Fallout: Beyond Equestria 223: When In Roam (Finale Part 4)

[2017-05-17 13:43:50] <Shoat> 3Previously:
[2017-05-17 13:44:25] <Shoat> 3Jugeote passes the new ammunition around.  Mwana chuckles.  "Better remember what you've got loaded.  No one will be happy if you take on an Imperial Sentinel and discover you're only shooting magic paint."
[2017-05-17 13:44:31] <Shoat> 3...
[2017-05-17 13:45:05] <Shoat> 3A zebra steps forward from a platform above.  His voice is deep and booms in the coliseum through decoratively hidden speakers.  The robot translates.  "Behold, the Beloved Caesar!"
[2017-05-17 13:45:17] <Shoat> 3Into the box of seats where Noble_Heart had looked before strides a zebra mare dressed in a rather simple red robe and wearing a golden laurel wreath studded with several small gems.  In one hoof, she carries a massive black scepter of twisted, thorny wood that reaches up into a clawed fist that clutches a large black ruby.
[2017-05-17 13:45:38] <Shoat> 3...
[2017-05-17 13:45:40] <Shoat> 3Mitzi looks to Shatara. "Yu want me tu make a way een?"
[2017-05-17 13:45:51] <Shoat> 3Jugeote rolls her eyes.  Then turns to Shatara.  "There should still be part of the old sewer tunnels running under the Palace.  They collapsed them to prevent smugglers from using them, but they should still be there... if someone can dig us a path through the rubble to them."
[2017-05-17 13:45:59] <Shoat> 3...
[2017-05-17 13:46:20] <Shoat> 3Fallout: Beyond Equestria, Session Two Hundred and Twenty-Three: When In Roam (Finale Part 4) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRpBgGiJuMc
[2017-05-17 13:49:18] <Shoat> 3Soon, Mitzi and Shatara are back again in the cistern, along with the two zebras and new loads of both changeling-revealing goop and emptiness stone bullets.  Daughter of a Roaman smuggler, Jugeote draws on stories of her father's exploits to seek the passage that will reach under the Imperial Palace.
[2017-05-17 13:50:04] <Shoat> 3Finally, after a few false turns, she leads them to a tunnel filled with rubble.  "I believe this is it," she tells Shatara.
[2017-05-17 13:50:05] <Shoat> 3...
[2017-05-17 13:51:34] <Shoat> 3Above the arena, the Caesar lifts her scepter, and all spectators cheer ruckusly.  She lowers it, and they take their seats.  She looks down on those beneath her.  And, as the robot translates, she demands, "Bring in the others!"
[2017-05-17 13:51:36] <Shoat> 3--- Session Begins ---
[2017-05-17 13:57:47] * Mitzi looks to the pile of rubble, then to Shatara. "Uh can un-roadblock dis."
[2017-05-17 13:58:04] * Shatara waves his talon. "Make it so."
[2017-05-17 14:01:28] * Mitzi then looks the rubble over again. The tunnels down here made her feel more at home, but the rubble made her think of a cave in. "Dey block dis on purpose yu tink?" She asks Jugeote as she starts tearing through boulders and shifting debris. She goes a bit slower than she could at first to keep a measure of potential collapse.
[2017-05-17 14:03:52] <Mare-Do-Well> Jugeote looks to Shatara for translation, then nods to Mitzi once she gets it.
[2017-05-17 14:05:03] <Shatara> "It might be a good idea to watch out if they left any surprises in there..."
[2017-05-17 14:05:11] <Mitzi> "Dat eez shame, dese tunnels eez really nice. Cud maybe take sum inspiration fur expansions at Poneeville."
[2017-05-17 14:12:18] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Jugeote nods.
[2017-05-17 14:16:17] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mitzi digs a path through the rubble, emerging on the other side.
[2017-05-17 14:19:15] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mitzi comes out into what was once the underground Palace Rail Station.  The floor is strewn with mines, and the walls laced with explosives, all interconnected to go off in a decisively apocalyptic detonation should anyone breach the intentionally-collapsed tunnels.
