Fallout: Beyond Equestria, 72: Tragedy's End (Part 1)

[2014-02-05 13:40:43] <Kkat> 3Silver Bell approaches the party, offering them a healing potion.  "Mommy wouldn't want ponies going someplace dangerous without at least one."  She glances sadly back in the direction of Ditzy Doo.  "Before she became like this, she would have insisted."
[2014-02-05 13:42:24] <Kkat> 3In return for the gift, the party gives her the science magazine, having all had a chance to read it before now.  Silver Bell thanks them for the gift.
[2014-02-05 13:42:44] * Noble_Heart smiles down to Silver Bell. "We thank you for your contribution." She bows her head. "We shall do all We can to save your mother."
[2014-02-05 13:44:36] * Get_Lost smiles at silver, smiling "thank you very much, you are a good pony" then goes back working on the wagon "hey guys, look here... i think i found it.... a localization tag...."
[2014-02-05 13:45:06] <Kkat> 3The Enclave had attached a small coin with a tag.  This would allow them to track the movements of the firewagon wherever it went!
[2014-02-05 13:45:23] <Kkat> 3Get_Lost also take the time to open the old medical box that the party still carries, finding a plethoria of valuable medical supplies.
[2014-02-05 13:49:03] * Get_Lost rapidly explains "a localization tag is a device that translates a game in the language of the country where you live... also, it tells pegasi where we are at any time...."
[2014-02-05 13:49:26] * Shatara blinks in confusion at Get_Lost. "Wait...what?"
[2014-02-05 13:49:50] * Get_Lost points at the thing "they know where we are. the pegasi. they're spying on us"
[2014-02-05 13:50:04] * Bookwright favors Get_Lost with a cockeyed look. "Get? I don't think you're thinking in the right dimension right now."
[2014-02-05 13:50:54] <Kkat> 3Meanwhile, the older of the caravan's security guards will approach Shatara as the group prepare to stay the night.  "If I were you, I'd steer clear of the old ruins.  I'd bet my last bit that place is the most haunted in the world."
[2014-02-05 13:51:05] * CopyCat frowns. "Why would they need that to know where we are? They already know where we are."
[2014-02-05 13:52:17] <Kkat> 3He then notes, "Also probably full of little treasures still, if you're truly desparate.  I doubt anyone's tried to scavenge there.  Who the hell would."  He then murmurs, "Even big granddaddy Lion's afraid of the place.  Only Mouse..."  He shakes his head.  "Personally, I'd steer clear."
[2014-02-05 13:52:30] <Kkat> 3The afternoon swiftly falls to evening and night, the stars twinkling down from the black satin sky above, staring at the ponies in their stone fortress build at the very top of the world.
[2014-02-05 13:53:50] <Kkat> 3Fallout: Beyond Equestria, Session Seventy-Two: Tragedy's End (Part One) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW5n3k2VgZE&feature=youtu.be&t=55s
[2014-02-05 13:54:16] <Kkat> 3Descent.
[2014-02-05 13:54:56] <Kkat> 3Over the next several days, the party flies south, down from the top of the world, towards lands foreign and unknown.
[2014-02-05 14:00:47] <Kkat> 3Back beneath the clouds, the snow is furious, but soon it gives away to gentler and warmer climates as the group descends towards the jungle isthmus that reaches out beyond the mountains.  From these heights, the ocean is visible stretching out to the left and right of the isthmus and dark, snowless mountains can be seen to the south beyond the isthmus' end.
[2014-02-05 14:04:43] <Kkat> 3Buy the third day of travel, these sights are no longer visible, rain clouds have moved in and the old train path dips down into a long, curving canyon.  As they dip into the shadow of the canyon walls, a shiver passes through each of them, one conjured not from cold.  There's a sense of loss here, laying across the valley like a heavy blanket.
[2014-02-05 14:05:21] <Kkat> 3There is a rumbel of thunder, and grey rain falls, deepening the melancholy of the place.
[2014-02-05 14:05:52] * Bookwright sits behind the pintle mounted weapon, trying not to be bored to sleep.
[2014-02-05 14:06:24] * Noble_Heart keeps her eyes on the walls, and ground. The strange feeling of magical power was fascinating and bizarre.
