Cloudbreak IC: Glimpse of the sky

[TheAmishPirate]

The world opens up beneath you, and in the wide open expanse it's clear that you are only one small part of it - perhaps not even the main part. Power thrums beneath. Beneath the mountains, the rivers, the grass, and beneath you as well - as the Peregrine lifts you up.

The technology involved in achieving even this is miles beyond your understanding. No offense. I mean, heck, most of the tech in the bunker is ahead of anypony except for maybe Milliway anyway. That's the way its always been. The sun rises, sets, rises, sets, rises, sets again. And everything beneath is untouchable, bathed in the irradiated glow of balefire and necromancy.

Gorgeous.

The Scrapscallion didn't use that word often. He'd tell a mare she's pretty, a Princess she's beautiful, and his bike she's an angel. But gorgeous? That's a special word for special times. And it don't get much more special than the Maelstrom, let me tell you. If asked him to paint a picture of it, he'd stare at you like you'd grown a second head (or third head, as the case may be). It wasn't something you saw. To him, the essence of the Psychic Maelstrom was floating in this impossible vastness, greater than anything you'd ever seen before, and knowing that you were only witnessing a tiny fraction of the whole. That what your eyes were seeing wasn't even real, just your brain's best guess, 'cause it wasn't built to handle something this crazy big. Can you imagine what it would sound like, if it could talk? Or maybe it already has, and we just don't know how to listen?

Like I said, man. Gorgeous.

He came down - reluctantly - from his bike and switched the engine off. Nothing felt wrong, so as far as he was concerned, nothing was wrong. His body, however, was insistently reminding him that something felt wrong with his sides. And back. And flank. And shoulders. And the whole torso region. He was in no shape for a date with a Princess, much less a long ride. With the bike seen to, he waved good-bye to Goops and his team before heading off to the medical wing.

I wonder if I can swing some of the good drugs...

[Balmas]

Right. "Troops, I will escort our wounded to medical. You have fought well; rest assured, I will remember this when it's time for your pay."

So. The assistant heads are kinda locked up. Who's on staff in Medical right now?

[BlasTech]

Oh she's not quitting just because it just got harder, or because somepony is in mortal danger and needs help. Doctors and nurses help ponies in need, she's neither. The screaming hurts her ears and for a moment she considers snarling to them to shut up, but then it occurs to her that the screaming might be due to some danger which she doesn't want to attracts, so, instead she just gets on with doing her level best in trying to clamber back up the ducts in pursuit of the chandelier.

Your best might not be quite enough.

You're barely a minute into your climb, using your metal hoof for leverage, before the walls of the vent start to shake. Icy wind blasts you for a good ten seconds before the place starts to get extremely warm.

And then, as if to make sure you get the hint, a bucket-load of fish comes flying down the duct, smacking you in the face.

[Acting under fire to climb]

He came down - reluctantly - from his bike and switched the engine off. Nothing felt wrong, so as far as he was concerned, nothing was wrong. His body, however, was insistently reminding him that something felt wrong with his sides. And back. And flank. And shoulders. And the whole torso region. He was in no shape for a date with a Princess, much less a long ride. With the bike seen to, he waved good-bye to Goops and his team before heading off to the medical wing.

I wonder if I can swing some of the good drugs...

Right. "Troops, I will escort our wounded to medical. You have fought well; rest assured, I will remember this when it's time for your pay."

So. The assistant heads are kinda locked up. Who's on staff in Medical right now?

Pretty much everypony.

There's Doc Savage, Doc Freepony, Doc Kliener, Tick Doc ... most of the senior "medical" ponies, as well as all of their support staff. The medical bay is, unsurprisingly, packed to the rafters. Equipment, normally used for experiments, has been hastily shoved along one of the walls, and looks like it's leaking something green and corrosive. Apart from some black and yellow caution tape around it, nopony seems to be giving it much attention. Instead, they are focused on the casualties that are being treated from the bomb blast earlier.

Most seem to be in some version of intensive care. Nopony is really available to talk to you.

In the meantime, the diamond dog seems to be picking its teeth with a claw and smiling at the stench of the blood.

[Thanqol]

The library needs new material. I mean, come on, it's been the same catalogue of stuff more or less for how many hundreds of years?

If you want to get back in the library's good books (heh), you're gonna have to find stuff that's new. Stuff that's different. Stuff that's interesting.

You're gonna have to go outside.

Luminark briefly considers the practicality of borrowing some time manipulation spells from the Starswirl wing, maybe see about catapulting himself a hundred years into the future when this all will have blown over. He scratched the idea after a moments contemplation - too many of the ponies he knew were functionally immortal.

Well, he had arms, armour and a friend in Fluffy. He'd gone outside before. Going outside was in fact a large part of his job! He wondered if he could pay somepony else to do it. Well, he was a little broke, but at least he could pay somepony to make him not walk.

Luminark set off in search of... who was it? Garbagehorse? Scrappony? Some sort of garbage themed driver pony, he'd know him when he smelt him.

[Elanorin]

Your best might not be quite enough.

