'A Hideous Lament' One-off Campaign

'A Hideous Lament' was a PRPG one-shot campaign.

Background Scenario:

"The vile witch Hydia goes too far!" Rosedust, queen of the flutterponies, proclaimed loudly, wrath plainly evident in her voice. "We flutterponies want only peace. We have suffered her aggressions time and again, and we have shown restraint. When the smooze came, we beat it back but left her be, hoping she could learn to live and let live. When she turned the bees against us, we won the day by reasoning with them instead of resorting to violence. But at last, this is too much! She strikes at our very heart and taints the sunstone itself from afar with foul twisted magics!"

"How do you know it's her, Queen Rosedust?" Gusty the unicorn asked.

"My best scrier has personally traced the path of the alien magic back to her castle atop the volcano," Rosedust replied. "And who else would do this? Who else hates us so? There is no question in my mind. Although admittedly, her ability to project her power over such distance is a new development. I fear she may have some dark new ally of late."

"And you can't stop her power from getting to the sunstone?"

"No! We try, but her cunning outmatches all our best shields and wards." Rosedust flittered back and forth through the air, fine sparks of magic dusting off her translucent lepidopterine wings in her agitation. She stopped and hovered in front of the sunstone, pointing at it with a forehoof. "See how its light fades!" she cried. "The witch warps it cruelly, turning it against us! In just a few hours, when it transforms completely, Flutter Valley will die. Our beloved home, crumbling away from lush green to dusty desert! I can't bear the thought! What have we done to deserve this?"

"I think the better question is, what can be done to prevent it?" Gusty asked.

"I struggle with that question myself, and the answer is not pleasing." Rosedust hung her head and sighed. "As loathe as I am to resort to meeting violence with violence, I no longer see any other choice if I am to serve the best interests of my little flutterponies..."

"I understand." Gusty nodded grimly. "If that's what has to happen, the rest of the ponies stand ready to come to your aid. Earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi are friends of the flutterponies. You helped in our time of need. Let us return the favor. Hydia hasn't exactly been nice to us, anyway."

"I would be most grateful for any assistance you can offer, Dame Gusty," Rosedust said.

"Don't mention it. After the ways you've suffered at her hands, it's the least we can do," Gusty said. "I'll see to finding the right mares for the job, ones who can take care of that nasty witch and any friends of hers... permanently!"

And so, with little time to lose, but steeled with firm resolve, Gusty set out on her quest.