Group 4 Session 59

<uSeaGM> **Group 4 Session 59**
<uSeaGM>
<uSeaGM> Last week there was soul-searching and hugging. Sometimes both at once. When we left them, Artifica, Berry, and Prism were inside with the princess and the pirates. Milia and Whisper were outside discussing what Milia could do to Whisper's body... and Jasmine was heading to join them.
<uSeaGM> Having gotten close to the princess, Artifica and Prism are suprised to see that this alicorn actually has a cutie mark of two skeletal ponies doing a waltz. Berry already knew, since she had introduced herself by using Danse as a climbing frame.
* Notify: mimezinga is online (irc.canternet.org).
* ChanServ gives channel operator status to mimezinga
<uSeaGM> Genie and the pirates seem nearly finished with their chat, and Ghost and her friends are playing a slow game of patty-cake amongst themselves.
* Jasmine had regained her composure after her massive breakdown earlier, as she made her way back towards Milia and Whisper. She approached with a large smile on her face, as if nothing had ever happened, and she was hoping it would stay that way, as well. "Heya! Im back! This place is boring! Not a whole lot of heroic stuff to do around here at all!
<Jasmine> When are we going to get on that ship again? Those razordeath squids arent getting any younger!" She exclaimed. It seemed like she was back to her regular old self again.
* Artifica smiles, feeling a little relieved.
* Whisper sighed. "Yeah, we probably should get going...unfortunately."
* Prism is also relieved, and is glad to have solved his dilemma for the most part.  Now there was little to do but check into this thing that the group he was travelling with was doing.  It did sound worrying.   He'd have to alert some proper ponies, though, about Friendship's effects next chance he gets.
<uSeaGM> Black Beard, the pirate captain, chuckles at Danse and the hugging. "A'course, what the lady in green be neglectin' to mention is that she only came here because she was too scared of enterin' the city of ghouls."
<uSeaGM> "I-I wasn't scared," she stammers, "I just... felt something from within that place. A dreadful presence that made my blood run cold and twisted my music into a sinister cacophony. I could not bear it, and fled... until I found myself here. Outside these castle walls I can hear it still. Like the dull beating of a drum far off to the West."
* Whisper rose to his feet. "I guess we should head back in and find the others," he gulped, "and the ghoul pirates."
<uSeaGM> Black Beard gives a mischievous grin. "What she means to say is that she were scared."
<uSeaGM> "Was not!"
<uSeaGM> "Were to."
* Jasmine hesitated a bit at Whispers suggestion. "Oh, ehh... you go ahead! Its a little stuffy and cramped in there! I can stretch my wings out here!" She says, and immediately opens her full wingspan. "See? Muuuuch better out here! Yep. I think I'll be juuuuust fine staying out here."
* Milia waves warmly to Jasmine as she approaches her and Whisper. "Yeah, yeah, no doubt, Jas..." The zebra eyes Jasmine for a few moments in silence, trying to see if she can divine any insights as to how the gryphon might be feeling, though now that her mask had been erected once more, she can only guess.
* Whisper looks pleadingly at Milia. "Please...I don't wanna go in there alone. Not with an alicorn, ghoul pirates, and those creepy ponies."
* Prism isn't creepy!  :(
* Milia stares over at Whisper, his suggestion making her the slightest bit nervous. "What, uh...dude, isn't like...everyone else in there, too? Just slip in quietly or something, it'll be fine! I'm needed out here for, uh..."
* Artifica blinks.  "The city of ghouls?  Where?"
* Milia searches deep for a believable excuse. She lets her gaze wander over to Jasmine's extended wings. Perfect.
* Whisper deflates a little. "I gotcha." He slowly turns and walks back to the front door.
<Milia> "...wing...inspection."
* Jack is now known as Long
* Long is now known as Jack
* Milia points a hoof at Jasmine's left wing. "Yup, that's a wing alright." She then points to the right one. "...And so's that."
* Milia calls over to Whisper as he slinks away. "SEE? IMPORTANT!"
* Whisper reaches the front door and gives on last glances back at Milia and Jasmine before quietly opening it and stepping inside.
<Whisper> one*
<uSeaGM> "I believe ye land lubbers be callin' it 'Lost Hope'."
* Jasmine stares over at Milia and blinks at her strangely specific excuse. " Ive never had a wing inspector before. I didnt think inspecting wings was all that important. Is it all that important?" She seems to be lost deep in thought as she paces back and forth contemplating their importance.
* Artifica tsks.  "Well, gee, that's not ominous."
* Whisper shuts the door softly behind himself and crosses the room towards Prism, Artifica, and Berry as quietly as possible.
* Artifica looks at the approaching Whisper, "Why can't other ponies give places encouraging names?  Like Happiness Canyon, or The Cove of Endless Pleasant Evenings?"