You're barely a minute into your climb, using your metal hoof for leverage, before the walls of the vent start to shake. Icy wind blasts you for a good ten seconds before the place starts to get extremely warm.

And then, as if to make sure you get the hint, a bucket-load of fish comes flying down the duct, smacking you in the face.

[Acting under fire to climb]

Fish?! The hell did that come from?!

Milliway tried her very best to make headway, or at least hold on, but being attacked by fish while trying to climb uphill in an air duct was not something she was very experienced with.

[Rolling AUF: 3+2+1=6]

[TheAmishPirate]

Pretty much everypony.

There's Doc Savage, Doc Freepony, Doc Kliener, Tick Doc ... most of the senior "medical" ponies, as well as all of their support staff. The medical bay is, unsurprisingly, packed to the rafters. Equipment, normally used for experiments, has been hastily shoved along one of the walls, and looks like it's leaking something green and corrosive. Apart from some black and yellow caution tape around it, nopony seems to be giving it much attention. Instead, they are focused on the casualties that are being treated from the bomb blast earlier.

Most seem to be in some version of intensive care. Nopony is really available to talk to you.

In the meantime, the diamond dog seems to be picking its teeth with a claw and smiling at the stench of the blood.

Well hey! The Scrapscallion was a bomb casualty too! And an important one at that! He wasn't going to tire of reminding ponies that the Princess herself asked him to make a run, and he needed to be in tip-top shape to make it happen. However, he knew they were busy too. And crowded. He really didn't need to take up a bed when there were other ponies needing it more. So, out of the goodness of his heart, he'd decline any sort of additional care. If they could just patch him up - and give him some drugs for his troubled troubles - he'd find a quiet spot to rest and recover.

All this he told the first doctor he could successfully flag down.

[Would this be a Manipulate, provided he can flag down a doctor? He wants treatment and painkillers, and in return they won't have to look after him/he won't take up space.]

Luminark briefly considers the practicality of borrowing some time manipulation spells from the Starswirl wing, maybe see about catapulting himself a hundred years into the future when this all will have blown over. He scratched the idea after a moments contemplation - too many of the ponies he knew were functionally immortal.

Well, he had arms, armour and a friend in Fluffy. He'd gone outside before. Going outside was in fact a large part of his job! He wondered if he could pay somepony else to do it. Well, he was a little broke, but at least he could pay somepony to make him not walk.

Luminark set off in search of... who was it? Garbagehorse? Scrappony? Some sort of garbage themed driver pony, he'd know him when he smelt him.

Luminark would find The Scrapscallion in the medical wing. The Scrapscallion would be either chatting with doctors, or trying to flag one down. And despite what popular opinion might suggest, he couldn't smell The Scrapscallion over the sterile smell of the medical wing.

In fact, did something seem a little different about the earth pony today? He looked...less like a pile of garbage. Less coated in unmentionable horrors. Apart from the bruises and unsightly swelling about his middle, there wasn't so much as a speck of dust on him. Nor a waft of decay. And did his mane actually shimmer in the artificial light? Could it be - had he taken...a bath?

"Eyyyyyyyyy, Luminark! Just the pony I wanted to see." He waved Luminark over with a knowing grin and waggling brows. "Or is it going to be Prince Luminark soon? You dog, I didn't think you had it in you." He punched the unicorn on the shoulder affectionately.

[Thanqol]

Luminark would find The Scrapscallion in the medical wing. The Scrapscallion would be either chatting with doctors, or trying to flag one down. And despite what popular opinion might suggest, he couldn't smell The Scrapscallion over the sterile smell of the medical wing.

In fact, did something seem a little different about the earth pony today? He looked...less like a pile of garbage. Less coated in unmentionable horrors. Apart from the bruises and unsightly swelling about his middle, there wasn't so much as a speck of dust on him. Nor a waft of decay. And did his mane actually shimmer in the artificial light? Could it be - had he taken...a bath?

"Eyyyyyyyyy, Luminark! Just the pony I wanted to see." He waved Luminark over with a knowing grin and waggling brows. "Or is it going to be Prince Luminark soon? You dog, I didn't think you had it in you." He punched the unicorn on the shoulder affectionately.

Luminark suppressed an 'ow', produced a handkerchief and rubbed idly at the spot where the earth pony had touched him.

He didn't trust this alleged cleanliness. It was probably some avante guarde form of filthiness he hadn't figured out yet.

"I need to make a salvage trip, immediately," said Luminark. He wasn't sure what this 'prince' business was but it sounded ominous and engaging in it might get him more punches.

[Balmas]

Pretty much everypony.

There's Doc Savage, Doc Freepony, Doc Kliener, Tick Doc ... most of the senior "medical" ponies, as well as all of their support staff. The medical bay is, unsurprisingly, packed to the rafters. Equipment, normally used for experiments, has been hastily shoved along one of the walls, and looks like it's leaking something green and corrosive. Apart from some black and yellow caution tape around it, nopony seems to be giving it much attention. Instead, they are focused on the casualties that are being treated from the bomb blast earlier.

Most seem to be in some version of intensive care. Nopony is really available to talk to you.

