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Scorch_Mechanic

FO: Beyond Equestria 120: Origin Story Conclusion (P. 34)

Scorch_Mechanic
Feb 4th, 2015
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  1. [2015-01-28 13:08:57] <Jack_Rascal> 3Previously...
  2. [2015-01-28 13:09:32] <Jack_Rascal> 3Mare-Do-Well looks at everyone. "If the Dark Empress has returned... or is trying to return... that means that there is something wrong with the Radiant Shield of Rasdon! It's been shut off or something! We need to use to Amulet of Atonement, just like Daring Do, to turn it back on. Before Quetzalcóatl can manifest with all her dark power."
  3. [2015-01-28 13:09:39] <Jack_Rascal> 3Golden_Dream gulps. "Yeah, I get it. I got it. We're fuckin' scared, but if she's /here/, that means so's th' Amulet."
  4. [2015-01-28 13:09:51] <Jack_Rascal> 3Mare-Do-Well then droops. "Of course, we can't do it /exactly/ like Daring Do."
  5. [2015-01-28 13:09:59] <Jack_Rascal> 3Bookwright "I suppose we have to head for the center of the Shield then."
  6. [2015-01-28 13:10:18] <Jack_Rascal> 3---
  7. [2015-01-28 13:10:30] <Jack_Rascal> 3Golden_Dream continues. We give you the amulet, and then if you even /think/ about double crossing us in some way or doing some needlessly destructive crap, I will personally arrange for you to have glass powder rubbed into your eye sockets."
  8. [2015-01-28 13:10:44] <Jack_Rascal> 3Through a patchwork of Golden_Dream's memories, the Faceless responds, "...you...bring...Amulet...Uh...tell...where...Element..."
  9. [2015-01-28 13:10:50] <Jack_Rascal> 3Golden_Dream is losing her patience. The spit on her hoof is starting to dry. Deal. Where's the amulet?
  10. [2015-01-28 13:10:52] <Jack_Rascal> 3---
  11. [2015-01-28 13:11:11] <Jack_Rascal> 3A line of light etches its way around the chest where the lid should be.
  12. [2015-01-28 13:11:16] <Jack_Rascal> 3The chest pops open with a melodious sound. The silver-blue light fades down to a tiny pinprick of deep blue.
  13. [2015-01-28 13:11:23] <Jack_Rascal> 3That spark of light is emanating from the heart of a star sapphire set into the center of a dark metal amulet, surrounded by a motif of tears.
  14. [2015-01-28 13:11:25] <Jack_Rascal> 3---
  15. [2015-01-28 13:11:38] <Jack_Rascal> 3The ship charts a course over the jungle canopy that takes it almost directly above the ruins of the Fortress of Talikon. There is no movement below. Not from the statues. Not from the vines. Not from the turrets or missile batteries... which, when looked at through binoculars or a spyglass, have clearly been opened and their innards raided.
  16. [2015-01-28 13:11:49] <Jack_Rascal> 3Noble_Heart looks down at the ruins. "Those of The Silos likely dismantled them for raw materials long ago. But there are likely tunnels and passages beneath the temple. Places which the megaspell did not reach."
  17. [2015-01-28 13:11:58] <Jack_Rascal> 3Mwana Wameli says, "We believe the fortress was the target of the megaspell. The pirates of The Silos looted this place long ago. Although occasionally some will search it again, hoping to find more. There are rumors of underground rooms that have never been touched."
  18. [2015-01-28 13:11:59] <Jack_Rascal> 3---
  19. [2015-01-28 13:12:38] <Jack_Rascal> 3Get_Lost guides CopyCat. Working together, CopyCat and Get_Lost defeat the ancient lock. Tumblers rasp into place, and the whole lock turns with the grinding sound of stone on stone. A deeper rumble fills the room, and the doors part, dust tumbling down between them. They each slide about about a quarter of the way open before the ancient mechanism fails.
  20. [2015-01-28 13:12:46] <Jack_Rascal> 3The doors stop moving, but with plenty of room for even the alicorns to wiggle through.
  21. [2015-01-28 13:12:54] <Jack_Rascal> 3Shatara cheers! Makes golem cheer too!
  22. [2015-01-28 13:13:09] <Jack_Rascal> 3The shadowed room beyond is a fair-sized chamber with six asymetric central pillars. Each is carved with familiar runes. Get_Lost quickly announces that the runes have that same magical "current" that you have seen before in the obelisks of the Shield of Rasdon.
  23. [2015-01-28 13:13:15] <Jack_Rascal> 3To reiterate the connection, there is a small, pony-sized obelisk sitting just off-center of the middle of the room. It is made of gold.
  24. [2015-01-28 13:13:35] <Jack_Rascal> 3The walls of the room are lined with military crates. The zebra Legion was using this room as a storehouse.
  25. [2015-01-28 13:13:42] <Jack_Rascal> 3CopyCat starts to rummage in crates. Crates contained prizes!
  26. [2015-01-28 13:13:43] <Jack_Rascal> 3---
  27. [2015-01-28 13:14:23] <Jack_Rascal> 3Inspecting the glyphs further, Noble_Heart comes to the realization that the golden obelisk is the heart of the Radiant Shield of Rasdon. And that someone must activate it. A sacrifice must be made, facilitated by the Amulet.
  28. [2015-01-28 13:14:47] <Jack_Rascal> 3CopyCat and Golden_Dream begin to pry open crates. Some of them are locked, but these are easy for Get_Lost to crack.
  29. [2015-01-28 13:14:55] <Jack_Rascal> 3The first crate contains linens.
  30. [2015-01-28 13:15:03] <Jack_Rascal> 3Shatara helps loot boxes
  31. [2015-01-28 13:15:10] <Jack_Rascal> 3The crates after that contain weapons, ammo and medical supplies.
  32. [2015-01-28 13:15:22] <Jack_Rascal> 3Golden_Dream blinks. Oh. "... Shatara," She exhales, as if trying to laugh and failing due to due shock. "Did we die and go t' gun heaven?"
  33. [2015-01-28 13:15:30] <Jack_Rascal> 3Shatara chuckles a bit. "Possibly..."
  34. [2015-01-28 13:15:35] <Jack_Rascal> 3CopyCat wears a pile of linen on her head.
  35. [2015-01-28 13:15:42] <Jack_Rascal> 3Noble_Heart frowns and tilts her head to one side, then the other. "We believe that this is the place we have been looking for. Doubtless the zebras knew where it was for a long time before Daring Do came here." She furrowed her brow. "But it may involve a more problematic sacrifice than we expected..."
  36. [2015-01-28 13:15:49] <Jack_Rascal> 3Bookwright "What kind of sacrifice? Define 'problematic'."
  37. [2015-01-28 13:15:54] <Jack_Rascal> 3Noble_Heart shakes her head. "We are not certain."
  38. [2015-01-28 13:16:04] <Jack_Rascal> 3---
  39. [2015-01-28 13:17:07] <Jack_Rascal> 3The final crate, which Get_Lost virtually unlocks by just looking at it crossly, contains a collection of 25 zebra throwing stars.
