“Well, Miss Scootabelle, I can't say I've ever heard of the 'Church of Shipping.'” Reeds and Sweet's father smiled as he and Rainbow strolled along the inner balcony of the estate's second floor. “But it fills my heart with hope to think that the Kihutajan Archipelago has embraced some degree of spiritual awakening.”
“Heh... yeah, well...” Rainbow Dash shrugged, careful not to lose her conical hat to the mountain breezes. Beneath them, the servants had arranged a series of chairs and refreshment tables. Above, the sky was turning red with the advent of evening. The atmosphere of Kunmane was abuzz with joy and enchantment as one by one the paper lanterns were lit red, orange, and silver. “Shipping is as shipping does. I guess you could say that I'm on a long... epic quest for...” She fidgeted in midtrot. “...erm... Lunalestia glory...”
A lavender unicorn made a wretching sound behind her. Pinkie Pie giggled.
“Mmmm... and from your vague descriptions, am I to assume your belief is polytheistic?”
“Uhhhh... sure...?” Rainbow gulped. “Doesn't all of this—like—offend you?”
The stallion turned to smile at her. “And what makes you say that?” He raised an eyebrow. “Let me guess. You've encountered some... fundamentalist representatives of Verlaxion along your journey?”
“Well, not really, to be honest,” Rainbow said, blinking. “But, from my experience, the ponies of this world can be... pretty friggin' dedicated to their creed.”
“As it suits them,” he said with a nod. “However, I've always believed that no religion is worth dedicating oneself to if it means severely truncating the rights and securities of others—no matter what they believe.”
“Heh...” Rainbow Dash smirked. “I... kinda wish there were more families like yours in the world.”
“Verlaxion forbid!” the old stallion stammered, eyes wide. “The competition would wring our banks dry!”
“Eheheheh...”
“Ha ha ha ha ha...” He leaned against the wooden railing and sighed into the light of glowing lanterns. “But enough of that rambling. I want to thank you for helping Sweet and Reeds along their journey.”
“Helping them?” Rainbow leaned back, holding a hoof over her chest. “No offense, sir, but what did I do?”
“Stability comes from the most curious of places,” he said. “My children... have remained children.” A slight sigh. “And while that makes them all the more endearing in the eyes of my wife and I, I do feel like they could have used more... guidance. These trips to the fishing prefectures are certainly doing a lot to mold them. But what they need the most is a role model—and not one defined by monetary success.” He cleared his throat. “You're just the kind of personality that they can gleam wisdom from. You're not too jovial... and yet you're not too serious. You fall right down the center of the where Reeds and Sweet gravitate. That kind of strength is... infectious. Inspiring. I can already tell that they've learned more from this latest exodus than the last three years prior.”
“H-hey...” Rainbow smiled. “I'm super flattered. Really, I am.” Coughing, she adjusted her hat and lost her smile. “But... like... I'm not here to stay, sir. Truth is, I've gotta head north... and I gotta do so super quick.”
“Indeed. As I am quite aware.” He nodded. “And—as my chief blessing on Unification Day—I would like to assist you in that endeavor.” He smiled. “You are welcome to the food on our table, and extra blankets to keep you warm at night.”
“Well, that's super mega cool of you.”
“However...” The stallion raised a hoof. “No amount of provisions can make the journey easy,” he said. “The direction you are headed is difficult this time of year. Treacherous, even. I know you have your own priorities, but I would insist that you stay here—even throughout the Month of Thawing if need be—and wait for trade traffic to resume so you can enjoy the safety of numbers on the road.”
“And as much as I'd like to do that—”
“Aye. Time is of the essence.” He bowed slightly. “I may not understand your need for swiftness, my dear, but I shall honor it. I have many business partners among the Colonialists, but not until now have I had the pleasure of making a true acquaintance of one.”
“Believe me. The pleasure's all mine.” Rainbow smiled. “You won't believe how awesome it is to have ponies... wanting to lend...” She blinked, brow furrowed. “... ...a helping hoof...?”
The stallion had turned away from her, gazing worriedly at a servant who was shuffling towards them. A frazzled mare came to a stop, panting. “Master. I am so exceedingly sorry for interrupting...”
“What is it?” he asked.
