open Sinister Soil

[Star48955 705]

Luna stared at him for a moment before turning away towards the others. "Yes.They deserve to know.Everything."

 

StarSnow glanced away, ducking her head.

Yeah...They do need to know.Especially if Onyx will be working with us.

Edited October 3, 2017 by Star48955

[GoldieS 679]

Biohazarddallas @Driz @silvermoon15000 @Star48955 @Techno Universal @MARSOC

The guard growled at Lory and her overreaction, sticking his ugly angry mug in her face to ward her away. He then proceeded to shove her across the hall towards the group to rejoin it with no amount of tact or politeness. He might as well have been a demon for all the manner she had. 

After making sure she wasn't going to go touching the statue again, he went back over to the door to stand guard once again. 

[MARSOC 100]

50 minutes ago, Star48955 said:

Luna stared at him for a moment before turning away towards the others. "Yes.They deserve to know.Everything."

 

StarSnow glanced away, ducking her head.

Yeah...They do need to know.Especially if Onyx will be working with us.

 

"Yes mistress." Onyx said with a purr. His voice still maintained the sinister echo as before.

"The Lunar Guard is one of the most secretive organizations in Equestria. We like to keep it that way. The ramifications if we didn't could be...tragic." Onyx paced back and forth as he spoke, the doors leading to the throne room soundproofed with a spell.

"The origins of the Guard can be traced back to the Nightmare Moon incident. We were originally formed to be a counter to Celestia's armies. Rumors spread of her dealings with Tartarus, her seeking the power to crush her sister's forces." His hooves were eerily silent on the tile floor. "After the Seige of Canterlot and her subsequent banishment, the Lunar Guard were banished as well. Not to the moon mind you, but still equally unpleasant."

Onyx turned to the group, fangs showing in a confident smirk. "We were sent back to Tartarus. For a thousand years we languished the loss of our mistress. Until she returned and called us back into service for... more noble goals."

 

@Star48955 @GoldieS @Biohazarddallas @Driz @Techno Universal

Edited October 3, 2017 by MARSOC

[GoldieS 679]

Biohazarddallas @Driz @silvermoon15000 @Star48955 @Techno Universal @MARSOC

The guard in the back perked up, ears at attention as he listened to the conversation. He himself served Luna in that... special capacity. Still, it wasn't exactly appropriate to discuss such things with outsiders or random civilians. It was enough to make anyone nervous, there was no telling what the repercussions would be, and not a single one of those Onyx was speaking too looked capable of holding a secret for more than an hour. Especially not that brutish looking one with the led pipe at her side... 

Edited October 3, 2017 by GoldieS

[Techno Universal 2,575]

Techno was also very closely listening to the conversation in the background and it was starting to make him quite nervous. He was now thinking a lot in his head...

 

TU: This is just getting worse and worse every second. Just what is going to happen with this!

[MARSOC 100]

@Star48955 @Biohazarddallas @GoldieS @Driz @Techno Universal

"I wasn't like we had a choice in the matter, our souls are bound to Luna's service. But after she was redeemed with the Elements of Harmony, something changed." Onyx paused in a moment of reflection.

"We no longer felt like... demons anymore. The temptation was there to return to the old ways but it wasn't the overwhelming urge like before."

Onyx turned to face the group, standing proud. "Our name is not Onyx Shield. That is simply a formality. You may call us Legion, for we are many."

[Biohazarddallas 221]

2 hours ago, MARSOC said:

@Star48955 @Biohazarddallas @GoldieS @Driz @Techno Universal

"I wasn't like we had a choice in the matter, our souls are bound to Luna's service. But after she was redeemed with the Elements of Harmony, something changed." Onyx paused in a moment of reflection.

"We no longer felt like... demons anymore. The temptation was there to return to the old ways but it wasn't the overwhelming urge like before."

Onyx turned to face the group, standing proud. "Our name is not Onyx Shield. That is simply a formality. You may call us Legion, for we are many."

"So with a lack of a better analogy I'd say you lot were basically neutered." Elias said, understanding what Leigon was explaining to them. "So that explains the vibes I've been getting off you guys, makes a lot more sense now."

[MARSOC 100]

7 minutes ago, Biohazarddallas said:

"So with a lack of a better analogy I'd say you lot were basically neutered." Elias said, understanding what Leigon was explaining to them. "So that explains the vibes I've been getting off you guys, makes a lot more sense now."

@Star48955 @Biohazarddallas @GoldieS @Techno Universal @Driz

Legion chuckled.

"Crass, but true. I'm surprised you hadn't figured it out by now." He took care to not come too close to Elias as he paced.

