FoE RPG G0 - #031 Nnoto's Village: Here's Hope

[19:14]<SpiritOfFate>	Group 0: *Epitaph* - Session #31 starts now
[19:14]<SpiritOfFate>	==============================
[19:16]<SpiritOfFate>	The leaves rustle on the quiet night. The group sleeps on their hut... except for Hawkeye
[19:17]?	Hawkeye barges into the hut in a hurry. "Wake up, everypony!" she urges, trying to keep her voice down from a shout. "C'mon, wake up! Bad news all around! Wake up or y'all are in danger, y'hear?" She begins nudging her sleeping friends, even the filly. "We got trouble, folks..."
[19:18]?	Sotho yawns as he wakes from his odd dream, looking to Hawkeye. "What's wrong?"
[19:19]?	Royal_Lace raises her head from her spell book, eyes blinking unevenly as she yawns
[19:19]?	Wintergreen yawns into her Ignis-pillow, unwilling to wake quite yet. She cuddles closer at the disturbance.
[19:20]?	Hawkeye sighs. "Them zebra ain't our friends. They had one o' theirs perched on the roof, tryin' to drug all y'all so they could sell y'all to the slavers in exchange for pearls. That means you too, miss Pacifist." She shakes Wintergreen vigorously. "They betrayed us to save their families, an Ah sent 'em packing, but there's no tellin' what they'll try next, so wake up before Ah have to get a bucket."
[19:20]?	Ignis opens up an eye just to glare reprovingly at Hawkeye. "Couldn't you wait till the morning...?"
[19:21]?	Sotho nods. "They trapped a spirit in the emerald we saw. She spoke to me." He says. "We should attempt to free her and leave."
[19:21]?	Wintergreen blinks, shifting uncomfortably. "'Sent them packing'?" Her brow furrows. "Hawkeye, you didn't kill them, did you?"
[19:22]?	Ignis yawns and blinks several times, till those words went in... "Perhaps you should start from the beggining..."
[19:22]?	Royal_Lace eyes open as she magics her spell book away, looking around the hut, "Oh dear, and I had hoped to at least get a word with them. I suppose this is going to make that proposition terribly difficult now..."
[19:22]?	Firefly looks up bleary-eyed at Hawkeye. "I'm tired Miss Hawkeye. And I thought the zebra were good zebra. I even made friends with M'Tat!"
[19:26]<Hawkeye>	"No, they're fine," Hawkeye says, rolling her eyes at Wintergreen. "Ah just yanked him off the roof and interrogated him. Ask Buck. Ah was real nice an' polite and everything." She looks at the others. "Let's not go off half-cocked or nothin' but we cain't just sit here and let 'em drug y'all again."
[19:27]<SpiritOfFate>	Buck nods. "I have no hurry to be sent back." He says.
[19:27]?	Wintergreen sighs. "We should leave quickly, if we're not welcome. Staying will only lead to fighting..."
[19:27]?	Sotho nods. "He looks around. "they've locked up the children for some reason, they are fearful of something attracted to happiness." He thinks. "Verity is the spirit they trapped in the Emerald.
[19:27]?	Ignis sighs heavily. "Then at least give us some answers so we know what we're against instead of just prompting us to go in blindly."
[19:28]?	Royal_Lace closes her bags, blinking she looks to Hawkeye, "They.... have locked up the foals?"
[19:28]?	Wintergreen looks over to Royal_Lace. "If worse comes to worse, can you teleport us all out?" She thinks for a moment. "We can set Firefly's cloud somewhere... and if you can, when something bad happens, teleport us to it so that we can escape."
[19:28]?	Ignis taps his claw by a wall, distractedly. "They're most likely watching us, we can't just snuck off."
[19:28]?	Wintergreen adds, "We should be thinking of how to escape first, then the plan."
[19:29]<Hawkeye>	"Ah don't rightly know," Hawkeye says. The charcoal sniper grits her teeth. "Just that the Whisperin' Council put him up to it, so they either think we cain't help, or that we're more help as pearls." She looks at Royal Lace. "Not locked up, just in a bubble o' quiet so their laughter don't attract the Devourer or sommat." She rolls her eye again.
[19:29]<Ignis>	"I told you that this forest was better off as a pile of ashes"
[19:30]?	Firefly shakes the sleep from her head. "But I thought we were supposed to giggle and be happy to make scary things go away?"
[19:31]?	Royal_Lace frowns as she turns to Wintergreen, "I can carry us out one at a time at best, I cant handle more than one other pony per trip. Im sorry"
[19:33]?	Wintergreen sighs. "Then we can just keep Firefly and her cloud close if we need to escape. Sotho, do you know anything about this... devourer? Something that might cause them to keep the children quiet?"
[19:33]?	Firefly looks around. "Maybe I should try and find M'Tat... she was nice..."
