Reader's Guide to the Inn of the Prancing Pony · 6:22am Oct 26th, 2014
(As of Chapter 21.)
McPoodle here, one of the two editors for At the Inn of the Prancing Pony. It occurs to me that, with the growing complexity of this story, coupled by the lack of an ability to easily search through a story on this site, that it might be useful to have an indexed guide to characters and concepts presented in this story. I know that if I were reading this for the first time, that I would have already started losing track of some of this stuff. So, I present the following. In black text for readability, not because Luna is writing it.
Synopsis: Celestia travels to the Inn of the Prancing Pony, in an attempt to overthrow the cabal that has converted Equestria into its own private game board.
Setting: In terms of time, this story begins with a flashback to the defeat of Discord and the fall of Luna. Chapter 1 takes place 15 years after Nightmare Moon’s banishment. With these exceptions, the majority of the story takes place an even century after Nightmare Moon’s banishment.
In terms of place, the story begins under present-day Canterlot (Kameneva’s cave and Redfern), travels northeast a few kilostrides to the town of Horn’s Reach (the border of Unicornia), southeast of there to Brightbrick and Bee Villa, straight west to the border crossing, present day Ponyville, and the Everfree Forest. The Everfree includes stops at the castle of the Two Pony Sisters and the encampment of Everhold. Finally, we travel to Hoofington on the far side of the Everfree, where the eponymous Inn is located.
The “Curse of Equestria” is Celestia’s name for the transformation that has overcome Equestria, from Chapter 1. It causes dragons and most other non-pony races to become unintelligent monsters, and for ponies to turn against harmony and towards using violence and hatred to solve their problems.
The Gods are the individuals responsible for the Curse. Saying one of their names out loud will instantly draw their attention, unless you are an adventurer. They number Foaltus, Kelogto, Cutbelt, Calorus...and Howard (Chapter 5). Celestia knows of some older gods, and Midnight Sparkle depends on their power to protect her with her cloak: Phyletus, god of cutie marks (Chapter 7), and the Nameless Gods. Discord was quite deliberately not invoked. Celestia herself is seen as a goddess by the populace, one that the other gods hate. Speaking her name as well has consequences...
Similarities to The Best of All Possible Worlds [because I know somebody will ask] are pretty slim: They are both set in the past, with Celestia as the main character. The author of Inn, Luna, was inspired to write the work after reading Worlds.
Major Characters (by order of appearance):
Luna, Princess of Equestria: OK, not a character—the author. First “appearance”: Preface. Showed up as herself in Celestia’s dream in Chapter 1, as Nightmare Moon’s voice in another dream in Chapter 2. Other references include the “Battle of Northern Winter” in Chapter 4, the game of “Bandit” in Chapter 8, and her care of the orphans in Chapter 9—this same chapter also contained theories by Midnight Sparkle and Firebelle as to who Luna truly was.
Celestia, “The Forsaken One” or “The Lonely Goddess”: The main character. First appearance: Chapter 1. In the alternate reality depicted in this story, Celestia became so despondent after being forced to banish Nightmare Moon that she relinquished her title and responsibilities, tried to end her life and, when that failed, put herself into a slumber that was never supposed to end (Chapter 1 again). On discovering the nature of the Curse (see above) and her inability to escape from it as Celestia, she took on the guise of Hope Springs, one of Princess Luna’s pages from a century before her corruption. Hope Springs is a light tan earth pony with a pale pink mane. She has Celestia’s magenta eyes. She doesn’t have a cutie mark yet. As Hope, Celestia left the cave of the dragon Kameneva (located in the western face of the Canterhorn), and spent some time in the village of Redfern. After briefly traveling with Soul Cleaver’s party, she ended up in Horn’s Reach and was interviewed by Duke Comet Sparkle. The Duke referred Hope to the service of his daughter Midnight Sparkle, and together they traveled to Bee Villa, where Rigged Bee lived. Midnight’s servant Muddy Pie betrayed them to Prince Blueblood. They were rescued from the prince by Firebelle, who took them to her ancestral home of Lampyra to buy supplies. They spent a night in the location that would one day be Ponyville, and then entered the Everfree Forest. After a couple unfortunate encounters, Hope and Midnight were forced to leave Firebelle behind at the camp city of Everhold. Midnight discovered Hope’s true nature, they ran into Soul Clever’s party once again, and they finally made it to Hoofington, and the Inn of the Prancing Pony. Hope Springs was stuck in the stable while Midnight did most of the hoofwork, discovering details of the mysterious beings taking over pony bodies for their amusement. But now the Convention has begun, and Celestia has a new role to play...
