Whew. Three cockatrices, a trio of hydra hatchlings, and a very angry bear. That is what I call a workout. I'm still not sure how I got past the bear.
...What? No, it's a legitimate obstacle, an angry bear. Especially when I'm on my own. I have to...
...I have to fight my instincts. Giving in...it turns me from something decent into a monster. I learned that a hundred years ago. It wasn't as bad as I feared, but...I didn't even recognize myself. I still don't, when I look back at it.
Hopefully there's nobody that's into soul magics and a mad scientist in this world. Otherwise, we might have a problem. Especially if I stumble onto their radar.
Huh, so that's Ponyville? Nice. A little cutesy for my taste, but still, a nice little town. I don't think I can get in during the day, though...talented as I am at being unnoticed, that usually only works in public when other bipeds are known to walk through it. Otherwise, the ponies pick me out real fast. And I haven't seen anything other than a quadruped yet.
Setting up shop in the town isn't an option. Recruiting will also be both interesting and annoying. I'll only be able to move around the town during the moonlit hours.
...So, standard operation is to make a house in the forest, skulk through the town at night, look for other night-time ponies, and try to find information at all costs. Especially about any unusual ponies.
Taking no chances, after all.
I had only just begun to form my plan properly when there was a trio of shrill screams from somewhere in the nearby forest. Someone, please explain to me why any pony would set hoof in here?!
Oh well. Time to go see the situation and be a hero. It'll be good for about a month's worth of silence. Maybe.
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(POV shift - CMC)
The trio of fillies huddled together and looked up at the pack of timberwolves that had herded them to this large tree. They were so scared that they had lost control of their voices except to whimper. The only sound that filled their ears was that of the wolves growling.
And then there was another voice from above.
"Leave, agents of the forest, lest you feel the sting of the Shadeblade."
At this, all the timberwolves stiffened and stopped growling, save for the largest one. He turned around and pointed a paw directly at the fillies, who cowered back even as he barked at them.
"Well, yes, but would you like it if one of your pups wandered into one of their towns and was put down for merely being curious?"
At this, the wolf grumbled a bit, but lowered his paw. The rest of the wolves left, but the lead wolf barked three times.
"Yes yes, I'll help you in a week's time, if not sooner. It would have been better if this situation had not happened, on either side, but I'll be there."
The wolf looked ashamed for a moment, but nodded and walked off. The Crusaders slowly untangled themselves from each other and looked around. Sweetie actually looked up, because she realized that the strange voice had been talking from above them.
"Uh, mister?"
There was silence for a moment, and then..."Yes, young ones?"
"Did you say something to the timberwolves to make them leave?"
"After a fashion, yes. I have an...understanding with the forest and its guardians. Such is it that so long as we abide by each other's rules, we listen when the other has something to say."
The trio looked at each other before turning back to look at whatever the tree's top hid from them. "So...what now?"
"Now you leave the forest. It does not take well to trespassers. It took me ages for it and I to forge our understanding. Perhaps, in time, I will be able to change its attitude towards ponies. But until that day, it will always give you the stink-eye, at best."
The Crusaders picked themselves up and looked around. "Uh, mister? Which way should we go to leave?"
At this, there was an amused chuckling noise. "Just follow the way the yellow one is facing, you'll end up at the nearby village soon. I hope. I'll keep watch until you're near the treeline in any case."
The trio of terror nodded and headed off through the forest.
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(Marketh POV - 750 years ago)
Damn, damn, double damn, damn it all to the fiery planes of Pandemonium itself! I should have been better informed about the Guard coming!
One of mine was a lousy snitch, and now I had to run from Trottingham! None of my so called 'safehouses' could be counted on, and I had only just gotten some good intel!
I mean, yeah, when I started up the guild, I'd managed to get bribery and blackmail material on every pony in a position of power. And I kept it up to date...or archived, if need be. But I was finally learning something about ponies that exhibited...odd talents. Talents that I had vaguely come to recognize.
The main character from Baldur's Gate had always been a Greater Bhaalspawn, meaning he heard the Voice, felt the urges. Seeing as that was me now, I knew I had to keep my actions...and morals and justifications and lines of thought and all of it under strict control.
Lesser Bhaalspawn would be harder to pick out at any point in time. It usually only manifested as a quirk, a thing that they did, either voluntarily or involuntarily, because of the blood they shared with Bhaal. Teleporting when in a panic. Being able to unlock things with a touch. Sensing danger.
Greater Bhaalspawn...those would be evident to me, if not themselves. If only by the fact that they wouldn't know how to resist the Voice.
And I had just gotten a lead on what seemed like a Lesser when the damn Guard comes crashing down around my ears!
So here I was in the damn Everfree forest again, and if I wasn't mistaken, that was a pack of timberwolves. I sighed and drew my blades, staring at the eyes surrounding me. "Why is it that every time I come in here, I become accosted?"
One of the timberwolves stepped forward then and...spoke. Not with words, but with gestures, mannerisms, intentions. A language of body language that I could easily interpret. That fact took second place in my mind compared to what he said.
"The forest knows you are here the moment you enter, and we are its agents to keep it free of meddling."
I blinked at that, then smiled. "And why would you need to keep it free of my meddling? I intend to travel through it, not meddle in what it does. It is, after all, a forest. Thinking that I could interfere with it is like saying an ant could alter what a pony does."
The wolf blinked a few times at my words. "You understand me?"
I nodded at that. "Half-elf. Elves have a connection with nature. I can understand what you 'say' when you choose to actually talk to me and not attack on first sight."
"Be that as it may. The forest wishes you to leave. You carry a smell, a taint, something unnatural in you. The Heart will not suffer it to remain."
My smile only widened. "Why don't you escort me to the Heart, then? We should have words with each other, seeing as how it has an issue with my very existence. Perhaps we'd finally be able to talk like rational beings."
There was silence for a moment before the wolf nodded. "It agrees, for now. One wrong move, and our mercy shall vanish. Follow us."
I sheathed one of my blades and followed the wolves deeper into the forest...