“Well...” She glanced at Rainbow Dash, then at him. Biting her lip, she leaned in and whispered in his ear.
The stallion blinked... and then his eyes went wide. He leaned away from the servant, gawking at her.
The servant merely nodded.
“Is... something the matter?”
“No...” The stallion gulped. “Just... remarkable.” He bore a dazed grin as he turned towards her. “It would appear that the matriarch of the family would like to have a word with you.”
“Matriarch... of the family...?” Rainbow lisped. She blinked, and then her gaze fell upon the third story screened window overlooking the courtyard.
“Nana Pearl wants to see you?!” Sweet's voice echoed across the lush, furnished hallways of the estate.
“I guess so,” Rainbow said, marching along, following a servant down the corridor. “Is that a huge thing or...?”
Sweet and Reeds stumbled after her. “It most certainly is huge!” Reeds said. “She's the oldest, most important member of our family! Kunmane's elders all look up to her!”
“Ponies would gladly throw themselves off a cliff if it meant having an audience with Nana!” Sweet exclaimed. “She rarely ever sees anyone! And when she does, it's only through some super-duper rigid appointment scheduling!”
“So... like...” Rainbow Dash's muzzle scrunched as she passed dusty family portraits along the estate's third floor. “Why is she asking to see me?”
“I... don't know,” Reeds murmured. “But Nana Pearl is like that.”
“Like what?”
“She perceives stuff that the rest of us don't!” Sweet sang. “It comes with being older than boulders!”
“Sweet...” Reeds groaned.
“What? It rhymed! That means it's wise, right? Heehee!”
“Eugh...” Reeds face-hoofed, then smiled weakly in Rainbow's direction. “Some of us believe that all of the wisdom got soaked up in her, while the rest of us became rich idiots.”
“I dunno.” Rainbow smirked. “Your mom and dad seem alright.”
“Heeheehee!”
“Shhhh...” The servant reached the door up ahead. Quietly, she knocked on it, then stuck her head into a dark chamber beyond.
“Okies...” Sweet leaned in. “Remember... she's really quiet and... kinda mumbles at time. So you'll wanna tilt your ears towards her.”
“She also tends to go on wild tangents at time,” Reeds said. “Take it with a grain of salt.”
“And if she starts rambling about an epic war between the tribes, don't worry. It's probably just a book she read about.”
“And don't get her started on her cat that died fifty years ago—”
“Wait wait wait!” Rainbow wheezed, waving her forelimbs. “...I thought you said this mare was old and wise.”
“Oh, the wise stuff will hit ya when it hits ya,” Sweet said with a wink.
“Trust us. You'll know,” Reeds added.
“Very well then...” Rainbow Dash exhaled. “Time to get... pummeled by a great grandma.”
“Hehehe!”
The servant trotted back, turned with a smile, then bowed.
Reeds patted Rainbow's shoulder. “That's your cue.”
“Go knock her dead!” Sweet said, but winced. “Erm... but really don't, though!”
“Right...” Rainbow tilted her hat back and shuffled forward. “Here I go... anti-knocking...”
Rainbow passed on through the doorway... and the servant silently sealed her inside.
The first thing Rainbow noticed was the thick smell of incense. Tiny plumes of candle-light smoke billowed towards the ceiling on all corners of the heavily furnished room.
“Yowsers...” Pinkie waved a hoof in front of her muzzle.
“This place smells like Zecora's,” Twilight mused.
“It's...” Rarity squinted across the dim, dusky domain. “...it's so dark in here. Can anyone actually see her?”
“Uhm...” Fluttershy pointed. “She's over there. By the window.”
Rainbow squinted. Sure enough, across the way, she spotted a dark sihlouette against a series of criss-crossing white lines. A hunched-over equine figure sat before the window that overlooked the courtyard.
The pegasus gulped. “Uhmmm...”
“It's okay, child,” whispered a hoarse voice. “I know you feel a touch bit unsettled. So was I at your age. Being in the presence of old ponies can be... very awkward.” A slight wheezing sound. “...the key thing is to be young in your head... as long as you can. Then we are all the same... hmmm? Hmm-hmm-hmmm...”
Rainbow gulped. “And what if some of us are... old in the head?”