"Don't take it personally, but you positively reek of Tartarus and Loss. Others would be attracted like a moth to a flame, but to us it's nauseating."

[Driz 1,552]

After being shoved off from her zone of comfort in a hostile manner, Lory's eyes became intently focused on the guard as he performed his discourse. Once the Night Guard - formerly known as Onyx Shield - finished his explanation and revealed his true name, a giant, metaphorical question mark popped up above the mare's head.

She stared at him with a perplexed expression colouring her feature, with her eyes narrowed and her mouth agape. She raised a hoof in front of her face, counting 'one' in her head, and kept looking back and forth at the guard and the hoof. One could perhaps assume at which point she'd lost track of the conversation.

She shook her head. "Okay, okay, hold the phone... Lemme get this straight." Lory looked up, staring at the ceiling for a few seconds. "...You guys... You." She pointed at each of the Lunar Guards in the vicinity. "You guys are... uhm... were... Demons?... Like the Weird Kitty's friends? Is that it?" She inquired.

"...And I care becaaaaaaauuuuse?..."

Edited October 3, 2017 by Driz

[MARSOC 100]

2 hours ago, Driz said:

After being shoved off from her zone of comfort in a hostile manner, Lory's eyes became intently focused on the guard as he performed his discourse. Once the Night Guard - formerly known as Onyx Shield - finished his explanation and revealed his true name, a giant, metaphorical question mark popped up above the mare's head.

She stared at him with a perplexed expression colouring her feature, with her eyes narrowed and her mouth agape. She raised a hoof in front of her face, counting 'one' in her head, and kept looking back and forth at the guard and the hoof. One could perhaps assume at which point she'd lost track of the conversation.

She shook her head. "Okay, okay, hold the phone... Lemme get this straight." Lory looked up, staring at the ceiling for a few seconds. "...You guys... You." She pointed at each of the Lunar Guards in the vicinity. "You guys are... uhm... were... Demons?... Like the Weird Kitty's friends? Is that it?" She inquired.

"...And I care becaaaaaaauuuuse?..."

@Driz @Biohazarddallas @GoldieS @Star48955

"You care because you're a part of this team." Legion said. "This is a closely guarded secret of the crown, so if you breath a word of this to anypony you'll be given to me... to be dealt with."

Legion stroked his hoofblades, showing he was serious. "To answer your question, we ARE demons. We still require a host to preform our duties but our mistress has been generous enough to provide hosts designed to make it as comfortable as possible."

Legion flared his wings, showing off the sleek design and strength behind them.

"Recruits are tested, trained, and then subject to the Trial of the Grasses. This modifies the body and soul of the subject to create a fusion of demon and pony, mortal and immortal. This isn't without cost, as the transition to Thestral causes the ponies to loose their racial abilities. Horns fall off, pegusi loose their feathers, ectra. Perhaps most telling of all is our lack of Cutie mark."

Edited October 3, 2017 by MARSOC

[GoldieS 679]

Biohazarddallas @Driz @silvermoon15000 @Star48955 @Techno Universal @MARSOC

The group was interrupted by another officer sliding through the door as it opened only a small bit. He looked frantic, but relatively collected as he approached Luna, ignoring those around her, bowing respectfully but wasting no time to speak. 

"Your grace, there's an incident underway in the city! A mob has been rousing residents from their homes, causing damage to property and dragging those they suspect to be cultists out to the city center. The entire city is up in arms, taking the law into their own hooves, we can't contain them." The officer growled shaking his head in defeat. "We believe it's in response to a rash of shade sightings and encounters tonight, so far almost thirty injuries and thirteen fatalities attributed to shade activity, but we're currently trying to validate other reports."

A riot in Canterlot, a rare thing for such a city, but it had been several months since the beginning of all of... whatever it was. Residence were sick and tired of it, afraid and angry the guards were unable to properly deal with the threat. Add a small incursion of shades, and the city went off like an oil fire. 

"Even with many of the Solar Guards reporting in for duty, we don't have the ability to appropriately subdue the crowds without using force." The officer concluded. 

[MARSOC 100]

24 minutes ago, GoldieS said:

Biohazarddallas @Driz @silvermoon15000 @Star48955 @Techno Universal @MARSOC

The group was interrupted by another officer sliding through the door as it opened only a small bit. He looked frantic, but relatively collected as he approached Luna, ignoring those around her, bowing respectfully but wasting no time to speak. 