In the meantime, the diamond dog seems to be picking its teeth with a claw and smiling at the stench of the blood.

There are very few time when I am not instantly the center of attention in any room I enter. You'd think that being three times as large as anypony else and carrying a dog who's even larger would attract at least some attention.

"Let me assure you," I address the Diamond Dog. "If you even think of harming anyone here, I will take you apart, atom by atom, in a way that will make you wish you'd just been shot downstairs."

"Eyyyyyyyyy, Luminark! Just the pony I wanted to see." He waved Luminark over with a knowing grin and waggling brows. "Or is it going to be Prince Luminark soon? You dog, I didn't think you had it in you." He punched the unicorn on the shoulder affectionately.

"Excellent work, Scrapscallion. Good to see you can follow some directions, at least. Luminark, Doc Savage, a word?" I angle my horn to indicate the massive lump of fur hanging in my telekinesis. "I need either a sedative spell or enough Med-X to render an eight hundred pound patient unconscious."

[Thanqol]

"Excellent work, Scrapscallion. Good to see you can follow some directions, at least. Luminark, Doc Savage, a word?" I angle my horn to indicate the massive lump of fur hanging in my telekinesis. "I need either a sedative spell or enough Med-X to render an eight hundred pound patient unconscious."

"I - uh -" Luminark's brain briefly crashes when he realizes he's in the Administrator's presence. He recovers quickly, though. "I can create a state of sufficiently heightened terror to induce catatonia. Recovery of the subject's sanity will be your concern, however."

[TheAmishPirate]

Luminark suppressed an 'ow', produced a handkerchief and rubbed idly at the spot where the earth pony had touched him.

He didn't trust this alleged cleanliness. It was probably some avante guarde form of filthiness he hadn't figured out yet.

"I need to make a salvage trip, immediately," said Luminark. He wasn't sure what this 'prince' business was but it sounded ominous and engaging in it might get him more punches.

"Ooooh, gonna have to slow down there, buddy." The Scrapscallion patted him reassuringly on the back, totally and most assuredly unaware of the unicorn's discomfort. "Her High Equalityness needs me to go check and see what's what with the storm generators. Unless it's someplace along the way, that's gonna be a no-can-do. I'll getcha next run, k?"

"Excellent work, Scrapscallion. Good to see you can follow some directions, at least. Luminark, Doc Savage, a word?" I angle my horn to indicate the massive lump of fur hanging in my telekinesis. "I need either a sedative spell or enough Med-X to render an eight hundred pound patient unconscious."

"I - uh -" Luminark's brain briefly crashes when he realizes he's in the Administrator's presence. He recovers quickly, though. "I can create a state of sufficiently heightened terror to induce catatonia. Recovery of the subject's sanity will be your concern, however."

The Scrapscallion flashed the Princess an easy smile. Dang, did adoration from royalty ever get old?

Then, in a whisper that only Luminark could hear, he added, "She totally digs you, man."

[BlasTech]

Well hey! The Scrapscallion was a bomb casualty too! And an important one at that! He wasn't going to tire of reminding ponies that the Princess herself asked him to make a run, and he needed to be in tip-top shape to make it happen. However, he knew they were busy too. And crowded. He really didn't need to take up a bed when there were other ponies needing it more. So, out of the goodness of his heart, he'd decline any sort of additional care. If they could just patch him up - and give him some drugs for his troubled troubles - he'd find a quiet spot to rest and recover.

All this he told the first doctor he could successfully flag down.

[Would this be a Manipulate, provided he can flag down a doctor? He wants treatment and painkillers, and in return they won't have to look after him/he won't take up space.]

Hey, the Administrator is, like, right there. These doctors aren't gonna do anything without her say so when she's around. In fact, you'll probably get shoved aside if you get in the way, what with them all trying to look extra busy.

There are very few time when I am not instantly the center of attention in any room I enter. You'd think that being three times as large as anypony else and carrying a dog who's even larger would attract at least some attention.

"Let me assure you," I address the Diamond Dog. "If you even think of harming anyone here, I will take you apart, atom by atom, in a way that will make you wish you'd just been shot downstairs."

"Excellent work, Scrapscallion. Good to see you can follow some directions, at least. Luminark, Doc Savage, a word?" I angle my horn to indicate the massive lump of fur hanging in my telekinesis. "I need either a sedative spell or enough Med-X to render an eight hundred pound patient unconscious."

The dog just grins back at you, its pointed teeth glistening in the lighting of the medibay.

Doc Savage turns, eyes going wide at your presence. Then nearly popping out of his head as he finally notices the creature you're carrying around as if it was one of hell's piñatas.

"Uh - Ah - um!!" is all he can say for a few seconds.

"That is ... ahem ... well. If-If you wish it ma'am, w-w-we can sedate a um ... that thing. Except ... it's, well, we're using that med-x for our patients right now. We don't have the supplies to knock out a beast of that size as well."

Nearby, one of the nurses gasps as she too, becomes aware of the large, grey, pointy-death-distraction that you're carting around. It's a testament to how busy they are that more ponies haven't noticed yet. But the longer you stick around, the more likely you're going to distract a pony doing something critical; like surgery..

