Fallout: Equestria - New Roam Innovatus Reviews: Chapter II

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This is one review I've really been looking forward to ever since I started re-visiting stories that I had reviewed earlier, mostly because I really don't like cliffhangers.

So... yeah, we're here again, I don't really have any sort of jokes to start it out with other than that clip I started with last time, so lets just get moving from here.

Welcome back to Delvius' New Roam Innovatus, time to see how far we're really willing to go for Roam.

---Chapter II: Tribute---

Every Marediolanian thought the outside world was barren, dead. That any form of life that thrived out there was unnatural, abominable. We were told radiation storms tore up the landscape, that the air alone could kill you in minutes. We'd been led to believe that beyond our walls was hell itself, and we'd all bought it. Including me, especially me -- for me, all that could have been good was right there, in my home. Why ever think of uncomfortable, nasty things, like death by toxins?

Yet now that our door had been yanked down I realized I was wrong. I could see outside the doorway, though the view was obscured by a slanted metallic hulk, with a heavy-caliber cannon on top of its chassis -- an armored vehicle, the likes of which I'd seen pictures of back in history classes. I could see light bordering on its metal, the source dancing on the edges of my sight as I was hauled off, my paralysis ebbing away slowly. Next to these soldiers who looked almost exactly like us, and taking priority over even the foreign vehicle, that light was the next thing I was so curious about regarding the outside.

I was so intrigued by it I'd almost forgotten just what was happening, and what had already transpired. I only regained my senses after I was dropped in the corner like all the other stunned guards. Those who weren't were shoved towards the rest of us.

That was all I needed to see to remember, and to know what exactly it was I should have been feeling...

Yeah, there's totally nothing alive out there.

So yeah, these guys aren't exactly friendly as the're starting to make their way through the town while Goldwreath and the rest of the guards are being held at gunpoint. One of the others Incluvius demanded that they be able to see their families and that his brother gets the medical attention he needs after getting shot, the Legionnaire is actually pretty apologetic, saying that their medic is on their way from somewhere else and asks that he be patient.

Not much seems to be known about the Imperial Roaman Legion at the moment, other than that they're after the community. There is a moment of relief in that there aren't a lot of casualties, only three on both sides. Though one of them is pretty much torn up from the battle, so yeah, it was a nasty battle even if it wasn't too bad in terms of losses.

The Legionaries comment that Horus, who is among the dead, could have avoided all these deaths if he hadn't ordered the attack, which makes Goldwreath angry to the point that he actually attacks one of them from behind.

"YOU DON'T GET TO DO THAT HERE!" I bellowed as his comrades rushed to his aid. He looked like he was unconscious, and his eyelids leaked with tears as he pressed his hind legs tightly together. I fixed them each with a glare, and I didn't care what they'd have done to me. I only wanted to expel them, painfully. "You... don't get... to just walk in, kill people, and start telling us what we should or shouldn't have done in defense of our own home. None of you do!" I shouted as I stepped forward.

I really like Goldwreath, he has a good point here and he's telling the Legion as much. A tense moment passes before a Zebra approaches and calms them down, saying that they should take the time to mourn the dead. Goldwreath at this point realizes that with a canon pointing in at them, he had almost caused a massacre with his actions.

There's a surprise when they realize that Horus actually was somehow still alive despite the damage that had been done to him and they start taking him to the medical wing.

Its pretty much a small miracle that Horus is actually still alive at this point given that he took several bullets to the head. There's a definite sense of relief that he's still alive among the security force, which makes sense given that they've worked with him for their entire careers. There is a definite sense that Horus was a father to his men, which makes what's happening to him tragic to both the inhabitants and the readers.

It seems at this point that any further conflict in Marediolanon isn't going to happen after the Legion's Legate Thanus convinced them not to, which makes sense I suppose. Goldwreath and Summer Sands head down to the quarters where their families live, but Summer Sands stops because he thinks that he can't see his family because of his state after the battle.