<uSeaGM> "Aye, you call your home 'Hope' and ye just be askin' fer troubles."
* Milia nods, sagely. "Oh, totes. Wing inspection is paramount to maintaining good health while engaged in winging and otherwise wing related activities such as flapping, swooping, banking, and corkscrewing. What if you were trying to pull off some sweet aerial maneuver by flapping a couple of washing machines or something? Wouldn't work, I'll tell you that right now."
* Milia sounds absolutely sure of this.
* mimezinga is now known as One_Eyed_Berry
* Whisper sits down quietly next to Artifica. He leans over and whispers, "Is everything ready to go? Jasmine and Milia are waiting outside. Jasmine seems...eager."
* One_Eyed_Berry is still sniffing the pirate ghoul. when something smells funny you can't really stop sniffing it
<uSeaGM> "Disregardin' the lady's fear o' ghosts and goblins, Genie here tells me that ye be needin' a crew. I happen to be havin' a group of old sea dogs that should be just as good, and I be willing to sail them with you under one condition...”
* One_Eyed_Berry it goes like this: a sniff, then a yeuch face, then a sniff again and a bleh face, and another sniff and a green face, then it repeats from the start
* Jasmine nods at Milias explanation with a shocked, yet enlightened look. "Yes...yes! Of COURSE! That makes a lot of sense! Thank you Milly! I dont know what I would have done if I ended up trying to fly using washing machines! Or Anvils! Ohhh... that would have been baaaad"
* Prism follows Berry and Artifica, since they seemed the least crazy.
<uSeaGM> The pirate's thick black beard creases into a grin. “Ye see, I be an old romantic at heart. All I ask is a single kiss, from a young mare full of vigour and life.”
* One_Eyed_Berry trows her hooffies in the air "YES! I GET TO KISS A PIRATE!"
* Artifica whispers back to Whisper, "I think that's up to Genie."  Then pauses... "Who do you think he means?"
* Artifica barely avoids a facehoof at Berry's joy.  "That's what I was afraid of."
* Whisper shrugs in response. "Maybe he wants us to pick somepony?" At hearing Berry's outburst, his jaw drops and he stares dumbfounded.
* Godna is now known as Jack
* One_Eyed_Berry stands in front of the pirate with super serious face "just one rule: after we kiss, we do the carameldansen. it's a rule"
* uSeaGM gives voice to Jack
* Artifica sighs.  "She is our fearless leader."  Then nods to the pirate captain.  "Apparently, it's a rule."
* Milia looks at Jasmine, deadly serious. "Or swarms of things. What about bees? Bees /have/ wings, but are they wings themselves? Hard to say...and it's why you need an expert." She gently stomps a hoof to the ground. "/These/ are the important questions!"
* Whisper simply tries to very hard not to be noticed by any of the ponies in the room that scare him. Luckily, he is talented at this and Berry is being very helpful to boot.
<uSeaGM> Black Beard looks down at Berry in surprise. "Well I had been meanin' a slightly older lass... but I am a stallion of me word." He leans down so Berry can reach his beard-covered cheek.
* One_Eyed_Berry yells with enthusiasm "KISSU KISSU!" hugs the pirate's face and kisses him
* Jasmine turns to Milia and nods, almosy violently, with how serious she is taking Milia. "Then... then... since you are a wing inspection expert I need you to do me a favor! When I get my dragon wings from Prism... you need to make sure they are actually dragon wings, and not just dragons! You are the only one who can do this for me!"
<uSeaGM> Black Beard chortles. "You heard her lads, get to dancin'!" He aims a grin at Danse. "If you would be so kind as to provide the music, ma'am."
* One_Eyed_Berry nodnods, then stands on her rearlegs and put her front hoofies above her head, then she starts singing
* One_Eyed_Berry "dance to the beat, waves your hooves together, come feel the heat, forever and forever! this id the alert: it's time for dancing! you're doing it, we're caramelldansing!"
* Whisper 's eyes go wide as he realizes this dancing thing is definitely happening. Staying as inconspcuous as possible, he sneaks off to the side of the room and sits up against the wall.
* Milia raises to all fours, approaching Jasmine with a level of presence and purpose that one would expect from somezebra that holds her lofty position. Her face is stoic and noble as she gazes down upon the gryphon, and her spiky mane gently blows in the sea breeze. "Jas..." she speaks quietly, a grave seriousness behind her every word. "...on my honor, as Senior Wing Inspector..."
<uSeaGM> Danse Macabre raises an eyebrow but she starts to play her violin as asked. "I never thought I'd see you dance, Mr. Beard and... company."
* One_Eyed_Berry yels "less talk more wub wubs!"
