "No, I mean, if you do more of that, then you'll just burn everyone dead anyway."
[06:25.08] * Logic looks around. "I don't have air vent access this time."
 [06:26.12] <TenMihara|GM> The taintlings that led the party down here, as well as the disposal taintling, were reduced to smears.
 [06:34.32] * Logic narrows his eyes. "I have an idea." He gave him that dud grenade. "Fire this."
[06:36.25] * Purple_Kay unfurls his arm and takes the grenade, starting the process of breachloading it in the normally automated loading system.
[06:38.11] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen keeps her shield up, "Are you going to cease this futility, or am I going to have to kill you all? You can feel it little one, you will soon know what is coming. You will understand."
 [06:43.15] * Proverb takes aim at the Queen with her SVD again, frowning. "What are you up to Logic?"
[06:47.40] * Logic raises his hooves, and gives her a hopeless look. Trust me. "If you would permit me to speak, I believe I know how to solve the issue."
[06:49.22] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen stares at Logic, "Speak, or leave."
[06:51.22] * Logic slowly mentions. "I feel the angry from here. I'm a psychomancer. It has a mind."
[06:52.44] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen nods, "I suspected your mind was open."
[06:59.10] * Logic wants to be very, very angry with the queen, but this /actually/ required subtlety. "I think I can cut off access of the beast from us. I can shield us until the time comes. But we need to work together."
[07:01.01] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen frowns, "Why would I want that? If I did not hear its anger, I would never have known to strengthen myself that I might face him when he awakens."
[07:05.38] * Logic clenches his teeth. "Think about it this way. A telepathic effect can be tracked. You know I can sever connections like that. And if you can feel it's influence, it can influence you."
[07:07.53] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen scoffs, "It is powerful and dangerous, but it feels only anger. It cannot control me."
[07:11.46] * Logic rolls his eyes. "The ooze here influenced your mind once. What makes you think /this thing/ is not powerful enough to control you?"
[07:14.14] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen frowns, "That is different. Were it not for the strength I gained from this substance's augmentation, I never would have heard the Beast's voice."
[07:17.33] * Logic frowns right on back. "You don't see my point. I think it is /made/ out of the ooze."
[07:18.36] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen shakes her head, "No, it isn't."
[07:18.51] * Logic recoils. "It isn't?"
[07:20.24] <TenMihara|GM> She shakes her head, "It is old and angry and powerful."
[07:21.01] * Logic smirks. "How old?"
[07:21.41] <TenMihara|GM> She frowns, "It comes from a time before the holocaust."
[07:25.02] * Logic continues. "Really? How long before the holocaust?"
[07:26.10] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen shakes her head, "I do not know, but it hardly matters. If you have nothing else to contribute to my efforts then leave that I might continue the harvest."
[07:26.36] * Logic furrows his brow. "I think I can help now."
[07:29.44] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen scoffs, "There is no help you can offer but to leave me to my feast."
[07:33.49] * Logic raises one. "Are you sure? Because you seem to need help now." He oddly emphasized the last words.
[07:35.09] * Purple_Kay figures this is his time to shoot the dud... hoping Logic had a plan.
[07:35.43] <TenMihara|GM> The dummy grenade bounces off the shield.
[07:36.50] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen roars, "I will not suffer this treachery!"
[07:38.09] <Proverb> "Well shit."
[07:40.29] * Logic bites his lip. Well, that usually works for him. "Avoid using wide-area explosives! I need to get close to finish this off!
[07:47.26] * Logic proceeds to attempt to scamper up her shield next to where he can make contact once the shield goes down.
[07:47.43] <TenMihara|GM> The shield extends 10ft around her in all directions
[07:51.49] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy looks to Green_Field, not sure what to do.
[08:01.25] * Proverb takes to the air immediately, backwinging back to the walls of the cavern and quickly looking for someplace she could disappear into.
[08:04.35] <TenMihara|GM> The whole cavern is filled with that eerie glow, making it impossible to disappear from sight.
