Spring Tide
Disciple Pony
Not all who wander are lost. Well, I am, but that's beside the point!
Posts: 56
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Post by Spring Tide on Aug 19, 2015 16:58:17 GMT -5
The trio of unicorns began their trek. Trotting along, Spring allowed Viper Pit to take the lead. Viper Pit, yeesh, lots of things about this guy were odd, but he seemed pleasant enough. It might just be that he was an eccentric scientist not used to contact with other people. Not everyone was cut out to be a social butterfly. Considering Viper's occupation of biologist, it was possible that Spring might find a kindred spirit in him, being a scientist himself. He would have to wait and see how things played out.
"I could show you how to read distances on maps later if you like," Spring Tide said to Whisper. He was quite experienced with it, due to his adventuring background.
"I might as well get started on recounting recent events. Let me see, about a year ago there was a conflict between Equestrian forces and a cult that seemed at the time to be doing very strange and sinister things. Towards the end of it, a vastly powerful eldritch creature arrived in the Froggy Bottom Bog. It took the combined forces of both the Equestrian Guard and the cult to end its rampage of chaos and destruction. I was on the other side of Equestria when that was going on, near Fillydelphia, so I heard this all second hand. It turns out that the cult was trying to stop the creature, Eclipse, from materializing in the first place. The fool in charge of that band should have brought something that imperative to the attention of the princesses, instead of trying to handle it himself." Spring found himself shaking his head in irritation. Who knows how many ponies got hurt because the cult leaders had kept their activities secret rather than working with the government to prevent a disaster, like most communities did? When your dam springs a leak, you do not try to plug the hole with your horn, you tell the mayor, and she will get a construction crew with the right tools and training to make sure it is fixed in a safe and proper manner. Although Spring had encountered situations where it would have been too much trouble to involve the government, like helping two farmers settle a land dispute, something as big as a giant monster appearing seemed like something to write the princess about.
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Post by Viper Pit on Aug 20, 2015 15:50:19 GMT -5
Viper Pit took the lead offered to him with a smile and dip of his head. Said smile quickly dropped at hearing the events of the last couple of months, and found himself facehoofing as Spring Tide shook his head. If there's ONE thing being an archeologist has taught him, it's that you NEVER attempt to contain an ancient power without a LOT of backup. Especially if said power could think for itself.
"Honestly..." he withheld the rest of his grumbling, before continuing "Well, at least that threat has been taken care of, eh? I may have to head to Froggy bottom bog in the future..." he mutters to himself, before looking back at his traveling companions, Emily gazing at Spring Tide and Gwen looking at Whisper.
"But I take it that isn't why you and everypony else came here? And you two do have a place to stay in mind, right?" For once, his voice showed concern instead of curiosity. "Even in cities like Neighroby, we have some rather.... unsavory neighborhoods, and Zebras who don't take to kindly to ponies, though they haven't tried anything major yet."
He rubbed his temple in irritation as he remembered his time growing up in said neighborhoods. Stupid food vendors crosses his mind in an errant thought before he shook it away.
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Whisper
New Pony
Quietly settling in.
Posts: 17
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Post by Whisper on Aug 27, 2015 17:16:54 GMT -5
Whisper listened to Spring Tide's rendition of the past few months. It was an accurate assessment.
Whisper snorted, remembering her own home. "Actually, now the Diamond Dogs are advancing, taking advantage of the more peace-loving of us ponies to gain more control of Equestria. They ran right through Manehatten. Not as much damage as it could have been, thankfully, but I'm out an office and apartment both so I came here. Honestly, I don't know what they think to gain. If they'd only put aside their hate for ponykind, I'm sure we'd be able to come to some kind of arrangement."
She knew it was completely idealistic of her to think that. There were many ponies who hated Diamond Dogs just as much as Diamond Dogs hated them. Whisper simply didn't see the point. If only she could take control of some of the negotiations, or at least be present, there had to be something she could do.
Whisper saw one of the snakes peek out again from under Viper's cloak and look at her. She grinned and reached out to touch it, but paused and first let her horn glow silver. Better safe than sorry. She thought as a comforting blanket of mist encircled the group. She reached out again to pet the constrictor.
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Spring Tide
Disciple Pony
Not all who wander are lost. Well, I am, but that's beside the point!