“...well that's a damn cruel way to go about it.” A thin, wrinkly hoof lifted into the dusty light. “Do come closer, child.”
“Sure...” Rainbow took a single step.
“Watch your head. They won't hurt, but they might alarm you.”
“Huh?” Bonk! “Gah!” Rainbow jolted back, wincing. Her eyes focused on one of several dangling objects from the ceiling. It was the ornament of a crane—crafted out of delicately folded paper. As a matter of fact, multiple paper facades hung from the ceiling on string. When Rainbow so much as breathed near them, they all fluttered and shifted like a windblown flock.
“Sorry, Dashie,” Pinkie cooed. “I shoulda warned you, but... I'm just too busy staring at them...”
“I know...” Rarity exhaled melodically. “What fabulous artwork!”
“It's a simple hobby of mine,” the old mare spoke, as if answering the spectral mane's statement. “Trust me. I'm only up here in this... proverbial damsel's tower because attempting to trot downstairs for a walk everyday would shatter my brittle bones. So, I've made myself quite the collection over the years.”
“It's... uh...” Rainbow gulped. “Pretty snazzy.” She bore an awkward smile as she hobbled over thick rugs and carpets to reach the large sofa where the old mare sat. “And must be good to fend off burglars, too. I'd walk miles to avoid a sea of papercuts, if I was a bandit.”
“I like your attempt at humor, child,” the old pony said. As Rainbow drew closer, she saw a sea of wrinkles swishing together to form a chin and muzzle. “It's like tapping your fetlock into the water.” A gentle exhale. “But we both know that you're capable of so... so much more.”
Rainbow shuffled to a stop, blinking. “I'm not sure I know what you're talking about.”
“You don't know? Or you don't want to know.”
“Uhhhhh...”
“Relax, child,” the mare said. “And you may sit down if you wish. You're in the safest place in all of Rohbredden. Trust me.”
Rainbow exchanged glances with her friends. At last, her gaze fell on Fluttershy.
Fluttershy sighed. “I can only sense them, Rainbow Dash.” She shook her head. “I can't sense their thoughts.”
“Just sit down, Rainbow,” Twilight said with a smile. “It'll be alright.”
So, nodding, Rainbow did. As soon as she was level with the hunched-over mare, she gave her a prolonged look.
The old pony stared into the light from the window... only she didn't. Her eyes were glazed over. Gray. There was no hint of pupils anymore. Not even an outline.
“My name... rather unfortunately... is 'Nana Pearl.'” Those wrinkles curved slowly. “However, it's what the children love, so I'm proud to wear it.” Her head leaned over, frazzled fibers flouncing. “What might your name be, child?”
Rainbow took a deep breath. “Scootabelle,” she said. “You can call me Scootabelle, ma'am.”
Pearl nodded. “Indeed I can.” Her lips pressed tighter. “But I asked you your name, child.”
Rarity and Pinkie winced.
Rainbow cleared her throat. “What do you mean?”
“I think you know,” Peal wheezed. “I've lived long enough to know when ponies are lying to me. Even when they mean no harm. Did I or did I not tell you that this is the safest place in all of Rohbredden?”
Rainbow's brow furrowed. “Please forgive me if I find that hard to believe.”
“Mmmm... I do indeed forgive you.” The old mare nodded. “You've obviously bumped into a lot of unsavory rocks while drifting all the way here.” Her nostrils flared. “I smell the muck of the seas on you... the flakes of Rust... the salt of Shoggoth.” Her leafy ears twitched as she tilted her head to the side. “And... something else. Sweat... but thicker... like blood.” Her wrinkles went limp. “You carry much guilt on your poor flank, dear.”
Rainbow slowly nodded. “I'm guessing, at your age... you're well-acquainted with guilt.”
“Heh!” It was both a laugh and a cough. “As I am with shrugging it off.” She waved a gnarled hoof. “One learns to stop letting life be miserable—sins or no sins. Especially when one comes this close to the afterlife... and becomes wise enough to know that there likely isn't one.”
“Uhm, Nana Pearl, why exactly have you—?”
“Shhhh...” The old mare pivoted towards her. “Curiosity, my dear. As foalish as ever. Now... fear not...” She felt around until her wrinkled hooves met Rainbow's shoulder. “...stay still, if you will.”