I sighed and stepped right up beside him, once again nudging his pauldron with my own. "You can, and you should. Parents are the ones we can approach when we can't go to anyone else. You'll be fine, I'm sure-..."

"I failed!" he blurted, and gave a hiccup as his eyes narrowed, red and puffy. "I failed... we failed to stop them. Now they walk around in our own home like it's theirs. I can't... can't go in there like this. I'm ashamed of myself." He clenched his eyes and looked down, covering his face with a hoof.

Its simple but effective, it shows that they care about what happens to their families and to Marediolanon, which hurts them because they had failed to stop the Legion attack.

The Legion is starting to make their way through the residential levels as well. When they knock on the door to Summer Sands' parent's quarters, there's a sense of sadness and fear in the face of the ponies. While its subdued, which is appropriate given the situation, Summer's parents are happy that their son is still alive and thank Goldwreath for watching over their son. Goldwreath then goes to his own quarters and is greeted by his parents.

Inside their quarters, there's a solemn feeling to the situation, not even dealt with by cake with too much icing. Goldwreath's parents ask the obvious question of what's going on and we get more of an idea of what's going on in the quarters:

"So, dear..." she started softly, uncertainly. "... I've to ask, just what's happened out there? Heard the alarm we did, then the Sands were rushing into their quarters..." She gave a little hiccup and sniffled. "Then we heard clangin', loud, loud clangin'! Louder than a Bacchanalian party, it was. Then for a long while there wasn't a noise even father could pick up... no announcement whatsoever. But then we heard boots outside. Thought it was a guard, we did. The zebra looked like one, too. But the moment we approached 'im, he had a gun pointed at us! Your father and I couldn't do nothin' but just barricade ourselves in here until Eckris said something. But no, it wasn't Eckris that spoke. Someone else did, over the intercom... accent of Imperial was thick in his voice. Promised us safety if we just stayed in our rooms, he did. So we've been stayin' in here just hopin'... and then... then..." She blinked back a few tears and wiped off those that rolled down her old cheeks.

Dad moved his chair closer and wrapped a hoof around her, taking off his welding mask. He pulled her to his chest, then looked up at me with a sternness I feared was directed at me. "We've been holed up in here a while now," he said, his gravelly voice heavy with frustration. "Half an hour. And in that time, more of those 'guards' passed by. But they aren't guards, are they? They're foreigners, outsiders -- I've never seen any of their faces before. What the hell are they doing in here, son?"

Even Goldwreath isn't entirely sure by his own admission as he tells them what happened at least to him and the other guards, which isn't a lot of information to go on. There is a feeling of unease as it's obvious that they all face an uncertain future at this point. They mention that they had seen Eckris going down the hall towards the Atrium and Goldwreath suggests that he goes talk to the Praetor, but his parents are hesitant about it.

His mom wants him to stay, but he's surprised when his dad tells him that he should go talk to Eckris and we get this really good line from his Dad:

"To do his job. It's what he wants to do, it's what he's meant to do." He looked at me squarely. "Goldwreath's a guard now, dear. A guard. That's just one step down from soldier in my eyes." And then he looked right at mom. "Now it's absurd if something or someone's not used for their purpose. Our son's one of our protectors. Look at him -- he's trying to do his job, keeping the peace. I can see that glimmer of determination in his eyes. And when a person's got that kind of flame, well... nothing's gonna stop him, so long as he keeps his head on the goal. And I know our Goldwreath; he'll put himself up front as tribute if it meant saving people."

Its also at this point we learn that Goldwreath's cutie mark is the symbol of the Praetorian Guard, real subtle that, but points for originality. We also learn that in Marediolanon cutie marks really don't mean a whole lot since ultimately the ponies serve whatever role they have to according to the Zebras.

