The stallion casts a steely glance at the newcomers as the mare takes a couple of steps back. She responds to Toxic Rain and Follia first. "As a matter of fact, there was a zebra who came through here. He called himself 'Virulento', and he seemed to be some sort of collecter of odd things..." She turns to the stallion. "Didn't you say Applebloom went there with her friends?" "Eeyup." Then the stallion shivers. "She had bad dreams after that." The mare frowns. "I'm sorry. We're all just a little on edge." She glares in the direction of the wagon, then back to all of you. "I'm sure you can see why. Zecora's not so bad, but...this zebra is something else entirely..." She takes a moment to compose herself, then adds, "My name's Cheerilee. I teach at the elementary school here. This fine stallion is my friend, Big Macintosh." Big Macintosh simply nods. Cheerilee lets out a light chuckle. "He's not much for words, but he's a good guy."
"Well, it is very nice to meet you," said Silver. "Oops," he said, smiling sheepishly. I already said that, didn't I? Well, I guess that just emphasizes my point!" His smile faded as he turned to the two professors. "Well, are we going to check this Zebra out or not? I've heard he has some amazing artifacts. I'd like to study them a bit, and maybe read some old books, if he has any." He glanced at his bulging saddlebag, still full of the library books he'd gotten from Twilight. "I suppose one can never read too many books."
Grey Mane walked towards Silver, not caring about stealth for now. "I am going to make my way over there. I shall wait at the entrance. I shall see you lot there." She then turned towards the wagon and trotted casually over there.
"Goodbye, Cheerilee! Big Macintosh!" He nodded to each of them as he said their name, a slight smile on his face.
Cheerilee glances at the students as they wander by, then turns to the professors. "They don't know what they're getting into. He's a zebra after all... You should follow them. Come see us if you find anything out about Applejack, will you?" The two ponies leave and head toward the elementary school. Spoiler: Result of Encounter Grey Mane, Mystic Heart, and Silver Shield escaped. No experience. :derpe: As for Toxic Rain and Follia: 25XP * 2 = 50 / 2 Players = 25 + FIM Bonus (13) = 38XP each. Not bad. Grey Mane, Silver Shield, and Mystic Heart The wagon is not very far off, and you reach it in little time. The exterior of the wagon is made of sturdy wood. \ Spoiler: Roll Perception Grey Mane - 94 + 8 = 102 Mystic Heart - 59 + 6 = 65 Silver Shield - 47 + 8 = 55 There are dents and burn marks on the sides, but they don't appear to be recent. Grey Mane hears a shuffling coming from inside the wagon. The front door to the wagon is closed tightly.
Silver walked up to the door and almost knocked, then lowered his hoof a bit and looked at his companions as if to say, Should I knock? Then he realized what a silly question that was. Of course! What had they come here for, if not to meet Virulento? He tapped his hoof on the door three times, not too rapidly.
"Yes! Quite! You three go shake down the Zebra!" Follia declared as though the order was his to give. "We'll check up on Ms Sparkle!" He gives a loud whistle into the air then grins at Toxic: "Tell me Professor Rain, do you like ferrets?" Quite quickly, a dog appeared. It was a Shetland sheepdog, tiny legs working twenty to the dozen in order to keep a decent speed. They were a blur underneath the petty-coat of brown and black fur. The low frame and build of the dog was quite good at dragging the small wagon attached by string to the dog's middle. The wagon contained a cage, which contained a small, albino ferret that was watching the world go by. "Good girl, Mitzy!" Follia strokes the dog's head. "Did you feed the ferret?" Mitzy barks in confirmation. "Good, follow me!" He turns on the spot, marching of towards the Library.
Toxic bowed her head low, glancing at the hyperactive furry bodies inside. She then trotted alongside Follia. "Well, they seem like decent creatures," she said awkwardly. "I haven't had much encounter with animals really, only their various pickled parts that I can study. Biology is a very important part of alchemy after all, especially with the stranger creatures like cockatrices and quarry eels." She picked up her pace, realizing she was about to meet the famous Twilight Sparkle. "I wonder what she's like," she wondered aloud. She hoped that since they were both interested in the same book, they might have other things in common and may even become friends.
Silver Shield, Mystic Heart, and Grey Mane You hear a masculine voice coming from inside the wagon. "That better be you, Ms. Sparkle. I hope you have learned the error of your ways." You hear several latches unlatch and the top of the door swings open to reveal a male zebra wearing a old, black top hat. He squints slightly as he examines the group. "Oh! You are not the pony I was hoping you were. Go away. Virulento's Amazing Wagon of the Odd and Curious is closed." Follia and Toxic Rain The library appears just as Follia and the students left it; Toxic Rain wouldn't know since she wasn't there before. Spoiler: Roll Perception Follia - 32 + 6 = 38 Toxic Rain - 64 + 8 = 72 Although mostly versed in alchemy, Toxic Rain has dabbled in a spell or two. This is how she notices a light shimmer on the exterior of the library. Spoiler: Roll Magic for Toxic Rain 62 - 4 = 58 It appears to be some kind of force field. Apparently, Twilight does not wish to have visitors. Spoiler: OOC PsychoPunk, you can have your character tell Follia about the spell. Then, he can use his Magic stat to try to identify the spell. Although his Magic is still negative, it's higher than yours and every little bit counts.
"Excuse me, Mr. Virulento, but we actually came to talk to you about Ms. Sparkle," said Silver in a polite manner. "We were hoping you might have some information that might help us recover the book." He neglected to mention that there was a possibility that Virulento might not be getting it back. "Also, several ponies have gone missing, and we believe it to be Twilight Sparkle's doing. If you have any knowledge of what is in that book, we would greatly appreciate it if you would tell us."
