Fallout: Beyond Equestria 217: ...To Roam (Part 19)

[2017-03-22 13:15:32] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Previously...
[2017-03-22 13:16:51] <Mare-Do-Well> 3"Emptiness," Pan tells Noble_Heart.  Then, at the look the spirit gets, the little draconequus explains, "Not Spirits of Whispers.  Those spirits enforce silence and horde secrets.  The spirits that fill the catacombs are Spirits of Emptiness."  Then, with a sigh.  "Anti-magic.  Also, anti-harmony, anti-friendship..."
[2017-03-22 13:16:57] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Spirits of Emptiness are an odd sort.  They don't like putting themselves into living things like trees, or precious things like gemstones.  But there is an old,dark stone that they do favor," Pan tells those below him.  "The catacombs are studded with them."
[2017-03-22 13:17:03] <Mare-Do-Well> 3"Now changelings, they feed on love.  And they are never, ever satiated.  Their hunger knows no end," Pan insists.  "Starvation is the core of their being.  Their magic resonates with it.  So much so that it is the one type of magic that the Spirits of Emptiness don't simply devour."
[2017-03-22 13:17:09] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mwana frowns.  "You mean the changelings can use their magic in the catacombs even when no one else can?"
[2017-03-22 13:17:14] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Pan points towards Noble_Heart.  "Ask her."
[2017-03-22 13:17:20] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Pan notes, "Hell, I've heard of a changeling queen who made her throne out of the stuff.  Kept the hive safe from noble rescuer outsider magic."  He pauses, staring at an invisible fourth wall.
[2017-03-22 13:17:24] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Pan adds temptingly, "Now if the ponies going into the catacombs were to take some of those stones out with them..."
[2017-03-22 13:17:30] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Citrine Glow perks.  She points out, "That could shut down the Obsidian Scepter!"
[2017-03-22 13:17:31] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
[2017-03-22 13:17:43] <Mare-Do-Well> 3 3Moving back the blanket even just a little, Get_Lost spots what looks like black veins that crawl up the zebra's side.  A closer look reveals they are dark vines that have taken root just below the skin and coat.  There are black pustules on his abdomen and down his left flank.  His left hindleg is a mess of black vines, many of which pierce the surface.
[2017-03-22 13:17:55] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Get_Lost frowns "not good. not good at all. really, really not good.  he's being taken by the vine. i could try to remove it surgically, but this is magic, i don't know if it will work. What do we know about this?"
[2017-03-22 13:18:13] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Shatara urks at the sight. "Isn't this killer plant stuff Noble's area of expertise?"
[2017-03-22 13:18:18] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Get_Lost starts looking around "he probably made some sort of antidote, but he needs more. help me looking for a used or half used concotion, a recipe or something like that... also, goldie is more expert than me at this, can you call her too?"
[2017-03-22 13:18:49] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
[2017-03-22 13:18:50] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Get_Lost as soon as the medicine starts takingeffect, the doctor starts working with the scalpel
[2017-03-22 13:18:58] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Get_Lost at first she starts cutting and eliminating the larger roots, then her visor changes color and she starts working on smaller parts, trying to delimitate the infection to the worse area. when she is done somewhere, she then cauterizes with extreme cold, trying to kill even the smaller parts of the roots. that will leave a HUUUUGE scar.
[2017-03-22 13:19:03] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Get_Lost as soon as the peripheral parts are done, she sighs and mutters "it is going to get very, very messy. please take the filly away. i'm going to amputate"
[2017-03-22 13:19:43] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Get_Lost the operation is long and slow; the mare has to be very careful to ensure that nothing of the roots remains deep into the muscle and checks several times.
[2017-03-22 13:19:55] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
[2017-03-22 13:20:38] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Trying to keep physical contact with the zebra, the mare works on something very rough. The leg is just metal and joints, with an external battery and a bunch of cables, but in the end it works. She applies a metal plate to the missing leg joint, then the metal leg to it. It is a long thing, very tiring. In the end the mare is completely depleted
[2017-03-22 13:20:54] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Shatara does his best to keep the filly entertained and away from the gruesome work. He, uh...shows her his cool collection of Enclave figurines?
[2017-03-22 13:21:21] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Obviously, there's a solaris logo on the back of the artificial hoof.
[2017-03-22 13:21:50] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
[2017-03-22 13:21:58] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Get_Lost even if she still had eyes she wouldn't be crying. not at all. nope. so she simply keeps sitting by th patient, smiling a little and pretending not to cry.
[2017-03-22 13:22:00] <Mare-Do-Well> 3...
