Jade - 26th of Megan '15 EoH - Evening
This was my first time being angry as a mammal. That’s probably a weird sentence for any other species to even think about, but trust me there’s a difference. A changeling gets angry and we’re just sort of negative to the source of the anger. Apparently when a pegasus gets angry their forehead throbs, they feel their blood flowing, and a deep sort of burning in the back of them and flares up like somepony tossed oil on a fire.
So I decided to beat the taproot out of a tree.
With my forehooves.
A decision which I regretted on the first pain inducing strike, but that weird mammal-mad state was just fueled by, causing further tree punching. I had managed to smash a hoof deep part out of one tree when a piercing whistle slapped my eardrums.
“Damn… I really underestimated how pissed off you are.” David said with an impressed tone of voice. “Need another minute?”
I sat down and shook my head. “No. I think… I think I’m cool.”
David stepped over and crouched to inspect the tree. “Shit, maybe I should have you drilling in hand to hand.”
“... Well… did work better than sword…” I muttered sourly.
David shook his head in that little ‘holding back a chuckle’ way of his. “You’ll get it eventually. Especially once you figure out that you have a thrusting blade, not a slashing blade.”
“I-you, what?” I demanded angrily, stamping a hoof. “What didn’t you tell me that was a thing!”
“Because I thought you would work it out.” David answered sitting down with his back to the damaged tree. “You're pretty bright, and it’s almost always better to understand things on your own. Not like, math, but the practical things… Tools, skills. Self-taught means you worked out how to do it your way. You’re better off that if someone tried to force you to do things their way.”
I guess that made some kind of sense. But David wasn’t here to talk about tools or training.
“So… What are we going to do about that idiot?” I asked hesitantly.
“There’s nothing to do.” David answered seriously. “He’s eaten up about the whole thing. If someone knows they fucked up and they are sorry enough to be crying about it… there’s not much you can do. It’s also not as bad as you think. We still have enough to get to a port in Zebrica, just a closer one than preferable.”
I clenched my teeth to hold back an angry growl, “He still-”
“Yes. He did. We can’t change the past. All we can do is change the future. I would toss him out of our group, but we need his skill at spells, and he’s sorry. Everyone gets one major fuckup forgiven, I understand that we all make mistakes from time to time. From now on, I’ll handle our finances, and were going to make Azur get the monies worth out of that outfit. Somehow.” David grunted.
A question clawed at the back of my mind, interrupting my thoughts and demanding I ask it finally. “David, why do you use that foal friendly cursing all the time? It sound so stupid. You’re an adult! Swear properly!”
David blinked, grinned, and laughed for a few moments before shaking his head. “Look, that is proper swearing in my homeland. I’ve been thinking the same thing about everyone here. But let’s not get off topic.”
Huh. Well, okay then. I sighed and looked over at Azur as he sat by the cart and asked, “How the bucking hay did he even blow the money like that?”
“I didn’t ask.” David informed. “If you’re curious, go ask him. Just don't scream at him about it. We need to keep our little group’s outlook as positive as we can okay? Cool heads plan best.”
I stood up with a nod. “I think I will… Uh, is my shape holding up okay?”
“No, put your eyes back.” David said, then gave me a quick look over, “And the brand on your left side is gone too.”
I closed my eyes, reached for my magic, and focused on the red pegasus I had imagined being, doing my best to forget my real self. After a heartbeat I felt the magic tingle over my body in a wave, fixing the small holes in the shape I had chosen.
“There ya go. All flappy poned up.” David said, he nodded towards the cart. “Kiss and makeup.”
I did my best to ignore the fact that he had said ‘flappy pone’ and walked over to Azur.
He flinched as I walked up to him, ears drooping sadly. “I-Im sorry... “
“Yeah.” I grunted. “Look… I like David, he’s a great guy, and I owe him my life. He’s forgiven you, so I’m going to too. But you get one. Just one. Got that?”
I gave him the most serious look that I could pull off.
Azur nodded, flinching visibly. “Ja… und, ah… I… it won’t happen again. I know I have a problem mit impulse shopping, but this… I’ve never done something this bad before. I mean… I understand budgets… I… I thought I was good mit…”
“Look… I have to know, what exactly happened?” I asked sitting down, doing my best to get the angry out of my voice.
