Text Adventure Chapter 71 Log

>You look over at the mail wall at the edge of the blocked off window in the sanctuary, seeing the directory.
>Might as well check it before you begin.

[DIRECTORY]
[“Hello, and welcome to the Crystal Palace! We hope you enjoy your stay, or if you’re returning, we give you a warm welcome! If you’re having problems navigating the streets, please refer to this directory for assistance.”]

>Hotels and Inns<
-Trot & Travel Inn (35 bits per night, 20% discount for every extra pony)
-Hooflight Hotel (40 bits per night, 15% discount, includes room service)
-Mr. Rich’s Magical Motel (80 bits per night per pony, luxury service and rooms)
-Crystal Palace Royal Suite (200 bits per night per pony, royal service and rooms)

>Stores<
-Hammer & Sickle (Sells tools and parts for all things industrial, gardening, hardware and construction)
-Gyro Gear’s Great Scientific Wonders {Discount: 15%}(Sells Scientific/Engineering gizmos)[New Postage: NEW ITEMS IN STOCK!!]
-Fortuna Potions {Discount: 10%}(Sells magical items, trinkets, and enchanting/alchemy ingredients)
-Maregaze’s M&S Lover’s ‘Retreat’ (Sells adult items)
-The Protected Wither (Sells weapons and armor, all things combat)[New Postage: NEW WEAPONS IN STOCK!!!]
-Tricks and Needles (Sells all things clothing, tailor-made!)[New Postage: The Fall line of dreses and suits has been confirmed, gem-style! Check the store to get yours for the upcoming Gala!]
-Library of the Crystal Empire (The library and book store!)

>Civil Services<
Crystal Empire Guard Department, low alert
Shining Fire Fighters Department, low alert
Mi Amore Hospital, currently open for drop-ins and selling extra supplies
Diamond-Ridge Park (Public area)

[New Postage]: The Shining Fire Fighters Department has issued a bounty for the capture of one Hop Dunk, a large stallion who’s been spotted with breaking and entering into multiple stores and stealing their wares.

[New Postage]: The Crystal Palace has been re-opened to the public! Princess Cadance had been suffering from an unknown illness, but thanks to the ever-famous Dr. Anonymous, she has been cured, and the Royal Suite as well as the museum have been re-instated!

[New Postage]: THE CRYSTAL FAIR IS … over for this year! Don’t worry though, it will be back as it is every year with new events, all new fun and the second annual tournament!

[Postage]: Gyro Gear’s Great Scientific Wonders and The Protected Wither have a new invention in town! Come on down and take a look!


[KNOWN RECIPES]
>Alchemy: (Skill level - Basic {250/300})
Sleeping Darts [3 red herbs, 2 blue herbs, makes 3]
Healing Potion [1 wisp weed, 2 lifeleaf, 1 rizzleberry bunch, makes 2 large potions/4 medium/6 small]
Smokescreen Bomb [1 Haze flower, 1 Ounce of Combustible powder, 1 Fuse, makes 1]
Iron Hide Brew [1 small gem, 1 Yeti hair, 1 cup of Gypsum, makes 5]
Flask of Lucky Tithings [Requires Moderate Alchemy skill, 2 Haze flowers, 2 rizzleberry bunches, 4 Four-leaf clovers, makes 1]
Amare Potion [3 red herbs, 1 small healing potion, 1 aphrodisiac, 1 hair of the intended target, makes 1]

