private ~* Feral Ponies *~ {RP}

[Technicolor_Pony 34]

(Mind if I act as if I've been here? XD)

Technicolor stood shyly behind the other research ponies before her. She was more of a survival genius, and felt less intelligent than the other ponies. She waited patiently for her orders and stood back until spoken to.

[Grapz224 137]

Soul pondered going multiple times before going to the train station. He still questioned why a retired guard and not an active one would be picked. Then again, All the ponies had been hoof-picked... "oh well" he mumbled, "I'm sure they will answer our questions eventually."

 

He checked his stuff for a third time, making sure he had a weeks supply of Food, Water, a small tent, and spare weapons. Getting all of his stuff together had put more strain on his horn than reading the letter, so putting on his armour, which had multiple straps to make it stable, made him nearly pass out.

 

"Why would they need me...?" he thought out loud. "hmm... leadership? maybe... or just to make it Official? hmmm..."

 

Finally, when he got to the train station, he found a site he thought was... Interesting. Quickly looking up and down the row of ponies, a few seemed... interesting.

The first pony he noticed was the Crystal Pony. He had not worked with a crystal pony, since their discovery, or, re-discovery, was recently before he retired. None had moved to ponyville, so other than photos, he had not seen one in person. He took a second to admire his dazzling shine, then moved on.

 

The next ponies he saw he took to be 2 normal Unicorns, and a normal Earth Pony. "Celestia must have picked them for SOMETHING" he thought. Finding nothing more of interest about them, he moved on.

 

The last pony startled him. Not only was this one riding another pony, but he recognized him. Thinking, he remembered in his training for Royal Guards as a filly, he had been to a medal giving ceremony to a pony who had saved multiple towns from starvation. He had not known much about him, as he was in training, but most of what he DID know was lost under a sea of memories, most of which he did not want to see. He shrugged it off, and approached the group

 

"Citizens, would you have happened to have been summoned here by Luna or Celestia, would you have been? If not, I am afraid I have no further business with you."

Edited March 21, 2014 by Grapz224

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@00Pony, @@Technicolor_Pony, @@Grapz224,

 

Glory smiled at the newcomers. "Are we waiting for anypony more?" she asked. "I do hope that we can get on soon, cuz I really want to start this mission as soon as possible. Perhaps you could introduce yourselves? I'm Glory."

 

When Soul spoke (Glory knew him by sight, at least) she replied, "Of course. We are here for the same reason you are, I would guess. To research the Equibane plant."

 

@@Torrent505, @@Malinter, "The other herds are nowhere near as large as ours," Lightning replied. "Still, it would be best to leave them alone, let them decide by themselves whether or not to join ours or struggle alone."

 

A previous herd had merged with Lightning's herd several years before. They had been attacked by the wild cats, and all the stallions had been killed. The mares had made the sensible decision to join with Lightning's herd, rather than try to scratch a living alone. There was after all, safety in numbers.

[Technicolor_Pony 34]

Technicolor perked up her ears and stepped forward. She felt comfortable now and decided to show her more extroverted side.

"I'm Technicolor, call me Techni or TC," she said. "Survival expert. I know a bit about sciences as well." She glowed her horn and changed color.

[Grapz224 137]

Soul looked at the two Unicorns who had spoken.

 

"Soul. Royal Guard. or at least I was. Recently retired. I agree with Glory. The train should be here any minute (OOC:Pripyat, your GM, you decide when the train comes). Techni, Your the Survival expert then? Ever heard of this... Equibane before? I've only heard the name before. A few files from Canterlot mentioned it a long time ago, though I do not know exactly what they said."

[Malinter 3,064]

@@Pripyat Pony,

 

*Malinter laughs slightly*

 

You say that but you weren't born during the last shortage... without the Equibane they'll they'll just revert to savagery like they did before.

 

*he shakes his head sadly*

 

But thats a concern for another day. I have tasks to perform so I will take my leave. Wanderlost will know how to find me, that pest always does.

 

*Malinter turns to leave and return to his sanctuary* 

Edited March 22, 2014 by Malinter

[Technicolor_Pony 34]

Soul looked at the two Unicorns who had spoken.

 

"Soul. Royal Guard. or at least I was. Recently retired. I agree with Glory. The train should be here any minute (OOC:Pripyat, your GM, you decide when the train comes). Techni, Your the Survival expert then? Ever heard of this... Equibane before? I've only heard the name before. A few files from Canterlot mentioned it a long time ago, though I do not know exactly what they said."