[19:34]<Hawkeye>	"It's attracted to smiles and laughter, and eats your soul or something." Hawkeye pokes her head outside to look around. "Don't know if Ah believe that, but it has all the zebra here scared out of their hats."
[19:34]?	Royal_Lace eyes grow wide in shock and fear, "It dose what now?"
[19:35]?	Sotho sighs and shakes his head. "I do not believe so, I haven't heard of it."
[19:35]<SpiritOfFate>	One of the cloven-hooved zebras stops just outside of the entrance of the hut. An icicle hangs from their necklace, flowing in cold mist and spirit, and it looks serenely towards the group.
[19:36]?	Firefly looks over at Sotho. "What about that scary alicorn thing?"
[19:36]?	Sotho shrugs. "Perhaps." He looks to the Zebra. "Hello."
[19:36]?	Hawkeye stops with her nose almost pressed against the zebra's. "Howdy," she says, her voice matching the coldness of the icicle. "Why don't y'all come in, and we'll have a little chat."
[19:38]?	Royal_Lace composes herself as she clears her throat, "yes, a very polite chat"
[19:38]?	Firefly looks up at the zebra, with wide eyes. "Why would you try and put us back into slavery? I thought you were nice zebras..." Firefly's voice is hurt.
[19:38]?	Ignis glares at the visitor with contempt, his arms close by to his pack...he never was quite fond of those zebras on the first place...
[19:40]?	Wintergreen blinks, trotting over to hush Firefly. "Let him and the others speak... and try to not mention that, please..."
[19:41]?	Firefly looks down at the ground, pawing at it. "I'm sorry Miss Green." She starts to dig through her saddle bags, putting all her weapons and armor back on.
[19:41]<SpiritOfFate>	The zebra bows and trots in. "That was most unfortunate, but you have impressed us." He says with the voice of a snake that invites mice to dinner.
[19:43]?	Hawkeye keeps her one-eyed glare fixed on the zebra. "Sure we did," she says. "Enough so as you're done tryin' to drug us and sell us? Or impressed enough to try and beat us down before y'all do the same?"
[19:43]?	Wintergreen pats Firefly's mane. "It's fine... and don't worry, we'll try to find M'tat soon enough so that you two can play."
[19:43]?	Firefly looks up at Wintergreen. "But... we're leaving, aren't we? It means I have to say goodbye again..."
[19:44]?	Wintergreen sighs. "We'll see... If we have time, you might get some time to play with your new friend. Otherwise, at least you can say goodbye."
[19:45]?	Firefly simply nods, looking away and begins to carefully attach her wingblades in place.
[19:46]?	Royal_Lace fixes the zebra with a even stare.
[19:51]<SpiritOfFate>	"It would be most unwise to start a conflict in the middle of our land, but we understand such would be done regardless. You may stay in safety, but our allies would like to negotiate for the abductee."' His sly eyes move to Knick Knack.
[19:51]<SpiritOfFate>	Knick Knack blinks.
[19:52]<Sotho>	"What if they weren't abducted?"
[19:53]<SpiritOfFate>	Knick Knack looks behind herself.
[19:53]?	Hawkeye looks back at Knick Knack. "Wait, what?" she says. "Knack ran away because they was treatin' her terrible. If she wants to go, fine, but y'all ain't takin' her if she don't want to." She half-smiles at Knack.
[19:54]?	Wintergreen even gives a reluctant smile to Knick Knack. "It is up to her, and she is welcome to stay with us for however long she wishes."
[19:54]?	Royal_Lace nods, "Miss Knack left of her own accord and will not be returned against it, though I belive the rest of my associates would more than love to have a few words with her father reguarding her treatment under his care". the last word positivly dripped with sarcasum and venom.
[19:55]<Ignis>	"Why we should trust any of the likes of you?" The dragon grols unsamusedly. "So far, you've been tricking us to no end...almost makes me consider leaving an impression... of my fist... all over your kin."
[19:58]?	Hawkeye sits down next to Knick Knack, keeping her shotgun close.
[19:58]<Firefly>	Now finished putting on her gear, Firefly walks between the zebra and Knick Knack. "If she doesn't want to go back, you can't make her. And if you try to, I'll... I'll kick your flank!" The little flares up, almost like a kitten spitting at a full-grown Doberman.
[19:59]?	Sotho chuckles softly. "As you can see, None of us wish to negotiate with them. Knick Knack wishes and has wished to join us." He looks at the Zebra. "But I would like to have a word with the Council of Silence."
[20:03]<SpiritOfFate>	The zebra clears his throat. "Now now. We value the lives of our own, as I'm sure you do as well... or I may be mistaken. But we can inform the council of your wish. Your safety will be assured for the following day, or the violator won't see another."
[20:04]<Sotho>	"My want to have a word comes from a seperate issue."
[20:04]<SpiritOfFate>	The shadow of a little zebra stretches her head from behind a hut outside.
