Wow, you certainly are adamant about it. Alright, you're Spike again. And now you've got a difficult dilemma in front of you-
What the heck do you make your username in this book?
==> This is an adventure game- something adventurous!
Hmm... adventurous, you say? Ohoh, you think you've got something. You scribble a little something-something, and then...
Blip!
greatGarbunkle- accepted!
You grin in satisfaction for about a second, before the book starts vibrating like crazy! It almost looks like everyone around needs to talk to you- you've got chat requests from cuteCrusader, sepiaJournalist, sharpClerical, sirPippington, and two memo invites: "Team Crusaders for the Win!" and "Team Winners".
Jeeze Louise. You crack your knuckles, prepping your writing hand- this was definitely going to be a challenge.
cuteCrusader [CC] started whinnying greatGarbunkle [GG]
[CC] heya Spike!
[CC] it's Apple Bloom!
[CC] glad to see the mail finally arrived for ya!
[GG] Hey, Apple Bloom! Yeah, it feels like I've been waiting weeks for this!
[CC] i'll bet.
[CC] anyhow there's a couple things the Crusaders and me wanna discuss with ya!
[CC] added ya to the memo, see you there in a bit!
cuteCrusader [CC] stopped whinnying greatGarbunkle [GG]
Alright, short and sweet- next!
sepiaJournalist [SJ] started whinnying greatGarbunkle [GG]
[SJ] Hey spike- it's featherweight
[SJ] Couple really quick important things no need to really respond i'm already in kind of a rush
[SJ] Anyways the rest of us have been talking- there's a lot of us and this game seems to work on a two-ponies at a time basis
[SJ] So snips had an idea to just have a bunch of us do this in pairs
[SJ] And we're setting up for three teams of four
[SJ] The crusaders are all obviously paired up and pip wants to be with his pals so we're kind of stuck with diamond and silver
[SJ] Kinda sucks but hey i'm no stranger to getting picked last you know
[SJ] anyways ttyl (talk to you later)
sepiaJournalist [SJ] stopped whinnying greatGarbunkle [GG]
Alright, no need to even write back, this is pretty easy.
sharpClerical [SC] started whinnying greatGarbunkle [GG]
[SC] You're on our team. Yippee.
[SC] Just get into the memo post-haste.
sharpClerical [SC] stopped whinnying greatGarbunkle [GG]
To the point as ever.
sirPippington [SP] started whinnying greatGarbunkle [GG]
[SP] spike, old chum! sorry i didn't think of you earlier when we started setting up teams!
[SP] the lads couldn't possibly be separated, and twist just seemed so happy to be asked, i'd feel like a right jerk to take it back!
[GG] It's okay, Pip- we'll be playing the game soon enough. I can deal with a couple of jerks for a little bit.
[SP] right tough one you are, spike!
[SP] aces to you for being such an upstanding gent!
[GG] Heh, no problem! Anyways I've got to talk to a couple more ponies. My book is absolutely blowing up over here!
[SP] righto- tata!
greatGarbunkle [GG] stopped whinnying sirPippington [SP]
greatGarbunkle was invited to the memo: Team Crusaders for the Win!
[CC] hey girls- Spike's finally here! added him to the memo!
[MC] HEY SPIKE! ^_^
[RS] yooo!!!
[TY] sup
[CC] i think Spike's got a lot of messages to go through before he gets here
[CC] let's just wait a bit
[RS] booo, i hate waiting!!!
[TY] yea waitin sucks
[RS] HURRY UP SPIKE!!!
[RS] SPIIIKE!!!
[GG] Jeeze, can't a dragon get a second of peace around here?
[GG] Kidding- hey girls!
[MC] Welcome aboard, oh great wizard Garbunkle!
[RS] WOOOHOOO!!!
[GG] Anyways, what's going on?
[CC] we're just figuring out who's doing the server playing and client playing first
[GG] Oh yeah, Featherweight told me about the team thing.
[CC] sorry Spike- Crusaders gotta stick together
[GG] Hey, it's no scales off my back.
[CC] heheh- anyways, if Featherweight already told ya about the team thing then we're good.
[GG] Cool beans. I've got another memo to reply to, I'll talk to you girls in a bit!
[MC] See you later, Spike!
[RS] good luck dude!!!
