A Historical Perspective (CYOA) Thread the VI (Cont.)

>>29280842
Then make it even.
Get close to the golems so they can cover us while we fight.

>>29280842
As planned have Brutus take aggro as be assist with our polearm. Careful to not let him overextend.

>you're now dead.

>>29280871

>The odds most certainly aren't in your favor.
>So maybe you should try to even things out a bit.
"Brutus fall back a bit!"
>You're only sign that he heard you over the cacophony overtaking the room, is that he has started to slowly back up.
>You're both lucky the Ifrytes hadn't surrounded you, as you are now able to make your way to a group of Golem soldiers not too far off from you.
>They're focused on their own battle at the moment, but it's good to know they're there.
>As you move back, the Ifrytes take the lull in aggression to strike.
>Three of them whiff, swiping far too haphazardly to actually strike you.
>Brutus takes their carelessness as an opportunity to strike back, lightly injuring the three that missed him.
>Two of them manage to lay blows on Brutus, disorienting him a bit.
>With Brutus temporarily dazed, the final Ifryte blows past and strikes at you viciously.
>You instinctively swing back at it, but while you can feel Lucy sinking into the Ifryte's skull, it's claws have already met there mark.
>The Ifryte perishes, vanishing into a cloud of smoke, but as a memento it has left three long, shallow gashes across your stomach.

>FIVE IFRYTES REMAIN
>BRUTUS HAS RECOVERED HIS COMPOSURE.
>YOU ARE INJURED, AND CAN NO LONGER MOVE VERY QUICKLY.
>YOU ARE BLEEDING BUT NOT PROFUSELY.

>>29281286
I don't think that's a terrible turn of events. Brutus seems pretty much fine. Keep giving him backup with Lucy while he continues to be aggressive and tank for us.

>>29281407
This.

>>29281286
>>29281407

>You try hard to ignore your wounds, pushing them to the back of your mind.
>Brutus seems okay, and as long as he doesn't fall, you should be fine.
>"Smooth work on that one, Scribe! I'll try not to let any more through, but keep it steady!"
"Got it!"
>The same three from before take more weak swings, this time tripping over each other to get to you both.
>They don't even reach you this time, but the other two are more successful.
>One swipes at Brutus, bouncing off his armor. He tries to retaliate but misses, and loses his balance.
>The other comes for you. You both take a swing at each other, Lucy catching it in the center of it's demonic paw.
>Lucy gets stuck briefly, but you and the Ifryte pulling away from each other quickly dislodge her.
>It reels back in pain, looking more angry than anything, but it's still stunned.
>Now would be the perfect time for a counter attack!

>FIVE IFRYTES REMAIN
>ONE IFRYTE IS STUNNED
>BRUTUS IS STUNNED
>YOUR BLOOD MATS THE FUR ON YOUR STOMACH
>YOUR GASHES BEGIN TO NUMB

>>29281818
Finish that one, then try to use our reach to stop another from attacking Brutus.

>>29281818
While we see an opening step forward to do a sweep with Lucy then step back again. Hopefully we'll have tripped/stunned one of them for Brutus to finish.

>>29281818 >>29281859
>>29281887

>With a mighty swing filled with fury, you let loose on the stunned Ifryte.
>It tries to initimidate you, in a futile effort to save itself, but you are unperturbed.
>Lucy's shining, emerald head meats with the crimson temple of the Ifryte.
>With a sickening crunch, the Ifryte slumps, before again dissipating into smoke.
>Using the momentum from your swing you perform a sweeping motion.
>A slight delay in your turn tells you that you managed to trip up one, no two, of the Ifrytes!
>You come full circle just in time to see Brutus getting up and cutting the stunned spirit's throat deep.
>Unfortunately, another, less welcome sight has entered your view.
>The Ifrytes you missed have pounced on you, one knocking you done with a great fist, and the other clamping down on your left fore leg with unbelievable force.
>It's teeth sink in deeper and deeper as you cry out in pain, your screams only serving as encouragement to it.
>You can feel a subtle heat, slowly becoming more and more intense.
>The stabbing pain is now becoming good friends with a burning pain.
>You need to do something to get this thing off of you and quick!

>TWO IFRYTES HAS PERISHED
>THREE IFRYTES REMAIN
>ONE IFRYTE IS SEVERELY INJURED
>BRUTUS HAS RECOVERED
>YOUR LEFT FORE LEG IS BEING CRUSHED
>LUCY IS TOO LONG TO DO ANY DAMAGE AT THIS DISTANCE

>>29282125
Press the switch to get Lucy in Warhammer mode and beat the shit out of the one that's biting us.

>>29282125
>>29282156
This.
Then call for brutus to back us up while we retreat to a safe distance

>>29282125 >>29282156
>>29282206

>You are in so much pain. So, so much pain.
>But you can't give up. You can't afford to lose.
>Hitting the switch at Lucy's base, you turn her into a warhammer.
>You swing at the Ifrytes head over and over, each time, feeling it's skull give way a bit more.
>But it's not enough, and each blow only seems to tighten the jagged vice on your leg.
>You start to cry, but you can't give up. You just can't.
>Your so terribly scared. You don't know if you'll make it out of this alive.
>But you can't give up.
>You just can't.
>So you swing and you swing and you swing.
>But to no avail.
>With a deafening, damp snap, the bones of your foreleg are annihilated.
>All you can feel is the pain.
>You hear screaming, coming from somewhere but you don't know where.
>Oh. Oh wait. Is it.... is it you?
>You're screaming. At the very top of your lungs as if your life depended on it.
>And it very well does.
"BRUUUUTUUUS! HELP MEEE!"
>Snapping his attention to you, Brutus turns a ghostly white as he sees what the Ifryte is doing to you.
>He quickly bounds over, stabbing the beast in the back of the head, and slaying it's cohort that had knocked you over.
>He promptly helps you back to your hind legs, though you can hardly maintain your stance.
>A wave of nausea is washing over you, and you feel as though the world around you is spinning.
>It passes, but the pain does not.
>Your left fore leg has been rendered completely useless.
>And to top it all off, it looks like the last Ifryte is trying something.
>It's inhaling deeply, it's eyes glowing an even more fiery yellow than before.
>From the slit in it's throat, you can see flames seeping out.
>You have a fair idea of what it's about to try.
>But how can you possibly react?

>TWO IFRYTES HAVE PERISHED
>ONE IFRYTE REMAINS
>YOUR LEFT FORELEG HAS BEEN CRUSHED BEYOND USE
>YOUR STOMACH GASHES HAVE BEEN CAUTERIZED BY THE HEAT OF THE IFRYTES BODY
>YOU ARE NO LONGER BLEEDING

>>29282383
Switch Lucy back and throw it at the mouth.
Stupid move, but what else can we do?

I sure hope there's some kinda magic to fix our leg.

>>29282383
We have to kill it before it gets its fire breath off. Go with lucerne and use whatever we have left to swing at it and hope that either Brutus or Scribe will be able to get it.

>>29282383 >>29282423
>>29282429

>You don't know what to do.
>You don't know what you can do.
>But your body knows.
>Your instincts know.
>They know if you don't act you'll die.
>Hell, if you act, you'll probably die.
>But you have to try something.
>You feel yourself hit Lucy's button again. She is a lucerne once more.
>You reel back, Brutus confused as to what you're doing.
>You're good hoof seems to take in all the strength that you have lost.
>And with that strength, you throw Lucy at the beast.
>She soars through the air, the iconic whistle of the Mythril weapon growing further away.
>You hear it stop, replaced by a sickening squish.
>There is a gurgling, and a soft crackle as the fire within the beast dies.
>And at last, in a puff of smoke, you can see the beast vanish.
>Lucy drops to the floor, it's calttering now the only sound in the room.
>While you were fighting those six spirits, the Golem soldiers managed to clear out the rest of the room.
>The doors have closed once more, and all that remains of the Ifrytes you slayed are strange orange crystals, small but bright.
>"COMRADES. YOU WERE VERY FOOLISH TO TRY AS YOU HAVE TO TAKE ON SO MANY IFRYTES."
>"THAT YOU HAVE SURVIVED IS NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE."
>"THOUGH THAT YOU WOULD HELP US TO BEAT BACK THIS THREAT, INCONSEQUENTIAL AS YOUR EFFORTS WERE, HAS SHOWN ME THAT YOU ARE MORE THAN DESERVING OF THE TRUS MASTER TELA HAS PLACED IN YOU."
>"I SHALL HAVE ONE OF MY BRETHREN FETCH YAMA FOR YOU."
>"IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD HAVE OF ME, COMRADE?"

>>29282578
You wouldn't be able to fix my leg, would you?

>>29282600
This.

>>29282578 >>29282600
>>29282625

>As the adrenaline fades, and the fog of pain returns, you only have one question on your mind.
"I-Is there any way you can fix my leg?"
>You pant and choke the question out, hardly able to talk with the pain of your crushed leg flowing through you.
>"I AM AFRAID HEALING YOU IS BEYOND MY CAPABILITIES. THOUGH YAMA MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING FOR YOU."
>"AH YES, HERE SHE COMES NOW."
>Just as he said, Yama has come from wherever she was, just to see you.
>Her metallic frame, faded and steely gray in your present, is a bright and shiny golden color.
>She seems rather cautious of you, but upon seeing your injuries, her caution is replaced with concern.
>"You are hurt! Yama will help as best Yama can."
>"Where is your pain, soldier-friend? Yama will fix it."
>Weakly, you point at your left foreleg with the one that works.
>Yama nods eagerly and rubs her strange metallic paws together.
>They begin to glow a bright white, not with heat, but with magic.
>She begins to rub her surprisingly warm paws up the length of your leg.
>The pock marks made by the Ifryte's teeth slowly disappear, and your leg goes numb.
>Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Yama pulls two small planks and a roll of bandages, wrapping them around the injured appendage.
>When finished, she gives you a small, eager, but disappointed smile.
>"Yama can only do so much, soldier-friend. Your leg is very hurt, very bad."
>"You need a special healer, like young Mistress Ton'berri. I'm sure Mistress Ton'berri could help you!"
"Yes, I'm... I'm sure she could."
>You try to stretch your leg, but underneath the numbness there is still a distant throbbing.
>The bones are still broken.
>"No no! Bones are still very broken. Do not put too much pressure on your leg, please and thank you, soldier-friend."
>"Can Yama help you any other way, soldier-friend?"

>>29283169
I was sent by your master, Tela, to get his memory vials. Could you please fetch them for me?

pausing for the night

>>29283473
I love you

>>29283169
This:
>>29283190
Maybe we can visit the old wizard again and see if he can cure us (and maybe himself, too, once he's set to the idea of heal spells)

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>>29285278
I don't think he'll k ow any white magic but he'll definitely have healing potions and maybe we can get a supply of them.

blep

>>29285876

>>29286879

>>29283169 >>29283190
>>29285278

>No longer doubled over in pain, you remember why it is you came in the first place.
>You pull out the letter Tela gave you, now a bit singed but still intact and overall legible.
>Wordlessly, you hand Yama the letter, and she pours over it eagerly.
>Each word seems to illicit a new reaction from her, until she reaches the end and gives a nod of agreement to whatever it is Tela wrote.
>She turns to you, staring, with a dumb smile on her face. She's cute and all, but she has a strange fluctuation in her situational awareness.
"As I'm sure that letter told you Yama, I was sent by your master, Tela."
>"Yes, yes, Yama just read it. You are very helpful to Yama's master.
"Then do you suppose you could fetch the memory vials for me?"
>"Oh no, Yama cannot do that. Yama must wait many years before she gives you the vial Master gave to her."
>"But Master said that when Yama gives you the vial, that Yama can go on a journey with you!"
>"Yama is very excited to journey with soldier-friend!"
>You're happy for Yama, though a bit disappointed, and you have trouble sharing her enthusiasm.
>You need to see Tela about something, maybe see if he can heal your leg.
>You grab hold of the Cronos staff, tap it, and return to the present with Brutus.
>To your surprise, things have changed quite drastically.
>The floor is no longer covered in rubble and various bits of armor.
>Instead, lined up neatly against the walls, are inactive Golem soldiers, all void of life, all awaiting a master that will never return.
>You are unsure if this is better or worse than what was here previously, but at least you won't have to worry about tripping over something and eating brick.
>You go to Tela's lab, tap, and again, you're in the past.
>He welcomes you happily.
>"That was quite the commotion I heard out there! I trust by the fact that you both are still alive and well, that you handled those Ifryte's okay?"

>>29287385
Hold up the mangled arm and glare incredulously

>>29287418

>You hold up your mangled, albeit bandaged, left hoof to Tela, giving him a stare of incredulity that could bore a warm hole through a wooden door.
>He looks taken aback, but not exactly apologetic.
>"That's incredibly unfortunate."
"It's incredibly painful, is what it is. Just about every bone in my leg is broken, and Yama's done just about everything she can."
"Unfortuantely that amounted to a roll of bandages and a splint. My leg is still very much broken."
>"Hmm... I'm sorry to say there isn't much I can do in the way of repairing that. Blue mages learn through osmosis as it were,and I've never needed much healing."
>"You'll need to take that to Lenna if you want any kind of chance at fixing it."
>"But to show you I'm not unsympathetic to your plight, I'll do something I admittedly should've done for you before you left."
>"It seems that the various magicla countermeasures I've laid upion my basement have prevented your armor from working properly."
>"Surely if you had had access to your armor, this wouldn't have happened. So give me a moment."
>A glow and a snapping noise later, you feel a bit lighter and then you feel something familiar.
>Your armor cascades over your body, in a futile attempt to protect you.
>Or perhaps, it's just trying to protect you from any further harm. You can't tell, and don't care to think too hard on it.
>Surprisingly, the armor fits snugly around your splint, and seems to act as a cushion between your mangled leg and the floor.
>"That will suffice I trust?"
"...Yes. I suppose."
>"Excellent. Now, is there anything else you need?"

>>29287803
I suppose that is all. Thank you, Tela.

Let's go find present Yama.

>>29287803
We still need to thank Brutus for saving us.