“Well,” Azur began, “I walked to the city, und this mare came up from behind me-”
“Really?” I asked surprised. “I don't remember seeing anypony pass us.”
Azur blinked at me curiously. “Was?”
“Well, someone could have, but I don't remember if they did.” I admitted. “I was practicing shapeshifting. So, well you know.”
“Ja, you must have just missed her.” Azur agreed hesitantly. “So, she’s chatty and was pretty creepy. Her eyes… She had these yellow-green eyes which…” he shivered slightly, “Anyways she told me if I took a road called Cherry Street, I would avoid the tourist district. So I did, because I knew I might decide to buy something small.”
I gave him a dirty look.
“N-nein! Not like, well, an expensive dress, but maybe something worth a few coppers, like a drink, or a cheap necklace.” Azur explained.
“Oh… I guess that wouldn’t have been a problem. I mean a lot of our cash was yours to begin with.” I admitted.
“Ja. But I didn’t want that, so I took her advice. Und then, after getting into the city gates I bumped into a merchant-” Azur’s eyes widened slightly, and a small smile formed on his face, “Right! Masked! He said to come see him later if I couldn’t get passage. He was ehrfürchtig schön! Er- very nice. He gave me a few silver in case I didn’t have enough.”
I blinked and tilted my head slightly. “Wait, somepony gave you money?”
“Ja.” He answered quickly, “I explained I was looking for passage out of the country und he gave me eight eagles after… I… I don’t know. I must have mentioned I might not have had enough… He also said to talk to him at his shop later if I couldn’t find a ship. We should go do that, I guess he owns a cargo ship or something.”
That was really, really suspicious. Who they hay just gives somepony else cash? Even if they are looking to get you to purchase a service from-
“So, someone told you to take a certain street, and on the way there someone else gave you money, and then you went down the street and found something you liked so much you had to buy it, losing most of the money?” I asked, just to confirm my suspicions.
“Ja, that's-” Azur stopped mid-sentence, grit his teeth, and slapped a hoof to his forehead, “That’s a con…”
I nodded, “Yep. Hay, I think that one’s even in my scout’s manual…”
My anger started to come back. I was still pissed off at Azur, but now also at whoever the buck was running the con. “It’s probably Masked… He makes sure you lose most of your money, and have to buy his services to get out, so he gets all of your money instead of a fair price… You know what...”
I stood up and reached into the cart for my saddlebags and shortsword, and tossed them onto my back. “I’m going to go get our money back. Distract David for a bit, then head to Masked’s shop. I’m going to see if I can’t steal our money back before you guys get there.”
“Er- is that a good idea?” Azur asked carefully.
“Probably not, but buck it. I’m mad, and I’ve been feeling useless for days now.” I grumbled as I buckled my gear’s straps on. It was hard with my hooves, how do pegasi manage this every day?
“I can’t stop you can I?” He asked timidly.
“Nope.” I replied finally getting my gear strait.
“... His shop is on Walnut. I think I can get you ten minutes…” Azur said in a defeated tone.
“Good girl.” I said giving him a pat on the shoulder before trotting off.
“I’m not a girl!” Azur called back in reflexive frustration.
“You blew fifty bits on a pretty dress. That is so a mare thing!” I called back before galloping off down the road.
As I sprinted for the city gates I learned something. The myths about Pegasi are totally true. They are way faster on the ground or in the air than a changeling, but way less maneuverable. It must have only taken me eight minutes to reach the gates at a full run.
As I approached the gate a plate-armored guard held up a hoof, “Halt!”
Not wanting to run onto his friend’s spear, I skidded to a stop.
“Ma’am, think carefully, why were you running at two of the king’s men while armed?” The guard demanded.
Oh. Cordyceps. Yeah that’s something I should have thought of.
“I’m traveling from Applewood.” I said, due to that being the first thing that popped into my head.
“Ah. Yes that would explain the weapon.” The guard with the spear said from behind his or her helmet. “Hold on, is that a mage blade? How are you using that without magic?”
