Re: Adventures in Saint-Trotez - On Set (Episodes 1 - 3)

AProcrastinatingWriter Mon May 13, 2013 9:01 pm

"Ah, hayseed," Aces said simply.

It was remarkable how fast one could truly run if one really needed to. And didn't have a leg made of metal.

Spoiler:

**Paper Shadow** Tue May 14, 2013 2:39 pm

As expected, the slime explodes into large blobs of water...

Sparks quickly darts into cover, as does the kobolds, before the thing blows. Aces High and Doctor Scope just manage to hide before it was too late. Every other pony gets blasted away by the explosion. Storm Blade, who was in the air at the time, is knocked upwards and out of the forest. While you manage to regain your bearings before you crash to the ground, you find yourself at the bridge near the area you entered the forest at. Necrar, who was too slow, Splash Control, who was frozen in fear, and Zippy, who seemed to be preoccupied with watching the slime explode, and all flung back until they hit a tree...

(Necrar, take 2d8 damage...)

The area around the lake is now covered in puddles, and generally wet. A few moments after the explosion, Doctor Scope pokes her head out, and states "Oh hey, ve did it."

Fury of the Tempest Tue May 14, 2013 2:42 pm

Storm Blade sighed at where he ended up at, cursing his light bones. Still, he did know where he lake was, and going through the forest wasn't a problem with him. Taking to the air, Storm Blade began flying back to the others. Through he was careful about it, still had feather-flu after all.

AProcrastinatingWriter Tue May 14, 2013 5:05 pm

Aces looked around.

There didn't seem to be much to say.

Colter Bolt Tue May 14, 2013 7:17 pm

"Oooohh......" Necrar moans, holding his head in his hooves. He coughs up darkness, which dissapates at it hits the ground. He catches some of it and rubs it on his face. "Everypony else ok?"

Spoiler:

**Paper Shadow** Tue May 14, 2013 8:15 pm

Colter Bolt wrote:"Oooohh......" Necrar moans, holding his head in his hooves. He coughs up darkness, which dissapates at it hits the ground. He catches some of it and rubs it on his face. "Everypony else ok?"
Spoiler:

(How much damage did you take?)

The Doctor nods. Splash Control gets up and also nods. Zippy stays lying down, but he does say "Woah, that was far out."

**Paper Shadow** Wed May 15, 2013 9:05 pm

Most of you begin to leave the lake. Necrar tells the rest of the group about the promise he made to the creatures and heads back to their cave. On route, you see Storm Blade fly overhead, and call him down. You all head back to Saint-Trotez. Splash Control jokes about how that drink is going to need a rain-check (unless I already made that joke). When you leave the forest, Zippy says his goodbyes to the group, telling you all the appreciate nature's gifts before The Stallion takes them all away, and heads north. The rest of you head back to the city hall, where you met and get paid by Golden Wall. Aces High waits for the rest of the group to leave before asking for his cut to be given to Moonshot. The Captain agrees to your request, complimenting your kindness...

Necrar, you return to the cave, and as the beasts confirm the existence of the slime, you get to walk, using your shadow to heal the creatures. This is initially met with weapons being drawn, but as the results are seen, they allow you to continue. It takes a long time, and when you leave the cave, it was already the middle of the day, but you've managed to help more or less all the beasts who needed helping, and learnt a few things as you did so. First, the creatures are called kobolds, and they are scavengers who are good at making things (most notably traps) who mine to find gems and build a storage of them so if they are ever graced by a dragon they will be able to feed it. Second, the Leader that you spoke to was actually the real Leader's son, and the True Leader had fallen ill herself. After you cure her and she is told about what has happened, she complains about her son's lack of backbone in the presence of the disease (commenting that he didn't even use something she referred as "The Clamp" to make sure you didn't run away), but is thankful for your work, and says that normal ponies don't tend to help kobolds because they are constantly taking things. Finally, you are given a neck piece decorated with colourful feathers as a token of gratitude. You are then escorted quickly through the forest by a group of kobolds, and then head to the town hall to obtain your reward from a still-awake Golden Wall, who was writing up reports about the expedition...

(Episode End)

---

A month passes. A couple of minor things happen in the meantime, but nothing really worth mentioning. You all have been going about in your daily duties and lifestyles. However, while you don't know it yet, tonight will be more eventful than you could imagine...