[2014-02-05 14:06:27] <Kkat> 3Winds moan lowly, and send ripples through the grayish-green grass of the valley floor.  It is the only movement in this place save for the firewagon itself.
[2014-02-05 14:07:24] <Kkat> 3Bookwright nods off briefly once.  The nightmares that flash behind his eyes are enough to snap him back to wakefullness.
[2014-02-05 14:07:42] <Kkat> 3--- Session Begins ---
[2014-02-05 14:08:09] * Golden_Dream wanders around the camp, draping the mesh cloak over herself. She felt like a superhero. With guns. And she's a filly. Whatever, didn't stop her from sneaking a small jog while making wooshing sounds while nopony was looking.
[2014-02-05 14:10:19] * CopyCat shivers visibly and bites her lip. Even Golden's antics are not enough to pierce the oppressing atmosphere she felt.
[2014-02-05 14:10:49] * Get_Lost works on her stuff during the whole travel, the arrival of the weird wind seems to make her more and more silent and gloomy
[2014-02-05 14:36:19] * CopyCat shakes her head. "I don't like it here."
[2014-02-05 14:36:54] <Kkat> 3The valley rolls downward and out of sight behind the curving walls of the canyon.  Few signs remain that this place has been touched by pony hooves.  The train tracks lie mostly buried in grass.  Not far from the cluster of trees where the caravan has made their camp for the night, the rusted hulk of an anti-aircraft gun raises its barrel into the air.
[2014-02-05 14:37:26] * Shatara searches the grass for any kind of eatable critters, somewhat haphazardly.
[2014-02-05 14:38:24] * Noble_Heart watches out at the wreckage by the side of the road. She wondered, silently, whether it was a pony defense against dragons, or a zebra defense against pegasi. Ultimately it likely didn't matter.
[2014-02-05 14:38:45] * Bookwright stretches. "Oogh, I'm stiff. And hungry."
[2014-02-05 14:39:23] * Get_Lost steps outside the wagon and checks the grass, sniffs it, then waits for kid to tell them if it is nommable
[2014-02-05 14:44:08] * Golden_Dream gathers some grass and nods. "Yup. It ain't gon' kill y'. Ya'll ain't gon' live on this alone, though."
[2014-02-05 14:45:09] * Bookwright tries a bite.
[2014-02-05 14:45:24] * Shatara frowns and stares a little jealously at the grazers.
[2014-02-05 14:45:30] * Bookwright "...weirdly bitter. I hope this won't give me spots."
[2014-02-05 14:48:56] * Golden_Dream shrugs. "Prolly jus' iron. They got more metals and stuff around these parts, right?" She very notably doesn't eat it, rather, she gathers it up and ties it up in bales with rope. She's going to try to dry it out and make it into hay hash later to mask the bitterness.
[2014-02-05 14:49:59] * Bookwright "Or cadmium."
[2014-02-05 14:50:10] * Noble_Heart looks up at the canyon walls. "We wonder what sorrow happened here, to stain even the rocks and sky..."
[2014-02-05 14:50:30] * CopyCat flexes her wings. She's been doing a lot of flying recently and she didn't need to read her own mind to understand what her gurgling belly was telling her. She starts to graze.
[2014-02-05 14:51:38] * Golden_Dream frowns, then looks at the walls. She then very bluntly said "Well, shit, this is right on th' border, right? So I reckon this were probably th' front lines back in the way back war, right?"
[2014-02-05 14:51:49] <Kkat> 3Shatara spots a snake slashing quickly through the grass, making a zigzagging path.  It's about four feet long, and has enough meat on it that it should make a good supper.
[2014-02-05 14:52:51] * Noble_Heart frowns. "Perhaps. But We have seen many places where uncountable ponies died. None felt quite like this." She shook her head and stood up. "It is likely nothing. We are merely curious."
[2014-02-05 14:53:47] * Shatara spies the slithery little meal, his mouth watering a bit. He pulls his shovel and proceeds to attempt to behead the critter.