>Engineering: (Skill level - Basic {270/300})
Scooter [1 Wheel & Axle, 1 2x4 plank of wood, 1 Wooden handle, 1 Handful of bolts]
Defibrillator [2 Tin pads, 2 insulated handles, 1 Electric manifold, 1 Dial mechanism, 2 strong magnets]
Caravan [Requires Moderate Engineering skill, 10 2x4 planks of wood, 8 handfuls of bolts, 2 Wheel & Axles, 1 Leather reign, 1 tarp, 2 wooden handles]
Clockwork Robot [Requires Expert Engineering skill, 1 Robotic Catalyst, 1 Circuit board, 3 Electric manifolds, 1 Suncore, 12 handfuls of bolts, Speak with Frizzy Gear]
Kablooie-mite [Requires Moderate Engineering skill, 4 ounces of Combustible powder, 4 ounces of Kablooie powder, 1 fuse, 1 Insulated handle]
Multi-Tool [1 Screwdriver, 1 Pair of pliers, 1 metal pipe, 1 metal file, 1 Pair of scissors, 1 socket wrench, 1 Nail hammer, 1 Corkscrew]

>Medical:
Medkit [1 Roll of Gauze, 1 Bottle of isopropyl alcohol, 1 set of bandages, 1 Needle & String]

[Current questlog] (7/10 total):
[Investigate Shadow] -  Find it (0/1); Exterminate it (0/1); Report to Celestia (0/1)
[Become a Legendary Doctor] - Master medical knowledge (0/1); Master medical experience (0/1); Doctor’s Kit (0/1); Master alchemical knowledge (0/1); Master healing spells (0/1); Get famous (Be known in Canterlot, Crystal Empire and Ponyville) (1/3); Learn Basic Psychology Knowledge (0/1)
[Vigilante Justice] - Track down and take in the thieves that attacked Pinkie Pie (0/3); Take in the engineer responsible for ripping your schematic (0/1)
[Mare in the Family] - Find the mysterious Master of the Dark Arts (0/1); Find a cure for Charm Rose’s brother (0/1)
[Just like Clockwork] - Travel to Appleoosa and speak to Frizzy Gear (0/1)
[In the Belly of the Beast] - Travel to Queen Chrysalis’ hive (0/1), Clear the hive of corruption (0/1), Negotiate with Queen Chrysalis (0/1)
[The Airship] - Find a trained pilot (0/1), Learn the Airship’s controls (0/1), Fly the Airship to Canterlot (0/1)

>Bucket List (Misc.) - Help Flutters with bird seed, Have Berry's Scorch Ring examined and analyzed, Examine the schematics we have and make up a list of what we need to build at least one of each, Deal with Shining being a dickwad in direct defiance of what we asked him to do, Find the rest of Starswirl's notes