"Your grace, there's an incident underway in the city! A mob has been rousing residents from their homes, causing damage to property and dragging those they suspect to be cultists out to the city center. The entire city is up in arms, taking the law into their own hooves, we can't contain them." The officer growled shaking his head in defeat. "We believe it's in response to a rash of shade sightings and encounters tonight, so far almost thirty injuries and thirteen fatalities attributed to shade activity, but we're currently trying to validate other reports."

A riot in Canterlot, a rare thing for such a city, but it had been several months since the beginning of all of... whatever it was. Residence were sick and tired of it, afraid and angry the guards were unable to properly deal with the threat. Add a small incursion of shades, and the city went off like an oil fire. 

"Even with many of the Solar Guards reporting in for duty, we don't have the ability to appropriately subdue the crowds without using force." The officer concluded. 

"This whole night's turning out FUBAR." Legion muttered under his breath. He saluted the officer, preparing to give orders.

"We want riot control guards in formation. Have unicorns in the rear echelon for area of affect crowd control spells and earth ponies in the front echelon with shields and batons. Pegusi and Thestrals are to provide information on the riots movements from arial reconnaissance. 

We are to use non-lethal force. Do not arrest everyone, but if you see somepony breaking the law do not hesitate. Otherwise go for the leaders."

 

 

Edited October 4, 2017 by MARSOC

[Driz 1,552]

Lory began looking around the room in a frenetic manner when the other guard arrived to break the news. Her attention sparked when she overheard about the uproar gaining force within the city. Despite the gravity of the situation, the rebel mare was unable to hide a smug smirk that formed on her face. Whether she was partaking in the riot, or locked up in a jail cell inside the Royal castle, she was always pleased to hear about authorities having trouble. Yet, she still managed found herself in the middle of a crossfire somehow.

"Waitwaitwait, hold on!" Lory pleaded. "What about us!?" She asked Legion.

[Biohazarddallas 221]

2 minutes ago, Driz said:

Lory began looking around the room in a frenetic manner when the other guard arrived to break the news. Her attention sparked when she overheard about the uproar gaining force within the city. Despite the gravity of the situation, the rebel mare was unable to hide a smug smirk that formed on her face. Whether she was partaking in the riot, or locked up in a jail cell inside the Royal castle, she was always pleased to hear about authorities having trouble. Yet, she still managed found herself in the middle of a crossfire somehow.

"Waitwaitwait, hold on!" Lory pleaded. "What about us!?" She asked Legion.

"This doesn't seem like our problem luv, it's at least not mine. I hunt demons not contain riots." Elias remarked glancing at legion. "Castle library, where is it?" He asked bluntly. 

[MARSOC 100]

17 minutes ago, Driz said:

Lory began looking around the room in a frenetic manner when the other guard arrived to break the news. Her attention sparked when she overheard about the uproar gaining force within the city. Despite the gravity of the situation, the rebel mare was unable to hide a smug smirk that formed on her face. Whether she was partaking in the riot, or locked up in a jail cell inside the Royal castle, she was always pleased to hear about authorities having trouble. Yet, she still managed found herself in the middle of a crossfire somehow.

"Waitwaitwait, hold on!" Lory pleaded. "What about us!?" She asked Legion.

"You will stay here. As long as you don't leave the castle grounds, you're safe."

 

14 minutes ago, Biohazarddallas said:

"This doesn't seem like our problem luv, it's at least not mine. I hunt demons not contain riots." Elias remarked glancing at legion. "Castle library, where is it?" He asked bluntly. 

"It's down the hall into the east wing. You'll find everything you'd ever want to know there. They even have gloves to remove that stick up your ass."

 

[Biohazarddallas 221]

1 minute ago, MARSOC said:

"It's down the hall into the east wing. You'll find everything you'd ever want to know there. They even have gloves to remove that stick up your ass."

 

Elias chuckled, "thanks mate" he said as he made his way to the door. "If I find anything trust me when I say you'll know." Elias walked down the long hallways dodging the frantic rushing around of the guards. Once he made it to the library he shut the door and took out a piece of chalk. He began to draw glyphs all around the door, when he finished he snapped his fingers and a soft blue light covered its surface. "This should give me some time to think." He said to himself as the magical barrier took effect. He navigated the rows of shelves until he came to a section blocked off by a padlocked gate of iron bars. "Here you buggars are." He said while drawing out a pair of lockpicks from one of his coat's many pockets. 

[GoldieS 679]

Biohazarddallas @Driz @silvermoon15000 @Star48955 @Techno Universal @MARSOC

"Yes sir. We've already deployed our forces in phalanxes around the castle, but the rioters don't seem interested, at least not yet. We'll begin advancing shortly, but the main body of the mob is located in and around the market district where they've taken roughly thirteen hostages, claiming they're cultists. It's a witch hunt, you know where those lead..." The officer added darkly. 