[20:05]<SpiritOfFate>	"Oh, and what would that be?" He asks
[20:05]<Sotho>	"Verity."
[20:06]<SpiritOfFate>	"Verity? And who would that be?" He asks, not very interested.
[20:07]?	Hawkeye spots the small shadow, and nods to her. This doesn't have to get violent, but if it does...
[20:07]?	Sotho smiles. "A spirit. I believe she resides in the Emerald."
[20:09]?	Ignis faceclaws. "Not again with spirits' hogwash..." He grumbles lowly. "They haven't heard you on the first place, why would they now? Chances are they knew about that already and that's the point of offering it..."
[20:10]<SpiritOfFate>	"Denied." He says with a dangerous coldness. "And be grateful for it."
[20:10]?	Firefly cocks her head at the zebra...and the icicle...and she starts to wonder...
[20:10]<Sotho>	"Are you sure?" He asks. "She spoke to me for some reason, I'd like to know that reason."
[20:11]<SpiritOfFate>	Firefly sees the glow of a cold spirit in it.
[20:12]<Hawkeye>	"Ah hate ta be the interruptin' voice of reason here, but Ah think we're still wantin' to help y'all, despite y'all betrayin' us," Hawkeye says. "Now y'all may not believe us when we say we can help, but what does it hurt to let us try?"
[20:13]<Ignis>	"Why bother? We'd best leave them to their devices..." He snorts, crossing his arms. "Seeing how well it worked for them so far..."
[20:14]?	Firefly takes a step forward. "Hi there! I'm Firefly... what's your name?" It looks like she is addressing the zebra?
[20:14]<Hawkeye>	"Now now," Hawkeye says, raising a hoof to Ignis. "They was just tryin' to protect their families. In their situation? Ah might have sacrificed a few strangers to protect muh family too." She looks at the chilly zebra. "That don't excuse it. But it do put you and I on the same footing."
[20:16]<Ignis>	"Save their families...just to teach them to backstab the next lot of foreigners...is it really worth it?" He raises his eyes.
[20:17]<SpiritOfFate>	His eyes go wide. "That... you may have your wish. The council will be informed immediately. Understand, immediately!" He calls out of the door, to which sounds of hooves are heard outside. He turns back to you, having lost track of the conversation. "Try to... My name is Tramwat, forgive me, you were talking about the marching forest, correct?"
[20:19]?	Royal_Lace nods, "We had only just began the formalities before but were going to lead into the subject, yes"
[20:19]?	Firefly looks up at the zebra. "I wasn't talking to you. You're mean." She sticks his tongue out at him, and looks back at the zebra. Oh, wait, its the talisman. "Come on, you don't have to be shy. Your a nice spirit, right?"
[20:19]?	Hawkeye scowls at the dragon. "Ignis... y'all better keep your trap shut. Y'all ain't helping." She looks back to the zebra. "Yes, we was hopin' to fix all this so your foals don't have to hide in a cage until they're taught not to ever laugh," the sniper says. "Nobody should have to live like that. And we'll help. Provided Ah don't get drugged again." She looks pointedly at Tramwat.
[20:23]?	Ignis pouts, clearly annoyed and turning from the mare. "I'll help too...but just because there are a few worthwhile zebras on this village."
[20:24]?	Sotho nods. "I will wait to meet with them then."
[20:26]?	Hawkeye touches Knick Knack's shoulder. "Sorry, none of us asked you 'bout that," she says. "Did y'all want to go back?"
[20:28]<SpiritOfFate>	"You never have. If you were, this conversation wouldn't be taking place. We aren't to repeat a mistake. It would be foolish. Speaking of it..." He moves his eyes to Firefly. "This is the spirit that found home in my heart. His voice is my voice and both are the same. It grows to bring ruin to our assailants. It's name is my name for I am his creator and creation."
[20:29]<SpiritOfFate>	Knick Knack seems to hesitate for a moment, but then shakes her head vigorously. "No! Not like that."
[20:29]?	Firefly looks up at Tramwat. "Ooooh. That's cool!" Firefly scrunches her muzzle and thinks for a second. "Is it something only zebra can do?"
[20:31]<SpiritOfFate>	"Only one of us."
[20:32]?	Ignis ears perk up as he listens... "Creator...and creation...?" He parrots. "Does that mean that the two spirits that have been taking their tolls on your village are...creations that run amok and out of control?"
[20:32]?	Hawkeye nods. "All right. If y'all ever feel like we ain't treatin' y'all fair, just let me know," she says. "Ah know Ah ain't the most congenial sort, but Ah aim to treat muh friends fair." The sniper settles back down next to Knack and waits for the next bizarre surprise.
[20:33]?	Firefly crosses her eyes before shaking her head. "So... only one zebra can do it? Or only one per spirit?" Pour silly filly.