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>>29287803 >>29287863
>>29288069

"No, I guess that's all. Thank you, Tela."
>He nods, you tap, back in the present.
>You get ready to return to the main hall, but realize there's something you've failed to do.
"Brutus."
>"Yes?"
"I need to thank you. And I mean really thank you. If you hadn't been there, I'd be... I wouldn't be here."
>"I can't tell you to think nothing of it. But I can't say I'm proud of myself. If I'd been faster, your leg might not be so hurt."
"There really isn't much you could've done. And what you could do, you did. I appreciate it deeply, Brutus."
>"...You're welcome, Scribe. Let's hope neither of us have to do it again."
"Agreed."
>You both step into the main hall.
>Unsure of what to do, you call out for Yama.
>She pops out quickly, from where, you don't know.
>"Soldier-friend! Yama has something for you."
>Retching and gagging herself, Yama reaches her hand down her throat and pulls a strange vial from within her body.
>Within it, is a strange white liquid, smoky and vaporous in its consistency.
>One of the memory vials, you assume.
>Yama hands it to you happily, and you place it in your saddlebag.
>"Yama also has these for you!'
>She hands you a bag, pulled from seemingly nowhere. In it are the six crystals that fell from the Ifrytes you slayed.
>They glow with a soft harshness, and seem to radiate warmth.
>You are unsure what to do with them, but take them anyway.
>You remember wanting to go to the library before... all that happened.
>And Yama is more than happy to take you there.
>Within the confines of the library, you see row after row of bookshelves
>This is hardly surprising. What is surprising, however, is how all the bookshelves are empty.
>There are a few tomes scattered on the floor here and there, but not nearly enough to fill the shelves.
>Where could all that knowledge have gone?

>>29288554
We can ask Yama about the missing tomes. Jumping back in time to find them is also something we can do.

>>29288554
Would going to the past help find them?

>>29288796
>>29288801

"Hey, Yama. Where are all the books?"
>"Yama does not know. One day they were here, and the next they were not. Yama is unsure of where they went."
>Not encouraging, but a problem easily solved with a bit of time travel.
>You look to Brutus.
"Ready?"
>"Ready."
>Tap. Swoosh. Time travel.
>In the past, the library is much cleaner, and much more heavily populated by tomes and encyclopedias of various shapes, sizes and lengths.
>Directly across from the library entrance is a relatively small table, and on it, are laid several books.
>The first seems to be a book about spirits, a sort of volume two to the book you already own.
>The second is rather thin and seems to be an instruction manual of some sort, though it bares no title.
>The third appears to be a manifesto on "Lifestream theory" a concept you are only familiar with because of Starswirl.
>In fact, thinking about it, this could very well be that self-same book, before being published.
>That particular bit of information isn't important right now though.
>These books were separated for a reason.
>Surely one of them must hold some kind of significance.

>>29289280
Man, I'd really like to take that second evoker's guide with us, but I bet we'd have some real issues getting it out of the city.
However, maybe we could copy down a few summons with our ink and journal while we're here.

We should check out the second book while we're here and maybe read the overview of the third.

>>29289324
Maybe we can ask Tela for ideas in getting the book out of the city.

I know you guys have been waiting for a minute but I'm drawing a blank for what to write. Just tired I guess. Pausing for the night.
Sorry.

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>>29289324
I don't even think we're gonna be able to take the Ifryte crystals let alone a book and potion. When we entered the city the guards basically told us we were gonna be searched before be leave so we gotta find a way to smuggle our loot you of the city, and if Captain Lily finds out we're smuggling stuff out I think she's gonna dismember us. invisible saddlebags or a distraction at the gate

>>29289324
>>29289362

>You consider taking the evokers guide with you, but you have no idea how you'd sneak that out of the city.
>You suppose you could as Tela about it. In any case, if you can't figure anything out, you could always come back and copy some notes down into your notebook.
>For now, you'll just read the other two, starting with an overview on that "Lifestream" stuff.
>Most of it doesn't make sense, but from it you glean that essentially all creatures are capable of magic.
>Some are more attuned to their natural magical ability than others, but with enough focus and practice, anypony, or anything, can cast a spell.
>There are diagrams displaying some strange headpiece, covered in spikes.
>The spikes apparently stab at "magical pressure points" and unlock the full magical potential of the creature that used it.
"Only tested on unicorns so far. Huh."
>You move on to the titleless notebook, eager to see what secrets it may hold.
>In it, in what looks to be Tela's hoofwriting, you find an extensive list of steps that need to be taken to extrsct ones memories and give them physical form!
>There are methods on solidifying them, vaporizing them, and liquifying them, though it seems liquifying is by far the most convenient of the two.
"When released from containment, memories need only be placed in an open aired container, in a dimly lit room to be viewable."
"Alternatively, the memories can be consumed, to allow outsiders to live the memories as if they were their own."
>Interesting. But you aren't sure how any of this could help you.
>Still, these books are important. They must be, otherwise, why would they be laid out like this?

>>29292987
Sooo... Evocation Vol. 2, manual, and theory.

I'm not getting any sense from it the pattern. Take a gander at the Evocation book.

>>29293241

>You decide it would be worth it to look in the evocation book anyway.
>You open it, and conveniently enough, it opens up to a page that seems to explain the crystals the Ifrytes dropped.
>For no one in particular, you begin to read aloud.
"Spirits, though bound to this world by magic, and invisible to the majority, are still subject to this worlds perils."
"Spirits can feel pain, they can hunger, though not in the traditional sense, and they can, in a manner of speaking, die."
"When a spirit suffers what could be considered a fatal injury, their physical body dissipates, leaving behind a crystal, which will vary in size in shape from spirit to spirit."
"The crystal is the essence of the spirit condensed, compacted so that they may have time to recompose and regain strength. It is in this state that they are most vulnerable, and only in this state that they can truly die, erased from existence."
"Shattering the crystal results in the spirits death. However, it can be ingested. Ingesting the crystal will allow an individual to gain that spirits strength, at the potential risk of altering their being. This is much like bonding with a spirit, though much crueler and far less personal."
"Other spirits can also ingest these crystals, leading to interesting mutations based on the combination of crystals ingested and the spirit that consumed them."
>Again, interesting, and also potentially helpful, but still no clue as to how it correlates to whatever puzzle is here.
>Suddenly, a note falls from the pages of the guide.
>On it, a simple message: 'Not all puzzles are so complicated. The solution is far simpler than you think. You hold the answer already."
>Looks like Tela's hoofwriting... but what did he mean by this?

>>29293550
No fuckin' clue. I feel it has to do with the forms of physical memories.

>bonding with a spirit
What is this? I don't remember this. I want to know more. Sounds possibly awesome.

>>29293709

>You flip through the book, searching for information on bonding with spirits. After all, you have all the time in the world right now, but there's no guarantee you can get this book out of Negra Beliza.
>A round of flipping reveals a section that appears to be an overview on the first volume.
>Again, you read aloud.
"When a spirit is fully formed, and sufficiently attached to their evoker, meaning that it has been released from it's summoning circle and granted relative freedom, the evoker has the option to bond their soul with the spirits own."
"This combines the beings of the spirit and evoker, making them separate, but whole."
"In addition to being visible to all creatures, the spirit gains a new pool of energy from which to power their abilities."
"The evoker gains more direct control over the spirits actions, as well as an almost unconscious mental bond, allowing for almost unnatural reaction times."
"The process is permanent, and is not to be taken lightly, as there have been cases of spirits completely kicking their evoker out of their body."
"While permanent, however, the process does not prevent the spirit from growing stronger in any way. Their form can still be altered by ingesting spirit crystals, as well as various metals in the case of golets, and should the evoker be willing to put in the effort, the spirit can still be ascended."
>"Scribe, this is fascinating, really, but I feel like we should have figured out what these books are all about by now."
>"This time travel stuff is tricky business, but maybe we should try to do something that staff?"

>>29293955
Huh. Cool.

Anywho, go to the present I guess?

>>29293996

>You agree with Brutus.
>Tippity tap, you're back in the present library.
>Yama is waiting there patiently, or at least as patient as one can be when they've had to wait all of a few seconds for somepony to come back.
>"Soldier-friend! You are back very quickly."
"Indeed I am, Yama"
>You begin searching for any sign of an answer to whatever puzzle this is.
>But you see nothing. The books on the floor don't match the ones you saw in the past.
>You do notice something strange about the table though.
>It's covered in dust, except for in those three spots, as if they had only just recently been moved.
>But who would have moved them?
"Yama, has anypony been down here, besides me and Brutus?"
>"Not for a very long time, soldier-friend. Mister Sanctus came down a long time ago, very long after they took Master away, but not so long as between then and you arriving."
>"Yama does not know what he did or what he took, but it is fair to believe that he took the books."
>"Master Sanctus does not like to share. Yama doubts he would give the books to you, as he holds a great dislike for earth ponies."
>Well, that's that you suppose. What to do about those books in the past?
>"Yama does not wish to be intrusive, but perhaps you could find a way to get the books before Master Sanctus?"

>>29293955
I dunno, we just got a memory vial thing and there's a book about seeing memories? So maybe we're supposed to watch it?

>>29294362
I posted just as you did, sorry. I'll try to include it in the next post.

>>29294358
Just, like, go back and get them or something.

>>29294358
Go back and just collect the books and move on to the kennel.

>>29294362 >>29294745
>>29294458

>Taking Yama's suggestion into account, you and Brutus return to the past.
>Frustrated with the situation as a whole, you simply grab all three books.
>Returning to the present, you place the evocation guide in your saddlebag, and the manifesto on the table.
>Curiosity and sheer frustration get the better of you as you open the memory vial creation manual, in an attempt to glean more knowledge.
>But what's this?
>It's hollowed out... and there's a memory vile inside!
"Yama! How did this get here?"
>"Yama is glad you asked! Master Tela told Yama not to tell you until you'd figured it out. Master Tela once said to Yama that objects taken from the past to the future, still have all the events that happened to them, happen to them!"
>"Master Tela hollowed out the instruction manual at some point, and hid the vial in it! Isn't that smart of Master?"
"Well... I suppose it would be. Except, I don't see how Brutus and I were supposed to have figured that out."
>"Aye, we didn't have much context to come to a conclusion like that."
>"W-well, Yama admits that Master Tela wasn't very good at coming up with puzzles. B-but the rest of the vials should be very easy to acquire. Yama promises!
"If you say so, Yama. Come, Brutus, I think we should go check out the kennel next."
>"If you say so."
>You move quickly, moving from the abnormally clean main hall, to the still messy lab, and finally, you come to the door to Tela's so-called kennel.
>Though if the stallion kept manticores for pets, you shudder to think what else might lay down here.
>Of course, with all time spent without a master to feed them, anything that was here, should probably be dead.
>At least, you hope so.
>Opening the door, you come to a room even more cluttered than the lab, and even messier than the main hall had been!
>Scattered all about are nests of variouys shape and size,manticore cubs the size of large rats scurrying away as you enter.
>Amongst the clutter, you spy a note.

>>29294841
Does the chance of getting mauled on entry seem high? If not, I supposed we should have a look at the note. Might be another message from Tela.

>>29294906

>You quickly move towards the note, the cubs attempting to sting you as you do.
>Their weak stabs do nothing against your armor, thankfully.
>The note seems to be suspended in a sort of magical preservation field, as time seems to have done nothing to it.
>Pulling it from the field, you read the note aloud.
"However many years in the future you might acquire this, greetings to you, friend. After realizing that my attempt at a puzzle was rather underwhelming and overall uncalled for, I decided to make things a bit simpler for you."
"The next vial is placed around the collar of Sarky's neck. Sarky is the male, but is the smaller and less aggressive of the two manticores that reside within my basement."
"Upon retrieval of the vial, you are free to kill Anita and Sarky and take their poison glands. To ensure they are preserved properly, you may place them in the "fresh seal bubble" patent pending, to ensure that time does not cause them to rot away."
"Fair warning: If Anita and Sarky have somehow managed to procreate in my absence, you can feel free to take the glands of their offspring. Be aware that the glands of immature and elderly manticores alike are not nearly as potent as one in it's prime, and might not work the same way in whatever potion you are intending to create."
>"I suppose we should keep that in mind."
"As do I."
>You look to the door at the far end of the room.
>The entrance to Anita and Sarky's room.
>They should be long dead by this point. So with confidence, you swing the door open.
>Your belief in their death is met with affirmation. Here their skeletons sit, both bearing collars symbolic of their now deceased owner. One holds a vial latched to it, as you were told.
>You remove it, and place it in your bag, along with the others.
>Now the real question remains: do you go back in time and risk further injury to acquire two proper manticore poison glands?
>Or play it safe with the cubs?

>>29294969
>Be aware that the glands of immature and elderly manticores alike are not nearly as potent as one in it's prime, and might not work the same way in whatever potion you are intending to create.

Well shit. Ask what Brutus thinks. With our leg broken, it's likely that he'll half to pull the bulk of the weight in a fight against a grown manticore. I'd hate to put that burden on him without asking.

>>29295052
Definitely this.

>>29295052
>half
fuck, *have

>>29295052
>>29295177

"Brutus, I need to ask you something."
>About the manticores, yeah? Worried about whether we should go back and get a nice fresh gland, or pick off the babies here, am I right?"
"On the nose, Brutus."
>"I can tell by the look you've got on your face, Scribe. It's the gaze of a warrior experiencing his first true wounds."
>"You aren't sure if you'll be any good in a fight, and you don't know if you'll be anything more than a liability to your allies."
>"It's a feeling I knew, once upon a time. In any other situation, I'd tell you to rest up, let yourself heal and be ready for another day. But we don't have that luxury."
>Brutus continues, his insecurities being washed over by his years of experience as a mercenary.
>"So what I'll tell you instead, is to steel your nerves. Be ready for the worst. And be prepared to bathe in the blood of the beast. Oh, and stick behind me. Nerves of steel won't do you any good on the frontlines with a broken leg like that."
"But what about-"
>"But what about, nothing. I have no issue with taking the brunt of this things aggression."
>"Of course, I still defer to you in this situation. If you're more comfortable culling cubs, that's fine by me too. I wouldn't hold it against you."

>>29295503
You've convinced me, Brutus. Let's do it then,

>>29295503
Alright. I'm worried that these cubs' glands won't be good enough for the king's sickness. If you're prepared, Brutus.

