Convergence

I find that while gameplay is the most important thing for a game, the one thing that really keeps me hooked on a game is an extreme difficulty level. I just can't get through games that have very little to no challenge, even if gameplay wise and other mechanics are perfect. That is why I could never get into Skyrim. I really enjoy games that beat you over the head with extreme difficulty until you have to figure out the best way to go through every small section, and can't make a single mistake. Games like Dark Souls and Ponyvania are right up my alley. 

"What happens next in this room? Well, there are 13 dead ponies, Ice Breaker, Double Barrel, you, I and the recruit with a shattered horn. Perhaps you would present to me the opportunity to examine her, to make a decision and decide her fate. I am sure there is a lesson for you to teach in that, a whetstone to grind with." Radiance continued to blankly stare at The Raven, in an attempt to not betray her emotion. She had had enough of this pest, and wanted nothing more than to run it through. "I have to play, for now."

Radiance stared at The Raven as it nuzzled her neck. "A pop quiz eh? I never fail. I am a strategist,  I play games of chess for a living. Albeit, far more complicated, large scale and dark then a game of chess. What do chess masters do when they play chess? They do not attack the king, even though that is how the game is won. No, that is what the opponent is expecting, has laid traps for. To win a game of chess, you attack vulnerabilities, the units that have the least protection, and the units pivotal in protecting other units. You take a piece, and then replan your game to structure pieces in order to utilize the opponents loss in power."

"Likewise, we cannot charge at Celestia, even though it will end the war. Her power is far too great. The Royal Guard protects her, and not the people. Do not think that I would abandon my duties so that you could win your war. It is common knowledge my excellence in strategy, and should I fail for one instant, I will be beheaded as a traitor, and another will take my place. Then you would lose your precious play thing. Even if we were able to best the Royal Guard and all of Canterlots defences, Celestia still controls the elements of harmony. No we must play in a far more subtle manner."

 "And it really is a shame, if this is the way you treat your tools. Without oil and your care, they tend to rust and fall apart. Of what use is a tool without a use? If I am a tool that means there is somepony far grander holding the handle. You hold power, that is for sure, this ring is a testament to that. What is the next step, the next step depends entirely on you. Am I the only tool you hold in your eye, or am I one covered in dust within a forgotten cupboard? How much time and resources are you prepared to spend to oil me up and call me special? How much room will you give me to fulfil my purpose? To me, the logical first step would be one that you may not like. A game of thrones that I am not sure if you are willing to play. After all, how can I structure my pieces if I know not what is at my disposal."

"Why are you doing this? Because there is the possibility of something far more grand when Celestia is dethroned. A grandness that you will make what you will out of. And this is what you are trying to accomplish here. Not simply to dethrone Celestia, but something far more grand in the aftermath. Perhaps in time this tool will earn your trust and respect and you could tell it your plans."

in my opinion, with Radiances dealings with the Raven is the he is far too straight forward. So quick to kill a pony that needs to be killed, so quick to destroy the life of a pony. While deliciously sadistic, I have found that he does not leave much to the imagination. I have been able to predict pretty much every one of his actions. I knew he would ruin Hopes life in some manner, I knew he would kill one of the recruits, and I knew that he would kill all his thugs in that room. Personally I find the obscure and indirect far more creepy than the direct action. I believe the Raven could really benefit from a healthy dose of chaos or randomness to really fit his character and make him far more disturbing. I like his personality, and I am just stating my opinion. Dont mean to offend at all, but you asked earlier what we thought of him.

Radiance listened with a mounting interest as The Raven lectured on. It was during times like these that she could really delve deeper into his head and learn his thought process. It would not last long though, The Raven seemed to be incapable of going five minutes without attacking a pony. He spoke as if he told Radiance of great and mystical secrets that only he was capable of seeing, yet he only spoke of common sense that Radiance foresaw long before each event was completed.  "This is either a large act, or he is truly a delusional idiot. Either way he is very dangerous."

Suddenly, pain cascaded through Radiance's horn and down through her body. She forced herself to ignore it, and her face never showed any sign of the agony her body was going through. She watched as the heads of the eight pony thugs were sharply twisted, breaking their necks in one clean motion. "Such power in that ring, perhaps I can have one similarly enchanted. I need to try and leave with that loop off my horn and on my hoof."  Radiance looked at the eight dead ponies and yawned. "Every time you are about to peak my interest, you shatter it completely. You can rest assured that I do not think in the present, I think for ten moves later. I had a feeling that you would break her horn far before she was conscious, and I had already decided what I would do when that move came to be. Just as I knew your henchmen were dead the moment I saw them in this cellar. You say it is time to move on to what is next, I am waiting."

