I am so so sorry that I haven't been able to keep up with this.
I know I said I would get back to it, and Nick has asked me that if we do I just bot his character for now with everything he's dealing with as well.
I just really want to know how you guys feel about it. If you want to keep going, then I'll make a real effort to get something up by next weekend at the latest. It's just been hard to keep track of everything with all the medicines, holiday stuff, house stuff, moving stuff, dealing with people not being where they need to be at work to help out where they're needed.
It's just been a crap storm of stuff and I am so so sorry.
Do you feel the same way bubba? I'm sorry I waited so long for Nick to say something, I was just trying to give him time to deal with his grief. Like I said, I could play his character....I'd like to try tuo at least get through this book, and then if you guys really don't ever want to play again, we don't have to.
Well, I don't want to just give up the game in the middle of it. I could run his character until he's ready to come back, if you and bubba are still okay with playing, or have you completely lost interest? I was just trying to give him a chance to deal with whatever hed needed to deal with.
I'm so sorry Nick. I wish there was something I could say to make it better....but, all I can really say is to just give yourself time. Time to deal with the loss, and time to deal with your feelings...whatever they might be. You can't always put a label on what you're feeling and that's okay. Just allow yourself to feel and know that we're here for you. You are not alone, and everyone grieves in their own way. The only thing I can really say is, as stupid as it may sound, is that in time, it will slowly start to get a little better. There really is no time limit to grief, and things are still going to hit you sometimes....but....over time you will be able to deal with it a little better than before. I wish I could make it better, I really do...but only time can do that, and the knowledge that there are people who care about you and will be there for you if you need them.
Oh Nick, it's okay. The holidays are coming and I know how deeply loss is felt around this time of year. This will be our first holiday season without Ella and I'm missing her horribly. I know that a dog is a far cry from a parent and family....but she was our baby for 15 years and it's hard to imagine having Thanksgiving and Christmas without her. You NEVER have to apologize for your feelings. Not with us, not EVER. If you ever feel like you need some time away or something, you just let us know okay? We'll wait for you. We love you and we care about you and your feelings are more important to us than a game. Okay? Just know we're here for you if you ever need to talk about anything or whatever you need.
Looking around through the things the Mane Six left behind, Verdant manages to find some matches and tinder to light the fire with.
Just roll me a mind check to get the fire started, you can be assisted by the others if you like, but I don't think it should be very difficult.
I mean, we can still keep going. I just wanted to make sure that you guys knew it might be another week or two before I can really get back into it again. I need to stop having headaches and stuff, and I need to be able to heal a bit more before I can sit at my desk a whole lot.
No, Lilac was thed only one who rolled high enough to find anything. She told everyone what she found though, so if you want to look in the Lilac spoiler you can see what she found. However, if there is something particular you would like to "find", like some piece of equipment or someyhing, and you use a token of friendship and can gived me a good reason why that particular item might be in there camp, then you can roll again. ;o)
While everyone else seems to be distracted by either allergies, hunger, or just plain tiredness, Lilac manages to also find some strands of navy blue hair that don't match twilight sparkles, or anyone else of the Mane Six. As far as you can tell from how old the bangle is, and the strange markings on it, you can only assume that it has some kind of magical properties to it, but without intense study of the object, or finding out who it actually belonged to, there would be no real way of knowing what it does. You do know for a fact though that none of the Mane Six owned anything like it. So, whoever it belonged to...must have left it behind by mistake after abducting the others.
@Lilac, go ahead and roll again for that mind test and see what you get. It will probably depend on what kind of score you get. They weren't real specific with the details of that bangle where I'm at in the book. There are specific things about it that I don't think you're supposed to find out about until later, but we'll see what you get first. Is that okay?
Looking around, Lilac notices that everything in the campsite looks like it had just been dropped and left suddenly. There are three tents set up in a semi-circle against the outcrop, and a small cooking pot sits on a stand over a pile of firewood. Bedrolls, saddlebags, and clothes are scattered across the ground and in the tents. There are faded black marks across the ground. These scorch marks have been left by the use of magic spells, which matches Spike's description of the flashes of magical energy just before the Mane Six were transformed into statuettes.