“Uhm...” Rarity fidgeted. “Rainbow?”
“Shhhh...” Pinkie held a hoof before her muzzle. “None of my nerves are going off! Just relax, everypony...”
Rainbow did so to the best of her ability, even as Pearl's hooves felt around her neck, then up her face in gentle feathery brush strokes. Eventually, Rainbow's hat toppeled off, landing on the sofa between them. Rainbow clenched her teeth slightly, but allowed Pearl to brush her hooves over the rainbow stubble along her forehead and the back of her neck.
“Mmmmm...” Pearl bore a wrinkled frown. “...what a tragedy.”
“It was only necessa—”
“Shhhh!” Pearl insisted, making Rainbow shake. Her hooves traveled down Rainbow's neck, gently. Then, at last, they brushed the golden band of a necklace. Pearl paused... then parted the green collar of Rainbow's robe. At last, the aged fetlocks found their way to Rainbow's Element, touching the lightning bolt. Pearl let loose a deep grasp, her gray eyes widening. “Ah... there it is.”
“Uhm...” Rainbow gulped. “You okay? I... uh... d-don't wanna give you an accidental heart attack or some crud.”
“Mmmm... healthiest I've felt in years,” Pearl said. With motherly grace, she drew Rainbow's collar shut. “I knew that my great grandfoals brought something lively to Kunmane.” She felt around for Rainbow's fallen hat. “And believe you me... it wasn't Verlaxion's blessings.”
Rainbow picked the hat up and held it out to her. “What do you mean?” Rainbow squinted. “What exactly do you sense?”
“Change,” Pearl said, gently lifting the hat and placing it securely on Rainbow's head. “Where you come from, it must stand for balance and stability... but there's something about this world... this old, groaning world that speaks to me between the sighs.” She leaned back with a weathered smile. “It's really just an old mare. Like me. And her bones are all warm... and she has to turn over in bed to relax.”
“So...” Rainbow clicked her tongue. “...the whole world's a big wrinkly grandma having a perpetual nap?”
“Hah! And she's brash, too!” Pearl leaned back into the couch cushions with a sigh. “Please, child. I only let my children think they can outsmart me because it helps them feel secure. But you? You know more than you let on.”
“Yeah, well, intelligence isn't exactly my strong suit.”
“Experience would suggest otherwise.”
“Well, sure, but I'm all about moving from one place to another, ma'am,” Rainbow said. “Not all of us can just... stay in one place and get wise.”
“Aye. But ponies like me envy those who can do both.” Pearl's head tilted towards her. “And those who aren't alone... even when they are.”
Twilight and Rarity flashed Rainbow a surprised look.
Rainbow stared at the old mare. Swallowing, she murmured, “Just... who are you?”
“Oh child...” Pearl shuddered. “I'm old. But you? You are made of something far... far older. And you're just now discovering that, aren't you?”
“... ... ...”
Pearl bore a wrinkly smile. “You won't be staying long. I know that.” With a slight groan, she leaned forward on her aching haunches. “Perhaps... you could use some advice on the road ahead?” He ears flicked. “The long... misty road... through the mountains...?”
Rainbow Dash twitched slightly. “You're... like... the best friggin' grandma ever.”
“Heheheh...” Pearl bore a gummy smile. “Baking cookies wouldn't help you get to where you need to go, now would it?”
“Yeah, but they'd help!” Pinkie chirped.
“Shhhhh...” Twilight waved a hoof. “Not now, Pinkie! Mystical talking grandma!”
A soothesaying grandma? Eh, I'll buy it. Ain't even close to the craziest thing we've seen thus far.
Twenty-five push-ups and thirty-five sit-ups, ):(. Knock 'em out!
That granny's a witch! ... Or high as balls. Pick one.
6778795 high as witch balls?
... Why... Why do I get the feeling that the Grandma knows everything?
6778795 YES!
I'd like to know how does she(at least vaguely) know everything.
6778795 Must be something in that incense.
well, this was unexpected, not unwelcome either. With age comes wisdom and experience, and sometimes people (and ponies in this case) simply have gifts that few others have.