[TheAmishPirate]

Hey, the Administrator is, like, right there. These doctors aren't gonna do anything without her say so when she's around. In fact, you'll probably get shoved aside if you get in the way, what with them all trying to look extra busy.

Eh, that's not so bad. The Princess will no doubt see that her hero gets the treatment he needs to do his job. The Scrapscallion is all too happy to let her take the reins.

[BlasTech]

Fish?! The hell did that come from?!

Milliway tried her very best to make headway, or at least hold on, but being attacked by fish while trying to climb uphill in an air duct was not something she was very experienced with.

[Rolling AUF: 3+2+1=6]

The fish are the least of your problems.

The water that they live in is following up.

It smashes into you, sweeping you away. Vent coverings slam shut as you approach, propelling you towards who knows where.

If only you had a friend to bail you out.

You do have friends, don't you?

[Elanorin]

The fish are the least of your problems.

The water that they live in is following up.

It smashes into you, sweeping you away. Vent coverings slam shut as you approach, propelling you towards who knows where.

If only you had a friend to bail you out.

You do have friends, don't you?

Friends? *snort* Augh! *cough, splutter, gasp*

Is there some damn river or something outside?! Since when?!

Friends are for prissy little unicorns who have to have their sycophantic entourage wherever they go to make sure they don't collapse in a heap of depression and die of a, *dramatic gasp* broken broken heart.

Celestia, above, friends. Seriously? As if I'd ever make that f*cking mistake again. Look, if you're looking for friendship, go to Luminark, or our mighty Administrator, she's big on friendship. Or so she says. Doubt she actually has any, she's too smart for that. As much as I can't stand her I do, reluctantly, concede I owe her for curing me of my friendships. I'd be quite happy if I never see Target Practice ever again. Or Trees, for that matter. I'm much better off on my own, free of distractions, and safe from trust. If I want somepony to talk to I have Tinker Belle, my ongoing construct project, not that she can talk back yet, but sometimes that's just as well. Oh and then there's Doc, Doctrine of Hype, he's good for a drink and random rants, he understands the value of silence not to feel compelled to fill it with babble constantly too.

That's plenty.

[Balmas]

The dog just grins back at you, its pointed teeth glistening in the lighting of the medibay.

Doc Savage turns, eyes going wide at your presence. Then nearly popping out of his head as he finally notices the creature you're carrying around as if it was one of hell's piñatas.

"Uh - Ah - um!!" is all he can say for a few seconds.

"That is ... ahem ... well. If-If you wish it ma'am, w-w-we can sedate a um ... that thing. Except ... it's, well, we're using that med-x for our patients right now. We don't have the supplies to knock out a beast of that size as well."

Nearby, one of the nurses gasps as she too, becomes aware of the large, grey, pointy-death-distraction that you're carting around. It's a testament to how busy they are that more ponies haven't noticed yet. But the longer you stick around, the more likely you're going to distract a pony doing something critical; like surgery..

Eh, that's not so bad. The Princess will no doubt see that her hero gets the treatment he needs to do his job. The Scrapscallion is all too happy to let her take the reins.

"I - uh -" Luminark's brain briefly crashes when he realizes he's in the Administrator's presence. He recovers quickly, though. "I can create a state of sufficiently heightened terror to induce catatonia. Recovery of the subject's sanity will be your concern, however."

"Right." Starlight sighs. "My subjects take priority; you take as much supplies as you need. Just make sure that my little ponies get healed properly. Standard triage rules--sort into those who'll live, those who won't, and those who will live only if they get immediate care, and treat the third and second group first. Luminark, I'd appreciate having that spell on standby."

Scrapscallion, you're at 3-harm right now, correct? I'm sure that you could schmooze one of the doctors into getting that down to 2-harm. Once you're at the point that you can recover on your own, the doctors will probably move on to someone else who needs their help.

Either way, Starlight is hauling tail out of medical. It'd be nice to have a checkup herself, to remove some shrapnel, but she really does mean what she said about her little ponies; if it comes down to her health or theirs, they need it more.

Somewhere open. Somewhere that she can hold her deathclaw away from the walls. She thinks, her horn starting to ache, and trots towards the hangers. Once she arrives, she floats her deathclaw up away from the group, and begins to slowly choke the life out of it. It's a stopgap measure, but in the absence of drugs or actual stuff like that, unconsciousness via asphyxiation is a good second.

How long until the deathclaw notices? How does he react?

[Thanqol]

The Scrapscallion flashed the Princess an easy smile. Dang, did adoration from royalty ever get old?

Then, in a whisper that only Luminark could hear, he added, "She totally digs you, man."

"Right." Starlight sighs. "My subjects take priority; you take as much supplies as you need. Just make sure that my little ponies get healed properly. Standard triage rules--sort into those who'll live, those who won't, and those who will live only if they get immediate care, and treat the third and second group first. Luminark, I'd appreciate having that spell on standby."
...

Either way, Starlight is hauling tail out of medical.

"Well - " before Luminark can go into a long winded reply the Administrator just swans on past, leaving him hanging while a disgusting commoner breathes distracting nonsense in his ear.