Storm Blade and Sparks, you've both been assigned to guard the museum as it hosts a high-class event in celebration of all things scary, as Nightmare Night happens in about a week. There have been purple and black flag banners decorating the streets, and the statues which decorate the outside of the museum have been replaced with spooky gargoyles. It is also very cloudy tonight, and those clouds are surprising low, covering the tops of a couple of buildings, including the museum. At the moment, you are in the main corridor of the museum, accompanied by Stanza, the purple pegasus you fought in that duel all those nights ago. Another guard should also be here, but he is running late. There are three rooms you can enter. To the left, a grand hall, with many tables prepared. Straight ahead and up a small set of stairs lies a room containing a number of treasures with interesting stories that the museum has rented for the event. To the right, a exhibition on many scary creatures in the land. The centre display is about Changelings, complete with a large statue (which Storm, as a "expert" on changelings, notices has few too many extra-sharp teeth and generally made to look far more frightening then they do). In fact, the banners outside the room also display a drawing of a fearsome changeling, and they generally seem to be the main attraction for the room...

---

Aces High, last night (or sunrise, or something I dunno), you had a mysterious letter arrive at your door...

Aces High's Letter:

While you may have many questions for the pony (like how did he find out where you were living in order to send the letter), it seems that if you wish to speak to him, you'll have to met him. The map shows that La Verre Verte is near The Golden Note, so you know where it is. As the time approaches, Aces must decide if he is going to meet the unicorn or not...

---

Necrar, for the last day or two, you've kinda felt something in the air, which is pretty unusual. It's some sort of magic, but you are not sure what. It feels familiar, but unfamiliar at the same time. It's been irking you for a while now, and you've been itching to find out what it is...

---

Snipe, your mentor Signal Look is dragging you to another guard duty. This time, he's going to be watching over a museum. It's the same rules as all the other times. He'll show you all the reasons why the guards are going to do what they are going to do, and then send you back to the tower as the event begins. As you walk through the lively Main Street, moving between the crowd, the stands, and the street performers, the earth pony calls to you as you both make your way to the museum "We should hurry up Snipe. I'm, err, kinda late as it is. Make sure that, when you are a guard, you don't arrive late to your duties."

Fury of the Tempest Wed May 15, 2013 9:21 pm

Storm Blade was waiting patiently for the final guard to arrive, but at the same time he was frowning to himself. He didn't like this situation much, if at all. First, there was the way they where the 'creature' exhibits. Sure, they looked frighting, but as far as he could tell, they where being treated as monsters, which irked him. Especially for the changelings, through he honestly had no idea why, or how he knew they shouldn't look so frightening. This was only a minor one however, compared to the biggest thing that troubled him.

"Stanza." He spoke up, talking to the purple pegasi he had sparred with a fortnight ago. "Do you know if its possible to get a map of the museum? And I don't mean a vistor's map, as I want to know the members areas as well." Storm Blade's mind was already churning as he thought about how the situation presented itself, and how to guard the people. It seemed to him that there was four main rooms. The Main Corridor, the Grand Hall, the Treasure Room and Exhibit Room. So, these where the main four places that needed to be guarded. However, with four guards, this meant that in order to keep all the rooms covered at all times, it would have to be one guard per room, something he really disliked. "Also, do you know if we'll be get our hands on the event's timetable? It'll help us figure out who needs to guards which rooms when."

Colter Bolt Wed May 15, 2013 9:33 pm

Ah, I'm happy that these beings have a holiday for nightmares. But that happiness is tainted by this feeling of something.... not right. Necrar taps a hoof against his skull (as he was in his true form in the mausoleum), and realizes something. They have a holiday for nightmares and darkness. Perhaps this feeling is something taking advantage of this holiday. Necrar hones in on this feeling, trying to detect if the magic of his plane has anything to do with it.

Spoiler:

AProcrastinatingWriter Wed May 15, 2013 9:50 pm

Spoiler:

**LoganAura** Wed May 15, 2013 9:56 pm

Snipe flies slowly above his mentor, shining his rifle with a small kerchief as the earth pony walks. He knows he should be beside or behind the guard, but honestly when you're a colt and small anyways, especially with a gun. He may have permission, but still. His ears flicker softly at the mentions of him being a guard, but he doesn't deny it like he normally would. He admites that being a guard is a role he'd like, but generally ponies like him-pegasi- are the 'stand at attention and look menacing' positions, not any real sharpshooters as unicorns are better at using the firearms. "Yes sir. Always be on time." He repeats, not quite paying too much attention as he watches the ponies around him.

Spoiler:

tygerburningbright Wed May 15, 2013 10:54 pm

“Who even planed the security for this thing four guards covering an entire building isn't practical if there is a schedule for this then staggered guards would be best two with the main group one ahead and one behind if there isn't a schedule then a patrol would an better idea.” Sparks looks at the central exhibit and sighs “And they could at least find an actual monster that's scary and not sympathetic half the time.”