>>29295557
>>29295577

"Alright. You've convinced me, Brutus."
"And to be honest, I'm worried these cubs glands won't be enough for what we need."
>"Agreed. Now tap that staff and let's get this over with."
>You use the staff as a balance to stand, assuming the taur stance.
>You steel yourself, and tap Lucy on the ground forcefully.
>The both of you are taken back in time, to the room of the past.
>The skeletons are gone. In their place, two large bodies, covered i fur, one with a large mane, the other without.
>Each body spots a large, scorpion like tail, practically dripping with venom.
>The smaller of the two bodies, the one with the mane, turns to you, it's eyes glowing in the relative darkness of the large circular room.
>It seems to recoil at the sight of you, retreating to the back of the room.
>Noticing it's partner moving so strangely, the larger, maneless figure turns its body slowly and lazily.
>It's eyes meet you with a much colder, more predatory stare.
>It rouses itself slowly, releasing it's paws from the resting position they held underneath it's body.
>As you watch the creature grow larger and larger, you put the staff on your back, putting Lucy in your hoof.
>The female manticore finally achieves its full size, easily standing at ten feet or so.
>It rears its head back and opens it's mouth in a monstrous roar, its breath sour with the stench of rotting flesh.

>YOU ARE NOW FIGHTING ANITA THE MANTICORE.

>>29296088
A priority should be removing the tail. Maybe Ghost should try crippling it? Like try focusing on one of it's legs?

>>29296116
This. We can attempt to cripple it, Brutus should disable its tail.

Warn Brutus that if we get focused, then we'll use the staff to blink somewhere else in the room and sneak attack from another angle. We'll be back in less than a couple seconds if we vanish, that's a promise.

>>29296116
>>29296147

"Brutus! Priority on the tail! I'll swing for the legs, you move around and try to cut off that stinger!"
>"Understood!"
"If things get hairy, I'll blink out and try to find a different angle on things, but I promise I won't be gone but a few seconds."
>"Thanks for the warning, now GO!"
>In response to Brutus' shout, Anita lurches forward. But it's lethargy has betrayed it's reflexes, and the beast is hardly able to take a swipe at the two of you.
>As Brutus circles around the beast, you take a vicious one hoofed swing with Lucy.
>You catch it in the thigh, Lucy putting a deep pit of a wound in the manticore's leg.
>It cries out in pain, failing to notice as Brutus swings for it's vulnerable tail.
>A swing from Brutus, and his blade hits its mark!
>The tail hasn't been severed, but it's been injured beyond use for Anita. You won't have to worry about it stinging you any time soon.

>YOU'RE OFF TO A GREAT START!
>ANITA'S STINGER HAS BEEN RENDERED USELESS
>ANITA'S PAIN HAS THROWN HER INTO A RAGE! SHE'LL BE HARDER TO GET THE DROP ON NOW.

PAUSING

>>29296498
It's the most dangerous at the front. Try to stick to its sides and rear, and keep an eye on the other, just in case it tries to protect its sibling.

Have a good night bump

The useless tail presents an opening now doesn't it?

Get up little thread.

bup

>>29296633
>>29298405

>With it's tail incapacitated, the most dangerous part of the beast is now it's front.
>Which means it would be wise for you to keep to it's side and back.
>Brutus is still located to Anita's rear, so you suppose you'll keep to strafing around the beast.
>You can see the anger in it's eyes, all traces of laziness now gone, replaced by bestial fury.
>It has been wronged by you and it will have recompense.
>You're prepared for whatever it might try to do.
>You can see the pulling a paw back, it's deep black claws fully extended and looking for blood.
>What do you do?

>>29299890
Poof to the future, reappear, and get the drop on it.

>>29299890

>You tap to the future before it has a chance to attack you!
>While in the present, you move around to what would be it's backside, and prepare to take a swing at the manticore.
>The thought of swinging Lucy at something that is already dead amuses you, but you don't have time to chuckle right now.
>So with a tap of the staff, you jump to the past and swing for Anita's backside, leaving a deep scrape in it's lower back.
>Brutus, meanwhile, swings for the tail once more, completely severing it!
>The beast cries out in pain once more, swinging it's claws wildly, but ineffectually, all it's attempts at harming you flying far above your own head.
>Seeing that Anita is in pain, the smaller of the two manticores leaps into action, ready to defend it's mate!
>But you were prepared for this!

>ANITAS TAIL HAS BEEN SEVERED
>ANITA IS STILL IN A RAGE
>SARKY HAS JOINED THE FIGHT!

>>29300153
Call it out to Brutus.

That one's fairly cowardly. I'd say aim for its jaw with our lucerne in an effort to inflict pain, kind of a warning for it not to interfere.

>>29300177
If that falls through, try to stab at it's neck.

>>29300177
>>29300383
"Brutus, don't worry about that one! It's a right coward, shouldn't take much to put it back in its place."
>"Take care of it, then!"
>You proceed to take care of it, swinging at Sarky's jaw.
>A wet smack and a small crunch serve to tell you that you've broken something.
>Reactively, it swipes at you, knocking you down, before hurriedly skulking back to the far end of the room to nurse its injury.
>Brutus, meanwhile, has managed to deal Anita another minor blow, having stabbed the venomous beast in the center of its right paw.
>In its fury, it smacks Brutus out of the way and across the room.
>He seems unhurt, but now Anita is coming straight for you!

>SARKY HAS SEVERAL BROKEN TEETH
>YOU AND BRUTUS HAVE BOTH BEEN KNOCKED DOWN

>>29300760
Poof to the past again.

>>29300768
*present

>>29300768
Yes, we should Tela-port.

Sorry.

>>29300768 >>29300773
>>29300962

>Smashing your back against the floor like a flopping fish, you activate the staff.
>Back in the present you have a moment to compose yourself.
>As you compose, you begin to think: how best to deal with this beast?
>You want to end this sooner than later, but given the creatures size and current ferocity, that's easier said than done.
>As soon as you return to the past, it'll be ready to pounce on you.
>But you know exactly how and where it's going to land.
>Such information works immeasurably in your favor.
>So what are you going to do with it?

>>29301049
Any chance of getting on top of it? From there, a strike to the back of the neck should be lethal.

>>29301049
I say we should come in right beside of t and stab at it's neck or bring our lucerne right down from a high swing on it's head.

We're using the power of rock and roll.

Forgive the delay, I'm just a big dummy

>>29301105
>>29301160

>You figure the best time to finish this would be now.
>Or now one hundred and seventeen years ago, anyhow.
>You recall the position Anita was in as she jumped at you, and using that knowledge, position yourself roughly where the Manticores neck would be.
>You have to be quick, and you have to be precise, or else this fight is going to drag on for some time.
>Taking the staff in hoof, you chuck it as hard as you can into the air, ready for it to tap back down.
>Bringing Lucy back above your head, you prepare to swing downwards with the full force of your body.
>The staff, as though aware of your intentions, returns to the earth just as you ready yourself.
>A snapping noise, a whistle, a sickening splurch and a haunting gurgling roar are the noises that accompany your victory.
>Anita stumbles, her flaccid swipes missing by miles, and her balance almost non-existant, as the life drains from her, literally and figuratively.
>The creatures blood begins to pool, and gives a small splash, as Anita collapses on the floor, resigning reluctantly to its fate.
>Brutus looks at you with an expression of pride, though you spy in his face hints of confusion.
>To him it must have looked like you had simply blinked from one place to another.
>"Bang up job, Scribe! But, uh, what do we do with that one?"
>You look over at Sarky's whimpering visage, mourning his deceased mate.
>Should you leave him be, or send him to a similar fate?

>>29302112
We're not hunting for sport. We came for a venom sack, now let's get it. No need to attack the other one unless it makes us.

Unless I'm wrong and you think we need another, Brutus?

>>29302112
It's either put it down or leave it to eventually starve. I wish there was another option but I think killing him now is the lesser evil.

>>29302138
>>29302175

>You aren't here to hunt for sport, that much is for certain. You came for a poison gland, and now that Anita is dead, you'll get it.
>There's no real need to kill Sarky, especially since it doesn't seem like he has any will left to fight you with.
>But still...
"Whether or not we interfere, he's going to die. Either we kill him now, or he starves in however long that will take."
"All in all, I'd rather spare him that pain."I wish there was another option, but I feel as though that's the lesser evil in this situation."
>"Aye, I agree. No winning here, but might as well make it quick, you know? I'll take care of him, don't worry about it.

XXX

>The process was long and rather uncomfortable to listen to, but after about an hour of dissection, you and Brutus were now two poison glands richer.
>Looking back at the corpses of the two great beasts, you can't help but be a bit sad.
>They hadn't asked for this. This can't possibly be what they had expected from their lives, lowly animals though they were.
>There's no point in dwelling on it now, but you wonder; if this is how you react to killing a mere animal, what will happen when it comes time for you to fell a fellow pony?
>Pushing the thought from your mind, you move into the kennel, filled with empty cages, each one bearing a label for a creature that has long since ceased to occupy it.
>You place the poison glands in the bubble of preservation on the floor, tippity tap the staff, and just like that, you find yourself the proud owner of two perfectly preserved, centuries-old poison glands.
>You place them in your saddlebag, and take note of how the environment around you has changed.
>Just like how the main hall had been altered by your interference in the past, your execution of Anita and Sarky has eliminated the presence of all manticore cubs.
>Interesting. You wonder what else your actions have affected.
>Where to next?

>>29302379
I suppose all that remains is HIM.

>>29302379
Which vials are left? HIM and the one in the storage area?

Guess that's where we're headed.

>>29302393
>>29302412

>The only two vials left on your list are in the same general direction.
>One in the storage room you were dropped into, and one with... Him.
>You still have no idea who 'Him' is, but the fact that Tela for some reason refused to acknowledge him by name is unsettling to you.
>But you need the vial, and you'll need to confront 'Him' to get it, whoever he is.
>You make your way anxiously over to the storage room, going through the main hall and the lab.
>Yama gives you a small wave as you pass by, and joins you on your small journey to 'Him'.
>You enter the storage room, still dimly lit by the torches within, the pile of pillows untouched.
>"Oh! Yama will help and save soldier-friend some time."
>She dives into the pile of pillows, the pile shifting and jostling as she searches for something hidden within.
>She emerges roughly a minute later, holding a vial up triumphantly.
>It's lucky that you didn't break it on your way down.
>That leaves just one vial left.
>And the door to it is right in front of you.
>You don't know how you didn't notice it before. Perhaps it had been hidden to you?
>No real reason to question it. Only one thing to be done.
>You open the door slowly and carefully, wary of what might lie behind it.
>Yama quickly places the vial she uncovered in your bag, refusing to enter the room.
>You can't really blame her. Even you can feel the aura of negativity emanating from this room.
>It makes you feel heavy inside, but you must press on.
>So you step in, a single torch illuminating a strange object in the very center of the cramped, circular room.
>It appears to be the shape of a pony,a stallion, sitting in a very uncomfortable cross-legged position.
>It has no forelegs, both of them appearing to have been broken off at some point.
>The statue is secured to the floor in no less than six places by thick iron chains,all joined by an iron collar at the neck.
>In the mouth of the statue, held firmly between its teeth, is the last vial.

Pausing

>>29302948
Grab the vial, get out, don't let Him out. Simple enough, right?

>>29302948
Brutus could use his magic so we don't have to actually approach the thing.

>>29303417

>>29302948
Aw heeeell no. Go ask Tela about HIM before we fuck something up.

>>29302948
I always think >pic related when I hear the name, but this doesn't fit the bill. Could he be some incarnation of Sombra? Or a real pony devil? The missing legs is awful if he's a live being. I agree with asking Yama who or what he is, and if he's animate, ask him for the vial.

We might be able to accomplish some justice here if he's "not that bad, really" but I sincerely doubt that that is the case.

If he's just a really bad statue that'll mess us up if we touch it, we could lay pillows around where the vial may fall, then poke it through his mouth from the side with a stick or pole.

File: Evil.gif (71KB, 500x362px) Image search: [Google]

71KB, 500x362px

>>29305148
*pic related.

History

File: 1417407367624.png (1MB, 900x1800px) Image search: [Google]

1MB, 900x1800px

>>29305148
>We might be able to accomplish some justice here if he's "not that bad, really"
Sounds familiar somehow...

>>29306263
Yeah I'm pretty sure that he's supposed to be here.

>>29303004 >>29303695
>>29304726 >>29305148

>You would hope that this would be as simple as knocking the vial out of it's mouth and being on your way.
>But you get the feeling this won't be that simple at all.
>Tela did refer to the statue as 'Him' after all, and the general aura of anger and bitterness the statue seems to exude don't really encourage you to get close to it.
"Brutus, any way you could float that vial out of there with some magic?"
>"Not sure, but it can't hurt to try."
>After a few moments of Brutus' horn glowing and the vial teasing you with how it shakes back and forth, but stays stuck, it becomes apparent that magic won't work.
"Hmm. Yama!"
>Yama opens the door quickly, but stands just outside it, refusing to come in.
"I need you to tell me more about this statue, Yama."
>"M-master told Yama He is very dangerous. But Yama has always known that He is dangerous. Yama can feel it."
>"Master kept Him chained here, for many reasons. Yama asked Master once what his reasons were. Master said that it was as much for His safety as it was the safety of all ponies."
>"He has been asleep for a long time. Master once told Yama that should he fall asleep, only one thing could awaken him: anger."
"Anger?"
>"Yes, anger. Either His own, or someone else's. But Yama does not know how you would anger him, or how you could become angry enough to awaken him."
>"If you do not mind, soldier-friend, Yama would like to go. Yama is very uncomfortable here."
"Of course. I'll call you when I need you."
>Anger, is it? What do you do with that information?

>>29307270
Crystals are the essence of a spirit, right?

Maybe those Ifrytes are pissed enough at us that they'll work?

>>29307270
We... don't want this thing waking up, right? But then again, it seems like the vial must be placed in a way that it won't be coming out.

>>29307270
I say we speak with Tela on what to do.

>>29307459 >>29307656
>>29307947

>You have a fair idea of what to do to get the vial.
>The Ifryte crystals in your possession should be enough to awaken 'Him', with all the anger they hold.
>However, you aren't even sure you want him awakened.
>Maybe you should consult with Tela on this.
>"You go do that, Scribe. I'll stay here and see if I can't figure this thing out."
>Making your way back to the lab, tap tap, blah blah, back in the past you go.
>You glance around the lab, and find Tela still doing whatever it is he's been doing.
"Master Tela, I have a question for you."
>"Concerning Him I assume, yes?"
"Yes, precisely."
>"I don't have much to tell you. I assume in your time that he's gone to rest again, yes?"
>"He's been drifting for years, each time he comes to, being angrier and angrier."
>"He always wears himself out, but his raw emotion makes him hard to talk to."
>"Shame really. I'm sure I could learn all sorts of things from him, but he won't so much as give me his name."
>It sounds like Tela regards Him, whatever He is, with the same interest you would give to a peculiar plant. Very cold, almost uncaring.
>Maybe He would respond better to a bit of compassion?
>In any case, you thank Tela, return to the present and back to His room.
>Brutus hasn't come up with anything. You think you might have the answer, though.
>"So are you going to try waking this thing up, Scribe? Maybe we should try dislodging that vial another way, eh? Your call, of course."