* Milia gently places a hoof on Jasmine's shoulder. "...I promise you...I will do everything within my power to ensure that you don't got a couple'a dragons or whatever on your back."
<uSeaGM> "Aye, we be full of surprises. And I'll gut any of you mutinous mangy currs you don't start dancin' this minute!" He yells this last part at his crew, who seemed to be doubting if he was serious about the dancing before...
* Artifica joins in the dancing.
* Jasmine wraps her arms around Milia and squeezes her tightly in a hug. "Thank you!" She exclaims. "You're the best at everything! Heroing... Wing Inspecting.... what CANT you do?"
* Whisper 's eyes go wide again at the mention of gutting. Time to leave. Sticking to the wall, he begins working his way around the room to the door.
* Milia gasps for air. "BREATHE."
* One_Eyed_Berry "out with the chorus! i can't hear you dancing!"
<Jasmine> "Oh! Right... sorry!" She says, suddenly dropping the zebra to the ground.
* Milia flops to the ground unceremoniously. "OooOooogh...my back..." she groans.
* Whisper reaches the front door, but stops when he remembers its propensity for being noisy when opened.
* Jack was now standing beside the door as a result of that very action.
<Jack> "y'ar might want ta rethink that course." He states in a serious tone to Whisper. "When th' Cap says dance. It becomes time ta' Groove."
* Jack was himself kind of shuffling in the style of the dance and looking dour for it...,but he is a rather aged ghoul himself.
* Whisper laughs nervously. "Right. Um. You see, I can't dance. All left hooves. I'd feel just terrible about ruining the moment, so I just figured I'd go get some fresh air." He gives a large, forced grin.
* One_Eyed_Berry smiles merrily "you're getting it right cap'! i like your moves!"
* One_Eyed_Berry "woohoo! go artie! hey, where are the others?"
<Jack> "If ye cannet dance ye be no friend o his..." He looks about conspiritually. "Tell no one and I'll sneak out we ye."
<Jack> (wit*)
<Jasmine> "Your back hurts! Dont worry I can help! Let me just uh..." Jasmine scratches her chin. She kneels down and cracks her talons, before wiggling them dramatically. "I think this is what you are supposed to do... here, get on your back!"
* Whisper looks at Jack seriously. "Deal," he says, without hesitation.
* Milia stares up at Jasmine, somewhat confused. "Wait.../on/ my back?"
* One_Eyed_Berry is happy with the dance, after a while, and lets the pirates stop, satisfied "weeee! that was fun! did somepony take photos?"
<Jasmine> "No... wait... on your stomach! Sorry! Im new to this! Dont worry though, I can do this!"
* Artifica doesn't know.  Too busy dancing to see ponies escaping out the door.
* Prism snaps out of it.   "Wait, what's going on."
* Milia unceremoniously rolls and flops onto her stomach. "Uh...okay...now what?"
* Artifica then trots up and gives the pirate captain a proper kiss.  He's earned it.
* Artifica tries not to think of the "ew" factor of kissing a ghoul as she does so.
* Jack makes for a careful well practiced sneak as he makes his way from the party.
* Whisper quietly follows Jack out the door.
* Jasmine starts karate chopping up and down Milia's back. This is like, supposed to be an ancient secret technique to help with back pain! I read it somewhere!"
* Jack immediately attempts to light up once they get outside the door...fumbling with some water logged matches.
<Jack> "been dyin fer a smoke."
<Whisper> "Been trying not to die."
* One_Eyed_Berry "so.... arti, where are the others?"
* Milia has the most worried look on her face right now. "Uh...are you sure about tha-AUGHGHGH! AUGHAUUGHGUGAHGH!" she awkwardly bellows as loud as she can. "EVERYTHING HURTS! I CAN'T SEE THE COLOR GREEN ANYMORE!"
<Whisper> Having just emerged from the manse, Whisper stares, nonplussed, at Milia and Jasmine.
* Jack sees the two and figures...maybe he can buma light from one and approaches. "one of ye got a light?"
* Prism heads to the door.
<uSeaGM> The captain actually seems bashful with Artifica. "Oh, ah, thank ye, miss."
* Jasmine stops as Milia screams out in agony, before scratching her chin. "Hmm..... maybe I did it wrong... Here, let me try something else..."
* Jack pokes Jasmine. "Before ya do?" He points to his unlit cigarette as a reminder.
* Jasmine turns towards Jack. "Jussasec, just trying to fix a back pain problem!"
<Jack> "I t'ink...it might be the bone crushing griffon grip." He says examining the patient.
* Whisper gets up and walks over. "I'll second that."
<Jack> "Or the Kungfu action grip."
<Jack> "been a long time really."