His dad tells him that he's destined for something special, that he's meant to be something more than just a normal guard. Its simple, but you get this feeling that Goldwreath's parents really care about him and want him to be more than just what he is, its a nice touch. And with the blessing of his parents, Goldwreath leaves the quarters and heads out to face his destiny, whatever that may be.

As Goldwreath heads through the halls, there's a silent tension to Marediolanon, the inhabitants are still in their quarters and even the Legionaries are only here and there, but he's not alone. He sees other guards starting to move towards the atrium where the Praetor was, and he finds Exclusivus at the top of the stairs and asks why he's out of medical.

He breathed in relief and smiled, then nodded over his shoulder. "Brother's gathered a few of us to look around, see what the foreigners are up to. I'm headed to the atrium to join up with them, seeing as a wounded leg wasn't enough to stop me." He smiled bashfully, "The poor overwhelmed mares over at medical didn't protest to my departure. I think I saved them some trouble." Then his smile turned sly, "I'm very considerate like that."

Goldwreath tells him to be careful and says that they need to do their duty and protect the inhabitants of Marediolanon and they move forward into the Atrium. They spot Eckris two floors down talking with the Legate Thanus. They get spotted by some of the Legionaries and they realize that it'll make things difficult. That's when they spot Eckris' guard who look like they're getting ready to attack the Legion soldiers, until they realize how outnumbered they are at this point.

There's a bit of back and forth between Goldwreath and Exclusivus about what's going on until they hear a commotion on the floor below. Three guards had been found by the Legion and were beaten badly. The Legate requests how many had been lost in the entrance and comments that it was more than fair because they had lost the same amount.

Thanus is calm and convincing, he's not an overly intimidating Zebra, in fact he seems more interested in convincing the inhabitants to come peacefully. What his motivations are here is not entirely clear. Incluvius is defiant however, saying that Marediolanon is their home and that the Legion has no right to be here.

"This is our home, you pompous piece of shit," Incluvius growled, sparing a glance our way. "Expect more hindrances. Even if it'll all just amount to headaches for you, we'll give resistance. Don't think you can just take our lives from us."

Thanus orders him taken away and then turns back to Eckris and says this:

Thanus looked around again, and once more spotted us. He smirked and shook his head. "All these annoying hindrances..." he said aloud. "Alright, to any other dwellers of this place that are spying on us right now, whether I've spotted you or not: listen here. I'll have you all know that this shelter belongs to Roam. To the Legion. The purpose of your lives is to serve in our ranks. And you should all know this. Yet your leader tells me that not a single generation that has lived in here has prepared for nor ever even known of our eventual coming." He turned and looked right at Eckris, his gaze so heavy with contempt that the other zebra shrank in the seat. "Now... why is this?"

Dear Celestia I hate the Legion no matter what the universe.

I'm honestly starting to miss the Stables at this point because according to Thanus, these shelters were constructed with the eventual purpose of the dwellers serving the Legion and Roam, render unto Caesar and all that. Thanus' warning is plain and simple, do not try and fight the Legion or you will all die. He calls for a gathering of all the inhabitants, which gives Goldwreath some hope for some sort of a peaceful resolution.

The next morning the call goes up over the speakers for the inhabitants to come to the Atrium, and Goldwreath goes there along with his parents and everyone who wasn't important to maintaining Marediolanon. Goldwreath's dad isn't exactly thrilled with what's going on, but Goldwreath says to try and hide his irritation or it'll be bad for them. Goldwreath spots the Zebra that had talked them down before and thanked him for the help, but he passes it off. When Goldwreath asks him why he didn't react with violence, he says that it was better to not act on violence unless its necessary.

They arrived at the Atrium where the Legion had set themselves up all around the upper levels. Thanus enters on the second level and says that maybe now he can sort things out, which is greeted about as well as you expect.

"Settle down!" Thanus shouted, but kept his tone without the tension or contempt that he was being bombarded with. "I understand the confusion and anger you are going through. Believe me, I do. And believe me, also, when I say that I didn't intend it. You were supposed to know of our arrival! The problems we face now, we face because you did not know of us to begin with. And that itself is the source of our current hardships."