[2014-02-05 14:55:26] * Get_Lost grazes quietly, doesn't seem very chatty
[2014-02-05 14:56:04] * Golden_Dream looks around. "Well, no ghosts have jumped out at me, so ah think we're safe." She felt silly saying that, but... Well, she'd recently had reason to believe they'd believe.
[2014-02-05 14:56:36] * Noble_Heart smiles to Golden_Dream. "We doubt there would be anything so overt. But it would be wise to keep your eyes out."
[2014-02-05 14:56:56] * Bookwright "Speaking *munch* of ghosts, has anypony *chew* seen arr-bee-dee?"
[2014-02-05 14:57:24] <Kkat> 3>Shlunk!<
[2014-02-05 14:58:27] * Bookwright angles his head down and his glasses fall off. Again.
[2014-02-05 15:01:13] * Shatara picks up the now-headless snake. Triumphant hunter is triumphant!
[2014-02-05 15:01:26] <Kkat> 3Shatara has dinner!  It tastes a lot like boa, although with a slightly bitter aftertaste reminiscent of very black coffee.
[2014-02-05 15:01:37] * Golden_Dream shrugs. She thought that the royal "we" would eventually stop being annoying after a while, but it didn't happen. She just kinda dealt with it. "Yeah, alright." She swooshed her cloak a little. Wee!
[2014-02-05 15:02:41] * Noble_Heart sat down and gently draped a wing across Golden_Dream. "We thank you for your caring about the food. It is rare to find one in the wasteland who knows so much about such things."
[2014-02-05 15:04:54] * Golden_Dream looks... Characteristically different from the rest of the party. While the surroundings inspired melancholy to some, she seemed pretty chipper, all things considered. She blushed when Noble addressed her. "Aw, shucks, thanks. I near memorized a bunch of these plant books m' dad brought home one evenin', 'cause I wanted t' find some around that would make fer good eatin'. Wound up gettin' my...
[2014-02-05 15:04:56] * Golden_Dream ...cutie mark because of that, come t' think."
[2014-02-05 15:06:20] <Kkat> 3Come to think of it, the ghost of Mare-Do-Well has flown alongside you off and on since the Sentinel, often shooting off ahead and coming back... but she hasn't made herself known since you entered the valley.
[2014-02-05 15:07:22] * Noble_Heart smiles down to the smaller pony. "We are glad it helped you. It is a valuable skill. And one which few bother to develop." She watched Golden Dream drying the grass quietly for some time.
[2014-02-05 15:08:34] * Golden_Dream looks at Noble, looking at her void of where a cutie mark was after harvesting some of the grass. "So, you remember back when. What was your cutie mark?"
[2014-02-05 15:09:06] * Bookwright tries not to be overtly curious, but fails.
[2014-02-05 15:11:42] * Noble_Heart blinks and looks back down towards her flank. She frowns. "We... I don't remember." Her voice went quietly. "Or... or maybe I just don't want to remember?" Her voice shook slightly and as she thought about it, then cleared her throat. "We are certain it was something worthy of Us. As all cutie marks are for their bearers."
[2014-02-05 15:12:17] * Bookwright loses his glasses again at the singular pronoun.
[2014-02-05 15:12:51] * Get_Lost shrugs "i don't know... okay, a cutie mark is what defines a pony, but... if you see it more like a cage than a boon? i mean, maybe you're not happy with it... maybe not having it sometimes... it's better?"
[2014-02-05 15:14:04] * CopyCat chews quietly.
[2014-02-05 15:15:26] * Shatara quietly munches snakemeat as he listens.
[2014-02-05 15:15:41] * Golden_Dream looks at Get_Lost and shrugs. "I dunno. Accordin' t' my cutie mark, I'm supposed t' be makin' booze right now. An' I can make you a mean elderberry wine, don't get me wrong. But, well. When was th' last time you saw me tendin' t' a still?"
[2014-02-05 15:16:47] * Noble_Heart looks up towards Golden Dream with a slight smile, then towards Get Lost. "A cutie mark is merely what it is We are the best at. How We apply that skill? That is up to Us."