* Milia takes the opportunity to roll away quickly before leaping back to all fours like some sort of spring loaded action zebra. She was in too much blinding pain to have noticed Jack's initial approach, unfortunately. "NO!" She shouts, leaping to all fours. "YOU, UH...you...you fixed it, I mean! Yes! Good as new!"
* One_Eyed_Berry aw, not fair, you look elsewhere for a moment and the pirate is already kissing another mare... oh well, time to find the others then... the filly wanders outside to see why there is nopony caramelldansing inside... she was almost sure they would have loved it... you can't be alwayys right
<Jack> "Well...thar ya go."
* Whisper nods. "See? She's fine. Doesn't need any more help. I'm sure she appreciates what you did, though, Jasmine."
<Jasmine> "Oh? Really! GREAT! I'll keep that in mind for next time then! Im happy to be of service!"
* Milia takes this moment to stare at the two ponies who suddenly appeared next to her tormentor. "Wait...did I pass out for a while there or something? When'd you get back?-" she asks, pointing a hoof at Whisper. "...and who's this guyyyy...yyhoul?" she stammers, wagging that very same hoof at Jack.
<Whisper> "In order: I don't think so, just now, and and ally of convenience."
<Whisper> and an*
<Jack> "Y'arr name's Jack Shit."
* Jack offers a hoof.
* One_Eyed_Berry pokes her head out looking for her so said friends
* Prism is somewhere.
* Milia glares at Jack. "...go fuck yourself; /seriously/?"
* Milia shakes his hoof despite her disbelief.
* Whisper looks over slowly at the pirate ghoul and opens his mouth to say something but then thinks better of it.
* Artifica curtsies to the captain.
<Jack> "Y'arr Cross my still heart and hope ta' live."
* One_Eyed_Berry "hey! why weren't you dancing!? i thought ponies loved dancing!" groans and aprpoaches the others "is something wrong?"
* Jasmine blinks and turns to Whisper "Do you know Jack Shit? I dont know Jack Shit. I dont think Milia knows Jack Shit either." she says innocently.
* Whisper looks at Jasmine, then back to Jack, then back to Jasmine. "No, I wouldn't say any of us know Jack Shit," he replies calmly.
* Artifica trots out after Berry.  When she reaches Milia, she whispers, "Something to drink.  Quickly!  Preferably, upwards of 153.5% proof."
* Milia rubs her eyes wearily. "...sure feels that way, sometimes."
* Jack groans.
<Jack> "Y'arr I caught nuff of that from me parents."
* Jack is smirking despite the groan.
* Milia was about to give Berry a very good reason for her not dancing, but Artifica's comment causes her a bit of alarm. "Gotcha covered, sweetie." she states, confidently. This was a BOOZE EMERGENCY.
* Milia hoofs over her half-full bottle of whiskey to her marefriend. "...meeting went well, I take it?"
* Whisper looks at Berry. "I can't dance," he states bluntly.
* One_Eyed_Berry booze! "me too me too!"
<Jack> "...I might be able to off'r some century old Grog."
* Prism feigns complete disinterest in an attempt to be "cool"
* Artifica takes a big mouthful of the alcohol, swishes it about in her mouth, then spits it out.  Repeats.  Then repeats again.
<Jack> "can somepony please gimme a light?"
* One_Eyed_Berry shrugs and asks jack "plasma or pew pew?"
* Artifica downs the rest of the bottle, having cleansed her mouth as best as possible without use of a flamethrower.
* Milia goes wide eyed, simply watching Artifica with a morbid curiosity. "I'm...not sure how to interpret this answer." she finally stammers out.
* Artifica finishes off by floating out her mirror and casting Clean on her tongue.
<Jack> "err...what?"
* Artifica does this all, notably, carefully out of the captain's eyesight.
* Prism neglects to tell Artifica that he had guessed that the grog's chemical composition was kerosene, propylene glycol, artificial sweeteners, sulphuric acid, rum, acetone, red dye no. 2, scumm, axle grease, battery acid and/or pepperoni.
* Whisper walks over to sit next to Prism. "So, did you figure out...whatever it was you were trying to figure out with those wierd ponies?"
* One_Eyed_Berry takes out her magic pistol with her tail, puts it against the cig's tip and pulls the trigger "here you go"
<Prism> "Yep.  Turns out they didn't have friends, and Friendship brought them here to make them.   I'm going to have to tell the proper ponies about the long-term effects of that drug, but I can't very well intervene with this.  If I did, everypony would be miserable all around."
* Whisper stares back. "Wow...that's...pretty incredible. But, I mean, it's all good, right?"
* Jack blinks a little. "fancy..." He takes a surprisingly long drag on it. Leaking a bit of smoke from his body. Now that he is out in the open he smells slightly pickled.
<Prism> "Well, they have friends now, even if they aren't completely lucid.   And the long-term effects of the drug seem to be ghoulification if I understand correctly."