  40. [2015-01-28 13:17:23] <Jack_Rascal> 3Golden_Dream blinks. Holy hell, with this stuff, she can take down Cottonseed. She looks at the shells. They look back. And then she starts loading up magazines. "Musta stocked up on shotgun ammo t' deal with th' local fauna." She looks back up at Copycat and shakes her head. "... And now we have one of those!"
  41. [2015-01-28 13:17:27] <Jack_Rascal> 3...
  42. [2015-01-28 13:18:03] <Jack_Rascal> 3Fallout: Beyond Equestria, Session One Hundred and Twenty: Origin Story conclusion (Part Thirty-Four) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SSUQxGjZZ4
  43. [2015-01-28 13:18:13] <Jack_Rascal> 3--- Session Begins ---
  44. [2015-01-28 13:25:52] * Bookwright sweeps a hoof over the phat l3tz. "So, we have to give part of this stuff to the pirates. What about we give them the big useless gold statue and call it even?"
  45. [2015-01-28 13:28:38] * CopyCat nods in agreement... which doesn't help much since she was invisible, so she mentally gives off the impression of nodding instead. "That sounds like a good idea, Bookwright. Pirates love gold. It's a commonly believed fact."
  46. [2015-01-28 13:30:11] * Bookwright 's brain stumbles. "Er, what? What do you mean 'commonly believed fact'? Are you implying that these pirates don't want gold?"
  47. [2015-01-28 13:31:17] * Golden_Dream frowns. Her mind turned over those thoughts. "I have an idea. Although, it's kinda a bad one..."
  48. [2015-01-28 13:32:40] * CopyCat shakes her head (pointlessly). "Oh, I just meant that it was so believed that the pirates are sure to believe it too!"
  49. [2015-01-28 13:32:53] * Get_Lost frowns "isn't the gold thing part of the sun shield?"
  50. [2015-01-28 13:33:59] * Mare-Do-Well 3nods at Get_Lost's words. "Trying to remove the golden obelisk might be... colossally bad."
  51. [2015-01-28 13:35:25] * CopyCat blows a raspberry. "Then we'll have to think of something else... What was your idea, Golden_Dream?"
  52. [2015-01-28 13:36:20] * Golden_Dream fetches the amulet from her strangely silent friend. "So, I'm thinkin' we trade th' power of th' Amulet of Retribution to th' shield to get it goin'."
  53. [2015-01-28 13:37:57] * Mare-Do-Well 3looks to Noble_Heart. "Shouldn't you guys do whatever you have to do with the Amulet, turn the Shield of Rasdon back on, and banish the darkness of the Quetzalcóatl Empress? Before, you know, she gets any more powerful?"
  54. [2015-01-28 13:43:48] * Golden_Dream scratched her chin, looking worried. "Mare-Do-Well, did you ever read her book thing? 'Cause th' Amulet is all about trading somethin' or someone t' get what you want." She capitalizes the statement by saying. "So who or what are we gonna trade to get this massive huge shield goin' again?"
  55. [2015-01-28 13:43:53] * Bookwright "Right. We can sort out the pirate's share of loot after we put an end to the promise of worldwide destruction."
  56. [2015-01-28 13:45:31] * Get_Lost frowns "yeah but what do we have to sacrifice in order to have this thing go? it's like... a pony sacrifice, or something like that?"
  57. [2015-01-28 13:46:49] * Golden_Dream puffs a stream of air from her nose. "It's always gotta be of roughly equivalent value."
  58. [2015-01-28 13:47:17] * Get_Lost "okay, but how do we know what it is? is it written somewhere?"
  59. [2015-01-28 13:48:51] * Golden_Dream half-lids her eyes. She can't believe that she has to say this. "Get, magical artifacts of wonderous power don't tend t' come with an instruction manual."
  60. [2015-01-28 13:49:49] * Bookwright "Yeah, but this has literally been done before. The shield was activated... It can't be /too/ lethal."
  61. [2015-01-28 13:50:43] * CopyCat finally takes off the stealth cloak and rejoins her friends. "Should we try plugging the amulet in somewhere? Or perhaps a more detailed look at the murals on the walls would give us a clue."
  62. [2015-01-28 13:51:54] * Get_Lost "we should pay attention to the time, too... the pirates are going to ditch us if we take too much time"
  63. [2015-01-28 13:52:23] * Shatara scratches his head. "Are we sure we've got this right? I mean, the amulet can exchange one thing for another...but we don't want a thing. We want to turn a thing on..."
  64. [2015-01-28 13:54:58] * CopyCat cocks her head at Shatara. "So... if one of us gets turned on then we could trade that feeling with the amulet for turning the shield on!"
  65. [2015-01-28 13:57:12] * Golden_Dream 's ears flatten out, eyes darting around for anything that could be helpful. Great, she got enough shells to shoot up an entire town, but not the batteries included for the amulet that was supposed to save everyone's life. "Well... Fuck. Alright, erryone look fer clues."
  66. [2015-01-28 13:59:22] * Mare-Do-Well 3listens, then finally offers, "Look, if you have to sacrifice somepony, it might as well be me. I'm already dead, right?" She frowns sadly, "Besides, how much of this is all my fault?"
  67. [2015-01-28 13:59:55] * Bookwright doesn't want to do that accounting.
  68. [2015-01-28 14:01:59] * CopyCat winces at Mare-Do-Well. "I was afraid you'd say that."
  69. [2015-01-28 14:03:48] * Get_Lost "well, assuming that we have to sacrifice someone, and we are still not sure about it, we'll decide together. and it won't b you, okay?"
  70. [2015-01-28 14:09:59] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mare-Do-Well slumps. "It should be me. Hell, so many others have sacrificed everything... why should I still be around? It's not right. Especially not if I sent Daring Do to her death."
  71. [2015-01-28 14:11:53] * Get_Lost "from the little i know, there's fluttershy back home and it could be nice if you could meet her again... moreover" the mare smiles "i'm sorry, but this isn't your war anymore. i think we are ready enough to fix our own troubles, okay?"
  72. [2015-01-28 14:12:34] * Bookwright nods. "I'm with Get. I'm sorry, but... You're dead. The living have to solve their own problems."
  73. [2015-01-28 14:17:40] * Golden_Dream looks between her compatriots. "'Sides, nopony's gonna get enslaved as far as I can help it. Ain't gonna matter if yer' living /or/ dead."
  74. [2015-01-28 14:17:47] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Bookwright and Get_Lost continue to examine the glyphs and pictographs on the walls. There's something familiar about what they are seeing. They realize the Radiant Shield of Rasdon is an ancient zebra proto-megaspell. A area-spanning architectural construct designed to create a long-lasting, massive spell.
  75. [2015-01-28 14:18:04] <Mare-Do-Well> 3They've seen a proto-megaspell before: the Crystal Empire.
  76. [2015-01-28 14:20:56] * Get_Lost "okay, so, if this is a megaspell and it works a little like the crystal empire, then probably the amulet will make the part of the hearth, the obelisk will be the same as cadance, we just need a crowd of crystal ponies or something similar..." starts trying to calculate proportions and trying to elaborate something more on that idea
  77. [2015-01-28 14:21:42] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Here, like there, the proto-megaspell is dependent on a unique and powerful magical item to be placed at its center to activate it -- an item that channels something from those who activate it.