[2017-03-22 13:22:30] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Fallout: Beyond Equestria, Session Two Hundred and Seventeen: ...To Roam (Part 19) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PPtEHWDca8&list=PL6lMYzCrh4VGBe86gFxsx3pNx06v5W78e
[2017-03-22 13:25:08] <Mare-Do-Well> 3For hours, Get_Lost lays next to her patient.  The zebra's slumbering eases, the magic of her Phoenix Implant bathing him in spiritual healing energies, knitting and mending where surgery had removed the black plague of the Anulus Mortis.  Giving him strength.
[2017-03-22 13:27:08] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The surgery was successful.  Get_Lost knows it in her heart as well as in her mind.  Full recovery will take a long time.  But the zebra should be well enough to waken and greet his daughter in just a few hours.  Healthy enough to brew more of the changeling-revealing concoction by the end of the day.
[2017-03-22 13:28:20] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Meanwhile, Shatara and Golden_Dream entertain the teen filly as best they can.  It is easier at first with the introduction of the strange (to her) pony toys.  And Shatara teaches her how to play with them.
[2017-03-22 13:30:18] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Over time, her concern for her father fills her with too much worry to be distracted, especially when Get_Lost begins making the cyberleg.  But now, as the zebra who adopted and cared for her sleeps peacefully, his breathing more normal than it has been in weeks, she finally grows calm and bored.
[2017-03-22 13:32:00] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The zebra is an alchemist and his body is alchemically enhanced.  But while Get_Lost watches closely for any signs of the expected implant rejection, there are none.
[2017-03-22 13:32:17] <Mare-Do-Well> 3For once, all seems to be well.
[2017-03-22 13:32:22] <Mare-Do-Well> 3--- Session Begins ---
[2017-03-22 13:40:14] * Bookwright broadcasts over the open channel, "So how's it going down there Shatara?"
[2017-03-22 13:43:54] * Get_Lost is relaxing, checking for the mechanical leg. she tried to put in less possible elctronics. for now, the thing seemed to work but was ready to detach it if needed
[2017-03-22 13:48:27] * Shatara radios back. "Err, it seems to be going well. Nobody's died, and nobody's tried to kill us. Yet."
[2017-03-22 13:51:31] * Bookwright "Okay... Well, don't forget why you're down there. We need more of this changeling detecting goo."
[2017-03-22 13:55:46] * Golden_Dream is currently teaching the little filly how to make poppets. "Now, we're on the bit where you get all fancy with the mane, go and wash it in water, and comb it until it's nice n' even. Now y' wanna heat up a lil' bit of iron, not get it glowin' hot, jus' hot, and curl it how y' like."
[2017-03-22 14:14:21] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The filly looks at Golden_Dream curiously as she floats a poppet.  In the Imperial tongue, she asks, "<What happened to your horn?>"
[2017-03-22 14:15:39] * Golden_Dream looks around, trying to get a translation on that one.
[2017-03-22 14:28:28] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mwana stifles a chuckle and translates for Golden_Dream.  His eyes dance with amusement.
[2017-03-22 14:29:49] * Golden_Dream doesn't look impressed. "Tell her that I ain't been born with one and that I'm an earth pony. And so's Get over there. And girl, your world's gonna light up when y' meet Noble."
[2017-03-22 14:31:44] * Get_Lost "hey, being an earth pony isn't half bad! you get to cook the best cookies"
[2017-03-22 14:38:20] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mwana chuckles.  "I don't think she's seen any ponies other than herself since she was very young.  She probably doesn't know that ponies have different breeds."
[2017-03-22 14:39:12] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Mwana talks with the filly who looks a little confused at first, but then nods.  She says something that sounds apologetic to Get_Lost and Golden_Dream.
[2017-03-22 14:41:54] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Jugeote swivels an ear towards the conversation.  Reclining next to Shatara, she notes, "My father was with the underground railroad here in Roam.  He used sewer tunnels like the one outside to smuggle all sorts of contraband in and out of the city.  Ponies too, helping the few who lived here get out when our current Casear took power."
[2017-03-22 14:42:47] <Mare-Do-Well> 3"That was," she says, "Until the Legion's raids on the sewers killed him and shut the entire operation down."
[2017-03-22 14:43:01] * Get_Lost "Aw, does somepony have a lollypop for her? wait, i think i have a sparkle cola! here! give her this!"
[2017-03-22 14:43:06] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Jugeote stares at the wall and scowls.
[2017-03-22 14:49:40] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Meanwhile, on the ship, final preparations are completed for the delve into the catacombs.  All that they wait for now is to gather everyone who will be going and to drop from the Shadowbolt into the city below.
[2017-03-22 14:49:49] * Shatara frowns, draping a wing gently over the zebra.