Toxic Rain stands before the tree-house library door, gazing at it intently. Something just wasn't quite right, but she couldn't quite put her hoof on it; of course!! She widened her eyes, and studied the door even closer. It gleamed with a subtle red-violet glow, nearly undetectable. She swallowed; not even the best magicians at the school were proficient enough to make their spells so secretively. "Um, Dr. Folia, we seem to have a problem. There is some sort of magical shield upon the door, if you look just right, you can see it shine in the shadows and creases of the wood."
Silver Shield, Grey Mane, and Mystic Heart Virulento is about to turn away and close the door when Silver mentions Twilight's name. He turns back and listens to the rest of what he has to say. When Silver is finished, he closes his eyes and nods. "Mmm... You are the first ponies to accuse one of your kind of..." He quickly closes the door, you hear a few more latches unlatch, then the entire door opens wide. Looking past Virulento, you can see that the interior is indeed large enough for five or six ponies to stand comfortably. The interior is mostly dark, except for a few candles that burn with an odd, green glow. "Please excuse my earlier rudeness. Come inside, and don't let anypony see you, lest they think we're in cahoots. I had to turn away a trio of fillies earlier this morning..." He steps aside, allowing you all to enter. After the last of you make it inside, he closes the door and secures three of the eight latches. "Can't be too careful." The interior of the wagon is fairly spacious and is obviously the result of some spell or enchantment. Lining either wall is a long display case that holds all sorts of oddities, from two-headed snakes, to fire-breathing faeries and four-leaf clovers. At the far end is a singular glass display case. The door, rather than being broken, (as a normal thief would do), is curled up nearly to its hinges as if it was a piece of paper. The label on the case says "Do Not Touch (This Means You!)" Virulento sighs. "The book covers many subjects that dare not leave pony mouths. Suffice to say, Ms. Sparkle found Has-Read-All's writings on Cutie Marks to be very interesting. Apparently, and this is only what she told me for I will not read the book myself, within each pony is a stone that governs their talent, and these stones can be harvested and used. For many things..."
"Yes, erm, she kind of told us as much. We visited her at her library, you see, and...well... her assistant, Spike, is worried about her, and so is her mentor Celestia. Her friends have all disappeared, and we saw...er...dolls in her house. Five dolls, five friends gone... I'm afraid she might be planning on killing her friends, if she hasn't already, and I'd bet my boxed encyclopedia set that those dolls are going to somehow help her harness the powers of these stones..." Silver gulped. This was not falling together the way he'd hoped it would. They had to hurry, or ponies might die.
Mystic Heart looks around, almost entranced by the interior of the cart. Her mouth hung open for but a moment before curling into a smile, which soon disappeared upon looking at the curled away door. "Oh dear. Yes, she was ever-so-excited to share that tidbit of information with me. I fear that information was meant to stay out of the hands of ponies who were hungry for power." She gazed momentarily at the "fire-breathing faeries" and commented: "You do have quite an impressive collection, Virulento." She turns to him and smiles lightly. "My name is Mystic Heart, and I specialize, in a way, in examining enchanted items or artifacts." Suddenly, what Silver said processed in her head. "Oh my gosh... what if... the harvested stones are... in the dolls?" Her eyes went wide, and she turned to her associate.
Silver nodded grimly. "That's what I was thinking. IF she has killed them. And even if she hasn't, somehow that seems like it makes sense. You know, like I said, it reminds me of Voodoo somewhat; the symbolism part at least." Silver shuddered. Personally, he found ritual spells distasteful, even if they didn't involve killing or sacrifice. He much preferred natural magic, summoned from within yourself. It was...more pure, in a way. Or at least in his mind it was.
Grey Mane crept into the store. She seemed impressed. "Greetings. I am Grey Mane, or Grey if you will. I am very impressed with your collections here. I can only agree with my accosiates. If these dolls do in-fact have to do with the missing ponies then we have a great problem on our hands. I also have some information I would like you to help confirm Mr.Virulento if that is alright." She smiled. This was getting interesting.
(Rats. Ninja'd.) Silver Shield, Mystic Heart, and Grey Mane Virulento seems to beam at Mystic Heart's compliment. "Yes, I have travelled the world, and those beyond it in some cases to find everything you see here. This 'talent' of yours sounds interesting. Perhaps when the book has been returned to me, I'll let you take a closer look at my exhibit." "Ah, Ms. Grey. I am interested in this information you have to share. Let me hear it." Then he nods solemly. "Dolls, you say? I've heard of certain...rituals...that could be performed with the aid of effigies." He glances toward several dolls of his own that hang from the ceiling of the wagon, then he thinks for a moment. "This...Spike. He is the baby dragon, no? I have seen them together. I assumed he was her familiar... If he is worried about his master, then perhaps he could be of assistance. I would recommend speaking to him in private." (Luck) The zebra suddenly starts, as if pricked with a pin. "I may, in fact, be able to help you in your quest!" He unties a knot on one of the walls, which connects to the string that holds the dolls to the ceiling. They fall to the floor in a heap. He rummages through them for a moment, before pulling up a doll that appears to be a representation of a unicorn. He sets it before you and explains: "You may borrow this. In the back, there is a hole. If you stuff something belonging to...your target...into the hole, you will have power over them. Not too much, mind. She will not sing and dance for you, but this doll will make it more difficult for her to resist you, if used correctly." "A word of warning, though. Do not let her take hold of it, in any way. The spell will break, and 'rebound'. She will have power over the previous owner, whomever it may be."
Her eyes grew wide and she grinned at the offering, then nodded as she levitated it into her saddlebag. "Thank you ever so much! Perhaps with Spike's help, we can easily obtain something. I look forward to when all of this is done, Virulento, as I would be more than happy to examine your possessions more carefully." She says the last bit with a knowing glance at him, and a shift of her eyes examining his shelves.