[08:07.55] * Proverb takes a more direct approach, hovering eye-level with the Queen. She opens fire with her SVD, rifle cracking rapidly five times, all shots aimed towards the huge mare. "Eat lead psyco bitch!"
[08:12.30] <TenMihara|GM> Proverb clusters her shots well, four of them punching a hole in the Queen's shield, allowing the 5th to pass through and strike one of the armored plates of her shoulder. Her shield is barely holding together.
[08:17.07] <TenMihara|GM> Razor slides in close to the shield, itching for the moment it would come down so she could sink her blade into the oversized ultracunt.
[08:19.46] * Green_Field is fine with letting them spearhead the assault. He turns to head to the entrance for a bit of cover. "Daisy, this way."
[08:20.48] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy follows quickly
[08:25.10] * Green_Field waits there, covering Daisy for when the shield goes down.
[08:25.51] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen turns her horn on Logic, firing a massive beam of magical force at him
[08:35.39] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen lays on the magical intensity, continuing to blast Logic
[08:40.04] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen stops blasting Logic to try and reinforce her failing shield
[08:42.26] <Proverb> "LOGIC GET OUT OF THERE!"
[08:50.36] <TenMihara|GM> As the onslaught relents for a moment, the party can see that Logic, while still conscious and alive, is seared and mangled from the magical blasts.
[08:53.01] * Logic’s enamel in his teeth has cracked. Everything has begun to hurt for him. He couldn't move his legs. He couldn't move his back without huge routes of pain. And as he tried to gather strength for a teleport, even the power of magic was labored as his horn was cracked and seared. But he would not stop. He teleported up to the top of the giant beast's head, body battered and broken.
[08:54.30] <TenMihara|GM> Logic manages to land his body right next to her horn
[08:55.35] * Purple_Kay can't fire with Logic on top of her. He frowns.
[08:57.29] * Logic realizes he does not have long after having taken that blow to survive. He tries to summon it up again, just one last surge of life. Please. Please work. His emerald green magic began to sink into the queen's head.
[09:03.43] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen’s horn stops glowing as Logic sinks himself into her memories
[09:10.53] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen's mind is a complete mess. Fear, protectiveness, aggression, confusion, love, and hundreds of little voices from the other taintlings linked to her
[09:13.56] * Logic’s mental avatar flickered like his waning magic. He began what seemed like a long walk to the thread that bound her. He looked for the rainbow wire that lead to all of this. It should be easy. He's been here before.
[09:16.27] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen's mind is vast, and harder to navigate. Logic might be able to find her link to the other taintlings and sever it, but the damage to her own mind might be beyond his skill, at least in his current condition
[09:20.07] * Green_Field still covers Daisy. He's hesitant to come out as Logic probes its mind. He needs help ASAP though.
[09:21.07] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy looks to Green, "What happened, the blasting stopped?"
[09:21.07] * Purple_Kay stands there.
[09:22.48] * Green_Field shakes his head. "I don't know. Logic is doing something to her."
[09:23.01] * Proverb quickly flies over to Logic, hovering next to him, very worried, but not wanting to disturb him.
 [09:28.09] * Logic begins severing the lines between her and the taintlings while on the way to something a bit more base.
[09:29.26] <TenMihara|GM> A lot of confused chatter can be hear from back up the cavern.
[09:34.51] <TenMihara|GM> While he's inside her mind, while he can't control her thoughts, he does manage to tap into her dependency. He replaces the desire for adoration of her subjects with a desire for his own input. It's a very taxing swicheroo, and his magic fails him just after he finishes.
[09:38.27] * Green_Field looks behind.
[09:38.37] <TenMihara|GM> Logic loses consciousness for a moment and begins to slip off her head. Proverb would see this
[09:39.25] * Proverb dives down, scooping Logic up and making a beeline for Green_Field. "Green!"