[2017-03-22 14:52:45] * Golden_Dream sighs, then gives the filly a little pat on the head, then starts moving up to the ship. "You keep me posted on the status on that guy. I gotta go hopefully not shoot up a damn catacomb." She grumbles, slides on her helmet, and began marching towards the /Shadowbolt/.
[2017-03-22 14:55:15] * Mitzi hefts her cannon and considers. They had said magic didn't work so well in those caves, and the cannon was louder and far less stealthy. She decides to leave it on board the shp for this mission, snce her claws were faster, quiter, and wouldn't potentally be nullifed by the strange stone.
[2017-03-22 15:11:14] * Golden_Dream gets on the Shadowbolt, and gets ready to leave, giving Mitzi a quick backpet for being a Good Girl.
[2017-03-22 15:12:23] * Bookwright triple checks. Yes. Everything is packed and ready. Yes, including the pencils. Yes, they're sharpened. Yes. Yes. Yes, delaying. Yes. No more delaying. Okay. "Okay. I'm ready to go into the deeps. I hope."
[2017-03-22 15:12:26] * Noble_Heart stands near the others as they prepare. "We suggest you be careful. The catacombs are a place where magic does not work correctly. It is entirely possible that even Mitzi's claws might be affected. We are uncertain if even arcanotech will be able to function there."
[2017-03-22 15:12:37] * Get_Lost stays with the patient, he still needs to recover. also, she is not sure thatthe magic that keeps her alive will work in the catacombs
[2017-03-22 15:13:28] * Mitzi raises an eyebrow at Noble_Heart. "Why wud dey not wurk? Dey eez not magic, dey eez mutated. But even befur taint, Diamond Dogs wuz da best diggers dere ever wuz."
[2017-03-22 15:15:03] * Noble_Heart shakes her head. "Magic affects more than you might think. We are merely concerned about what could happen if you are not cautious."
[2017-03-22 15:17:16] * Mitzi shrugs and flexes her claws. "Uh can still lift tings bigger den yu, so Uh tink Uh'm still gunna be yur best protector."
[2017-03-22 15:34:09] * Bookwright has been trying to to think about how he possibly could be completely unarmed and without spells in the catacombs. He grimaces as Noble_Heart lays out the possibilities.
[2017-03-22 15:34:27] * Golden_Dream marks the order to engage the go-button on the ship and get to the catacombs.
[2017-03-22 15:37:18] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Jugeote looks at Shatara then snuggles into the wing.  "There was a reason I went into piracy."
[2017-03-22 15:41:58] <Mare-Do-Well> 3After gathering, the group moves down through the city towards the lesser basilica and temple that stand over the entrance to the catacombs.  This is familiar ground for Noble_Heart.  She left the catacombs through this building.  It looks and feels derelict, but she knows it is not.
[2017-03-22 15:44:38] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Huge, fluted columns rise above the street, marching in rows up the steps and across the face of the basilica.  The arched roof over the entrance hall plunges the interior into shadow.  There are no lights to illuminate the way.  The torches torches mounted at regular intervals are all burnt out.
[2017-03-22 15:46:27] * Noble_Heart looks up from beneath the hood of her cloak. "We have arrived. The keepers are within." She moved towards the entrance slowly and carefully.
[2017-03-22 15:48:57] * Bookwright shivers involuntarily as he cranes his head upward, taking in the decaying grand facade. "It looks somehow... mournful. Appropriate, I suppose."
[2017-03-22 15:50:22] * Bookwright is struck with indecision. "I really want to take a picture... but it's too dark. Even with a flash, and a flasbulb going off would attract notice." He bites his lip. "Maybe later."
[2017-03-22 15:50:30] * Golden_Dream looks at one of the torches, getting an idea. She guessed the flashlight would be a bad idea, since, well. Magic battery. But she was guessing fire still worked. So she took one of the burnt out torches, and wrapped it in some of her rope. She then dripped a little alcohol on the rope, and lit
[2017-03-22 15:51:45] <Golden_Dream> it with a lighter. She then hoofed it over on Bookwright. "Keep that lit." She said, moving into the entrance. She cocked the lever on her new brush gun, and started to move on up.
[2017-03-22 15:55:05] * Mitzi moves up besde Golden_Dream and starts sniffing around the building. She glances at Noble_Heart. "Whu eez gunna be ni dere?"
[2017-03-22 15:55:10] * Bookwright tongues something in his helmet and the lamp on its forehead comes on with an audible chnk-fzzz.
[2017-03-22 15:55:30] * Bookwright "Thanks, but I'm good."