((that does not include Double Barrel and Ice Breaker, right?))

@Torrent505

Radiance looked up at The Raven and sighed, she had hoped that this meeting would have been more interesting. "Do you really doubt my knowledge of the past? I am of course aware of Serrweet Chirupt. Do you not think that I have not seen such a thing before, have not done such a thing before? When you have seen as much pain, violence and death as I have, it loses any fragment of meaning."

Radiance ignored the touch of The Raven. "You wish to break Celestia's horn, that is rather amusing." Her face displayed no emotion. "Of course, under normal circumstances, you shall never have that opportunity. After I am through with her, perhaps I will present your curious hoof the opportunity to threaten Equestria by smashing such a pony's horn. Perhaps I shall break any semblance of her sanity, and convince her that to stop the omnipresent rebels her horn must be torn apart."

"The desecration of my horn would surely kill me. I would suspect and outburst of light so extreme as to pain or perhaps even blind anypony in the area. Who can say what would happen to my bound personal armoury? If the initial event did not kill me, the hell fire that would be my insanity, that would surely break forth would kill me and any I could take down with me. Even now I can feel the emptiness, the throbbing, convulsing void threatening to consume my entirety. Yes such a thing would kill me. But of all the topics we could be discussing, this is by far the most boring topic I can think of. So, what next?"

((it is a reference to a Kurt Vonnegut novel, Slaughterhouse 5.  The Main character suffers from post traumatic stress disorder after world war 2. He dismisses any deaths within the novel, whether it be of his best friend, worst enemy, an animal, a bug, a machine, with "so it goes." My signature "Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt" is what he wanted his tombstone to be inscribed with.   

Radiance felt nothing as The Raven put away his dagger. No relief. She felt even less as he shattered the recruit's horn. Another tortured cliche that held no meaning. "So it goes." Radiance glanced up at The Raven and asked in her bored, dry tone "so, what now?" 

((You win a cookie if you get the reference. Hint: it is related to my signature.))

@Torrent505

((sorry I felt this post was out of character. I checked with Torrent and he said it was all right for me to change it.))

 A grin slowly spread across Radiance's face. She never broke eye contact with The Raven. "As I have already said, an eye for an eye. You already owe me quite a few eyes, are you sure you want to take one more? I am not a pony you want to be indebted to. As for which eye I favour, my right one seems to always see a little more."

@Torrent505

Radiance stared at the bleeding and dying recruits disinterested and without emotion. She had witnessed far too many acts of both to feel anything from them. To Radiance, they had become tortured clichés without meaning. She spoke in a dry and bored tone, "then you are a fool. Well? I am waiting. It isn't like I am going anywhere."

((Radiance definitely does have a matching ornate/ceremonial dagger to match the armour. However, like her sword and shield, it is bound tightly to her allowing her to conjure it from and banish it to a separate realm easily. To gain access to the dagger, the crow would have to figure out where Radiance keeps her weapons bound.))

@Torrent505

Radiance tilted her head back slightly and laughed, a rich harmony that echoed through the room. When she spoke, her voice was full of mirth. "tsk, tsk, tsk. Is this the fate of our relationship? A fake smile, a hoofshake and a dagger behind the back? Such a shame and such a waste. How easy it could be for us to come together in a way that benefits us both. Together we could accomplish the impossible."

Radiance continued, but her voice instantly became dead set and serious, "we could negotiate and barter all night long, but that would be boring and a waste of time. You have already decided what you will do. If you kill another of my recruits, you might as well kill me. I cannot trust a pony so willing to slaughter those who have dedicated their lives to the defence of Canterlot and Equestria. I cannot work with a pony I cannot trust. Keep both recruits alive, or kill me. I'm hog tied and castrated, you will never have a better chance."

"As you no doubt already know, Celestia has her hooves deep into the Royal Guard. If you wish to have the support of the Royal Guard, your best and only choice is me. What have you decided?"

