| 5 |
You agree with Moonflower, and tell Honourshine that you'd love to explore the world together with her again — just like you used to, but for real this time!
Honourshine: "Well... I can't say I haven't missed your company. A party of three, though...?"
You acknowledge that it's more than she's used to, but argue that the bat pony's easygoing attitude won't get in the way, and that her alchemy is an invaluable addition to the team.
Honourshine: "Fair enough. And having her along would save us the trouble of finding you someone else to share a bed with."
Moonflower: "Heehee! Was Blazer always super flirty?"
Honourshine: "You can't tell? He's been honing those skills ever since he came of age. If I didn't know any better, I'd think he was a changeling or something."
In your defence, you are an explorer! It is in your nature to explore. Not that it's much of a defence, but you don't feel the need to justify yourself any further.
Moonflower: "Heeheehee... I totally get it, though."
Honourshine: "That makes one of us. So, what's your next quest, anyway?"
You admit that you have yet to pick a voyage from the Agency. In fact, you were just about to when her name was mentioned.
Moonflower: "Ooh! Maybe ya can help us decide where to go?"
Honourshine: "Fine... I'm not much for decisions, but I might've read a thing or two about the places they lead to."
You nod, and with the historian's curiosity piqued, you decide to make your way back to the Equestrian Voyagers Agency together...
Honourshine joins your party!
Twilight Sparkle: "Welcome back! I see you've managed to find her."
You nod, and tell Twilight Sparkle that Honourshine will be joining you on your next adventure.
Twilight Sparkle: "I'm glad to hear it! I don't suppose she'll be joining the Agency as well...?"
Honourshine: "... I'm good, thanks."
Twilight Sparkle: "In that case, I'll assign Honourshine's voyage to you two. Were you interested in taking a second voyage?"
You tell Twilight Sparkle that that's why you're here, and knowing your foalhood friend well, you ask if she can let Honourshine read the requests on paper.
Twilight Sparkle: "Of course. Here's the first one, which leads to the Castle of Pegalithos in Old Ponyland."
As Honourshine skims through the scroll, you can see her mood souring by the second. You ask her if something is wrong.
Honourshine: "(sigh) Nothing is wrong, it's just... this is just so typical of the College. There's so much we could be learning from the world around us, and here they are, trying to dig up some gossip on historical figures."
You ask her what she means.
Honourshine: "Simply put, Commander Hurricane's coat of arms has violet stripes in it, which might have originally used a rare mineral pigment from the Unicorn tribe. If that's the case, then it could mean one of two things, and I honestly don't care enough to elaborate on either of them.
Hmm... and there's no mention anywhere that the Castle of Pegalithos used to be a fortress in the sky. In the face of the Bitter Cold, it likely froze over and fell to the ground with the rest of clouds. Who knows what's left of it?"
You figure that it sounds like quite the wintry venture, though you wonder what else you might find in Old Ponyland.
Honourshine: "You're right. We've lost most of ponykind's knowledge during the exodus to Equestria, so there's bound to be far more interesting things to be found there. What was the other voyage?"
Twilight Sparkle: "A pop star who disappeared after a tour around the Kirin Empire. Here's what the sponsor had to say."
Honourshine: "... This isn't much to go by — not even a town where to start looking. Blaze, do you really think this is enough to find him?"
You grin, and tell Honourshine that you've already done more with less.
Honourshine: "I suppose you're right. I wouldn't mind visiting the Kirin Empire, either; from what I've read, their magic is described as different from other types of unicorns, and they have a close history with dragons. They might know a lot more than we do about the past.
On the other hoof, a frozen wasteland sounds like a cozy vacation spot next to the stories I've read on the Kirin. The island they live on is completely untamed and swarming with dangerous creatures of all kinds."
Moonflower: "Heehee! Sounds like Blazer's gonna have to choose after all!"
Twilight Sparkle: "Well, these voyages aren't to be taken lightly, so take all the time you need."
Enter a comment
Pity that the thing we've been commissioned for is historical minutiae, but we have two of Equestria's brightest minds here with us to get ideas for more interesting questions we might seek to answer out there.
Also, I got to name drop Beyond the Frozen North (MLP webcomic, would recommend) in my command 😎.
We'll hopefully be able to dig up info about elves in Old Ponyland if it was far enough back that travel between realms was possible.
I can see a scenario where we deliberately decline to complete the voyage (decline to bring him back or say where he is) to help Dirt Flaxen get time away from his overly controlling management, in which we don't get paid. Or one where we help him sober up and rediscover his passion, taking him back a new stallion 😆.
At this point I feel both options are equally likley. As well as the possibility that he really got into trouble, like being imprisoned by a local leader. Honestly not sure what to expect when we find him. ^^
If it turns out that he's okay and just doesn't want to come back we probably don't get paid unless we "drag him back". But I would rather not getting paid than forcing him to go back against his will. So if we want a mission with a less ambigious situation and a guranteed paycheck we should probably pick the one from the College.
... And an olisbos? Oh my.
The olisbos is probably the same one Trailblazer gifted her in the flashback.
(Not part of the command: Wearing glasses somehow gives Honourshine a Wisdom bonus. We need to find an optician, so that we can make glasses for Blazer and Moony, too. XD)
- We now understand the actual historical question answered by the Pegalithos quest isn't so important. But there is a high likelihood we will find information (history or lost knowledge) that is actually important. On the other hoof, it could always end up being a bust, or we could end up being forced to turn back.
- In terms of which place will be more dangerous... nopony has gone to Old Ponyland and come back recently. This despite the clear academic incentive seems a bit ominous. The main threat seems to be the environment, but I wouldn't discount the possibility of unknown wildlife (yeti?), or ancient magical traps/defenses. Whereas the threat in the Kirin Empire is dangerous wildlife when traveling between towns, ergo, combat! If anyone wants to play with the combat mechanics, this is the choice to pick.
Honourshine's dialogue in this update definitely is on the side of not being interested in us. The kiss could be explained away as a slip from a moment of heightened emotion. I suddenly have a lot less hope for Traiblazer x Honourshine (Trailshine? Honourblazer?), if we've known her for a long time and nothing happened. But there is still the possibility that a latent feeling comes to the fore, or she warms up to us and Moonflower.
I believe the implication is that Honourshine is alone in not understanding Traiblazer's flirtatious behavior. We (readers) are seeing a new side to her: her acerbic wit! She is a master of subtle roasts.
Fine, more for us! 😄 (I wonder if this is saying "indecisiveness" is a trait of Honourshine's or just a throwaway line.) As an aside, in "quests", there is a spectrum of how much agency (in regards to narratively relevant choices) the QM gives to NPCs. I would say d20 Pony falls more on the side of giving the player character the most agency in deciding the agenda.
This is probably info we don't have access to, but if we are supposed to know, my guess would be that it hints at the prototype of what later developed into the union of the three tribes.
I actually watched the episode they are featured in, Sounds of Silence, and there is one instance of a kirin growing a plant directly with magic (like G5 Earth pony magic), in addition to standard telekinesis. Doubtless there's more to this.