“With my hoof?” I said/asked.
The first guard shook his head. “Things must have gotten even worse in the northern region… You lot normally have proper weapons.”
Ah ha! An opening! My training and what I had read in the scout’s manual sprang to mind. “Yes, there were two raids, back to back. We lost a lot of food and weapons. I was hoping to find a smith here who might be willing to make a deal for some food to get some proper weapons delivered.”
The guard floated her spear back up to a rest position and nodded. “Grim work that… You can be assured that his majesty won’t allow Applewood to remain defenseless for long. You do provide a pretty good amount of food to everypony else… Er… Try Tong’s place on Walnut, he might be willing to work out a deal and bill the crown.”
Hey! Nice, that’s where I wanted to go anyways. Score one for scout training!
“Thanks! Er, could you point me towards Walnut?” I asked timidly.
“Sure! Big place isn’t she? Head straight down the main road, third road on your left is Walnut, Tong’s shop is the fourth on the right.” Spear Guard said helpfully.
“Thanks again!”
I started to step forwards but the other guard shook his head, “One moment, why the running?”
Ponyfeathers! Uhhh….
“Oh. I kicked a wasp’s nest.” I lied.
“Ah tartarus…” The guard stepped aside quickly. “If you led them here and I get stung I will buck you right in the nose on your way out city!”
I giggled and gave him a nod, “That’s totally fair.”
Slipping into the city gates, I couldn’t help but be comforted by the stone everywhere. As long as I didn’t look up it felt nice and safe here. Maybe the inside of one of these buildings would be nice and comfortable!
I followed the guards directions, skirting around the few ponies out and about this evening until I reached Walnut… Street I guess. The sign labeling the road was broken. It looked like a pretty nice place. The road was wide, the buildings were all two stories or taller, and every single place had a carved wooden signboard advertising it’s business.
There were three smith's, two bakers, a carpenter… I hadn’t seen any place like this before in my life. It felt like if you needed it you could get it here. That was a pretty good feeling. There was a special kind of security that went with it.
A special kind of feeling that vanished as I spotted a squat three story building with a slanting shingle roof labeled with a sign bearing a laughing mask and a wooden shipping crate. That had to be the place. The question was how to get a look inside without being seen.
I scanned the building’s face with my eyes, flicking over each window. They were all closed, but didn’t seem to have any glass on them. I could probably fly up and open one, but unfortunately the street was pretty busy and I was a dark red. I wouldn’t blend in with the grayed wood roof tiles. However, there was an alleyway. Maybe there was a side door.
I ducked into the side alley, and sure enough there was a small wooden door set into the wall. With some luck, it might not be locked! I trotted forwards to gently try turning the doorknob and-
<...tak… to… l...ng.>
I froze in place. That was definitely channeling telepathy! Just not my own hive’s… It was fuzzy, a little hard to understand as more than a buzzing whisper. I closed my eyes and focused, they told us how to listen to other hives in school. I just needed to imagine I could understand them, reach for my magic, then forget that I couldn’t really understand them and-
<...he should have come here by now.> a voice said clearly.
Ah ha! There it was!
<Hypnosis is an art, not a science.> A second voice said firmly. <That’s why I had him also blow their money on that dress. The only place they can afford to go is Kiar, so if they don’t come here, we know where they are headed and alert the Swarm. Though if he does not lead them here, it’s because Three overdid her conjuration and his satisfaction broke him free.>
<You passed me his memories of his dearest lost possession. I recreated it as he recalled it being. I can not help if he remembers it better than it was.> A third voice objected.
<Yes I can, I know you. You added to it to fill that pitiful gap in your mind you call an ‘artistic spark’.> The second spat.
<That ‘gap’ ensnared the twink better than your hypnosis did. He would have willed his way through, if I hadn't made the fabric shiny as he was looking away.> The third complained. <The Queen lets me keep that spark for just that reason. It is useful.>
<I still say we should have simply attacked the two at the wagon when they split up and left the mage alone.> The first voice insisted. <The odds of an errant spell destroying the book are low. I do not understand the Queen’s fears. With only three of us firing->
<Perhaps, but do you want to fight that diamond dog without preparing the battlefield? No thank you.> The second and third chorused as one voice.