<Prism> "But Danse is keeping the ghouls sane, since she is friends with everypony here, living or otherwise."
* One_Eyed_Berry yawns, some ponies are drinking but not sharing, others are chatting about science... well, probably this was a good moment for taking a nap, so, she naps
<Prism> "It's more the gravekeeper I'm worried about."
* Whisper glances around nervously. "The alicorn in there, it's safe, right? I mean, safe as those things get anyway."
* Jack offers Berry some Grog I suppose. Reasoning she's probably older then she looks.
<Prism> "Yes, Danse is quite nice."
* One_Eyed_Berry the filly jumps on somepony's back, curls in a dount and tries to get some sleep
* Whisper stares at Prism incredulously. "Nice!? You're kidding me."
* Artifica finds herself with a backBerry.
<Prism> "She just wants friends.   She's lonely."
* One_Eyed_Berry climbs on arti's back and naps for a bit
* Whisper pauses a moment to take all this in. "That's...I've never heard of an alicorn that just wanted friends. All of 'em that I ever saw or heard of were at best recluses and at worst terrifying and dangerous.
<Prism> "Times have changed.  A lot of them are pretty nice now, even if it took awhile for me to believe as well."
<Jack> "If y'ar be talkin bout miss Danse." Jack interjects. "She is a kind mare."
<Jack> "Puts up with a lot from us..." He grins toothily.
* Whisper goes red in the face. "Well, I'm just going to sit here wishing the earth would open and swallow me up now."
* Milia watches Berry take her place atop Artifica's back, before turning back to her marefriend. "So, besides suffering through what I can only assume was some sort of unspeakable mouth catastrophe...-" she stares down at the empty whiskey bottle for a moment, before looking back up. "-...how'd it go?"
* Jasmine turns to Jack. "So, when are we heading out? I want to sail the seven seas! Fight off scurvy dogs! beat back a kraaken! Sail a ship! ALL THAT STUFF!"
<Jack> "Ye'd have ta ask the Cap'n"
* Artifica smiles as best she can.  "We have a dread pirate captain and his ghoulish crew.  We danced.  And Berry got to first base."
* Jasmine then turns and taps her chin "Although how Dogs with scurvy could get on a ship in the middle of the sea, I have no idea..." She then turns back towards Jack "How do scurvy dogs get on the ship?"
* Artifica looks at her zebra marefriend, "How did things go out here?"
<Jack> "Y'arr well ye see Dogs don't eat a lot o'fruit."
* Milia reels momentarily. "Awwww! I missed Berry gettin' some action! Weak!" she exclaims, before quieting back down.
<Jack> "and well they get scurvy."
<Jack> "The better question is how ye clean up afta them."
<Jasmine> "But HOW do they get on the ship?"
* Milia quickly glances to their resident gryphon. She leans in a bit closer to Artifica, so she can speak quietly. "Oh...it went...it went good, I think. We'll..."
<Milia> "...we'll just have to see, I suppose.  Oh, right, I meant to say...quick thinking on that spell, sweetie-" she coos, planting a kiss on the mare's cheek.  "-pretty sure you saved at /least/ one life there."
<Jack> "They walk, climb, or get taken captive."
<Whisper> "So, Prism, lemme get this straight: my massive freakout where I assumed that an dark alicorn queen was about to murder all of us was not only unwarranted, but also invoking the very image said alicorn is trying to escape from?"
<Prism> "Basically.  We were all worried.  But whenever I saw Berry didn't disturb her much, then I decided to ask her myself what her intentions were."
<Prism> "Between that, and the memories of one of the ponies here which...well, I saw a vision of, as well as Artifica and possibly Berry somehow, thanks to her magic, I know that they're safe."
* One_Eyed_Berry opens an eye looking at prism "see? the problem is that you act as if yo uare dsturbing... you should learn to act as if the others are risking to disturb you..."
* One_Eyed_Berry then turns on the other side and goes back being a plushie donut
* Whisper hangs his head. "Sometimes I'm /so/ glad my special talent is not being noticed. Just...don't tell anypony about that, please?"
<uSeaGM> As one, the ghoulish gardeners outside go completely still and stare out West. From the castle's high plateau everyone outside can see boiling storm clouds way way in the distance. This far away it looks like an angry dark spot in the sky, but thick grey clouds spread rapidly from it in all directions.
* Jack suddenly looks sharply to thewwest almost transfixed.
* Whisper looks up at the disturbance slowly. "I think we should get going to stop the evil thingies from doing evil things," he says dumbly.
<uSeaGM> Then everything happens at once. The ghouls howl, filling the castle with sound, and those in the garden run back inside. From the great hall, Danse screams in agony. Every unicorn there feels an intense pain in their head, like somepony were trying to pull their horn off with a pair of pliers.
