Ponies & Dragons - Episode 1: A Tail of Two Cities

[Kirby Krackle]

This is new. This is completely and absolutely nothing like anything Curtain Call has experienced before. He finally gets it. What "it" is, that part is still a mystery, but the general picture, the grand scheme of things suddenly makes sense. Every other tree branch splitting in two while another yet waits its turn, the cycle of warm and cool air inspiring a dance in each branch, every leaf drifting to the ground to decay and start the cycl-wait, Curtain Call thought, where was I? Right. There is a big pony with a bigger axe. Make bad pony fall down. His now blessed eyes can see the flesh being torn around bestial teeth, each flex of thick bone and muscle, where cold iron drags it down and how all the weight is shifted. This is perfect. Curtain Call now knows exactly where to stick his knife. May he add another hole to the many dotting the bandit's side.

(My pluses again. I should keybind that bit of text.)

[Trilobite]

Ironmane moves to menace the bandit leader's side, hoping to draw his attention away from her companions. "Disarm him or take his hooves from underneath him!" She turns and aims a kick of both hind feet at the scoundrel's legs.

[Starburst]

The Bandit knows a feint when he sees one, and launches an axe to intercept the hooves darting for his legs, which promptly contacts Ironmane and spins her about from the sheer force of the block. However, while blocking Ironmane's trip, he can't react in time to agilely intercept Curtain Call's expert attack on his appendages. With curtain calls increased perception of his enemies movements comes better knowledge of motions, and the feint the bandit throws to distract him comes off as a shallow attempt. Curtain Call slides his knife into the large ponies side, and blood starts dripping onto the ground from the wound when the cold steel is removed from its victim.

A more grievous wound however is granted by Bramble Rose's Lupine companion. Her teeth sink into the back of the distracted leaders neck, and her jaws clamp down on his neck, causing the first shouts of pain to echo from the mouth of the leader. He coughs up blood, most likely due to the wound that pierced his lung, and falls to his side, bracing using the hilt of his axe to keep himself from being knocked prone. It's obvious that he's in quite a lot of pain, and his will to resist flows out of him quickly, much like his lifeblood is at the moment.

Soon his strength gives way and he falls onto his back, staring up at the cloudy blue sky. One of the other bandits, a skinny mare from what you can tell, walks up to the bandit, and begins speaking a phlegmy guttural language, tears streaming from her large green eyes. ( Bramble can tell the language is one common in the Northlands of Equestria. ) She embraces the bandit leader, he coughs up a final bit of blood, and the light leaves his eyes, his hoof falling from the hilt of the axe to the ground, where it lands on the grass with a hard thump, rustling a little and then remaining still.

The hard red gemstone on the end of the axe hilt cracks, and then shatters into dust, blowing away in the wind. The mare sits beside the leader, weeping; her tears flowing out of her eyes, onto her hooves, and dropping onto the grass.

[Trilobite]

The blow that sent Ironmane spinning caused her to stumble over a rock and fall to the ground. She picks herself up, rushing to the bandit, but it's too late. She extends a hoof, then draws back hesitantly, and stares.

She rounds on Curtain Call. "I instructed that he be disarmed!"

[Bramble Rose]

Bramble paused in shock ... it was too fast, over before his medical magics or his first-aid knowledge could have done anything. No matter how many times he saw this, it always struck at him... but he quickly moved to IronMane's side, resting his hand on her shoulder. "If you wish to blame one of our own, blame me and Blossom. She was protecting me, and struck the final blow. Or, better, blame the pony with the axe, because we instructed him to surrender, and instead he tried to kill us." Inside, his heart wrenched, and the pain of that crying bandit tore through him. His face twitched futilely, then set into a mask of sad determination. However, he knew if he let himself get overwhelmed by this, his allies might end up fighting, the bandits would lose their fear, and there would be *more* death. "Let us focus on the living for now ... then we can grieve the dead."

He stood up, then, and turned towards the bandits. A terrible sadness was in his face, his tone, as he raised his voice. "May he be sped on his way to the eternal plains. Will we have to repeat this?" he asked, simply.