>>29307270
Can we go to the past and ask Him to please not bite down on the vial so hard in future, so we don't have to awaken him needlessly? Also we could ask him more about what led to his predicament. If he's awake in the past and presumably less angry than he would be if awoken in future, it doesn't seem like it could hurt to try. I'd say bring Brutus with us to the past.

Also, is our memory alone good enough to "smuggle" summoning book 2 out with us? Or could we use the memory encoding book to smuggle out a bottled version of said book then transcribe it later?

>>29308093

>>29308115

>>29308115
>>29308306

>Tela said every time he wakes up, he's angrier.
>After a century to stew in his anger, he must be absolutely furious..
>So perhaps if you go to the past, you might be able to talk to him, get the vial without any issue.
"No Brutus, I don't think we'll wake him up just yet. Let's head back a ways, see if we can't catch him when he's already awake."
>Brutus nods, though he seems more than a little anxious. You are too. No telling what He'll be like or how He'll react to you.
>Gotta try though.
>Tap, tapparoo, back to the past you go.
>Now, to see if He's aw-
>"LET ME OUT OF HEEEEEEEEEEEERE!"
>"LET ME OUT, LET ME OUT, NOW!"
>Your ears are assaulted by the ragings of the statue, the stallion you know only as Him.
>He's beating and pulling and screaming at his chains, punching at his own neck in a futile effort break away his bondings.
>Each blow seems to rock the very earth to its core.
>His strength is frightening, and his rage even more so.
>He doesn't even seem to have noticed you yet, allowing you a chance to take in his awakened appearance.
>His eyes are pure white, lacking an iris or sclera of any kind. His mane and tail are snow white, as is his body. His body seems to be made of organic stone, seeming to both artificial and natural, covered in strange markings the likes of which you've never seen.
>The beating against his own neck only intensifies, his outrageous speed creating an unnatural heat in the room.
>You sweat a bit, but it's nothing you can't handle. Especially since he seems to be slowing down.
>The sound of his beating hooves slows and becomes irregular, until finally it stops.
>He's breathing heavily, but you can tell it's not because he's tired.
>These are the ragged labored beraths of somepony absolutely enraptured by anger.
>You might be able to get his attention now if you tried though.

>>29308368
"Hello, Mister? I'm sorry to intrude, and I can't free you without knowing the full ramifications of doing so. Could you please tell me why you're here, and I'll explain why I'm here?"

>>29308395
>He's beating and pulling and screaming at his chains, punching at his own neck in a futile effort break away his bondings.

Does he have his forelegs at this point? It seems so. If so this would be the point to weigh his argument for freedom, if he has one to make, before he disfigures himself.

>>29308395
>>29308407

"Hello, Mister?"
>He looks at you, noticing you for the first time, confused by your presence in His room.
"I'm sorry to intrude, and I'm afraid I can't free you until I know the full ramifications of doing so."
"Could you please tell me why you're here, and then, I'll explain why I'm here?"
>His confusion turns back to anger, and he speaks, his voice gruff and gravelly.
>"I don't care who you are! It doesn't matter why I'm here! JUST LET ME OUT!"
"But why should I let you out?"
>"Because I don't belong here! This isn't my place. This isn't my home!"
"Well, where is your home?"
>"I- home... I don't have a home. I haven't had a home for so long. I shouldn't be alive. I shouldn't be here! WHY AM I HERE? LET ME OUT, NOW!"
>He doesn't seem too keen on talking, at least not with the questions you're asking.
>His frustration seems to have been building up for quite some time.
>"Why are just staring at me? If you aren't going to release me, at least come closer so I can cave your face in!

>>29308646
Let's just start slower. My name is Scribe and this is my companion Brutus. What do you call yourself?

>>29308716

"All right, let's just start a bit slower then. My name is Scribe. This is my companion, Brutus."
"What do you call yourself?"
>He seems to lose himself in thought for a minute.
>"I... I've been so angry for so long. I have not needed a name. I have had nopony to call me by it."
>"I believe... I think my name was Rowsh."
"Rowsh? That's a rather peculiar name."
>"For who I was, at the time I was given the name, it was normal. But what does my name matter anymore? WHAT GOOD IS A NAME? WHAT DOE IT MATTER TO YOU?!"
"I'm just trying to learn more about you. The more I learn, the more inclined I might be to let you go."
>Gritting his teeth, and continuing to pull at his many bindings, he reluctantly agrees.
>"Fine! Ask your stupid questions. It's not as if I have any choice."
>"Actually, no, that's not true. I could choose to sever your head from your shoulders, but I'm in no mood for that."

>>29308847
You say you don't belong here, but were you given a reason for being locked up here as you are?

>>29308847
Why, are you so angry?
Screaming at those chains isn't going to break them, neither can we, because we don't have keys on us right now.

How did you get here.

>>29308884
>>29308937

"You know, screaming and fidgeting at your chains isn't going to break them."
"And neither can we, since we don't have a key."
>"A key he says. You truly know nothing. these chains are designed specifically to hold me, suppressing me and me alone."
>"I can do nothing to them, but to you, they are simple iron chains, easily broken by a weapon like the on you hold."
"Well, I suppose that makes things simpler. But I still have questions."
"Why are you so angry? And you say you don't belong here, but then where do you belong? Were you given a reason for being locked up here?"
>"I am angry because it's who I am. I have been angry for as long as I can remember. I was angry for the sake of it."
>"But a long time ago, longer than I can remember, long before you ponies were concerned with your petty differences, my anger was given a new meaning."
>"I was angry for a reason. I sought something. But I have been angry for so long... spent so much time trying to find what I lost. I can't remember why I was angry in the first place. And that only makes me ANGRIER!"
>"My anger has given me the power to endure for millennia, granting me the strength to return to find what it is I seek, even if I can't remember what it is."
>"During one of my black-outs, the unicorns of this city found me, tried to use my strength as their own. But I would not have it I am no puppet!"
>"So they handed me over to the gray old fool with the stupid blue cape, to see if he could prod me, convince me to give them the strength of my fury."
>"He saw the futility in the action, and left me to myself, CHAINED TO THE FLOOR IN A DUSTY OLD BASEMENT! AND THAT MAKES ME ABSOLUTELY FURIOUS!"
>The fire in his heart reignited, he begins beating away at the chains again.
>"THEY THOUGHT ME A GOD, BUT I REFUSE THAT TITLE! I AM ROWSH AND I WILL HAVE WHAT HAS BEEN DENIED OF ME!"
>You seem to have lost him to his rage.
>What now?

>>29309082
Could we dump some water on him?

He needs to calm down. His anger isn't some metaphorical thing dangling over his head that we can't see. Its coming from inside him, his emotions. If he keeps being angry, he'll waste away in his anger even more, and when that happens he might not even remember his name. Now does that make him angry?

pausing

>>29309223
Thanks for running.

>>29309082
"Please stop, Rowsh! I can tell you for a fact that if you don't convince me, you'll spend hundreds of years here and bust your legs off fighting those chains. That much I know. So they wanted to channel your power, and caught you during a time when you were sleeping between tantrums. That's what you're doing, you know, is throwing tantrums. You must have valued whatever you lost very greatly. But thrashing about and being destructive over the loss of whatever it was, won't bring it back! If you could channel your anger into a more constructive endeavor- Such as stopping what you are doing and instead concentrating on whatever you lost, perhaps you'd have better luck finding it. Plus, if your powers are kept a secret from others, nobody would again try to restrain you to capitalize on them!"

>>29309955
This.

>>29309955 >>29309146
>>29310777

"Please stop, Rowsh! I can tell you for a fact that if you don't convince me, you'll spend hundreds of years here and bust your legs off fighting those chains. That much I know."
>"YOU DON"T KNOW ANYTHING!"
>Ignoring his outburst, you move on.
"So they wanted to channel your power, and caught you during a time when you were sleeping between tantrums. That's what you're doing, you know, is throwing tantrums."
>"YOU SEE A TANTRUM ONLY BECAUSE I AM RESTRAINED! IF NOT FOR MY BINDINGS, I WOULD HAVE SLAUGHTERED YOU!"
"You must have valued whatever you lost very greatly. But thrashing about and being destructive over the loss of whatever it was, won't bring it back!"
>"YOU DON'T KNOW THAT! I'LL KEEP THRASHING UNTIL SHE- until she..."
>Your getting somewhere now!
"If you could channel your anger into a more constructive endeavor- Such as stopping what you are doing and instead concentrating on whatever you lost, perhaps you'd have better luck finding it."
>"I...I lost a she. But who was she?"
"Plus, if your powers are kept a secret from others, nobody would again try to restrain you to capitalize on them!"
>"I am no puppet. I refuse to be a puppet!"
"And you don't have to be a puppet, Rowsh! But you need to stop this senseless anger."
>"But it's all I have left! Without the anger, I have no drive, and if I have no drive, I'll forget her!"
"When this conversation started, you didn't even remember there was a her. And now look."
>"I-I...You have a very persuasive tongue, Scribe. Or maybe it's just that I haven't had a proper conversation in centuries."
>"I'm still angry, and I won't stop being angry, but you have my attention. I want out of here. What do I have to do to convince you to let me free?"

>>29313056
Remember. Focus yourself, take time to reflect, recall.

>>29313056
Convince to me that you will not go on a murderous rampage for petty reasons.

Sejor.png

>>29313243
>>29313513

"Remember. Focus yourself and recall. Take the time to reflect and show me that you're somepony worth letting go"
>"So simple yet so hard. I'll do as I can."
>Rowsh sits down, closing his eyes and breathing deeply. The anger is still permeable in the air. But you can see that he's trying his best to calm down.
>"I don't know how long ago my story starts. Time is inconsequential to me. Millenia, centuries, decades. I use these words, but they hold no meaning to me."
>"Farther back then I can remember, I was simply a very angry pony, though despite my anger, I was revered by many. The ponies of the earth, they were my people."
>"I cared for them. To see them wronged pained me, and it was the fuel for my anger. And they were wronged constantly. I had many close to me, some ponies some not. Looking back, I don't know if I could ever have called them my friends."
>"These friends of mine, we clashed constantly. They saw the ponies of the earth as weak, lowly. I wanted so desperately to prove them wrong. So one day, they provided me a test. I was not prepared for this test. It was a cruel test, beyond my understanding, beyond my ability to forgive!"
>"They...they took her from me! They stole her away, hid her, and they wouldn't give her back! THEY STILL HAVEN'T GIVEN HER BACK! I WON'T STOP UNTIL SHE'S BACK IN MY HOOVES, I'LL KILL THEM, I'LL KILL THEM, I'LL KILL THEM!"
>He starts shaking wildly, not beating against his chains, almost seeming to forget he has hooves, but simply pulling at them with his body.
>Behind his anger, you can hear sadness. Subtle, but you can hear it in the way his voice cracks, under the duress of his screams.
>"I'LL KILL THEM, I SWEAR IT, LET ME OUT!"
>"I'LL KILL THEM, I'LL kill them, I'll...kill them."
>He stops, appearing to have tired himself out. Or at least to have given up breaking the chains. Maybe he's even trying to keep himself under control for you.
>Have you heard enough? Or do you need more?

>>29313849
Who is she?

>>29313849
Ponies of Earth. Then are we not of the same kind? Kin of the Earth? I too seek to prove the worth of Earth ponies. I am not yet completely convinced you can hold your rage. You are currently in a city of those with horns. Unicorns. They will certainly be hostile towards you.

>>29313898
>>29313938

"Who is she?"
>"I... I can't remember. Not yet. I can't remember."
"Well, that's fine. You'll remember in time."
"You know, I am a pony of earth. Are we not the same kind? Certainly I have had my fair share of hardship and prejudice."
"But I've been slowly but surely proving my worth, without anger."
"In this city, filled with those with horns, unicorns, your rage will be a hindrance to you. They will surely be hostile towards you. Show me that you can control this rage."
>"Hornheads...HORNHEADS! All of them, so confident in their own superiority. But her mother... she was perfect. She held compassion for all things. But her pride, her pride was so ugly. She loved me, and I loved her... which made her betrayal all the more painful."
>"She... she took her. She took our daughter! She took my Azura from me! I want my daughter back! I WANT MY DAUGHTER!"
>His voice is raised, but he doesn't try to break free. He continues to scream. But you get the feeling that he only screams because he is incapable of crying.
>He knows only anger, and there isn't much you can do to change that.
>"Please... please let me go, Scribe. I need to find them, find her. I'll leave here without a word, without incident. But they can't keep getting away with this!"

>>29314080
So you know then? You remember? I cannot leave you to wander. You said yourself it has been many, many years. Who is to say there is anything left to find?

My issue is that there's no way of letting him out now that won't involve the rest of Negra Beliza knowing about it. I want to go speak with Tela. Maybe he can tell us more about Rowsh's. At least what is known.

>>29314080
She was a unicorn then? An exception, to the norm?

He doesn't know how long it has been, is there even anything left? The best I'd hope for is a descendant.

But that's beside the point. The point is, if he gets out, and gets his revenge in whatever way he does it, what then? Vengance has a good way of doing nothing more than just letting you know what you lost isn't going to come back.

Ask him how he plans to get her back. What, is he going to just accost the first mare he sees off the street? Where would he look? Why does he deem it worth being so angry when he can't even think up a way to get what he wants? He won't get anything without that, free or not.

Another thing, why hasn't anyone tried to just...kill him? Why keep him alive, is what I mean. He's clearly too off his rocker to be worth exploiting, if that's what he was locked up for.
This guy clearly is just as racist as the unicorns he so despises. I wouldn't hold a better opinion of him just because he doesn't have a horn.

>>29314164
>This guy clearly is just as racist as the unicorns he so despises.
I agree. That was one of the biggest red flags here, of which there are many. He's not making a great case for himself.

>>29314164
>>29314172
Eh, I can understand his side. Ghost should. I would say that whatever betrayal happened cut him especially deep against unihorns.

Again, not saying I support racism, I just want to understand his angle.