* Artifica cries out, dropping as she clutches her head between her hooves.
<Prism> "AAGH. My head!" He holds it.  If it weren't somehow localized to the horn, he'd have half a mind to cast Dull Pain right now.
* One_Eyed_Berry drops with Artifica "what the- hey, what's going on!? arti, are you okay?"
* Artifica gasps.  "....pain..."
* Milia follows everypony's gaze after realizing that apparently something was happening. Her mouth falls open as she spots the maelstrom, and before she can even speak, her marefriend is screaming. "ART, SWEETIE!" she shrieks.
* One_Eyed_Berry stares at milia "do something! please!"
* Jasmine turns to look at Artificia and Prism. "Hey, whats goin on? Are you guys okay? Hold on hold on hold on! I can fix this! I can do it!" She says, holding out her karate chopping talons. "It worked for Milia so it should work here too right?"
* Whisper looks around frantically. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but...," he mutters. He calls out more loudly, "Jasmine, do you have any ideas?"
* One_Eyed_Berry "no, no don't hit them! we need something like... ah... that dumbing spell! but all the magical ponies are gone! what do we do now!?"
* Jack clutches his head and draws his cutlass. "Ye'll not take me again! Not if I gut...you all...you tentacled Freaks!"
* Artifica fights just to focus through the pain, not trying to move.
* Artifica whimpers.  "m-Milia?"
* One_Eyed_Berry tries licking Artifica's horn. when he was a cub and had the owies, his doggie mom licked him and it helped somehow
* Whisper looks at Berry. "I don't know! I don't think hiding will help very much, and that's all I got!"
* Jack is swingly blindly at first thrashing about a bit his gaze getting a familiar thousand yard stare.
* Prism is curled into a ball, holding his head with his forehooves and whimpering.  It started disappating, and he makes an attempt to cast Pain Relief upon himself, and then Artifica.
* Artifica opens her eyes and smiles weakly at Berry before she slowly gets to her hooves.
* Artifica breathes more easily.  "Thank you, Prism."
* Milia can only watch, helplessly. She ignores Jasmine completely for the moment. "I...I don't know what's happening! What can I do?!" She stammers to Berry as she kneels down beside her marefriend. "Art...sweetie, just hang on...you're gonna be okay...just-"
* Jasmine frantically looks around for something. "Its okay.. its okay... I got this. I got this. We can ummm...." She then turns to Milia "What can we do?"
<uSeaGM> Black Beard steps out of the main doors and yells at his crazed crewman “Snap out of it yer limy bilge rat! I'll have no clashing steel with guests in my crew, Jack.”
* Whisper jumps backwards and falls over, surprised by the captain's sudden appearance.
* Jack snaps out of it suddenly shaking his head the visions plaguing his sight fading. "What!? sorry Cap...I don'...don't know what happend."
* Artifica hugs Milia tightly, looks up at the maelstrom in the sky.
* Milia stops her nervous rambling, seeing that the worst had apparently passed. In the sudden frenzy of action, she had completely missed that Jack had apparently lost his mind. "What the hell /was/ that?..." the zebra stammers, returning the hug and then some.
* Whisper rises cautiously. "So...it's over?"
* Jack resheathes his weapon shaking his head trying to ignore that pounding and looks up to the sky where he'd seen the clouds.
* Artifica responds, "I don't know.  But I think we know where it came from."  Her eyes don't leave the sky.
* Prism feels better, since it both passed, and the pain relief spell.   "Whew..."
* Jasmine stares up at the sky. "...When did THAT happen?" She announces, pointing up at the clouds
<Prism> "What in the world..."
<uSeaGM> The captain then turns to Prism, his old eyes showing worry. "You, lass, my grand daughter is hurt and Danse too. Please, can you help them?"
* Milia 's heart is pounding. "Y-yeah..." she quietly murmurs to Artifica, not letting go of the hug quite yet. "...sweet Celestia, that was scary..."
* Prism nods slowly.  "Of course. "   He heads to wherever he last saw his granddaughter, and Danse.
* One_Eyed_Berry "well... another good reason for trying to fix this mess as soon as possible"
* Jasmine begins to hover about 5 feet off the ground as she flapped her wings. "Maybe I should check it out. There could be some evil cloud demon with horn explody magic!"
* Whisper follows Prism back inside.
<uSeaGM> Back inside, Danse has fainted. Lying beside her is her violin. Its strings have snapped. Genie has managed to stand, although shakily, but Ghost is hiding her head beneath her hooves.
* One_Eyed_Berry since arti doesn't feel well, the filly does the most sensible thing she is able of... she changes back and climbs on milia's back "ah... jasmine, it could be a good idea to not go in that cloud alone... you can never ay what you could find"
<Whisper> "So...does anypony know what just happened?"