[2017-05-17 14:19:30] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Zebra mines, it turns out, do not politely beep to let you know they are there.  Mitzi has already stepped on one before noticing them.
[2017-05-17 14:20:24] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Fortunately, Mitzi swiftly figures out which wires to cut to keep *all* of them from going off.  However, that leaves her standing on a mine that will detonate the moment she moves.
[2017-05-17 14:21:39] * Mitzi pants a little, lacking the ability to sweat for that bit of nervousness, keeping her foot in place as she calls back to Shatara. "Leetle help. Splosives."
[2017-05-17 14:24:19] * Shatara gulps. "I, uh...I'll see what I can do..."
[2017-05-17 14:38:51] * Shatara digs frantically through his pack for anything that might be useful. Shovel, length of chain with a lock, a Princess Cadance soap-on-a-rope...
[2017-05-17 14:44:20] * Shatara cautiously approaches with his shovel. "O-okay...I...I think we can try to hold down the pressure plate with this, and slowly come off it..."
[2017-05-17 14:53:54] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The plan fails as the mine explodes.  Mitzi is extremely lucky to still have her legs, as the old mine does minimal damage.
[2017-05-17 14:54:41] * Mitzi yowls in pain as she is tossed back towards her own tunnel, blistered and shrapnel peppered paws angry with fresh wounds.
[2017-05-17 14:59:49] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mwana rushes to the giant deathdog, pulling off his cloak to wrap the bleeding, shrapnel-torn wounds.   Jugeote asks Shatara, "Do you think anyone heard that?"
[2017-05-17 14:59:57] <Mitzi> However, her thick hide and general toughness show as she gingerly starts plucking pieces out, her legs not even looking broken.
[2017-05-17 15:02:09] * Shatara shakes his ringing ears as he dusts himself off, severed shovel still clutched in his talon. "I DONT THINK THIS IS A GOOD TIME FOR HEARDING CATS"
[2017-05-17 15:06:03] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Jugeote blinks.  Right.
[2017-05-17 15:08:43] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The group begin to sneak into the station, careful not to step on (or otherwise set off) any more of the explosives.
[2017-05-17 15:15:37] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
[2017-05-17 15:17:19] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Another set of doors open into the arena.  Noble_Heart, Bookwright and Golden_Dream watch as two ponies and a griffin are lead into the arena in chains.  One of them, the elderly and crippled Golden Buckle, is bound into his wheelchair.
[2017-05-17 15:18:16] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Golden_Dream recognizes the other pony, the cook from Golden Buckles airship.
[2017-05-17 15:18:31] * Bookwright mutters under his breath. "Ah, crud."
[2017-05-17 15:18:52] * Noble_Heart looks in the direction of the new apprivals. Slightly concerned about the appearance of Golden Buckle. "Well. At least now We know that they have not been executed yet. There might still be hope to get all of us out of here alive, then."
[2017-05-17 15:19:34] * Golden_Dream sighs deeply. "Yer' optimism is overwhelming."
[2017-05-17 15:21:43] * Noble_Heart scowls in response to Golden_Dream. "We did not travel all this way to die in a spectacle for the Zebra people to begin a war which would see the world burn anew. But if Our life can buy a hope for peace? That would be a small price."
[2017-05-17 15:23:03] * Bookwright "If it's all the same to you I'd prefer not to die for the cause. In fact, I'd prefer if Shatara and the others would get here already."
[2017-05-17 15:23:59] <Mare-Do-Well> 3As the trio of newcomers are lead to join the three, Caesar begins to speak.
[2017-05-17 15:24:15] * Golden_Dream lets a puff of air out of her nose. "You better be usin' th' royal 'Our'. I don't really like th' idea of dyin' here at all." She gives Bookwright a light buck with one of her legs. "Ixnay noay the artypay."
[2017-05-17 15:24:38] * Mitzi waits until they are well and clear of the minefield before she turns her attention upwards, hoping they would still be able to hit their mark.