>>29314131 >>29314164
>>29314172 >>29314221

"She was a unicorn then? An exception to what you believe is the norm?"
>"She was the exception to everything! She showed me compassion and understanding where none had. She... she showed me how to care."
>"Before her I had only known my anger. But she gave me the ability to love. And when our daughter was born, when I was too afraid to even hold her in my hooves for fear of hurting her, she showed me how to be gentle..."
>"But the she tore it all away, like some cruel joke! I want to take it back."
"That sounds awful, Rowsh, and I can understand your pain. But how do you know anything is left for you?"
"You say you don't even know how long it's been, so how exactly do you plan to take any of what you've lost back?"
"Are you just going to take to the streets and accost the first mare you see? And answer me this, Rowsh: why haven't these unicorns just killed you when you so very clearly aren't going to help them?"
>"...I wouldn't expect you to understand. I hardly understand. I've been told I'm very good at dying but very bad at staying dead. I always come back, and it's my wrath that keeps me rooted here."
>"And don't get me wrong. The ponies of the earth are my kin, and I favor them, but all creatures are deserving of my protection. I hate the horned ones, I hate the winged ones, but my anger is not with them."
>"It is with those that would claim to represent them. Those that think themselves high above the rest. You ask how I would know that there is anything left for me, but it is not something that could be explained to you."
>"I know what lays out there for me, and I will do what I must to get to it, to reclaim what's mine. No harm will come to the residents of this city, nor to any other creatures that cross my path. I promise you."
>"Please. Just let me free."

>>29314584
Gosh this is a difficult decision. I don't want to release the super chained up guy, cause that's the dumb thing you never do. Something about this just feels wrong.

>>29314584
Then tell me what it is you plan to do.

I still think we should confer with Tela.

>>29314853
>>29314907

"Well, what is it that you plan to do exactly?"
>"Nothing that concerns you or that you would be able to understand in the first place."
>You're conflicted. You really don't feel like you enough about anything to make a firm decision on letting Rowsh out.
"Give me a moment to think, Rowsh."
>Rowsh's only answer is a low growl. You can feel the ground begin to shake as you walk away, Brutus following you, into the storage room.
>As Rowsh isn't moving, you can only assume it is from sheer force of rage that the earth quakes.
>As you try to enter the lab, you find to your surprise that the door is open.
"Master Tela? Are you here?"
>"As I have been. Have you dealt with Him yet?"
"Nnnot quite. We have a name and some reasoning for his anger, but at this point, he's just insisting I free him."
>"Hmmm. Well, so far, it sounds like you've gotten farther then I ever did. He only ever gave me inarticulate screeching."
>"To be frank with you, I don't care what you do with him, so long as nopony else finds out he's down here."
>"I have no idea who he is, where he came from or what he intends to do if and when he gets out of here, but I do know that he's a veritable powerhouse."
>"His very existence defies a great deal of what I know about this world. Lord del Toro's father, the pony that unearthed Him, is no longer with us, but should del Toro come to be aware of His existence, I can only imagine what he would try to do with Him."
>"In any case, do as you see fit- So long as nopony knows what you've done, that is."
>With a solemn nod, you mull over Tela's non-advice, and return to Rowsh's room.
>The room has ceased shaking, and Rowsh seems to be staring at the floor, the only thing shaking being his breathing.
>He's clearly making an attempt to calm himself, if not in earnest, than certainly to convince you he's worth setting free.
>You get the feeling there's no more information to gather here.
>It's time to make a decision.

pausing

>>29315416
Lets go over what we know:

1. He can't die permanently
2. He's lost someone important. A daughter.
3. He was betrayed by his wife, a unicorn, who took his daughter.
4. He claims to protect all ponykind, but only kill those who "claim to represent them". Vague wording.

The issue here is this; first he shouts about how 'they took my daughter, stole her, hid her, and wouldn't give her back' whence he starts shouting bloody murder. Then he says it was his wife who did it. "They" and "her" aren't the same thing.

But maybe it is to him? Because he also talks about unicorns
>HORNHEADS! All of them, so confident in their own superiority

and pegasi too
> I hate the winged ones,

But "his anger isn't with them". Poor choice of words, because hate and anger are synonymous.

He also starts claiming
>No harm will come to the residents of this city, nor to any other creatures that cross my path. I promise you.
To reclaim what's his, so he says.

All after shouting in inarticulate rage about how he'll literally KILL ponies?

Free him, and its certain ponies will die. Probably not many nice ponies, but still ponies. Also, what guarantee is there that freeing him in the past means that vial we need won't be held by him anymore? Could be put somewhere else.

I'd say free him, if only because I don't see any alternatives. I'd also remind him to keep his word, remember what he said, about not hurting anyone. And warn him that since he's effectively immortal and all, to not let himself be so blinded by rage that he turns into the thing he fights.

>>29315416
I agree with this anon's reasoning:
>>29315556
and would, while he's still a captive audience, inform him that while we do intend to free him, he must clarify for us the vague wording in "her", was it really his wife who lost her mind and stole his daughter or was it a step relative or other family who took both?

If he's going to go after only the most corrupt, and stay to the shadows to prevent being exploited by them, then I can see no better outcome than to free him. But he must be clear of purpose and never turn into a wild juggernaut.

If we're freeing him, should we warn him about del Toro, the son of the pony who unearthed him? From what Tela said, it sounds like he'll try to capture Rowsh for something if he learns of his existence.

>>29315685
Absolutely, if we're going to help, let's be all the help we can.

Bamp.

>>29315416
Lets ask Brutus what he thinks

blimp

>>29319106

>>29315556
>4. He claims to protect all ponykind, but only kill those who "claim to represent them". Vague wording.
What if he goes around killing high authority figures?

haven't caught up but page 9 bump

>>29323719

>>29315556 >>29315639
>>29315685 >>29315693
>>29319106 >>29320649

>Going over everything you know so far, which isn't very much, you try to figure out what to do.
>This pony, Rowsh, he's certainly unlike any pony you've ever seen.
>He claims to be undying, and you yourself saw his petrified statue of a body in the future.
>He's also very angry, filled with an immeasurable amount of rage.
>If he's released, ponies are sure to be hurt, though he says he doesn't intend to.
>With monstrous strength like he has, he might end up hurting innocent ponies unintentionally.
"Rowsh. I need to know something. Do you know for sure it was your wife that took your daughter from you?"
>"I... I don't. That's why I need to find her. So I can see my little girl. So I can know whether or not this pain in my heart is justified."
"And what if it wasn't her?"
>"Then it will be one less worry to carry in my stomach, and one more reason to kill the fools that forced her into it."
>He loves his daughter very much, that much is obvious.
>Despite his anger, such undying devotion surely can't come from a place of ill intent.
"I've made my decision, Rowsh."
>You raise Lucy above your head and take multiple swings, the sound of iron being sliced through like butter ringing through the air.
>Chains fall to the ground, and Rowsh's collar falls free.
>Calmly, stoic expression upon his face, he rises to his hooves.
"You're free to go. Be careful leaving, as the lord of this city, del Toro, would have you bound again."
>Approaching you, you see that he is much larger than his bindings made him appear to be, standing a good foot or two above you.
>His presence is incredibly intimidating.
>You get nervous as he stares you down for what seems like an eternity.
>He wraps his fore legs around you, crushing you, with what you assume isn't even his full strength, in the tightest bear hug you've ever experienced.
>"Thank you."
>The whisper is harsh, but soft, and filled with gratitude.

>>29325454
Y-you're welcome.

>>29325454
Guess we might as well go to the future and see the results of our actions.

>>29325454
Please, Rowsh, be good. I hope to see you again someday.

>>29325466 >>29325489
>>29325590

"You're welcome, Rowsh."
>He drops you to the ground, giving you a toothy, altogether frightening smile.
>He's trying to show you that he's not all bad though, and that's enough for you.
>Curious though, you jump to the future, just to see the effects your decision has had.
>Viewing the room, you find little has changed, with the obvious exception of Rowsh's absence.
>The chains that once bound him sit on the floor, rusted and forlorn.
>Nothing seems immediately out of place. >You're confident you made the right choice here.
>So you return to the past, to see Rowsh off.
>He seems surprised by your ability to jump through time but says nothing about it.
"Come, Rowsh, Brutus and I will see you out of this place."
>"I would appreciate that, Scribe."
>The three of you make your way through the storage room, and into Tela's lab.
>Tela isn't here, for one reason or another. Strange.
>What's even stranger is that his doors are all unlocked. You had absolutely no trouble opening it just then, and the door to the main hall is just as lacking in resistance.
>What's going on here?
>As if to answer, you hear a commotion coming from within the main hall, as if there were more fighting going on.
>Filled with concern and fear as to what might be happening, you rush in, Rowsh and Brutus not far behind.
>You are greeted by the the crashing and clanging of golems being subdued by larger more powerful golems, their master standing in the center of it all, confronting Tela about something or other.
>This master of theirs, a stallion it would seem, is clad in all green, and wields a staff decorated with rings.
>You can here him shouting, so as to be heard over the struggles of the various golems in the room.
>"Tela de'Tera, by order of Lord del Toro the Second, you are hereby placed under arrest, under the suspicion of conspiracy to commit treason."
>"Any further attempts at resistance will only result in increased punishment once you are apprehended."

>>29326082

>Is... is that Sanctus? It certainly looks like a young Sanctus.
>And from the looks of it, he's trying to arrest Tela, for whatever reason.
>But if he's leading these golems, then does that mean that he also sent the Ifrytes?
>He could've killed Tela!
>He could've... oh no. If what's happening now is what you think it is, then you might be about to witness the death of one of the greatest magic users that ever lived!
>What are you going to do?

>>29326109
Time... can time be rewritten? Who can say? Not us. What if... what if we all jumped into the future and figured out what to do from there?

>>29326109
We need to figure out a way to save him!

>>29326139
>>29326603

>You're convinced of what's about to happen here.
>Tela is about to be killed by Sanctus, though you have no idea how.
>And honestly, you have no idea how to even go about stopping whatever is about to happen.
>So needing to regroup and gather your thoughts, you slam the staff down and return to the present.
>In your haste, you're surprised to find, you brought Rowsh back with you!
>He's looking at you with a mixture of frustration and disappointment.
>"Why did you run?"
>"Aren't you more curious as to how we've managed to jump a century into the future?"
>"Time doesn't matter to me, and I really don't care how we did it. Why did you run?"
"We needed to regroup, we needed time to think this over."
"I wasn't prepared to go rushing in when the enemy had such a clear advantage."
>"A true warrior does not run. A proud soldier thinks on the spot, knows how to deal with the situation at hand."
"Well, perhaps you can forgive me. I'm new to the whole warrior thing."
>"Perhaps I can. You freed me of my prison, so I will not judge you. I will allow you to think of something."
>"Or, if you'd like, I could solve this problem for you. Just this once, before I go on my way."

>>29326969
I say we rush them and poof us all (Tela included) into the future. Which was what I meant in the first place but wasn't clear on.

>>29327165
Poofing Tela into the future seems like the safest option.

He'd be gone for the duration, as if he'd died as what originally happened. Most major events would proceed the same, hopefully, with only minor details changed. "Dead" to "missing", for instance. The question is how it'll affect those directly connected to him, the other mages, and Del Toro. Will they claim he's dead to keep the illusion? or will they launch a hunt for him that may or may not end with him being declared dead after a long enough time?

Rowsh's comments from >>29326969
are interesting. He's not worried about time, is his wife/daughter as 'immortal' as he is? Because I think any mere mortal would be kinda dead in a few hundred years.

>>29326969
Solve it for us how, exactly?

>>29326969
Another for grabbing Tela and poofing away.

>>29327165 >>29327607
>>29327292 >>29327623

"I think I have an idea of what to do."
"You two will have to stay here though. I want to be quick about this."
>"You sure about that Scribe?"
"It'll be simple, in and out. I don't plan on staying there long enough for anyone to get a hit in on me."
>"...If you say so, friend. Be careful."
"I will."
>You steel your nerves again. Positioning yourself where you remember Tela being, you prepare to jump.
>You prepare to give the staff what you believe will be it's penultimate tap.
>And you prepare to make a grab as you rush through the flow of time.
>You feel yourself come back to solid ground, and can hear the clanging of golem soldiers that indicates that you've arrived in the past.
>"I swear Tela, I don't want to do this, but you're risking the integrity of Negra Beliza, and conversely the entire Unicorn Kingdom with your nonsense!"
>"You don't seem to understand just how important your work with blue magic is, nor what your discoveries in the art in evocation have done for the strength of this city."
>"If you were to leave, then- HEY! Earth pony! Who are you, and how did you end up here, in Negra, let alone in Master Tela's basement?"
>"Answer me, what are you doing?"
>You give him a wry smile, as you quickly grasp onto Tela.
"Changing history."
>As you tap the staff, pulling Tela from his time into your own, you think yourself quite clever for coming up with such a line.
>Without a hitch, you arrive back in the present.
>Brutus and Rowsh greet you a bit of pride.
>Well, Brutus at least. Rowsh seems mostly indifferent, if not angry to see the stallion that kept him captive for so long.
>He keeps calm though.
>Confused, Tela looks at you with a touch of confusion and fear in his eyes.
>"What did you just do? What have you done?"

>>29327746
Saved the life of one of the greatest mages to have ever lived.

>>29327746
Saved your life, for one.
To be specific, brought you forward a few centuries into the future, where you're widely considered dead.

So technically, it evens out. Ponies still think you're dead because of your absence, but you're no longer actually dead! Then take a moment to consider if we've really changed anything and not just created a new timeline that allowed the events that just happened, to happen.

>>29327768
>>29327790
If something is majorly fucked up we can always take him back. But I DO have to point out that Yama said ponies of many colors took a sick Tela away. Not that a green pony slew Tela.

>>29327836
What I mean to say is that we shouldn't be so cocksure with saying "I saved your life" like it's a fact. I know for sure one thing we did was rewrite time. At least is Tela stays here.