Nana is Verlax
Everyone is Verlax
Everything is Verlax
You are Verlax
6778798 Yes.
6778872
No, this is Patrick.
6778894 Patrick is Verlax too
Even Verlax is Verlax is Verlax is Verlax is Verlax is Ver-
6778798 Have you ever flied is a feken broom stick? 'cuz let me tell ya, that leaves your balls in your belly button.
So yeah, futa witch balls are pretty high alright.
6778902
Luna would probably laugh
I get the feeling that blind Nana Pearl can see Rainbow's friends quite clearly.
She has already shown that she can see through deception quite readily. Though I note that Rainbow has not yet given Pearl her name yet.
And here is where I think Verlax has fallen short in her philosophy. It has everything in it except for one thing, CHANGE. Verlax does not understand that things must be different in the final picture than in the first. It might seem that way, but the end result is the same as nothing being done at all. Change is neither chaotic nor orderly, neither harmonious nor not, it simply is, and thus does not seem to be a factor in Verlax's plans, even though it is impossible to get rid of.
Very very sharp, knew Rainbow was a lot more intelligent than she let on with just this conversation. I bet if she hears her grandkids talk about the bandit attack she is just going to look at Rainbow and smile.
I like her already.
Mystical mumbling grandma time is the best time of the year!
Wonder if she's a little more important than just some random granny...
I'm totally getting a Summer Wars vibe off this family, especially the grandma. Also she's apparently psychic. Maybe she knows some nifty ways to avoid the more treachery parts of this upcoming mountain jaunt.
That mountain is looking like our most likely battleground for Dash vs the Talon, as I think they'll just miss each other in Kunmane, but only just.
Those are the best kind of grandmas.
Epic grandma!
I absolutely love the title to this chapter. The family seems very nice and at least the parents didn't recognize Rainbow, but I guess I was sort of right since Pearl did. I wonder what other little bits of wisdom she will show before the end of this little conversation.
Good
Theres a quote in a Discworld book that fits here, but I cant remember which book, or the quote, only that it was about witches, and not just being at Deaths door, bu halfway down the hall, prodding at the curtains and complaining about th wallpaper.
That, and Ive looked at some really strange, but tottally realistic tech over the years, because other people have found it and are bringing it out in stages as we go along.
I'm getting the feeling Nana Pearl knows more than she lets on....
Nana Pearl reminds me a lot of Maz Kanata.
vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/spongebob/images/d/d8/PearlKrabs.png/revision/latest?cb=20140824164851
whoops, wrong Pearl.
6778795
wiki.teamfortress.com/w/images/thumb/6/6b/Base_Metal_Billycock.png/250px-Base_Metal_Billycock.png?t=20130524120307
Just how old? Because dayum.
She's old, blind and apparently knows so much more than she lets on.
I wouldn't be surprised if she can sense spirits.
...be on guard Dash... I have the sinking suspicion she's going to try and take one of the girls.
-Companions have returned, inner darkness spurned. Utaan.
6779718
Huzzah!
6779180
Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Maybe she'll call everyone up and encourage them to follow their dreams and inexplicably this will allow them to actually do their jobs instead of sitting around while the town burns down around them.
6779029
"And here is where I think Verlax has fallen short in her philosophy. It has everything in it except for one thing, CHANGE. Verlax does not understand that things must be different in the final picture than in the first. It might seem that way, but the end result is the same as nothing being done at all. Change is neither chaotic nor orderly, neither harmonious nor not, it simply is, and thus does not seem to be a factor in Verlax's plans, even though it is impossible to get rid of."
Point.
6779982
I dunno about that. The posters only help if she sticks to civilisation, there's no reason to believe she'd do that. My point is more that Sera has only Keris' word that there's any urgency to her journey. Imagine that Rainbow has all the time in the world. What's to stop her from sitting in the Petrispines for a month, hoping to duck under the Talon? Further, I imagine that relying on the posters would be a major problem for Sera, given how zealous she's been about the Talon, and their ability to get things done.
At worst, here she's forcibly driving Rainbow forward: herding her, almost. She will eventually run out of land, and that's where the Talon can nab her. Losing a few weeks to a detailed search isn't as big a problem as completely losing her trail—what's more, Rainbow is still completely unaware of the Talon's presence, so she isn't really being all that careful about leaving tracks at the moment. Essentially, jumping ahead of her is a huge gamble, whereas moving slowly and methodically will take longer, but is much safer.