Your initial investigation reveals that one of the sealed pots still has some tasty-looking vegetable stew inside. It is cold, but still good. It looks like it would be even better though if somepony could figure out how to heat it up. There are also a few full water bottles.
As well as food and drink, some of the Mane Six's travelling gear is still here, mostly made up of basic equipment.
As Lilac is searching through everything, she finds some scraps of a tattered brown fabric that she knows doesn't match any of the Mane Six's clothes. It's easy to tell because it is well known that Rarity made a matching set of fine cowls for them all.
Along with the tattered and torn fabric, Lilac also finds an antique looking bangle with distinctive markings and patterns. It doesn't match any kind of design that you have ever seen.
I'll wait to hear from Verdant before moving on. We're going out to my parent's this weekend as well, so we'll leave off of wherever we're at on Thursday and resume after we get back. I'm sorry this is taking me so long.
I probably won't be able to post too extensively here until I'm able to sit st my computer again, but in the meantime, anypony that would like to search for clues in the campsite, give me a mind test difficulty 4.
If everyone will just let me know what they're doing while stopping here. You can just rest, or you can take a look around the Mane Six's campsite.
As you prepare to get some rest, Sunny and the other wagon-pony look at each other. Sunny hops down off of the wagon seat and comes over to where LQ stands. Looking from LQ to the rest of you he says, "Well...usually I would say that we really need to get to where we are going....but, it was a pretty rough trip, and if you think you can find anything useful out by staying here...then, we'll stay here as well and wait for you. We want answers as much as all of you."
Sunny points down the road as Verdant continues to handle the reigns, "Just down the road apiece."
After about twenty minutes or so of traveling down the road, you all spot an abandoned camp site sheltered under a small rock outcrop by the side of the road. This is the camp site that was used by the Mane Six before they were transformed and captured. From what you can tell, it matches the location that Spike described to you, before you left home to investigate.
I'll wait and see if anyone wants to do or say anything before continuing.
Sorry for the absence....again, it was a really really rough 3 hours at work today and somehow in the last hour I ended up being 10 dollars short. So, even though we weren't planning on going out today cuz of how hot it was, we ended up going to Ashley and Jonathan's house for the better part of the evening...well, we didn't get home till like 1am...soooo....yeah, guess we just really really needed a chill evening. Dixie didn't really appreciate it though I guess. She used one of the puppy pads, but then like, got into some stuff that was on thed coffee table. She tore up a card, as well as chewing up one of the holders for the first and second disk of my Bewitched tv series and we found the first disk on thed floor. Thankfully it was okay, as far as I can tell anyways. *sigh*
Finally seeing that the worst was over, at least for the moment, the other pony pulling the wagon finally slows down and stops as you all just take a moment to relax after the harrowing ordeal.
Sunny finally comes to in the back of the wagon, as the other pony pulling the wagon takes out the statuette they had been careful to grab and hands it to Sunny.
Rubbing his head, Sunny takes the statuette of the other wagon-pony and holds it up. A look of worry takes over his features as he resumes his place in the drivers seat next to Verdant, "Oh, no...we really should hurry now, we need to get him and these supplies back to the dig site." Tucking the statuette into his pouch, Sunny gestures down the road. The remaining wagon-pony nods solemnly and resumes his position, as you all get ready to head off again.
Even as Lilac yells out her warning, LQ and Verdant seem to work together in tandem to move the cart out of the way, as Cylver sends the huge boulder hurtling into the side of the mountain, turning it into nothing more than harmless bits of dust as it gets smashed to itsy bitsy pieces.
Finally, after a couple near misses and daring turns along the winding perilous path, you make it out of Dodge Canyon, and enter the Badlands.