He awkwardly tries to figure out the situation for a few seconds before deciding it was best to pretend it never happened and move on with his life.

"So, as I was saying, you will transport me into the wilderness immediately," Luminark says to garbagehorse.

[BlasTech]

Friends? *snort* Augh! *cough, splutter, gasp*

Is there some damn river or something outside?! Since when?!

Friends are for prissy little unicorns who have to have their sycophantic entourage wherever they go to make sure they don't collapse in a heap of depression and die of a, *dramatic gasp* broken broken heart.

Celestia, above, friends. Seriously? As if I'd ever make that f*cking mistake again. Look, if you're looking for friendship, go to Luminark, or our mighty Administrator, she's big on friendship. Or so she says. Doubt she actually has any, she's too smart for that. As much as I can't stand her I do, reluctantly, concede I owe her for curing me of my friendships. I'd be quite happy if I never see Target Practice ever again. Or Trees, for that matter. I'm much better off on my own, free of distractions, and safe from trust. If I want somepony to talk to I have Tinker Belle, my ongoing construct project, not that she can talk back yet, but sometimes that's just as well. Oh and then there's Doc, Doctrine of Hype, he's good for a drink and random rants, he understands the value of silence not to feel compelled to fill it with babble constantly too.

That's plenty.

Trees at least, isn't going to be one of your problems.

Well, given that there's nopony who would be there to help you, then alone is where you find yourself. The vents expel you with almost gleeful force. There's a brief sensation of falling (as well as fetid air) before you land, face first, in what can only be described as "stinky garbage water"

And garbage is the correct term. As your eyes adjust, you notice walls of junk and trash around you - the detritus of living underground. There's even a dead body, floating in the water. The twisted metal and solid steel walls mark this as one of the Bunker's trash compactors. Fortunately, you should be able to get yourself out through the access hatch without any trouble. So long as nopony activates the compaction cycle.

*Ka - chunk - THUNK*

Huh. Well, you've still got about 30 seconds before you're turned into a pancake. What do you do?

Somewhere open. Somewhere that she can hold her deathclaw away from the walls. She thinks, her horn starting to ache, and trots towards the hangers. Once she arrives, she floats her deathclaw up away from the group, and begins to slowly choke the life out of it. It's a stopgap measure, but in the absence of drugs or actual stuff like that, unconsciousness via asphyxiation is a good second.

How long until the deathclaw notices? How does he react?

Not long. It's hard to choke out a creature, even with magic as powerful as yours, but it's even harder not to notice as it starts to happen.

To its credit, the diamond dog doesn't even struggle. At least, not after an initial moment of confusion. It just smirks at you, those deadly pointed teeth glistening.

Is this something you do often? Choking ponies into unconsciousness? How do you ensure that you don't accidentally kill them?

[Elanorin]

Trees at least, isn't going to be one of your problems.

Well, given that there's nopony who would be there to help you, then alone is where you find yourself. The vents expel you with almost gleeful force. There's a brief sensation of falling (as well as fetid air) before you land, face first, in what can only be described as "stinky garbage water"

And garbage is the correct term. As your eyes adjust, you notice walls of junk and trash around you - the detritus of living underground. There's even a dead body, floating in the water. The twisted metal and solid steel walls mark this as one of the Bunker's trash compactors. Fortunately, you should be able to get yourself out through the access hatch without any trouble. So long as nopony activates the compaction cycle.

*Ka - chunk - THUNK*

Huh. Well, you've still got about 30 seconds before you're turned into a pancake. What do you do?

Milliway lifted her head out of soppy garbage and spat whatever unholy bit of revolting sludge had forced itself in to her mouth and throat upon impact. A trash compactor. She felt sick at the taste and smell that was overwhelming her senses.

Her eyes lingered across the sludgy wet mess on the dead body for a second or two, until the loud noise announced the one thing that had been missing from this day.

Of course it did.

She cursed and swam/crawled through the garbage towards the body to nab it and grab it with her as she made for the access hatch. This pony might be dead, but that didn't mean it wasn't useful. Tell me, does she recognise it? Anypony she knows?

To its credit, the diamond dog doesn't even struggle. At least, not after an initial moment of confusion. It just smirks at you, those deadly pointed teeth glistening.

Is this something you do often? Choking ponies into unconsciousness? How do you ensure that you don't accidentally kill them?

Judging by the meat-bag I'm dragging with my teeth, I'm thinking it's a method still in the trial and error phase. Or are you saying this is not your hoofiwork, Administrator?

[TheAmishPirate]

Friends? *snort* Augh! *cough, splutter, gasp*

Is there some damn river or something outside?! Since when?!

Friends are for prissy little unicorns who have to have their sycophantic entourage wherever they go to make sure they don't collapse in a heap of depression and die of a, *dramatic gasp* broken broken heart.