  78. [2015-01-28 14:22:30] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The Crystal Heart channeled the positive feelings of all the Crystal Ponies into the spell. Just a little from so many so as not to cause them any harm in the taking... at least, until the spell was left unfinished and the Crystal Heart stolen, the drain slowly turning the trapped Crystal Ponies into Heartless.
  79. [2015-01-28 14:24:36] * Bookwright "So I've been thinking... This Shield? It's a megaspell, right? Where have we seen a megaspell that requires a special focus before?"
  80. [2015-01-28 14:25:00] <Mare-Do-Well> 3In the gylphs, the Shield is depicted as drawing something from a single pony. A much more costly draw, presumably, if what it takes is not spread out amongst hundreds.
  81. [2015-01-28 14:25:41] * Get_Lost nodnods "do we have a crowd of volunteers? assuming that anyone would gladly sacrifice herself to save the world if needed, would it last?"
  82. [2015-01-28 14:26:27] * Bookwright spins and points at CopyCat. "The Crystal Empire. And the crystal heart. So the Radiant Shield is just like the Crystal Empire shield, and the Amulet is clearly the same as the Crystal Heart. But the Crystal Empire shield was powered by the good feelings of the ponies of the Crystal Empire. These pictures show only a single zebra activating the Radiant Shield of Rasdon."
  83. [2015-01-28 14:27:13] * Get_Lost frowns "oooo-kay... let's make this easy. is there somepony who doesn't volunteer for this?"
  84. [2015-01-28 14:27:29] * CopyCat bites her lip and nods at Bookwright.
  85. [2015-01-28 14:32:10] * Golden_Dream raises her hoof. "I don't wanna die. Not yet."
  86. [2015-01-28 14:33:53] * Get_Lost nods "fair enough... anyone else?"
  87. [2015-01-28 14:38:05] * Bookwright "Daring Do managed to activate the Shield somehow, it's written in /Daring Do and the Razor of Dreams/. I can't quite remember /how/ though."
  88. [2015-01-28 14:39:42] * Get_Lost "maybe it's possible to modify the way the spall drags its energy..." does some math
  89. [2015-01-28 14:41:17] <Mare-Do-Well> 3From what Get_Lost knows, it would probably simply require intent and everyone involved to have worn the Amulet of Atonement recently. At least, that would sync with how the Amulet is depicted affecting Daring Do, the cult leader and the pony in the red hat in the last "Origin Story" segment they read.
  90. [2015-01-28 14:42:36] * Get_Lost "alright, probably, if we all wear the amulet, we would be able to participate in the ritual... obviously, this could mean that all of us could die..." explains the wearing amulet thing
  91. [2015-01-28 14:44:14] * Golden_Dream grits her teeth, holding the guilty lump of metal and magic in her hoof. "... I ain't got time t' die. So we better don't." She slips on the amulet, then takes it off and passes it to the pony at the left.
  92. [2015-01-28 14:46:14] * Bookwright settles it on his own neck, and shivers. "This feels heavy, like the weight of a very poor decision." He passes it on.
  93. [2015-01-28 14:46:17] * CopyCat puts on the amulet without a word and then passes it to the next pony.
  94. [2015-01-28 14:47:07] * Get_Lost "just to be sure, i'll operate the thing. the idea was mine and i'll take the toll if it doesn't work." smiles "besides, i don't really have anything to go back to, when this story will be over"
  95. [2015-01-28 14:49:04] * Mare-Do-Well 3stares at the Amulet of Atonement. She reaches out for it, her hoof passing through it like she wasn't there. "Of course."
  96. [2015-01-28 14:50:13] * Get_Lost waits for her turn to wear the amulet
  97. [2015-01-28 14:50:59] * Mare-Do-Well 3sighs. "Dead. Right. Want to help. Can't. Story of my lack of life."
  98. [2015-01-28 14:52:14] * Get_Lost shrugs "you tried, that's good enough for me. thanks"
  99. [2015-01-28 14:52:18] * Shatara quietly accepts the amulet, and passes it along to Get_Lost.
  100. [2015-01-28 14:52:25] * CopyCat puts a wing around roughly where Mare-Do-Well was. "You've helped us a lot, Rainbow Dash."
  101. [2015-01-28 14:52:46] * Get_Lost gets the amulet and approaches the obelisk, then tries to operate the spell
  102. [2015-01-28 14:55:18] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The star sapphire in the center of the Amulet of Atonement bursts with light. A rolling wave of silvery-blue light washes over everyone. Swirls and eddies move within the glow.
  103. [2015-01-28 14:56:10] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Rainbow Dash vanishes in the new light. Noble_Heart seems to fade. But Get_Lost and her four companions -- Bookwright, Shatara, Golden_Dream and CopyCat -- all seem vibrantly real.
  104. [2015-01-28 14:56:28] * Bookwright is trying to banish second thoughts.
  105. [2015-01-28 14:57:02] * Get_Lost focuses on the spell, is trying to keep the thing under control
  106. [2015-01-28 14:57:27] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Strange, not-quite-seen forms move out of the corners of their eyes. Things lurk in the spirit-scape. The Golden Obelisk glows sympathetically with the power of the great spirit resting within it.
  107. [2015-01-28 14:57:36] * Golden_Dream is quietly panicking to herself while the reality of things seems to become a lot more fluid.
  108. [2015-01-28 14:58:13] <Mare-Do-Well> 3A low song, sad and sweet, reverberates in the air. It seems to be coming from within them.
  109. [2015-01-28 14:59:09] * Get_Lost humms the song to herself
  110. [2015-01-28 14:59:30] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Wisps of energy tug out from their hearts. The Golden Obelisk is drawing out a part of them -- some of the essence of their very hearts and souls.
  111. [2015-01-28 15:00:24] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The wisps of energy draw out of their breasts, floating in front of them for a moment. Each feels a sense of sadness and loss, like there is a hole in them now...
  112. [2015-01-28 15:01:11] * CopyCat gives what she has, as she has always done. But what she gives may not have been truly hers.
  113. [2015-01-28 15:01:12] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The wisps swim across the room and merge into the Golden Obelisk. It glows more and more brightly as each enteres.
  114. [2015-01-28 15:01:54] * Get_Lost humms the song, having no eyes makes so easy for her to avoid tears
  115. [2015-01-28 15:04:37] <Mare-Do-Well> 3As the final one -- the wisp drawn from CopyCat -- sinks into the golden surface, the Golden Obelisk pulses, and a brilliant golden light shoots upwards from it's tip.
  116. [2015-01-28 15:04:41] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The stream of golden light pours forth for several seconds, shooting up through the stone ceiling of the room, up through the ruins of the Fortress, up into the air above the Tenochtitlan Basin.
  117. [2015-01-28 15:06:57] <Mare-Do-Well> 3A few miles away, the pirate crew of the /Cutlass/ drop what they are doing, turning to stare. Mwana Wameli turns to the captain and shouts, waving a forehoof at the light. "We must go back for them!"
