* Now talking on #gabrio-shadow * 127.0.0.1 sets mode +n #gabrio-shadow * You've invited Shadow to #gabrio-shadow (127.0.0.1) * You've invited Gabrio to #gabrio-shadow (127.0.0.1) >Shadow< /join #gabrio-shadow >Gabrio< /join #gabrio-shadow * Gabrio (~Matthew@216.160.83.174) has joined #gabrio-shadow <Bryce-GM> Hi <Gabrio> Hi * Shadow (~raja@ool-4a59e697.dyn.optonline.net) has joined #gabrio-shadow <Bryce-GM> Which direction do you fly>? <Gabrio> (Shadow's in the lead, but I'd assume towards the city) <Shadow> (back the way we came, though hanging low towards the water) <Bryce-GM> Okay. You fly low, and reach the shore. <Bryce-GM> The palace walls loom large before you. <Bryce-GM> Land, or fly higher? <Shadow> (let's land and look about) <Gabrio> [Lands with Shadow] <Bryce-GM> You're standing on the shore. Some large stones are here as a breakwater. <Bryce-GM> About ten meters inland, the foundations of the palace are laid. <Shadow> [walks inland cautiously, looking about for signs of disturbance] <Bryce-GM> It extends to the northwest and southeast. <Bryce-GM> Seems quiet. It doesn't seem like this beach is used at all. <Gabrio> [Keeps close and alert for potential attackers] <Shadow> [continues around the southeast part of the palace] <Bryce-GM> You see some ponies up ahead. They are guards, but there are only two of them. One has a bandaged leg. <Bryce-GM> They don't seem to notice you yet. <Shadow> (not changelings, I presume?) <Bryce-GM> Not changelings. <Shadow> [approaches them quietly, listening to see if they're talking] <Bryce-GM> You step on a mostly-buried snailshell. It cracks. <Gabrio> [Approaches them openly] <Bryce-GM> The ponies turn and see both of you. <Bryce-GM> Guard: Oh no, they found us! <Bryce-GM> Wounded Guard: You won't eat us, you scaly bastard! <Bryce-GM> The guards brandish spears, but they are clearly at the <Shadow> Eat you?...I don't eat ponies! <Bryce-GM> brink of a morale failure. <Shadow> ...what happened? <Bryce-GM> Guard: Don't come any closer! <Gabrio> [Steps in between them] <Bryce-GM> Guard: You either! You're with them! <Gabrio> Gabrio: Calm down, what has happened to you? <Shadow> Okay...we'll stay right here. <Bryce-GM> The guard looks briefly at the other guard. <Bryce-GM> Wounded Guard: ... you... we're still alive... <Bryce-GM> They look confused. <Gabrio> Gabrio: I would hope so <Gabrio> Gabrio <Gabrio> Gabrio: I have talked to enough dead ponies for this day <Bryce-GM> Guard: You aren't one of the other dragons? <Shadow> What other dragons? I thought it was just me and the postmaster? <Bryce-GM> Wounded Guard: This one is a lot smaller. <Bryce-GM> Guard: The invading dragons. <Shadow> ...dragons invaded? <Gabrio> Gabrio: What invading dragons? <Bryce-GM> Guard: ... have you been somewhere else the last... I dunno, hour or so? <Shadow> Yes...we have just slain the changeling queen! <Gabrio> Gabrio: yes, we were out at the fortress dealing with the changelings. <Bryce-GM> Other Guard: changelings... there really were changelings? <Bryce-GM> Guard: Hmm. <Gabrio> Gabrio: Yes. <Shadow> What exactly happened? <Bryce-GM> Guard: Well, yeah, dragons invaded while a lot of us were off to hunt changelings. <Bryce-GM> Other guard: We thought it was all a ruse, or maybe they were working with the terrorists? <Shadow> But...I didn't think there were other dragons around... <Gabrio> Gabrio: Is it possible the dragons were really changelings? <Bryce-GM> Guard; Well, now, neither did we. They flew in. <Bryce-GM> Guard: Dragons fly, you know. <Bryce-GM> (He says to the winged dragon.) <Shadow> [looks up at the guard briefly, then to Gabrio] It's possible. <Bryce-GM> Other guard: I saw dragons, not changelings. ALl this speculation about changelings seems to be causing a lot of trouble lately. <Shadow> Can you tell me what these dragons looked like? Are there any still around? <Bryce-GM> Guard: I don't know. Probably they're still around. <Bryce-GM> Other guard: Pretty big, about three times as tall as you, dark in color, big fangs. <Bryce-GM> Other guard: They were eating people... <Shadow> We...we wouldn't do that... <Shadow> [looks up towards the top of the