//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 Interlude // Story: Sins of the Mother // by Duffman18 //------------------------------// An Excerpt From an Imperial Surveyman’s Report Part 1: On the Ecology and Denizens of the “Everfree Forest” Date: November 8, 2012 A.M. (After Magnus). Greetings to any and all who are reading this report. I am Imperial Surveyman Augustus Dramell and I have been tasked by our glorious emperor to survey the Everfree Forest outside the settlement known as Ponyville and report on my findings therein. On the 1st of November I began my studies into the wilds of the forest with naught but my wits, my faith, and the large group of heavily armored soldiers beside me to protect me from imminent death or gruesome injury. Our first major landmark was what appeared to be a small domicile of sorts carved into a dead tree set not too far into the forest. The inhabitants had long been vacated or had fled and not much was left behind in the home except for a large cauldron and some broken glass. It was quickly decided that we use it as a base camp for further expeditions. Following this we set off into the forest. The trees were quite large in comparison to other trees thus far seen in this strange land, but many of the various trees back home on the continent are far bigger with the tallest being well over a hundred feet tall in the most wild regions. Ah! Yes, on the way to the hut we encountered a patch of land liberally carpeted with a peculiar type of blue flower. We have yet to identify it fully, but I when I bent down to smell it, it was divine. On the weather: it is indeed much like the weather on the continent. The clouds move naturally, prodded along by the winds and the local animals were wary of us. We could hear them scampering away into the underbrush during our advance. It is clear that if anything, “Everfree” is quite the fitting name for this place for it has remained ever free of the daemons’ taint. After about an hour of traveling we encountered the first of many strange creatures residing within the bounds of the forest. The creature was preceded by a terrible sound. It sounded like a mix between a dragon’s roar and . . . a clucking chicken strangely enough. The creature had a long, serpentine body. Its head was that of a chicken with glowing, crimson eyes and on its back was a small pair of bat-like wings. The soldiers responded immediately showing the fruits of years of intense training . . . by laughing to the point where they could not be bothered to attack the creature. We paid for this when the creature stared directly into the eyes of one of the younger soldiers. He screamed in pain and gouts of steam rose from his body as it rejected the foul magic being worked upon it. The soldier soon fell to the ground dead and this motivated the others into action. This creature was fast, but our soldiers soon fell upon it with a vengeance and hacked its body to pieces. In the time since this expedition we have learned the locals call it a “cockatrice” However the more common name among the troops is “that chicken-headed son of a bitch.” After burying the dead solider we continued further into the forest. Along the way we saw many strange plants and herbs. (For a detailed description of said plants and herbs, complete with diagrams, sketches, names, and properties, please turn to page 450, section 4: subsection j: paragraph 20: beginning at line 4). We encountered three more types of creatures of special note. The first we encountered not long after the aforementioned cockatrice. It was in a large clearing when they struck. Coming out of the surrounding woods were 6 wolves made out of what appeared to be wood of all things. They operated on standard predator pack mentality and quickly moved to encircle our intrepid little group. Luckily, their claws and teeth could not pierce the armor of the brave soldiers protecting me on this: my most glorious assignment. Within a few moments the wolves had been dispatched and the bodies sent back to the town for study. (Full analysis and autopsy report of this and other creatures beginning on page 600: section 10: subsection: m: paragraph 24: beginning at line 6). Following the encounter with the wolves we continued on into the forest and encountered the second of the creatures of note. Bursting from the underbrush with a fearsome roar was the strangest amalgamation of creatures I had seen since that chicken-headed son of a bitch. It had the body and head of a lion, crimson, draconic wings, and a large red stinger not unlike that of a scorpion. This creature proved to be far more deadly than either of the two foes we brave few had yet to face. Two of our soldiers were severely wounded in the ensuing battle before the creature could be brought down. The final creature of note was a familiar one to any in the Empire: a dragon. It inhabited a cave set deep in the Everfree. Piled around the behemoth were massive piles of some of the finest jewels this surveyman had ever seen. After retreating from the cave mouth I reflected on some interesting facts I had noticed about the beast. It appeared to be an adult by the standards of the area, but it was easily 5 times smaller than an average adult dragon that lived in the Empire. The creature may also be weaker and less able than the ones we know. For instance: it lives here in a cave, not far at all from this settlement, and has yet in all this time to subjugate these ponies or even attack us during our initial occupation. This species seems far lesser than those we know. Conclusions and Suggestions: Timber Wolves: An interesting case that requires further study. While seemingly unnatural it appears to have little natural magic and may make excellent animals to domesticate and use against our enemies. Manticores: Similarly to the timber wolves a strange case that seems beneficial to us. While definitely possessing innate magic, humans can come in contact with it for extended periods without harm so it may also be useful in our crusade at some point. Perhaps as a counter to their pegasi . . . Dragons: They are far weaker than the dragons we know. This breed could probably be wiped out relatively easily in comparison, but their weakness might also give us a better chance of taming them, though with their innate magic it could be a dangerous proposition to let them live. Cockatrices: Kill them. Kill them all. With fire preferably. The Everfree Forest: A place untouched by the taint of the daemon-queens and perhaps even blessed by Magnus himself in that respect. Could be an excellent area to make use of for a variety of things in the future. Finally, I must reiterate. Cockatrices: Kill them all with fire.