[09:40.21] * Logic feels the last sparks drift off of his head. He's done it. Everything hurts, and he felt like he was falling even before he actually was, but he did it. "... H-hey Provy. Provy. Guess what?"
[09:40.54] * Green_Field looks at them and makes a come here motion with his hooves. "Hurry!"
[09:41.16] * Proverb smiles down at the colt in her hooves. "What?" She asks, flaring her wings and laying him down in front of Green_Field gently.
[09:42.41] * Logic has a moment of weary triumph. "I did something kinda cool."
[09:44.12] * Green_Field’s horn lights and sends a powerful wave of healing magic into Logic.
[09:47.05] * Logic’s laugh becomes healthier. His coat was still rather patchy and streaked with parts that wouldn't heal back right, but he still laughed. "Queen Gloriana, please come here. And please meet my friends."
[09:47.58] * Proverb blinks at Logic, and then looks over at the only Queen she knew about, the very big taintling that was in the room with them.
[09:48.53] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen hesitates a moment, remembering still that two of those friends had shot at her, then strides slowly towards them.
[09:50.28] * Proverb tightens the grip on her SVD as she comes over to them. "So..."
[09:50.34] * Green_Field waits and keeps an eye on both the queen and Logic. He might need another hit.
[09:51.01] <Proverb> "Hi?"
[09:51.49] <TenMihara|GM> The queen looks down at Proverb. "Put that away. Please."
[09:54.10] * Proverb raises an eyebrow, looking over at Logic, and then back at the queen. She slowly slips her rifle back across her back, and then releases the seals on her helmet. She pulls the helmet off, revealing her one-eyed face to the queen, looking up at her. "So, what can you tell us about this 'Beast' character?"
[09:54.31] * Logic chuckles. "She means well. Please answer her question, my queen."
[09:56.53] <TenMihara|GM> "Very little," proclaims the no less impressive voice of the Queen. "All I have felt is its strength and malice that has lay dormant since the holocaust, but is awakening now."
[09:58.26] * Proverb nods to the Queen, frowning. "DO you know... when it's going to come? How long does it take to wake up?"
[09:59.22] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen shakes her head, "I know only that it stirs, and will not remain contained much longer."
[10:00.36] * Proverb frowns further. "I suppose you don't know where we could find it either? Because if we kill it before it's awake, then... problem solved."
[10:01.11] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen shakes her head again, "Its anger flows throughout the region as it dreams. It is impossible to pinpoint."
[10:01.39] * Logic gives the hideous gigantic creature a small smile. "My queen, you are doing really well by answering these questions, by the way. I believe it may behoove you to put on a countenance similar to how you used to look, however." This fancy talk was making Logic's tongue itch.
 [10:03.00] * Proverb muses softly. "I wonder if I could convince the Enclave to spare a Thunderhead..."
[10:04.40] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen blinks at Logic. "Pardon?"
[10:13.05] * Logic slumps his shoulders. How would Harmony say this? "You are beautiful, Queen. But right now, we need more old fashioned. If you could look more like the way you did before you had your incident with the taint, I think it would help your changelings out to see that you're a pony worth following."
 [10:14.18] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen tilts her head, "I am not a pony at all."
[10:14.46] * Logic chuckles weakly. "Old habit, sorry. Do you think you could do that, though?"
[10:20.40] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen shifts, her size scaling down as she takes on the guise of a normal, alicorn sized Queen Changeling.
[10:20.48] <TenMihara|GM> She's a lot less ugly
[10:21.51] * Proverb smiles at the queen, holding a hoof out. "Well... I'm Proverb.’
 [10:22.18] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen doesn't seem to recognize the gesture.
[10:23.00] * Logic smiles. "You look a lot prettier. I think the gesture means that she's wanting to say hi and trusts you."
[10:23.20] * Logic adds, "She wants you to shake her hoof with your own."
[10:24.20] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen nods and shakes the hoof, probably hard enough to rattle Proverb given the size difference
[10:25.16] * Proverb eeps, and then giggles. "Also, you're totally cute now. Just saying."
