Darkest Days Session 2

[2012-09-10 15:59:46] <Ilushia> 12Fallout: Equestria: Darkest Days. Chapter 1: The Drowned City. Session 2 Begins.
[2012-09-10 16:05:55] <Ilushia> 12The heavy rainfall and thunder of the previous night had died down by the time the sun's light strained through thick clouds and cracked windows. A gentle rainfall, or at least gentle for Trottingham, continued to fall across the broken city. Amidst the constant drone of rain smacking against the building a more subtle popping and cracking could be heard as the scent of only
[2012-09-10 16:05:56] <Ilushia> 12slightly over-ripe apples being cooked over a small over-charged space heater filled the room. Outside the doors the quiet movements of ponies awakening from their night's sleep was heard, voices carrying down hallways long-overdue for refurbishing and repair.
[2012-09-10 16:26:06] * Rosemary_Thyme yawns and awakens slowly to a reasonably delicious smell.  Certainly a better one than she had any reason to expect today.
[2012-09-10 16:27:10] * Unnamed_Slave had woken up long before the others, having flown off and returning sometime later. While the others were waking, she was finishing off her work with the makeshift kitchen setup, taking off and turning over the food as needed without so much as a glance at it, placing it on three improvised plates and them on a serving tray.
[2012-09-10 16:27:49] * Eclipse_ woke silently.  You never knew when an inopportune yawn would alert a radgator, or worse, of a potential meal.  Slowly the zebra lifted her head and carefully looked around the ruined fifth floor hotel room before finally sitting up and setting her caravan shot gun aside.  Once on her hooves, the cloaked zebra began a regimine of stretched and twisting,
[2012-09-10 16:29:35] * Rosemary_Thyme gets up and starts putting herself together.
[2012-09-10 16:29:47] <Eclipse_> working out her kinks.  Finally she checked her weapons.  Only then did she take care of less important things.  Slipping her rifle into its sling, she looked at the others and then trotted to the nearest window and entended a battered coffee pot into the gutter.  Then she carefully set it on the heater and began to fill it with leaves, sticks, and wrinkled
[2012-09-10 16:29:54] <Eclipse_> berries.
[2012-09-10 16:30:41] * Unnamed_Slave was already sat in the room holding the tray out to the others, at least as best a pony can with a tray on thier head.
[2012-09-10 16:31:10] * Father_White-Eyes is a long and experienced practitioner of feigning sleep whilst being awake. He rises with Eclipse. "Good morning Eclips'd one, Unnamed one, and beauteous one. How are you all feeling?"
[2012-09-10 16:31:49] <Eclipse_> "Conscious,"  She said as she carefully watched the pot with her sharp lavender eyes.
[2012-09-10 16:32:07] * Father_White-Eyes rolls his neck and elicits some cracks and pops that rival gunfire in their sharpness and volume.
[2012-09-10 16:32:34] * Father_White-Eyes "Ahhh, much better. Been too long since I laid me down to rest."
[2012-09-10 16:33:34] * Eclipse_ starts to reach for her slung shotgun before she looks at the ghoul, a touch perturbed.  "That can not be comfortable."
[2012-09-10 16:33:38] <Ilushia> 12The sounds of ponies walking up and down the halls on the far side of the cracked and peeling doorway was easily heard. Voices carrying conversations through echoing halls and past long-decayed soundproofing. "... he know..." "... drowned after..." "No way, Pipsqueak was..." Just idle morning chatter, the kind one would find in any civilized place in the wastelands.
[2012-09-10 16:35:21] * Father_White-Eyes smiles ghoulishly. "On the contrary, my dear. It is their lacking that is uncomfortable. Old bones much used and then given rest require stretching after a good sleep. I saw you stretching, you know what I mean."
[2012-09-10 16:37:36] * Eclipse_ just shrugs and then carefully takes the steaming pot of the heater.  Then she poured a cup of the frothy reddish brown contents into a cracked coffee cup before gulping half of it down and sighing with a smile.  The tattooed zebra sighed in delight.  "Taka dahl schaloosh..."
[2012-09-10 16:39:42] <Ilushia> 12The smell of fried apples fills the small room, drifting through the air from the three plates of food made by the still-unnamed slave. The hallway outside seems to have cleared of voices, by now. The quiet of just-post-waking-up hours filling the place.
[2012-09-10 16:42:53] * Unnamed_Slave tilts an ear, should anyone look at her head under the tray, but she otherwise remains silent.
[2012-09-10 16:43:21] * Rosemary_Thyme smiles brightly to Unnamed_Slave.  "That smells *delicious*.  Thank you!  You're very kind."
[2012-09-10 16:45:30] * Eclipse_ frowns and looks took the door.  She draws her shot gun slowly and moves to stand besides the door.
[2012-09-10 16:45:31] * Rosemary_Thyme looks at the servings.  "But, dear, where's yours?"
[2012-09-10 16:45:33] * Father_White-Eyes snorfles loudly and unnervingly /wetly./ "That smells like fried apples. None for me, thanks. I find my state of being requires more immaterial sources of sustenance. Also I haven't had tastebuds for more than a century."
[2012-09-10 16:47:32] * Unnamed_Slave is still rather quiet, merely keeping her head down.
[2012-09-10 16:49:58] <Ilushia> 12A thumping comes from down the hall, not far away, quite loud infact. Followed by a voice. "Oi! That bint 'o owes me in there? I know she's 'round here somewhere!" Another voice answers, but its words aren't clear through two separate layers of walls. Evidently it's enough for whomever's making the demands as there's the sound of hooves on the flooring in the hall again, getting
[2012-09-10 16:49:58] <Ilushia> 12closer.
[2012-09-10 16:50:39] * Rosemary_Thyme blinks.  "Ah.  My mistake," she insists.  "I didn't realize the good doctor didn't have an appetite like living ponies.  My knowledge of ghouls is deplorably lacking."
[2012-09-10 16:52:08] * Eclipse_ checks her shotgun to make sure it's loaded.  "I would have enjoyed a second cup of Schaloosh...."  She said as she clacks the caravan shotgun closed and pressed against the wall besides the door, adopting that freaky zebra stance.
[2012-09-10 16:52:16] * Rosemary_Thyme turns to the unnamed mare, "Well, then, three servings is perfect..."  A colorful field of energy enwraps each meal, floating them to set one down beside the zebra, one beside Rosemary, and the final in front of the servant.
