No.713264[View All]
The story so far:
The party have arrived at the far flung seaside village of Moonhollow, ruled over by the elusive Lord Harroway. They have found that among other problems, the surrounding lands are plagued by a magical corruption known as the Blight. Having befriended the aspiring knight Dalliance, the party have signed on with a slowly growing band of adventurers working to cleanse the lands around Moonhollow.
Their first mission consisted of them rescuing Anna, the local blacksmith's daughter, who had apparently not been kidnapped, but instead run away to prove herself in combat. Their mission was a success, and they made two new allies: Cinder Fabrie, a kirin, and Solar Flair, a pegasus. The latter had already succumbed to the Blight, but the party found that this could be undone through great effort. Unfortunately, Solar was attacked by a creature which appeared to be an advanced form of the Blight, and was made comatose. He is currently in recovery.
With their new friend Cinder having joined the party, the group have split into two for the moment:
Voleurz, Dalliance and Rainy have stayed in Moonhollow for the time being, seeking their next mission. They appear to have found one: food is scarce in Moonhollow due to the local farms being plagued by a terrible beast of unknown nature. After asking around, they have discerned that the beast appears to be some sort of wolf, but of an unnatural size, leaving no trace behind.
Talon, Jesse and Platinum have accompanied Cinder in trying to find her former charge, a renowned paladin called Guiding Moonlight. Cinder, Solar and a handful of others were part of a hired group to escort Moonlight to the village, but a Blight attack led to them being separated. After some investigating, they found Moonlight, only to find her having driven mad by the Blight. Unlike most, she appears to be fighting the corruption, but can no longer tell friend from foe, reduced to little more than a beast.
1241 posts and 5 image replies omitted. Click reply to view. No.720596
>>720571Cinder, standing alongside her friends, looks around a bit bewildered at being pointed out by Harroway. Looking around, she realizes that Moonhollow's supply of heroes must be pretty slim. Sighing inwardly, she follows the others who step up to try to make some kind of speech.
"Moonhollow…" Her voice catches in her throat and she coughs a bit. She emits an awkward silence while she tries to regain her composure. Eventually she begins again.
"The town of Moonhollow might not be much to look at. But it's home to a lot of ponies who have been very kind and welcoming." She eyes the Waters sisters, Doc Caldwell, Anna, Imago, Harroway and Credence as she says this.
"Not only is this Glow, this blight, a disgusting abomination that threatens more than just this little hamlet, it would be a g*shd*rn shame if Moonhollow's legendary hospitality gets snuffed out by a housecat."
Her mane begins to rise and flicker like flames as she continues talking. Her eyes turn black with white pinpoints for pupils and she slowly steps toward the crowd, the firey aura building in intensity.
"We will not only protect Moonhollow, heal and return your afflicted loved ones and neighbors, and bring the cat Stolas to justice, no. We will burn this infection from the face of the planet with the righteous fury of ponies protecting their home!"
She is fully aflame now, leaving worrying char marks on the platform around her.
No.720608
>>720578Your condemnation of the current state of affairs is met with a murmur of assent from the riled up crowd.
>>720590Your speech gets a somewhat silent reception and an awkward cough from one of the townsfolk.
>>720591Harroway nods in approval, giving you a meaningful look. You sense that he's willing to put your previous disagreement behind him. You notice he smells a bit of alcohol; presumably he'd been drinking beforehand for confidence. As you ask the audience the big question, nothing happens; then, one by one, a few hooves are raised, then more and more. It seems the people are just as sick of doing nothing as you are.
>>720596When you speak of Moonhollow's legendary hospitality, you are met with a rather lukewarm reception. As you alight, Credence and Harroway back away in alarm, but the crowd seem to approve, especially as you swear to help fix the town.
>>720576>>720578>>720582>>720590>>720591>>720596As you all finish saying your part, there's a brief silence from the crowd; then, someone in the throng yells out, echoing Harroway's own speech. "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!"
You hear Anna repeat the cry from somewhere in the crowd. "
I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!"
Another voice yells out. "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!"
And just like that, the crowd grows frantic as they start yelling, clamoring, making a din. Many of them start taking to the streets, airing their frustrations for the world to hear. The spectacle of angry townsfolk is both inspiring and somewhat frightening, as the mob mentality spreads like a virus. For a moment, you think they're going to start breaking things. Harroway looks intimidated, but seems to encourage the rioting, shouting indistinctly into the angry crowd.