[Starburst]

The blow that sent Ironmane spinning caused her to stumble over a rock and fall to the ground. She picks herself up, rushing to the bandit, but it's too late. She extends a hoof, then draws back hesitantly, and stares.

She rounds on Curtain Call. "I instructed that he be disarmed!"

(( Your initiative was after Curtain call's. He acted first, before you shouted. ))

[Starburst]

One of the other Stallions steps up. One with a full beard and a bristly mustache.Most of the bandits behind him have recovered from the fireball-illusion, and are beginning to brush themselves off. Another begins to put his clothes back on that he took off while he was "on fire."

The stallion begins speaking. He speaks in fluent common, and begins talking to Bramble rose.

He says, "Now that the person responsible for our incarceration has fled, we have no reason to fight you. He kept us prisoner, threatening to kill us with his magics if we rose up against him. We were afraid, because far north of here we live without magic. We have little defense for searing flames or lightning. He originally came to us a few months ago, looking for a group of people to help him acquire something precious he said was going to be traveling elsewhere, and said that we'd be paid. When we were separated from our friends and family, his attitude quickly changed for the worse. He said we'd only be paid if we acquired the item. If we were unable to do so we'd be killed. So we followed him with little choice in the matter. He'd have murdered us if he sensed one of us attempting to betray him."

"Our elected leader had the most to lose. His daughter was left at home with a wet nurse. His wife and himself came here in search of a better life. The promise of riches from the magical one compelled them to follow. And now I'm afraid his daughter will grow up without knowing how brave her father was. He would always talk about how when he was paid he would build a magnificent house back in the village, big enough to shelter his family from the cold winters for many years to come. There was always a glint in his eyes when he spoke, like a man possessed... but his ambition took him too far. He wanted it so much that he would do anything he could for it to come to pass, and your companion ended him."

The woman holds a hoof up to the bearded ponies mouth, silencing him while the tears flowed steadily from her eyes. He passed a nod and turned back to Bramble. "We're at your mercy. Our home is many many miles north of here. We have little food, or water. Some of us are weak from starvation. Do with us what you will. We are technically criminals."

[Kirby Krackle]

Curtain Call's heart was heavy, having heard all that. His conscience now bears the weight of two lives taken. One of them, innocent. At least partially. The other, most of his life taken by madness already. But that doesn't make him feel any better as he wipes the red from his weapon, hopefully sated for now. He spoke not a word, not to his comrades or his former enemies, feeling that any word, truth or otherwise would be an insult to the memories of the fallen. No apologies, no rationalities, no diplomacy or justification. He couldn't even look the other ponies in the eye. He stayed quiet, stayed small, and stayed hidden, even while sitting right in front of them.

[Trilobite]

( Your initiative was after Curtain call's. He acted first, before you shouted. )

(Perfect! Then Ironmane is just confused and wrong.)

"The decision is not ours to make. But the magistrates of Garden Gait will hear the full truth of the matter, and you will receive a fair trial. As for what happened here--" she looks at Curtain Call, and suddenly finds her mind to crowded with conflicting words to give any of them voice. How should she tell him that she feels it was her fault? That she meant to save him as much as the bandit chief? That she is sick with anger over her failure? That she hopes this marks a fork in the road? No, it's too much to say. She looks at the body. "The higher powers are forgiving but just. They have marked what has happened this day. Bramble Rose, please see that the wounded are attended to and the prisoners fed. If you can, ascertain the nature of the prize this lost soul sought. I must pray."

[Starburst]

Filt firehorn rides his decadent golden wagon pulled by Nightmare up to the group of Bandits. Some of them immediately shriek in fear and fall to their hooves and knees, worshiping the nightmare, praying to the gods that it hasn't come to take their lives in their native tongue.. The bearded one explains. "In our country, the chariot of death is pulled by nightmares, the souls of the dead rising from the mortal plane and following them to their assigned fates in the realms of the high gods. They believe that the Nightmare is a symbol of death, and that those able to command it are said to be representatives of higher planes, or the servants of deities. He must be one of a special ilk to have the gift to command such a creature."