Whoa. Is Nana Pearl psychic?
...I'm most certainly okay with it if she is.
I just have this feeling the Talon of Verlaxion is going to catch up to Rainbow Dash, and Nana Pearls being the awesome mystical grandma is going to hide her away in the floor boards or something. Leaving Dashie at a struggle to hide from the gryphons and bounty hunters as she delves deeper in their jaws. Or maybe I'm completely baseless and Dashie leaves peacefully.
As funny as this line is, for some reason, I have a real hard time picturing Twilight actually saying it.
6778756
Hey look you're back! I don't know how long you've been commenting again, but I just say your post and I must say I've missed your random workout routine things.
I love encounters like this.
Having flashbacks of turtle town.
Rainbow Dash should be HONEST with Nana Pearl and TRUST her.
6780050 She was flat told by multiple individuals (up to and including Keris himself) that the Talon were after her, if she doesn't understand after that then she is more idiotic than ever portrayed here. They also cannot assume that they do not know if she is being pursued even if this was NOT the case, they must always prepare for the worst case scenario.
Pushing past her means that once they are certain that they have passed her, they can start doubling back. This ties in to her limited mobility, they can move faster than she can, so once they pin how far she has gone, they can then search with far greater detail in a limited search box, versus an unlimited one (while they must also move forward at a decent rate. They may be faster but the easiest way to squander that advantage is to allow her freedom of movement, even if only in one direction, so they cannot by default search as thoroughly as a limited search box) when pursuing. A search box also prevents her from sitting in the spines for a month or two as once an area has been cleared, it can then be checked off and the box can grow smaller, and smaller, and smaller, until they track her down.
Also when herding her she can still double back, as they don't yet have a line of site on her, and then while they are following her trail ambush them (if you pursue you run the risk of running into an ambush, even if they are alone, the Cape Buffalo is so well known for this tactic that it is considered the second most or the most dangerous big game animal in Africa). While an ambush is unlikely to kill any of them, she could injure one of them and escape in the confusion, and then they have to slow down or stop searching to tend to the injured and reassess the situation while she gains distance, forcing them to start the pursuit all over again, only this time slower, as they have to watch out for ambushes.
What Seraphimus has done is a tactical misstep, and she is only REACTING to Rainbow. If she wants to actually catch her target, she need to force her target to react to her, in a way that forces her to make a mistake.
6780792
That doesn't feel right. Let me ramble for a bit:
Rainbow and the Talon are aware of each other, certainly, but the Talon has a much better idea of where Rainbow is than vice versa. To Rainbow, they're more of a vague threat somewhere on the horizon. Being too forceful will promote them to her direct attention, which will make it harder to catch her.
You assume that the Petrispines, for example, is a smaller search box than the "unlimited" one of chasing after her. That's a pretty bold assumption—Rainbow's leaving a reasonably clear trail, and there's no reason to assume that's going to stop. On the other hand, the Petrispines are a literal forest. There's a lot of space there, and there's only what, five Talons? If I were Sera here, I'd be pretty concerned about missing her even with a detailed search of the area.
But then, I'd also be sending one (not Keris) ahead to Kunmane to sniff around, with strict instructions not to engage. Their best advantage is going to be speed and mobility. Jumping ahead in a big, flashy way forewarns Rainbow that the noose is closing, and will likely cause her to deviate from her planned route—which renders all previously gathered information moot.
The best way to do this seems to me to be a methodical advance with the majority of the party, doing their best to prevent any sort of doubling-back, while a single member flies ahead to scout, preferably unseen. If they lose this trail, it'd be really, really hard to pick it back up without Rainbow doing something stupid like telling a mystical old Grandma and associated family where she's going.
I don't think Sera cares about Rainbow setting up an ambush. In fact, I think that'd be her preferred outcome.
Apparently it's the mystical mumbling grandma route. Well then.
Fluttershy described her presence as strong and warm, positive. Her knowledge far extends beyond anything we have ever seen before - not even Camellia could sense the spirits around Rainbow, perhaps not even Verlax herself could. And no, I do not believe she is Verlax - her entire setup is the diametrical opposite of her. Unless Skirts is pulling a split-personality Jekyll-and-Hyde thing here, no, it's not her.