>>29327768 >>29327790
>>29327768 >>29327933

"I've just saved your life, that's what I've done."
"Brought you about a century into the future to be exact, where you're widely considered dead."
>"You what? No, no, this is wrong, this is incredibly wrong."
"How so?"
>"Tell me now, when first you came back here, how did Yama tell you I left?"
"She, uh, she said that you were carried off by ponies of many color, that you were very sick."
>"...What? That doesn't sound right."
"What do you mean? You didn't seem too surprised when we told you you were dead."
>"Well, you see... I guess this warrants an explanation. You see, I had been expecting this assault for awhile. I had been discussing my desires to leave the city for quite some time."
>"I was well aware that some of them held greater loyalties to Lord del Toro then others, and was fully prepared to be attacked at some point. The only question was by whom."
>"I had planned to fake my death with some diluted manticore venom, but from the sounds of it, it would seem as though prior to your meddling in the past, I had made a few miscalculations and overdosed."
>"Otherwise, Sanctus wouldn't be living in my home. He despised living with others, and could really only tolerate Lenna's company."
"So things did work out, right? Everypony still thinks your dead, and you get to live like you'd planned."
>"Scribe's right. Thing's seem like they worked out rather conveniently."
>"I guess they did. Though I can't help but feel like something's wrong."
>"Call it an old stallion's paranoia. You've done everything I've asked and collected all the vials, you've saved me from a rather embarrassing death and possible imprisonment."
>"All in all, I'd call this quite the win. If you'd like, I could explain just what I wanted those vials for. Or, since you've been such a great help to me, I could just o get those rewards I promised you and let you rest. I did promise you a reward for this, right? Fairly certain I did."

>>29328248
Uh, yes please. To both the vials and the reward. It'd be quite appreciated. Ah, and I think we need to grab those poison glands from the bubble of preservation or whatever it was called.

Pausing

>>29328248
Whatever we choose, I'd like to add on some way to contact him. Be useful to have his help if we need it.

Perhaps he would like to leave after? Meet up with his friends who would most certainly think he's dead. Starting with Yama

>>29328549
night

>>29328248
We should probably accompany him, if he'll let us. And how the hell are we going to get him and Rowsh out of there without being seen? Of course Tela being such a powerful mage might have some ideas, we'll have to ask.

>>29328248
So Tela, if you were successful in your attempt to fake your own death, what would you have done?

Tela should probably be careful now. Mages can live for a damn long time, according to Lena, some might still be looking for him.

>>29328428 >>29328641
>>29330161 >>29330736

"I'd like you to explain the vials first, if you could. Though first, I have a question. Had you been successful in faking your death, what would you have done?"
>"Ah, well, I would have returned to Aurus, for starters. And from there, that;s where the vials would have come into play. At least, they would have, if I'd had the time to retrieve them. I really am quite lucky you and your friend came along."
>"You see, as I'm sure Yama has already let slip, the vials contain the liquid essence of my memories. Very specific memories. Memories that would reveal the underlying treachery that I'm sure even now grows within this city."
>"Conversations revealing plots to overthrow the monarchy, discussions about the inferiority of the current rule, all sorts of things."
>"Of course, you'll get to see these things, in due time. When we return to Aurus, gods know how difficult that will be, you can help me show them to whoever is in power right now"
>"For now, let me go get those rewards I was talking abo-"
>"MASTER! Master Tela, Yama missed you so much!"
>The robotic bird-rat homonculus grabs onto, giving him a full-body hug.
>"I, uh, suppose I missed you too, Yama. If you could be a dear, would you mind retrieving a functioning Blue apparatus from the headgear storage? We have a few preparations to make before shipping out of here for good."
>"Oh, yes Master, Yama will get one and then Yama will tell Master all about what Yama did while Master was away! Yama missed you Master. Yama loves you very much!"
>She scampers away happily, getting whatever it is she was asked to retrieve.
>"So eager, that one. Now, I'll be right back, er, Scribe was it?"
"Yes, it was. And I was actually wondering if I could come with you to get this reward you were talking about."
>"No, no, I insist that you stay here. The reward is a bit, er, volatile around strangers. I have to calm it down a bit first."
"Oh. Well, if you insist."

1/2

>>29332508

>Watching as Tela enters one of the rooms you never bothered to go in, you sit down and nurse your broken leg.
>The numbness has started to fade, and the pain is returning.
>You can feel the bones shift ever so slightly, despite the best efforts of the splint and your armor on top of that to keep them in place.
>You're going to have to get that looked at soon.
>Rowsh seems to notice your discomfort.
>"I have lost limbs before. You do not need all of them to be a threat to your enemies. I remember being told something about an injured rat once, but I'm not one for metaphors."
>You take his words into account, but if it's all the same, you'd rather just not be injured.
>Your mind shifts to other topics, namely how Tela had managed to get his golem soldiers in that metallic state. Each one was as sturdy as your armor. What had he fed them?
>As you wait for Tela, your thoughts wander for a time, until you hear something coming from what you remember to be the exit hall.
>A pounding, not quite as powerful as what you had heard in the past, but clearly filled with frustration and purpose.
>You, Brutus and Rowsh all stand at attention, prepared to face whatever comes through the door.
>The pounding continues, and escalates, growing louder and louder and... softer?
>Whatever was pounding has given up on breaking the door down, instead opting simply to turn the knob and enter that way.
>Through the doorway steps a stllionesque figure, clad all in green, his mane disheveled and a bloodshot look in his eyes.
>He bears a staff decorated with many rings.
>And he doesn't look very happy.
>His gaze runs across all of you in turn, stopping at you. His gaze burns brighter than the flames of a forge, firing blazing hot knives into your soul.
>"You... YOU! You disgusting muck raker, child of dirt! Explain yourself to me, NOW!"

>>29332678
Who are you?
Sure hope he doesn't kiss his mother with that mouth

>>29332678
Bit rude, to be honest.

>>29332678
I think we may have really messed up. If Sanctus does not remember us coming here to get the Manticore sacs, who is to say this isn't an entirely different future? Has Lenna sent us on our mission? Do we exist here? There is a possibility of this going very bad. We may have to send Tela back.

I am Ghost Scribe and this is Brutus. I was sent here by Lenna Ton'berri to collect a Manticore's poison sac. Do you not remember?

>>29332797
Also tell him Tela de Terra will be here shortly to explain everything.

>>29332703 >>29332794
>>29332797 >>29332933

>Despite Sanctus' rudeness, you feel it best to simply explain yourself as he asked.
>After all, after your meddling in the past, there's every possibility that Sanctus might not actually know who you are.
"I am Ghost Scribe and this is Brutus. We were sent here by-"
>"You utter imbecile, I know who you are and I know why you're here. What I don't know is how I didn't recognize you sooner. And what I absolutely can't comprehend is how you could've been here one hundred and seventeen years ago!"
>"How could you, a filthy mud pony, have made your way into this impenetrable stronghold so long ago, and made off with Tela de'Tera without at least one pony seeing you?"
"Well, Master Tela is actually here right now. If you would just wait a moment, he could explain everything to-"
>"I DON'T WANT EXPLANATIONS! I demand vindication, mud filth. After you made of with Tela, I had to make excuse after excuse. Who would believe that some earth sucker had stolen my quarry out from under my nose? And who would I want to believe that? So much simpler for everypony to believe he had perished in an attempt to escape."
>"But even then I could not win! Lenna grew to despise me, Rosa refused to acknowledge me, and even Vivian couldn't look at me the same! I was the monster that had killed our master, and they never forgave me for it."
>"I should have known this would b e trouble the minute Lenna's name came up, but some part of me held out that glimmer of hope, that iota of desire to be her friend again."
>"But I've grown past that. Now all I want is to see the walls painted with your blood!"
>From behind Sanctus come no fewer than a dozen Golems.
>"I will have my dignity back from you, Ghost Scribe!"
>It's a fight!
>On your side, you have Rowsh and Brutus to fight alongside you.
>On the opposing side, there is Master Green Mage, Sanctus Harmonius and a dozen unaltered stone Golems.

>WHAT IS YOUR ACTION?

>>29333089
aw, come on.
We've got a broken leg!

I say we finish this soon as possible, don't humor Sanctus, as valid as his gripes are, we just don't have that kind of time.

Let Rowsh take care of the Golems, he's suited for that.
Brutus should cover us while we go for the mage himself before he gets time to cast anything dangerous.
I say we grab his ear and scold him like a foal

>>29333089
Run. While running try to talk him down tell him we can try to fix this.

>>29333117
>Spoiler
Let's not.

>>29333117 >>29333123
>>29333164

>"You are weak! All of you! And I, as a master of magic, will show you just how weak you are!"
>Sanctus' horn begins to glow, and the glow seems to be absorbed into his rod.
>It starts to radiate a powerful green light as Sanctus waves it overhead.
>You'd rather not see what it does.
"Rowsh, go for the Golems! Brutus, with me!"
>Rowsh rushes off, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake. You watch as he lays into the Golems, one after the other, all before you even manage to get close to Sanctus. He grabs one by the leg and throws it straight into another.
>It's a spectacle, how he manages to toss them about and crush them as though they were bugs. They don't stand a chance.
>Now you have your job to do, and that's subduing Sanctus.
>He's an easy target without the Golems to protect him, but you're still wary of whatever tricks he might be able to pull off.
>You and Brutus ready yourselves to strike, prepared to subdue Sanctus.
>But you're a little too late! Sanctus swings his rod in a waving motion towards you and Brutus, a green light swathing over the area.
>You can feel your muscles start to weaken, get softer by the second.
>It stops as quickly as it started, but you fid that you're too weak to swing Lucy properly now, and taur stance is out of the question, even with your armor's assistance.
>Brutus seems to have been affected as well, though he can still use magic to swing his blade.
>"Don't you see how pointless this is for you? I can do that as many times as I wish, until your muscles are reduced to jelly."
>"Honestly you should just give in now."
>Despite his words, you can see Sanctus eyeing Rowsh nervously. If you can just last until Rowsh is finished with the Golem's you should be just fine.

>YOU CAN'T SWING LUCY AS A LUCERNE
>YOU CAN'T TAKE TAUR STANCE
BRUTUS CAN'T RUN VERY QUICKLY
>ROWSH IS HALFWAY THROUGH WITH THE GOLEMS

>>29333680
Well, we'll have to get annoying. Switch to warhammer mode and go for a warhammer.

It seems like he has to wave that staff of his in a certain direction to slow us down. It'd be much harder for him to do that if there's a couple of ponies - not right next to each other - trying to bash his face in.

>>29333680
Sactus! Stop this! We can help you! I'm sorry you had to suffer the way you did but we can help.

>>29333680
"You know you aren't getting past Rowsh. Stop now before someone gets hurt."

>Unable to swing Lucy as she is, you switch to warhammer mode, prepared to be as much of a nuisance as you have to be to keep him from casting another one of these spells.
>Before that though, perhaps you can try to appeal to his reasoning.
"Sanctus, stop this! We can help you!"
>"Help me what, exactly?"
"Help you get your friends back, your reputation back. I'm sorry you had to suffer as you did, but we can fix it!"
>"That would imply that I want my friends back, filth."
>His words are filled with contempt, but you can see something in his eyes, something that tells you he wants exactly that.
>He doesn't seem like he intends to stop though. Maybe a little intimidation will help here.
"This needs to stop before somepony gets hurt, Sanctus."
>"And why is that?"
"Because even if you defeat us, there's no way you'll get past Rowsh."
>An expression contorted with equal parts panic and anger washes over Sanctus' face.
>He seems distracted. A perfect opportunity to strike!
>Weakly, you swing Lucy at Sanctus, though he manages to dodge your slow attack rather easily.
>Brutus manages to swing his blade at full force, though he only catches Sanctus' robe.
>Swinging his staff full force, Sanctus knocks Brutus' blade away, far across the room.
>With no other options, Brutus throws himself at the Green Mage, who halts his assault with a knock to the noggin.
>While his blows can't harm Brutus, they're more than enough in his current state to keep him pinned.
>"Are you beginning to see how futile this is? Do you see how weak you've become, from the force of only one spell?"
>He gives one last hard blow to Brutus' head, leaving the stallion dazed.
>Satisfied, and very much smug, he turns to you with a dramatic flourish, waving his staff as he does so, swinging it wildly.
>"Now as for-" THWACK

1/2

>>29334292
>The staff catches you hard across the eye, and your vision on the left side begins to flush red and then black.
>You can feel hot blood flowing from your socket.
>Fear has managed to creep across Sanctus' face.
>"Oh no. Oh no, ohnoohnoohno! I didn't mean to do that, honest I didn't!"
>Is he... apologizing for hitting you?
>A loud thumping alerts you to Rowsh's presence. His steps are heavy, and he's clearly not happy about what he sees.
>With your good eye, you watch as he picks Sanctus up by the scruff of his neck, Sanctus letting out a frightened "eep!" as he does so.
>"You have hurt my savior. In most cases I would crush you where you stand and move on without a second thought."
>"But I am aware that the one called Scribe doesn't do things the way I do. So I will allow him to decide your fate."
>"Tell me, Scribe. What would you have of this one?"
>You can see that Sanctus is on the verge of tears, already starting to move towards panicked sobs.
>For the eye that can see, it's a pitiful sight indeed.

>>29334353
I'd say let him live.

>>29334353
Make sure his staff is away from him.

Put him down, Rowsh. It's... I'll be fine. I'm sorry Sanctus. I can't imagine the pain you have gone through in that century. Had I not intervened Master Tela would have died. Not by your hooves, but other means.

I can't wait to see Lenna's reaction when she see our wounds.

>>29334529
That eye wound actually sounds kinda nasty from the description.

>>29334529
Imagine Lily's reaction to our wounds. She'll be fucking furious I bet.

>>29334575
It really is, I kinda feel bad for Scribe and the pony viewing his memories, assuming the viewer feels what Scribe feels.

>>29334353
Put him down. But make him remember this. Getting into his face with an empty eye socket, for instance.

>>29334767
C'mon man, it was an accident. We did kinda inadvertently ruin his life. Though I seriously hope he didn't liquefy our eyeball.

>>29334796
I'm with this.

>>29334796
Sounds like a ruptured eyeball actually.

Look I'm not saying we should kill him but he thought swinging a weapon and blinding us, if unintentionally, in one eye was a GOOD idea? We tried to be nice and he didn't listen. And now he's taken an eye and suddenly being sorry absolves him of everything? At least make sure he isn't so stupid in the future

>>29334767
There's no need to be like that, Sanctus can be pretty cool, from what we seen in the other timeline.

>>29334878
He's clearly emotionally distraught from seeing the asshole who stole his master and fucked over his life 100 years ago.

>>29335000
This. Scribe would at least be understanding, if not wholly forgiving. Definitely not the type to threaten in this situation.

>>29335016
Oh I agree, actually. But Scribe can simply just...remind him every once in a while. Not saying he has to take Scanctus' eye in return
>Hey remember the time you crushed my eye?

>>29334353
Take Sanctus' staff, and ask Rowsh to set him down but guard him. We can have a discussion until Tela returns.