[2012-09-10 16:52:58] * Unnamed_Slave just looks at the serving and picks it up, then carries it to the ghoul.
[2012-09-10 16:53:37] * Father_White-Eyes stands in another deplorable cacophony of tremendous snaps, crackles, and pops. "Again, none for me miss. And not to worry my dear, the smell is still a delight to my slowly-failing senses. I'm going to see what the rowdy one is going on about. Back in a tick."
[2012-09-10 16:54:01] <Eclipse_> As father approaches the door she shakes her head.  "Let them enter, and be ready."
[2012-09-10 16:56:12] * Father_White-Eyes 's stride falters. "Ah... as you say then." He unholsters his revolver and cocks the hammer.
[2012-09-10 16:56:27] <Ilushia> 12The sound of a wheeled cart squeaking up the hallway alongside hoof-falls was easy to hear. A moment later a loud set of bangs on the door to the quartet's room resounded. "OI! This 'ere's th' last o' th' rooms wit' doors still closed. I know that bint's in there! 'er owners shorted me what they owed, now she's gotta pay! 'oo in there!?" Another loud smack of a hoof against
[2012-09-10 16:56:28] <Ilushia> 12the door.
[2012-09-10 16:57:36] * Rosemary_Thyme sighs.  Picking up her own meal in a field of magic, she trots over to the unnamed one.  "It's all right, dear.  The father, being dead, is not hungry.  Which is fortunate, as you now have a serving of your own.  Please, eat.  I can't have..."  She pauses, unsure how to phrase things.  She cannot and will not treat this mare as a slave...
[2012-09-10 16:57:37] * Eclipse_ looks at the father and nods to him, then nods to the door as she moves a little further back and raises the shotgun.
[2012-09-10 16:57:49] * Unnamed_Slave had left the serving near where the ghoul had stood and had lay down quietly in the corner, it was pretty clear she wasn't going to eat anything, though for what reason is anyones guess.
[2012-09-10 16:59:26] * Rosemary_Thyme knows that would not be right.  Nor proper.  But... "I won't have a servant of mine going hungry while my own belly is full."  She gives a little stomp of insistence, then floats the neglected serving over to the corner.  She follows it with her own, sitting next to the mare and beginning to eat.
[2012-09-10 17:03:22] * Father_White-Eyes stands and to the side of the door, in the blind spot when it opens inwards, nods to Eclipse, and gently opens the door with his magic.
[2012-09-10 17:08:05] <Ilushia> 12Another round of pounding on the door. "Oi! If 'oo don' open up in 'ere I'm gonna 'ave t' do somethin' we'll all regret! I just want to talk 'bout what 'at little fuck owes me! 'oo understand? Now open up in 'ere!" THe sound of squeaking wheels was heard again as something in the hallway moved. The voice was decidedly not happy. As the door finally clicks and swings open the
[2012-09-10 17:08:05] <Ilushia> 12group can see a not-so-elderly stallion standing in the doorframe, wearing a rather weather-beaten survivalist outfit. He steps in just far enough to spot one of Father_White-Eyes's back legs peeking out from behind the door and stops, eyes tracing towards the nameless slave in the corner. "'ere's th' blighter! 'oo owe me f'r th' trip!"
[2012-09-10 17:09:27] * Father_White-Eyes steps into view, deciding to leave his revolver out of sight behind the door for now. "Slow down sir, what's the matter? This one owes you money? How much? What for?"
[2012-09-10 17:09:37] <Unnamed_Slave> "I... do? But... didn't they pay you in advance?"
[2012-09-10 17:10:34] * Rosemary_Thyme nickers, ears laying back.  "We are having a meal here.  You are being very impolite.  Now, would you care to come in?  I can brew us up some tea, and we can have a friendly chat about what the Steel Rangers owe you."
[2012-09-10 17:11:51] * Unnamed_Slave spoke quietly to Rosemary "He's lying."
[2012-09-10 17:12:10] * Rosemary_Thyme nods primly.
[2012-09-10 17:14:13] <Ilushia> 12The stallion snorts again. "Yah, f'r th' tip on 'ere t' find th' t'ing 'ey're looking for! I 'as supposed t' be paid 'en th' job 'as done, if it paid off! I know you found somethin' in th' building there. Now you owe me f'r th' trip and they never paid. So anything you found in 'ere goes t' me!" He looks up towards Rosemary_Thyme, "Th' rangers? 'at d' th' Rangers care 'bout
[2012-09-10 17:14:14] <Ilushia> 12some bint slave 'oo's masters got 'eir fool selves eaten by radigators!?"
[2012-09-10 17:14:38] * Father_White-Eyes blinks
[2012-09-10 17:15:09] * Father_White-Eyes stage whispers to Rosemary_Thyme "I don't suppose you understood what he just said? No? Me neither."
[2012-09-10 17:16:24] * Rosemary_Thyme takes a dainty bite of her food.  Smiles, savoring.  "This really is good," she says to the mare next to her.  "Now eat.  Please."
[2012-09-10 17:17:25] * Unnamed_Slave turns her head away slightly, it's getting clear from her body language that she won't eat until everyone 'above' her, so to speak, has clearly finished thier share.
[2012-09-10 17:18:04] <Unnamed_Slave> Eat before feeding your pets, they'll see you as the dominant one and will wait until you've eaten before taking thier turn.
[2012-09-10 17:19:41] <Ilushia> 12The fanboat driver gets an annoyed, well more annoyed, expression as he steps further into the room. He's pulling some kind of cart around behind him, looks like it's got some stuff he brought back from the ruins or something. Odd that he'd drag it all the way up here. He speaks to Father_White-Eyes, slowly with careful dictation this time. "She. Owes. Me. For. The. Trip. I.
[2012-09-10 17:19:41] <Ilushia> 12Want. What. She. Found. In. The. Ruins. As. Payment. 'at clear 'nough for 'oo, zombie pony?"
[2012-09-10 17:19:58] * Rosemary_Thyme then turns to the stranger, and with a calm, cool tone: "This pegasus is now serving the House of Thyme within the Steel Rangers.   As such, Steel Rangers are responsible for her.  And as this is my house, you are to address any claims you have to me."
[2012-09-10 17:22:40] * Rosemary_Thyme eats a little more, savoring the most pleasant aspects of the taste.  Looking to the mare, she whispers, "I understand the orders you have been given before.  But you work for me now, and I want you to enjoy the meal before it cools."  She takes another nibble.  "Wee, I have begin eating.  You may join in the meal."