@Torrent505

Radiance forced herself to ignore the obvious snide remarks of the crow pony. It was obviously just trying to aggravate Radiance. She was above that. Those comments did not even deserve a response. Turning her head to Double Barrel, Radiance said "good work Double Barrel. Just do your best, that is all I ask." Radiance shocked herself at how sincere her voice sounded.

Turning back to the crow, Radiance resumed in a more formal voice. "Let me rephrase that, perhaps I wasn't clear enough. You apparently know my strengths and what I am capable of. Yes, I have the power to do what you speak of. My question is, what can a pony like you do for me?"

@Torrent505

The room came into focus around Radiance. It was obviously a ramshackle cellar stuffed with wine bottles. The one thing that drew Radiance's attention was a strange creature at the foot of her bed. It appeared to be some sort of horrific mockery of a raven that looked like it belonged in an Edgar Allan Poe story. "What the hell is this thing. Am I hallucinating from the poisoning?" Radiance's mind raced trying to form connections, trying to fit the pieces together. Nothing made sense. She had never seen anything like it before. Her face showed no shock, and she did not miss a beat.

"As I am sure you know, there are two ways to earn loyalty from a pony. The first is to earn it over many years of hard work to form a deep bond. The other is to buy it, the far easier method. In my position I can do both quite easily. The eye of a ranking official tends to mould the minds of green recruits far easier then soft clay. These two will remember nothing, by force or persuasion. They are of no threat to you."

"Do not let them die. There is the saying, an eye for an eye," Radiance nodded to the three unicorn thugs, "but neither of us wants that. I would have saved them myself, but you know. I would also offer my aide to Double Barrel. Double Barrel, can you keep them alive without bringing harm to yourself? However, such conversations should wait till we both understand each other. There is a reason you called upon me. What is your plan and how do I fit in?"  

Radiance was awoken by the sound of voices echoing through wherever she was. Her mind was foggy and slow to react and her muscles ached. She was shocked at how well she felt after the full effect of the poison. She forced herself to relax, to focus on the conversation and to take toll on her body. She was in poor condition that was for sure, but Radiance was sure that she could operate well. Forcing herself to ignore the pain and sluggishness, she started to apply logic.

Her legs seemed to be at an odd angle and uncomfortable. Hinting that she was tied up. "Well, this is either an act of dominance, perverse masochistic pleasure or he is genuinely afraid of what I might do. Doesn't matter which one, I can use them all against him." Radiance could only here two voices, so there was at least two ponies. One voice sounded like that of a harsh boss,what must be the leader, and the other sounded like... like Double Barrel? "Well, at least this conversation confirms what I had thought. He is a good stallion playing a dirty stallion's game. Respectable, but so easily used. Wait, this whole conversation could be a set up made to alter my opinion. The boss sounds like he... it? would not normally allow himself to be talked to in that manner. Unless Double Barrel has more power than I suspected. Stop it Radiance, you are over-analysing."    

Radiance knew her limitations and approximately what she was facing. It was time now to act, act without letting anypony know that she might have heard something they did not want heard. Radiance allowed her eyes to drift open as she forced herself to chuckle. In a voice just loud enough to be overheard by the conversing ponies, Radiance said "I must thank you, this meeting is by far the most interesting meeting I have had in years. I am, as you no don't already know, Radiance the elite strategist for the Royal Guard of Canterlot." Radiance did not even bother trying to move her legs or cast magic, she already knew that they would be of no use to her.

((What kind of strategist would let herself carry a piece of potentially damning information and a potential source of leverage into a place that it could be so easily stripped from her? No, Radiance had a much better plan for that letter. It is hidden away in a spot that has no meaning except to Radiance and one other. A spot nopony would ever think to look. A spot where a specific pony would go to if they were extremely disturbed. Extremely disturbed like how a certain falcon might be after seeing a certain yellow warning light and seeing Radiance disappear into a building, without hearing from her again shortly. Why do you ask?))

off with your head! Nah, take as much time as you need. Can't say I haven't been eagerly waiting a response, but its always better to wait for a better quality post .

Edit: actually I am really starting to enjoy Radiance at the moment. I was only having a meh experience with her earlier.