Kameneva (nickname “Kammy”): A red dragon who had been overcome by the Curse, seeing the sleeping Celestia as her treasure. First (and only appearance): Chapter 1. After Celestia broke her of the Curse, she fled to New Odessa (once Baltimare), the capital of New Draconia. From there, she vowed to find a safe way to return to Equestria to help Celestia.
The Valiant Bees: A famed family of adventurers from fifteen years after Nightmare Moon’s banishment. The most prominent member is Rigged Bee, the lone survivor to the present day of the story, one hundred years since Nightmare Moon’s banishment. Rigged is a unicorn mare, with a periwinkle blue coat, peach orange mane, and a cutie mark of a bumblebee pulling a tiny chariot (a “rigged bee”). Her native eye color is orange, but while she was controlled by the player Ellen, her eyes were brown. She was the healer of the party. First appearance: (possessed) Chapter 1, (as herself) Chapter 7.
Big Bee was the leader of the group, a fighter. He was a pegasus stallion with a pale blue coat, peach orange mane, and a cutie mark of a bumblebee-shaped cloud. He ended up being turned to stone for spying on the gods. First appearance: Chapter 1. Fate revealed: Chapter 2.
Hug Bee was the team’s wizard, an earth pony stallion, prematurely aged, with a long white beard, and a cloak to cover up his embarrassing cutie mark. His fate was “too terrible to contemplate”. First appearance: (unnamed) Chapter 1. Name and fate revealed: Chapter 2.
Zig and Zag Bee were twin fighter/thieves, both pegasi stallions. Their cutie marks, in the form of horizontal lightning bolts, were mirror images of each other. Zig was sucked into the desert sands by an efreet. Zag survived long enough to be retired to Bee Villa beside Rigged, but died soon afterwards of a naga-inflicted curse. First appearance: (unnamed) Chapter 1. Names and fates revealed: Chapter 2.
Other Famous Adventurers: Celestia learned of many of these by studying the graffiti surrounding the Bee’s monument commemorating their encounter with Kameneva. Moldy Cane (cutie mark of a walking cane speckled with mold), Swirly the Magnificent (cutie mark of a blue and yellow circular disk, the two colors combined in a swirl pattern), Nestoria the Valliant (a delicate unicorn from fifty years before the present day of the story), and Felnor the Brave (a barbarian earth pony from a decade ago). Nestoria and Felnor were both played by Ellen, while Moldy and Swirly were apparently played by her rivals. First mention: (Moldy and Swirly) Chapter 2, (Nestoria and Felnor) Chapter 4, (link established between Rigged Bee, Nestoria, Felnor and Ellen) Chapter 7.
The Inhabitants of Redfern (all from Chapters 2 and 3) included Loam Planter, Truth, Flower and Golddust Sifter.
Soul Cleaver’s Party of Adventurers consisted of Soul Cleaver (earth pony stallion fighter, rust furred with a silver mane, with a cutie mark of a cleaver separating a pony from his soul), Vaya Con Dios (unicorn stallion cleric, red with yellow mane, with a cutie mark of a cartoon heart with wings), Swipe (pegasus stallion thief, dark blue with white mane, with a pile of coins for a cutie mark), and Torchlit (earth pony wizard, yellow with an orange mane). One has brown eyes, the others the same shade of blue eyes—signs that they are possessed. Soul Cleaver led the team to besiege Horn’s Reach beside the Earth Pony Army, which was merely a diversion to obtain a magic item. They then left to loot Ivan the Dracolich’s tomb. They were later seen carrying the dead body of Soul Cleaver. Almost immediately afterwards, Soul Cleaver’s former player possessed Firebelle, and transformed her into a dragon. In their encounters with Hope Springs, they were unnerved by her free will, something that Midnight Sparkle was unable to display in their presence. First appearance: Chapter 4. Minus Soul Cleaver: Chapter 15. With the possessed Firebelle: Chapter 17.