"Some of the village are quick to act before they think.. I don't share the same preconceptions and notions they do, but I respect their choice to believe what they will." He says, as Filt steps down from his wagon.

"Ho ho... It seems ye've finished your task quite admirably. I'm sure Celestia would be happy to know that her cargo has safely reached its destination. I commend yeh for your efforts.. But I must admit I am a bit surprised.. I hadn't expected to be worshiped when I pulled my wagon up.. My my... Now all we must do is get them to Canterlot so they can be tried for their crimes.. After we bring them there yeh'll get your entrance pass, as well as a hefty sum of gold for rounding up the bandits." He says, stroking his beard.

[Bramble Rose]

Bramble Rose sat there chewing at his lower lip, staring at the bandits, who were now sadly looking to them for judgement. What would the right thing to do be? The moral quandry rolled over and over in his mind. They had been threatened - but not until after they'd already agreed to be criminals. Bramble's own group was profiting from violence as well, but their targets were all criminals. Mercy was a virtue, but did he have the right to pass out that mercy, or could only the victims of their crimes do so?

Ironmane's answer was quite good, as far as he was concerned. They weren't qualified to determine the truth of the matter, or decide what was just, and what was merciful. Luckily, there were those who were. He nodded sadly. "The courts will decide the merit of your plea. May mercy and justice both be represented there."

He looked up to Flit, and momentarily thought to decline his own pay. The day was sitting poorly on his spirit, but ... he reminded himself how many ponies his concoctions would be able to help, and heal. How that money was not merely money ... but life and health for others. He nodded slowly to Flit, unable to find the humor in the situation.

[Kirby Krackle]

The money. Right. That's what this was, right? Get a job, do the job, get the money, repeat. He looked at all the captured ponies, prostrate, face to the ground and fate in the air. He considered for a moment praying to, well, anyone, if any Princess would hear him, then grew bitter. In their faces he saw a ghost of times yet to come, wondering how long it would take the law to track him down and send him to the gallows. Or worse, the thieves he's thieving for. He sighed, his heart heavier and his stomach reeling from such thoughts, and just walked to Flit's side. He was ready to end this madness.

[Starburst]

Filt nods and motions for the ponies to climb in the back of the cart. When they all climb inside he taps his staff on the ground, releasing all of his illusory spells. The golden lustre of the cart fades and returns to its normal wooden hue, and the "nightmare" changes back to what it really was. Just an original horse, of common intelligence. "We should get going." he says, and the horse begins moving towards Canterlot down the road.

[Trilobite]

Ironmane trots along behind the group. Her head is high and she might look aloof, or stern, but a student of pony nature would be able to tell that she is troubled, and seeking guidance in prayer.

[Feel free to provide whatever guidance you like, O GM ]

[Starburst]

The cart eventually comes to a halt in front of the magnificent gates of Canterlot, Ancestral Home of the Unicorns.

Filt pulls a piece of paper with the Royal Canterlotian seal from his robes and strokes his beard. The guards look at the paper, nod, and open the golden gates, glinting in the sunlight. The cart proceeds through the gates and begins to head up towards their meeting place, the Canterlot castle foyer. It is daytime, so most likely Princess Luna is resting for the coming night and Princess Celestia is sitting on the throne to answer any inquiries or questions the Unicorn populace may have.

As you travel through the city, the bandits marvel at the cleanliness and the colors of the city. There are lanterns magically lit with ever-burning yellow flames, lined with pristine gold and silver decorations. The streets are lined in magically created Ivory blocks, polished to a shine. Tons of carts and stands line the streets, where merchants peddle their wares. Stands filled with fruits and vegetables of all types line the thoroughfare, causing the bandit ponies to look with hungry faces towards the piles of delicious food.