[2014-02-05 15:17:11] <Kkat> 3After a couple hours, the rain stops, but the sky remains a dark and brooding slate.  The wind dies down for a while, but then returns, blowing up from the south beyond where the canyon turns out of sight.  The wind cries, and brings with it the smells of an ancient dead world, smells more at home in the ruins of Manehattan than the wilds of this place.
[2014-02-05 15:17:21] * Get_Lost "yeah noble, it is what i was trying to get to"
[2014-02-05 15:18:02] * Golden_Dream grins. "Yeah, right. In fact, I don't really even think that. I figure it ain't th' thing on there that matters, it's th'... Oh, I dunno. Th' momentum behind it that matters. That sound right?"
[2014-02-05 15:18:03] * Bookwright shivers involuntarily. "This place... it feels wrong. There's something wrong about this place..."
[2014-02-05 15:18:43] <Kkat> 3The wind shifts, the cries dying, and now it smells of wet grass and rain-dampened air.
[2014-02-05 15:18:58] * Noble_Heart looks up towards the distance of the valley. She sighs quietly and slowly settles down.
[2014-02-05 15:19:00] * CopyCat swallows. "And I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt, Get_Lost, that you haven't done any 'failing' at all, that I've noticed."
[2014-02-05 15:19:04] * Golden_Dream looks at Bookie and shrugs. "Jus' means we're prolly th' only ones here." She looks up. "Ah like it when it's like this."
[2014-02-05 15:20:25] * CopyCat smiles at Golden_Dream. "I find the environment unsettling but I wouldn't trade the company I'm in for the world."
[2014-02-05 15:20:27] * Bookwright "...well, I don't. And I'll be glad to be moving on."
[2014-02-05 15:20:46] * Get_Lost takes a look around "i dont' feel that bad, but... okay, let's go"
[2014-02-05 15:24:05] * Golden_Dream cantered on, back full of tall grass.
[2014-02-05 15:26:47] <Kkat> 3CopyCat sees the ghostly Mare-Do-Well shadow into view, perched atop the muzzle of the ancient artillery gun.  But soon most of the others notice her as well as she gazes down into the curving valley.
[2014-02-05 15:27:25] * Golden_Dream looks up and waves. "'Lo, there!" She called out to her.
[2014-02-05 15:28:19] * CopyCat waves to their ghostly friend. "Come and join us! This is no place to be alone. Even if you do pull off the whole dark-and-brooding thing very well."
[2014-02-05 15:28:24] * Noble_Heart looks up towards Mare-do-Well. She slowly approaches towards the turret, curious about what was going on.
[2014-02-05 15:28:44] <Kkat> 3Mare-Do-Well reacts to Golden_Dream's call, hopping down to the base of the old gun, facing her new friends.  After a moment, she looks back over her shoulder, staring south again.
[2014-02-05 15:29:32] * Shatara flaps in that direction, almost as interested in the aging artillery as the living-impared pegasus.
[2014-02-05 15:29:53] * Golden_Dream canters on up, the grass on her back hissing slightly as it hit the wind. "What's up?"
[2014-02-05 15:31:27] <Kkat> 3Mare-Do-Well turns back to Noble_Heart as she approaches.  Her eyes widen just a touch as seeing a Twilight-colored alicorn has not yet lost all of its strangeness.  She speaks, focusing enough so that others can hear her as a ghostly whisper, only Golden_Dream and Get_Lost perceiving her normal voice.
[2014-02-05 15:32:39] <Kkat> 3"I'm gonna go the long way.  Meet up with you guys on the other side," she proclaims.  Her voice drops as she adds, "You'll be fine but... I can't go that way.  What's down there... it will eat me."
[2014-02-05 15:33:53] * Noble_Heart blinks and frowns, looking down the valley. She bows her head to Mare-do-Well. "We do not blame you. Something tragic happened here. Something which left the world... Sad. Broken. It is doubtless it is far worse in the world of spirits and souls than Ours."
[2014-02-05 15:34:39] * Bookwright "Yea, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of undeath...?"
[2014-02-05 15:34:56] * Get_Lost nodnods "we'll see you on the other side then, we'll be careful"
[2014-02-05 15:35:14] * Golden_Dream blinks. "Wait, what? What th' hell's in there?"