"Sanctus, I don't know what the hell is wrong with unicorns in this part of the world, but you always err on the side of violence against earth ponies such as myself. Now you've actually injured me and my partner for no good reason. I could have Rowsh cram your entire fore-quarters completely into your hind-quarters horn first, but I won't provided you listen. Each of us stands to improve our lives to one extent or another from a good outcome to the present situation, and to get that we need your cooperation. We need a good way out of town for Rowsh and Tela. Tela can put in a good word for you that can improve your social situation on the way out. I have the ingredients I needed now and will leave in peace. Rowsh likewise, especially if you help. Think on what we can get done here while Tela gets done fetching things, he'll no doubt want a word with you also."

>>29334386 >>29334473
>>29334767 >>29334796
>>29334798 >>29334878
>>29334909 >>29335000
>>29335016

"Put him down, Rowsh. It's... I'll be fine."
>"As you wish, Scribe."
>Rowsh drops Sanctus to the floor roughly, where he takes to frazzled mumbling. You occasionally catch a "thank you" thrown in.
>You step up close to Sanctus, each step a labor thanks to the effects of the spell cast on you.
"I can't imagine the pain you've gone through in the cent-"
>"The pain I've gone through? What about the pain you're in now? I mangled your eye."
>Sanctus seems to get a bit queasy looking at the injury he's inflicted.
>You get a bit sick too, as the pain finally hits you. It's not quite like when your leg was crushed, but it's painful all the same.
"Pain is pain, emotional or physical. And I'm sorry for what you had to go through. But if I hadn't taken Tela when I had, he would've died."
>You can see the horror in Sanctus' eyes.
"Not by your hooves. Through other, unfortunate circumstances."
>"Well... well, if that's so, I must say that despite the negatives, I appreciate your intervention, friend."
>Friend?
"Let's not be hasty, Sanctus. I wouldn't exactly call us friends. I don't know what the hell is wrong with unicorns in this part of the world, but you always err on the side of violence against earth ponies."
"Now you've actually injured me and my partner for no good reason. I could have Rowsh cram your entire fore-quarters completely into your hind-quarters horn first, but I won't provided you listen."
"Each of us stands to improve our lives to one extent or another from a good outcome to the present situation, and to get that we need your cooperation."
"We need a good way out of town for Rowsh and Tela. Tela can put in a good word for you that can improve your social situation on the way out. I have the ingredients I needed now and will leave in peace. Rowsh likewise, especially if you help."
>You hear two doors open simultaneously.
>"Now now, what's going on here?"

1/2

>>29335090
I think the first half of that is preachy and skirting OOC. I think Sanctus understands the threat of Rowsh and is already coming to regret his actions.

>>29335141
Agreed. "I could have Rowsh cram your entire fore-quarters completely into your hind-quarters horn first"
Definitely not even close to Scribe.

>>29335152
Welp, too fuckin' late apparently. Damnit. Didn't even give us time to debate that, Mora.

>>29335141
Thank you for that critique. That said I still like the concept of putting the guy's fore-quarters up his hind-quarters horn first.
>>29335152
Yes fine, Scribe never loses his temper, I know.

My critique of you two is that you're being wet blankets. The fact that our QM liked the banter I take as a good sign. Anyhow I'm just one of the voices ringing around in Scribe's head and I've been here since the beginning too, so this can't be THAT far out of character.

>>29335202
>Yes fine, Scribe never loses his temper, I know.
Don't dismiss my post by throwing your hands up and saying 'well I guess we just can't ever get mad then.' That's poor form.

There's a difference between never getting mad and not being an asshole and threatening people for no reason.
You can be upset and still understand why people did the things they did.

>>29335241
The dude just brained Brutus, who needed no help in that arena, then bashed our eyeball out. That's plenty of reason. Point taken as I said before, but it's not THAT bad, c'mon.

>>29335202
Fucking this >>29335241
Ghost is an understanding guy. That whole rant ran opposite of what Ghost was saying at the beginning of the post. It went from "I'm sorry, I understand your pain" to "I will have Rowsh turn your ass into a unipretzel."

>>29335279
Did I mention that he liquefied our muscles too? He did, you know, and had worse in store especially with those golem warriers. What's all this static about one funny physical threat? You two got the sense of humor of turnips.

>>29335306
It wasn't funny though. It was just pointless and preachy, as >>29335141 put it.

>>29335131

>As Tela and Yama step away from their respective doors, they are given a rough overview of what's transpired thus far.
>Tela looks surprised by the injury you've sustained.
>"I'm surprised at you, Sanctus. Always so opposed to violence, and yet here we are."
>"It was an accident, I swear!"
"It really was."
>"Ah, but still, ever the coward, ever the victim, Sanctus. So quick to gloat, and so quick to show your belly at the first sign of danger."
>"How am I not supposed to cower when this one is threatening to have my head shoved up my arse?"
>That was a bit out of turn. You'll just chalk it up to the events of the day, er, century, taking their toll on you.
>"I'm sure he didn't mean it, Sanctus. Rosa threatened to do worse to you on a near daily basis."
>"And I hated it! You always did this, took everypony else's side over mine!"
>"Because you were amost always wrong, Sanctus! A social sheep, blindly following the trends! Shouting the superiority of the unicorns one minute, which admittedly is fine, racial pride is all well and good."
>"But the next minute, you'd be telling Lenna how much you wished for equality between the tribes. It was pathetic, Sanctus."
>"You think I'm pathetic?"
>"I can't speak for the others, but yes, I did. And I'm sorry for not bringing these issues up all those years back. A good mentor, and a good friend, would have brought these things up to you sooner."
>"It's okay to have your own thoughts and opinions, even if others won't always agree."
>"...I suppose you're right, Master Tela."
>"Yes, I am."
>"I think I'll form my first opinion right now: I don't much care for the way things are run in this city. Never have. If at all possible, I'd like to leave it."
>"Perhaps, if you'd let me, I could... come back with you?"

Unfortunately I have to pause here because I have a homeless council meeting I need to attend. Sorry to fuck up so hard. I was rushing because of my time constraints but thta doesn't matter.
Sorry again. You deserve better.

>>29335336
Well, the more the merrier, I suppose.

>>29335346
Speaking as Mr. Head Up Arse, I think you done good and will continue to subscribe to your newsletter. The other two seem to be suffering from constipation or something. Looking forward to your next run!

As for the game's next move, it appears the ball is in Tela's court? I'm fine with Sanctus accompanying us out of there though, if Tela thinks he can trust him.

>>29335336
Certainly, Sanctus. I will not stop you. I know that Vivian Crowe is waiting for me to report back. Oh Yama, do you think you can help me with my injury?

I find it funny if Scribe were to apologize to Sanctus for his "outburst." Make him a softie at heart, usually thinking of others before himself.

>>29335346
Eh, don't beat yourself up. Just learn and move on.

>>29335336
There are many things making that a problem. But if you want to trail along, we can't stop you. Think Tela's opinion should be considered too.

>>29335346
do your best

>>29335420
This

>>29335366 >>29335420
>>29335454 >>29337613

"There are a great deal of things that would make that an issue. But if you wish come with us, I won't stop you. What say you Tela?"
>Tela stands next to Sanctus, tussling his mane.
>"I see no reason why not. Sanctus is weak of will, no doubt, but his magic, as you've experienced, is bar none in it's field. As his former master, I say we can trust him."
>"I would appreciate if we could stop with the snide remarks, please."
>"Only when you prove that they no longer apply."
>A throbbing in your head serves to remind you of your injury. You remember Yama's abilities, and figure that maybe she can help you.
"Yama?"
>"Soldier friend?"
>She scuttles up to you, gently placing the strange metal crown she's carrying on the floor beside you.
>"How can Yama help soldier friend?"
"It's, uh, it's Ghost Scribe, Yama. And I was wondering if you could take a look at my eye, maybe fix it up a bit."
>"Yes, Ghost Scribe, Yama will do Yama's best!"
>Her paws take on that white glow again, as she tends to your eye. Unfortuantely, you can't really see what she's doing.
>You can see a look of immense guilt on Sanctus' face.
>"I really am sorry to have bashed your eye up so badly. I've never hurt a fly before, it was a complete accident, honest!"
"I believe you. I have an apology to make as well."
>"For what?"
"For my outburst earlier. This has been a frustrating day, to say the least, and you were an outlet for that frustration."
>"You really are too kind, Ghost Scribe. You had better be careful, or somepony's liable to take advantage of that."
>"Yama is finished, Ghost Scribe. Bad news and good news."
"I'll take the good news first."
>"The good news is that Yama has managed to prevent your wound from getting any worse and it will not get infected."
>"The bad news is that Yama could not actually fix your eye. You must find a proper healer or you will lose your eye."
1/2

>>29339452

>Not exactly what you wanted to hear. Aurus and the nearest healer are roughly three weeks away.
>"Ghost Scribe, I'm so sorry..."
>"Aye, sorry's all well and good, but it won't fix Scribe's eye, and it won't get us out of here."
"Brutus is right. We have to get out of here and quick."
>"Quick is the key word here. I should have mentioned this sooner, but before coming to confront you, I sent a guard send a message to Lord del Toro himself."
>"If we don't leave soon, we'll likely have the force of the entire Negra Belizan military on us."
>Rowsh scoffs at the prospect.
>"I could destroy each and every soldier they send my way without a second thought."
"We're trying to avoid an incident here, Rowsh, not start one."
>"If you say so. I'll leave you to devise an escape plan. If you can't come up with anything though, I think I have a plan that could get us out of here safe and sound"
>With your one good eye, you shoot him a skeptical look.
>"A nonviolent plan, I assure you."
>If he says so. First things first, you need to figure out how to get back to Vivian. Chances are she's already made her way back to the bar she had led you and Brutus to."
>Then again, even going there might not be safe. Maybe it would be wiser to simply head back to the longhouse on the outskirts of the city?

>>29339544
Surely we can make it to that bar before the entire city goes on full alert. After that we can try to skedaddle with their help.

Ask Sanctus if he's certain there are not any healers relatively nearby.

>>29339544
We could probably use a replacement fake horn if we're going to be outside again.

>>29339669
>>29339764

>First things first, if you're going to sneak out of here, you're going to need a disguise.
"Sanctus, anyway I could get that horn back?"
>"Of course. Alteration magic is my specialty."
>A brief glow of Sanctus' horn and fleeting sharp jab of pain later, you have a flase horn growing from your head.
>"That horn won't do you much good traveling by yourself though."
"I don't intend to travel by myself. You and Brutus will be coming with me. We'll have to hide in plain sight and get back to that bar we met Vivian at before this city goes on full lockdown."
>"Rosa's bar? I hate that place. Always smells like anger and cheap spirits. But I know where it is, and I know the fastest way to get us there.
>"Aye, great, we've got a plan, but what about the old timer and the god of war over here?"
>"Don't call me god."
>"I am pretty old, aren't I? In any case, ...Rowsh? Rowsh and I can find our own way out. Seeing as I'm technically dead, and he doesn't technically exist, we should have no problem getting out of here."
>"In fact, I think we'll take our leave now, so as not to slow you down. We'll meet you outside the city."
>"Walking is slow and inefficient. We go my way, old timer."
>Rowsh grabs Tela by the barrel, easily carrying the old mage's entire weight.
>"Oh dear. Yama, come!"
>"Yama comes, Master Tela!"
>She jumps onto Tela's back, gripping tightly to his cloak.
>"Good luck, Scribe. We'll see you on the other side!"
>With strength that would make Captain Lily jealous, Rowsh propels himself with a jump out the door, up the stairs, and out of Tela's house.
>A crashing noise indicates to you he might not have used a door.
>"Well. So much for subtlety. Now, both of you, follow me. The sooner we get to Rosa's bar the better. For all of us."
>You make your way out, and up a set of stairs, and find yourself exiting through a hole in the the floor, into Tela's living room.
>Investigating through a Rowsh-shaped hole in the wall are a pair of guards.

>>29339935
Hey, neither of you would happen to know any teleportation magic, would you?

>>29339935
Can't Sanctus distract or divert them?

>>29339935
Any chance of a portal opening up?

>>29340023 >>29340438
>>29340051

>Wordlessly, you motion for Sanctus to do something about them.
>He catches on quick.
>"Both of you, what are you doing just standing around!?"
>"W-we heard a commotion, Sir Harmonius, and came to investigate. We saw something come crashing through your wall, and we-"
>"You IDIOTS! Didn't you get an order from Lord del Toro?"
>"An order?"
>"That something that came crashing through my wall, was the intruders I reported! Go after them, now, or I'll be sure that you're fed to Ifrit himself for supper!"
>"Y-yes sir, right away sir!"
>The two soldiers turn off down the street, frantically running in an attempt to catch the so called intruders.
>"That they didn't know the situation is good for us. It means we still have quite a bit of time until security kicks into full swing and it's nearly impossible to get out."
>"We should definitely hurry though."
"Is there any kind of teleportation magic we could use to get there quicker?"
>"Teleportation magic is a tricky field. And by tricky, I mean non-existent. Last mage that tried ended up a bloody smear across several acres of land."
>Not wanting to wind up like that, you think that perhaps you can use the staff to go back in time and make a simpler path for yourself.
>But as you reach back, you can feel the staff turning to dust in your hooves, it's purpose having been fulfilled.
>Dammit.
>"You know, thinking about it, we've actually got a few paths we can take. We can go down mainstreet, which is the quickest, but sure to be filled with guards."
>"We could go through the mercantile district, which will be a bit slower but also a bit safer."
"Or we could take a detour throug the Xanthous gardens. Slowest of the routes, but we'll definitely be guard free."
"I'll leave it up to you. Which route do you want to take?"

>>29340903
Let's go through the mercantile district. We could easily blend into the crowd, I'd think.

>>29340927
This. I hope to hurry and get our eye healed properly.

>>29340927
>>29341044

"Mercantile sounds fine to me."
>"Wise choice. At this time of day, ponies should be moving about to give a semblance of hustle and bustle."
>"A semblance?"
>"Things aren't great here, let's leave it at that."
>You all make your way for the mercantile district, careful to avoid the wandering spirits that dot the streets.
>Occasionally some will stop to sniff at your wounds, but quickly lose interest as you walk away.
>Fast approaching the mercantile district, you can hear something strange. At least, strange to this city.
>The way ponies are moving about, it's almost like you're back in Aurus. Something about it seems wrong somehow though, almost artificial.
>Nopony is really talking, and all the merchants are selling their wares to customers rather robotically. It all reeks of routine, the sterility and disenchantment of forced actions.
>Nopony seems terribly happy. Which works well for you, given that you aren't terribly happy either. Each member of your group is disheveled and disgruntled in some state, so you all fit right in.
>Working your way against the crowd, you eventually turn a corner and end up in a familiar alley. Rosa's bar sits directly in front of you.
>You enter and find Rosa sitting there, surrounded by a mess of empty mugs, though she herself seems clear as a bell.
>She turns to you, her eyes half lidded and her gaze filled with bitterness.
>"Sanctus."
>"Rosa."
>"If you're looking for Vivian, she went on ahead, to that longhouse just outside the city. Said something about the priestess telling her it was safer."
>Her gaze turns to your eye.
>"Yikes. I knew Earth ponies were tough, but that's a little much. I've seen ponies pass out from much less."
>"Want me to take a look at it?"