OOC Logan I am useing orange already. Could you please pick another?

Fury of the Tempest Wed May 15, 2013 11:06 pm

(... Tyg, Commas.)

"Sparks, please refrain from reading my mind." Storm Blade said in a lighter tone than before, his lips curling upwards slightly as he spoke. This curl vanished as he continued, becoming serious once more. "Through I would like to talk to Golden Wall about this decision. Why has only 4 guards been put to such a large event? As we understaffed or something?"

tygerburningbright Wed May 15, 2013 11:11 pm

" I am not reading your mind at the moment... I need to concentrate for that." Sparks replies in an utter deadpan.

**Paper Shadow** Thu May 16, 2013 7:14 am

Fury of the Tempest wrote:"Stanza." He spoke up, talking to the purple pegasi he had sparred with a fortnight ago. "Do you know if its possible to get a map of the museum? And I don't mean a vistor's map, as I want to know the members areas as well." Storm Blade's mind was already churning as he thought about how the situation presented itself, and how to guard the people. It seemed to him that there was four main rooms. The Main Corridor, the Grand Hall, the Treasure Room and Exhibit Room. So, these where the main four places that needed to be guarded. However, with four guards, this meant that in order to keep all the rooms covered at all times, it would have to be one guard per room, something he really disliked. "Also, do you know if we'll be get our hands on the event's timetable? It'll help us figure out who needs to guards which rooms when."

(Well, it's more like a month and a while ago, but yeah, time jumps!)

"Well, I don' know 'bout a member's map, but I've got a schedule her'." He passes you a fancy leaflet which briefly states what is going on tonight. The Nightmare Night Ball as it is called starts at midnight, and will go on for about two and a half hours. The main attraction advertised on the leaflet seems to be the treasures in the room straight ahead, most notably one referred to as "The Mythical Lost Crown of King Solitude", which will only be in Saint-Trotez for less than a fortnight, and judging by the drawing on the leaflet, a pretty majestic sight. The event will begin with the Mayor revealing the crown, then an hour later food with be served, and there will be some sort of live orchestra performance, and then the event will end. The leaflet doesn't really go into much detail...

tygerburningbright wrote:“Who even planed the security for this thing four guards covering an entire building isn't practical if there is a schedule for this then staggered guards would be best two with the main group one ahead and one behind if there isn't a schedule then a patrol would an better idea.” Sparks looks at the central exhibit and sighs “And they could at least find an actual monster that's scary and not sympathetic half the time.”

"Don't worry Sparks, we've done this a bunch a' times. It's like a dance routine now. No pony's ever tried somethin' on us, we just gotta stand aroun' until the end. There's gonna be a couple of museum guards on the above floors, so if ya think abou' it, we're only he'e for formalities." He takes a look at the statue as well. "Wai', did ya just say you could sympathise with these? Look at 'em, they're pretty terrifyin'. Imagine if somepony you knew turned ou' to be one and started to eat ya? Although with hooves like tha' at leas' I'll be a bette' dancer than them." Stanza then realises something. "Wai', you two are from Equestria, righ'? Were you there when it 'appened? The Changelin' invasion on Canterlot?"

Colter Bolt wrote:Ah, I'm happy that these beings have a holiday for nightmares. But that happiness is tainted by this feeling of something.... not right. Necrar taps a hoof against his skull (as he was in his true form in the mausoleum), and realizes something. They have a holiday for nightmares and darkness. Perhaps this feeling is something taking advantage of this holiday. Necrar hones in on this feeling, trying to detect if the magic of his plane has anything to do with it.
Spoiler:

You feel like you felt that the magic was more recognisable while searching for magic of your plane, but it is still hidden from you...

AProcrastinatingWriter wrote:
Spoiler:

(23:45-ish...)

LoganAura wrote:Snipe flies slowly above his mentor, shining his rifle with a small kerchief as the earth pony walks. He knows he should be beside or behind the guard, but honestly when you're a colt and small anyways, especially with a gun. He may have permission, but still. His ears flicker softly at the mentions of him being a guard, but he doesn't deny it like he normally would. He admites that being a guard is a role he'd like, but generally ponies like him-pegasi- are the 'stand at attention and look menacing' positions, not any real sharpshooters as unicorns are better at using the firearms. "Yes sir. Always be on time." He repeats, not quite paying too much attention as he watches the ponies around him.

Spoiler:

Ignoring the general populous and the stalls and acts that grace the Main Street everyday, you see a few well-dress ponies waiting around the museum, with some pegasus chevaudarme officers waiting outside as well. In the clouds above you see the shadows of some pegasi flying about, most likely weather crews making checks. You don't see anypony on the ground acting suspiciously...