[10:25.37] <TenMihara|GM> The Queen doesn't respond to that
[10:27.36] * Logic attempts to get up. "She's being really blunt, but that's a compliment. I think it would be cool to talk to the changelings under your command. And then I can show you the coolest filly in the world."
[10:27.57] * Green_Field stands. Proverb sure is quick to recover. Totally called it. He nods to the queen. "And, I'm Green Field and this is Daisy." He puts a hoof on Daisy's back.
[10:29.04] * Proverb slips her helmet back on, adjusting the strap of her SVD. "Actually Logic, I think we need to figure out who... or what, this Beast thing is."
[10:30.22] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy keeps her distance
[10:30.56] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy still looks queasy, and moves back down out of the tunnel to empty her stomach now that adrenaline was fading
[10:32.18] * Logic frowns. "I think you might be right. But we have no information to go on about the Beast other than it's coming. I think it would be optimal if we were to get the trust of the taintlings back and then have a fighting chance together." He smiles. "Odds are, I can't be all that useful in a fight against it, but I can arrange it to be fought now with the help of the Queen."
[10:32.35] * Green_Field frowns, but understands. He turns to Logic. "Take it easy and let me know if you need another healing hit." He trots over to care for Daisy."
[10:35.20] * Proverb nods to Logic in agreement, moving up next to him. "Probably...whatever it is it doesn't sound like it's going to be easy to take down."
[10:36.02] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy has slipped back to the larger cavern. A couple of taintlings buzz around, looking lost, but most of them seem to have fled in their confusion and lack of orders from the Queen.
[10:36.41] * Logic calls out. "Hey! Come here, all you out there! I need to talk to you!"
[10:37.21] * Green_Field follows her, looking around. They don't look threatening, but it's better safe than sorry.
[10:38.01] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy throws up, trying to keep it to one corner and being quiet about it
[10:40.02] * Green_Field pats and rubs her back gently. "Don't sweat it. Let whatever you need out."
[10:41.09] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy looks rather ill and gives another heave before she's finished.
[10:45.18] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy looks towards the now empty, but still resin coated cavern. At the bottom, she spies the pile of goods. She frowns, "Those must have been taken from all those poor ponies."
[10:45.36] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy tears up a little, "How many do you think she fed on to get so large?"
[10:47.10] * Green_Field’s ears flatten. "Too damn many." He looks over the pile. "They didn't deserve this..."
 [10:48.53] * Logic turns off the radio and then calls for them again.
 [10:49.53] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy frowns, "Logic is a nice pony, but that Queen... I was in one of those cocoons. I could just as easily have been a meal for her."
[10:50.14] <TenMihara|GM> Three of the remaining taintlings trot towards Logic
[10:50.49] * Logic looks at Green_Field and mutters something to him. "The Queen didn't deserve this either. I've seen the good queen. That stuff just boiled her mind until nothing but that was left. And she has room to have such a beautiful mind. I've seen it." He looked at the taintlings. "Hey. Do you three know your names?"
[10:52.14] <TenMihara|GM> The taintlings look between Logic and Gloriana, then just tilt their heads, confused.
[10:53.24] * Green_Field pats Daisy. "She was corrupted. She didn't know what she was doing."
[10:53.31] * Logic frowns, ashamed. "Hey, you guys. Come here. I have something to tell you."
[10:53.44] <TenMihara|GM> The taintlings approach cautiously
[10:55.37] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy frowns, "That doesn't change what she did. All those ponies she killed... at least if she was gone there'd be no more ponies going through that."
[10:56.46] <TenMihara|GM> Green, if he's looking at the look pile, might see that there's a suit of armor there with a rebreather in it. It would keep whoever was wearing it from inhaling things like the taintling powder at the bottom of the cave.
[10:56.57] * Green_Field frowns. "I hurt a lot of ponies as a slaver, do I deserve to die?"