>Redheart seems to be going through the books that you’ve found herself, so this gives you an opportunity to catch up and ask questions.
“I had a few things I wanted to ask you two, if that’s alright?”
>They both nod in unison.
>”Anything, Anon.”
>”I will answer to the best of my ability.”
>You’re sure glad he didn’t take having your wang out in his private sanctuary wrong.
>You round on the old wizard first, as you have less to ask him.
“First off, I’d like to ask if it’s a possibility to remove the enchantment off of one weapon and put it on another. I have a spear with an enchantment that allows it to harm spectrals, but I’m thinking of replacing it.”
>”Well… I suppose if I were to disenchant your item, I could learn its properties, and re-enchant another item with it for your request. So, in short, yes, it is possible. You will lose your spear, but so long as you come to me with the weapon you want to enchant, then you should have no qualms.”
>So it’s possible, but you’d lose your double-bladed spear.
“Okay. So, if I were to enchant the Starswirl stone, would you have any amulets or rings that you could place them in for the extra effectiveness?”
>”It’d be extra, but I have a few casts lying around I could whip up for you, uh, providing you have the material you’d like to make it out of.”
>You only have a platinum ingot, but it could still work.
“And you said that it could still work without the cast?”
>”It is not as powerful, but so long as you carry it with you, it will work.”
>That’s good, at least.
“Alright, now. I know you really want Starswirl’s notes, but I still have need of the healing ones.”
>”Yes yes, you’ve told me. Get to the point.”
“I can give you the portal ones now, but you said something about paying me handsomely.”
>Sunwhirl clears his throat.
>”I did, and I will. But I’ll give you your reward when all seven are found.”
“Can I ask how much?”
>”I know it will be a lot, but you’ll have to excuse me as I’m not sure myself. I have to figure out how much to save so I don’t go bankrupt, and that might take me a while. I’ll know by the time you find them, so uh.. c-could I have it then?”
“Sure.”
[You give Sunwhirl the Stached your Starswirl’s Notes: Portals]
[1/7 NOTES RETURNED]
>”Thank you, my tall friend.”
>He looks at it like a kid looks at a new kind of candy that just came out.
“Oh, and since I’m doing this, could you give me a discount in the mean time?”
>He sighs and rubs his face with a hoof, beginning to stow away the notes for safe keeping.
>”You’re one of the cheapest men I’ve ever met, you know that?”
>It’s your inner jew, what can you say?
>”Fine. 5%, but not a bit more! It’s not like you’ll be here for long anyways, what with the plans that Ms. Sparkle told me you have.”
“Er… thanks”
[-5% prices at Fortuna Potions!]
>You probably shouldn’t have been so insistent.
“Also, could I see what modifications you could make for this recombobulator?”
>Sunwhirl blinks in confusion.
>”....Oh, do you mean that odd contraption you’ve shown me before? I must apologize, but as it is a new invention, there aren’t any enchantments for it right now.”
“That’s alright, thanks. You’ve been a big help.”
>He nods and flicks his mustache.
>”I’ll be up in the shop if you’d like that stone enchanted or anything else.”
>Sunwhirl takes his leave, disappearing into the dark hallway.
“Twilight, mind if we talk for a second?”
>”Sure, hold on Redheart.”
>Twilight had gone to help her with the books while you were talking with Sunwhirl, it seems.
>She smiles at you and you begin your next line of questioning.
“Have you heard from Cadance at all about the healing spell? Did it work?”
>Twilight’s smile turns a bit awkward.
>”Uuh… define ‘work’.”
>Uh-oh.
“What happened?”
>”She can’t use the spell either.”
“Really? Is it the same pr--”
>”Well, not exactly. She has the power to use it, and the knowledge to use it… the problem is the execution.”
“What do you mean?”
>”Any spell requires concentration on it’s base function to work, like anything you’d do normally. When you levitate something, you’re thinking about making things float at the same time you’re casting the spell. The problem is, there’s no allegory for healing. Only someone with mastery in magical knowledge like Princess Celestia and Luna could perform it.”
“Oh…”
>”Don’t worry, this just means Cadance and I have some studying to do!”
>So you have to master your knowledge to use it.
“Alright. Moving on, I was wondering if you could give me some advice on where we should go next. While that master of the dark arts is somewhere southwest and could have answers to the shadow, we have to take care of the hive and I wanted to ask you where it was-”
>”Anon, Don’t you remember what Celestia said?”
“...Yeah.”
>Suddenly, there’s a groan from the corner of the room.
>Spike’s clutching his stomach, doubled over in pain.
>”Spike?”
>Redheart approaches him, but all of a sudden he belches into the air, green flames spitting out and revealing a rolled piece of parchment with Celestia’s symbol on it.
>”Eugh… Sorry, just haven’t done that in a long time.”
>”A letter from Princess Celestia!”
>Twilight takes it with her levitation and unrolls it, beginning to read frantically.
>You watch her pupils stop mid-sentence, and she floats it over to you.
>”It’s for you, Anon.”
>You take it in surprise, reading it carefully.

[You open the scroll and begin to read the letter.]

My Faithful Subject,

I ask that you give this letter to Anonymous, and that my words to you still stands. Stay strong my student.

Dr. Anonymous,

My council, consisting of Princes Luna, Princess Cadance, Captain Shining Armor, and my student Twilight Sparkle and I, have come to a consensual, majority rules decision. I will first begin by telling you that I know that you are a very compelling, competent, and intelligent being. Twilight has told me of your compassion, your inspiring heroism for even the smallest problems.