Stride Eater and the Earth Pony Army: Stride Eater is a charismatic earth pony supremacist who seeks to use his army to take over the world. Soul Cleaver uses the group to advance his own ends, and the army ends up defeated outside Horn’s Reach, thanks to Captain Sparkle (see under Duke Sparkle, below). Major appearance: Chapter 4.
Platinum IX: Queen of Unicornia, is a unicorn mare with white fur and a mostly-gray mane that was once blonde. Her cutie mark is a yellow and blue compass rose. Her son is Prince Blueblood. Mentioned: Chapter 5.
Duke Comet Sparkle commands Horn’s Reach, the far western border of the Kingdom of Unicornia. He’s a dark gray unicorn stallion. His biggest political rival is his brother-in-law, Prince Blueblood. Comet’s wife is Diamond, and their children are Captain Moonlight, Sunlight, Midnight and Sparkling Helm. Moonlight commands the army of Horn’s Reach. Sunlight helps raises the sun and moon in Unicornia City. And Sparkling Helm is a colt who idolizes Moonlight. All introduced in Chapter 5 (although only Comet was named).
Midnight Sparkle, aka “Midnight the Arcane”, is Duke Comet’s daughter, devoted to scientific studies. Dark blue coat, white mane, lavender eyes, magic color violet blue. She is reluctantly assigned to escort Hope Springs to the home of Rigged Bee. On her unexpectedly extended journey, she discovers much about Hope, and the wider world, that she did not expect. Now she’s at the Inn of the Prancing Pony, due to be possessed, and hoping desperately that the magic cloak she has created will protect her. Significant chapters: 6, 14, 17, 19 and 21.
Muddy Pie: Servant of Midnight Sparkle, and darling of every city he visits. He appears to be a unicorn to everypony but Hope Springs. In the end, he betrays Midnight and Hope to his true master, Prince Blueblood. First appearance: Chapter 6. Last significant appearance: Chapter 7.
Prince Blueblood: Son of Queen Platinum IX, and uncle to Midnight Sparkle. Looks identical to the Prince Blueblood in Friendship Is Magic. Captures Midnight and Hope Springs in order to force them to go to the Inn of the Prancing Pony. Main appearance: Chapter 8. (Blueblood’s wanted poster for Midnight is described in Chapter 11, and shows up again in Chapter 15.)
Firebelle: A small pink pegasus mare with a striped mane and tail of alternating light blue and pale red. Distant relative of the Valiant Bees. Was born with a stunted wing, which she hides from public view. Schemes to become an adventurer, and recruits Midnight Sparkle and Hope Springs after rescuing them from Prince Blueblood. Takes the newly formed group to Lampyra, where she gets into a fight with her controlling mother, Firefly Jr. Afterwards, gets gravely injured during her first encounter in the Everfree against a band of lizard men, and is then deliberately petrified to keep her from dying. Hope and Midnight then leave her with the healers at Everhold, who then hoof her over to Soul Cleaver’s Party of Adventurers, minus Soul Cleaver. The player spirit of the ex-Soul Cleaver then possesses her and manages to get her transformed into a dragon outside the orc village. Present whereabouts unknown. Significant chapters: 8, 10, 12 and (possessed) 17.
Rogbog the Overpowering: Chapter 9. (What? There’s a small chance that somebody might want to look Him up.)
Lampyra is a self-proclaimed pegasus utopia, existing upon a floating cloud that drifts all over Equestria. It is ruled with an iron hoof by Firefly Jr., daughter of Firefly I, who micromanages the lives of everypony in her kingdom. Firebelle is her second daughter, who she’d prefer spend the rest of her life isolated from society, so that the truth of her disability wouldn’t get out to shame the family name. Other inhabitants of Lampyra include Cousin Cumulous. Major appearance: Chapter 10.