Celestia, above, friends. Seriously? As if I'd ever make that f*cking mistake again. Look, if you're looking for friendship, go to Luminark, or our mighty Administrator, she's big on friendship. Or so she says. Doubt she actually has any, she's too smart for that. As much as I can't stand her I do, reluctantly, concede I owe her for curing me of my friendships. I'd be quite happy if I never see Target Practice ever again. Or Trees, for that matter. I'm much better off on my own, free of distractions, and safe from trust. If I want somepony to talk to I have Tinker Belle, my ongoing construct project, not that she can talk back yet, but sometimes that's just as well. Oh and then there's Doc, Doctrine of Hype, he's good for a drink and random rants, he understands the value of silence not to feel compelled to fill it with babble constantly too.

That's plenty.

See, y'know, sometimes? I swing by your workshop between runs. Try to, anyway. Check up on you, see what you're working on, maybe try and...watch the magic happen. Not magic though, it's science, because you're...you work with science, and it's like magic. Because that's how well you do it. The science.

I, ah, guess this means you don't appreciate those visits?

Scrapscallion, you're at 3-harm right now, correct? I'm sure that you could schmooze one of the doctors into getting that down to 2-harm. Once you're at the point that you can recover on your own, the doctors will probably move on to someone else who needs their help.

The Scrapscallion would very much like to schmooze a segment of Harm away. Now that the Princess has left, who's the first doctor he can flag down?

"Well - " before Luminark can go into a long winded reply the Administrator just swans on past, leaving him hanging while a disgusting commoner breathes distracting nonsense in his ear.

He awkwardly tries to figure out the situation for a few seconds before deciding it was best to pretend it never happened and move on with his life.

"So, as I was saying, you will transport me into the wilderness immediately," Luminark says to garbagehorse.

"So, as I was saying, no-can-do, Narky," The Scrapscallion explained to the high-strung nerd. "Unless the Princess gives the go-ahead, she's got this next run. Why don't you talk it over with her? Maybe over a nice, candlelit dinner, just the two of you? Eh? Eh?" He elbowed Luminark and winked. "I have it on the best of sources that she's just waiting for you to ask her out, dude. You sweep her off her hooves, and maybe she gets you your little ride in the country."

His face grew serious, and he raised an eyebrow. "You can ask a Princess out, right?"

[Elanorin]

See, y'know, sometimes? I swing by your workshop between runs. Try to, anyway. Check up on you, see what you're working on, maybe try and...watch the magic happen. Not magic though, it's science, because you're...you work with science, and it's like magic. Because that's how well you do it. The science.

I, ah, guess this means you don't appreciate those visits?

Hm? Sorry, have we- oh! Scrapstallion! My number one fan- I mean- friend! Totally remember you. Love your visits.

Yes, we're... friends.

Got that 5-gear shift-combine I mentioned?

[Thanqol]

"So, as I was saying, no-can-do, Narky," The Scrapscallion explained to the high-strung nerd. "Unless the Princess gives the go-ahead, she's got this next run. Why don't you talk it over with her? Maybe over a nice, candlelit dinner, just the two of you? Eh? Eh?" He elbowed Luminark and winked. "I have it on the best of sources that she's just waiting for you to ask her out, dude. You sweep her off her hooves, and maybe she gets you your little ride in the country."

His face grew serious, and he raised an eyebrow. "You can ask a Princess out, right?"

"See, this is what separates the unicorns from the ani - other kinds of ponies," said Luminark expansively. "You see a big pony with a big hat and an atypical number of limbs and you go all starry eyed and start calling her a Princess and thinking she's the bee's knees. But I favour ponies with powerful intellects, ponies who can build and create, ponies who can overcome the limitations of their own bodies to -" Luminark abruptly stopped and changed courses. "Look, this is important, do it and I'll give you money."

Manipulate: 2

[Balmas]

Not long. It's hard to choke out a creature, even with magic as powerful as yours, but it's even harder not to notice as it starts to happen.

To its credit, the diamond dog doesn't even struggle. At least, not after an initial moment of confusion. It just smirks at you, those deadly pointed teeth glistening.

Is this something you do often? Choking ponies into unconsciousness? How do you ensure that you don't accidentally kill them?

I'll be honest. There've been times when I've been frustrated with my little ponies, and it's crossed my mind that they'd be much improved by having their eyeballs squeezed out of their heads. But I've not actually done it very often--once or twice, nearly a century ago, when a few ponies somehow got it into their head that I was anything but their friend. They called me a tyrant, can you believe that?

As for how to stop, it mostly comes down to the feel you get from your magic. You're sitting there, exerting pressure, and feeling that blood pulsing in your grip. If, at any time, the pulsing stops, you've probably gone too far.

Speaking of, can I tell whether this is working at all? Really, I'm kinda wondering whether you even can choke a hellhound, what with all that muscle around their upper body. Any limpness, faintness of breath, anything?

[BlasTech]

Milliway lifted her head out of soppy garbage and spat whatever unholy bit of revolting sludge had forced itself in to her mouth and throat upon impact. A trash compactor. She felt sick at the taste and smell that was overwhelming her senses.

Her eyes lingered across the sludgy wet mess on the dead body for a second or two, until the loud noise announced the one thing that had been missing from this day.

Of course it did.