If you remember when we first met and spoke with each other, I told you to find this enemy, and eradicate its threat at all costs. I will have to ask you to hold fast to this order. The changeling has told you and us that it’s hive has been invaded by a black substance, that we are sure is the shadow. If the hive has been overrun, then it is only a matter of time before this unknown enemy takes control of them. We cannot allow this to happen, so as much as it pains me to ask you Anonymous, I ask you to travel to the hive and clear it of its corruption. Be warned that it is a very dangerous place, and that you will require all the help that you can muster. If there were any other way, Anonymous, I would pursue it, but our options are running out.

Thank you for understanding, and I ask that you stay safe in your endeavors. Now that our little Spike has recovered to my relief and happiness, we can keep in touch more easily, so keep us posted!

P.S. The shipments for your handheld weapons have come in. I can’t tell you how much fun I’ve had pranking my guards!

With love and kindness,
Princess Celestia

[End Letter]

>Wait one fucking minute.
>Her last letter to you was telling you not to go to the hive.
>Twilight herself told you that the changeling…
“Have you guys been lying to me?”
>”What?”
>You give her back the paper, and she reads it in a quarter of the time that you did.
>”...This doesn’t make sense. It sounds like she has no knowledge of writing that first letter at all, but she hasn’t told you of anything in it on this one...!”
“What does that mean?”
>Twilight looks up, her pupils contracted to pinpricks.
>Then she assumes a very serious face, anger building up in her expression.
>”Someone stopped the first letter from being sent. It wasn’t on the protected line that Spike has been attuned to, so it must’ve been stolen!”
“Who could’ve done that?”
>Twilight looks carefully at the real letter.
>”I don’t know, but we have to find out.”
>So the order in the first letter was a complete scam?
>No wonder it sounded off key.
[CELESTIA’S LETTER REVEALED TO BE FAKE]
>Now you have to get to that hive.
“Where’s the hive, exactly?”
>Twilight looks back at you, keeping the new letter for evidence.
>”We’re not completely sure where it is, but we’ve always felt the collective magical signature of the changelings in the Badlands, so that’s most likely where the hive is.”
“...And where’s the Badlands?”
>Twilight groans a bit, asking for your map.
>”Here, I’ll mark it. It’s southeast of Appleoosa and Dodge Junction. I would be really careful though, because it’s filled with rogue magical elementals and cretins.”
“Noted.”
[Knowledge of Appleoosa, Dodge Junction, The Badlands, and possible Changeling Hive’s locations have been noted.]
“So, what’s closer, Appleoosa or White-Tail City?”
>”Well, from here they’re about an equal distance. The real difference is a 3 day boat ride or a 16-hour train ride.”
“Oh. So they’re far apart from each other?”
>”Well, it’s not as far as Ponyville is from the Crystal Empire, but yes, they’re far. As for your question before, It’d probably be best to see what’s happening at the hive before going to find this… dark arts master. Honestly, I think it’s dangerous going to see a pony who’s shrouded in legend for such dark and hurtful magic, but whatever leads you have helps, I guess.”
“Right. Who knows, maybe he’s a nice guy?”
>Twilight rolls her eyes, and you both laugh a bit.
>”That’d be some good luck if I ever saw it. Anyways, what else did you need to know?”
“Just one more thing. Do you think it’s possible to teach other ponies the healing spell and portal spells, or do they have to have the notes?”
>Twilight shakes her head.
>”Normally, you can teach them just fine, but only if you’ve mastered the spell you’re trying to teach. Since you can’t cast either, you can’t master the spells, let alone teach them to somepony else. For now, I’d stick with the notes you have, but I have to tell you that there isn’t anypony in this world stronger than the alicorns, so I don’t think you’re going to find anypony that’ll be able to use it anyways.”
“Yeah, that’s true. Either way, that’s all of my questions.”
>Twilight smiles.
>”Good, now… I have to write a letter to Princess Celestia.
>Twilight rejoins Redheart at the table with her own quill, Spike at her side, letting you go free.
>You wonder if there’s a pony equivalent of the Kamasutra here…
>It won’t be in Sunwhirl’s studies, though, since it’s not magic-related.
>It’d be best to try to find it in the Crystal Library or the Palace one.
>Twilight, Spike and Redheart are doing what they’re doing, and the rest of your party are drinking and having fun, probably wondering where you and Red are.
>It is currently 6:00 P.M.
>What would you like to do?