There are floating ships flying through the sky, most likely a new version of steamship created my the Mecha-ponies to anyone familiar with unique pony-races. Suspended in the sky is a large Balloon-supported Air-dock, where ship parts and new designs are traded between them. ( To anyone with a Knowledge skill or an intelligence above 12, you're aware that Mecha-ponies aren't actually robotic in nature, but you know they're all earth ponies who create wings and other flying apparatus through metal, air, and steam. Years of tinkering have given them masterful abilities in building strange technology. )

Nestled in the mountains behind Canterlot live the Bat-ponies, Masters of crafting and stone masonry. The entrance to their domain lies behind a huge stone gate, the likes of which would take at least twenty ponies to open. Carts full of large stone blocks and ore are moving inside the mountain to be crafted into other large stone architecture, as well as weapons and armor for the Equestrian Royal Guards. ( Again, to know the following information, A knowledge skill or an intelligence above 12 is required. ) Years of inhabiting the dark mountains have left them with bad eyesight in the daytime. However, their sight is unparalleled within their mountain homes. Bat ponies are also known to be able to see without the use of their eyes, to a lesser degree, and most coming into the daylight choose to don blindfolds to protect their sensitive eyes.

The cart passes through the marketplace and begins moving up the winding path to meet with one of the Princesses.

[Bramble Rose]

(( Ohmigosh, I didn't know we could be steampunky mecha-ponies! FUN! ))

Bramble Rose, having retrieved his own small cart from where Ironmane had left it, followed along after Flit with heavy heart and hooves, watching the prisoners in that wagon - partly with a sense of being a guard, but partly just to let him watch them, and their deeds, their manner. To see how they acted. Blossom had hoped to remain out in the forest for as long as Bramble was in the bustling city - she felt uncomfortable with even small villages - but now, she alternated between following after Bramble's wagon, and being curled up inside it, feigning sleep while watching the back of the cart with a wary eye. Bramble knew that here, in this place, she'd be considered a curiosity, but no more - there were so many wonders around them every day that even a massive Timber Wolf was a minor surprise next to them. A supposed rope tether kept her 'safe', but Bramble knew from experience - and testing - that Blossom could be free of that rope in an instant, if she needed to. The rope was there only for show, and Blossom reluctantly put up with it for his benefit - so that she could remain close while he escorted the dangerous prisoners.

To Bramble, the wonders of the city were no more than a familiar warmth of returning home, though his path had led him away to comfortable forests and plains rather than the bustling, overactive city streets. This had, interestingly, increased his awe of the place, as a concept rather than an artistic wonder - he now understood exactly how much food, how many farmers, how much of an overall system, was necessary to maintain such a beautiful city of learning and advancement.

But right now, his gaze was focused yet on the prisoners, and their hungry expressions. He lifted a hoof to wave Curtain Call over, and smiled to him lightly. Nosing into his pouch, the delicate little unicorn pulled out several coins and tossed them to his teammate. "Could you please buy a number of loaves of bread and a half-bushel of apples for the prisoners? I think they're hungry, and possibly a bit overwhelmed. New and fearful things are best faced on a full stomach. If my memory holds, there should be a less busy shop right around that corner, Fair Weigh's General Store. Tell him Bramble sent you - he's friends with my father, he'll give you a good price, and won't take offense if you're in a hurry. I want to make sure we get them food before they get much further, so they have time to eat before we hand them over to the magistrate." Bramble made sure to let his voice carry enough that the prisoners could hear, and look forward to the meal that should soon be coming.

[Trilobite]

Ironmane's hear had been heavy during the trip. Princess Platinum's answer to her prayers had been silence, leaving Ironmane to look within for the answers to the half-formed questions assailing her.

But as they pass through the golden gates and into the City of Cities, Canterlot, her head began to lift, her gaze become more resolute. Here was the answer she sought: Canterlot. Home of so many, created by so many, working in harmony--and sometimes disharmony. That diversity made Canterlot the wonder that it was, made it shine brighter than any of the gold or precious stones that decorated it. Here was the heart of Equestria and its true spirit.

"I shall accompany you," she said to Curtain Call, following Bramble's request. "I should like to attend to a few matters as well."