[2017-05-17 15:25:15] <Mare-Do-Well> 10"Beloved fellow citizens of Roam..."
[2017-05-17 15:27:16] <Mare-Do-Well> 10"We are besieged.  The past itself, in the form of our ancestor's Equestrian enemy, has returned to try to destroy us."
[2017-05-17 15:28:35] * Bookwright is refraining from repeating the Caesar's words in a mocking tone. Barely.
[2017-05-17 15:29:00] <Mare-Do-Well> 10"But you know as well as I do that we are not the zebras of the past.  We and strong and brave, but more importantly, we are held together by the greatest of bonds: love!  Love for each other and for our country!  And against that, no enemy can stand.  No power can hold dominion over those who love.
[2017-05-17 15:29:05] <Mare-Do-Well> 10"Love is magic!"
[2017-05-17 15:29:55] <Golden_Dream> "Two." Golden dutifully counted.
[2017-05-17 15:30:22] * Golden_Dream thinks a moment. "Actually, three-ish."
[2017-05-17 15:30:41] <Mare-Do-Well> 3"What the fuck is she yammering about?" Golden Buckle grumbles under his breath.
[2017-05-17 15:31:41] * Golden_Dream thinks aloud. "Ah, she's just doin' what all politicians do. Makin' fluffy words happen that makes everyone think she's in control of things so that they don't notice the lies she's sayin'. And she's on three."
[2017-05-17 15:32:38] * Noble_Heart nods her head. "Well, naturally. You would not expect the Queen of Consumption to state outright her desire to fulfill her own needs at the expense of her people, would you? Neigh, it will always be that someone else has forced her hoof. That she is always better for it."
[2017-05-17 15:33:48] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The three all look in bad shape.  The NCR griffon has clearly taken a beating.  And Golden Buckle moves and grunts like he is sporting injuries under his coat.   Summer Harvest looks physically fine but mentally defeated.
[2017-05-17 15:34:26] <Mare-Do-Well> 3"Did you count that last bit?" Golden Buckle asks.  "Last I checked, *magic* was magic."
[2017-05-17 15:35:31] * Golden_Dream tilts her head back and forth. "Nah. Magic is magic, but love in all three ways might as well be."
[2017-05-17 15:36:00] <Mare-Do-Well> 10"Today, it is my blessing and privilege to show you the faces of your enemies.  Those who attack at our wall will fail once we have cut the head off the snake."
[2017-05-17 15:36:08] <Golden_Dream> "Four."
[2017-05-17 15:36:29] * Golden_Dream thinks. "Five. It's honestly kinda hard t' keep up."
[2017-05-17 15:37:42] * Noble_Heart looks side-long at Golden Buckle. "You were not there when we liberated the Crystal Kingdom from its centuries of isolation. Love is most certainly magic. Make no mistake. And this one has had plenty of time to gorge herself on it." She looked in the direction of the Caesar as she spoke.
[2017-05-17 15:38:25] <Mare-Do-Well> 10"And what better place to do so than here?  In the past, this place was a theater of violence and bloodshed, catering to the worst natures of those before us... before you, my beloved citizens.  But look what we have done with it.  Now, this is a place of peace and justice."
[2017-05-17 15:38:43] <Golden_Dream> "Eight."
[2017-05-17 15:39:52] <Mare-Do-Well> 3"Do you have a plan?" Summer asks glumly.  "Does anyone have a plan?  One other than dying?  I'd really like to go back to Equestria now."
[2017-05-17 15:40:12] * Golden_Dream sighs. "There's a plan. Sit tight."
[2017-05-17 15:41:16] * Golden_Dream chuckles a little. "Think on what you're gonna cook me when and if we get outta here."
[2017-05-17 15:41:41] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The griffon scowls.  "Even if I had one, I don't think we could pull it off."  He looks down.  "I got one of the guards to boast about this place.  They've got what they called a 'Spirit of Kindness' bound into the room.  Nobody can fight in here."