[20:35]<SpiritOfFate>	A small crowd of conch bearers move towards the hut, the Silent Council in the middle. M'tat outside spies in curiosity. Tramwat gives way to them.
[20:35]?	Wintergreen remains silent and observing of the conversations.
[20:35]<SpiritOfFate>	"Each of us can only house a spirit, to strenghten us against the devourer."
[20:36]?	Firefly nods her head. "Oh! Its like having a friend to help you out!"
[20:36]?	Hawkeye rests her shotgun against her shoulder. One of these evening's she'll get a proper amount of sleep...
[20:37]?	Sotho looks to the Silent Council. "Hello. I believe I have something to speak to you about."
[20:39]<SpiritOfFate>	The younger conch bearers enter the room, sitting by the walls .Three of them bow to Sotho and go into a meditative pose around him. The Council enters, observing all of you.
[20:40]<Sotho>	"Verity has spoken to me, I believe she is inside that emerald you all have."
[20:40]?	Hawkeye sits back patiently and observes the council right back, carefully watching the interactions of the spirits in the room, as well as the zebras.
[20:44]<SpiritOfFate>	"Avaritia." Says the braided one of the council, stepping ahead. The others surround the emerald bearer behind her
[20:45]?	Ignis sits somewhere and just stares, vastly unamused and wondering if they would ever embark on a quest that didn't involved spirits, at all...from the looks of it, everything on the southern lands was spiritually linked to something...and it quite irked him because it was unfamiliar.
[20:45]?	Firefly sits and looks around, unsure of what is going on.
[20:46]?	Sotho tilts his head, not understanding that if it were a name or a word directed at him
[20:50]<SpiritOfFate>	"That is the oldest name of the Devourer. It offers you the world, so your life will be spent taking it." The braided old zebra says
[20:51]<Sotho>	"What does this mean?" He asks
[20:51]<Hawkeye>	 "Sure, and it's taking over the forest just because it's greedy?" Hawkeye asks.
[20:54]<Ignis>	"I guess that taking the forest is just a collateral to what it wishes....which is to squirm the others for offerings, or force their souls into it..." He remarks lowly, eyeing at the floor.
[20:56]<SpiritOfFate>	"We do not think the Devourer can reach this far. We only hear the pleading voices. Old tales tell of a giant tree, burning in cursed flames. It calls for the shaman, who never come back."
[20:57]<Hawkeye>	 "That big tree with glowy-eyed zebras in it?" Hawkeye asks. "Ah think we saw that on the way in..."
[20:58]<Sotho>	"And where does Verity kick in?"
[21:00]<SpiritOfFate>	"'Verity' is the Devourer, and their curse plague since before we were exiled from the old lands. The Devourer is the reason of our wicked semblance and short lives."
[21:01]<Sotho>	"Is that why she noticed my mark?"
[21:03]?	Hawkeye frowns. "So they ain't the same as that cursed tribe that worked with dark spirits, then?" she says. "No offense, but that's what we was told y'all were. Lucky for y'all, we're here to help, and we're problem solvers." The charcoal pulls her hat down, and a grin takes hold of one corner of her mouth.
[21:05]<SpiritOfFate>	"We are. That was the pact. And through generations we must bear the price of our sin."
[21:06]?	Firefly scratches her head. "So you are bad zebra?"
[21:06]?	Hawkeye shakes her head. "That don't make sense at all. Y'all don't seem like the monsters we were warned about."
[21:07]?	Ignis headtilts "That's what you get for dealing with spirits...but I'd like to know...what you sought to gain from the pact?"
[21:10]<SpiritOfFate>	"We sought strenght, we sought to thrive, or so tell the stories." The serene zebra says with a tinge of shame.
[21:11]<Hawkeye>	"Reasonable," Hawkeye says. "Just y'all went about it the wrong way. Y'all could have just made some friends instead." She hugs Knick Knack and Buck. "They help ya be strong and thrive too, even when y'all don't feel like doin' either."
[21:11]<Sotho>	"Why did she want me to 'free' her from the emerald?"
[21:11]<Ignis>	"Real strenght can only come from within..."
[21:12]<SpiritOfFate>	The bald zebra buck pats her shoulder and takes her place. The braided zebra sets herself in a meditative stance around the emerald bearer.
[21:14]?	Firefly shakes her head at Ignis. "Nu-uh. Real strength is only when you stand up for your friends and stay loyal to them."
[21:14]?	Hawkeye points at Firefly. "What the filly said. For once."
[21:16]?	Ignis grins and pats Firefly. "Yup, that works so much better than a pact..."
[21:17]?	Wintergreen smiles. Firefly, such a good little filly.
[21:17]<SpiritOfFate>	"The bringers of the curse are now long gone. Their motives are unknown to us. But the Devourer wished you..." His eyes stop at Sotho. "To desecrate our rituals, so we would be driven to seize and conquer once again."