Posts: 56
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Post by Spring Tide on Sept 5, 2015 16:40:27 GMT -5
“Yes, it is as Ms. Whisper stated, war has driven us away from our homes. About five months ago, a vast horde of Diamond Dogs with the aid of a dragon and his flock of drakes plunged their way into the Equestrian heartland. The fighting has been fierce, although last I heard Equestria has held fast against the invaders. I pray that Princess Luna will find a way to end this war quickly before more ponies get hurt.”
Spring Tide was worried that, if the war continued as it was, Equestria may not be able to fully recover from the war. When he had seen the great magical emanation in the east, he had climbed to the highest building he could find and searched for the source of that power. He had seen in the distance looking through a bit operated telescope that something had happened to Canterlot. That evening he wrote a flustered letter to his father, telling all that had occurred since their last contact, and inquiring after news of what had occurred in the east. He hired a pegasus courier to deliver his letter, which he paid considerably more than he had in the past. Apparently, Spring was paying the pony’s hazard pay. The wilderness had become much more dangerous and the open sky was no different.
A fortnight later, Spring Tide had left for Neighroby. He had not received a response from his father in that time, so Harmony knew if he would ever receive the response to that letter. He would just have to write again from Neighroby and hope to receive a reply.
“Actually, I know someone who lives in Neighroby. I wrote her before I left Manehatten, told her I planned on travelling here. She works for the Equestrian Society of Geological Discovery. They are based at the university, correct Mr. Pit?” A moment later, Spring felt a strange sensation. Initially he resisted, unwilling to allow an unknown magic to affect him. He failed to prevent its influence, and the magic washed over him. He felt more at ease, and began to relax both his mind and body. Spring sighed in contentment and looked about for the source of the magic. He eyed Viper Pit for a moment suspicious, but the orange pony’s horn was not glowing. Whisper’s horn was glowing.
“What are you doing?” Spring questioned the gray mare. He had spun around to face her, and jerked backwards as he saw her reaching for the snake that had poked its head out once more.
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Post by Viper Pit on Sept 6, 2015 18:37:28 GMT -5
"Indeed, they are. I have had a few dealings with them over the years-"
Viper Pit felt the mist settle, but instead of calming down, he came close to panic. His silvery irises contracted to pinpricks as the effects of the calming mist seemed to rush from him. He'd been caught off guard, too many times by calming spells whilst exploring jungle ruins...
Intermediate level calming spell! Mental tampering!!
Despite his brain screaming at him, he stopped to take a deep breath, before continuing forward. He tried to hide his anxiety as he turned to his new traveling companions.
"Did any of you feel-" he cuts himself off again as he watches Gwen reach forward to meet Whisper's hoof. A gentle smile spread across his face at the sight. "I guess she likes you."
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Whisper
New Pony
Quietly settling in.
Posts: 17
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Post by Whisper on Sept 18, 2015 15:40:31 GMT -5
Whisper stroked the snake for a moment and allowed herself a grin, which immediately melted when she saw the expressions on the two stallions.
"Sorry, it's a calming spell, my special talent. I used to use them in therapy sessions with my clients to help ease nerves or create a setting of comfort." She cut off the spell and turned back to her companions. "It's good you two are at least somewhat familiar with Neighroby. I'd be completely at a loss as to what to do as soon as we docked if I hadn't heard Tide was going as well."
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Spring Tide
Disciple Pony
Not all who wander are lost. Well, I am, but that's beside the point!
Posts: 56
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Post by Spring Tide on Oct 2, 2015 21:54:09 GMT -5
“Mind altering spells. I never got the hang of those. My spells are much more physical.” Spring Tide was glad that Whisper’s spell was not an attack on his person. “Have you ever tried to focus the calming enchantment on a specific target, rather than emit it as a burst?” Spring Tide had no idea how Whisper’s spell worked, so it may not be possible to do as he suggested. But pondering spellcraft had brought other questions to his mind.
“Are you capable of any other spells? Where did you receive your training?” Tide had slipped into talking shop. He enjoyed learning more about the arcane arts and felt that he could learn at least one thing from each unicorn that he met. Some knew more than others, although Tide had not been interested in years past about sitting down in old Canterlot to study arcana with a mentor for ten more years. Near the end of his adolescence, he had grown restless, developing a powerful wanderlust that he had barely been able to contain long enough for him to graduate from his school of magic.