* Prism decides to go help the three, trotting up to them, and checking them.   First he casts Pain Relief on Ghost and Genie, but he was concerned about the state of Danse.
<Prism> "What happened?  Are you both okay?"
* Whisper trots after Prism. "I feel like I should be doing something here..."
* Milia lets Berry climb onto her. The fluff felt good on her aching back.
<uSeaGM> "Oww, that really really hurt," Genie stammers. Ghost seems to sleep peacefully after Prism's spell.
<uSeaGM> Dark clouds have spread over the sky, enveloping the land below in shadow like in the days before Littlepip's adventure. A storm has come, unnatural and menacing, and fog rolls in off the sea to swallow the harbour below.
* Prism checks to see if Danse needs any medical attention.
* Whisper sighs and sits down again. Stupid special talents not coming with an off switch...
* Jasmine zipsa about in the air, not really going anywhere, but keeping herself moving, as if she were struggling with either going off to investigate, or to do the smart thing and stay put. "I gotta do something, though! Somethings happening, and I need to fix it!"
<Jack> "Tis...a bad omen..." He says shaking his head as he follows the others.
* Whisper turns to Genie. "So...are we still going sailing? Because I think whatever's out there just brought the fight to us."
* Prism casts Sound Slumber on Danse, hoping to calm her a bit.   He also checks to see if she can fix her violin.
<uSeaGM> The violin is intact, but the stings have snapped.
* Artifica trots in and looks over everyone, wondering how best she can help.  It pains her when she sees the snapped strings of the violin.
* One_Eyed_Berry being attached to milia, mostly goes wherever she goes... please don't make it be the little fillies room or the canned broccoli factory.
* Prism focuses more on Danse, staying with her, hoping that whatever is afflicting her passes.
* Artifica frowns to Prism.  "My magic can repair it, but only for a short time.  Mere hours.  I can try to repair it the earth pony way, but I fear affecting it's beauty."
* Milia will take a moment to calm herself down, finally releasing her marefriend from the embrace. She'll simply sit in silence for a time, staring at the maelstrom while the others tend to the wounded. Medical treatment - beyond the potions she could make - sadly was not within her wheelhouse.
<Prism> "I don't have the particular spell to remake objects.   It's one I should've learned, but I left the bunker before I did.   But if you want to manually repair it, I can do whatever I can to help."
* Whisper gives into frustration and loudly demands, "Will somepony /please/ tell me what's going on!?"
* Prism looks at Whisper.  "Danse was severely affected by what went on, as were the ghouls it seems."
* Whisper regains his composure. "Oh. Well, is there anything I can do?"
* Jack looks to the captain. "Hey...Cap...what happened what is going on?"
* Prism just gives Danse a hug and stays with her.  And then gets an idea and turns to Artifica.   "Could you possibly magically repair it, check to see how it all fits together, and then try to copy it in a sense, manually after it wears off?"
<uSeaGM> "Somethin' evil Jack. I don't like it. The darkest clouds are in the same direction as the city. Maybe Danse were right to be weary of that place."
<Jack> "So...what..now cap?"
<Whisper> "Wait, what city? The harbor?"
* Artifica nods.  "That would be a good way to go.  But without new strings..."  She gently levitates up the violin.
<Prism> "Is there any place we can get new strings?"
* Artifica pauses.  "I thought it was Lost Hope that Danse was weary about."
* Artifica considers...
<uSeaGM> There are shouts from the harbour, carried up to you on the wind, and then the sound of gunshots.
* Artifica will try to think of a place, but "I suspect Danse herself would know best."
* Whisper goes pale. "Does anypony else hear those shots?"
* Milia was just about calmed down...until that happened. Her ears perk up, alert, and her posture stiffens. Slowly, the zebra looks back to the fluffy pink pony on her back. "Cerberus...you think you're in fighting shape?"
* One_Eyed_Berry sighs "why there can't be a problem at a time!" the filly jumps from milia's back and trots outside to check if she can see what is going on from the place she is
* Jasmine immediately springs into action, unable to just sit there and do nothing when things were happening. "Somethings going on down by the harbor! We gotta go check it out! Come on!" She exclaims to Milia and Berry, the only ones outside with her at the moment, before racing off in the directions of the shots
* Whisper runs outside. "Milia, you heard those gunshots, right?"
<uSeaGM> "That's ourrr call lads! If the storms riled up the beasties we'll toss 'em back where they belong. Yarharharr!" he pauses, "Jack, you stay with the land lubbers. They be under arr protection now." The captain and the crew charge off down the path towards the harbour.
<Jack> "Bout time" He seems entirely too eager to go deal with some squid.
* Milia is just about to gallop towards town when Whisper addresses her. "What do you think! Tell the others to meet us down there ASAP!" she shouts, before breaking into a full gallop after Jasmine.