  118. [2015-01-28 15:08:21] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The golden light reaches its apex and explodes outward, spanning over the entire basin. As the golden light ripples over the Temple of the Quetzalcóatl Empress, the dark and shadowy form of the Empress shrieks with a mind-bleeding cry and is washed away in the light.
  119. [2015-01-28 15:11:52] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Back within the chamber, the beam of golden light cuts off. The glow pouring from Golden Obelisk fades. The silvery light that surrounds everyone collapses back into the Amulet of Atonement, the star sapphire at its center no longer alight.
  120. [2015-01-28 15:12:53] <Mare-Do-Well> 3As the bridge to the spirit world collapses, one of the strange forms lurking at its fringes slips forward, shifting into the world.
  121. [2015-01-28 15:13:11] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The Faceless stands before Golden_Dream and her friends.
  122. [2015-01-28 15:14:34] * Golden_Dream feels like how she felt after her mother died. After her father died. After she made herself terribly, terribly alone. It wasn't really like a great sadness, it was a complete lack of feeling at all. Just this neverending feeling of tiredness, like the meat of her body just decided that the weight of her was all going to sag her into the ground. Like her eyelids were drooping into her cheeks.
  123. [2015-01-28 15:16:26] * CopyCat shivers, hugging herself close with her wings.
  124. [2015-01-28 15:17:31] * Get_Lost has the same feeling she got the day she was shased away from the crusaders. shivers and falls on her butt. isn't really able to give her attention to the ghostly figure at the moment
  125. [2015-01-28 15:17:50] * Bookwright glares defiantly at the creature.
  126. [2015-01-28 15:19:26] * Noble_Heart blinks quietly and scowls at the strange results of the amulet. And the sudden appearance of the spirit of secrets.
  127. [2015-01-28 15:19:35] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Once again, the Faceless speaks to Golden_Dream through a cascade of voices from her own memories. "...you...bring...Amulet..." the voices repeat, "...Uh...tell...where...Element..."
  128. [2015-01-28 15:21:08] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The Faceless looks towards Get_Lost, who is wearing the Amulet of Atonement. A cascade of voices fill her head. "...the bargain... was... made... the... Amulet... belongs... to... me..."
  129. [2015-01-28 15:22:10] * Golden_Dream flops to her side. It took a lot out of her. She just looked up at the faceless and remained silent.
  130. [2015-01-28 15:22:32] * Noble_Heart moves forward, reaching down with a wing to try and steady Golden Dream on her hooves.
  131. [2015-01-28 15:22:49] * Get_Lost is still stunned, raises the visor at the spirit "uh? what... what if the shield fails again? is it possible to operate this... thing without it?"
  132. [2015-01-28 15:23:28] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The Faceless continues to stare. And just as A.K. Yearling floated from Daring Do's back, the Amulet of Atonement begins to lift from around Get_Lost's neck.
  133. [2015-01-28 15:23:32] * Get_Lost is asking questions her brains tell her to ask, but is also taking off the amulet, ready to give it to the spirit
  134. [2015-01-28 15:24:02] * Get_Lost "oh, yeah, do it yourself, that's asier... thank you"
  135. [2015-01-28 15:24:09] <Get_Lost> *easier
  136. [2015-01-28 15:24:49] * Get_Lost goes back flopping on the floor. comfy, reliable floor...
  137. [2015-01-28 15:24:53] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The Faceless considers the question. Then answers, "... if... the...amulet...is...needed...again...Uh...will...offer...a...new...trade..." The Faceless, it would seem, has no interest in seeing the Empress return either.
  138. [2015-01-28 15:25:11] * Get_Lost "thank you for being reliable."
  139. [2015-01-28 15:26:12] * CopyCat takes a deep breath, and then faces the spirit. "And... thank you for helping me to remember."
  140. [2015-01-28 15:27:03] * Get_Lost "so... where's the element?"
  141. [2015-01-28 15:27:16] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The Faceless nods to CopyCat and Get_Lost. As the Amulet of Atonement floats across the room, the Faceless turns back towards Golden_Dream. This time, all the words are from a single voice -- a young mare's voice, on that Golden_Dream doesn't believe she has ever known. "...you...will...find...Laughter...under...guard...in...catacombs...beneath...Roam..."
  142. [2015-01-28 15:27:27] * Get_Lost "if you say on maredelev's table, i'm tossing a horseshoe at you"
  143. [2015-01-28 15:27:38] <Mare-Do-Well> 3With that, the Faceless fades away, and the Amulet of Atonement disappears with it.
  144. [2015-01-28 15:27:42] * Shatara blinks a little. "How'd it get way out there...?"
  145. [2015-01-28 15:29:02] * Get_Lost "i'm not sure i want to know... maybe we could get our tails out of here before te pirates see the giant golden pillar and decide to dislodge it?"
  146. [2015-01-28 15:29:25] * Bookwright shrugs. "Obviously it knows the secret of crossing distances without traveling the intervening spaces."
  147. [2015-01-28 15:29:28] * Get_Lost "we should close the entrance somehow, too"
  148. [2015-01-28 15:29:54] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mare-Do-Well groans. "The Legion-like tents... the wreckage of the gliders and the zebras with the oddly colored Legion-like uniforms..."
  149. [2015-01-28 15:31:14] <Shatara> "...so the legion came through here and managed to find it first..."
  150. [2015-01-28 15:32:51] * Get_Lost "where's the problem? we will get ready at the pirate cove and then infiltrate roam... what could ever go wrong?"
  151. [2015-01-28 15:34:04] * Get_Lost "i think i could even do something for their cranky ship. with a decent engine, they could rely on vector thhrusters, rather than hot air balloons, to move that thing"
  152. [2015-01-28 15:34:04] * CopyCat smiles at Get_Lost and nods. "Sounds like fun."
  153. [2015-01-28 15:37:17] * Get_Lost feels a little more gloomy and less willing to chat
  154. [2015-01-28 15:37:58] * Get_Lost but keeps being a cyber sexy bomb
  155. [2015-01-28 15:38:17] * Bookwright "I'm worried about Roam though. The remnants of the Legion surely won't be friendly to us."
  156. [2015-01-28 15:38:26] * Shatara is more depressed and awkward than normal.
  157. [2015-01-28 15:38:54] * Bookwright gestures to Noble_Heart and CopyCat. "And /they/ certainly won't be well received."
  158. [2015-01-28 15:39:03] * Mare-Do-Well 3nods. "Or whatever the Legion has become now. The pirates sure aren't keen on 'Imperial' ships."
  159. [2015-01-28 15:40:23] * Mare-Do-Well 3adds, "And if the new Imperial Legion or whatever was enough to drive the windigo's out..." She leaves the sentence hanging.
  160. [2015-01-28 15:40:24] * CopyCat pouts and wiggles her behind at Bookwright. "You don't think they'll like me?"
  161. [2015-01-28 15:40:50] * Noble_Heart frows. "It seemds that we have conflict with these Imperials anyway." She levitated CopyCat gently from the floor to her back. "We should leave this chamber, and close the doors. The lock will likely keep the zebras out."