[21:19]?	Sotho nods. "And she did promise me strength, so she would have effectivly made me like the legends of your tribe." He sighs. "Why would she seek me? I mean I may be a zebra and have an ability of a shaman, but we have other spirit seers."
[21:19]?	Firefly scratches her head, looking at the zebra. "But...if you don't want to go do bad things, why would you be forced to?"
[21:21]<Sotho>	"Spirits have great power Firefly."
[21:21]?	Firefly looks back at Sotho. "So then we get to beat up a Bad Spirit? Ok! Let me at it!"
[21:22]<Hawkeye>	"More importantly, how can we stop this?" Hawkeye gets up and walks over to the zebras. "What do we do? Go burn that big ol' tree down? Because we DO have a dragon..."
[21:22]?	Ignis also stares at Sotho . "You shouldn't think so little of yoursef, after all...you lived on a deal with that....spiritual abomination...and you keep onto it...it does say something about your spiritual capabilities, after all."
[21:23]<Sotho>	"The spirits are too strong for a whole tribe to combat it, it may be impossible for us."
[21:23]<SpiritOfFate>	"We are born under it's curse. The ritual magic still flows on our blood, so we are stronger, but under the Devourer's power. Our very soul is bare to spirits, but the good ones have forsaken us."
[21:23]<Ignis>	"...which does have a name, thank you vert much."
[21:24]<Hawkeye>	"Ain't plannin' on fightin' spirits, Sotho," Hawkeye says with a smirk. "Ah said we burn the tree down. Not everything has to be done with a pack o' gems and some funny chanting."
[21:24]?	Royal_Lace dose her best to follow around with the spirit talk but... this really wasnt her feild of study at all, but from what she did understand it was obvious why the groups potiential allies wanted to be sure these cursed zebras did not side with there slaver enimies.
[21:24]?	Ignis snaps his fingers. "I agree with miss sharpshooter there."
[21:25]?	Firefly shakes her head at Sotho. "Nuh-uh! Nothing is impossible when you friends to help you out!"
[21:25]?	Wintergreen can't even see spirits! She watches and waits for those more knowledgeable on the subject to make a decision.
[21:29]?	Sotho chuckles and nods. "I suppose so. We have worked to gether to banish a spirit before."
[21:29]<Sotho>	"Ties, your opinion?" He asks his vest.
[21:30]<Hawkeye>	"Only because we had help," Hawkeye reminds Sotho. "And if these zebra help us, Ah bet we can do it again." She looks at the Whispering Council.
[21:32]?	Firefly nods to Sotho and Hawkeye. "Yeah! We had Liberty Dream and Ties and my parents and our friends!"
[21:36]<SpiritOfFate>	"...which zebra are those I hear about?" Ties asks
[21:37]<Sotho>	"The Nnoto. But these ones wish to get rid of the spirit their ancestors brought into their blood."
[21:39]<SpiritOfFate>	"A strong spirit needs a strong ritual... should we ever meet such zebra." Ties says
[21:41]<SpiritOfFate>	M'tat approaches the hut slowly
[21:41]<Hawkeye>	"What about a bunch of 'em working together?" Hawkeye asks. "Could they work together to achieve what one strong shaman could?"
[21:43]<SpiritOfFate>	"We do." The council zebra says. "It is how we silence it. Right now all of our best shamans master the serenity needed to contain it."
[21:44]<Sotho>	"What if we weaken The Devourer?"
[21:45]?	Firefly nods. "Yeah! Though... um... how do you weaken a Spirit? I mean, we made Liberty Dream stronger, but I don't know how to make one weaker."
[21:45]<Hawkeye>	"Or could y'all use your serenity to distract it while we get close enough to deal with it at its source?" Hawkeye puzzles. "This confuses the snot outta me... Oh hey there, short stuff," she says, watching M'tat join the group.
[21:48]<Ignis>	"Like a regular pony...if ponies do not eat as much as they should, they grow weak and frail, its the same with spirits, if we can find a way to stop it from consuming more souls, it would weaken it over time."
[21:49]<Hawkeye>	"Time we, the mudponies, and the Nnoto don't have," Hawkeye says. "What can we do NOW that will stop this mess, or at least put it on the track to bein' solved?"
[21:50]<SpiritOfFate>	"If we could reach out for a good spirit of such strenght, maybe we could break the curse." The zebra says
[21:50]<Ignis>	"Rile another spirits to duke it out for it, of course..."
[21:51]?	Firefly thinks for a minute. "Well... I might know one. Buuuutttt... there is a cost..."
[21:51]<SpiritOfFate>	"M'tat trots closer. One of the younger conch bearers glances at her a bit irritated.
[21:51]?	Sotho looks to Firefly, "What?"
[21:51]<Hawkeye>	"For a good spirit to take interest in y'all, you'd have a lot of makin' up for past sins to do," Hawkeye says, pushing her hat back. "Including your most recent one against us." She looks at Firefly. "Which spirit, half-pint?"