>roll Perception No.720614
>>720608I take a step back as the crowd seems to get a tad more riled than I'm comfortable with. Goodness, I agree, but it seems they're just as set to tear the town apart as those we're to fight.
[1d10]
Roll #1 5 = 5 No.720615
>>720608He turns to Harroway while keeping an eye on the mob
"That my friend is called chaotic progress. Now we're gonna have a full on riot unless someone takes charge. We'll also need someone to organize our militia. I think you'll do just fine. Come to me if you agree to do so"
He then turns to the mob observing the destructive potential of the citizens
[1d10+2]
Roll #1 9 + 2 = 11 No.720616
>>720608That escalated expectedly. Who wouldn't get mad at having your fellow creature being turned to a dust bunny or blight. I sure wasn't happy with the taste and filling value of the dust. Though that matters less now. With the rising voices could be troublesome. Ponies might step on one another's hooves.
[1d10]
Roll #1 5 = 5 No.720617
>>720608Seeing the crowd get riled up, Voleurz slinks back to the tavern unseen, wanting to save a personal stash incase the unruly mob decides soon to acquisition it for flaming ammunition against the disease.
No.720618
>>720608Cinder, still alight, watches as the crowd becomes a mob. There is excitement in her black eyes with pinpoint white pupils, shining like headlights, as she watches the mayhem from the relative safety of the top of the platform, which is looking worriedly charred beneath her hooves.
Perception [1d10]
Roll #1 6 = 6 No.720619
>>720608Rainy slinks back, looking concerned at the raging ponies!
"Oh.. maybe that was too much.. hmm."
she watches the crowd with worry, wondering if somepony might get hurt.
[1d10] Perception
Roll #1 4 = 4 No.720621
>>720617[1d10+1] perception
Roll #1 3 + 1 = 4 No.720627
>>720615He steps back and watches the townsfolk do their thing, nodding to you. "The guards won't really cut it anymore, will they. Not after what's been going on."
>>720614>>720615>>720616>>720618>>720619>>720621It's not the sudden riot that draws your attention; rather, it's the light on the horizon. You can see glowing yellow clouds gathering in the east, where the beach is, and by extension the Blighted throng. You hear the rumbling of distant thunder. The townsfolk are too riled up to notice, but Harroway does, looking to you fearfully.
No.720629
>>720617You go back to the tavern, getting some peace and quiet away from all the dramatics. The front door is locked, and all the windows are closed from the inside, as far as you can tell.
No.720630
>>720627I purse my lips and tense up. "Well. It's just one thing after the next, isn't it?" I walk over to and step up beside Lord Harroway. "You don't think we should postpone our excursion, do you?"
No.720633
>>720627He steps up to the podium
"Alright listen up all of you! We got a situation on the beach! Grab ANYTHING that can hurt or kill and meet back here in 20 minutes! If you aren't I will have your hides!" he booms to the crowd. After his loud orders he turns to the group
"Alright we got 20 minutes before that mob comes back. What's our plan?"
No.720634
>>720627Cinder notices the light over the eastern horizon, where the blight was. She hops off the platform, landing in Harroway's muddy courtyard light on her hooves, and begins to trail the mob, at a bit distance so she can observe them and potentially flee if necessary. If they start down the cliff, she waits on top to see what else transpires.
She does not try to interact with the mob, only keeps herself comfortably outside it so as not to be sucked in. Not much anyone can do to a group like that, anyway.
Perception [1d10]
Roll #1 10 = 10 No.720635
>>720627Sighting the growing clouds, Rainy shrinks away, sinking down to the wood boards as mostly a puddle.
"Oh no.."
No.720636
>>720630>>720627"Indeed. We should have expected something like this seeing the beach and the number of blights that were there. Everyone is pretty riled up. Do we want them to fight? They are the townsfolk, but we might need it. Yeah, we need it." Talon somewhat asks, fumbling over himself.
No.720637
>>720629"Ah bugger all…" Voleurz mutters, heading back to the group proper for the first time since the meeting,
>>720630>>720633>>720635"That's aught to be the spell to infect the rest of the town, isn't it darlings. You've got the townsfolk riled up, now go have them board up somewhere big enough to hide away town and weather the storm. The chapel, maybe."
