The Five Gems (In-Character Thread)

[Crimson Doom]

Let me have a look at that. Steel Wing says after finishing his sandwich, looking over at what used to be the alarms and seeing if he can't make a connection.

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Arcana (if necessary)
[roll0]
History
[roll1]

Wow. From now on i'm the Arcana guy.

In addition to what Shield noticed, you identify the mountain as being one of the mountains that migrating dragons hang out around (you also get the coordinates). As for the brimstone place, you manage to identify that as Tartarus. Unfortunately, you have no idea where the entrance to Tartarus is.

[Rater202]

The gems actually have nothing to do with the crown; they're attributed to the thieves, not the crown, and their only relationship to the crown is as the keys to get the crown.



You know one of them as being a mountain, but you're not sure if it's a significant mountain; all you know is that it's not in the Canterlot range. The other you're not sure about, but you get a distinct impression of brimstone.

*Adamant Shares this information*

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((ooc. I am starting to get tired of repeating what's already been said. From now on, this is how I will share little tidbits of information if their are no roleplaying opportunities in sharing.))

[Emperor Ing]

Yeah...okay. Bad news. He turns back to the group. One of the alarms seems to have gone off on pretty much the dragon equivalent of Las Pegasus. You know, up in the mountains? Popular dragon migration rest-stop? I can point it to you on a map. Also...uhh...how does everypony feel about marching into the jaws of Tartarus? I mean literally? Because one of the alarms went off in there, and I am willing to wager that is where one of the gems would be as well.

[Rater202]

Yeah...okay. Bad news. He turns back to the group. One of the alarms seems to have gone off on pretty much the dragon equivalent of Las Pegasus. You know, up in the mountains? Popular dragon migration rest-stop? I can point it to you on a map. Also...uhh...how does everypony feel about marching into the jaws of Tartarus? I mean literally? Because one of the alarms went off in there, and I am willing to wager that is where one of the gems would be as well.

I vote the we Find the gem in Tartarus last, is every pony okay with that?

[Emperor Ing]

I totally second that motion! The Pegasus* blurts out.

[Rater202]

Now,it seems to me that when we are done here, we should head to ponyville. It's about a days train ride from Canterlot, it's right next to the Everfree, which if I am not mistaken is the location of one of the Gems, and When Cerberus went missing a while back, he showed up there before being returned, so somepony there might have been the to return him. If that's the case, they would know the location of the entrance of Tartarus.

Assuming we get out of here alive, that is.

[HotRoute]

"Tar-tar-tartaus!?" Compass Rose breaks from her seapony chanting just in time. This is way beyond the scope of projects Ancient Myth normally looks into. Is he biting off more than he can chew? "Are-are you sure about that?" Compass Rose stammers, "I mean, I don't doubt your insight, I just... I'd hate to get all the way down there and not find it! Ehh heh heh..." She says with the weakest forced smile ever. If these ponies think they are capable of exploring Tartarus, they have another thing coming. That's a job for Equestrian Armed Horses, or worse, a Princess.

[Crimson Doom]

Myth huffs. "Makes sense to me. Hide a gem precisely in the place where no sane pony would go. Even those who are brave enough to go there may not escape. Best security system short of a celestial vault."

[Emperor Ing]

Let's...worry about that later. You know, save the best for last? Heh-heh. He nervously laughs. I mean i'm sure we can give some dragons the slip, unless one of them already found it and added it to their hoard...ugh.

[Rater202]

Let's...worry about that later. You know, save the best for last? Heh-heh. He nervously laughs. I mean i'm sure we can give some dragons the slip, unless one of them already found it and added it to their hoard...ugh.

I just hope that we don't get all the way there just to learn that a dragon ate it.

So, should we work out a system for what order we go after the gems next? personally I think the Everfree Might be the best bet, seeing as how it's closest to this one. The Crystal empire would be my next target, but there may be some issues getting into the Empire Proper*Briefly looks to Sicale*So Dragon mountain may be easier, though definitely not safer. Seeing How the Only folks who know were Tartarus is are the Princesses, the who ever retrieved Cerberus, possibly the guards stationed in the area, and maybe certain Scholars, not to mention how dangerous it is guaranteed to be, we should probably do that one last.