The world quickly became a fun house mirror to Radiance. The world swiveled and turned in a horrifying cacophony of motion. Her mind and muscles felt like bundles of soft gelatin that wobbled and bounced every step, becoming more loose and weak with every motion. After what seemed like ages, Radiance finally made it towards the little room she was being herded to. She heard Ice Breaker talking, she could barely stay up, let alone listen to the pony's ramblings. She was able to make out the gist of what Ice Breaker was saying by the odd word that was able to enter the gelatinous goop which was Radiance's mind.

Radiance forced herself to respond. A monumental task which required extreme concentration and an exhausting effort. Her mind refused to pick out words, and her tongue felt heavy as iron and awkward. Eventually she was able to form a somewhat coherent statement. She couldn't look in just one place, so Radiance just mumbled, "stranger... things have --- happened.     Enough. It  is... time."

Radiance forced her body to lower herself. Her muscles groaned and threatened to give out at every inch. She wobbled, and somewhat roughly got herself into a lying position. She put her head on the floor, and allowed her eyes to close slowly. Her mind immediately drifted off to the incoherentness of her usual night terrors. 

((That sounds like a fun, fair and logical progression of the story. I agree completely to that Torrent. But as GM, aren't you allowed to God mode my character?))

Radiance eyed Ice Breaker. "it is time to change tactics, from fierce and strong to the little puppy who tricks his master into giving it treats." "Of course Ice Breaker, your promise can be easily over-ruled by your boss. After all, someponies are wolves and some are ducks. You will have to forgive me, I seem to have trouble trusting those who actively practice deceit."

Radiance was then hit by a brick wall, the world around her twisted and turned, the ground began to shake, her muscles wobbled and her mind ached and wrenched as if it were a tennis ball. Radiance fought back the urge to collapse and vomit. She had not realized quite how forgone the poison had made her without the protection of the shield. "Stay awake damn it. Don't fall Don't fall Don't fall"

"Go on, lead. Move! I will walk until I am consumed."

So for the ring, can it be normally taken on and off, or does it lock in place like handcuffs?

Radiance tilted her head back and laughed. "I have your word then, your promise? Fine, I will play along. I warn you, do not lie to me and tell me now if you have already lied. I will forgive you if you are honest." Slowly Radiance levitated the ring from Ice Breaker's hoof and allowed to slide onto her horn. She felt a part of her mind vanish, leaving a hungry void. Radiance almost wanted them to test her patience.

Radiance stared into the eyes of Ice Breaker. "Definitely more than meets the eye. What is her story?" Weighing options, Radiance swiftly decided the best course of action. "It is not a surrender as I was never against  you in the first place. If you recall, I have been merely defending myself, never attacking even though the opportunities arose. These soldiers are mine. They are not a liability if I say they are not a liability. The greater liability here is you and these henchmen, but I can help with that."

Radiance glided her longsword across her neck and into the open air, where it twirled then stabbed deep into the earth. A yellow light exuded from the sword and obscured Radiance for a fraction of a second. When the light faded the sword had disappeared. A very keen eye might have noticed Radiance's armour seem to glow slightly brighter or the studded rubies twinkle slightly more often. However, the change was minuscule. 

"very well. These two recruits cured I can agree with. As well as your terms. However, I will not be dishonoured by being castrated. I am not putting that ring on my horn. As I have said, I have had the opportunity to harm you, and have not. I pose you no threat and I will cancel my shield allowing the poison to take over. The poison has exhausted me, and will soon get worse, how much of a threat do you really think I could be if I did want to? I have one last condition, nopony, including you, lays a hoof on me without my permission." 

((oh, enchanted armour. What would an elite Royal Guard Strategist be without enchanted armour? Torrent, I will note you details on the enchantment, and we can come to an agreement about the power.)) 

Ice Breaker had more battle knowledge than Radiance thought. She did not allow herself to go full force into the shield, she was able to escape unscathed. Radiance readied herself, and saw the five ponies, plus Ice Breaker, in almost striking distant poised for an attack. She poised herself for action, trying to find an escape, to trick or how to injure one of her attackers. What Radiance saw instead were her recruits unconscious and most likely soon to die. Although her outer complexion showed no signs, a tear jerked Radiance's eye, "what have I become? I will save you, the only way I know how." 

Radiance's horn lit up as she began to channel magic through her aching, sluggish body. Simultaneously, a wave of light crashed out from her horn, her tower shield disappeared into thin air, and her shimmering steel longsword appeared in its place. Radiance crouched slightly as she buried the longsword deep into the earth. A ring of white light expanded from the sword and consumed the ground near Radiance. 