Technicolor looked towards Soul. "I've heard of it, but I don't know too much about it. I read about it a long time ago..." She put her hoof to her chin. "It was that they were poisonous or could treat poisons... Something like that. But I wanted to embark because I could learn more about it. And did you say you were a royal guard? My friend's brother is one. Thank you for your service." She made a respectful bow.

[IridscentNionios 1,420]

@@Pripyat Pony,((OOC:Who else should i mention here? @EVERYONE IN THE STATION))

Artemis gathered her equipment and paid for her last day at the inn. The only reason she stayed there was because the innkeeper was the only one that accepted her wolf companion. She and Lykos were close together from the time she freed him from the poachers... she wouldn't go anywhere where he wasn't accepted. She didn't care that he got looks from the others near the station. She ignored the ignorant and the paranoid and moved towards the group of ponies... 

"Excuse me... are you the ones i should be looking for the expedition? I have my paper right here that says i should meet someone Glory something?"

[Torrent505 370]

Wanderlust snorted a little indignantly at Malinter's comment, but only because it was meant as an insult; Wanderlust took pride in the comment otherwise.

 

He looked at Lightning, "I respect both the wisdom of my Elders and the decisions of my herd Chief, but the other herds have their own private plots of Equibane, they won't be left without. We hold the greatest grove and our plants are the most potent in existence, the Elder has seen to that over years of tender care. The other tribes only seek our Equibane to grow stronger, we are in abundance now but that does not mean we must share with all others in the land. They gain nothing if they don't tend and grow their own blessed blossoms and seek to match our crops perfection!"

 

He gestured at the saddlebag, "all tribes would ally with us for our bounty, or destroy us to take it." He looked out toward the grasslands beyond the forest, "we must be careful which allies we choose, and be careful that those we turn away do not gather against us... But as always I trust in your judgement my chief."

[Hive King 2,001]

((@ everyone in the station)) 

Mantorok analyzed the people next to him, putting them into catgeories. 

Useful and not useful. So far, they're all not useful. Then again, studying always yielded odd results. One other thing he wanted to rectify about the world, remove probablility out of it. Everything would give a grand design. He'd never tell anyone this, their eyes weren't open enough to understand

[Grapz224 137]

((@Station))
Soul had, after talking to the others, been applying ointment onto his horn (OOC: Surprised nobody has mentioned that yet) In the mirror he was using, he saw the quiet Black pony looking at him. He finished putting on the ointment, put the case in his saddle bag, and turned to face him.

 

"Sir, may I ask, what talents do you possess that could could help us to what we are facing?"

Edited March 22, 2014 by Grapz224

[00Pony 286]

@@Pripyat Pony,@@Grapz224,@,@,@@Technicolor_Pony,@,

(I believe that is everyone)

 

Saron maintained his silence for a short time longer. He had been spoken to, but the others began to introduce themselves first. That was well enough. Glory, the lavender Unicorn, introduced herself first but offered only a name with no mention of skillset. Next was another Unicorn mare who seemed rather shy, but spoke readily enough. She introduced herself as Technicolor - amongst other titles - and labeled herself as 'survival expert'. Next to speak was a stallion called Soul, a former royal guard. His skillset was likely in the field of protection, despite an apparently advanced age. Saronyx had learned that one' sage does not decide their worth. He was over a millennia in age, technically speaking after all. Then again, most Crystals nowadays were. He took note of Soul's application of a type of ointment to his horn. He was advanced in age, so his grasp of physical magic was likely fleeting. That probably had something to do with it.

 

Soul and Technicolor began to converse about the properties of the plant, at least what they knew. Another pony strolled up, a Pegasus mare with a wolf companion. Saronyx' ear swiveled slightly towards Corvus as the black bird gave a quiet caw, but made no sort of movement. The sight of the typically hostile canine wasn't to jarring for the Crystal. He'd seen stranger. The Pegasus asked whether this was the group of researchers, and Saron took it upon himself to answer, "That we are. Glory is the lavender Unicorn."

 

He glanced at the group, shrugging slightly, "Whether you hear me or not, I suppose I may as well make myself known. I am Saronyx, I believe I have been chosen as a historical consultant and documenter of this expedition."