Signal Look makes his way through the crowd and into the museum, you following behind him. Inside, you spot three other guards, a purple pegasus you know as Stanza, a blue pegasus and a grey unicorn. You've not really met either of them, but you've heard they are guards from Equestria here on some sort of exchange training program...

Likewise, Sparks and Storm Blade see two ponies enter. One of them is a blue Earth Pony, which you know is called Signal Look. The other is an orange pegasus colt, armed with a sniper rifle, which would be considered an odd sight had you not already seen things like a pony who can shot missiles and fire out of their fake hoof, crazy magicians, and disease-bringing giant slimes. This is most likely the pony you had been warned about a few days after you arrived in Saint-Trotez, remembering that if there are any targets painted around the North-West tower, then you should steer clear of them, as he has permission to use a paintball gun on the targets. Other then that, you don't really know much about the colt. Signal Look quickly apologises for being late...

Colter Bolt Thu May 16, 2013 9:41 am

Hmm.... Still hidden. Maybe I can track this feeling to the source. "What do you think?" Necrar suddenly asks the skeleton whose bone he had taken to be infused with magic. "Think I could track it?" Necrar pauses for a few seconds. "Right, forgot I couldn't speak with you yet. Oh well." He starts to summon up some shadows to cover his skeleton form.

Spoiler:

**Paper Shadow** Thu May 16, 2013 9:55 am

Colter Bolt wrote:
Spoiler:

(Arcana will do. Also, I've noticed that you are still using the old Flight stuff. You should update that...)

Fury of the Tempest Thu May 16, 2013 10:57 am

"Just because they look terrifying, doesn't mean their evil." Storm Blade snapped when Stanza talked about the changelings, raising his ire about the subject, through more than he thought it would do. He noticed two ponies arriving, Signal Lock and someone else. Signal Lock apologizing for being late. He kinda ignored this, as he talked to Stanza. "Besides, they have been made more menacing looking than they actually are. And no, I wasn't. I was one of the only royal guards not at Canterlot at the time. No idea why."

Closing his eyes, Storm Blade took a deep breath to calm down, before continuing. "Just because no one has ever tried anything before, doesn't mean that no one will try anything today. Its this type of relaxed attitude that is taken advantage off, and a major factor is the guard's humiliating lose to the Changeling Army. I doubt the museum guards will be much us in a fight if things turn bad, so I want everyone to be on full alert at all times. Yes I know I'm not the ranking officer here, but I'm still making my opinion clear. With the Mental Magic Incident occurring as soon as me and Sparks arrived, with the Lake Slime Incident happening approximately a fortnight after... I wouldn't be surprised if someone tries something today."

**LoganAura** Thu May 16, 2013 11:33 am

Snipe looks around above for a good sort of perch to rest on at hearing the guardpony's worries. A bit of a relatively dumb idea for him, but if anything does happen he'd be able to help. After Moonshot's idiocy, he wants to make sure ponies are safe, though always keeping himself a bit out of harm's way. "Hello sirs." Snipe lightly nods his head at the guardsponies. "You were part of the ponies who dealt with those incidents? Cool..." Snipes ears and eyes never stopped flickering, watching the crowd carefully the moment he found a good perch to hide and aim from in the case of incidents.

tygerburningbright Thu May 16, 2013 4:52 pm

"Don't worry Sparks, we've done this a bunch a' times. It's like a dance routine now. No pony's ever tried somethin' on us, we just gotta stand aroun' until the end. There's gonna be a couple of museum guards on the above floors, so if ya think abou' it, we're only he'e for formalities." He takes a look at the statue as well. "Wai', did ya just say you could sympathise with these? Look at 'em, they're pretty terrifyin'. Imagine if somepony you knew turned ou' to be one and started to eat ya? Although with hooves like tha' at leas' I'll be a bette' dancer than them." Stanza then realises something. "Wai', you two are from Equestria, righ'? Were you there when it 'appened? The Changelin' invasion on Canterlot?"

Fury of the Tempest wrote:"Just because they look terrifying, doesn't mean their evil." Storm Blade snapped when Stanza talked about the changelings, raising his ire about the subject, through more than he thought it would do. He noticed two ponies arriving, Signal Lock and someone else. Signal Lock apologizing for being late. He kinda ignored this, as he talked to Stanza. "Besides, they have been made more menacing looking than they actually are. And no, I wasn't. I was one of the only royal guards not at Canterlot at the time. No idea why."