[2014-02-05 15:36:22] * Shatara blinks. "Did she say...eat her? How do you eat a ghost?"
[2014-02-05 15:36:49] * Bookwright "I think we're going to find out."
[2014-02-05 15:38:45] <Kkat> 3Mare-Do-Well nods.  "Yeah.  Something."  She points towards the base of the old gun.  Then spreads her wings.  "See you on the other side."
[2014-02-05 15:39:30] <Kkat> 3Mare-Do-Well speeds off, flying northeast, leaving a ghostly shimmer in the air behind her.
[2014-02-05 15:39:31] * CopyCat calls out a farewell. "Goodbye Mare-Do-Well, see you soon!"
[2014-02-05 15:39:43] * Shatara tilts his head in confusion, looking at the base of the gun where she pointed.
[2014-02-05 15:40:42] * Noble_Heart frowns and moves towards the gun as well.
[2014-02-05 15:40:53] * Golden_Dream blinks. Wait. Shit! "Wait! Come back! What th' hell's in there?"
[2014-02-05 15:41:10] <Kkat> 3Affixed to the base of the old gun is a badly tarnished plaque.  Many of the letters have worn away into illegibility.   [ Littleh_rn _alley __till_ry Brig_de _3 ]
[2014-02-05 15:42:39] * Noble_Heart frowns and tilts her head to one side.
[2014-02-05 15:43:07] * Bookwright makes a guess. "Uh, 'Littlehorn Valley Artillery Bridge something-three'. Looks like."
[2014-02-05 15:44:23] * Golden_Dream has had her rare good mood spoiled. She sighed. Well. It was nice for a while. "Brigade. Not bridge."
[2014-02-05 15:44:47] * CopyCat tilts her head. "Littlehorn? Something bad happened here, didn't it?"
[2014-02-05 15:45:26] * Shatara frowns. "Littlehorn..."
[2014-02-05 15:46:12] * Bookwright nods gravely. "Littlehorn. Known for the Littlehorn Massacre, the event that caused Celestia to step down. This was the point of no return."
[2014-02-05 15:46:47] * Noble_Heart frowns and bows her head. "We believe this shall not be an easy passage."
[2014-02-05 15:49:00] * Bookwright "This place... is a bad place. A very bad place."
[2014-02-05 15:49:23] * Bookwright "We should travel fast then."
[2014-02-05 15:51:02] * CopyCat gives a little smile. "And hope the shivers don't find us."
[2014-02-05 15:53:48] * Golden_Dream looms over the valley. "We best get started, then."
[2014-02-05 15:54:22] * Golden_Dream squints and tries to see something, anything out of the ordinary.
[2014-02-05 15:56:04] * Get_Lost "probably, we should just move fast and stop for nothing.... unless this is where ditzy lost her element...."
[2014-02-05 15:56:10] * Noble_Heart moves to get herself strapped into the wagon again. "We recommend moving quicky, then."
[2014-02-05 15:56:30] * CopyCat joins Noble. "Agreed."
[2014-02-05 15:56:41] * Golden_Dream hopes on and struggles on up. Her pack felt lighter after finding the caravan.
[2014-02-05 15:59:24] <Kkat> 3The group gathers on the firewagon as the wind dies down again and evening slouches towards night.
[2014-02-05 16:01:15] * Noble_Heart spread her wings, ready to head southwards. For now, they should continue, as quickly as they could.
[2014-02-05 16:07:24] * CopyCat shivers again. "But, Isn't it going to be dark soon? I'm not sure if continuing at night is a good idea... and I'm not so keep on sleeping somewhere that scared Mare-Do-Well away."
[2014-02-05 16:08:06] * Bookwright "She did say we'd be okay."
[2014-02-05 16:08:17] * Bookwright recalls the nightmares. "Though I do worry a little."
[2014-02-05 16:10:29] * CopyCat nods. "Okay. But we should stop soon. All this flying is making me tired~."
[2014-02-05 16:10:57] * Golden_Dream sighs. "We'll be fine. Ghosts have a tendency t' want t' make themselves very known. We ain't seen 'em, they ain't there."