She twirls a knife, "My bits are on the pussycat coming by with a big ol' blightening storm that'll catch anyone that can see it. Whip people up into a fervor, board up windows, etc. I'm no public speaker."
No.720641
>>720633[1d10]
Roll #1 4 = 4 No.720645
>>720637"Oh! You're right, we need to get their attention!"
>>720627sitting back up on the platform, Rainy extends a pseudopod upwards, pushing mass into a sphere at it's tip before forming several mouths facing towards the crowd.
"Everypony! Something dangerous is forming from the beach, we need to take cover, in the Chapel!" she shouts, trying to get their attention!
[1d10]
Roll #1 7 = 7 No.720646
>>720630"One thing at a time," he muses, looking worried by the clouds.
>>720633>>720641Your words are lost amidst the angry mob.
>>720634The mob seem to be moving towards the streets, many of them searching for weapons and the like. From what you can tell, they are rallying to go hunt Stolas.
>>720637>>720645Dalliance pipes up, having been silently observing with trepidation as the situation escalates. "Seems like a sound plan. In the meantime, maybe we should go scope out the beach and see what we're dealing with?"
>>720645You get the attention of a few nervous looking villagers who've also spotted the cloud. As they warn those around them, the general atmosphere of the gathered townspeople turns from anger and outrage to fear as they see the glowing clouds.
>>720645>>720637>>720635>>720634>>720633>>720630The crowd begin to grow fearful as Rainy and Jesse alert them to the glowing clouds, stampeding to whatever buildings they can find. You can hear them breaking in to a few houses in their panic. Some of them even storm the manor, despite Harroway's protests, and you lose him and Credence amidst the confusion. Dalliance looks afraid for her life, clearly eager to leave ASAP.
No.720649
>>720646Retracting the mass back into her form, Rainy mimes a sigh as the crowd disperses, bubbles dispersing into herself from the action.
"Oh! That could work! It would help if we knew what mister cat was up to." Rainy replies to dalliance, nodding.
No.720650
>>720646"It'd aught to be a small incursion than, Knight Dalliance, the purpose of a scouting mission is to return to here
before whatever that storm is catches up. I do believe it's best me and some others stay behind to board up windows from any light getting in."
No.720652
>>720646"I aint a fan of those clouds and it seems the village is all secure in their houses. We need to fortify this here townhouse and defend it as they're most certainly comin for us. Make some cover and board the windows. If you're in trouble holler. As for me I'm gonna see what we're up against" he says and runs outside quickly taking flight in an attempt to see the approaching blights
[1d10+2]
Roll #1 7 + 2 = 9 No.720653
>>720646"There are too many different people trying to do different things, and tell everyone different things. This is too troublesome." Talon tries to tell Harroway.
No.720654
>>720653(Pretend I told Platinum instead of harroway.)
No.720656
>>720646I rub the bridge of my nose. "This town meeting was a mistake," I mumble. "Should've just left well enough alone until the town was more stable." I step up where Harroway had been standing. "Everyone," I yell, trying to get their attention. "
Calmly get yourselves indoors. I know it's intimidating, but we will take care of this! No sense destroying what we're trying to protect!"
[1d10+1]Loud and forceful orders.
"As for everyone else," I look around for my companions. "Voleurz is correct. It's best a couple of us stay behind to help keep things in order. It seems she's volunteered herself, and we should leave at least one other. I'll leave one of my doubles as well. Everyone else- we meet the storm head-on before it can reach Moonhollow." I try to summon 3 doubles.
[1d10+2]
Roll #1 7 + 1 = 8 /
Roll #2 1 + 2 = 3 No.720658
>>720653"Quite right," I say, unable to keep the edge off my voice. "We need one pony leading. This is turning into an absolute mess."
No.720661
>>720650>>720646in the meantime, Voleurz slinks off to find garmets and bedsheets hanging up to dry on clothing lines and/or spare timber and nails in order to start boarding up and covering windows.