[2012-09-10 17:22:58] * Unnamed_Slave begins looking back and forth as though reading... or watching something, she seemed to be copying the drivers accent and the accent of one of her owners, to the detectives of the group, as she back and forths.
[2012-09-10 17:25:04] <Unnamed_Slave> "Well, this item is of particular interest to us, so instead how about I pay you in a bundle of caps instead?" "How much are we talking about here?" "How about five hundred?" "Double that and you might have a deal." "One thousand five hundred." "Deal! You can keep your junk if you pay me right here and now." "Here you go then, 'sir'." "Enjoy your trip!"
[2012-09-10 17:25:34] * Father_White-Eyes smiles toothily at the intruder. "Oh, I heard you plenty clear. I just wanted to be sure that you were as dumb as you sounded. Now I humbly request you take your issue to my dear friend Rosemary_Thyme, who speaks for all of us in this matter."
[2012-09-10 17:26:09] * Unnamed_Slave drops out of her sort of 'trance' and settles back down, laying her head on the ground.
[2012-09-10 17:27:40] * Rosemary_Thyme listens to the mare recite.  Then turns her attention to her meal, sipping at the juices.   Only once she is done does she acknowledge to the driver again.  "What she found is the property of the Steel Rangers.  So you are demanding Our property in payment.  And for services that if would seem you have already been paid for, at that."
[2012-09-10 17:28:11] * Rosemary_Thyme gives a humorless smile.  "Perhaps you might wish to rethink your demands."
[2012-09-10 17:31:44] <Ilushia> 12The stallion glares at the unnamed slave, the kind of angry death-glare which just screams 'no one was supposed to know about that!'. "'at 'r yuh talkin' 'bout? Yuh crazy bint, 'ey ne'er paid me! 'n now 'm here ta collect!" He stomps a forehoof. "'m not afraid of no pansy-ass Steel Ranger 'oo comes inta my 'ome 'n starts actin' like 'ey run th' place! She owes me 'n 'at's 'at.
[2012-09-10 17:31:45] <Ilushia> 12If she won't pay 'en I'll 'ave t' get nasty." He glares back at Rosemary_Thyme, "'n 'at 'ood be regrettable."
[2012-09-10 17:32:00] * Father_White-Eyes pre-emptively floats out his revolver from behind the door, out of line of sight of the intruding pony.
[2012-09-10 17:40:05] * Eclipse_ moves the gun, eyes hard as agate, to aim right at the base of his neck as she watches him like an hanging sword of damoclese.
[2012-09-10 17:40:22] * Father_White-Eyes has decided that this has gone on long enough. He sticks the barrel of his revolver down the ear of the intruder. "Are you really sure you want to start something, sir? You are outnumbered, I have a revolver to your head, and we have you cold. If you start something, Miss Rosemary Thyme is going to need to do laundry because /your brains are going to get splattered all over her pretty...
[2012-09-10 17:40:22] * Father_White-Eyes ...dress./ You don't want to make laundry work for her, do you?"
[2012-09-10 17:40:26] * Rosemary_Thyme raises an eyebrow.  "Regrettable?  Stallion, you don't have the slightest idea what regrettable is."  She telekinetically sets her empty dish aside and stands up.  "I will not lift a hoof against you.  But I will stand between you and my servant..."
[2012-09-10 17:41:26] * Rosemary_Thyme scowls, continuing, "You will not get to her unless you first assault a Scribe of the Steel Rangers.  In a public place.  With with witnesses.  And that, good stallion, would be the definition of 'regrettable'."
[2012-09-10 17:43:48] * Rosemary_Thyme never raises her voice, her words cuttingly even and calm.  "We have magically powered armor, the best arsenal in this city, and a very fierce code of loyalty.  We do not suffer those who attack our own.  There would be no safe place for you in Trottingham anymore.  Or in the lands adjacent.  You would be hunted down like a radroach."
[2012-09-10 17:44:56] * Rosemary_Thyme lets a thin smile form on her muzzle.  "In fact, your only chance of survival would probably be that boat of yours.  I do hope it is fast.  Because I guarentee Ours are more heavily armed and armored."
[2012-09-10 17:45:31] <Ilushia> 12The stallion freezes in place as the feeling of metal slips into his ear, staring at Father_White-Eyes with an angry look. The demands about killing him had at least stopped his angry tirade. "Oi, w'at? I wasn' gonna hurt nopony. I jus' want 'at I 'as owed." He slowly seems to be calming down at least, giving somewhat more nervous looks towards the others. It seems whatever he
[2012-09-10 17:45:31] <Ilushia> 12was planning wasn't going quite the way he expected. The slave had made friends entirely too fast. Dangerous ones at that. He finally gives a quiet 'tch'. "'en 'oo better take good care o' 'er. If 'at she found 's 'at I 'ink it is, 'oo'll 'ave lots o' company."
[2012-09-10 17:48:15] <Eclipse_> "And what is it you think she's found?" Eclipse said softly above the mouthgrip as she stood in the freaky zebra stance, ready to end him if need be.
[2012-09-10 17:48:54] * Father_White-Eyes grinned wider. Even his eyes had teeth. "Very considerate of you sir. I'd hate for you to cause Miss Thyme any bother. We thank you for the warning. Now, be the gentlepony I know you were taught to be and take your sorry hide out of here without causing any more ruckus."
[2012-09-10 17:51:04] <Eclipse_> "One moment," she said calmly.  "What do you think she's found?"
[2012-09-10 17:53:55] <Ilushia> 12The stalliion gives Father_White-Eyes another death glare, just before the voice of Eclipse shocks him out of it. His vision moving in that direction for the first time to find the shotgun pointed down at him. Despite his... Rather less than good position, he wasn't losing his cool as badly as one might think. "'at's for yuh t' figure out on yer own, starstripes." He snorts
[2012-09-10 17:53:56] <Ilushia> 12again and begins backing away from the room, keeping his eyes on those within. "'at slave might know. 'n I know some others 'oo do. Yuh better watch out."
[2012-09-10 18:00:53] <Eclipse_> "The stars speak against mercy for you.  Go," Eclipse said softly keeping her gun trained on him till he was out on the room.  Then she closed the door with her tail.  "This bodes ill." she said as she stepped away from the door, sitting and hugging her shotgun.