“Perhaps I should get back to recounting recent events. Let’s see, the Eclipse event occurred, and then shortly after that Diamond Dogs proceeded to enter the country in droves. They came from the south, I think. A dragon, as well as a flock of lesser drakes made an assault upon Ponyville. Burned it to the ground, from what I heard and they are still at large. The Changelings began to stir again from within the Everfree, causing mischief, apparently they did not appreciate their defeat at Canterlot a couple years ago. The Diamond Dog army has been attacking all of the major cities. Manehatten has held out for a long time, the most recent intrusion upon the city was the most devastating, although it could have been a lot worse. Had it not been for Rainlock’s private army, it is unlikely that they would have been pushed back so quickly. I know little of how the other cities have fared. Yes, that about sums it up. I think something major happened in Canterlot, I saw a large emanation come from that direction awhile ago, but I have not been able to get in touch with anyone there.” Tide realized that he was repeating much of what had already been said.
He still blamed Rainlock for letting the dogs get by in the first place. Everypony made mistakes, but he presumed there was some kind of power play involved with that incident, one that had left her in an even stronger position than she had been. Rainlock’s forces were hailed as the saviors of Manehatten. Tide did not trust her, though having never met the mare, her reputation made her seem as some kind of corrupt power broker. Not that it mattered that much anymore. Manehatten was thousands of leagues away out of sight and out of mind. The issues of that place would be replaced with the issues of his present environment. As he walked, he had placed Whisper in between himself and the snake, unwilling to get close to the creature. He decided he would stop gabbing for now and listen to what the others had to say.
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Post by Viper Pit on Oct 13, 2015 20:14:49 GMT -5
At the rest of the story being told by Spring Tide, Viper furrowed his brow. The Diamond dogs were attacking? Dragons? Drakes? Changelings? Ponyville destroyed?
Goddesses, maybe I was out in the jungle for longer than I thought.
"Rainlock's gotten involved in all of this? Strange..." was the only thing he said aloud, but his mind buzzed with hundreds of questions, nearly at once. But he figured they didn't know much more than that, so it would do him no good to ask.
"Hmm. Well, aside from dealing with the occasional Gnoll in the temples, I don't know much about Diamond Dogs. Reptiles are more my thing, personally. But I digress, things look grim indeed."
It shouldn't be too much further until they came to Neighroby. As much as he wanted to head home immediately, he needed to submit their expedition's findings to the University. As the two ponies with him were headed that way as well, why not accompany them?
Gwen seemed unamused that her petting was cut short, but relented and retreated back under his cloak, coiling herself around his barrel as before. Emily kept her head out, tongue flickering this way and that, before coiling up Viper Pit's neck and settling her head atop his, somewhat covered by his solid black mane. He grinned to himself at the comforting embrace of his lifelong companions. He seemed more at ease with reptiles and snakes than with other ponies, but snakes were great judges of character. These two traveling with him could be trusted.
Though he would have to keep an eye on Whisper. One doesn't simply stop after learning calming spells, so she must know other mental tampering spells as well.
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Whisper
New Pony
Quietly settling in.
Posts: 17
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Post by Whisper on Oct 15, 2015 1:10:30 GMT -5
Whisper didn't like the grim mood that seemed to waft in right after cutting off her magic. She thought about starting the spell again, but decided against it. Her companions probably wouldn't appreciate the gesture. She snorted in annoyance. Stallions.
"How far is Neighroby? I mean, how long does it usually take to get there? My map has a key to it, so I know the number of miles, but I've never walked this far before..." She bit her lip, regretting not checking her words. It was a little embarrassing to admit so much to complete strangers.
Of course, it wasn't the most intelligent of ideas to go wandering the savannah with naught but two gentlecolts she'd only just met, either. Perhaps she should start up that spell again, after all.
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Spring Tide
Disciple Pony
Not all who wander are lost. Well, I am, but that's beside the point!
Posts: 56
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Post by Spring Tide on Nov 11, 2015 2:16:48 GMT -5
The morning passed quickly. The road was busy with both pedestrians and wagons. Some were no doubt destined for the Equestrian fort in Neighroby, while others would continue deeper into the savannah to places Spring Tide could not imagine. An uneasy quiet had fallen over the three companions, each unsure about the other two and their intentions. Other groups passed them on the road heading the opposite direction, some wearing cheery grins and offering well wishes, others offered only scowls and an unspoken menace and the trio did their best to avoid them as much as possible according to Viper’s advisement.