palace] <Shadow> Gabrio...do you think we could get a better view from up there? <Gabrio> [Whispers] Gabrio: I do. <Gabrio> [Prepairs to fly] <Bryce-GM> Guard: Well, thanks for not eating us. <Shadow> [flies up to the top of the palace and alights on top to look over the city] Oh...like I said, I don't eat ponies. Just crystals. <Gabrio> [Follows] <Bryce-GM> Guard: Don't know if you're telling the truth or just not hungry, doesn't much matter to me. <Bryce-GM> You get a better view. <Bryce-GM> The palace looks mostly intact, although there are some signs of disturbance in the courtyard. <Gabrio> [Heads towards the disturbance] <Bryce-GM> Beyond, there are columns of smoke rising from some burning buildings in the city, but <Bryce-GM> no more than six or seven in total. <Shadow> [follows lightly] <Shadow> [though keeping a distance from the actual disturbance] <Bryce-GM> You see some dead guards on the ground. The guards have been burned to death. Behind and around them though are piles of dust. <Gabrio> [Moves to get a look at each of the burning buildings, to see if he can spot anything three times shadow's size] <Bryce-GM> Some of the piles of dust contain accessories and clothing... <Gabrio> (Dust, like what the changelings left?) <Bryce-GM> Gabrio sees no sign of dragons or other large creatures. <Bryce-GM> The same kind of dust, yes. <Gabrio> [Do the buildings look like they might still be occupied? And how active are the fires) <Bryce-GM> Most of the fires look like they've been burning a while. Fortunately, most of the buildings nearby do not have flammable roofs, so it's <Bryce-GM> unlikely that the fires will get totally out of hand in the near future. <Gabrio> (does anyone appear to be doing anything about them) <Bryce-GM> There are some pegasi in the distance fighting one of the fires. <Shadow> [flies towards that building] <Shadow> [looking around as she does so to see if she sees any dragons or changelings] <Bryce-GM> Flying over the city, you narrowly dodge an arrow. <Bryce-GM> There is a guard on a rooftop with a crossbow, shooting at you. <Shadow> (do I see where it came from?) <Bryce-GM> She is reloading. <Gabrio> [To Shadow] Gabrio: It might be better for you to stay out of sight. <Shadow> (is there anyplace I can hide?) <Gabrio> Gabrio: I'll see if I can get them to allow you to land. <Gabrio> [Flies towards the guard] <Bryce-GM> Well, buildings and alleys. <Bryce-GM> Guard: Stay back! <Shadow> [eyes wide, she puts her claws up in a gesture of submission] <Bryce-GM> Guard: What were you doing with that dragon?! <Gabrio> Gabrio: The dragon is a friend, we were out at the fortress dealing with the Changelings. <Bryce-GM> The guard does not shoot, for now, but she's still pointing the crossbow. <Bryce-GM> The guard looks at Shadow, then Gabrio. <Bryce-GM> Guard: Changelings? That was real? <Bryce-GM> Guard: ... okay, I guess you don't look like the other dragons quite... <Gabrio> Gabrio: Yes, and it seems to me that they may be behind these so-called dragons as well. <Bryce-GM> Guard: Look, if you're one of our dragons, I'd advise you stay clear of here. <Shadow> [cautiously flies closer to the guard, her claws still up] <Gabrio> Gabrio: I can understand, do you know where we might find some pegasi carts? <Gabrio> Gabrio: Much of the party at the fortress is stuck, and they could likely help here. <Bryce-GM> Guard: Pegasus carts? I don't know, those are a rare thing in the best of times, but... try looking? A lot of ponies got caught in the streets by the dragons. <Bryce-GM> Guard: Maybe something has been left behind. <Bryce-GM> Guard: Maybe get a boat. <Bryce-GM> Guard: ... when you were up there, did you see any other dragons? <Shadow> No, I didn't... <Gabrio> [Shakes head] Gabrio: No <Shadow> I don't even know what they look like. <Gabrio> Gabrio: We had only a vague description from the guards <Shadow> I wish I could see them....just to know if they were changelings or not. <Shadow> Could you tell me anything more about them? <Gabrio> Gabrio: I very much think they were, even by air, things that large would be very noticable when traveling in bulk. <Bryce-GM> Guard: Big