[2012-09-10 18:02:18] <Ilushia> 12There was a brief pause and the sound of angry muttering on the other side of the door before the squeaking of the cart moved away from the room down the hallway again.
[2012-09-10 18:04:14] * Father_White-Eyes pulls the trigger on his revolver and the hammer snaps down— onto an empty chamber. Flicking it open, he loads a cartridge into the empty chamber and re-holsters it. "It bodes /something/, but I don't know for good or ill. "
[2012-09-10 18:05:20] <Eclipse_> "There will be trouble, for this."  She looked at the pegasus.  "She is, or found, something valuable.  Others will be after her for it.  If that one thinks so, so will others."
[2012-09-10 18:07:43] * Father_White-Eyes muses. "Would have been nice to find out what he knew that we don't... but I suppose we could always get the truth straight from the pony's mouth." He turns his attention to Unnamed_Slave. "Would you care to enlighten us?"
[2012-09-10 18:08:37] * Rosemary_Thyme nods.  "I suspect our best course is to make my threat less of a bluff.  Take whatever she found to the Steel Rangers..."
[2012-09-10 18:10:43] * Eclipse_ turns her hard eyes to Noname.  "If there was a time to speak honestly with us, this is it."
[2012-09-10 18:10:58] * Rosemary_Thyme adds, "...Once it is in their hooves, anypony looking to take it is facing a whole different fight."
[2012-09-10 18:12:31] * Unnamed_Slave kept her mouth shut and eyes averted, but somewhere inside her head, logic was at work. She'd been sent to retrieve a box by her owners, for her owners, so, by that logic.... She turns and walks to the corner she slept in and retrieves a box, alongside the small pouch that fell from her clothes and holds them to Rosemary. By her logic, both these items now belonged to
[2012-09-10 18:12:32] * Unnamed_Slave her.
[2012-09-10 18:20:35] * Father_White-Eyes raises an eyebrow. "Intriguing. That's old-world security, for old-world treasures. And very strong security at that. I doubt anypony would be able to get into that without the key, those boxes are supposed to be bomb-proof. Impressive engineering. Very sturdy."
[2012-09-10 18:23:04] <Eclipse_> "Interesting... the stars confound and laugh at our bafflement..." she muttered darkly, eyes narrowing on the case.
[2012-09-10 18:27:18] * Father_White-Eyes "I rather think the stars have more pressing things to do that interfere with the piddling and minor affairs of mortals. At least, the affairs of mortals that don't go out of the way to get their attentions."
[2012-09-10 18:29:07] * Father_White-Eyes goes on. "It's from the First Equestrian Bank branch building in the Trottingham ruins, if anypony cares. Whatever's in that most likely dates to back before the war."
[2012-09-10 18:29:26] <Eclipse_> "You have no idea..." she muttered absently, the tattooed mare rubbing her nose.  "If that is so, who has the key, I wonder?"
[2012-09-10 18:35:03] * Father_White-Eyes throws logic at the problem. "These boxes can't be blasted open and still meaningfully resemble themselves, and the locks are designed to be so radically different as to require a special and unique key. They're useless without one. So if somepony went to the trouble of getting this strongbox, then presumably that pony has or can get access to the key as well. So the question is... Nom de...
[2012-09-10 18:35:03] * Father_White-Eyes ...Plume, where's the key?"
[2012-09-10 18:36:40] * Rosemary_Thyme stares at the items, then smiles to the mare.  "Thank you."  She reaches up and gives the mare a kind stroke of her mane.  Turning to the others, "I still say the best place for this is Steel Rangers Manor."
[2012-09-10 18:38:24] <Eclipse_> "Yes, because the aristocrats clearly own everything remotely valuable," Eclipse said with a sarcastic tone and a roll of her eyes.
[2012-09-10 18:40:41] * Father_White-Eyes sighs. "It takes one to know one, my dear. I was an aristocrat. I actually used to have one of these boxes myself, long before the war started. Donated every bit in it to the Ministry of Peace when I joined up."
[2012-09-10 18:41:56] <Eclipse_> "Then you agree that just because somepony claims to have lineage it does not make them inherently superior to others?" She asked coolly, brow cocked.
[2012-09-10 18:44:37] * Father_White-Eyes counters. "I rather thought that was implied by what I just said, was it not? Back when the war was just getting started, there was a Prance term that society threw around a lot, 'noblesse oblige'. And when I say there was a lot of talk about it, I mean exactly that; very few of them actually joined the war effort. I was one of them."
[2012-09-10 18:44:38] <Unnamed_Slave> "Would you like me to find your key as well?" She asked Rosemary.
[2012-09-10 18:47:05] * Rosemary_Thyme sighs, looking to Eclipse.  "It's not a matter of lineage.  The Steel Rangers have the firepower and fortifications to defend against whomever wants this so badly that they threatened us."
[2012-09-10 18:48:35] <Eclipse_> "Good.  It is not the blood in one's veins which matters, but the actions of one's hooves," she said simply, looking to Rosemary.  "One would certainly hope, else the stars shall laugh mightily indeed."  She looked at the pegasus.  "I suspect if she can, it would be best to let her do so.  A treasure that can not be sought by others is one we will not be
[2012-09-10 18:48:43] <Eclipse_> killed for."
[2012-09-10 18:49:58] * Father_White-Eyes comically inspects his foreleg. "I have blood in my veins? That's news to me! Looks like they still work though, so no harm no foul."
[2012-09-10 18:57:20] * Rosemary_Thyme chuckles politely, then looks to the mare.  "Do you know where the key is?"
[2012-09-10 18:58:09] <Unnamed_Slave> "Yes. My previous owners husband kept it on a chain around his neck."
[2012-09-10 18:58:30] * Rosemary_Thyme nods.  "In that case, please lead us to it."
[2012-09-10 18:59:19] * Unnamed_Slave picks up the things she was carrying and Rosemarys belongings, securing them to her back before moving out.
[2012-09-10 19:00:26] * Eclipse_ slugs down the dregs of her drink, tosses the rest out the window, and packs it in her saddlebags before following, tugging the cloak over her face once more.
[2012-09-10 19:01:57] * Rosemary_Thyme follows closely.
[2012-09-10 19:02:48] <Unnamed_Slave> "We would need to catch that boat. I... wasn't on the deck to see where we were going."