 

Saron returned to his silence shortly after that, not pursuing conversation lest approached. He contented himself to looking to the rest of the group. The two Earth ponies who we're hear before him specifically. One was a hyper active brown stallion, and the other an elder, apparently crippled individual. The cripple had a companion who bore most, if not all, his weight. Saronyx felt a chill run through his spine at this particular stallion. One aspect of being a Crystal pony was your empathy. Crystals felt feelings more potently than others - with the exception of such races as Changelings who fed on them - and were affected by them accordingly. This stallion was analytical and something about him felt... Off.

 

Saronyx did not dwell long on this. He couldn't say he trusted everyone here, having only just learned most of their names and had no opportunity to communicate further with any. But that would change, given time. After all, they were all on this endeavor together. He wondered with some measure of amused curiosity the lack of a Zebra herbalist. Some may call it stereotyping, but there was no denying the evidently natural affinity Zebras had for exotic plants and their magical properties, of which their homeland was abundant. One might think such a Zebra would be brought along to research something like the Equibane. But, perhaps one of his companions bore such knowledge as one of the striped herbalists. Only time would tell.

Edited March 22, 2014 by 00Pony

[Malinter 3,064]

@@Torrent505,

 

*He nodded to Wanderlust*

 

There is some truth to what you speak, but the instant we start spilling the blood of our own kind we become nothing but beasts...

 

*He looks at his hooves, at the claw and teeth marks he'd recieved in those terrible days*

 

That must never happen again.

 

*Malinter left the others in the settlement, his errands done, he hoped a walk though the forests would hopefully improve his spirits*

Edited March 22, 2014 by Malinter

[IridscentNionios 1,420]

@@Pripyat Pony,@@Grapz224,@,@,@@Technicolor_Pony,@@00Pony,
((OOC:What species is he again?))She was glad to be in the right spot. More than anything she was glad that at least one pony didn't just run away from her and her wolf. Saronyx introduced herself and she noded showing acknowledgement of his name. It seemed it was customary to have such formalities and exchange names as she had discovered. In the wild she didn't need that... in the wild formalities weren't needed or encouraged... but she guessed she might as well give it a shot.

"My name is Artemis... Artemis Featherclaw. Nice to meet you... i came here... well mostly i was forced to come here but let's just say some ponies thought that you guys could use a ranger that has actually lived in the wild. I haven't been given the details of our mission so if you know anything more than i do about that plant we are looking for that'd be nice. I seriously haven't heard of anything like it since the time i was in the forest... and believe me i have seen a lot of herbs and plants."

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@Everypony

 

Glory listened as the other ponies introduced herself. It occurred to her that perhaps she ought to elaborate on her own role in the mission; after all, everypony else had listed their reasons for being here.

 

"I specialise in healing," she said to the group at large. "My magic is attuned to healing, and I'm also very interested in herbal medicine. I've read up on Equibane and altho there aren't many books where it is mentioned, the ones I've found speak of a plant which has many fascinating medical properties. I believe that if we could get hold of samples, the Equibane could be a boon for the equine race."

 

@@Torrent505,

 

Lightning listened to the other pony. "What you say is true, and we will fight to defend our plots, but let's hope it doesn't come to that," he said. "I doubt tho that the other herds would even think of challenging us. We have the largest herd, and also the largest number of active fighters. And since our grove of Equibane is more potent than the rest, we are also the strongest. I don't believe anypony would risk their lives trying to take us over."

[Hive King 2,001]

@@Grapz224, @@Pripyat Pony,@,@@00Pony,@@Technicolor_Pony, @Jolteon,

"I am good at runic spells" Mantorok hissed out, coughing from the effort. Mantorok saw the ointment applied to the pony's horn and smirked a bit. That was interesting. He decided not to bother asking for their secrets, with so many, it wouldn't work anyway. Even so, the wolf that accompanied them was interesting. The wolf seemed rather obedient, perhaps it held secrets to controlling nature? That would be filed away under further study. For now, he just listened, deciding to speak only when spoken to. He'd study his comrades. 

 

"When will the train arrive? These formalities are of little concern" Mantorok grumbled, his servant pony shifting so he had a bit more height

[Technicolor_Pony 34]

Technicolor shrugged. "It seems like the train is being driven by Mr. Molasses," She said, trying to get a rise of laughter out of the crowd. She considered these ponies already as her new friends, and she wanted friends to be happy and entertained.

(filler, because they got me off by three bucking characters)

[Grapz224 137]

@Station

 

Soul looked around, then spoke to the group in general.