  162. [2015-01-28 15:41:38] * Get_Lost nodnods to noble flank
  163. [2015-01-28 15:41:56] * Get_Lost and struggles out of the door
  164. [2015-01-28 15:42:16] * Bookwright "You have wings /and/ a horn, and also you're tall. If I were the legion, I'd soil myself at the prospect of one of the princesses arriving to wreak personal vengeance on me."
  165. [2015-01-28 15:42:17] * CopyCat suddenly gets a surprise princess ride. Usually it was she who gives out princess rides!
  166. [2015-01-28 15:43:07] * CopyCat calls out to Bookwright. "We also have tails! I happen to think that Noble_Heart's is very pretty."
  167. [2015-01-28 15:44:42] * Noble_Heart also levitates up Golden Dream, Bookwright and Shatara for good measure. FLoating the lot of them out of the room carefully. She didn't want to accidentally hit a door or wall or something, after all.
  168. [2015-01-28 15:45:24] * CopyCat cheers. "Wheeee!"
  169. [2015-01-28 15:45:36] * Bookwright is flustered by the retort. "What I mean to say is... You two look like the princesses, at least as far as important body features. It might be prudent to hide some of them, or you two yourselves, until we can test the waters for anti-princess sentiment."
  170. [2015-01-28 15:46:59] * Golden_Dream moans tiredly. Everything felt heavy all the time.
  171. [2015-01-28 15:47:03] * Get_Lost struggles behind the others, parlay beeping and booping as usual
  172. [2015-01-28 15:49:27] * Bookwright "Alright, those are future concerns. What about all the cool stuff we found?"
  173. [2015-01-28 15:50:39] * Golden_Dream mutters something about showing them the meaning of "half".
  174. [2015-01-28 15:50:45] * Bookwright "We promised to give the pirates a cut, but I don't wanna give them any of this cool stuff. Hmm. There's a gold statue of a zebra down there that I don't think is important to the superstructure of the Shield. What if we gave that to them?"
  175. [2015-01-28 15:52:24] * Golden_Dream looks up. "Bookie, I think that th' statue's a part'a th' shield. Our whatever floated up into it t' make it work." She muttered.
  176. [2015-01-28 15:53:04] * Noble_Heart gently sets the ponies, and griffon, down outside the room of the shield. She turns and her horn glows, carefully trying to pull the doors shut again behind them. Assuming the locking mechanism self-sealed that should keep any other would-be tamperers out of the shield's controls until it was needed. Or so she hoped.
  177. [2015-01-28 15:53:56] * Get_Lost /me "we could give them some of the weapons... i don't see why we should be greedy... we already have plenty of firepower"
  178. [2015-01-28 15:54:09] * Mare-Do-Well 3notes that there are a lot of melee weapons here. "Very Legion. Their soldiers always did favor sword-and-spear fighting. It was... something-something-style."
  179. [2015-01-28 15:54:19] * Noble_Heart frowns. "We would recommend not allowing anyone into that chamber unless it is necessary. We would not like to risk the possibility of the shield's controls being damaged unnecessarily." She nods her head. "Some of the weapons and some of the ammunition should be plenty to sate their desires. And there is far more here than we could easily transport in any case."
  180. [2015-01-28 15:54:51] * Get_Lost "we can also give them all the stupid blades?"
  181. [2015-01-28 15:55:21] * Mare-Do-Well 3nods at Get_Lost's suggestion.
  182. [2015-01-28 15:55:41] * CopyCat also nods.
  183. [2015-01-28 15:56:25] * Bookwright "The doors failed though. We can't close them."
  184. [2015-01-28 15:56:38] * Get_Lost "i think the name was ikebana-bonsai style, or something like that... feng-shui?"
  185. [2015-01-28 15:57:17] * Get_Lost i can try fixing them, maybe? i don't know, but i can try...
  186. [2015-01-28 16:02:07] * Get_Lost checks the door "nope. it would be easier to build another temple with another couple of doors..."
  187. [2015-01-28 16:02:38] <Get_Lost> we can try to have the golem close them with brutal force...
  188. [2015-01-28 16:04:52] * Bookwright "Let's get the fancy loot out first."
  189. [2015-01-28 16:05:15] * CopyCat tilts her head. "Oh, or have the golem standing in the way with his hooves our to either side and shaking his head. You know, like a Blocker."
  190. [2015-01-28 16:06:24] * Golden_Dream grunts. "What's a blocker?"
  191. [2015-01-28 16:10:07] * Noble_Heart frowns. "We might be able to levitate the doors closed again. Though re-opening them might prove difficult for whomever needs to after us."
  192. [2015-01-28 16:10:16] * CopyCat answers. "If ponies or zebra reach it they will turn around and go the other way."
  193. [2015-01-28 16:10:39] * Noble_Heart contemplates. "We might also be able to give the zebras on the ship the golem. Since we no longer have need of it."
  194. [2015-01-28 16:10:59] * Golden_Dream looks at Shatara. "You sure about that?"
  195. [2015-01-28 16:12:30] * Shatara shrugs a bit. "It'd probably be hard to cart around anyway."
  196. [2015-01-28 16:12:36] * Get_Lost shrugs and gets some duct tape from her repair kits. writes on the doors with the duct tape in both pony and zebra "don't touch or will free end of the world"
  197. [2015-01-28 16:14:35] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Once the decision is made, it doesn't take too long to get their treasure and return to the surface. The /Cutlass/ is just moving back over the ruins of the Fortress of Talikon when they do. Mwana Wameli waves warmly from the deck. The pirates lower the cargo lift. They sound excited to see you returning with crates.
  198. [2015-01-28 16:15:40] * Get_Lost waves back, as usual, it is har to tell her mood, but she's a little less chatty
  199. [2015-01-28 16:16:50] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Some of the pirates, Mwana Wameli included, take note of the vague gloominess that the group brings back with them. Most, however, are more interested in the crates of goods.
  200. [2015-01-28 16:18:19] * Get_Lost is still struggling a bit to walk on a straight line, as soon as she is on board, the mare looks for a place to sit down and mope on her own
  201. [2015-01-28 16:19:03] * Shatara somewhat glumly looks over the various crates of weaponry.
  202. [2015-01-28 16:19:54] * Bookwright "Golden, you're the... um. Entrepreneur. Do you wanna handle the haggling?"
  203. [2015-01-28 16:20:00] <Mare-Do-Well> 3They crowd around the cargo lift, talking excitedly. The First Mate has to order them back to work. Jugeote approaches Shatara, "The Captain says that she would like to discuss her crew's cut of the treasure with you."
  204. [2015-01-28 16:20:17] * CopyCat remains too chatty, like a goblet of wine eternally overflowing. She seemed quite happy to hold conversations with zebras even without knowing their language.
  205. [2015-01-28 16:20:48] * Shatara nods a bit to the stripeypone, unceremoniously grabbing Golden_Dream to help.
  206. [2015-01-28 16:21:09] * Get_Lost mutters something about getting back to work and goes fixing something on the ship
  207. [2015-01-28 16:21:44] * Golden_Dream looks like hell. She feels like hell. And even when there's Mwana there, she kinda just has this emptier look to her. She groaned a little. Come on, Goldy. Force it. You don't have the energy, so you have to force it.