[2012-09-10 19:04:04] <Ilushia> 12The halls of the fifth floor seem to be abandoned. But the distant sound of movement and talking can be heard drifting from the lower floors, very faintly. It seems the market is in full swing with the storm having weakened during the night.
[2012-09-10 19:04:33] <Eclipse_> "I see.  This is unfortunate.  I suspect he will not be accomidating." she said as she moved along quietly.
[2012-09-10 19:05:54] * Rosemary_Thyme frowns a little.  That may be a problem.
[2012-09-10 19:07:40] * Unnamed_Slave just hangs her head.
[2012-09-10 19:11:10] <Ilushia> 12A short trip down the stairs to the marketplace lead them into a throng of ponies. While not the largest settlement in the wasteland, this was still one of the largest in Trottingham, perhaps the largest outside Buckingham Castle. Ponies move and trade and swap stories. Amongst the madness the nameless slave spots the familiar form of the fanboat driver setting up a small cart
[2012-09-10 19:11:10] <Ilushia> 12to sell out of. He still seemed unhappy, at the moment trying to get one of the wheels on his cart to sit straight. He hadn't noticed the group yet, at least.
[2012-09-10 19:11:27] * Rosemary_Thyme also takes the money pouch and tucks it away, levitating her Scribe's robes and cloak, dressing herself as she follows.
[2012-09-10 19:12:21] * Rosemary_Thyme looks to the ghoul.  "Father, do you have any suggestions on how we should handle this?"
[2012-09-10 19:14:11] <Eclipse_> "With money?" Eclipse suggestly dryly.  "Violence works too, but is generally frowned upon.  Even for aristocrats."
[2012-09-10 19:16:14] * Father_White-Eyes grins, but manages not to leer. "Yes, I have a suggestion. Let's ask him with our business. He took the last group out there, he can take us to the same place, for a fair price even."
[2012-09-10 19:17:12] * Rosemary_Thyme nods but frowns.  Turning to the mare, "How much was the fair to head there last time?"
[2012-09-10 19:17:52] <Rosemary_Thyme> (fare)
[2012-09-10 19:20:25] <Unnamed_Slave> "Um... My owners paid him... Four thousand five hundred caps."
[2012-09-10 19:20:39] <Unnamed_Slave> That was including the extra to let them keep thier treasure.
[2012-09-10 19:21:20] <Unnamed_Slave> Which should be obvious to the pair of brainy ponies.
[2012-09-10 19:21:22] * Eclipse_ disappears into the crowd, just another rain slicked cloak.
[2012-09-10 19:23:16] * Father_White-Eyes scowels. "An unfair fare then. I suppose trying for a ballistic discount is out of the option. Or at least, I don't want to play /that/ card again so soon. We need to find out another way."
[2012-09-10 19:32:57] * Rosemary_Thyme agrees.
[2012-09-10 19:37:41] <Ilushia> 12The pony doesn't seem to have noticed Eclipse, or the others for that matter, yet. He kicks the wheel on the cart to get it to sit straight and finally moves around to haul up what looks to be a pre-war cash register to a position he can get at on the side of the cart.
[2012-09-10 19:52:26] <Eclipse_> A mare whispers out of the crowd into Father's ear.  "Distract him.  He has the key."
[2012-09-10 19:53:54] * Father_White-Eyes mutters quietly at thin air. "I just stuck a gun in his ear. I'm really the wrong pony to ask to do this."
[2012-09-10 19:55:35] <Ilushia> 12It is perhaps notable that even after he has the shop up, few of the locals are coming buy to actually buy anything. infact, most of them seem to be giving him a fairly wide berth. Maybe he just isn't well liked?
[2012-09-10 20:03:39] * Father_White-Eyes meanders to Rosemary_Thyme and mutters quietly, "Eclipse needs somepony to distract the boat driver. I can't do it, I've already stuck a gun in his ear. Would you please do it?"
[2012-09-10 20:08:37] =-= Arcane_Scroll is now known as Arcane_Scroll[A]
[2012-09-10 20:21:42] * Rosemary_Thyme nods to Father_White-Eyes.  "I'm reluctant to even converse with him again.  But I suppose it is our best option."  She girds herself.  "Wish me luck."
[2012-09-10 20:22:13] * Father_White-Eyes nods, "Break a leg."
[2012-09-10 20:23:44] * Rosemary_Thyme strolls purposefully towards the shop, trying to ignore the strange distance everypony gives i.
[2012-09-10 20:23:49] <Rosemary_Thyme> (it).
[2012-09-10 20:24:05] * Unnamed_Slave just follows quietly.
[2012-09-10 20:24:11] <Ilushia> 12The stallion was standing rather boredly near his cart as Rosemary_Thyme approached. Her appearance set him more than a little on edge to say the least, watching her carefully. "Funny 'ing seein' yuh down 'ere. Somethin' I can help yuh with?" His tone had all the indications of not wanting her to be there, and he wasn't taking his eyes off her.
[2012-09-10 20:25:15] * Rosemary_Thyme levels a gaze at her.  "Indeed.  I am here to inquire about the deaths of my servant
[2012-09-10 20:25:21] * Rosemary_Thyme levels a gaze at her.  "Indeed.  I am here to inquire about the deaths of my servant's former masters."
[2012-09-10 20:26:36] * Rosemary_Thyme states flatly, "I wish to know why, and how, they died."
[2012-09-10 20:30:08] <Ilushia> 12He snorts dismissively. "Bloody posh yanks. Idjits. Come all the way from Manehattan wi'out even understanding th' way th' city works." He shook his head and looked exceedingly irritated at the idea of being questioned about it. "'ey decided t' take pot-shots at th' blasted radigators! Idjits nearly got my boat flipped!" He looks up as Eclipse tries to take the key from its
[2012-09-10 20:30:08] <Ilushia> 12place on the cart. "Oi! Git away from there, starstripes! Yuh've got t' pay fer that!"
[2012-09-10 20:33:27] * Eclipse_ flails and lands on her face next to the cart.  She slowly rises to her hooves and takes a nice slow breath.  "Fine then.  You want me to pay for that key?  Very well then.  I will make you two, and only two offers.  One, you accept our price of three hundred caps; what the pegasus was carrying when she joins us.  Or two..."  And she dug in her saddle bag
[2012-09-10 20:34:48] <Eclipse_> and put one rifle round on the cart and two shotgun shells besides it.  "I will pay you with these.  You have the key we need, and I have no objection to waiting until you leave here to put one between your eyes or the others into the back of your head.  Now which would you prefer?"