>Bit pouch: (10,174 bits, 3 small gems, 7 medium gems, 3 large gems)
>You make a mental note to give Sunwhirl the healing notes the next time you see him.
>After what Twilight reminded you of, there’s no point in keeping them.
>You decide your best bet is to check out that last book about incantations, but first…

[SEARCHING SANCTUARY FOR HIDDEN NOTES . . .]
[You don’t find anything.]
[SEARCHING SANCTUARY FOR BOOKS RELATING TO THE NINE RINGS OF KINICH-AHAU . . .]
[You have found an excerpt relating to the rings in a book entitled ‘Kinich-Ahau: Lost Emperor’.]

[Excerpt]
>”-and was losing control of his guard. To combat this, the newly-crowned Emperor Kinich found a way to control the overbearing magic that was beginning to turn on him. Legend tells that he summoned the Trottic god Unacro to forge him nine rings of fire. A ring for his four hooves, his tail, his body, his neck, his mane, and a crown of pure flame that sits above his form. On their own, the rings are said to be very powerful in their own right, but all nine together made the Emperor unstoppable, a god in his own right. After his death, the rings were scattered across all of ancient Equestria, from White-Tail territory to the Ghastly Gorge.”
[End Excerpt]

>So there are nine rings in total, and they’re mostly in the western part of Equestria.
>Damn, it’d be very interesting to see Berry as a fire goddess.
>Then again, it would probably be disastrous.
>It’s a ride you’d ride.
>Getting back to the task on hand, you only have one thing left to do here.
>Stretching out your hand, you levitate Sunwhirl’s Theorems from the table and open it up, beginning to read.
>How long would you like to study for?



>All the thoughts going through your head make you feel schizophrenic.
>You set down the book and pick on solid action to act on first before doing anything else.
“I’ll be right back.”
>”Okay.”
>”...And sent!”
>You see Spike burning the newly-made letter to Celestia, figuring that’s how they sent it.
>You go back through the tassles and walk through the dark hallway, using your lumination spell to see the way.
>Eventually, you emerge back to the front of the shop, Sunwhirl behind the counter and finishing a purchase from a crystal pony that is leaving.
>”Oh, that didn’t take long. Change your mind?”
“Yeah, actually. I was wondering if you wanted me to make a few copies of these notes? Since I just found out that only powerful magic-users that don’t exist outside of alicorns can use the healing spell, I have no more use for it, so you can have this.
[You give Sunwhirl the Stached your Starswirl’s Notes: Healing]
[2/7 NOTES RETURNS]
>”Oh, thank you. As for copying them, uh, if you needed them still you could do so, but you can’t copy the charm that has the actual spell within. If it’s encrypted, then you know it’s got safeguards against that.”
“Safeguards?”
>”Counterspells, so you can’t copy them?”
>Oh, that one you should’ve figured out.
>You now know that the charms aren’t going to work.
>But it would still benefit you.
“Alright. I’d still like a copy of those two anyways, just to be safe.”
>Sunwhirl removes a quill and inkwell, and you quickly sketch the words that Starswirl wrote a long time ago.
[RECEIVED COPY OF STARSWIRL’S NOTES: PORTALS AND HEALING]
“Thanks for this… I’ll be back up in a while.”
>”Don’t please yourself in my sanctuary, doctor.”
>...Well, you thought he was alright with it.
>You go down past the back door and the hallway, returning to the Sanctuary.
>You greet the three still studying out, and you pick up the theorem book once again and get to work.
>...

[You study Sunwhirl’s Theorems: Magic Drain Spells and Incantations for 1 hour.]
[You focus specifically on the Mana Drain aspect, looking for anything that you might be able to learn.]
[You don’t find any spells!]
>...