  208. [2015-01-28 16:23:12] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mwana approaches Golden_Dream, looking concerned. "Hey, you look like shit."
  209. [2015-01-28 16:25:36] * Golden_Dream doesn't really even have the energy to feel shame at the moment. She flops a leg around Mwana and gives him a hug. Mostly because she felt she needed the support to remain standing. "Awesome. All I need's th' matching saddle bag and th' hat and I'll have th' complete look down."
  210. [2015-01-28 16:26:12] * Noble_Heart gently lowers a wing around Golden Dream. "Perhaps it would be best to save negotiations for tomorrow? After Our companions have had some rest? Things have been rather busy today."
  211. [2015-01-28 16:27:56] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mwana gives a small hug back. "Hey, let me take you back to my room. I've got a whole one of my own.... super small, but mine. You look like you could use a cot."
  212. [2015-01-28 16:29:11] * CopyCat giggles from the other side of the airshp.
  213. [2015-01-28 16:29:26] <CopyCat> airship*
  214. [2015-01-28 16:29:33] * Get_Lost for some reasons, regrets not being with the others now. feels like something is missing, but she is too busy looking for something to do at the moment
  215. [2015-01-28 16:30:10] * Bookwright is busy sketching the interior of the room from memory and regretting (for about the jillionth time) not bringing a camera.
  216. [2015-01-28 16:32:35] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The First Mate barks orders, and the zebra pirates scurry to work. The engines rumble. Soon the ship is underway, its next destination: The Silos.
  217. [2015-01-28 16:33:01] * Golden_Dream stumbles a bit. "I got it, I got it. And, um. I'm gonna need that offer. But after I yell at yer captain fer a good thirty minutes fer a deal neither one of us are gonna wanna take."
  218. [2015-01-28 16:36:11] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mwana winces. "Please don't yell at her."
  219. [2015-01-28 16:36:15] * Bookwright writes furtive speculation under the rough sketch.
  220. [2015-01-28 16:37:08] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mwana insists, "I really want her to like you."
  221. [2015-01-28 16:38:39] * Get_Lost pops up from under the bridge, trots next to the others "so... am i the only one feeling lonely?"
  222. [2015-01-28 16:40:56] * Golden_Dream waves her hoof. "I ain't actually gonna yell at her. It's jus' how these deals work. I make it sound like they're fuckin' me over fer' what anyone else would jus' think was slightly against their favor until I get enough stuff that I can act bitter about accepting. Then we have pie and sun tea and make small talk."
  223. [2015-01-28 16:41:36] * CopyCat emerges from her previous 'conversation' to put a wing around Get_Lost. "I am here for you if you like."
  224. [2015-01-28 16:41:44] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mwana nods.
  225. [2015-01-28 16:41:45] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The trip will take several days. But as the airship nears the southern mountains, Shatara, Get_Lost and Golden_Dream receive one final burst of static and tag notification.
  226. [2015-01-28 16:42:50] * Get_Lost smiles weakly to copy "thank you..."
  227. [2015-01-28 16:43:11] <Mare-Do-Well> 3>> DDA Report X found. Download complete. <<
  228. [2015-01-28 16:43:53] * Get_Lost "oh, look, there's a record...." opens it
  229. [2015-01-28 16:45:13] <Mare-Do-Well> 3====================
  230. [2015-01-28 16:45:23] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Final mission report:
  231. [2015-01-28 16:45:29] <Mare-Do-Well> 3I’ve devised an escape. The lingering effects of the couatl poison have weakened me severely; I am not certain I’ll be able to pull this off.
  232. [2015-01-28 16:45:31] * CopyCat oooh's and head-rubs with Get_Lost to share the record she saw.
  233. [2015-01-28 16:45:35] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Either way, this is my final report. You will not hear from me again. I’m retiring. For real this time.
  234. [2015-01-28 16:45:53] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Open Final Pad y/n?
  235. [2015-01-28 16:45:56] <Mare-Do-Well> 3====================
  236. [2015-01-28 16:46:02] * Get_Lost selects Y
  237. [2015-01-28 16:46:41] <Mare-Do-Well> 3====================
  238. [2015-01-28 16:46:58] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Several years passed before I again had the Amulet of Atonement in my hooves. By then, my fever-dream desire to exchange myself for A.K. Yearling had been replaced with a more calculated plan. I would not allow A.K. Yearling to be forgotten or erased.
  239. [2015-01-28 16:47:07] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Through her name, I would publish the stories of my own adventures – mostly true tales slightly retooled for the storytelling. If I could, I would make that young goddaughter of an Equestrian ambassador, that quiet mare with a love of writing, known throughout Equestria. I couldn’t give her back her life, but I could preserve her in memory.
  240. [2015-01-28 16:47:25] <Mare-Do-Well> 3I did not, in truth, seize upon the idea until I had a few more exciting adventures under my hat (or A.K. Yearling’s hat, as it were). But I did depart the company of my schoolmates and fellow Equestrians with the drive to find a way to make right what I could. A fire had been lit within me. I had lived an adventure like those I had loved as a filly.
  241. [2015-01-28 16:47:39] <Mare-Do-Well> 3It was both more painful and horrifying than the carefree adventures taken when reading under the summer shade. But more exhilirating by far. Imboldened by a sense of purpose, I severed ties with my past and stepped into the jungle. I could not imagine what life lay in wait for me, but I was eager to embrace it all the same.
  242. [2015-01-28 16:47:47] <Mare-Do-Well> 3All I knew is that it would start with a stone.
  243. [2015-01-28 16:47:59] <Mare-Do-Well> 3~-------~ oOo ~-------~
  244. [2015-01-28 16:48:19] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Professor Underhill and Packer were bent over new charcoal rubbings and a pile of ratty journals sprawled across a stone table in the Ruins of Kaltion, quickly referencing one after another by the light of their lamps. Daring Do could hear their muffled voices as she approached through the darkened hall, limping slightly.
  245. [2015-01-28 16:48:25] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The professor’s voice was flush with excitement, and she could have sworn she heard him shout “Eureka!” as she entered the ruins.
  246. [2015-01-28 16:48:31] <Mare-Do-Well> 3“So the Stone is the key?” Packer asked, looking over a few stray sheets once again. “How exactly does that work?”
  247. [2015-01-28 16:48:37] <Mare-Do-Well> 3“Well, it... I don’t know exactly,” Professor Underhill admitted. “But it seems clear from the writings of Kaltio that the key which opens the passageway to the Tree of Life is concealed within the Sapphire Stone. Now, we just have to find where it is.”
  248. [2015-01-28 16:48:44] <Mare-Do-Well> 3“Daring!” Bluebell shouted, interrupting. She gallopped over, throwing her hooves around Daring Do. Bluebell hugged Daring so hard she knocked off her pith hat.
  249. [2015-01-28 16:48:50] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Behind Daring, Fleetwing looked miffed that he wasn’t hugged first. “Hey, I’m the one who saved the day.”
  250. [2015-01-28 16:49:02] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The students swarmed around them. Professor Underhill and Packer dropped what they were discussion to attend to their returning students. “Daring Do, it is good to see you whole and well! When Fleetwing said you were captured, I feared the worst.”