You all feel a deep sense of relief as you exit the Canyon, taking a moment to breath as you look out at the landscape around you. Stretching out on either side of you, long mountain ridges boarder the Badlands almost completely. Ahead, you see wide plains of rock and dust dotted with Craggy outcrops of reddish-brown rock.
The road that led through Dodge Canyon continues into the Badlands ahead, though it's not much more than dirt and loosely packed stones. There don't seem to be any other roads or pathways.
Using excellent teamwork you manage to dodge the boulder in time. Hurrying past the falling rocks, you round another corner just to have a boulder fall towards the right of the wagon.
I don't know. I just think this game is crazy. Like Ponypocalypse crazy. Some of the stuff in this adventure thingy is just.....crazy. I understand it's not supposed to be a cakewalk....but come on.
Since you're both working together, I think that'll work. :o)
With an amazing display of teamwork, Cylver and Lilac manage to secure the wheel back on the cart as it's in motion.
Lilac barely makes it back into the wagon as another boulder falls to the left of the wagon.
I need a body test from LQ and mind test from Verdant. Is someone going to be lookout as you continue to dodge all these rocks? I just ask because if you do, it lowers your difficulty by 1...so I kinda need to know. Wasn't sure if I was supposed to tell you that or not but...hey...*shrugs* This is supposed to be for fun and not super cereal anyways.
I'll get this going again tomorrow. After eating and everything, and sitting up for a little while, I'm hurting up into my like where my ribs are, so tomorrow I'll continue this on.
Not much sleep last night, so I gotta try to get some tonight.
Feeling the need to save her friends from impending doom, LQ deftly dodges the falling rocks and gets the wagon moving with the help of Verdant who deftly maneuvers the wagon out of the way of the deadly debris.
As the wagon rushes through the perilous gorge, you all start to notice that it begins to shake and shudder as it dodges the falling rocks.
Looking toward the rear of the wagon, you now notice that the rear axles was damaged in the first crash and the wagon wheel is beginning to come loose. You know that you will either have to try and repair the wheel as the wagon continues to move, or come up with some other solution. Whatever you choose, you know it has to be quick as you see the wheel getting closer to falling off the moving wagon.
Okay, so I need a check from one of the ponies that is not either currently pulling the wagon, or steering it. If you want to try and repair the axle, it will be a mind test difficulty 5 because of being in motion and how jerky the cart is acting while trying to avoid being hit by rocks. So, this will have to be done by Lilac and Cylver. You can work together as a team and pull your resources if you want to. Good luck everypony! :o)
Anyone can roll a mind or body test to aid in your escape from the rocky gorge. If you have abilities or anything that you feel would help in this scenario go ahead and roll it. I'll wait to see what all everyone gets on their rolls before narrating further.
Okay, so here's how this is gonna work. The wagon needs to be maneuvered safely through falling debris to make it through the Canyon in one piece.
With the rocks seeming to fall from all around you, as everyone takes up their positions and starts moving again, another large rock falls from right above you.
I'll need a body test from the one pulling the wagon, diff 3, a mind or body test from the one steering, same diff level since you have an active lookout for rocks.
With Cylver out of the way of the falling rock, she uses her magic to keep it from falling on Lilac. The other wagon pony, grabs Sunny as well as the little statuette and gets out of the way of the falling rock, while Verdant is unable to find a safe way out from under the tumbling boulders with everything seeming to fall at the same time.
As the dust settles from that rock slide, Verdant finds herself climbing out of a pony shaped hole in the ground with stars swimming above her head.
I'm sorry, lose 2 points of stamina Verdant
Knowing there is no time to rest as the rumbling of the rocks continues, you rush back to the wagon to try and get it moving again, so you can get through the treacherous Canyon of doom.
Setting Sunny in the back of the wagon as he seems a bit dazed, the other wagon puts the statuette in his satchel and starts hitching himself back to the battered wagon, "We're gonna need help to get out of here. We need one of you to help me pull, and someone else to steer. Someone to tell us where the rocks are falling from, might also be helpful and this point." He says loudly above the sound of the rumbling rocks.