black dragons. Fangs. <Bryce-GM> Guard: Once in a while they breathed fire, but mostly they just... ate ponies. <Bryce-GM> Guard: Sort of sucked them dry... it was awful. <Bryce-GM> Guard: Only dust left... <Shadow> [looks down] <Shadow> Then it was changelings after all... <Gabrio> [Blinks] Gabrio: A thought strikes me, the changelings mentioned their stores of food <Gabrio> Gabrio: You don't think that's what this attack was for do you? <Shadow> I...I can only think... <Shadow> [tears start to well up] maybe I should have just let them be... <Shadow> this is all my fault... <Bryce-GM> Guard: Are you okay? <Gabrio> [Shakes head] Gabrio:This is not your fault, they were given ample opportunity to leave or to surrender without harm. <Bryce-GM> Guard: ... I'm sorry I shot at you, I should have realized that you weren't one of those dragons... <Shadow> I...I was trying to help...I was trying to help get rid of the changelings... <Gabrio> Gabrio: this is all by their choosing. <Shadow> But...they've caused so much damage as a result...if I had just let them be... <Gabrio> Gabrio: Then how much more exstensive would the damage be when somepony else uncovered them? <Gabrio> Gabrio: Do not worry about their past evils, we can only work to fix and repair them. <Shadow> [sits, silently, tears streaming slowly, for a few minutes. Then she wipes her eyes and stis up straighter] <Shadow> Yes...Saltclaw wouldn't sit around moping like this... <Shadow> Thank you Gabrio. <Shadow> [to the Guard] Don't worry...you didn't know. I would have shot too if I had gone through what you went through. <Gabrio> [Pats shadow's back} Gabrio: De nada friend, you are a good dragon, you just need to trust in that. <Bryce-GM> Guard: ... I should go now. I'll warn the others they see that you aren't one of them, but I don't know if they'll believe me. <Shadow> [smiles weakly] And you're a good hero... <Bryce-GM> Guard: This still may not be a safe place for dragons... <Bryce-GM> The guard leaves. <Gabrio> Gabrio: We understand, it's probably best that we find a boat or cart instead. <Shadow> Yes...that would be best. Maybe towards the shoreline. <Shadow> I don't think we should bring the Princess back here... <Shadow> [turns towards the shoreline] Let's see if we can find a boat. <Shadow> [takes off] <Gabrio> [Nods, and starts taking off towards the shore[ Gabrio: Possibly, though I think it best we let her decide that. These are her people. <Shadow> ...you're right. I...I should let these ponies decide for themselves... <Shadow> [scans for boats] <Gabrio> [Looks for boats or carts] <Bryce-GM> Searching, you find a pegasus cart, abandoned <Bryce-GM> it's stocked with valuables, hastily packed. The harnesses have piles of dust in them, and there are a few more nearby, <Bryce-GM> some intermingled with finery. This evacuation attempt came too late. <Gabrio> [Lands near the cart and begins to carefully set them aside.] <Gabrio> Gabrio: Lucky, this will be much quicker than a boat. <Shadow> [hanging her head, heaps the dust together and places it carefully on the ground, placing some of the valuables nearby in a sort of memorial] <Bryce-GM> The family crest on the side of the cart reads "Popmare" <Gabrio> [Sighs] <Shadow> Well...let's be off then. [takes one end of the cart] <Gabrio> (Does it look like we would each be able to manage one unloaded?) <Bryce-GM> A cart? You'd have to find another - <Bryce-GM> it took some time to find this one. <Bryce-GM> Pegasus carts are rare nowadays <Bryce-GM> which is why only rich people like these slain nobles and their retinue had one. <Gabrio> (Oh you meant dust piles, i thought you meant there were multiple carts nearby) <Bryce-GM> Well, and emergency services, etc. <Gabrio> (Derp) <Bryce-GM> Oh, it's fine. <Gabrio> [Dons the harness and takes off with the cart] <Bryce-GM> You fly, without further attempts at archery by anyone on the ground this time. <Shadow> [flying silently, imagines the Popmares, whoever might be, scrambling in pure terror before their end] <Shadow> [tears begin to stream again, but she says nothing] <Gabrio> Gabrio: Be strong, there will be time to mourn after this.