While the castle was extensive in size, and built with the strongest materials, the windows still allowed them to hear a portion of the madness brewing outside. All this, and only an hour after midnight, the cacophony of shouting and yelling blowing up the entire city. Doubtful anyone could sleep through that, not that they were given most were all to eagerly joining what they thought to be a righteous cause. 

---

The library was just as dreary and dark as expected. At that time of night there were no attendants of course, and the entire hall was cast in shadows, though nothing near what they experienced outside. This was a more natural state of lighting. 

The books were well cared for, sitting on lacquered dark oak shelves side by side. Nothing was out of place, each book perfectly fit among the others. Unfortunately, the isles weren't exactly roomy, forcing any more than a single pony to walk behind one another. 

There were a great many books as well, two stories worth in the open hall. A set of spiral stairs in the back and front lead up to the next level on the balconies above, where they found the closed off section Elias and the group was searching for. 

Edited October 4, 2017 by GoldieS

[Biohazarddallas 221]

The lock was easy and soon he began drawing a small circle on a clear spot of the floor inside the obviously restricted section. He waved is paws over the chalk circle and said a few words. "et a porta usque ad domum suam." The floor inside the circle shimmered and disappeared. Instead showing Elias' safe house or more accurately, the floor of the said safe house. "Hey Ozzie, Im gonna need your photographic memory over here. I just hit a goldmine!" He shouted into the hole, waiting for the spirit of knowledge's response.

[MARSOC 100]

1 hour ago, GoldieS said:

Biohazarddallas @Driz @silvermoon15000 @Star48955 @Techno Universal @MARSOC

"Yes sir. We've already deployed our forces in phalanxes around the castle, but the rioters don't seem interested, at least not yet. We'll begin advancing shortly, but the main body of the mob is located in and around the market district where they've taken roughly thirteen hostages, claiming they're cultists. It's a witch hunt, you know where those lead..." The officer added darkly. 

While the castle was extensive in size, and built with the strongest materials, the windows still allowed them to hear a portion of the madness brewing outside. All this, and only an hour after midnight, the cacophony of shouting and yelling blowing up the entire city. Doubtful anyone could sleep through that, not that they were given most were all to eagerly joining what they thought to be a righteous cause. 

Biohazarddallas @Driz @silvermoon15000 @Star48955 @Techno Universal

"Move the phalanxes from the castle to the Market District. Contain the mob there and work your way towards the hostages if things turn sour. Disperse the crowds with non-lethal spells, smoakscreen with a mixture of temporary blindness and burning will suffice. If any of the rioters make it to the castle it will be considered an attack on the Princesses. Lethal force is authorized at that point. I want continued updates as this goes on, Understood?"

He turned to the guards flanking the throne room. "Should we tell him that we just sent him to the public library?" Legion said with a chuckle.

Edited October 4, 2017 by MARSOC

[Biohazarddallas 221]

@MARSOC

Elias paused for a moment, something felt wrong. He glanced up at the sign above his section hoping he was wrong. 'ADULT' it read, "That cheeky bastard..." he chuckled and set down the book he was previously going to toss down the hole. "Scratch that Ozzie, false alarm!! He shouted before closing the circle. "Now where is the real good stuff?" He asked himself while fishing through his pockets. "Aha!" He said pulling out a matchbook. He liberated a single match from its confines. "Time to show me the way." He said to the unlit match as he placed it on the floor. "ostende mihi viam bibliotheca latent." He murmured and the match floated up to his chest level, spun around a few times then started slowly moving  towards the door. "Try that trick again I dare you." He said as he followed the match, this time on his way to the real library.

Edited October 4, 2017 by Biohazarddallas

[Driz 1,552]

1 hour ago, MARSOC said:

"You will stay here. As long as you don't leave the castle grounds, you're safe."

"Nuh-uh. Nope. No deal, Lieutenant." Lory responded, shaking her head several times. "Don't mistake me for one of them defenseless civies out there. I'm gonna fight, either with or against you." She stated, determined. Surely, she disliked being left out from any sort of movement that happened within a community. Her personality was loud: restless. More than anything, she would refuse to just sit around and wait for everything to be over.

Her eyes accompanied Elias as he rushed to the castle's library, clicking her tongue with disdain. She levitated her lead pipe to her side and pointed it towards Legion.

"So?... What's it gonna be? Are you willing to take a Manehatten renegade in your brainless army?" She questioned with a smug.