The heat only became more intense as the day grew older. Spring Tide did his best to stay hydrated and offered his canteen to both his companions in an effort to keep them mindful of their own health. Zebras were most common on the road although the proximity of the pony settlement meant that the more colorful equines were also present albeit in smaller numbers. The travellers that passed by wore light airy clothing when they wore any at all, tending towards light shades. Golden bangles and bands were common among the natives, hinting at mineral wealth unlike that of Equestria. Spring Tide knew that what it lacked in precious metals, Equestria abounded in valuable stones, crystals, and gems many of which were cultivated by the hard working rock farmers who inhabited such bountiful regions.
The road was anything but an uninteresting straight line. It wove through wherever the terrain was easiest, bypassing large rock formations and mud flats, though Tide did notice the land gradually gain altitude. The travellers came upon a bridge that traversed the banks of a river. Ten minutes of further trotting through the badlands revealed their destination. Spring noted the Equestrian flag waving in the wind atop a flagpole a few miles away. Neighroby was nestled on a hill between two cliffs. A wall made from the same stone as the cliffs surrounded it, an attempt by the inhabitants to keep the wilderness at bay. “Well, there it is. It only took us, what, three hours to walk here?”
“Now, is there anything we should know about Neighroby before we get there? “ he asked Viper.
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Post by Viper Pit on Nov 21, 2015 23:09:24 GMT -5
Throughout most of the trip to his home city, Viper Pit kept mostly to himself, keeping an eye on his two traveling companions. While he didn't suspect them to be capable of doing any serious harm to him or his snakes before being subdued, the mint one was capable of mind alteration, however small it may have seemed at the time, and he wasn't about to let his guard down.
He lost to many ponies to mind altering magics while on expeditions.
As they came to the river and were crossing the bridge, he began to hum a foreign tune to himself, seemingly unaware that Emily and Gwen were swaying their heads beside his own.
Upon seeing the walls and Equestrian flag over Neighroby, Viper couldn't help but smile at the nostalgia of being "home" again.
"Now, some things to note before you enter the city. Don't go off alone, especially down any side-streets or alleyways. If somepony tries to sell you anything, make sure they have a cart and hanging Equestrian banners if I'm not there with you. Watch for zebras wearing green bandanna's and bearing snake tattoos, they know me and as long as you're with me, they'll keep their distance. And finally, keep an eye open for orphans in the street. Don't let them get to close. Remember that and you should be good to go. I may accompany you to the university to report our findings, knock out two birds with one stone."
As for why the tattooed and bandanna wearing ponies would avoid him, he wasn't about to tell the two traveling with him. It was rather ugly, a dozen or so street thugs getting sent to the hospital with infected snake bites and collapsed windpipes thankfully sending the intended message of "Don't start with me, dumb brutes."
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Whisper
New Pony
Quietly settling in.
Posts: 17
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Post by Whisper on Dec 17, 2015 1:00:47 GMT -5
Whisper sidled a little closer to her stallion companions. What kind of place had orphaned foals as a danger? She resisted the urge to light her horn again, not knowing how magic would be received here. "Um... So, anypony have any thoughts on where to start the night that wouldn't be too dangerous?" What in Equestria had she been thinking? She, an untrained city mare wandering the streets of an untamed country by herself without a plan. Her heart beat faster and she had to force herself to breathe. She was such a foal.
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Post by Stygg Whitefeather on Jan 12, 2016 0:35:18 GMT -5
The city of Neighroby was, as most cities in Equestria currently not under immediate threat of invasion, was rather calm and uninteresting. The markets were open, though business was slow slowly winding down for the day and the populace appeared to be going about their daily lives. Trotting through the streets, the group would find that, obviously, Zebras were predominately on the streets, with a few ponies and donkey’s intermingled, though they were far outnumbered by their striped cousins. The arrival of new ponies did illicit a certain murmur among the locals, reinforced by the stares and hushed whispers between one another as their eyes followed the trio’s movements. They, perhaps, were seen as refuges – a class not well appreciated in the already impoverished area and that was causing a bit of scorn in the eyes and minds of the more militant locals.