"Have either of the two of you ever even met a Changeling face to face? Much less one that isn't part of that whole hive mind thingy? I wasn't at Canterlot during the invasion but well actually it may not be open information I never checked it was pretty messed up... I think that I can say that there was a Changeling mole and she well I'll just say its complicated and leave it at that for now. Oh and Stanza you're thinking of Zombies."

. "Just because no one has ever tried anything before, doesn't mean that no one will try anything today. Its this type of relaxed attitude that is taken advantage off, and a major factor is the guard's humiliating lose to the Changeling Army. I doubt the museum guards will be much us in a fight if things turn bad, so I want everyone to be on full alert at all times. Yes I know I'm not the ranking officer here, but I'm still making my opinion clear. With the Mental Magic Incident occurring as soon as me and Sparks arrived, with the Lake Slime Incident happening approximately a fortnight after... I wouldn't be surprised if someone tries something today."

"You are being paranoid... If I remember right that is a good thing in this business."

LoganAura wrote:Snipe looks around above for a good sort of perch to rest on at hearing the guardpony's worries. A bit of a relatively dumb idea for him, but if anything does happen he'd be able to help. After Moonshot's idiocy, he wants to make sure ponies are safe, though always keeping himself a bit out of harm's way. "Hello sirs." Snipe lightly nods his head at the guardsponies. "You were part of the ponies who dealt with those incidents? Cool..." Snipes ears and eyes never stopped flickering, watching the crowd carefully the moment he found a good perch to hide and aim from in the case of incidents.

"Thanks. And you are? Wait a sec that's no paintball gun... what's the range on that thing?"

**LoganAura** Thu May 16, 2013 5:20 pm

Snipe perks up at the comment towards his gun and smiles a little bit. "As far as I can see. And not to toot my own horn or anything but..." The Pegasus turns and pats his cutie mark, the crosshair. "It's pretty far." The colt flapped into the air a bit again, messing with his rifle to make absolute sure his gun was ready, and making sure his ammo pack was where it was supposed to be. "I still need to work on my dark-shooting. though. I'm not really too good in the dark just yet."

AProcrastinatingWriter Thu May 16, 2013 7:50 pm

Aces sighs, but says nothing aloud. Why should he? He'd only be talking to himself.

Unless someone was following him, of course. Probably not, but then again these days it never hurt to be careful.

Especially when heading towards a person who was prepared to offer a job that may or may not be illegal.

Spoiler:

**Paper Shadow** Thu May 16, 2013 10:31 pm

"Look, I'm jus' sayin' that changelin's are scary. An' they are totally evil. You don' try to take over a town and a city and not be evil."

"What, you don't actually believe the story about the changelings in that small town, do you?"

"As much as I believe tha' disco ain't dead."

Spoiler:

Stanza gives a small sigh, and his usually lively smile enters a slightly more serious but still friendly mode. "Look, if ya don' think we've got enough guards, you can bring it up with the Cap'in if ya think you can get to his office an' back before this starts. I'll cover for ya, but personally, between us, the security upstairs, and anypony outside the museum, I think we got enough to stop a crook or two."

AProcrastinatingWriter wrote:
Spoiler:

You don't see anything trying to follow you. You do notice a crowd of well-dressed ponies at the museum, accompanied by and sharing small talk with some police officers. You also notice a pony who seems to recognise you from before, and gives you a small smile and nod. Finally, you see quite a number of pegasi shadows in the clouds above, most flying between the museum and a building further down the Main Street...

Assuming that you enter La Verre Verte, you enter a small corridor with a staircase to the left, with a poster about amateur theatrics pointing up the stairs, and a door to the right which leads to the actual bar...

AProcrastinatingWriter Thu May 16, 2013 10:33 pm

Assuming there is no show going on, Aces heads upstairs, looking around more wearily than warily.

**Paper Shadow** Fri May 17, 2013 8:04 am

AProcrastinatingWriter wrote:Assuming there is no show going on, Aces heads upstairs, looking around more wearily than warily.

You head up the stairs. Going up, you hear some words being uttered, and stop moving, assuming that they are part of the performance which you don't wish to interrupt...

"But, if you know the king has gone mad, why do you continue to serve him?"

"Because, my love, I made a vow to protect him at all costs. I'm sorry."

There is a moment of silence, and then you hear a curtain closing, accompanied by the sound of a single pony clapping. Assuming that the intermission has started, you continue up to stairs to see a room with a few wooden row seats and a small stage with a closed dirty red curtain. The only pony in the room you can see is Splash Control, who spots you entering the room and signals you over in a friendly matter as he takes a drink from a glass of water seated next to him...

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