>That wasn’t a very productive hour.
>You understood most of it thanks to Twilight’s training, but you couldn’t find any actual spells.
>It is now 7:00 P.M., and Iron Will’s armor should be done right about now.
>Twilight and Redheart have just about finished going through the rest of the books, and their looks aren’t hopeful.
>What would you like to do?



>You wait for them to finish, and the two mares let out a groan of disappointment at the same time, Twilight a little more vocal.
>”Well, so much for that theory…”
“Yeah, major bust on the spell front, but at least I've got another lead. I've got a little running around to do to take care of my friends, and then I was hoping we'd find them and go for a few drinks. Would you like to join us? More the merrier and all that. Spike, you too if you're feeling up to it. Don't know what the drinking age is around here, but we can get you set up at a pool table or dartboard if that's your thing.”
>Spike’s eyes light up in excitement, but Twilight shuts it right down.
>”Oh no, we need to get going. There’s a lot of books to look through for Celestia, after all.”
>The small dragon instantly grabs onto Twilight’s leg with a pleading look on his face.
>”Oh c’mon, Twi! This’ll be the first time I’ve had fun since the attack!”
>”We have work to do!”
>”Please?...”
>”...Spike, I’m just not comfortable with you going out like that again so soon…”
>Twilight puts a hoof on his shoulder with a worried look.
“He’s safe with us. Trust me when I say that I look out for my friends, and I’m not about to let him get hurt a second time.”
>Spike smiles wide at your approval.
>”See!? I’ll be fine, Twilight! Plus, my hand is cramping from all that writing… Can I go, please?”
>Twilight is slowly drained of her will by Spike’s puppy-dog eyes.
>”...Ugh, fine. Just… be back in our room before midnight, okay?”
>”YES!”
>Spike jumps for joy, and immediately runs over to you and starts shaking your hand exuberantly.
>”Thanks for having my back, dude!”
“Hey, no problem.”
>”NO DRINKS!”
>Spike’s face falls at Twilight’s order.
>”Don’t worry about her, I’m totally of legal age.”
>”I heard that! Anon, don’t give him anything!”
“I won’t. See ya!”
>You, Redheart and Spike wave at Twilight, who gives Spike one last look before being enveloped in the dark hallway.
>Redheart then walks up to your side, giving a small smile to Spike.
>”So, what’s the plan?”
“We need to go pick up Iron’s armor, and then we can go find the drunkards that composes our party.”
>She giggles a bit, leading the way.
>”I think I know where they went. Come on, boys.”
>You and Spike follow her up through the back of the store and out to the front.
>”Goodbye, Mr. Sunwhirl.”
>He looks up from his logs.
>”Oh, leaving?”
“Yeah, we gotta pick some stuff up. Thanks for letting us use your private study though, it really helped us out.”
>He nods and gives you a quaint smile.
>”Anytime, Anonymous. Come back if you need anything else.”
>You wave goodbye, and the three of you exit the store into the ever-darkening dusk.
>”Ooh, it’s chilly. Let’s get moving.”
>...

>It takes you about ten minutes to make it to the Protected Wither.
>As soon as you come in, Spike’s eyes latch onto all of the weapon and armor racks, in sheer shock and amazement.
>”Whoa… So this is a weapon shop?... Awesome.”
>The voice alerts Mr. Ironsmith, who’s head pops out of the back closet.

[The Protected Wither] Owner: Mr. Ironsmith
>“Well, if it isn’t my favorite hairless doctor. Come for the armor? I think you’ll like it.”
“Yeah, let’s see it.”
[RECEIVED RE-INFORCED YETI-HIDE ARMOR (+40 PD, +25 MD, -100% chance to bleed)]
“That’s… Impressive.”
>Spike’s eyes glue to the armor, seeing something meant for pure, unadulterated combat up-close for the first time.
>”Only the finest from my store. Alright, do you need anything else since you’re here?”

-Buy
-Sell
-Modify
-Talk to Mr. Ironsmith
-Exit