She cursed and swam/crawled through the garbage towards the body to nab it and grab it with her as she made for the access hatch. This pony might be dead, but that didn't mean it wasn't useful. Tell me, does she recognise it? Anypony she knows?

Yeah, it's Power Overwhelming. Department head of the electrical engineering division. From the looks of it, she hasn't been down here long, but somepony has cut her throat pretty thoroughly.

The control panel on the door buzzes red as you hit the open button. Somepony's locked it.

And the walls are closing in.

What do you do?

"See, this is what separates the unicorns from the ani - other kinds of ponies," said Luminark expansively. "You see a big pony with a big hat and an atypical number of limbs and you go all starry eyed and start calling her a Princess and thinking she's the bee's knees. But I favour ponies with powerful intellects, ponies who can build and create, ponies who can overcome the limitations of their own bodies to -" Luminark abruptly stopped and changed courses. "Look, this is important, do it and I'll give you money."

Manipulate: 2

Oh, remember those experiments that had been shoved to one side? The ones that somepony had simply taped off and left whilst the triage was going on?

Well, something in the pile of junk goes *pffszsshzzt* and suddenly it's belching out a dark green smoke that smells of battery acid. The ponies nearest it start coughing, eyes watering and stumbling about in the push to get away.

What do you do?

I'll be honest. There've been times when I've been frustrated with my little ponies, and it's crossed my mind that they'd be much improved by having their eyeballs squeezed out of their heads. But I've not actually done it very often--once or twice, nearly a century ago, when a few ponies somehow got it into their head that I was anything but their friend. They called me a tyrant, can you believe that?

As for how to stop, it mostly comes down to the feel you get from your magic. You're sitting there, exerting pressure, and feeling that blood pulsing in your grip. If, at any time, the pulsing stops, you've probably gone too far.

Speaking of, can I tell whether this is working at all? Really, I'm kinda wondering whether you even can choke a hellhound, what with all that muscle around their upper body. Any limpness, faintness of breath, anything?

The technical details are blah blah blah boring.

He's in your magic, you're choking him and you're trying to do it without killing him.

[Roll + Hard] to choke him out. (Going to just co-opt the "attack someone" move, since I can't think of anything more apropos)

[Thanqol]

Oh, remember those experiments that had been shoved to one side? The ones that somepony had simply taped off and left whilst the triage was going on?

Well, something in the pile of junk goes *pffszsshzzt* and suddenly it's belching out a dark green smoke that smells of battery acid. The ponies nearest it start coughing, eyes watering and stumbling about in the push to get away.

What do you do?

Unguarded experiments you say? Experiments somepony might have reason to swiftly remove from the vicinity, you say? Experiments of a biological, necromantic or generally creepy origin you say?

Acquisitive Eye: 12
- What is this truly worth?
- Will my hoard accept it?
- Who will try to take it from me once it's mine?

[Elanorin]

Yeah, it's Power Overwhelming. Department head of the electrical engineering division. From the looks of it, she hasn't been down here long, but somepony has cut her throat pretty thoroughly.

The control panel on the door buzzes red as you hit the open button. Somepony's locked it.

And the walls are closing in.

What do you do?

Locked? Oh yeah, Luminark? You think that's gonna stop me!? Don't think I don't know it's you.

It's just a simple matter of yanking the control panel open, shorting the tracking lead in the garbage water, snapping the failsafe, circumventing the trigger board and reversing the polarity aaaaaand...

[Rolling Things Speak on the garbage access control panel: 1+4+2=7 Who handled this last before me?
Should I do an AUF roll for breaking out?]

[Balmas]

Whoops, forgot to roll.

(2d6+2)[7]

[BlasTech]

Unguarded experiments you say? Experiments somepony might have reason to swiftly remove from the vicinity, you say? Experiments of a biological, necromantic or generally creepy origin you say?

Acquisitive Eye: 12
- What is this truly worth?
- Will my hoard accept it?
- Who will try to take it from me once it's mine?

That indeed. They're pretty valuable - say about 2 barter if you were to sell them to the right ponies. Maybe more. There's cybernetics, potions, implants and all sorts of medical-related science junk in there that are probably important to somepony. The real value, however, lies in some of the tech itself.

Your hoard, however, hungers for outside tech - this stuff is all home-grown; bits and pieces of work that the various science heads have cobbled together over the last month or two. While your hoard will allow you to store it there, it won't "accept" it as part of itself at this point.

Who will try to take it back. Well, the list starts with Doc Savage. Some of the juiciest bits belong to him and his work on storing memory and understanding the pony mind. He's also smart enough to track down anypony who uses the confusion to steal something. The list also includes Big Boss (who would want the goods to fuel the Bunker's nascient black market) and Target Practice (who, as the chief of security, would be told to hunt down the thief).

The bit about the real value? Well, Doc Savage's experiments also include storing some of his own memories. Memories that could be retrieved and read, if you enlist the help of the right pony. Who knows what might be in there if he's been sloppy enough. Passwords? Blackmail material? Hidden experiments? The real value is having a pony's secrets available to you - that's power.

Locked? Oh yeah, Luminark? You think that's gonna stop me!? Don't think I don't know it's you.