The Everfree Forest consists of the former capital of Winnychester, converted by the wild magicks of Celestia and Nightmare Moon’s duel. It is now used as a testing ground for would-be adventurers, and a training ground for newly-minted ones. Midnight Sparkle, Hope Springs and Firebelle enter the Everfree in Chapter 12, where they fight a band of lizard men with disastrous consequences for Firebelle. In Chapter 13, they face a cockatrice, and Hope decides to expose the rapidly worsening Firebelle to petrification in order to save her life. They pass through the Castle of the Two Sisters and enter the tent city of Everhold, where Firebelle is left with a group of healers. In Chapter 15, Midnight and Hope take a tour as a way to sneak back into the Castle, so Midnight can do some research. In Chapter 16, they encounter a village of orcs, and in Chapter 17, they confront Soul Cleaver’s Party of Adventurers, and finally leave the forest.
Water Cooler: The comic relief for this story after Muddy turned bad. His chapter is Chapter 15.
Staff of the Inn of the Prancing Pony in Hoofington include Mr. Silver, the old gray unicorn who apparently runs the place, and Mrs. Cabinet, the earth pony mare acting as caretaker of the neighboring stable, where friends and relatives of would-be adventurers are allowed to stay. The Inn was first mentioned in Chapter 2, but Hope Springs and Midnight Sparkle did not reach the place until Chapter 18 (when Mr. Silver and Mrs. Cabinet are introduced). Midnight Sparkle is staying in Room 236 of the Inn, and Hope is staying in Room 236 of the stable. Midnight’s neighbor in Room 238 is Chestnut, and Hope’s neighbor in the same room number is Sorrel.
Sorrel and Chestnut are brother and sister, the latter of whom is planning to become an adventurer. Sorrel is a small red earth pony stallion, and Chestnut is a large light orange earth pony mare with a speech impediment. Both are high-ranking members of the Thieves’ Guild in the earth pony city of Maneport. Chestnut agrees to wear one of Midnight Sparkle’s possession-proof capes, modified into a hat. Introduced in Chapters 18 (Sorrel) and 19 (Chestnut), although Chapter 20 is where they really get the chance to shine.
Burnished Lore (aka Uncle Bernie): A permanent resident at the Inn of the Prancing Pony. An old gray pegasus stallion, grand-uncle to Firebelle, and her source for information about adventuring. Midnight Sparkle sought him out in Booth #9 to inform him of the fate of his niece. She attempted to approach him regarding her magic-proof cloaks, but he rebuffed her. Major appearance: Chapter 19.
Winter Harvest and Copper Plate are two sisters who have come to the Inn of the Prancing Pony to become adventurers. Winter Harvest, the elder, is a snow-white pegasus with a light tan mane and bright yellow eyes, and Copper Plate, the younger, is a copper-colored unicorn with a small horn, silver-white mane and tail, and dark orange eyes. Winter is the more practical one, while Copper is the dreamer, and may go down in history as the inventor of the pony comic book. Midnight Sparkle meets them at the Inn and gets them to agree to try out some of her possession-proof cloaks for when it becomes time for them to become adventurers. They are both inducted into the Thieves’ Guild by Chestnut. Major appearances: Chapters 19 and 21.
Torn Deck is a would-be adventurer, the upper-class son of the Chief of Police in Maneport. A white-coated earth pony stallion with a blonde mane and tail, “like a muscular version of Prince Blueblood”. He attempts to bond with fellow aristocrat Midnight Sparkle, which only serves to emphasize how far her attitudes have changed since meeting Hope Springs. Major appearance: Chapter 21.
Inhabitants of the Other World control everything that happens in Equestria, but think that they are merely playing a game. The company in control of everything is Horsewords, Inc., run by Mary Jo Powell. The only name of a player known thus far is Ellen, who played Rigged Bee, Nestoria the Valiant and Felnor the Brave in three separate generations. She has brown eyes, which are exhibited by her adventurer ponies when she possesses them, and has exhibited a fascination with Celestia. Most of this information is discussed in Chapters 19, 20, and 21. Ellen’s lone “appearance” was in Chapter 1, although she was discussed in Chapter 7.
Yes, the reader’s guide, a sure-fire sign that the author has lost control of his story. I know, I know. With any luck, I’ve written Inn so well that the vast majority of you didn't need this at all. Even after I post Chapter 22.
2555832 I had forgotten a few minor plot points, sorry.
I thank you for this!
Nice summary. Fortunately not too much that I didn't remember, except for names. There's a number of names that are floated once or twice and then quickly fade into irrelevance.
I do have to wonder what the players would think if they realized what exactly was going on. I have to imagine a few might be horrified.