Radiance forced herself to look away from her sword and at her attackers. Her voice, even though no louder than it was before, rang through the sky in a powerful, commanding, yet soothing boom. Her laugh, a harmonious, deep harmony, echoed through the sky. "Your boss needs me far greater than I expected. All he has to offer is a poison that is easily countered, and a group of lackeys that need to team up in order to confront a weakened, poisoned pony. You all should be ashamed that you cannot deal with me in my current state alone."

"How easily could I have maimed Ice Breaker with a thrust of my sword instead of a shield? She was careless, and I could have used that to kill her. But I didn't. I didn't because I mean you no harm. Yet you have the blood of my stallions, my ponies, innocent ponies, on your hooves. If your boss wanted me dead, I would no longer be breathing. The fact that I am still alive means he still wants to meet me."

Radiance removed her sword from the dirt, as the ring of light faded away. "So now, listen to me and listen well. I will not repeat myself. You will give whatever aide is necessary to the recruits. You will cure the poison. And you will let them live. If you do that, I will allow you to peacefully escort me to where you will. If not," Radiance flipped the sword and placed its edge on her throat, "I will spill my own blood right now. Stand down, cure the recruits now, or you will have to answer as to why I am dead and why you have failed your master. I doubt he is one to take failure lightly."

------

Anivia, flying high in the sky towards some destination she was unsure of suddenly felt uneasy. She was given the command to message a pony, which pony she was unsure of and there was obviously no message attached to her leg. She circled back to where she had flown away from Radiance. Even from this distance, the telescopic eyes of Anivia the falcon could make out little dots that where Radiance, the recruits and the foes. A small circle of light encircled one dot. 

Anivia was able to recognize the light as Radiance's at once. The prospect of a message was pushed out of her mind, as she responded to this new command. Using the darkness of the night, trees and buildings she came closer to Radiance and the others while remaining hidden. Silently she watched from a distance that she could see clearly, yet anypony would have difficulty even just making out shapes. Anivia waited for what was to happen.

@Torrent505

Thanks for the information . Oh an even if Radiance wanted to get caught, would she really want to look like she wanted to get caught? And perhaps she might gain more from resisting getting caught for as long as she could. She might be able to get more information on what she is up against. Appearances, appearances.

Radiance always made a point of keeping all ponies in her line of sight, and tonight was no different. It was not something Radiance thought was going to happen, but expect the worst and you will never be disappointed. Out of the corner of her eye, Radiance saw a blur of motion and a pair of hooves flying towards her head. She did not hesitate, her horn instantly lit up as she summoned her massive golden tower shield between her and the hooves. She braced herself as she attempted to throw the shield with all her might against he incoming hooves. Admittedly, she could not thrust the shield nearly as hard as she wanted, but the sheer weight of the shield combined with momentum of the hooves would surely at least bring a lot of pain. "Im going to need to be more cunning to win this."

Radiance's whole intent was to bring as much pain as possible to the pegasus. To sprain an ankle, to slow it down, to briefly stun her with pain. Anything that would make the pegasus vulnerable for a split second, that would be all Radiance would need.

While assessing the situation, Radiance forced herself to conjure a map of Canterlot in her mind. There was a sewer grate not too far from here, about a block and a half. If she could find a narrow alleyway to run through, she just might be able to make it in time.

@Torrent505

I see, and whats to say Radiance thought that she would actually escape? Perhaps she might have wanted to get caught... who can say? I was thinking more along the lines of a massive blunt force trauma to the hooves, in hopes to sprain an ankle or momentarily 'stun' her with pain

@Torrent505

If you insist. The falcon is still going to try and grab the friend, and nothing is going to stop Radiance from taking down whoever she can with her. out of sheer curiosity, how strong is Ice Breaker? I would assume as a secretary she would be more of a desk pony with sub-stellar strength and endurance. My question is, how easily could I disorient/incapacitate Ice Breaker with a large blow of a blunt instrument?

Damn man, 6 ponies against 1 poisoned one and one too fargone to do anything. I don't want my character to have to super saiyan or anything like that. Can Anivia go fetch a character that I control to make things a little more fair, at least that is if Radiance can delay the enemies long enough?