[2017-03-22 15:58:14] * Noble_Heart looks up towards Mitzi. "The keepers of the catacombs. They will be whom we need to see."
[2017-03-22 15:59:06] * Mitzi nods. "Dey eez frends?
[2017-03-22 16:01:43] * Noble_Heart ruffles her feathers. "Their leader is no friend of the Caesar. But We are uncertain We would call them friends."
[2017-03-22 16:02:33] * Mitzi nods. "Got eet. Enemy uv enemy, but not friend."
[2017-03-22 16:03:43] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The first floor of the basilica is mostly vacant.  In one side room, a very bored-looking zebra sorts through metal cabinets and cardboard boxes of files that tower above her.
[2017-03-22 16:43:58] * Golden_Dream applies the rule of "
[2017-03-22 16:45:04] <Golden_Dream> "Mind over matter" to this mare. What she doesn't know let slide by her, doesn't matter! She ducks down, then creeps along the ground in a near-prone position.
[2017-03-22 16:47:44] * Noble_Heart does her best to keep her head low and her hooves light. Which is something of a feat for an alicorn at the best of times, really.
[2017-03-22 16:51:55] * Mitzi s surprsngly ghost like for how big she is, padding along near slently
[2017-03-22 16:52:21] <Mare-Do-Well> 3While not actually deserted, the basilica is nearly a ghost town -- feeling like a governmental department whose funding has been cut and almost all of the staff dismissed.  Those who do work within the structure have their heads down and are entrenched in their work.  The group, despite its size, slips past them like ghosts.
[2017-03-22 16:53:37] * Bookwright really does want to have a chat, but agrees that slipping past unnoticed is fine for now. Can always have Mitzi come back and kidnap one for interrogation later, if need by.
[2017-03-22 16:55:07] <Mare-Do-Well> 3They descend lower, cold marble steps leading down into the first really lit space they have seen: a large room that was once part of the temple to the spirits, since repurposed as a processing arena for prisoners being transferred into the catacombs.
[2017-03-22 16:56:23] <Mare-Do-Well> 3Here there are two zebras on duty.  Noble_Heart recognizes one of them as the zebra who gave her the PipBuck and sent her to investigate the Cult of LIV.
[2017-03-22 16:57:15] * Noble_Heart approaches said zebra quietly, she speaks in a hushed voice. "We have returned, the cult is no more."
[2017-03-22 16:59:46] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The zebra starts.  Then looks around and sees the crowd Noble_Heart has brought back with her.  "You... You have proven yourself worthy of your name, Noble_Heart.  I had believed I would never see you again."
[2017-03-22 17:00:40] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The zebra looks down at the PipBuck she is wearing.  "Do you wish to keep that, or should I remove it?"
[2017-03-22 17:01:43] * Noble_Heart looks down at the device. "We would offer it to you, if you wish to reclaim it. We have other business to discuss as well, however. Our friends desire access to the catacombs. There is one trapped within who requires rescue."
[2017-03-22 17:05:12] * Bookwright tries to look grim and stoic, as he imagines a pony in power armor must look.
[2017-03-22 17:06:10] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The zebra nods and then turns to speak to the other, a somewhat younger-looking zebra who has stopped working and is staring wide-eyed at the newcomers, especially Mitzi and the alicorn.  After a few attempts to be heard, the zebra clops the younger one aside the ear and points, issuing a clear order.
[2017-03-22 17:06:20] * Bookwright is unaware that his stature fails to impress when compared with Noble_Heart's, and his armor is incomparably less cool than Mitzi's natural weaponry.
[2017-03-22 17:06:21] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The younger zebra bolts off and soon returns with the PipBuck's unlocking tool.
[2017-03-22 17:07:57] * Noble_Heart offers out her foreleg for the tool, it was after all their PipBuck and merely given as a colateral tether to her.
[2017-03-22 17:08:41] <Mare-Do-Well> 3As the familiar zebra unlocks the PipBuck from Noble_Heart's foreleg and removes it, he nods.  "You have done us and Roam... all zebras, in truth, a great service.  Letting you into the catacombs... and back out... is a favor I am grateful to do in return."
[2017-03-22 17:09:18] <Mare-Do-Well> 3The zebra looks up at her.  "Sadly, I cannot do anything about the trouble you are likely to find once inside."
[2017-03-22 17:12:45] * Mitzi nods. "Dat's wut Uh'm here fur mainly," she notes with a brandishing of her claws.
[2017-03-22 17:14:00] * Noble_Heart offers a polite bow. "We understand. We shall do Our best to remain safe. Thank you."
[2017-03-22 17:18:38] <Mare-Do-Well> 3--- End of Session ---