[2017-05-17 15:42:22] * Golden_Dream smirks. "Really? Good."
[2017-05-17 15:42:53] * Bookwright nods. "It's gonna get pretty interesting in here pretty soon. I hope."
[2017-05-17 15:43:03] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The griffon jabs a claw towards the Caesar.  "That's why she ain't afraid to be in here with us."
[2017-05-17 15:43:25] * Golden_Dream shrugs. "Well, she should be."
[2017-05-17 15:44:04] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Golden Buckle notes, "I'm willing to bet 'not fighting' doesn't mean they can't execute us."
[2017-05-17 15:44:56] * Noble_Heart tilts her head to one side and contemplates that. "Who told you that? We would wonder if it's true. This place is calm, there is no doubt about that. But We do not believe it is for that reason." She watches up at the Caesar, contemplating a bit more.
[2017-05-17 15:45:02] * Golden_Dream looks at the sky. "After this, nobody will wanna."
[2017-05-17 15:46:18] * Bookwright "Like I said earlier, it's not so much calmness as it is an absence of emotion."
[2017-05-17 15:46:23] <Mare-Do-Well> 10"Below me are the ringleaders of an alliance between the loveless pirates and the ponies."
[2017-05-17 15:46:40] <Golden_Dream> "Ten.
[2017-05-17 15:47:13] * Bookwright "That's not a lie. We really are ringleaders."
[2017-05-17 15:47:41] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The griffon smirks a little.  "One of the guards, after I made enough of a nuisance out of myself that he wanted me to know how fucked we are."
[2017-05-17 15:47:48] <Golden_Dream> "We ain't the ringleaders of the pirates, and we ain't the ringleaders of the Enclave."
[2017-05-17 15:48:10] * Bookwright "Maybe not, but we did help arrange the alliance."
[2017-05-17 15:48:30] <Golden_Dream> "Then we're diplomats, not ringleaders."
[2017-05-17 15:48:38] <Mare-Do-Well> 10"Now, I must caution you, my friends.  For in capturing these agents of the enemy, we have learned the threat is more grave, more dire than we imagined."
[2017-05-17 15:49:02] <Mare-Do-Well> 10"What you are about to see is not for the faint of heart."
[2017-05-17 15:49:21] <Golden_Dream> "Eleven."
[2017-05-17 15:49:42] * Noble_Heart tilts her head to one side, then the other, "We doubt it is so. A convenient lie, told to placate their soldiers to make them believe that such a thing is impossible. This place is not kind. This place is -quiet-. Kindness cares for those around it. Often too much. This place is devoid of the strength to gather an emotional response. All the myriad emotions one should feel
[2017-05-17 15:49:42] * Noble_Heart consumed by that quiet. An execution ground for Changelings."
[2017-05-17 15:50:08] <Mare-Do-Well> 10"For you are about to see into the true, loveless heart of Equestria's darkness!"
[2017-05-17 15:50:48] <Golden_Dream> "Twelve, probably thirteen." Goldy continues to count in a deadpan monotone.
[2017-05-17 15:51:37] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The Caesar taps her scepter on the floor three times.  Each tap echoes loudly in the theater.  DOOM.  DOOM.  DOOM.
[2017-05-17 15:51:54] <Mare-Do-Well> 3One of the guards shouts something to another.
[2017-05-17 15:51:59] <Mare-Do-Well> 3A third door opens.
[2017-05-17 15:52:14] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The small crowd gasps in horror.
[2017-05-17 15:52:42] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...as Precious, the rogue changeling queen, is brought in bound in chains.
[2017-05-17 15:53:36] <Mare-Do-Well> 3She is painted with symbols made from a familiar paste, forcing her to reveal her true form.
[2017-05-17 15:54:22] * Noble_Heart looks in the direction of Precious and frowns. That made things considerably more complicated, to say the least.
[2017-05-17 15:54:52] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
[2017-05-17 15:57:31] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Shatara and Mitzi spot the shadows of guards around the hall corner ahead.  Mitzi smells them even sooner....