 

"So we have me and This... Runic pony, What is your name anyway? Nonetheless, me and him for Guards, An herbalist, A Healer, A Historical Consultant, and a Ranger. Seems like a diverse Skillset, and certainly one that would be perfect for this. Artemis, I don't know your criminal record, but even though we will be outside Equestria's border, this is still a mission from the princess, and I am going along. I would not like to have to arrest you when we get back, but I know Rangers find laws to be a fun thing to break. Just a warning."

 

With that said, he turned back towards the tracks. "hm, Trains are almost NEVER this late... my goodness."

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

The train eventually arrived, puffing into the station and stopping amid clouds of steam. There had been a slight delay, with a pony taken ill at the last station, and the driver was anxious to make up lost time. Especially since he now had to take a group of ponies on a royal mission to the Badlands. He would drop them at the station there, and they would walk the rest of the way, which was not far.

 

Glory had been worried that the train would not arrive; now that it had, she heaved a sigh of relief and boarded it. There were two large carriages reserved for the research team, linked by a door.

[Torrent505 370]

@, @@Malinter,@@Pripyat Pony,

 

 

Wanderlust nodded at his Chiefs words, the Stallion had yet to steer the herd wrong so far, "Well I trust you'll distribute the old man's Equibane fairly."  He looked up at the pegasus mare above him, "though remember some ponies outside the herd do seem more than willing to challenge even the strongest members of our tribe, LIghtning." 

 

He turned and started to walk away, moving to go deeper into the forest, he knew of a rock that heated up wonderfully in the late afternoon.  He looked back over his shoulder at the others, he didn't think Wind Sonnet would try to get revenge for his prank so soon so he didn't rush.  Instead he called back, "You might want to offer her some, if she's going to live in our woods it wouldn't do for her to take our crop whenever she wishes."

[Hive King 2,001]

@@Grapz224,

"You are an idiot" Mantorok stated flatly, glaring at Soul. "I am a cripple, how do you expect me to fight? I don't deign to give my name to idiots" he grumbled, already toying with the idea of running an autopsy on the imbecile, just to see if he had a brain.

@@Technicolor_Pony,

"Jokes are distractions...stop" Mantorok grumbled as the train rolled in. His servant carried him onto the train and dumped him in a seat, leaving him propped up so he could breathe. The servant then stood at attention, waiting for further orders 

[IridscentNionios 1,420]

@@Pripyat Pony,@@Grapz224,@,@,@@Technicolor_Pony,@@00Pony,

Equi what now? She was aware of this plant's existence through reading. Although she didn't strike much for the reading type the books concerning nature were books she valued greatly. Adaptability was also something she valued and was willing to give time. There were few references to that plant but nothing too detailed.

"I've heard of the plant but there were no specifics to all it's effects. This shall be interesting..."

Lykos grumbled giving her master a sign that something was coming. The wolf perked it's ears as the train came. Lykos hated machinery for the most part. Artemis noticed her companion's "opposition" to the train and proceeded to calm him down. He petted him and scratched him at a point above the head and then below the ear.

"Easy friend... if i won't let anything hurt you."

[Hive King 2,001]

@,

Mantorok's body may be aged, but his mind was still keen. So, that mare had a soft a spot for her wolf. Learning things that other ponies liked was always useful. He knew that no one would accept his grand vision, so he'd have to be subversive.

Note to self, if mare with pet wolf needs to be manipulated, wolf is key 

[The565er 9]

When Western's taxi finally arrived at the station, he was pleasantly surprised to see that the train was still there. He quickly handed four bits to the driver and ran straight towards the train to get on before it left. Only when he got onto the carriage did he breath a sigh of relief and started to find a cabin at a much more leisurely pace. Almost immediately, he saw a pony that looked like it was standing guard of a cabin. Upon further inspection, he saw that inside the cabin was another pony who, while frail looking, appeared to be in charge of the other. Deciding that he would be a better pony to speak to, he asked 'Hey there! You here for the expedition too?'

Edited March 22, 2014 by The565er

[Grapz224 137]

@Station

@@The565er,  (OOC: I'm a little confused here, are you talking to about me (a royal guard) or @?)

 

Soul, while getting onto the train, replied to the Runic Pony.

"Well your magic is not one I have extensive knowledge on. and I have not seen you cast a spell. So, I say, how do you expect me to know what use it may be in battle? I just figured if Celestia or Luna thought this needed guards, they would send Royal Guards, such as myself, or Unique magic casters, somepony like Princess Twilight, for example. It just seems... odd... to send only one guard if it is so Dangerous. Do you not agree?"