[2012-09-10 20:34:51] * Rosemary_Thyme frowns, not liking where this was going.  The zebra's bartering skills left much to be desired.
[2012-09-10 20:35:40] * Rosemary_Thyme facehoofs as the shells are brought out.
[2012-09-10 20:41:00] * Rosemary_Thyme takes a deep breath, then gives the merchant a weary smile.  "Why don't I purchase the key?  That will leave me to negotiate with the zebra over it, and leave you out of the mess."  She shakes her head.  "As for the posh yanks, I'm truly not bloody surprised.  But considering your mention of many others who might have an eye for certain properties..."
[2012-09-10 20:41:33] * Rosemary_Thyme concludes, "...it seemed to warrant investigation into the possibility of foul play by such parties."
[2012-09-10 20:42:27] * Eclipse_ grits her teeth and sweeps the rounds into her bag.  "Yes stars.  I know.  Shooting him would have expedited SO much rather than showing him mercy...."
[2012-09-10 20:45:55] <Unnamed_Slave> "Um..."
[2012-09-10 20:48:07] * Unnamed_Slave looked like she had something to say, but quickly stopped herself speaking out of place.
[2012-09-10 20:48:16] <Ilushia> 12The stallion looks at Eclipse like she's completely lost her mind. Threatening in an open area with attack with a lethal weapon? Admittedly most of the surrounding ponies hadn't taken much notice. Some crazy zebra negotiating with an unlikeable local was odd, but hardly unheard of. He looks up towards Rosemary with irritation. "Look, lady. Yuh want to make 'n offer, then feel
[2012-09-10 20:48:17] <Ilushia> 12free. But yer crazy friend 'ere's a fucking nutcase. 'ere's a reason most ponies stay away from starstripes o'er there." He shook his head. "Yuh want th' key, yuh'll 'ave t' pay me for it. One thousand caps."
[2012-09-10 20:50:15] * Eclipse_ left eye twitches.  Indeed looks as if she is quite close to the whole mind losing thing.
[2012-09-10 20:51:29] * Father_White-Eyes sidles up to Unnamed_Slave. "You were about to say something, Nom de Plume? Go on..."
[2012-09-10 20:51:55] * Rosemary_Thyme frowns.  "I only met her yesterday.  Although I must say, I already like her a lot more than you.  One thousand caps is outrageous.  I'll pay you a hundred to take it off your hooves."
[2012-09-10 20:53:19] * Rosemary_Thyme turns to the mare next to her, "Please, let us here what you wish to say."
[2012-09-10 20:54:51] <Unnamed_Slave> "There's something strange. The key was around my former owners husbands neck. But if he were consumed, how can the key be here? It takes an average of 75 hours 43 minutes for a metallic object to pass through the body of an average sized radigator."
[2012-09-10 20:57:33] * Rosemary_Thyme turns back to the merchant and levels a gaze.
[2012-09-10 20:59:59] <Ilushia> 12Looks down to the nameless slave, glaring at her more than just a little. As the others gather closer to him. He was feeling more safe here than in their room, at least. But this was not going well at all. The words which the nameless slave spoke made him obviously more nervous. Glancing back and forth between her and Rosemary. He swallows nervously and tries to laugh it off.
[2012-09-10 20:59:59] <Ilushia> 12"Hah. I... I just killed 'em and gutted 'em 'fore they could git away. Yuh want the key? Seven hundred caps..." He was obviously not very happy about the information on the key being revealed. Some of the other ponies nearby were pausing in their trading to watch as the conversation gained volume.
[2012-09-10 21:01:06] * Father_White-Eyes unholsters his pistol and begins playing with it. "I'm not so sure... I think a counter-offer is in order now that we know what you did..."
[2012-09-10 21:02:10] * Unnamed_Slave leans forward and sniffs the key.
[2012-09-10 21:02:22] * Rosemary_Thyme nods.  "I agree.  Now the offer is that you pay us 100 caps to take it off your hooves."
[2012-09-10 21:04:02] <Eclipse_> "Or tonight I kill you and we save a hundred caps."
[2012-09-10 21:04:47] <Unnamed_Slave> "Um... the key doesn't smell like it was eaten. It smells like blood..."
[2012-09-10 21:05:24] * Father_White-Eyes has been spinning the cylinder on his pistol. Now he's cocked the hammer with an audible and distinctive click.
[2012-09-10 21:05:27] * Rosemary_Thyme scowls at the zebra.  "No.  You will do no such thing.  We are civilized ponies."
[2012-09-10 21:05:52] <Eclipse_> "Yes.  You are."  She said simply, not taking her eyes off the merchant.
[2012-09-10 21:06:38] * Rosemary_Thyme cautions, "And you will be to."
[2012-09-10 21:07:19] * Rosemary_Thyme amends, "There are three ways to play this.  First, he pays us to take the key, and we leave..."
[2012-09-10 21:08:53] * Rosemary_Thyme counts, "Second, I arrest him under suspicion of foul play.  We confiscate the key and anything else in his shop that might be considered evidence.  He can plead his innocence to the Steel Rangers."
[2012-09-10 21:10:44] * Rosemary_Thyme hoof-taps with each count, "Third, as much as I dislike the idea, we could simple wait and deal with whomever has the key next."  She looks to the mare beside her.  "Remind us what he said about others knowing about the treasure in question?"
[2012-09-10 21:11:16] * Unnamed_Slave sat up straight and repeated his words to the letter.
[2012-09-10 21:13:44] <Ilushia> 12Continues to look more nervous at the unnamed mare's words. "Shhh!" Trying to silence her with a hoof and a nervous smile. "'at's not true. I killed th' radigators m'self." He shuffled his hooves nervously a few moments. "Don' yuh get 'ose bloody iron-hoofed tyrants involved in this." His voice was already cracking and breaking under the strain. He definitely was not calm and
[2012-09-10 21:13:45] <Ilushia> 12collected at this point, even without the threats of death. By this point more and more of the surrounding individuals were gathering closer as the conversation gained steam. Softer whispers were passing around about the stallion's origins and the question about where he came from. He nervously stammers. "D-don' be silly. I... I wouldn't k-kill someponies f-for what they own. I've
[2012-09-10 21:13:45] <Ilushia> 12got a job 'ere!"