<But now we have to fight him and the mage at the same time!> The first protested.
<Not an issue, my hypnosis will still be in effect for the next three hours. I doubt I could make him fight for us, but I can easily shut him down with crippling depression.> The second scoffed.
<I thought you said it wasn’t a science.> One said snidely.
<It isn’t, but that unicorn is a walking bag of dark memories. Emotionally malleable as clay on a potter’s wheel, as long as you know his secret.> The second boasted.
I leaned in curiously. I had to know this.
<And that would be?> The first and third chorused as one.
<He’s never been loved, and wants to know what it’s like above all else. It drives him as strongly as a starving changeling. His parents ignored or hated him, his friends were more like acquaintances. It’s shaped everything about him. He wants only to be loved, held, and valued by another. All I need to do is bring up all the memories where he has failed to be valued, and he’ll collapse like a house of cards.> The second voice laughed, adding, <I saw all of his memories before he entered the city. He may as well be a Swarmmate to me.>
<That is different. We can engage the enemy as planned.> One and three chorused.
I stopped listening. That was enough. We were right in the middle of a carefully arranged trap, and Azur was likely already on his way here with David to try to get that “friendly merchant” to help us. I had to give the warning before it was too late!
Or… I could duck inside and slip out with the money and we could avoid the trap with the enemy none the wiser.
I closed my eyes and did my best to direct my thoughts to David, hoping he was in range. <David, it’s a trap. The whole thing was set up by the Swarm. There are three infiltrators here. Azur is hypnotised, make him stay outside. I’m going to try to get in and find our money. It sounds like they are all watching the front door, so I should be fine.>
I carefully turned the doorknob with a hoof and pushed it open a fraction of an inch. Before em was a short hallway. I could see a large room to the front which was well lit, and had the shadow of a unicorn cast onto the wall. The other side of the hallway ended at some stair moving upwards. All clear.
I pushed the door open, stepped inside softly as I could, and snaked my way to the edge of the hall to get a look into the common room. A quick look confirmed that all three changelings were in there. A pegasus, earth pony, and a unicorn, locked in silent communication.
My eyes passed over the rest of the room, searching for anything which looked like a bag of coins. The room was mostly empty, some old paintings line the walls, along with paper charts and lists. There was a single table and some chairs, probably for holding negotiations, and -
Ah ha! There, a large coinpurse, right on top of the table.
In the middle of the room. With the changelings between it and myself. Darn. If only had picked a unicorn shape…
On the other hoof, the bag was only a few meters from the door, and I was pretty quick on these hooves…
I squinted at the door, checking it for- Yes! It swung outwards! I could do this.
I took a deep breath, shook my wings, braced my rear hooves to sprint-
A green nimbus ripped my forwards into the room, slamming me back first into the table! The magic kept me pinned in place as the changeling in unicorn shape glared at me with burning eyes the same color as the ruby in her necklace.
“Hello sneakthief!” She spat, “You picked the wrong business to rob.”
Oh good she didn’t know who I was!
“Not bad Tw- Sable,” the pegasus guised ‘ling complemented, “Good eye.”
“This little punk apparently thinks her face is see through.” She chuckled darkly. “Well… I think I’ll make it see through. Do you know who I am? I cast spells-”
The door exploded inwards in a shower of splintered wood! A green, red, and white blur flew from the dust with a brass flash. The unicorn’s head jerked to the side with a loud crunch, she dropped to the floor, the magic holding me down vanishing in a puff of deep green sparks.
“I cast fist.” David growled.
Hmmm, so it was changelings after all. Certainly got me fooled, I wasn't even considering Changelings initially despite all the suspicious stuff because subtlety so doesn't feel like chrysalis style at this point. I'm really surprised she went for it 0_o
So basically she is afraid that if fighting breaks out the book will be destroyed as result? I suppose she could simply order her drones not to use any spells, but I guess she is worried the trio might destroy it out of spite or something if it looked like they are about to be swarmed?