[Starburst]

Filt nods to the group, telling them to meet them at the castle when they're finished so the food can be distributed. The cart winds up the mountain path and eventually stops outside the castle, where Filt ushers the ponies out of the back of the cart inside the large pristine castle. The floors inside are checker-boarded with Ivory and Onyx slabs, polished to a mirror shine. A red carpet is laid across the center of the castle, and a pair of magnificent thrones lie at the top of a magnificent staircase.

Guarding the dais that the magnificent thrones laid on were two white unicorns wearing golden armor, and two bat-pony guards, wearing darker ebony colored armor with wings and rippled ears. The two guards led their White Deity-pony to her quarters within the large castle as the sun crested and disappeared behind the mountains, the crescent moon rising in the opposite of the sky behind the castle.

At the top of that staircase, sitting on one of the royal thrones, lies the daytime-deity of Equestria; Princess Celestia. However, due to the amount of time to make it to the Unicorn capital, her eyes are beginning to droop. Even Deities get tired too. And the sun was cresting the mountain behind Canterlot as sunset came. Out of another chamber that led deeper into the castle, Princess Luna, the Day to Celestia's Night, exited from her chambers and sat her Royal-Flank on the throne opposite Celestia.

Upon the entry into the large audience chamber, a feeling of peace washes over everyone entering. The only way you can describe the feeling is extreme benevolence, as if the light of a kind spirit entered you and washed your cares away. You feel content, and the edge of readiness you found yourselves balanced upon is lowered as you feel you're being watched over once you enter this holy sanctuary.

Filt pats Bramble on the bottom with his staff his eyes closed and a shrewd smile on his face, pushing him forward to seek an audience with Luna, Princess of the Night. She sits imposingly at the top of her throne, rubbing her eyes. A yawn exhumes from her mouth and she looks down at the entourage of ponies stepping up the red carpet, she blushes slightly and her expression changes to one of bemusement, waiting for the purple one to speak about why they've come.

Of course she already knew why they were there. Most of the time deities spend their time watching over the mortal realms, this was no exception. Not to mention that it was her sister that initially entered into the old one's mind through a dream and sent him on this task... but they didn't have to know that. So she kept her bemused expression, and waited.

[Kirby Krackle]

I am an Earth Pony and what is this? Canterlot? The fabled Unicorn metropolis? Is this normal for the mage ponies: unparalleled wealth and luxury? He was star struck! Precious metals, exotic machines, extravagant works of art and sculpture. Everything is so... oh, what's the word? Expensive. He could spend a lifetime exploring its halls or, scratch that, spend one night looting the place to leave the rest of that lifetime free of thievery and mischief. Bramble's request knocked some of the stars from his eyes, bringing his hooves back to solid ground. He nodded and pocketed the money in a separate compartment of his bag, hopping off the cart and heading in the direction instructed.

"Fair Weigh's General. Will do. Thanks for the idea, by the way. I can empathize."

Politely, he agreed to Ironmane, showing none of the reluctance he felt. He's had far too many law ponies following him before and his conscience was always guilty. Being the paranoid type, he considered if this was just one overly elaborate sting operation.

[Trilobite]

They turned the corner, and Ironmane walked silently along. Her eyes occassionally moved to Curtain Call, then back away. Finally she drew a deep breath. "Curtain Call," she said, her voice hard as iron, "I should like you to explain your actions during our..." abruptly she stopped, took another deep breath, and then lowered her head from its haughty angle. Her voice, and gaze, were both softer when she resumed. "I should like to understand your actions. I am sworn to uphold justice, it is true, but there can be no justice without understanding, nor without kindness and restraint." She cleared her throat, as if nervous. "I would know you. Will you speak with me openly?"

[Bramble Rose]

The Palace, earthly home of the sister goddesses. There wasn't a plant-lover alive who didn't offer up prayers to Celestia for the good health of their plants, and despite growing up in this city, Bramble had never actually approached the goddesses before. He'd seen them, of course, from a distance, as part of a crowd - the Summer Sun Celebration and the Winter Moon Celebration the most common, though fewer ponies took part in the latter.