[2012-09-10 21:14:10] <Ilushia> 12He looked like he was about ready to break down entirely at this point as the crowd was gathering around closer.
[2012-09-10 21:16:12] <Eclipse_> "Right.  I'm going for a walk."  She said as she headed for the exit.  "I want to have a look at his boat.  I wonder if it's bulletproof or not.  If I can't shoot him..." she said as she headed for the door.
[2012-09-10 21:17:19] * Rosemary_Thyme frowns.  "Your story about how they died does not match the evidence.  You made threats against the surviving member of the expedition.  And you have made your motives perfectly clear."
[2012-09-10 21:18:06] <Ilushia> 12The stallion's eyes get wider as Eclipse threatens his boat. "H-hey! You can't do 'at, starstripes! 's private property!"
[2012-09-10 21:18:09] * Rosemary_Thyme nods to Eclipse.  "Yes, please check the boat for further evidence regarding this."
[2012-09-10 21:19:07] * Rosemary_Thyme adds, "But don't sink it.  The Steel Rangers will want to impound it as evidence.  And possibly as the crime scene."
[2012-09-10 21:19:34] * Eclipse_ turns and smiles at the stallion.  "Either come and stop me so I can defend myself to your death, or give her the key and me something else to occupy my time and attention.  Bye!"  she said cheerfully as she stepped out into the rain.
[2012-09-10 21:20:05] * Father_White-Eyes grins. "Well, as the good ol' Ministry of Morale used to say, 'you've nothing to hide if you're innocent', right? I mean, there was some other stuff about parties and birthday cakes, but it's not pertinent."
[2012-09-10 21:21:37] * Rosemary_Thyme moves her gaze from Eclipse to Father_White-Eyes and back.  Then thinks aloud, "Father, you might want to go with her.  Make sure she doesn't miss anything.  Or sink the boat."
[2012-09-10 21:22:17] * Father_White-Eyes sighs and puts away his revolver... reluctantly. "I suppose you're right." He follows Eclipse_ outdoors.
[2012-09-10 21:24:05] * Rosemary_Thyme waits a moment, then leans close and whispers to the merchant, "Honest Applejack would want me to be truthful with you, so I feel obliged to point out you really do have a fourth option..."
[2012-09-10 21:24:45] * Eclipse_ whistles brightly as she makes her way down to the docks and the fan boat.
[2012-09-10 21:25:06] * Father_White-Eyes cheerfully joins in and whistles along. Perfectly.
[2012-09-10 21:25:56] * Rosemary_Thyme whispers, "...You can turn yourself over to the Trottingham Sheriff.  Have yourself placed in protective custody.  This involves treasures from pre-war Equestria, so the Steel Rangers *will* claim authority.  But We want to keep civil relations with the local government, so it will become a bureaucratic issue.  That, in the very least, will buy you time."
[2012-09-10 21:29:07] <Ilushia> 12The stallion continues to trot nervously in place a few more moments, glancing towards the still gathering crowd. That last suggestion had him the most nervous of all. Like the idea of submitting to the sherrif was somehow -worse- than being shot dead by some crazy zebra. He swallowed and reached out to grab the key from its hook, tossing it to Rosemary_Thyme's hooves along
[2012-09-10 21:29:07] <Ilushia> 12with a small bag of 200 caps. "'ere. Take th' fucking key, an' th' caps I got back from th' bloody yanks' bodies after th' radigators ate 'em. Jus' go away an' don' go spreadin' any more 'f those damn lies 'round!"
[2012-09-10 21:29:44] <Eclipse_> From down by the docks comes the sound of gunfire...
[2012-09-10 21:29:53] <Ilushia> 12The walk to the boat docks, part of an old multi-floor parking garage built up with basic scrap metal, wasn't exactly fast. It required crossing from the hotel to a toppled skyscraper across the central lake. But it wasn't super fast either.
[2012-09-10 21:35:23] * Rosemary_Thyme hears the gunfire and facehoofs.   The priest will have to take care of that.
[2012-09-10 21:36:43] * Rosemary_Thyme takes the key and the caps graciously.  "You made a wise choice.  I shall omit you statements from the report I turn in to the Rangers, saying only that you cooperated with the investigation."
[2012-09-10 21:38:23] <Ilushia> 12The stallion continues to look nervous, flattening his ears when the gunfire goes off. "'at crazy starstripes better not 've shot my boat!" He moves towards one of the windows to look across the main open area. But the group now has the key, and the ponies seem to slowly disperse on their own now that whatever altercation was going on has ended.
[2012-09-10 21:38:47] * Rosemary_Thyme pauses, realizing there was a good chance that those shots *didn't* come from Eclipse.
[2012-09-10 21:39:13] * Rosemary_Thyme turns to the mare.  "Would you be a dear, fly up, and see who is doing that shooting?"
[2012-09-10 21:39:29] * Unnamed_Slave does as she was told, taking to the air.
[2012-09-10 21:40:11] * Eclipse_ sits on the docks with her shotgun pointed at the bottom of the boat.
[2012-09-10 21:40:49] * Father_White-Eyes is in the boat, peering intently at something in the bottom.
[2012-09-10 21:43:09] * Unnamed_Slave hovers in the air for a moment, before diving back down to land softly next to Rosemary. "Your zebra companion was firing into the air and is now pointing her weapon at the boat. The boat looks undamaged at the moment."
[2012-09-10 21:45:53] * Rosemary_Thyme sighs.  "Now we have to save the boat."
[2012-09-10 21:47:15] * Rosemary_Thyme trots off in the direction of the docks at a swift pace.
[2012-09-10 21:47:26] * Unnamed_Slave follows behind.
[2012-09-10 21:47:59] * Eclipse_ sits by the boat as the Father searches.  When they get close they hear the zebra saying "Just tell me when you want me to shoot him..."
[2012-09-10 21:48:47] * Father_White-Eyes clambers out of the boat and addresses Eclipse_ quietly.
[2012-09-10 21:50:35] * Eclipse_ groaned and looks to the skies, spreading her hooves wide.  "I get it!  I should have followed your advice!  Mercy is nothing but a headache!"
[2012-09-10 21:50:42] <Ilushia> 12The rest of the docks are mostly empty. Only one other fanboat captain is down there already, in the process of replacing some parts in the engine of his boat as he watches the group arrive. The gunfire and weird threats were more than enough to draw attention. "You ponies alright?"