But just what is she? We haven't dealt with regular, mortal seers of that degree before. That doesn't mean she can't be one, the allusion to Zecora speaks for itself - still, this close to the edge I'm suspicious, especially with her presence being described as so overwhelmingly positive by Flutters. My money is on her being somehow in league with higher forces, but how and with which? A descendant of the alicorns mayhaps?
...they can smell?
And to add to that, her whole 'safest place in Rohbredden' statement is downright a trope concerning exceedingly powerful and mystical yet reclusive characters - like, say, Galadriel or Tom Bombadil.
I wonder if Pearl is going to end up being an important piece later on. I'd suggest that she's a divine or changeling or alicorn in disguise, but Verlax would probably know if she was. I can't imagine tyrannical, immortal ice dragons are very hospitable to other powers. Still, I'm getting some Gandalf vibes from her.
Does Grandma ever not know whats best?
Ah, someone finally said it! Change! Change! Change!
collegecandy.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/tumblr_mixpuyiz9t1qg01jso1_500.gif
I've been saying it for long.
6780933 The Petrispines also have a limited number of ways for Rainbow to move through them (she currently cannot fly, and climbing up vertical cliff faces with hooves...), so that large amount of space in reality becomes mush smaller. Also I think you are overstating the danger that loosing the trail would cause. Earlier in the book the Talon actually DID loose her trail (when she left Red Barge), but picked it up again after reaching a port simply by questioning the locals, while at the same time getting let in on the fact that she changed her appearance. Regarding a detailed search of a limited area, they can get assistance from local military or law enforcement to help conduct the search, while in a pursuit type situation they can only move as fast as their slowest unit, thus running the very real risk of her outrunning their search and pursuit units if they use the same strategy here.
Jumping ahead also doesn't have to be flashy, they can co-opt local forces into assisting them in a fugitive hunt. The checkpoints could be made to look like a contraband inspection, or even an actual contraband inspection, with the orders to detain certain individuals at the Talons behest, while going after those that move to avoid the check point. A pursuit with local forces of this type however cannot be done as it runs the very real risk of overlapping into multiple prefectures, meaning that they have to talk to multiple groups, wasting time and allowing her to gain distance.
Regarding her ambushing them, and Seraphimus wanting it, or even just not caring, if that were the case then she is a much worse commander than has been implied here. First because letting yourself get ambushed risks total destruction or incapacitation of her forces, and second because an ambush does not need to reveal Rainbow's position. If she gets into the mountains than she can gather moisture using a fog bank (fog is actually just low clouds, assuming there are no ground relative clouds in her area). Then she can hit them potentially from over a mile away with a lightning bolt, letting their own armor act as a conductor. If they are not in direct Line of Site (i.e. she waits until one of them turns their back) she can hit them without warning, and keep hitting them until they are all taken out. That is the consequence of pursuit, letting your enemy choose the point for an ambush. While search boxing means that they can be the ones to choose the point of ambush to being one that favors them, or just starve them out of their ideal attack point.
Fact of the matter is there is a reason that no one uses pursue until they drop unless they can maintain constant line of site, which is not the case here. Too much can go wrong, and it uses far more time and resources than simply contain and search a limited area.
Sorry for making you wait, it was 1 in the morning where I was.
6781175
Have you taken into account all of the paper wards hung from the ceiling?
This grandma is obviously the manifestation of Urohringr itself. There's no other explanation.
6781597
You'll have to bear in mind that I've literally no basis for anything I say, I am talking out of my ass and I am very drunk right now. It's 5am. Let's go.
The Talon has five members. Or six. Whatever. It's less than ten. That's not enough to conduct a properly thorough search of a forest. Rainbow could have passed them already, heading back west. It wouldn't even be difficult. Pass some rumours, move east, then double back west, wait for griffins, lay low, leave. That's it, done. Even Keris is useless once Rainbow breaks her east-only rule (as she's done here, heading north after Applejack).