[21:52]?	Firefly waves to M'tat, and then looks back at the lead zebra. "I know a spirit that can help, but you gotta do what I say. Ok?"
[21:52]?	Royal_Lace listens to firefly with interest
[21:56]?	Sotho listens as well
[21:56]?	Firefly smiles and flits up. "You have to have hope!"
[21:58]<SpiritOfFate>	The council zebra observes Firefly silently
[21:59]<Sotho>	"Strengthen Liberty Dream?"
[21:59]?	Firefly nods to the zebras. "You have to be happy and willing to smile, to laugh! You have to hope everything will be better! Only then can Liberty Dream help you!"
[22:00]?	Sotho looks to the zebras. "Well, It could work. This spirit helped us defeat another strong spirit."
[22:00]<Hawkeye>	"Filly ain't wrong," Hawkeye says, tousling Firefly's mane. "Muh Pap used to say that if y'all didn't have hope, y'didn't have nothing at all." She looks at Firefly. "He even taught me a song about it."
[22:00]?	Wintergreen chuckles. Fighting with laughter and a smile? She can get behind that.
[22:00]?	Royal_Lace smiles
[22:00]?	Wintergreen smiles. "Oh, Hawkeye? A song? Perhaps you can teach us... and we can sing along."
[22:02]<Hawkeye>	"Oh, Ah bet y'all will pick it up right quick. Here, half-pint, sing it with me." Hawkeye picks the filly up and puts her on her back. "When your life's in a tizzy and you're wearing a frown / when your world's full of trouble and it's bringing you down / Just remember that things are not as bad as they seem / and dream a little hopeful dream~"
[22:03]?	Ignis shows his tongue and shake shis head just lightly. "Maybe when its daytime and we're not missing on sleep...again..."
[22:05]<Sotho>	"Too late." He whispers to Ignis.
[22:06]<SpiritOfFate>	Two of the conch zebra on the wall look to each other and blink. M'tat smiles and hums along with the song.
[22:07]?	Ignis closes his eyes, releases a sigh and then nods slowly, accepting such fate.
[22:07]?	Wintergreen rolls her eyes at Ignis and nudges his side. She begins to hum along, and gives Ignis a wide smile, hoping he'll do the same.
[22:08]?	Firefly smiles and opens her mouth to sing. "Everywhere everybody needs a neighbor / showing up when times get hard / But there's friends of sons and daughters / walking around without happiness in your backyard / Who doesn't wanna be a hero? / At least a little bit of helping out / There's some things we can't help or change / but that spirit's somethin' we can turn around!"
[22:08]?	Ignis tries to do so, but out of unfamiliarity over the years, all he can offer is a phirric, yellowed smile...and quite nervous at that, it definately doesn't have the effect he wishes to.
[22:10]?	Hawkeye canters over to M'tat and slings the zebra filly up onto her back with Firefly. "Because when you stand together, there's nothing in your way / that you can't beat and forge a brighter day! / It's something to look forward to, something that is always true when counting on your friends!"
[22:10]?	Royal_Lace taps her hooves along to the beat and sways her head a bit, still a bit to unsure to actaully dance to the happy tune
[22:12]<SpiritOfFate>	M'tat hums and bobs her head along.
[22:14]?	Firefly picks up the zebra filly, and starts flying her around, much like she did for Liberty Dream when they first met. Her contrail starts to flicker in the hut, a little glowing stream of fire trailing behind her. "Here's hope / Showin' up at your front door / Here's hope / Yeah what everybody's looking for / Here's your chance to make a difference / Here's your chance to give a helping hoof /...
[22:14]?	Firefly ...There's room in your heart's for one more!"
[22:14]?	Royal_Lace suddenly stands and belts out a lovely improvised verse in her seldomely heard singing voice, her horn flairing at bit as she sings.
[22:17]?	Ignis is tapping a claw...?
[22:17]<Royal_Lace>	There is always help for those who need a helping hoof/ There is no need to stay seperate and act so aloof/ Stand by each other side by side/ and we can stand up against any tide!/ Theres no need to go it alone with friends along for the trip/ Stand up high and know that together there is no way we can slip!
[22:19]<Hawkeye>	"Here's hope / Yeah what everybody's looking for," Hawkeye sings, repeating the chorus. "Here's your chance to make a difference / Here's your chance to give a helping hoof! /There's room in your heart's for one more!"