[2012-09-10 21:52:13] * Father_White-Eyes addresses the captain. "I don't suppose you know anything about the captain of this fanboat? Anything about his last bunch of passengers, any tales about him?"
[2012-09-10 21:52:28] * Eclipse_ looks up at Rosemary.  "Did he give you the key?  Please say no."
[2012-09-10 21:54:48] * Rosemary_Thyme levitates the key out for Eclipse to see.
[2012-09-10 21:55:19] * Eclipse_ groans and then sighs.  "Darn.  Now I'm going to feel guilty when I sink his boat."
[2012-09-10 21:55:23] <Ilushia> 12The captain taps his chin thoughtfully. "That boat... No, can't say I know much about them, to be honest. Fanblades came into town about a month ago, maybe. Came from somewhere out in the sticks, near the edges of the city. Weird, really, don't usually see many come in from out there. Mostly gangs and raiders fightin' over the scraps. Hasn't caused any trouble so far, even if
[2012-09-10 21:55:24] <Ilushia> 12he is a little weird." He contemplates a little more. "Couple rich ponies from someplace back on the mainland, I think. Wanted to go into the middle of the city. Nopony's crazy enough to take a boat out that way, though. Radigators, bloodwings, nightlurks and stranglevines all over that part of the city. Plus that's near where the bomb fell, biggest blasted radiation source in
[2012-09-10 21:55:24] <Ilushia> 12the ruins."
[2012-09-10 21:56:12] * Rosemary_Thyme shakes her head.  "Do not sink the boat.  He has cooperated... finally.  Do nothing that could escalate the situation."
[2012-09-10 21:56:17] * Father_White-Eyes asks the obvious question. "Have you tried it in the box yet? We didn't just threaten a possibly innocent fanboat captain to within an inch of his life for nothing, did we?"
[2012-09-10 21:58:42] * Rosemary_Thyme chides, "Innocent.  Not unless I am mistaken in how I recall we met him this morning.
[2012-09-10 21:58:45] <Rosemary_Thyme> "
[2012-09-10 21:59:22] * Rosemary_Thyme corrects, "Maybe not guilty of all we suspect, but he is hardly innocent."
[2012-09-10 21:59:56] * Father_White-Eyes shrugs. "I said 'possibly innocent'. From what I've discovered I don't think he is."
[2012-09-10 22:00:23] * Rosemary_Thyme raises her eyebrows.  "What have you discovered, Father?"
[2012-09-10 22:00:42] * Father_White-Eyes cocks his head. "There's crusted bloodstains on this boat, far older than they could possibly be from just last night. And there's not much blood in the bottom here either. Not nearly enough to be like what would come out from losing a limb or being bitten in half."
[2012-09-10 22:00:59] * Father_White-Eyes "And another thing. Boat owner says radigators ate 'em, right? Well, I've seen radigators eating, and if this was radigators it was the cleanest damn radigators in all of Equestria. There aren't any bits and pieces lying around in here."
[2012-09-10 22:02:24] * Eclipse_ groans and rubs her face.  "Oh stars above, are you serious?"  she points to Father with her hoof and then gestures to the boat.  "Of course he's probably guilty!  It doesn't matter if you find evidence or not.  Are you seriously telling me you plan on calling the police?  Taking him away for a trial?  Present your evidence and give him a trial?  Your
[2012-09-10 22:03:15] =-= Arcane_Scroll[A] is now known as Arcane_Scroll
[2012-09-10 22:03:54] <Eclipse_> courts are as dead as you are.  If you think he's guilty, fine!  I'll kill him.  Or you can kill him.  Or maim him.  Or give him a stern lecture.  Or do whatever the fuck you want to DO.  But unless you're going to DO something then give it a rest.  LOOK at this place!"  She said as she swept her hoof at the crumbling, flooded sky scrapers.  "And YOU!" she
[2012-09-10 22:05:20] <Eclipse_> said as she point at Rosemary.  "I am NOT one of your servants, serfs, slaves, peons, or followers.  You don't tell me to do anything.  My stripes aren't red and you have no place to tell me one way or the other what to do.  If you're planning on stealing his boat for ourselves and call it confiscation, fine.  I'll shoot him in the head and call it
[2012-09-10 22:05:50] <Eclipse_> 'preemptive self defense'.  But until then I will DO what I believe is right.  NOT what I am told to do.  Understand?"
[2012-09-10 22:06:15] * Unnamed_Slave stands between Rosemary and the zebra, spreading her wings out, as she was verbally assaulted.
[2012-09-10 22:06:38] * Rosemary_Thyme feels a slight pain as she finds some wisdom in the zebra's rant.  "We gave the merchant the option to pay use to take the key -- which he has done -- with the stipulation that we would leave him alone.  So no, I do not intend to involve the authorities further.  The same probably cannot be said for the townsfolk who overheard the conversation."
[2012-09-10 22:10:11] * Father_White-Eyes is rather taken aback. "I know my courts are dead. I watched them /die./ I was /there to see them burn./ But I won't kill a pony before I know for certain he's worth killing. I'm not interested in this scribe's authorities or what she thinks she can do with them or have them do for us, or /to/ us, or /to/ this fanboat captain. What I found in that boat means that there's more to this, and...
[2012-09-10 22:10:11] * Father_White-Eyes ...killing the captain now is just a waste of resources."
[2012-09-10 22:10:37] * Rosemary_Thyme puts a calming hoof on the mare.  "Thank you, dear."  Then, to the zebra, "Of course.  You are free to do what you wish.  You are not a soldier under my command.  I cannot presume to give you an order.  However, I can warn you.  If you destroy the boat, I will inform the authorities."
[2012-09-10 22:12:37] * Rosemary_Thyme adds, "Unlike the box, the boat in no way falls under the Steel Rangers purview, so the proper authority would be the Sheriff.  It would be up to him to decide whether to pursue action against you for destroying a stallion's livelihood."
[2012-09-10 22:13:33] <Ilushia> 12The other captain just sortof looks at the group in some confusion before finally deciding to just let it play out on its own and going back to fixing his boat. The light sound of rain against the seemingly endless water around them gave a hushing sound to the conversation. But for now there was no more danger and the group had both key and box.
[2012-09-10 22:13:47] <Ilushia> 12Fallout: Equestria: Darkest Days. Session 2 ends.