[1d10+1] Loot
[1d10+1] Pilfer (talent)
Roll #1 6 + 1 = 7 /
Roll #2 10 + 1 = 11 No.720663
>>720646Cinder walks as if in a daze to the path leading to the beach to try to catch sight of any of the Blighted, if she can. She is still on fire, leaving flaming hoofprints behind her. Her eyes light the path before her in a bright and focused beam of light emanating from her pupils.
She is trying to watch for the approach of Stolas, or any blights, her flames hot and ready.
Perception again [1d10]
Roll #1 2 = 2 No.720665
>>720646I step up beside Dalliance. "We will be fine," I assure her. "You are the valiant Knight of the Dove. I've seen you wulling to fight dozens of these alone, and witnessed your prowess in combat first hand. We shan't be outdone by a cat."
[1d10+1] Reassuring her and boosting morale.
Roll #1 6 + 1 = 7 No.720667
>>720656Three reflections of me pop into existence in front of me. "Two of you," I order. "Assist Voleurz in gathering materials to barricade the town. You-" I point to the one in the end. "You come with the rest of us." The first two nod and take off to help Voleurz. The last waits for the rest of us to leave which, by the look of the hottheaded buffoons ahead of us, was several moments ago. I take off after them.
[1d10]
[1d10] helping with whatever orders Voleurz gives.
Roll #1 6 = 6 /
Roll #2 1 = 1 No.720668
>>720667Talon decides to try to find materials to barricade the area, unsure what else to do. He takes a jog around along doing his best avoiding the panic by taking to the air.
Survival: spot check rolls +3. Can create and forage for basic supplies like rope, bandages, tents, torches and low-quality meals. Can see far into the distance and can see if dim or night light.
[1d10+3]
Roll #1 3 + 3 = 6 No.720671
>>720652>>720663You both see more or less the same thing on the beach as you go to explore; the Blighted are completely gone, and where they were is a pillar of light coming down from the clouds, a spiral of swirling dust spinning around it. If you look closely you can see Stolas watching nearby, intensely focused on the beam.
>>720656Your instructions seem to work, and the crowd seems to die down a little. They are still clearly frightened as they disperse into the surrounding buildings, doors being locked, windows shut and furniture being used as a barricade.
>>720661>>720668>>720667Amidst the general panic, you find plenty of materials here and there throughout the town to use for boarding up. You find that plenty of townsfolk seem to have gotten the same idea, barricading themselves indoors for the night. You also find some spare lucre here and there, lost amidst the riot.
>+100 bits>>720665She nods. "Whatever comes next, we'll face it together. Won't we?"
>>720667Your reflections join in helping Voleurz out with gathering materials for barricading the buildings.
>>720667>>720665>>720663>>720661>>720656>>720653The town slowly quiets down, and eventually falls silent as the villagers hide away in their homes. You hear a thunderclap, and you are all filled with a sudden wave of icy cold, as if someone had dumped a bucket of icy water over your heads. Dalliance, back at the town, shivers unpleasantly, her bravery beginning to falter. "Am… am I the only one who felt that?"
>>720663>>720652those of you who are looking out at the beach would see a dark figure emerge from the pillar of light. It seems to be the animated skeleton of a griffon, yet as it walks, flesh and organs begin to form out of nothing, filling out its form.
No.720675
>>720671>>720663"Regroup now" he says shakily as he watches the beast emerge. He flies back toward the town with an erratic flying pattern
No.720676
>>720671I give her a soft smile. "Together," I assure her.
A visible tremor rattles my entire body before subsiding. "No," I tell her. "I felt it too. Quickly, we should join Jesse and Ms.Fabrie, before something happens and they're left to face it alone."
No.720677
>>720671I shiver from the cold, bringing as many materials that I found towards platinum. Once there I drop it in front of them. Feeling distracted by this chilling feeling and the possibility of something terrible coming to the town.
No.720683
>>720671>>720676Voleurz pockets the coin, gritting her teeth as she has the dumb labor of Platinum doubles carry it over to the chapel, the largest defensible point she can think of.
>>720677"Talon darling, thank goodness
everpony with wings didn't leave. Could you help me start covering the windows of the chapel and boarding them up? I can reach these lower ones, but the higher windows I can't reach."
[1d10] Barricading
[1d10] Barricading (Clone)
[1d10] Barricading (Clone)
She calls over any others who decided to take shelter in the chapel, assuming others would be interested in their own self preservation.