Viper would likely notice a group of young zebra stallions, donned with the green bandanas and snake markings, who huddled together off the streetside, were watching intently as they passed. One motioned to another, whisper something to the other, and they would take off, away from the main street – though they made no move against the group.
A few streets in they would hear a rather bombastic noise coming from one end of the market area, following the sounds, they would find themselves before a large crowd of zebras assembled before a rather flashy stage and cart, a top which two stallion unicorns with butter-cream coats and complimenting sliced apple cutie-marks, were busy busking some newfangled antiparasitic cure-all. Their showponyship currently had the crowd memorized, which made progressing through the assembly nigh-impossible at the moment, and cutting off safe access to the university.
Behind them, a few more of bandana clad zebras had made their appearance. They kept their distance, but there was a certain glint in their eyes as they stared, that would send and uneasy shiver down most ordinary ponies’ withers.
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Spring Tide
Disciple Pony
Not all who wander are lost. Well, I am, but that's beside the point!
Posts: 56
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Post by Spring Tide on Jan 18, 2016 19:59:57 GMT -5
Evidently the city would be perilous, a side of civilization Spring Tide was not used to seeing. Equestrian cities tended to be a bit more friendly, though stories out of the seedy neighborhoods of Manehatten came to mind as comparison to Neighroby. “Thugs, cutpurses and fences. Okay. I would imagine that the area around the university would be more pleasant, yes?” he asked Viper. Spring hoped that was the case.
The trio of unicorns continued towards Neighroby. It took them almost another hour to reach the gates of the city. They seemed to be made of thick wood and iron and guarded by sentries in a gatehouse. Watchtowers stood at regular intervals in both directions from the gate. The gates were currently opened and traffic moved freely through them. Two pony guards stood at either side of the portal on both sides of the gatehouse armed and armored, watching for any troublemakers. Spring and company passed through without incident. The inhabitants began to stir as they made their way through one of the poorer neighborhoods however. Refugees could not be an uncommon sight here though apparently they were an unwelcome one. Spring could feel the eyes on him, noted the whispers exchanged between locals. The buildings were primarily made of stone with wooden roofs, close together with narrow alleys between them.
New smells, stronger than filth and dust and mildew, invaded Spring’s nose. Exotic spices, perfumes, and other aromas flowed over from a few nearby restaurants promising delicious food. The square that the trio stepped into was sparsely populated, business it seemed was dying down for the day. All except for the far side where a large crowd of zebra stood, spectating on some kind of demonstration. Curious, Spring approached the group and from the fringes could just make out what was going on. Two loud unicorn stallions were selling some new “miracle of modern medical science” to the populace.
Spring moved away from the demonstration and tried to get his bearings. He spotted the university’s walls not far from where he stood further up the hill. The problem was that the throng of zebras was blocking the road leading that direction. It was as he turned to his companions to ask their opinion of what to do next did he notice the gang members, marked as Viper had described, watching him with malicious intent. Spring felt his gut tighten up and he turned to Viper. “What do we do?” he asked.
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Post by Viper Pit on Jan 31, 2016 14:14:51 GMT -5
"You'd think, but times are tough right now, I'd imagine. A sudden influx of refugees, diamond dog attacks and the like." He answers Spring Tide before muttering to himself quietly, "Things are always so much simpler on expeditions..."
Trotting alongside his companions, he barely took notice of the merchants and passerby, though an amused grin came to his face when he spied the two unicorn brothers. The zany inventors had already visited Neighroby a while back, trying to sell some kind of pear cider. It didn't go very well, but the memory still makes Viper chuckle.
The whole time they walked, Gwen and Emily had been lazily scanning the crowd, before coming to a stop on the bandanna clad zebras. They rose up near Viper's head, mouths open threateningly and hissing loudly. Viper grimaced, once again bringing a hoof to his face.
"Just keep walking, guys. Even if they follow us, once we're within the university walls, they won't follow. If they try anything before then, well..."
He took notice of the number of snakes hiding in the alleyways and snake charmer pots.
"Do what you have to." He finishes, a snarl pulling at his features. "Hopefully they remember what happened last time they tried mugging me." He says, casually pulling his cloak off his body and folding it neatly with his magic before laying it across his back, revealing his cutiemark... a black, threatening snake outline similar to the design on the thugs bandannas.
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