"Really now? And just how were we supposed to 'know of you to begin with'?" someone asked sarcastically. "If you know us so well, you'd know the door is impossible to open! Welded shut and all that; only time it was ever a two-way path was when our ancestors were galloping through it to escape balefire!"

Thanus is getting frustrated with the situation and calls on Goldwreath, asking his name. He asks him about himself and Goldwreath tells him and also about what had happened at the entrance to Marediolanon and tells Thanus that he is going to have to explain his actions for all their sake.

Thanus agrees that it is the time, and gives an explination.

With that he withdrew from the railings and cleared his throat, his attention now going over the whole compact crowd. "People of Marediolanon, here me now! You want answers? I shall give them to you. I'll not delay with pleasantries and formalities, so here is the situation as it should be: there should have been a file in this place's databanks, describing in scrutinizing detail what we of the Imperial Roaman Legion call Imperial Order One.

"This Order," he elaborated, "Was left by the last Roaman emperor, Titanius, as his final instruction for the rebuilding of the empire after the apocalypse. It states that at a time of our preparedness, the Legion would rise up from our own shelter and contact each of our fellow but far-flung bunkers. One such bunker is you, Marediolanon, the 50th in the series. From your population, like from the others we went to, we were to obtain useful resources of all kinds -- equine and non-equine.

"Yet for some strange reason many of these bunkers were not aware of this Order. Many claimed to have not known it at all, as you people claim. Why? I can't say... and I am highly disturbed by it. But in the ideal situation, it would have come to pass that once a shelter's door was down the populace would be cooperative. Having prepared for us, they would have almost immediately and seamlessly integrated themselves in our military and civic system. They would have been outposts across the Zebrican wasteland, garrisoned and protected by the Legion from the hazards of the wastes. With their help, the reclamation of Roam from its destitution would be speedy, smooth. Sadly, it's been... less than smooth. For months now. Every delay hampers us greatly."

With that he stepped back and let off a heavy breath. His eyes tired, he said slowly, "I don't blame you people. Perhaps some manner of apocalyptic chaos erased the file somehow, I don't know. But surely some of you must have thought on the possibility of governmental intervention in your lives. Certainly the first generation that lived here had been informed of the possibility of being reclaimed by the nation. Governments that split itself apart must consolidate eventually, yes?"

Something about all of this is weird to me, why would the bunkers not have any records of the order if it existed? This is basically the equivalent of the Stables not having any orders from Stable-Tec, something about this seems fishy to me.

Eckris calls upon the inhabitants from the opposite side of the bunker and admits that they were in error here. As it turns out they had received the message, but Eckris hadn't believed its authenticity, well they did receive the transmissions, but not anything called Imperial Order One. The whole situation had apparently occurred because Eckris didn't believe that the Legion was anything more than wastelanders, a costly mistake on his part, its not a strong defense on his part which Goldwreath acknowledges.

After a tense pause, Thanus finally speaks up again.

"Very well, then," Thanus said, tiredly but firmly. "Seeing as there seems to be no compromise brewing from the both us, I shall have to determine the course of action myself. And I shall try to be fair, to the best of my abilities." That said, he placed both forehooves on the railings and put on an expression of thought. We all bunched together and moved closer. He was an outsider for sure, and one with a hazy background and a possible lie of an explanation. But he at least seemed capable to act on the moment's notice. Not at all like our praetor.

"In all fairness," he said, looking over us, "I suppose neither of us can truly be blamed for this travesty. The deaths, for sure, will have to be recompensed by both sides. But I'm sure you all understand that this place is still meant for something more than just being a shelter."

"You mean helping your Legion?" someone asked.

Thanus nodded. "Exactly. It was the purpose for which your home was made, whether you like it or not. And me, I have been sent to collect." Then he paused, and his gaze turned wary, cautious. "That is assuming you people are willing to give of yourselves? I cannot force you to cooperate, though it would be a turn of good luck if you did..."