This is good news for Azur thou - it means he didn't screw up as badly as everyone thought. Can't really blame a guy too badly if his head was being messed with and his mind being read. I assume it's also the aftereffects of this mind-magic that prevented him from realizing how suspicious the whole thing looked? Because Jade was right to realize right away that Masked Veil giving him cash was suspicious as hell.
And that's why splitting the party is a bad idea - I doubt they could have pulled the trick with all three of them present. Hmm, or could they? I guess if they all feel in to the trap it was all over. But I guess they couldn't handle charming all three at the same time. Though I bet Jade is going to be chewed out for running off on her own :P
On the bright side they should have enough money to get to one of the good ports after this is over and they get all their money back plus whatever the three changelings have as a bonus so it's not all bad!
Heh, Azur got conned hard and he never even realized it.
Well, just don't get yourself killed, Jade. Don't forget that you're the escortee in this escort quest.
Oh crap, and speaking of the escort quest it was a con by members of Chrysalis' hive. That's not good.
On the other hand, if there's only three of them...
Dang, poor Azur.
Nice.
6563538
Steel beams can't melt dank memes.
Punching is the best counterspell.
6563511
It also really annoys the DM.
Well that was a new one from Chrysalis's bunch...
*picks up his plasma shotgun and follows after David*
Time to show the three little con artists exactly why you can't teach an old wolf new tricks...
*Pumps the action and then vaporizes the door*
fist is the best spell.
6563511
I take some of the comics into account with my world building. From what I can see with my few years of phycology in college, Chrysalis enjoys creating elaborate plans and is very smart. Howeaver she has no pashents and is easily frustrated and clearly has interment explosive disorder. SO her plans having any delay or hickups make her fly into a rage and she jsut sledge hammers.
Since she wants a book ( an object of paper and glue) she is smart enough to know that the "salt the earth" approach would likely destroy it in the attempt to get it. So, she tried the subtle approach first, which is failing, and therefore will piss her off, so she wont try subtle again but rather go all Apocalypse Now.
Pritty much... though whiel she's smart, shes not smart enough to think tell her droens to not fire :P It's her primary tatic for combat. She dosent seem like she can thin outside of her own box. (Also yes Azur WOULD destroy it if they were gong to die.)
It's a "power of suggestion" type thing. You can make an individual play into what you want by manipulating their emotions. Azur is normally very trusting and friendly, so with the spell's influence, he was easily steered by a friendly word and gesture.
Two of Three, Primary Manipulator of Infiltration Unit 08's hypnosis is single target. She can effect one person at a time, and since it works by using their own personality traits against them using it on more than one person only work sif they are similar in personality. Becuase while a kind word might let you leash and collar one person, it may take a harsh word for aonother, or even a threat.
#D&DLogic
6563520 As an explanation, the hypnosis spell used lets you manipulate an individual by exploiting their personality traits. Azur is a normally friendly and trusting individual, so well, once hit with the spell friendly gesture basically put him on a guide-wire.
Oh she knows. That's shy she's throwing herslf into danger, it's an Escortee rule. Always inconvenience the players.
6563538 Thankyou :)
6564441 I see you can cast firebolt.
6563964
Fist
School conjuration (force); Level GI (1)
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components S
EFFECT
Range touch
Target creature or object touched
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
DESCRIPTION
Your successful melee touch attack deals 1d4 points of force damage per caster level (maximum 15d4). The effected creature, or object, must also make a Concentration Check equal to your level plus the damage inflicted. If they fail this check any spell they have cast before the beginning of your previous turn is negated.
6564711 I was hoping to see how well Jade did on her Grab The Book And Run* skill check, but I imagine there'll be more opportunities later.
* Best skill in the game; can also be applied to bags of money and other momentarily-unwatched valuables
6564862 Unfortunately Jade has a 0 in the Slight of Hand skill. You know, because hooves.
So she is smart enough to make elaborate schemes but not patient enough to actually wait for them to fully unfold before leaping in head-first with all the subtlety of a cackling maniac? That ... sounds about right actually, and explains Canterlot Wedding to a degree, especially how she dropped her disguise instantly once Twilight barreled in with the other Cadence in tow and went all mustache twirling villain, instead of continuing the charade despite being in position to do so!