By the Way, Does anypony Here Know who returned Cerberus to the Gates of Tartarus? it would be Easy if we knew, we could just track them down and ask, though we may have to bribe them, or mention them in the Autobiographical journals that we will probably all be wrighting after this adventure. (They would probavbly Sell like hotcakes)

[Crimson Doom]

Myth snorts with disbelief. "As useful as it is for you to be thinking ahead, there's a door here that we've spent fifteen minutes not opening."

[This is not meant to hurry you guys along; this is just what Myth would say at this point.]

[Rater202]

Oh, yes of Course, we can talk on the way. *Trys to open door*

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If, their is a role necessary, I do not know which one

Brute forcing it open would probably be Athletics, right

well, if it's not open, we can try after word.

[Crimson Doom]

Beyond the door is a library.

But calling it a mere library does not quite do this room justice. It is a vast archive, far bigger than it has any right to be, stocked with so many books, scrolls, letters, and tomes that it would be easy to believe that the whole world's knowledge is contained within.

Beyond that, more of those glowing sapphires line the walls, though they look less haphazard here than they did in the entry hall. The bookshelves are all painted various shades of blue, and the door across the room appears to have been painted with blue runes as well.

[Rater202]

I think, that once we have found the gem, that we should contact somepony from the Royal Library and have them send people to retrieve this stuff.

Even if half of it is Cookbooks and Ancient Playcolts it could still be worth a fortune.

[Crimson Doom]

I think, that once we have found the gem, that we should contact somepony from the Royal Library and have them send people to retrieve this stuff.

Even if half of it is Cookbooks and Ancient Playcolts it could still be worth a fortune.

Myth is too busy standing outside the door drooling to respond.

[Rater202]

*Claps hooves infront of Ancients Face* We Need To focus, Sapphire Whats his name probably knew it would be the Scholarly Type who would find the Gems and put this massive library so close to the front to distract them. Also, thes books are centuries old, they would probably fall apart if you touched them, that's why I said to contact the Royal Library, or maybe a Museum, the have experts trained in retrieving and restoring priceless treasures like these.

Also, they might be booby trapped.

[Crimson Doom]

Myth catches Shield's hoof with magic, then glares at him. "Don't. Your points make sense, but don't."

He then releases Shield's hoof.

[Forum Explorer]

Dragons? I've Heard Of A Dragon Living In The Everfree As Well As Rumors That A Dragon Lived In Canterlot! Perhaps They Employed Dragons As The Guardians Of The Gemstones? If That Is The Case We Should Prepare Ourselves To Face A Dire Foe As We Advance Deeper Into These Caves!

A spark of interest shines in Iron Wing's eyes as he stares at the library. Perhaps We Can Find Clues Regarding The Other Gems In Here If All Else Fails!

[Rater202]

All right then, I am going to take a look at that Door.

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forgot about the no editing rule, roll in the other thread.

Dragons? I've Heard Of A Dragon Living In The Everfree As Well As Rumors That A Dragon Lived In Canterlot! Perhaps They Employed Dragons As The Guardians Of The Gemstones? If That Is The Case We Should Prepare Ourselves To Face A Dire Foe As We Advance Deeper Into These Caves!

As far As I know, the Dragon that lived in canterlot was a baby, and left a few years ago.

as for employing a dragon to guard a magical gemstone? That would be like letting a fox guard a hen house.

It is likely that The gem hidden in the Dragon mountains is in a dungeon like this one, and was placed there to keep folks who learned about it away.

[HotRoute]

The talk of dragons, Tartarus, hidden gems, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches is all blow away when the door opens. "By Celestia's light..." is all Compass Rose is able to sputter as she, too, gets caught drooling like Ancient Myth in front of the massive library of centuries of secrets and lore. Everything in her compels her to take a dusty tome off the shelf and explore new worlds until Adamant Shield ruins the moment with "booby-trapped."

"Right... But..." Compass Rose investigates the sapphires on the walls, then the door frame above them, then the floor in front of her. If she spots nothing, she carefully steps towards the books. If she is able to make it safely towards the closest shelf, she takes a text and opens it slowly.

Perception Check - (1d20+5)[10]

[Forum Explorer]

A Baby Really? Well That Baby Had To Come From Somewhere, And Unless Ponies Are In The Habit Of Adopting Orphaned Dragons It Likely Came From A Friendly Dragon In The Area! Also Dragons Make For A Fine Guardian Of Gems, They Do Not Feast On Every Gemstone They Encounter Or Else Their Famed Hordes Could Not Exist! Plus They'll Never Willingly Part With One Of Their Gems!