Its a clever move on his part, he's acting like he's not forcing them to join, but he's actually giving them no choice, just the illusion of it which Goldwreath notices. With that an argument breaks out among the dwellers as even they're not sure what to do with this

And then all of a sudden...

Video belongs to Lionsgate.

No, this is not actually a joke, okay its kind of a joke, but Goldwreath actually basically says the same thing Katniss did, volunteering as Tribute to the Legion. This catches Thanus completely off guard and when he asks what he meant, Goldwreath says that he will serve the Legion to make up for the mistakes that were made.

For the longest moment he just stared at me, completely without response. But then finally he broke into a smile, one almost maniacal. "Such... courage!" he said. "Such... initiative! Such selflessness!" He gestured a hoof over the crowd and pointed at me. "This is something for the stories, my friends! Let it be known that in the 50th shelter of Marediolanon among the chaos of half a thousand equines and when members of the 4th legion were outnumbered by anarchy, it was the pony Goldwreath that ended the violence! Let it be known that when the legate Thanus Decimus Meridius called for a civil response from the isolated people, it was Goldwreath that first raised hoof!

Such horseapples, but darn is he good at it.

He gives Goldwreath 500 Denarii and assures the population that he will not be harmed and that he will even be allowed to visit, maybe even stay if he's lucky. Goldwreath is briefly stopped by his parents, but they understand that it has to be done and allow him on his way, its a small but sad moment as he realizes what he's signed up for and who he's leaving behind.

He is lead out of Marediolanon and finds himself at the top of a mountain that the bunker had been built into and is brought to Apollania, the local camp for the Legion. Goldwreath is temporarily blinded by the sunlight outside (huh I guess you can leave during the day then). They talk about the sun and stars, and its actually a pretty nice bit of interaction.

"Come now, Goldwreath," he chuckled, not sounding... quite like himself, "You have a life ahead of you. A life not... quite what you are used to."

One of the lesser known talents of the Legion seems to be being masters of understatement.

---Concept Analysis: The Zebras---

I figured this was as good a place as any to discuss the matter of the Zebras in Fallout: Equestria.

Zebras are an, interesting case in the confines of this universe, especially given that there is absolutely nothing known about them in My Little Pony outside of Zecora, which means its hard to get a real gauge on them. This is why you get various interpretations of their culture like the different tribes in Project Horizons, but ultimately it all seems to go back to Rome... kind of.

Actually its really not that clear if they're completely based on Rome in the original fanfic, while they definitely are in this one, there are also some parallels to Rome's main rival, Carthage. Primarily this idea of the tribes banding together to face off against a greater enemy, but there is also the Roman parallels like Caesar, so honestly, I have no idea, its very confusing.

Ultimately they're there to be sort of the stand-in for China, minus the Communism thing since they don't seem to fit that mold. Its an interesting choice on KKat's part, maybe not the one I'd have made, but I will be exploring various interpretations of this throughout these reviews.

---Final Thoughts---

I love this fic so far, there's really not much else to say.

The whole concept is solid, its built on this idea of exploring the wasteland from the other side of the war and has a lot of roots in Fallout lore with Caesar's Legion. The characters are believable and well written, even the Legate, this is a really good story.

I look forward to reading more of it in the future.

Chapter II gets a score of 5/5.

Original Fanfic.

Fallout: Equestria belongs to KKat.
Fallout: Equestria - New Roam Innovatus belongs to Delvius.

Well, next week... umm... you know I don't really know how to preview this, so just gonna say it, its Freedom.

Video Made by Me.

Comments

[Delvius]

Why thank you for the review, good sir It's refreshing to see new perspectives even on old chapters. I'm glad you're liking it so far! If ever you see any problems or things that detract from your reading experience, be sure to let me know so I can incorporate it into edits and any future chapters.