* One_Eyed_Berry gallops after milia and the others, trying to get on her back to move faster
* Whisper runs back inside. "Artifica, Prism, Milia and Jasmine already took off for the harbor. I'm going with them." He turns to leave, but stops short. "Oh, does anypony have 5.56mm ammo? I'm running low," he asks sheepishly.
* Milia slows down to let their glorious leader re-mount. When she is firmly planted on the zebra's back, the mighty striped steed charges once more!
* Prism moves Danse into a comfortable position.   "Artifica, should we go after them?"
* Artifica reverently sets the violin aside and hurries out after Milia.  "I have some," she offers.  "I can give you more when we get there, but it's... inconvenient to get to."
* Prism heads on out after them.
* Whisper nods to Artifica. "Okay, then let's go." He turns and sprints out the door to catch up with Milia and Jasmine.
<uSeaGM> The group soon arrives back in town, some more quickly than others. Doors and windows are shuttered and the roosting seagull have flown away. The pirate noisily charge in one direction, leaving you another to reach the harbour front itself. The gun shots are coming from where you remember the war ship, Thunder Child being moared.
* One_Eyed_Berry "alright, they want our ship... guess what? we called dibs first!" the filly prepares her rifle and gets ready to jump from milia's back as soon as they arrive at the fight
<uSeaGM> They pass an active radio that somepony must have been listening to while they were working on the dock, it's mostly static, but it seems to be the same station you heard while at Genie's cottage.
<uSeaGM> “*Bzzzrt* disrupting our sig... ... .. …. ..portant news. A green drag.. *bzzzrk* flying …. …. Hope shortly before ... storm *bzzrt* don't know ….. ….. on … all contact …. Hope has *bzzrt* lost. ...rypony please stay safe! *bzzrt*........................................................”
* Milia skids to a halt to listen in on the broadcast. Her ears droop at the somewhat foreboding broadcast, and she glances up nervously to Berry.
<Milia> "A green drag..."
<Milia> "...on?"
* Whisper catches up and stops next to Milia. "Huh? A what now?"
<Jack> "a Dragon?" He blinks. "What?"
* One_Eyed_Berry shrugs "aim for the eyes... besides, i don't think it's our problem now.... i' more worried about the satellite station..."
* Milia takes a deep breath. "Okay...okay...prioritize. Mutant death squids /now/, green dragon afterwards. Maybe it's a nice one! Like...Spike!..."
<Whisper> "Like who? Oh, and have you got any bullets? I need them to fight."
* Milia knows exactly how hollow her words sound, but she doesn't care at the moment. She reaches a hoof to her side and unclasps the latch on her saddlebag where she keeps all her miscellaneous, worthless, junk. Junk like bullets. "Go nuts."
* One_Eyed_Berry "damn, i know that voice! we need to go fix this one really quick and bring the damn batleship back at the radio station!"
* Whisper peeks inside the saddlebag. "Okay, tha-whoa. That's a lot of bullets." He fishes out 73 5.56mm standard rounds.
* One_Eyed_Berry power ups the laser rifle and makes her fight face "let's make this fast, it looks like we have some serious business to atttend past these squids"
* Whisper tops off his Infiltrator. "Okay, you go ahead Milia. I'll be right behind, you can count on it. I'm done sitting on the sidelines."
* Milia beams a toothy grin to Whisper. "'atta colt! That's what I like to hear!"
* Prism trots up to Milia and Jasmine.   "Need me to toughen you up before you go in at them?"
* Milia nods to Prism. "Any mojo you got in that horn, I am all about. Lay it on me, hoss."
* Artifica agrees with Berry.  At least in spirit.  Too many friends are suddenly in danger.
* Prism casts Toughen Hide on Milia and Jasmine.
<uSeaGM> Dark shapes move in the fog ahead, raised up on a writhing mass of barbed tentacles.
* Jasmine is all antsy right now. "Yeah yeah, ok sure! But hurry hurry hurry!" She exclaimed. Finally, she had some heroing to do.
<uSeaGM> **End of Session for Group 4**
* Whisper darts to the side of the street, looking for cover and concealment.
* Jack misses out on the toughen hide spell...and he'll likely need it as a fellow melee
<Jack> "Y'arr the squid be the business for me."
* Artifica frowns.  "Tentacles.  Why does it have to be tentacles."
* Milia stares forward defiantly as the shapes begin to take shape. As the glimmering, magical sheen washes over her body, she takes a deep breath, before bellowing out a mighty battle-cry:
<Milia> "TICKLE MY ASSHOLE, YOU FUCK-NUGGETS!"
* Artifica just stops and stares at Milia.
* Artifica cautions, "They might take that as an invitation, hun."