It's just a simple matter of yanking the control panel open, shorting the tracking lead in the garbage water, snapping the failsafe, circumventing the trigger board and reversing the polarity aaaaaand...

[Rolling Things Speak on the garbage access control panel: 1+4+2=7 Who handled this last before me?
Should I do an AUF roll for breaking out?]

The wiring inside has been tampered with, but not expertly. You can read the hoof-work for the intelligent, but un-practiced sabotage that it was. Everything is strangely ordered though, the wires tied up to one side, and the casings stripped just so. It's almost as if the pony who did it knew the proper methods of damaging the door, but had never really had to get her hooves dirty before.

You're sure of it. Proper Process, the divisional secretary, was the pony who last tampered with the door panel.

In the meantime, the walls continue to close in.

[Yup, AUF to open the door]

Whoops, forgot to roll.

[roll0]

It turns out, it's harder than you thought to choke out the diamond dog. Thick throat muscles bulge, fighting back against your telekinetic grip. You're not quite getting through, and if you keep at it for too long, your magic will eventually tire out.

The plus side is that the dog is still in your magical hold, despite his resistance.

What do you do now?

[Balmas]

It turns out, it's harder than you thought to choke out the diamond dog. Thick throat muscles bulge, fighting back against your telekinetic grip. You're not quite getting through, and if you keep at it for too long, your magic will eventually tire out.

The plus side is that the dog is still in your magical hold, despite his resistance.

What do you do now?

Ugh. "You know, I really do try to be nice." My head sags a bit, and I bite back a sigh. "I give you a second chance, a place in my organization, even after you've murdered several of my own. And now, now that I'm trying to make it possible to treat you, you continue to fight. Don't you realize--doesn't anyone realize that I'm their friend? All I want is to make sure that everyone can live together, to make my perfect world a reality. And still, you fight."

The light around my horn means he probably won't notice the shift in the magical frequencies, or the charging spell. He might feel the weakening magic around his neck, though, so I lift him even higher in the air; I'll need a bit of leeway for what comes next. The first sharp zing of ozone starts to fill the air.

"And so, for now--not forever mind, just until I have more time to deal with you--I'm going to have to ask you to die."

And with that, the air turns white with my lightning.

[Seize by force, 6,2, +2. [10]. Inflict terrible harm, take definite hold. If it's possible to inflict terrible harm twice, I'll do that, otherwise go for Take Little Harm. Point is, I'm doing everything in my power to kill this guy right here, right now.]

[TheAmishPirate]

Oh, remember those experiments that had been shoved to one side? The ones that somepony had simply taped off and left whilst the triage was going on?

Well, something in the pile of junk goes *pffszsshzzt* and suddenly it's belching out a dark green smoke that smells of battery acid. The ponies nearest it start coughing, eyes watering and stumbling about in the push to get away.

What do you do?

Well while some nerds stood around and used their brains, there were ponies in trouble. Ponies in danger. Ponies in need of a hero.

A hero like...The Scrapscallion.

Donning his goggles, the ruggedly handsome Scrapscallion jacked a nearby stretcher and kicked it - literally - up to speed. "Gangway!" He shouted as he charged headlong into the acid cloud, the foul mist parting around him like magic.

His plan was, as plans go, pretty simple. Scoop up ponies onto his stretcher until it couldn't hold any more, buck it away to safety, pick up a straggler himself - bonus points if she's cute - powerslide away, deliver one-liner, revel in sweet victory. Piece of cake.

[Rolling to Act Under Acid Fire: 3 + 5 + 2 = 10]

[Thanqol]

That indeed. They're pretty valuable - say about 2 barter if you were to sell them to the right ponies. Maybe more. There's cybernetics, potions, implants and all sorts of medical-related science junk in there that are probably important to somepony. The real value, however, lies in some of the tech itself.

Your hoard, however, hungers for outside tech - this stuff is all home-grown; bits and pieces of work that the various science heads have cobbled together over the last month or two. While your hoard will allow you to store it there, it won't "accept" it as part of itself at this point.

Who will try to take it back. Well, the list starts with Doc Savage. Some of the juiciest bits belong to him and his work on storing memory and understanding the pony mind. He's also smart enough to track down anypony who uses the confusion to steal something. The list also includes Big Boss (who would want the goods to fuel the Bunker's nascient black market) and Target Practice (who, as the chief of security, would be told to hunt down the thief).

The bit about the real value? Well, Doc Savage's experiments also include storing some of his own memories. Memories that could be retrieved and read, if you enlist the help of the right pony. Who knows what might be in there if he's been sloppy enough. Passwords? Blackmail material? Hidden experiments? The real value is having a pony's secrets available to you - that's power.

Good enough. Luminark's gonna steals it! And the good thing about books is that you can steal the stuff inside without stealing the book itself. Luminark takes a deep breath, proceeds through the fog, grabs an extension cable on the machine and plugs it into his forehead gem with the intention of downloading all its knowledge into himself. It's the same vector ghosts get in to possess him through so it should be fine. Perfectly safe.

Open your brain: 3 woop woop woop. Though that does give me enough XP for an advance and therefore Weird+3