>>29341044
Hey, look on the bright side.
If we lose our eye, we can still get a slick eyepatch.

>>29341353
Anything you could do to help would be very much appreciated.

>>29341383
Pretty much this.

>>29341353
Well, it was either keep going or pass out, and the adrenaline helped. Anything you can do to help? The leg needs fixing too

>>29341383 >>29341554
>>29341559

"Anything you could do to help would be very much appreciated."
>"Then come here and let me get a good look."
>You do as she asks, trying to ignore the smell of alcohol on Rosa's breath as she looks you over. And boy is it a powerful smell.
>"Geez, kid, what did this. The eye itself is torn up pretty bad, though it looks like everythings here. The socket's been broken up a bit and it looks like some bits of bone have started to sink."
>"I'm not gonna lie, I can't do much here. I can set the bone, and maybe keep bits of your eye from falling out, but that's all."
>A bit disappointing, but anything to keep both your eyes is a help.
>You feel bits and pieces of your face shift uncomfortably, and your ruptured eye feels as though it's being glued in place, to keep it from moving around.
>"All right kid. I've done what I can, though that's not much."
"Is there anything you can do for my leg?"
>"Oh ho, kid if I coulda, I woulda. That was the first thing I noticed when I was going over you with my magic."
>"I don't know what did that to you and I don't care, but let me tell you, you've got gonads the big as melons."
>"Now get out of here before a guard wanders in and gets suspicious."
>"Sanctus."
>"Rosa."
>A bit nonplussed, though thankful for what little she was able to do, you leave, Sanctus leading you towards the checkpoint that got you into the city.
>You can hear frantic shouting, angry, almost rabid in it's nature.
>"I don'' care if there's a lockdown, I don't care what your protocol is! My soldiers are in your city, MY soldiers, in YOUR city, without my permission, and as Captain of the Golden Suns and sister to King Aurus, I demand that you allow me entrance so that I may find them!"
>Oh dear. Sounds like Captain Lily isn't exactly happy that you volunteered yourself.

>>29341730
Oh boy, lockdown, huh?

Guess we might be having some trouble getting out of here.

>>29341730
Have we at least gotten a bandage around our fucked up eye? I assume Scribe is dealing with a tremendous among of pain but is just trying to bear it.

Sanctus, think you can do your trick again so we can get through? Maybe act as if the hostile intruder has done this to us and he is taking us back to our unit.

>>29341752
>>29341801

"Sanctus, I have an idea."
>"And what is that?"
"Weaken me again. With that spell you did. Brutus too. We're going to play this up, act the victim. Do you understand?"
>"Perfectly."
>His horn glows and he runs his hoof across yours and Brutus' bodies. Your muscles feel like jelly, though you can still stand.
>Brutus seems to be the same.
"All right, let's go."
>You limp forward, acting up your injuries, though that's hardly necessary.
"C-Captain! Captain, over here!"
>Hearing your voice, Captain Lily's expression cycles through a slew of emotions, finally settling on anger.
>"Private Ghost Scribe and Acting Private Brutus Softsword. You had better have an explanation for why you've volunteered yourself for whatever it is you've done."
>"And then I hope you're prepared for me not to care!"
>You try to make it past the checkpoint, but the guards block all of you, even Sanctus.
>"Sanctus, sir. I'm afraid we aren't allowed to let anypony through. Orderes of Lord del Toro himself."
>"I understand, soldier, I was the one to discover the intruders after all. But it was these same intruders that so horrifically injured these two fine young members of the King's army."
>"I was simply escorting them to their lodgings, so that they could be tended to by their fellow soldiers."
>The guard seems skeptical, but lets you all through.
>Your armor retracts as you exit the city, seeming to think that you've made it safely out of the danger zone.
>Gilded Lily greets all of you with a look of sensational fury, which quickly grows into confusion when she sees that you have a horn.
>Confusion turns to concern as she spies your injuries.
>"Scribe... what happened to you?"
>You'd be delighted to tell her, but you're still within ear shot of the guards.
"I'll tell you when we get back to the others, Captain."
>Still clearly upset, she nods with understanding, and the four of you walk through the snow, bracing for the long walk ahead.
>Your mission is almost complete.

Pausing

>>29342196
We can at least tell her that having a fake horn was the only way to get around the city

>>29342196
Once out of guard earshot, "Captain, some of our injuries are real and some are for the purpose of disguise such as our weakness. Aside from Sanctus here, we have freed two other powerful ponies and a servant, who will be joining us once we are outside of town. I need medical attention as soon as possible also, so the sooner we get to an advanced healer, the better."

>>29343588
Thought we weren't meeting Tela and Rowsh just yet? We do need to rush back to Aurus and Lenna soon as possible though. The eye and leg can't wait.

>>29343585

Glad we were able to get away with those books.

>>29342670 >>29343588
>>29343887

>Slowly but surely, you end up outside earshot of the guards, the city of Negra Beliza getting smaller on the horizon.
>All that lays in front of you is an expanse of white, ringed by the pitch black walls of Negra.
>You had wanted to wait until camp to discuss things with Captain Lily, but she seems anxious to discuss things with you.
>"Scribe, I can't just walk with you and act like nothing's wrong. What happened to you and Brutus? Why do you have a horn?"
"Well, the horn is more a disguise than anything. Completely temporary."
"As for these injuries... some are fake, some not. My muscles are weak, but that's just a product of Sanctus' magic. This beat up eye of mine is also a product of Sanctus', although it's very much real."
>You wince as you bring up your eye. It's real alright, and it's really starting to hurt.
>You see Lily shoot Sanctus a glare of absolute loathing, which he does his best to ignore.
"He didn't mean it. Complete accident."
>"That seems like a really rough wound for "just an accident", Scribe."
"Well, it was. My leg, not so much, but that's another issue entirely."
>"And what exactly is wrong with your leg?"
"Well, it's... completely shattered. Every single bone, broken. If not for Yama's numbing magic, I would probably be in too much pain to even talk to you."
>"Who in the world is Yama?"
"Tela's assistant. I'm sorry, I'm getting ahead of myself. As well as Sanctus here, we've managed to rescue two very powerful ponies and one rather strange magical creature from this cities grasp."
"One of those ponies was Tela de'Tera."
>"Okay, now you're making absolutely no sense. Tela has been dead for over a hundred years."
>"I don't know what you did while you were putzing around in that city, but you need to tell me everything, and I mean everything. Now."

>>29346289
[Explaining things noises]
Something something, ifrytes, manticores, Rowsh, Sanctus, Yama, Tela, armor not working, broken leg, time travel, etc., etc.

>>29346289
We're on secret task, assigned specifically by Ton'berri herself to gather things from the city for a medicne.

Then continue to explain everything and end with a lot of emphasis with time being of the essence. If it is not a problem with her, we would very much like to keep our eye.

>>29346289
I'm trying, Captain!

>>29346552
Best not get short with the captain.

>>29346331 >>29346462
>>29346552

"I'm am, Captain. It's a bit of a story."
"Though, I guess I should begin at the beginning."
>"That would be the best place, yes."
"You see, we're on something of a secret task, given to us by Miss Ton'berri."
>"It's always something with that mare."
>Ignoring the comment, you move on.
"She needed us to gather a fwe things from this city to make some medicine, for a certain very sick pony back in Aurus."
>"... A very sick pony?"
>You've definitely caught her interest, and you feel you don't need to explain to her who the sick pony is.
>She of all ponies would definitely know who you're referring to.
>You walk and talk, explaining in great detail the ordeals you went through in the short amount of time you were in the city.
>From your encounter with Isabella, and your brief stint in the Xanthous Garden, where you acquired the Midan Lily.
>To your eventful visit with Sanctus. You tell her about the wonders of time travel, how your armor failed you and you ended up with your leg crushed.
>How you released what very well might have been an angry god from his basement prison and convinced a Green Mage with no sense of self-worth to follow his own path after he accidentally ruptured your eye.
>About how you narrowly avoided capture as you sneaked past guards and spirits alike by blending in with crowd.
>By the end of it all, she seems equal parts enraged, enthralled and sympathetic.
>"I... I don't know why you though it necessary to do all this Ghost Scribe. Nor do I appreciate it that you thought it appropriate to volunteer yourself for this outrageously dangerous endeavor without my consent."
>"But your bravery is admirable, and I'm sure whoever this sick pony is, their loved ones will be eternally grateful."
>"I would punish you, but I'd say your injuries are punishment enough."
>"Brutus, however..."

1/2

>>29346901
>"I hadn't intended to keep you on as a Sun. Nor had I intended to let you keep your armor."
>"But, despite my previous opinions of you, you've shown to be a warrior of great character. I appreciate you sticking by Private Scribe and helping him to the best of your abilities."
>"After this mission has been completed, and you have been discharged, I will permit you to keep the armor that Lieutenant Alcum forged for you."
>"R-Really? Thank you, Captain Lily! You have no idea how much-"
>"Please, don't mention it. And don't press your luck any further."
>"Now, Scribe, I'm sure you must be starting to get some feeling back in those awful wounds of yours. I know we need to be quick, but why don't we try to keep your mind off the pain with a story?"
>"You think you could tell me a bit more about this Rowsh character?"

>>29346973
Rowsh is a pony of incredible strength who was chained in Tela's basement. Anger seems to fuel his strength, and he's searching for his daughter, whom his wife took and hid from him.

>>29347067
On top of that he is very, very old. Rowsh was "unearthed" 100 years ago. Also he says that though he is of earth pony kin, he intends to protect all ponykind. He seems somewhat inconsistent and extremely volatile.

>>29347157
He also mentioned a dislike for 'bowing down' to unicorns,as it were. Perhaps Del Toro from 100 years ago tried to use him for his own ends, and when that failed he ordered him locked up in Tela's basement?

Seems like he is a little genuine on the 'protect all ponykind' thing at least. He didn't have any trouble getting Tela out of there, but his patience for those who 'claim to represent them' is very likely very short. He despises arrogance, to sum it up in a word. So those battle-scholars better keep away.

Also there's a chance solitary might have made things worse for him. The mind craves stimulation, as Starswirl sure shows, and without any even the toughest individuals will break eventually. And Rowsh has had that for who knows how long

>>29347067 >>29347469
>>29347157

"Rowsh... he is a pony of incredible and frightening strength. This strength seems to be fueled by determination and his determination is fueled by anger."
>"I suppose that's something I can relate to, at least a little bit."
>You nod in acknowledgement and continue.
"He says that he's searching for his daughter. That his wife took her and hid her from him. Which itself would be a believable, albeit sad."
"The thing is though, he claims to be outrageously old. He says that he was "unearthed" about one hundred years ago, and locked away so that they could try to harness his power."
"He also claims that though he is of earth pony kin, he intends to protect all pony kind. He seems wildly inconsistent, and his emotions are wildly volatile."
"But, from what I can tell, his desire to protect all ponies is genuine. From what I gathered, it seems like he despises arrogance."
>"Hmm. You know, my gran told me a story once or twice, an old folktale from when her grandmother's mother was a filly. It was about the way the world was in the beginning."
"The beginning?"
>"Yes, when all the races of the world were new. It was said that there were many guardians, representatives of each race, each bearing an emotion, an aspect that defined them."
>"There was a minotaur, a griffon, and a dragon. Then, there was a unicorn, a pegasus, and an earth pony. All I can remember from the story right now is that the earth pony represented the aspect of wrath, and that his anger could shake the very world to it's core."
"You don't suppose that-"
>"No, no, of course not. I'm sure it's just a coincidence. Oh, would you look at that, we're back at camp already! But, what's going on?"
>As you approach the longhouse that's acting as your camp, you can see that there is a strange black wagon parked outside it. It is trimmed with gold in various spots.
>The mere sight of the wagon seems to put Sanctus in a fit.
>"Dear lord, that's del Toro's personal transport!"

>>29347585
How would he have come here so quickly?

>>29347585
What should we do, captain? I need a good healer as soon as possible and, if I may suggest, we should all get out of here as fast as possible.

>>29347585
>black and gold
Well if you needed more indication he's evil....

>>29347596
>>29347662

"How would he have come here so quickly?"
>"I have no idea, but if he's here, then no good can come of it!"
"What should we do, Captain?"
>"...Nothing. We'll do nothing and act like everything is fine. Anything bad that could happen will only be made worse if we act with panic."
>Sanctus seems unconvinced, but a stern look from Lily forces him to shape up.
>As you approach the long house, you can see that the wagon is empty, with two Ifrytes at the reins, ready to pull on command.
>To most ponies, it would seem as though the wagon were being pulled by nothing. You aren't sure if they would be more or less intimidated if they could see the beasts pulling at the reins.
>The four of you walk in to find a rather uncomfortable scene.
>Captain Gold is talking to a stallion who stands roughly three heads above her. He has a gray coat and a deep, jet black mane, regal in it's appearance. You get the feeling that it would flow in the wind quite nicely in the wind.
>You can see at least one of his eyes and see that it's a bright green, shimmering and shiny.
>Overall he seems like a kind stallion, but you can't shake a sinister feeling in your gut. A feeling that says he's bad news.
>As the door closes, the stallion turns to you, whatever conversation he was having with gold coming to an abrupt halt.
>He seems surprised to see Sanctus there.
>It quickly fades though.
>"Ah, Sanctus. Good to see you. What are you doing here?"
>Sanctus' fear seems to have disappeared.
>"I could ask the same of you, young Lord. Why would your father send you here?"
>"Father was made aware of the King's soldiers and their reason for being here. Not wanting to waste anypony's time, he sent me to deliver the requested supplies."
>"Though it would apear that you were drawn into the city for other reasons."
>"You are Gilded Lily, I presume?"
>"Captain, Gilded Lily. But yes. And you are?"
>"Ah, how rude of me. I am Sombra del Toro the Third. Though you may call me Sombra."

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