[22:19]<SpiritOfFate>	Liberty Dream pops into the room
[22:20]?	Wintergreen giggles, nudging Ignis and swaying at his side as she begins to sing, "All we need... is a little smile. / Show it now, just turn up the dial! / Raise your hooves, and show your moves! / Grab a friend, and depend on their smile! / We'll show you now, a new life style... all you need, is a little smile. "
[22:21]?	Firefly flies carrying M'Tat toward Liberty Dream, spiraling around the spirit, and inviting the spirit to fly around with them, singing the refrain: "Here's hope / Yeah what everybody's looking for," Firefly sings, repeating the chorus. "Here's your chance to make a difference / Here's your chance to give a helping hoof! /There's room in your hearts for one more!"
[22:22]?	Hawkeye sings along with Firefly too.
[22:22]?	Royal_Lace trots around Firefly as she zooms around the room. She keeps on singing and swaying her glowing horn with the tune.
[22:22]?	Sotho smiles and starts to sing after Wintergreen. "Clap your hooves and show your life/All you need to do is to help end this Strife./ Can't we all just forget our pastes and work together/ Take hooves with your sister and brother!/"
[22:23]?	Hawkeye encourages everyone to sing together and she pushes her hat back. "So here's hope / Yeah what everybody's looking for / Here's your chance to make a difference / Here's your chance to give a helping hoof! / There's room in your hearts for one more!"
[22:25]?	Sotho sings the chorus, moving next to Royal_Lace and trotting with her.
[22:26]?	Firefly sings the chorus as well, only setting down M'Tat if she wants to be on the ground.
[22:27]?	Ignis snickers as he looks at Wintergreen off to her singing, he coughs up a few times as to settle up his hoarse voice, resting a claw by his chest as he sings too, it wouldn't hurt, after all. "When you dream of a new day/ In a warm embrace to hold into the hopes of tommorow/ All the sadness just flutters away!/ When you simply let your heart go aglow!"
[22:28]?	Hawkeye looks at Ignis, and smiles. Maybe the dragon did get pony logic after all...
[22:29]?	Firefly sings the chorus for the final time. "So here's hope / Yeah what everybody's looking for / Here's your chance to make a difference / Here's your chance to give a helping hoof! / There's room in your hearts for one more!" Firefly flits up in front of Liberty Dream. "Here's Hope... Here's Hope!" And with that, she boops the spirit on the nose.
[22:29]?	Wintergreen smiles and leans over to kiss Ignis' cheek. She only stops singing along for a moment, then goes right back into humming along.
[22:29]<Hawkeye>	"Heeeere's your chance to make a difference," Hawkeye sings to the Whispering Council.
[22:29]<SpiritOfFate>	M'tat opens a big smile landing and joining the chorus with Firefly.
[22:30]?	Ignis just sways right and left, humming as he hears off the song go on...it was stranegly catchy. His tail flickers happily.
[22:32]<SpiritOfFate>	Buck and Knick Knack bob their heads along.
[22:32]<SpiritOfFate>	Liberty Dream giggles flies down to M'tat, landing on her back.
[22:33]<Hawkeye>	"Here's your chance to give a helping hoof, there's room in your heart for one more!" Hawkeye stops, poised triumphantly next to Firefly and the spirit. She's panting a bit, and feels truly happy for the first time in a very long time indeed.
[22:33]<Hawkeye>	Her grin threatens to split her head in half, Devourer or no Devourer.
[22:35]<SpiritOfFate>	M'tat looks back and Liberty Dream boops her, a drop of her light flowing down to M'tat's necklace.
[22:36]?	Sotho smiles happily looking around
[22:36]<SpiritOfFate>	The council zebras look to each other, visibly confused for one.
[22:37]<SpiritOfFate>	Among the shell bearers, quite a few of them smile
[22:39]<SpiritOfFate>	"Who are you?" M'tat asks Liberty Dream
[22:39]?	Firefly looks at the light dropping into the necklace.
[22:40]<SpiritOfFate>	"I'm Liberty Dream. You are nice, lets be friends!" The filly spirit says.
[22:40]<SpiritOfFate>	The council zebra still look confused. "...who is she talking to?"
[22:41]?	Hawkeye pushes her hat back. "And that's why we all can beat your devourer monster," she tells the council. "We got enough hope ta' drive off a legion of bad spirits. Let it come and find out what happens when it tries to eat unbreakable spirits." The sniper holsters her shotgun. She has a feeling she won't be needing it. "Yeah, let's all be friends, and let bygones be bygones," Hawkeye says,...
[22:41]?	Hawkeye ...answering the spirit but looking at the council.
[22:42]?	Firefly claps her hooves together happily, nodding to M'Tat. She looks back up to the council. "Liberty Dream. She brings hope to all the slaves!" She looks over at Liberty Dream. "Are they ok?"
[22:42]?	Sotho looks to the council. "Liberty Dream, the Spirit of Hope, and the first Good spirit that's wanted to bond to your tribe in i'd say about 200 years."
[22:43]?	Royal_Lace looks about the hut, "Oh, is she here? Hello Dear, I hope that everyone back at the scrap yard is alright, and that things are well with the mud ponies"
[22:44]?	Wintergreen pouts, wishing she could see spirits.