As a result, 1) They cannot risk tipping her off as to how close their pursuit is. As far as Seraphimus knows, as I keep stressing, Rainbow has no time limit. This means that there is the very real potential that Rainbow, alerted to their immediate presence, will go to ground. That could severely screw with Sera.
2) They cannot lose her trail. Seraphimus does not think Rainbow is on any sort of time limit. But by Verlax, Sera herself is. Worst case scenario, Rainbow's heading to some other sacred site with the intention of desecrating it. The big difference between picking it up at some port and what you're describing is Rainbow's awareness. I can't imagine she'd be so careless if she knew beyond any doubt just how close the Talon was.
The Talon, under Seraphimus, is just the right type of arrogant and zealous to spurn any local enforcement. Don't think of this as the objective right call—that's not helpful. Instead, Sera's perspective tells us about the situation and her character. Should she enlist local authorities versus would she enforce local authorities. The Talon isn't a SWAT equivalent. It's a continent wide superhero team. The Avengers uses the cops to herd civilians, not to find Loki.
As I see it, they have the advantage in that, even without line of sight, they have initiative. They have the drop on Rainbow. Her ambushing them requires her absolute confidence that they are hot on her trail—and it's meaningless when considered against the Talon's mobility. They can just fly over a fog bank. They can burst any cloud. There are a million ways a combat-trained team like this can turn the tables on a potential assailant, and the arrogant Seraphimus would believe just that—that any ambush Rainbow could try would be stymied by Verlaxion and the Talon's superior will.
End of the day, I really don't think it's that horrible of an idea to stick around the Petrispines. I myself would have sent somegriffon on ahead, so that in the event of her pressing onwards, we didn't waste too much time, but I'd be far more worried about losing track of her. Again, it's not just losing the trail, it's losing the trail AND alerting her to the immediate pursuit.
BTW pursue until they drop was the principal means of hunting used by early hominims, labelled Persistence Hunting. It's not applicable because the Talon has the speed advantage, but still . . . Someone used this—exclusively.
But beyond anything else, there's also this thought. Perhaps Seraphimus is intentionally delaying her confrontation with Rainbow. Perhaps she is playing it safe beyond rationality. Perhaps she wants to see where Rainbow is going, and what Rainbow is going to do when she gets there. Perhaps she wants to see Rainbow reach her destination, and then crush her against it like a mortar and pestle.
6782173 I must say that you are extremely coherent for a drunk, tired individual, so props for that.
Now first, Rainbow has ALREADY gone to ground. the change of clothes and the hat and shaved mane and false names are how she did so. Just because one goes to ground does not mean that you stop moving. If she is heading for another sacred sight that is all the more reason to tell those ahead. Seraph knows where these sites are, that there are a limited number of them, and the most likely approach vectors for one trying to lay low. Second, they have only a rough idea of where she has been, there are still numerous ways for her to have traveled, meaning that they already have lost her trail in the technical sense.
Second, no the Talon is not a SWAT equivalent, but they are not superheros either. They are closer to a military spec ops team, like Delta or the SAS. Those groups do in fact use local forces from time to time to assist them. The issues you list work just as badly, if not worse, against pure pursuit than against flush and trap. Keris has shown outright that the Talon are not about to spurn help, as he got help both from white Barge and when gathering intel, it was all HUMINT (or rather PONINT in this case), or other individuals.
As for the initiative, no, they do not have it. They do not have it for the simple reason that they are REACTING to Rainbow, meaning that their OODA loop by default is larger, and that problem will compound as time goes on. As long as that is the case they do not have the initiative. Going ahead of her
(I probably should have mentioned this earlier, but not all of them are going ahead, one or two are staying behind and continuing the chase in case she doubles back)
puts the initiative back in their claws, while just following behind her until they hope to catch up squanders their greater mobility and lets her pull more stunts like the disguise. While Rainbow may not have a time limit, THEY DO. That time limit being how long until her wing heals, after which point her mobility, and more importantly, the fact that she will no longer leave a trail, will make her impossible to find. Rainbow probably knows this, and they know she knows this. So if they keep reacting to her, the clock is going to run out and she will escape.
Regarding persistence hunting, that bit only works if you have sight of the target constantly, they do not here. If you do not, at best your target avoids you and you don't get anything, at worst you get counterattacked Ala Cape Buffalo style.