  251. [2015-01-28 16:49:11] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Daring Do felt wobbly and not at all whole or well. She suspected she was in shock. The physical strain and truama of the last day, piled upon the loss of her friend, was more than she was able to deal with. Without a battle to fight, or a deed to do, she wasn’t left with any adrenaline-charged distractions.
  252. [2015-01-28 16:49:17] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The dust had settled, and now everything felt oddly numb and disconnected.
  253. [2015-01-28 16:49:21] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Professor Underhill pushed his way through the students and began examining Daring Do for injuries.
  254. [2015-01-28 16:49:28] <Mare-Do-Well> 3“Daring, you won’t believe it! We went to the forbidden ruins out by the lake, and discovered stuff about ancient spirit magics that could hide keys as things, and one of those keys can get us to where the Tree of Life is hidden!”
  255. [2015-01-28 16:49:34] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Daring Do looked up at the pony, trying to remember his name. The others had their own adventure without her. One, she suspected, that involved far less arrows. She blinked, her thoughts feeling like molasses. “...I thought the forbidden ruins were... forbidden?...” she said slowly.
  256. [2015-01-28 16:49:40] <Mare-Do-Well> 3“Professor Underhill says we don’t have to do what the zebras say,” another of the students claimed. Professor Underhill shot him a silencing look.
  257. [2015-01-28 16:49:46] <Mare-Do-Well> 3“Huh?” was Daring Do’s only response.
  258. [2015-01-28 16:49:53] <Mare-Do-Well> 3“You need rest and medical attention,” Professor Underhill said. “We’re too far from a proper Equestrian hospital, but I’ll ask Goldentongue if he knows any nurses he can trust. Fortunately, we do have beds in easy reach, and you will start making use of one of them right away.”
  259. [2015-01-28 16:49:58] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Daring Do nodded.
  260. [2015-01-28 16:50:09] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Lowering his head and his voice, “I heard you found the Amulet of Atonement! Amazing. I’ve been on pins and needles waiting to see it. A marvelous treasure, finally uncovered.”
  261. [2015-01-28 16:50:17] <Mare-Do-Well> 3He held out a hoof, “Give it here, and I’ll see to it that it will be on display in the finest museum in Canterlot.” He grinned, “I think we should call this the Underhill and Do Expedition on the historical registrar. Student or not, you deserve the recognition.”
  262. [2015-01-28 16:50:31] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Daring Do stared at his hoof blankly.
  263. [2015-01-28 16:50:36] <Mare-Do-Well> 3“You... still have it, don’t you?” Underhill asked, a taint of apprehension creeping into his voice.
  264. [2015-01-28 16:50:44] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Daring Do continued to stare as she felt her mental fog begin to clear. “No,” she said. “Mhalifu... disappeared with it.”
  265. [2015-01-28 16:50:51] <Mare-Do-Well> 3That much was true. The zebra airship captain had been holding the Amulet of Atonement when she threw herself into the Orcus Pit. Daring Do said nothing of the huge, blue, doglike monster that had crawled up out of the well. Or the silver chain she spotted dangling from something clutched in its strange tail-hand as it fled into the jungle.
  266. [2015-01-28 16:51:00] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Daring Do was beginning to suspect she should say nothing of that to anypony. Especially Professor Underhill.
  267. [2015-01-28 16:51:03] <Mare-Do-Well> 3“Then it is missing?” Underhill sounded deeply disappointed. Daring Do couldn’t blame him. No amazing museum exhibition was to crown this trip. No plaque with his name under a prize. That would have to wait, at least, until after his expedition next summer.
  268. [2015-01-28 16:51:09] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The expedition that he was clearly intent upon regardless of the dictations of primi ordines Jua.
  269. [2015-01-28 16:51:15] <Mare-Do-Well> 3“Fame,” Daring Do said softly, but firmly.
  270. [2015-01-28 16:51:19] <Mare-Do-Well> 3“What?” asked Professor Underhill, turning back towards her. Having heard she did not possess the Amulet, and having told her to get bedrest, her teacher had already turned his back and was almost back at the stone table when he heard her.
  271. [2015-01-28 16:51:30] <Mare-Do-Well> 3“Fame,” Daring Do repeated. “That’s what you really care about, isn’t it? Archeology isn’t about history for you; it’s about making a name for yourself. This whole trip was just for you to try to get permission for your next expedition,” she said, waving a hoof as she recalled the dinner conversation with the ambassador.
  272. [2015-01-28 16:51:37] <Mare-Do-Well> 3“And now that Jua has said no, you’re going to go ahead an do it anyway, because who cares what the zebra’s want?”
  273. [2015-01-28 16:51:50] <Mare-Do-Well> 3“Go to bed, Daring Do. Now.” Professor Underhill pointed a hoof back down the hall. Daring and Fleetwing had passed the sleeping bags set up for camp on their way in. “I don’t know what’s gotten into your head. You’ve been through a trying experience, I understand. But...”
  274. [2015-01-28 16:51:57] <Mare-Do-Well> 3“My value becomes greater with each who knows about me. What am I?” Daring Do repeated dully. “Fame. It was your riddle.”
  275. [2015-01-28 16:52:04] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Daring Do put on her pith hat, turned and left.
  276. [2015-01-28 16:52:08] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
  277. [2015-01-28 16:52:14] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Final Pad ends.
  278. [2015-01-28 16:52:25] <Mare-Do-Well> 3====================
  279. [2015-01-28 16:53:05] * Get_Lost smiles sadly "well, i guess we will never know if she survived or not, in the end..."
  280. [2015-01-28 16:53:41] * Bookwright "I hope she lived out her years somewhere out there, in the jungle."
  281. [2015-01-28 16:54:06] * Get_Lost "who knows, maybe we'll find something about her at the silos?"
  282. [2015-01-28 16:54:14] * CopyCat nuzzles Get_Lost. "You may be right."
  283. [2015-01-28 16:55:14] * Mare-Do-Well 3nods. "And, if she couldn't escape... well, we too are going to Roam."
  284. [2015-01-28 16:55:43] <Mare-Do-Well> 3---
  285. [2015-01-28 16:55:52] * Get_Lost sighs, even with her friends by her side, the emptyness inside her is still making her freeze. "here in zebrica, every road takes to roam, i guess..."
  286. [2015-01-28 16:55:55] <Mare-Do-Well> 3 4000 XP +15 karma
  287. [2015-01-28 16:56:00] * Noble_Heart frowns. "It seems, in Zebrica, all roads lead to Roam."
  288. [2015-01-28 16:56:04] <Mare-Do-Well> 3---
  289. [2015-01-28 17:25:15] * Golden_Dream cuddles Mwana in the tiny cot. She was a little more active now. She still felt oddly sullen and lethargic, but she wasn't going to let this opportunity go to waste. "Hey."
  290. [2015-01-28 17:28:52] * Mwana 3"hey"s back.
  291. [2015-01-28 17:30:58] * Mwana 3dares, "Want to talk about it?"
  292. [2015-01-28 17:31:16] * Mwana 3adds, "Or not."
  293. [2015-01-28 17:34:26] * Golden_Dream rolls her eyes. "I'd rather talk about you, honestly. What happened down there... Well. Pretty sure it took some of my soul t' get it goin'."