[10:57.19] * Logic frowns. "Look. I know you three think really bad of her, but she's very sick right now. She has been for a very long time. I would really like it if you three spread the word that your queen is getting better. And one day she'll be back to normal."
[10:58.02] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy blinks at Green_Field, then looks abashed. "That's... different. Isn't it?"
[11:01.24] * Green_Field’s eyes dart to the rebreather. "Is it? If I recall, you said there was good in me that deserved a chance. Is she any different?"
[11:02.55] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy frowns a bit. What he was saying made sense, but this Queen was a monster. She was the size of a house and fed on ponies. It was so much worse than just keeping them captive.
[11:05.41] * Green_Field turns and looks for a way down. She might change her mind if she knew exactly the things he had done beyond just holding them captive.
[11:07.50] <TenMihara|GM> The pile isn't that far away. He could probably reach with his magic.
[11:08.55] * Green_Field reaches out with it and tries to lift it up without breaking anything.
[11:09.44] <TenMihara|GM> The rebreather is part of a helmet, but is not fastened to the suit of armor and floats over to him independently
[11:11.36] * Green_Field is curious and slides down to dig out the rest if it can be found.
[11:14.26] <TenMihara|GM> The pile looks to contain a lot of weapons, most of them lower tier or in poor condition, some armor, tools, and various miscellaneous possessions
[11:15.21] <TenMihara|GM> The Suit Green finds almost looks like proto-power armor, being largely enclosed, with the rebreather and goggles on the helmet, yet designed with better mobility in mind
[11:16.35] * Green_Field blinks and lifts it out, climbing back out. He looks it over. How did this get in here?
[11:18.34] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy tilts her head, "What is that?"
[11:19.35] <Green_Field> "Some kind of special armor. It looks like it's designed with field medicine in mind."
[11:20.01] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy blinks, "R-really?"
[11:20.23] <TenMihara|GM> The armor did in fact have numerous pouches for drugs and medical supplies
[11:22.30] * Logic pats the taintlings on their cheeks. "You'll be alright. Just please, tell the taintlings that have already left that I am going to work really hard on getting Gloriana back to the way she was before the fucked up stuff hurt her mind if you see them. And tell them that we'll meet up by the old college, and we might need their help to take down a threat we're all afraid of."
[11:24.48] <TenMihara|GM> The taintlings flutter off
[11:26.26] * Logic’s legs start to feel weak again. "... I really need to go to sleep." He looks at Green with the most vulnerable look he's ever had. "I can't cast magic right now."
[11:26.33] * Green_Field looks around. They still seem non-threatening. He starts taking off his riot gear. This is a great find. "It's set up like my pack."
[11:27.00] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy nods, "Well... I'm sure whoever had it before wouldn't mind you using it to help other ponies."
[11:29.52] * Proverb moves over to support Logic.
[11:32.09] * Green_Field nods, smiling and looking rather excited. He gets in and slips on the helmet. "This is amazing. It's more snug. It constricts just enough for added support, but still allows for flexibility."
[11:33.01] * Logic weakly gives Proverb a smile, face and body still scarred. "Do I look like Mr. Kay?"
[11:34.09] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy smiles at him softly.
[11:36.35] * Proverb smiles at Logic, giggling. "Too small."
[11:39.24] * Green_Field smiles at Daisy. "It's perfect." He looks at his riot gear and then to her combat armor. "Well, if I'm going to be wearing this, why don't you put that on. It's a little better and has a gas mask."
[11:41.09] <TenMihara|GM> Daisy nods and slips out of her armor, and into Green's riot gear.
[11:41.23] <TenMihara|GM> It fits well enough, although a couple adjustments wouldn't hurt
 [11:43.01] * Green_Field smiles at her. "Perfect. Let's head on back to the others." He puts his new armored leg around her and heads back with her.
[11:39.15] <TenMihara|GM> *****End Session*****
[11:39.22] <TenMihara|GM> Rewards: 8000 Experience