Bramble Rose blinked as Flit slapped him on the rump. What was he doing?! He - a chill ran over Bramble Rose, even in the benevolence of the throne room. All his little flaws came to him - his slight stature, his delicate build, the fear that he always had to fight, the constant feeling of just not being good enough. Bramble wasn't the leader! Flit was the employer, and if anyone was the leader, wouldn't it be Ironmane? His breath came a bit quicker, but he heard his dam's voice, just as she'd talked to him as a foal. "Head high. It doesn't matter if you're scared - just act like you're not, and that's all you need."

His stomach settled. He was still scared, and surely the Goddesses would know that, but he approached them with his head high. He was a big stallion now - he had to take care of himself.

"Your Highnesses," he said formally, and bent down over his knee, his head lowering, his voice strong. "It is my great honor to be in your service today. I present to you a group of bandits who took contract against the innocent denizens of your realm. They have done wrong, but they then were threatened and intimidated by a foul mage into doing more than they felt comfortable, and have since shown themselves of honor, surrendering peacefully and giving us no problems upon delivering them into your august presence. We give them over to your justice and your mercy."

He remained bent over his lifted knee, as he finished, his head still lowered, awaiting their response.

[Starburst]

Luna chuckles a little, her voice filled with gentle melodies and whisperings of happiness. When she speaks your nerves vanish, and you feel as if you were cradled by a thousand feather pillows. "Lift your head up, Bramble Rose, for you have done your country a great service today in discovering the cause of the bandit uprisings. My sister and I are thankful for your assistance in this matter, and paperwork for you all to be admitted to Canterlot has been prepared by a scribe. When you receive it you will be admitted into Canterlot should you ever find yourself at our golden gates."

"I am well aware of the situation concerning your "bandits". I believe them to be quite innocent, and to my knowledge when they were contacted by the evil one they were not told what kind of work they would be doing, and as such they have committed no crimes. As such I release them into your custody. If they wish you can escort them back to their homes, or they will be given paperwork and can live here in Canterlot as apprentices to a tradesman until they can learn and operate their own business."

"There also leaves the matter of what to do with the one who caused this trouble. Since he threatened these people he is guilty of any crimes that occurred or laws that were broken during their time outside the walls of Canterlot. Since you are most familiar with the guilty one, I task you upon finding and recovering him so that we can pass his sentence and clap him in irons. I leave the order in which you accomplish these tasks to your discretion. You may choose to deal with the bandits first, or to bring in the wizard."

"When you leave, visit the scribe in town and present this letter to him to receive your documentation." Luna says with finality, floating a letter with a moon-shaped blue wax seal over to Bramble Rose.

[Kirby Krackle]

Curtain Call hated being right. As they walked, he considered the possibility of running, making a mental note of little back alleys to duck into but everything here is just so bright. How is anypony supposed to do any creeping when it's lit up like a Hearth's Warming Tree everywhere you go?

"What is there to understand?" His voice was as stern as Ironmane's, mainly to hide the fear in his voice. He was not going to jail. "Intimidation wasn't working. Diplomacy wasn't working. And, as I scouted ahead, I heard him give orders to kill any ponies interfering, which clearly means us. We could have died out there because you couldn't get your hooves dirty. Kindness and restraint can only go so far, Paladin. Especially outside the walls of a royal palace."

[Trilobite]

Ironmane looks over at Curtain Call. "You are very certain of that for one so young." Never mind the fact that they're probably roughly the same age. "Why this certainty?"

[Kirby Krackle]

He made sure to keep his glance away from Ironmane's. The comment about his age caused some flushing, and he'd rather keep that hidden. He insured himself that such bashfulness was because of his self-imposed air of professionalism, but that was a lie. It was really because a mare called him young. "I'm certain because I've seen it happen! I can't count how many times! It's a solitary pony on a mad quest for power or wealth or revenge. The typical guard isn't prepared to deal with that kind of heart dyed black. Things get messy. And, in my experience anyway, the only way to stop a monster is another mons-"

Too much truth came out. Completely by accident. As his ruddy cheeks worsened, he decided to pick up the pace. "We have fruit to pick up, don't we?"