  294. [2015-01-28 17:41:04] * Mwana 3looks frightened. "Necromancy?"
  295. [2015-01-28 17:44:09] * Golden_Dream shakes her head. "Nah. I had an amulet on me. Amulet of Retribution? That thing necromancy?"
  296. [2015-01-28 17:53:19] <Mwana> 3(( Amulet of Atonement ))
  297. [2015-01-28 17:56:03] * Golden_Dream clops her hooves together. "Atonement! Not Retribution! Sorry."
  298. [2015-01-28 17:59:47] * Mwana 3thinks. "Doesn't sound necromance-y."
  299. [2015-01-28 18:09:31] * Golden_Dream explains. "It does shaman-y stuff. It's what we were after when we were down in Tartarus. I was afraid that y'all would want it, so admittedly I kinda went a little crazy." Her ears flatten. "'T be fair, we were in Tartarus, and y'all are pirates. One of the nicest I've met, honestly. Folks back home would've just stole our everything an' stabbed us off their boat."
  300. [2015-01-28 18:17:13] <Golden_Dream> Golden_Dream [20:09:48] explains. "It does shaman-y stuff. It's what we were after when we were down in Tartarus. I was afraid that y'all would want it, so admittedly I kinda went a little crazy." Her ears flatten. "'T be fair, we were in Tartarus, and y'all are pirates. One of the nicest I've met, honestly. Folks back home would've just stole our everything an' stabbed us off their boat."
  301. [2015-01-28 18:19:54] * Mwana 3chuckles. "Oh, some of this lot will still do that." He quickly amends, "Or would, if it wasn't for the captain."
  302. [2015-01-28 18:21:09] * Mwana 3adds, "Since we're not going to be around much longer, I figure, no reason to get uncivil."
  303. [2015-01-28 18:21:50] * Golden_Dream 's heart sunk.
  304. [2015-01-28 18:22:26] * Golden_Dream rubs his mane. "I don't want you t' leave."
  305. [2015-01-28 18:26:09] <Kkat> Mwana frowns. "For the first time in a long time, I'm not so eager to go."
  306. [2015-01-28 18:28:32] <Kkat> Mwana says, "But hey, we stick around, we're bodies for the gibbet. Imperials are closing the noose. So we're gone... or we're gone."
  307. [2015-01-28 18:34:00] * Golden_Dream furrows her brow, rubbing his mane. "Can't ya'll get down south t' avoid them? Get onto Equestrian soil?"
  308. [2015-01-28 18:41:09] <Kkat> Mwana pffts. "Equestria's a poisonous shithole. Nothing there but crazed psychos and death." He shakes his head. "No thank you. Captain's got her eyes set on greener pastures."
  309. [2015-01-28 18:46:27] * Golden_Dream gives Mwana a cross look. Hey, it might be a shithole, but it's my home. "I was gonna suggest y' hit up th' Crystal Kingdom first. We got a fuckin' government goin' now. We even got th' cloud ceiling gone and th' sun and moon running right again. Hell, there's not even radiation anymore."
  310. [2015-01-28 18:49:45] <Kkat> Mwana blinks. "What do you mean, no radiation?"
  311. [2015-01-28 18:53:40] * Golden_Dream blinks. "What, y' didn't hear? Some pony went and used a big ol' megaspell t' clean up th' damage we got from th' bombs long ago."
  312. [2015-01-28 18:57:16] <Kkat> Mwana stares in disbelief. "Okay, now I know you're fucking with me."
  313. [2015-01-28 19:00:43] * Golden_Dream taps Mwana's head. "No, seriously. They got a book written about it and everything. They used th' Elements a' Harmony t' fuel a big machine what made th' grass grow and killed th' balefire radiation."
  314. [2015-01-28 19:05:56] * Golden_Dream looks Mwana up and down. "Put th' ghouls in a bit've a rough situation, honestly. They got t' need th' stuff t' survive."
  315. [2015-01-28 19:06:21] <Kkat> Mwana frowns. "Not what we've heard. Not that we out here put much stock in what the Imperials say, but Roam sent scouts into Equestria, and the things they reported..."
  316. [2015-01-28 19:09:40] <Kkat> Mwana says, "Poisoned air. Zebra hunts and zebra farms. Roving bands of psychotic cannibals in power armor."
  317. [2015-01-28 19:15:06] * Golden_Dream furrows her brow. "Eeeeech." She rubbed the back of her mane. "Yeah, we used t' have poisoned air, but that's gone now. Zebra farms /was/ a thing, but not anymore, not since th' end of th' war. Zebra hunts, I ain't heard nothin' about. Psychotic cannibals in power armor is right out, although we still got /dicks/ in power armor. I'm thinkin' that scout's report happened when Red Eye's army was still around."
  318. [2015-01-28 19:16:04] <Kkat> Mwana grimaces. "So... you really did have farms where you bred zebras for their meat... but not anymore?"
  319. [2015-01-28 19:20:45] * Golden_Dream yanks her head back. "What? Fuck no! Nah, what happened was that back before th' bombs dropped, they had like, these prison camps fer' zebra folk. Then th' security robots they got went a bit overzealous, and so they just kinda just hung around the camps. I met a settlement in th' Crystal Kingdom. Nice folk, jus' kinda weird."
  320. [2015-01-28 19:24:19] * Golden_Dream shrugs. "I imagine they let 'em out as soon as they stopped bein' statues back in the Crystal Kingdom."
  321. [2015-01-28 19:26:11] * Mwana 3pauses. "Let them out? You mean...?"
  322. [2015-01-28 19:32:15] * Golden_Dream thinks on that. "I mean that it was impossible t' get out of th' Crystal Kingdom.
  323. [2015-01-28 19:39:07] * Golden_Dream "I mean they're prolly free now that they aren't all statues anymore. They're prolly free t' leave or stay or whatever."
  324. [2015-01-28 19:41:52] * Golden_Dream thinks again. "Th' ponies, I mean. Not th' Zebras. They were always flesh n' bone."
  325. [2015-01-28 19:44:54] * Golden_Dream huffs. "Sorry, I'm sufferin' from hoof in mouth syndrome. I was goin' t' ask why th' heck you can see ghosts n' stuff, and how you speak Equestrian."
  326. [2015-01-28 19:48:00] * Golden_Dream "Th' zebras are free to go away from th' city now, they've always been flesh n' blood, it's just that th' ponies there got caught up in some stupid megaspell thing what turned them into statues until we did a thing and got them all free."
  327. [2015-01-28 19:48:56] * Golden_Dream "In short, that scout report from Roam is fulla shit."
  328. [2015-01-28 20:07:01] * Kkat nods slowly. "Always knew they Imperials couldn't be believed about anything."
  329. [2015-01-28 20:08:30] <Kkat> Mwana nods slowly. "Always knew they Imperials shouldn't be believed about anything."
  330. [2015-01-28 20:10:11] <Kkat> Mwana says, "Folks under the Caesar's rule, though... they don't know any different."
  331. [2015-01-28 20:10:33] <Kkat> Mwana advises, "Whatever you do, don't go to Roam."
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