Hah! Not fire all the boradsides? What heresy is this, we need moar dakka!
But yeah if she has a one-track mind, even if that one track can be pretty cunning, I guess it would be hard for her to deviate from her preset course ... even if its criminally stupid not to :P
Something tells me that after this mishap it might be a good idea for them to sit down with Jade and have her go over all of the changeling abilities, how to help notice them and how to potentially combat them. Hmm, I wonder if Azur has anything in his spell list that could help ward against similar stuff.
The whole purpose is to loot, pillage and plunder! All the other stuff is just window dressing for the actually important part!
If your party fails to take stuff that belonged to someone else, then the mission has been an abject failure! It doesn't matter if just one makes it back, wounded and bleeding and crawling over the corpses of his less fortunate allies, so long as he is dragging back a bag of loot the campaign has been a resounding success!
But really there is no reason for them not to strip the changelings of anything of value, especially as they are short on funds :P
Oh, you
Have to agree with Jade in that. Buying a dress like that makes you a mare.
Well, didn't expect Chrysalis' changelings, but like you said, Meep, she is an intelligent tactician. Though after leaving these three changelings dead and twitching, I suspect in the next couple of days the Swarm is going to converge on Capsan and show them an example of Apocalypse How.
The intelligence that Azur's impulse buy was the fault of mental manipulation should likely make everyone much happier...although at the same time I wonder if that dress is actually anything more than Changeling dross with an illusion set over it.
Okay, Dave, sneak attack successful, one target eliminated. Time to crack two more carapaces and get the hell out to sea before an angry Demon Queen shows up after she senses the three dying.
Bad guy monologues, gets face smashed in. Yep that's how it works XD
I have a feeling this city is going to need all those defenses they have set up and more, the swarms a coming! Can't wait so see what happens next
6565148
Right! She ahd a pritty good, subtle, and well thought out plan... but once it failed, instead of finishing with her subtle plan, she went Friza.
Your standard shield spells protect against mind effecting spells. Passive protection is possible, but rare due to the rarity of casters who can actualy do that.
Right. Sometimes D&D logic is the best solution. Like "Don't split the party".
6565567 Well you'll just have to see in the next segment wont you?
6564628 Firebolt, Ball Lightning, Wind, Ice - there's a list. Comes with being a Wolf Spirit able to control the natural elements. n.n
The space tech and universe - hopping star ships are a whole other story though.....
6566240 There is science fiction elements in my AU, yes. Just not here.
ohhhhhhh, mind control that explains alot,
now, time to kick some ass and get the hell out of dodge!
6566370 Yup, gonna get that bit done today. Artwork first though.
Sneak attack bonus for David! Should've known he had some rogue training.
6566439 artwork for what?
6568461 Slowly doing a anime styled group picture of everyone in the trio here.
http://i.imgur.com/FM88qtm.png
6568497 so that's what he looks like, god job
6568497
That's pretty awesome!
And dang, Azur really does look feminine. I can't blame Dave for not wanting to believe he was male at first, I probably wouldn't either without knowing the truth.
Dave looks more badass than I imagined he would though, not at all like the goofy diamond dogs from the show :P
6569348 I based him off the little dog we saw in the show. SO in an anime type art style... well that's basically how I thought to do it.
That last part of the chapter? Reminds me of my childhood where everyone plays 'rock, paper, scissors' and one holds a 'gun'.
I forget which chapter that happend in.
*snerk*
Well. I was right about shenanigans at least, just not who was using them.
That last bit, hilarious!
You know, I'm pretty sure I know where that last line came from, gonna check.
Fist one of the melee classes most powerful quick cast spells.
6959473 care to share?
http://m.imgur.com/gallery/HLSnLI0
This is still the greatest one-liner in the history of one-liners. Gets me, every time.
This is insanely true there’s a game arma there tutorials on how to fly I said nah fuck that I’m gonna fly myself now 2900 hours played of arma and I can fly shoot and areal battle along side ground it’s really fun and I have a rule, never insult another pilots flying
You are what you say you are, bud, but... she has a point, too.
*~quietly closes a few browser tabs he'd been debating on...~* You saw nothing!
It's super effective!