[TY] yea see ya
To be honest, you kinda wanted to play with the Crusaders more than anypony else- but hey, you'll take what you get. Besides, once the boring first bit of the game is done you won't have to worry about teams or orders or any of that complicated stuff. First acts are always such a chore.
greatGarbunkle [GG] was added to memo: Team Winners
[SC] Alright, that should be the last one.
[SC] Let's get straight to business- I'm going to be Diamond Tiara's server player. None of us are quite sure what that entails, beyond modifying the client's game environment.
[SC] No offense to either of you, but I'm the only one Diamond Tiara trusts to be in that kind of position.
[GH] Wow, you didn't have to actually say that out loud, Silver!
[SC] I'd rather be straightforward than beat around the bush here. No need for hidden agendas.
[SC] Anyhow, I've come up with an order for our team that should suit our needs.
[SC] Spike <== Diamond Tiara <== Myself <== Featherweight
[SC] This gives our toughest member a chance to see what this game is exactly like, so there's less of a chance for injury early on.
[GG] Wait, injury?
[SC] And he finally arrives, not very post-haste at all.
[GG] I'm very concerned here.
[SC] Don't be a baby about it, you'll be fine.
[SC] I have every faith in Diamond Tiara's abilities to pick up on the game mechanics.
[SC] The only concern I have is whether this giant daisy-chain of connections will get pulled off right.
[SJ] It does seem pretty cumbersome
[SJ] Honestly we'd have a better chance at figuring out the game mechanics just one pony at a time but hey that's just me
[SC] You're right. That is just you.
[SC] You've all been informed, so I have no further use speaking here.
[SC] I've got a few experiments to run. Make sure you all get acquainted with your Fetch Modus in the back of the book, and try not to use anything idiotic for your Strife Specibus. I assume from the name it has something to do with danger or fighting, so pick something you know how to use.
sharpClerical [SC] went idle
[GH] Wow.
[GH] Is it just me, or does she seem to think SHE'S the one in charge around here?
[GG] I mean I'm cool with that. She seems to know what she's talking about, at least!
[SJ] I can think of worse ponies to be figuring things out
[GG] Heheh.
[GH] And what's that supposed to mean?!
sepiaJournalist [SJ] went idle
greatGarbunkle [GG] went idle
You shut your book. At least you've got Featherweight on your side, here. The dude's a pretty plucky pony- everything you need to make a great reporter, to be honest. Sarcasm, and a desire to know the truth. You flex your claws a little- you were writing pretty fast there, gotta avoid getting cramps. You wish you could just dictate the words or something, that would be way easier.
All this writing is making you hungry. This calls for a snack.
You start flipping through the book- Silver Spoon mentioned a Fetch Modus. Seemed like a thing to start figuring out. In the pocket on the back of the last page, you see a card labelled "Scroll". Huh- wonder what that meant? You check the inside cover as well- you see a single card in the Strife Portfolio, unlabeled and empty.
You think for a bit- something for fighting enemies, huh? Despite being a castle, you can't really think of anything good in here to use to fight- mostly you think you'd just use your dragon's breath, but it seems like an important part of the game. Maybe a kitchen knife or something? You frown- that seemed a little TOO violent. Maybe something big, and blunt-
Oh. Ooooooh, now there's an idea!
You hang a left, heading to the library instead of the kitchen. Pushing open the doors, you scan the shelves- and find the biggest, thickest, and densest book in all of Twilight's collection: Star Swirl the Bearded's Daunting Text of Magical Theory and Practical Thaumaturgy.
Oh yeah. This will do just great for a- URP!
A gout of flame bursts forth from your mouth, burning the book to a crisp!
Oh no, oh no no no no- Twilight was gonna kill you!
You start to panic for a moment, before you notice the scroll unfurl near the top of your vision- a single card, with Star Swirl's Daunting Text on it.
Oh. So that's what "Scroll" meant. Looks like you'd be carrying things around by burning them into a scroll, just like sending letters! That's pretty cool.
You flip over the Strife card, looking through the list of available implements of destruction- Bookkind seemed to fit your needs. You check the little box next to it, and Star Swirl's Daunting Text exits your Modus, taking up a slot in your Strife Deck.
Oh yeah. Things were getting REAL now.