[Crimson Doom]

As Rose observes the sapphires, she notices that the sapphires seem a little less haphazard than in the previous room, more ordered...

...and as Shield enters the room, the sapphires all start glowing more brightly, and a translucent blue male unicorn appears floating in the middle of the library, wearing glasses and a stereotypical wizard's hat (complete with moon and stars).

"Ah, it's been awhile!" he says, stretching out and ignoring everypony else for the moment. "What's the year now? ...mmm, seems like about four centuries after I was last activated. Give or take a few decades." He frowns thoughtfully. "I think it was that bozo obsessed with Sea Pony lore. Thought for sure this was where he'd find the location of Atlantis. Idjit." He looks at the group with a gleam in his eye. "Hopefully you'll be smarter than him, hmm?"

Myth stares. And stares. And stares a little more.

[Forum Explorer]

Almost Certainly! But Before We Get Started Perhaps We Should Introduce Ourselves?

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Can Iron Wing recognize him?

History (1d20+12)[16]

[Rater202]

...Hello, I am Adamant Shield. You are presumably a sentient recording of the personality and memories of the Unicorn who constructed this location.

Or you're a ghost, but I doubt that's likely, because then the walls would be bleeding and you would be telling us to "Get...Out!"

So, are you a guardian meant to warn us not to venture forward in search of treasure, do to the terrible danger of traps and monsters that lay beyond this room?

[Crimson Doom]

Almost Certainly! But Before We Get Started Perhaps We Should Introduce Ourselves?

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Can Iron Wing recognize him?

History [roll0]

"Sapphire Secrets, wizard extraordinaire, grandson to Clover the Clever, at your service!" he says, sweeping off his hat in a grandiose manner, thus rendering any History rolls unnecessary. "And you?"

"...that's impossi... nope, didn't say it, doesn't count," Myth mutters to himself.

...Hello, I am Adamant Shield. You are presumably a sentient recording of the personality and memories of the Unicorn who constructed this location.

Or you're a ghost, but I doubt that's likely, because then the walls would be bleeding and you would be telling us to "Get...Out!"

So, are you a guardian meant to warn us not to venture forward in search of treasure, do to the terrible danger of traps and monsters that lay beyond this room?

"What? Oh, goodness no. I'm here to test you and see if you're worthy to claim the gem!" laughs the unicorn. "Clever lad, though, figured me out, first guess. I like that." He pauses. "Dunno what all that nonsense about the ghost was, though."

[Beacon of Chaos]

Elixir follows the others in and marvels at the size of the place.

"Woah... imagine what you could find in here."

When the apparition appears before the group, Elixir barely bats an eyelid.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Secrets. When you say "test", I assume you don't mean a written exam. Is it a riddle? I like riddles. Or maybe some kind of puzzle?"

[Forum Explorer]

I Am Iron Wing! I'm Glad To Take Any Test You Shall Put Forth Sapphire Secrets!

[Rater202]

Test Away!

[Emperor Ing]

In the meantime Steel Wing was flying along the higher shelves in the humongous library, browsing over book covers. One can only speculate how much value the culminated knowledge these books contain. This alone would be enough to make them all rich and famous.

He notices the personality imprint, and turns to face it. Oh hey. I'm Steel Wing. Kind of. Just a quick question before we begin the test, your door has a rune that summons sandwiches. Do you have another rune somewhere that summons chocolate?

[Crimson Doom]

When the apparition appears before the group, Elixir barely bats an eyelid.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Secrets. When you say "test", I assume you don't mean a written exam. Is it a riddle? I like riddles. Or maybe some kind of puzzle?"

Secrets smiles enigmatically. "Let's just say it's a multipart test. We'll start with some trivia. If you can tell me what the proper name for a unicorn's horn is, I'll let you move on to the next room and the next test."

He notices the personality imprint, and turns to face it. Oh hey. I'm Steel Wing. Kind of. Just a quick question before we begin the test, your door has a rune that summons sandwiches. Do you have another rune somewhere that summons chocolate?

The unicorn scratches his head, looking a bit embarrassed. "I'm not too familiar with chocolate. It's a relatively recent invention. Only reason I know what it is is because that last bozo had some in his pockets."