Also, keep in mind that there isn't really a limit on how many times you can use your abilities, just keep track of how many times you use it. It has something to do with the leveling up I think? This dodge canyon run is just getting started....you know, for a game that's meant for kids, this adventure sure is brutal. Lol Oh, so if you want to describe how you use your ability to save Lilac, you can Cylver.
I don't see why not. Your TK can be used to help others just as easily. Give yourself another token of friendship for your quick and selfless thinking. Lilac gets another token of friendship for saving Sunny from the crash, and Verdant gets another token for snatching LQ out of danger. Basically, the three of you each get another token of friendship.
Damn it....I forgot about your Telekinesis power and stuff too Cylver. I'm sorry. There's gonna be more body tests though before we get out of here though. So, like with the pegasi who have wings, since you have Telekinesis Cylver, you can roll that instead of your body to use your power to divert the falling objects away from you if you want to. It's up to you though. Since I'm giving the flying ponies another option for dealing with it, I thought I could give you one too since you have other abilities. Does that make sense?
While everypony manages not to get smashed into the wall of rock, Lilac notices that Sunny is unconcious. As the dust settles you all hear a deep rumbling coming from all around you, boulders are beginning to fall into the canyon!
You all realize that you will have to get the wagon moving again to avoid becoming pony pancakes!
Just as you are all getting back up on your hooves after the crash, there's a rock falling directly above you.
I'll need another body test, difficulty 4 this time, for everypony.
As soon as the pony disappeared, you all realized just in time that the cart was going to crash. Lilac is able to fly away before it impacts against the rocks.
Cylver senses the danger and leaps off the cart before it crashes, while Verdant grabs LQ and gets them both out of the way of the run away wagon.
Eventually the wagon arrives at the very foot of the mountain range, and you see a tall canyon with vertical rock walls rising up on either side of the bumpy road you've been traveling along. The wagon approaches the entrance and continues along the road, now made narrow by the steep cliffs. You can see smashed rocks littering the sides of the canyon.
FWOOSH! Suddenly you hear a crackling sound, and a spark of magic energy explodes like a firework in front of the wagon! One of the wagon-ponies seems to disappear before your eyes, but then you notice a tine pony-shaped statuette bounce off the ground and land next to you.
Caught off guard and unbalanced, the remaining wagon-pony careens off to the side of the canyone and crashes into the rock wall!!
I need all of you to make a body test. Diff 6 to avoid damage from the crash.
Sunny nods his head, "Like a lot of places, the Badlands are home to many creatures. Most of whom remain out of sight unless you go looking for them. We did have trouble with some kind of monster, but we didn't get a real good look at it. That's why we had to go get supplies. Our expedition lost a large amount of equipment when our first dig site was attacked by the huge creature. As far as we know, that creature has taken up residence in the dig site that we abandoned. There was dust and rocks flying everywhere, so I didn't get a real good look at it while it was attacking us, but it was massive and seemed to have a long snake like body." He explains as they make their way through the hot, rocky desert.
As you continue on your trip, you notice the air getting drier and warmer. A slight wind picks up, tossing bits of sand and dessert debris around as you make your way to Dodge Canyon.
Is there anything else anyone would like to add, or ask Sunny about before I move on?
Looking over at their friend that seemed to be having trouble staying awake in the back of the cart Sunny says, "If she's tired, there's enough room for her to lay down back there. It'll be a little while before we get to where we're going anyways." She says with smile, glad that someone was finally coming to try and put an end to the awful things that had been happening.
Okay, so here's the part where I admit to screwing up. The driver of the cart was supposed to be a "she", not a "he", but I guess I didn't read far enough ahead to catch that so, they're all dudes now. Sorry about that, but we'll just go ahead and roll with it I guess?
Looking back as you all climb into the rear of their supply cart, the driver tips his hat. In a somewhat nervous voice he says, "Well, we sure hope you can find some answers to this disturbing dilemma we've found ourselves in. It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Sunny, Sunny Saddle." He says, introducing himself as they start moving.