[2014-02-05 16:11:43] * Get_Lost "or they want to  make a really spectacular entrance"
[2014-02-05 16:12:28] * Noble_Heart looks towards CopyCat and nods. "We shall do our best to find a safe place to land." She begins scanning the ground.
[2014-02-05 16:19:17] * Bookwright scans and scans and scans.
[2014-02-05 16:20:24] * Get_Lost keeps an eye for a camping site too
[2014-02-05 16:22:01] <Kkat> 3In moments, the firewagon is airborn, the group headed deeper into the valley.  The tracks occasionally reappear through the grasses.  A river cuts down through the bottom of Crescent Moon Canyon, and several more artillery cannons are seen jutting from the valley floor in the dimming light.
[2014-02-05 16:24:22] * Get_Lost "hey, do you think that those guns still have ammo in them?"
[2014-02-05 16:26:25] * Golden_Dream shrugs. "Check 'em."
[2014-02-05 16:26:36] <Kkat> 3As dusk settles across the valley, the group can see up ahead the dark silhouette of the ruins that were once Luna's Academy for Young Unicorns.  A soft pink haze drifts over the rubble and across the broken walls, catching the light as the setting sun breaks through thin fissures in the clouds.
[2014-02-05 16:27:19] * Bookwright "Oh... oh no. It's still here. After two hundred years, it's still here."
[2014-02-05 16:27:49] * Noble_Heart shudders slightly and frowns. "We suggest staying far from that place. We shall go above it if possible."
[2014-02-05 16:28:27] <Kkat> 3The grass within miles of the school is completely grey.  The remnants of wagons are sunken into the ground.
[2014-02-05 16:29:32] <Kkat> 3Golden_Dream sees something moving across the crumbling rooftops of the school buildings.  There are dark shapes there that are not architectural.
[2014-02-05 16:30:06] * Shatara frowns. "I...think that's the ruins we're to steer clear of..."
[2014-02-05 16:30:09] * Get_Lost "interesting... still, not sure if it is worth to go there and check the place...."
[2014-02-05 16:30:27] * Golden_Dream narrows her mismatched eyes. "... Oh shit." She muttered. "There's somethin' movin' up there!" She called out, pointing the dark shapes out!
[2014-02-05 16:30:51] <Kkat> 3Nopony else can see what Golden_Dream is pointing to.
[2014-02-05 16:31:25] * Noble_Heart blinks. "We suspect these are the ghosts of those who died in this sorrowful place."
[2014-02-05 16:31:36] * Get_Lost "i think it's just the sun setting that makes weird shadows...."
[2014-02-05 16:31:38] * Shatara shivers. "More zombie goasts?"
[2014-02-05 16:32:18] * CopyCat tilts her head. "Goat zombies?"
[2014-02-05 16:32:43] * Bookwright "No, just ghosts. Probably."
[2014-02-05 16:33:57] * Golden_Dream blinks and whimpers a little at the pink mist. "Th' dark things might be alright. The mist? Gets th' fur on m' withers t' stand on end."
[2014-02-05 16:34:54] * Get_Lost "well, if i didn't know it was dangerous, i'd say that the pink mist is cute...."
[2014-02-05 16:34:56] * Noble_Heart nods her head. "The mist is not something We should approach."
[2014-02-05 16:44:25] * Golden_Dream wraps her cloak around tighter as they get closer. Yeah, screw this place. No amount of loot is worth what that pink stuff does.
[2014-02-05 16:53:29] * Bookwright scans the mists, looking for movement and hoping dearly he doesn't find any.
[2014-02-05 16:53:31] * CopyCat looks down at the ruin and shares the apprehension of her companions. But she couldn't ignore her tired wings. "Can we look for a place to set down one we're past the ruin? I'm starting to feel the strain."
[2014-02-05 16:58:19] <Kkat> 3As the group draws closer, Golden_Dream gets a better look at the figures lurking in the ruins.  Skeletal ponies with twisted horns and great, leathery wings.  Death clings to them where skin should be.  Burning eyes stare out over the graveyard of children.
[2014-02-05 16:59:40] * Bookwright "Golden, you look like you've seen death itself. Are you okay?"