[22:45]?	Ignis holds into Wintergreen, not really interested into spirits...as always.
[22:46]?	Wintergreen nuzzles Ignis.
[22:46]<SpiritOfFate>	She frowns a bit. "They are scared because there are big guns everywhere, but they are getting food again. But I know everything is going to get better soon. I can feel it." She smiles again.
[22:46]?	Hawkeye perks up at the mention of big guns. "Somethin' we need to be aware of, or somethin' we could all use?" she asks the spirit.
[22:48]?	Ignis giggles and kisses the tip of Wintergreen's muzzle, cuddling against the mare and rather displaced of whenever the others were dealing.
[22:49]<SpiritOfFate>	"The bad griffin have it, but the big bad pony said they can't afford it, so I don't know." She blinks confused
[22:49]<SpiritOfFate>	The council zebra whisper between them.
[22:50]?	Sotho looks to the zebra. "Miss Dream, is our chance at defeating the Devourer."
[22:51]?	Hawkeye nods. "We need to deal with that robo-griffon too," she says. "Plus, if we can find out more about them cybernetics, we might be able t'use them against him." The sniper shrugs. "Or use 'em ourselves. Whatever helps Firefly get her folks back." She pats the filly's head.
[22:51]?	Firefly nods to Liberty Dream. "Ah, ok." She looks back at the council. "Liberty Dream is the bestest. She'll help us beat up the bad spirit... right Liberty?"
[22:55]<SpiritOfFate>	"Sure!" She smiles
[22:56]?	Firefly prances around M'Tat. "Yeah! We're gonna beat up the bad spirit and be awesome." The filly laughs as she prances around.
[22:57]?	Hawkeye chuckles. "Well, Council o' Whisperin? What's your verdict? Y'all gonna give us a shot, or give up before we try?"
[23:01]<SpiritOfFate>	The council exchanges glances
[23:08]?	Sotho looks to Hawkeye. "I hope they do, they don't have much chance otherwise."
[23:12]<SpiritOfFate>	"We need to prepare." They turn to leave, all of the shell bearers following. "M'tat shall stay. Make sure she learns the chant."
[23:12]<Sotho>	"The song?"
[23:12]?	Hawkeye looks at the council, then shakes her head. "Your people are weird, Sotho. Have Ah ever mentioned that?"
[23:13]<Ignis>	"Its gonna be a looooong night, that's for sure."
[23:13]<SpiritOfFate>	"Yes, that. We shall try it when the sun is at peak."
[23:13]?	Firefly blinks at the council. "Wait, we were supposed to write it down? But I can't write!"
[23:13]?	Sotho looks to Hawkeye. "No, I don't believe so." He laughs. "Hawkeye I used to be a warrior, I found shamans weird." He looks to Firefly. 'Just sing it and we can write it."
[23:14]?	Firefly smiles up to Sotho. "Oh! Ok." It takes her a moment, but Firefly starts to sing so the adults can write down the song.
[23:15]?	Wintergreen has no paper or writing instruments! She looks around. "Does anyone have something to write with...?"
[23:15]?	Sotho looks to his chest for a second, looking worried. He smiles a bit and sits near his bedroll.
[23:16]?	Ignis doesn't have any, but..."All those zebras with charcoal necklaces, I bet they'd be happy to lend us some to write down."
[23:17]?	Firefly stops singing. "Well...does it have to be on paper or a wall? What about the floor?"
[23:18]<SpiritOfFate>	M'tat blinks. "I don't read."
[23:18]?	Sotho looks to Firefly. "Firefly, teach M'tat the song, make sure she remembers all of it."
[23:20]?	Firefly nods to Sotho, starting to walk M'tat  through the song.
[23:22]?	Sotho looks to Hawkeye and nods. "But yes, we are weird. But have you ever thought how weird yor kind are?" He asks. "Random, song."
[23:23]<Hawkeye>	"Mystical spirits most people can't see, that prevent y'all from smiling," Hawkeye counters, bumping him with her hips. "Ah think a lil' song an' dance ain't got nothin' on your level of strange, pardner."
[23:24]<SpiritOfFate>	"It is not dislikable. It was very not dislikable." M'tat say
[23:25]?	Firefly nods to M'tat. "Yeah! Singing is fun!"
[23:26]?	Hawkeye reaches down and hugs the zebra filly. "Well, y'all go and teach it to your friends an' neighbors then," she says. "The more this gets around, the better off we'll all be." Hawkeye lets go and sighs. "Well. While y'all settle down, Ah think Ah need some fresh air." She steps out of the tent.
[23:26]<Sotho>	"Those spirits just are around." He chuckles. "They don't prevent us, just prefer we don't. Not like we have to listen to them."
[23:27]<SpiritOfFate>	3Buck follows her outside.
[23:28]<SpiritOfFate>	========================