[2017-05-17 15:58:51] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mwana's crossbow snags a wall tapestry.  The tug causes it to knock over a small, metal urn.  The noise alerts the guards, bringing them to attention almost at the same moment that Shatara spots their shadows.
[2017-05-17 15:59:15] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Thanks, however, to Mitzi's sense of smell, she is already moving.
[2017-05-17 16:00:14] * Mitzi clambors up the wall. So far as she knew, zebras couldn't fly. She grabs Mwana and tucks her under an arm as she begns to tunnel straight up
[2017-05-17 16:01:33] <Mitzi> [redact]
[2017-05-17 16:02:56] * Mitzi rushes towards the shadows as they stop moving and look away. She takes aim for the necks of the guards, hoping to paralyze them before they could give an alarm. If that failed, she'd have to beat them unconscious quickly. It wouldn't be pretty, but she wasn't baring her claws on the innocent.
[2017-05-17 16:15:51] <Mare-Do-Well> 3In a blur, Mitzi uis upon them.  The hellhound strikes the three guards.  Her first strike, however, not only misses the pony's neck, but sends him flying backwards into the alarm button.
[2017-05-17 16:16:11] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
[2017-05-17 16:16:31] * Mitzi frowns, looking at her paw. "Uh forget how strong Uh am sumtimes."
[2017-05-17 16:17:13] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Several of the Royal Gaurds suddenly perk, then dash out of the theater.  Another hesitantly approaches the Caesar and whispers something in her ear that she clearly doesn't like.
[2017-05-17 16:17:14] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
[2017-05-17 16:18:21] * Mitzi frowns and whirls around, intending to knock out the other two and then make a vertical escape. She keeps herself heightened for tremors from above... then gets an idea.
[2017-05-17 16:28:58] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mitzy's flurry staggers one of the guards and absolutely destroys the other.
[2017-05-17 16:31:19] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The guard that was thrown into the alarm groans, picking himself up.  The wounded second guard sees the third fall in front of her, and shouts.
[2017-05-17 16:44:45] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
[2017-05-17 16:49:02] * Noble_Heart contemplates quietly a few moments. "We may have to make Our speech especially swaying. As We suspect We are about to be blamed for the Changeling infiltration of Roam."
[2017-05-17 16:50:08] * Bookwright nods in agreement. "Getting hoist by our own petard would be an ignominious way to shuffle off the mortal coil."
[2017-05-17 16:59:10] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mitzy attacks the guard mare, but she deftly parries her attacks with her gladius, striking back with three cutting swipes.  The other guard gets to his feet and dashes into the fray.
[2017-05-17 17:00:16] * Mitzi grunts as she's cut deeply, looing rather surprised that the pony managed to deflect her blows.
[2017-05-17 17:04:27] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The guard stallion strikes Mitzi twice with his magical energy spear, taking two hard hits in return.
[2017-05-17 17:05:36] * Mitzi suddenly laments not getting off those paralyzing strikes. She clearly had the power advantage, but these ponies were fast and skilled... and their fighting was way different from the normal wrestling and clawing Hellhounds engaged in.
[2017-05-17 17:25:08] * Shatara swings around the corner, quickly and accurately plugging traquilizer darts into the soft, squishy bits not protected so much by armor; necks, joints...hoping the poison is strong enough to put them down quickly.
[2017-05-17 17:25:33] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Shatara uses poison.  It is super effective.
[2017-05-17 17:25:48] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Both guards stumble and drop.
[2017-05-17 17:26:21] * Shatara blows the nonexistent smoke from the barrel of the rifle.
[2017-05-17 17:26:29] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mitzi is left panting and bleeding, standing above three unconscious Royal Guards.  One of them softly snores.
[2017-05-17 17:26:39] <Mare-Do-Well> 3--- End of Session ---
[2017-05-17 17:26:52] * Mitzi looks rather embarassed all things considered
[2017-05-17 17:26:56] <Mare-Do-Well> 3XP: 2000