[2014-02-05 17:00:05] * Golden_Dream frowns and can't help but stare. It's... Disconcerting to see these things. "... Yes and no."
[2014-02-05 17:03:18] <Kkat> 3One of them turns and stares right into Golden_Dream's eyes.  Then beckons her towards the ruins of the school.
[2014-02-05 17:03:59] * Golden_Dream had used this turn of phrase very intentionally. Yes, she was seeing death itself. No, she wasn't really okay with it. "Good evenin', reaper folk." She mutters at them.
[2014-02-05 17:05:09] * Shatara gulps nervously. "Uuh, should we be conversing with them..?"
[2014-02-05 17:05:47] * Golden_Dream frowns. "Either they don't know we're here 'cause we're alive, or they know and don't care. Either way, don't really matter."
[2014-02-05 17:06:02] <Kkat> 3The reaper pony folds in its wings, which wrap about it, forming into a black cloak.  It turns back towards the school, beckoning once again, and hops down into the cobblestone walkways between the crumbling and Pink-infused structures.
[2014-02-05 17:07:24] * Golden_Dream frowns. "... They're askin' us t' come closer." She whimpered to them.
[2014-02-05 17:08:34] * Bookwright "Death begets death. This place has seen so much death, and anguish, and frustration the stain of it overwhelms all else. It has no real history besides death."
[2014-02-05 17:09:52] * Shatara shifts uncomfortably. "Should we be listening to the zombie goasts?"
[2014-02-05 17:10:51] * CopyCat is starting to droop a little. "Maybe they just want somepony to talk to?"
[2014-02-05 17:12:14] * Bookwright "I really want to see that place... but it's filled with pink cloud. We can't. We've got to fly on. I want to put as much distance as possible between us and this place as we can before we set down for the night. Are you two okay to go for a while longer?" The last is addressed to Noble Heart and Copycat.
[2014-02-05 17:13:43] * Golden_Dream stares at Bookwright with a grim expression. "Do you really wanna piss off a reaper pony, Bookie?"
[2014-02-05 17:14:44] * Bookwright "I just wanna make tracts. Tracts of land. Huge ones. Between me, and that place. Okay?"
[2014-02-05 17:16:27] * Golden_Dream glares at Bookwright. "Then lemme make this last fact particularly clear. There's a zebra cult that worships these things back home, and th' last time I went afoul o' them..." She frowns.
[2014-02-05 17:20:02] * Noble_Heart looks down towards the school. "We are willing to continue. Though Our wings may get tired, We will bear that burden for Our friends."
[2014-02-05 17:21:55] * CopyCat clenches her eyes shut and swallows, before opening them again. She slows down in the air. "I... I would like to land. There is much tragedy here, so so much. But I can sense there are others who need our help. Those who are close to losing themselves, like Ditzy Doo."
[2014-02-05 17:22:51] * CopyCat bites her lip. "Maybe we can't help them, but at least we can show them a friendly face before they are lost."
[2014-02-05 17:23:06] * Bookwright nods. "Alright then. Let us land."
[2014-02-05 17:24:35] * Noble_Heart frowns and looks down. She sighs quietly. "Then We will take us down. Stay close to CopyCat and Us. Our shields can help protect against the pink mist, for a time, We believe."
[2014-02-05 17:24:52] * Golden_Dream clenches her teeth. "Right." Oh, she was afraid. But fuck if she was going to get soulfucked again.
[2014-02-05 17:28:05] * Shatara uncomfortably follows close, even pressing up against CopyCat.
[2014-02-05 17:29:34] * Noble_Heart allows Golden Dream to get close before casting her shield.
[2014-02-05 17:29:43] * Bookwright is now very close to Noble_Heart as well.
[2014-02-05 17:34:44] <Kkat> 3The two alicorns land the firewagon in the dark lot filled with the corpses of teacher's wagons.  Several passenger wagons, looking to have been repainted Sky Bandit stages, rust in a row.  The party disembarks and moves towards the standing arch which was once the teacher's entrance.
[2014-02-05 17:36:27] <Kkat> 3The gate itself is twisted and melted, fused shut by the Pink.  But the walls to each side of the arch have crumbled, allowing free access.  A gentle mist of Pink rolls across the grounds inside, seeping out of the breaks in the wall -- nowhere near as thick as the tales of old Canterlot, nor as pervasive.