[Techno Universal 2,575]

3 hours ago, GoldieS said:

Biohazarddallas @Driz @silvermoon15000 @Star48955 @Techno Universal @MARSOC

The group was interrupted by another officer sliding through the door as it opened only a small bit. He looked frantic, but relatively collected as he approached Luna, ignoring those around her, bowing respectfully but wasting no time to speak. 

"Your grace, there's an incident underway in the city! A mob has been rousing residents from their homes, causing damage to property and dragging those they suspect to be cultists out to the city center. The entire city is up in arms, taking the law into their own hooves, we can't contain them." The officer growled shaking his head in defeat. "We believe it's in response to a rash of shade sightings and encounters tonight, so far almost thirty injuries and thirteen fatalities attributed to shade activity, but we're currently trying to validate other reports."

A riot in Canterlot, a rare thing for such a city, but it had been several months since the beginning of all of... whatever it was. Residence were sick and tired of it, afraid and angry the guards were unable to properly deal with the threat. Add a small incursion of shades, and the city went off like an oil fire. 

"Even with many of the Solar Guards reporting in for duty, we don't have the ability to appropriately subdue the crowds without using force." The officer concluded. 

Techno's eyes then widened in reaction to the news...

 

TU: Yeah that's why my works would of been so important for us here in equestria if I ever managed to actually get them done.

 

Techno then noticed Elias doing something in the distance so he started looking closely at him from a distance...

[GoldieS 679]

Biohazarddallas @Driz @silvermoon15000 @Star48955 @Techno Universal @MARSOC

The guards chuckled at the commander's comments, shortly after Elias left to find his 'information'. They waited around with the rest of the group, in the main hall while some of the command staff arrived to discuss the ongoing situation. 

Lory's comments gave them pause, a few of them glaring and standing taller around her. They clearly didn't care for her presence one bit. Despite have about a dozen officers there in all, she still made her brazen and disrespectful comments, while brandishing her weapon. 

"Watch your tongue!" One of them snapped, "and put that weapon away before I take it!" 

One of the taller bats stepped up to Lory, looming over her while staring down at her. 

@Biohazarddallas

It took quite a bit of searching to find the more secure library, Elias was forced to travel down a few floors and into the 'dungeon' section. It was a bit more stifling down there, no air flow and difficult to navigate. Despite that, his magic pointed the way regardless. Unfortunately for him, a single bat pony was standing guard at the entrance, unflinching and only giving Elias the barest of acknowledgement, but barred the felines way. 

[Techno Universal 2,575]

1 minute ago, GoldieS said:

Biohazarddallas @Driz @silvermoon15000 @Star48955 @Techno Universal @MARSOC

The guards chuckled at the commander's comments, shortly after Elias left to find his 'information'. They waited around with the rest of the group, in the main hall while some of the command staff arrived to discuss the ongoing situation. 

Lory's comments gave them pause, a few of them glaring and standing taller around her. They clearly didn't care for her presence one bit. Despite have about a dozen officers there in all, she still made her brazen and disrespectful comments, while brandishing her weapon. 

"Watch your tongue!" One of them snapped, "and put that weapon away before I take it!" 

One of the taller bats stepped up to Lory, looming over her while staring down at her. 

@Biohazarddallas

It took quite a bit of searching to find the more secure library, Elias was forced to travel down a few floors and into the 'dungeon' section. It was a bit more stifling down there, no air flow and difficult to navigate. Despite that, his magic pointed the way regardless. Unfortunately for him, a single bat pony was standing guard at the entrance, unflinching and only giving Elias the barest of acknowledgement, but barred the felines way. 

Techno then shouted out to Elias and Lory...

 

TU: BOYS!!! Let's get moving!!!

 

Techno then went and joined the main group in the hallway...

[Biohazarddallas 221]

The match led him through the long twisting hallways of the castle's lower levels. He had to cast an illumination spell a long time ago as the halls grew progressively darker. 

2 minutes ago, GoldieS said:

 

@Biohazarddallas

It took quite a bit of searching to find the more secure library, Elias was forced to travel down a few floors and into the 'dungeon' section. It was a bit more stifling down there, no air flow and difficult to navigate. Despite that, his magic pointed the way regardless. Unfortunately for him, a single bat pony was standing guard at the entrance, unflinching and only giving Elias the barest of acknowledgement, but barred the felines way. 

"Ello mate, little bit of personal business down here. Gonna need in that door there." He said hoping the guard would allow him through. When he didn't elias sighed "fine 'ave it your way, horas ad somnum!" He said and the guard swayed for a moment, then dropped to the floor snoring within minutes. Elias stepped over the unfortunate bat pony and entered the library. "Sweet dreams chap." He said before closing the door.