Roll #1 1 = 1 /
Roll #2 6 = 6 /
Roll #3 3 = 3 No.720685
>>720671Cinder's flames are dampened slightly as the wave of cold passes over and through her; they momentarily regain almost all their previous intensity. She finds a place on the cliff above the beach where she can observe the base of the beam of magic light, carefully blocking out the majority of the yellow light with a forehoof so as not to catch too much of the Glow. She notes the presence and attitude of Stolas. Watching the grim scene unfolding before her, she first startles and then looks a little squeamish as she watches the form of a griffon take form from the inside out.
"D*ng, Grizelda, you sure know how to make an entrance, girl," she mutters to herself under her breath, and then begins to giggle a little.
Cinder suddenly realizes that she is pretty much alone, and very visible. She dampens her flame-aura and ducks behind whatever cover she can find in order to continue observing the pillar of light, the cat, and the still-forming witch on the beach as covertly as possible.
Hiding Her Light Under A Bushel [1d10]
Roll #1 6 = 6 No.720686
>>720683Talon does a mock salute. Sticking out his tongue from the side of his beak. He begins boarding the chapel with materials in talon.
[1d10] Barricade
Roll #1 5 = 5 No.720689
>>720675You rejoin the rest of the group on the manor grounds. Dalliance looks uncomfortable, even more so when she sees the expression on your face. "What did you see?" she asks quietly, her voice trembling. "Where's… where's Miss Fabrie?"
>>720676Dalliance nods and falls in behind you, her lip quivering a little in fear. She swallows and silently points out Jesse coming back.
>>720683>>720686Between the two of you, you board up the chapel windows and pull cloth over the hole in the roof, working as quickly as you possibly can. The front door is the last to be boarded, as you shepherd a few stragglers in. The townsfolk express their thanks to Voleurz, but don't waste time in entering and hiding away. It along with Harroway's manor seem to be the most occupied areas in town at the moment.
>>720685You turn off your flames and watch. The pillar of light fades and retreats into the clouds, leaving a scorched nonagram on the ground. Muscle, skin, fur, feathers and even clothes form on the griffon's surface, completing her resurrection as she walks confidently.
Unlike most griffons, Grizelda Henke bears the appearance of a horned owl, looking svelte yet deadly, with piercing yellow eyes. She is clad in a plain, but elegant black dress, form fitting with faint dark silver patterns on its surface. She extends one claw casually, and a ring manifests on her finger, though you cannot make it out from here. She takes a moment to relish her newfound life, closing her eyes and running her claws through her feathered head as Stolas curls around her legs happily.
"Oh, I've missed this."
>pausing No.722401
>>720689I clench my teeth as I see Jesse flying back. Alone. "What happened?" I ask. "Where is Ms.Fabrie, and what did you see?" I look over at the sky and swallow. "Quickly," I add. "We don't have time."
No.722402
>>720689>>722401"I don't mean to state the obvious, but I doubt anything good is happening. As I don't even know how. My feathers are standing up." Talon tells floofier than he ever has been.
No.722403
>>722401"I-I don't know it-" he takes a sharp breath in "There was this giant skeleton monster and a bright light. I-I told Cinder to get back. She just walked toward the thing in a trance. I f-flew back to warn y'all" Jesse is shaking like crazy wears a morbidly haunted expression
No.722404
>>722403"Instead of helping her?" I scream. "What were you thinking?! Once a deserter, always a deserter, no? Just get back to town and help Ms.Voleurz and the others fortify." I glance back at Blue and Dalliance. "Come on," I say. "We have to get to Cinder. Now."
No.722405
>>722404"Do you at least want my backup or am I too much of a traitor for that?"
No.722406
>>722405"Just go. You'll be more help in town."
No.722407
>>722406"Yes sir" he says and takes off towards the town
No.722408
>>720689Rainy quivers in a manner akin to gelatin, looking out from the elevated position of the manor towards the fog
"Oh.. this looks bad! The whole town is in danger!"
No.722409
>>720689Voleurz continues to push pews against doors, self-preservation sensation set in. She hoof-waves the praise, ego gone at least for the moment.
"Not going to bloody die today, no ma'am" She whispers coarsely to herself staging herself in a corner of the chapel.