[2014-02-05 17:36:32] <Kkat> 3Beyond the crenulated walls, the Luna Academy for Young Unicorns was one a beautiful, almost monastic village with cobblestone streets, academic towers, and a central courtyard lined with trees, boxed plants and benches facing towards an open yard with a simple yet elegant crescent moon mosaic.
[2014-02-05 17:37:20] * Noble_Heart looks up at the pink-stained surroundings. "This place has seen much horrors. We wonder why the zebras were carrying such a terrible thing to begin with into such a place..."
[2014-02-05 17:39:21] * Shatara shivers against CopyCat, his eyes darting around for unseen horror.
[2014-02-05 17:40:29] * Golden_Dream frowns and starts rolling up her cloak. Yeah, she wasn't... Yeah.
[2014-02-05 17:40:53] <Kkat> 3As the group approach the wall, Golden_Dream can see the reaper pony waiting not too deeply inside.  She can tell it is the same one, for only this one has transformed its wings into a cowled cloak.
[2014-02-05 17:41:42] * CopyCat drapes a wing over Shatara as she looks around. "So much sadness here. Such regret. Enough to swallow the whole of Equestria."
[2014-02-05 17:41:51] * Golden_Dream stares at the reaper and approaches. "What th' hell is goin' on here? Why'd you come n' ask fer us?"
[2014-02-05 17:43:36] <Kkat> 3The reaper pony nods, turns, and leads you further in.
[2014-02-05 17:44:12] * Golden_Dream glares, then trods cautiously ahead. "Ah ain't goin' in no pink room." She mutters.
[2014-02-05 17:44:24] * Noble_Heart follows after Golden Dream.
[2014-02-05 17:48:10] * Bookwright is almost holding his breath he's so nervous.
[2014-02-05 17:48:19] <Kkat> 3The first steps into the Pink Mist greet them with pain.  A terrible, rotting sensation that washes over their hooves.
[2014-02-05 17:48:40] * CopyCat listens to Golden_Dream and tilts her head. "Hmm... actually, I might be able to help there." After a little concentration and a glow from her horn, CC casts her shield on Golden_Dream using the filly herself as the spell's focus.
[2014-02-05 17:49:30] * Bookwright manages to stop himself from stepping out of the protection of Noble Heart's shield, but only barely.
[2014-02-05 17:50:01] * Noble_Heart had her spell up already, she could defend herself, hopefully.
[2014-02-05 17:50:23] * Shatara seems to have attatched himself to CopyCat's back.
[2014-02-05 17:55:37] * Golden_Dream blinks as all of a sudden she can't find her hooves. A bubble. Huh. "Good thinkin', CopyCat." She mutters, trying to navigate around in the bubble shield.
[2014-02-05 17:56:44] * CopyCat flinches at the Pink Mist. "Ow ow ow! We need protection too..." She closes her eyes, acutely feeling the griffin clutching at her back. "I place my faith in the Power of Friendship. Shield us from this hurt and harm..." Her horn flares again, this time casting two spells slowly, one after the other.
[2014-02-05 17:56:57] * CopyCat gives everyone a magic hamster ball!
[2014-02-05 17:57:57] * Bookwright wobbles uncertainly. "This is... different."
[2014-02-05 18:06:29] <Kkat> 3Those who have read The Book of Littlepip gain a sudden insight.  They know that magical radiation, usually from megaspells, alter ponies with the wrong amount of exposure, creating the Wasteland's various ghouls.  Even ghosts, as they have learned, are products of magical radiation -- that specifically of the healing megaspell.
[2014-02-05 18:08:58] <Kkat> 3Those who read the book know that SteelHooves was exposed to this radiation, but he never became a ghost, as there was another fate in store for him.  Exposed later to Pink Cloud, he became a Canterlot ghoul.  The entropic, necromantic radiation of Pink Cloud overwhelms and devours that of the healing megaspell.  Pink may literally eat ghosts.
[2014-02-05 18:09:10] <Kkat> 3--- End of Session ---