Mystic Heart Licorice frowns. "I don't know, really. Everypony was just going about their daily routine when suddenly, there was this sound like a mini landslide, then before anypony could do anything, the Library was tilted over. See?" She points to the hole. "I thought I heard Twilight Sparkle scream, but I'm not sure..." Spoiler: Roll Magic for Mystic Heart 80 + 18 = 98 Magic can be a funny thing, especially when an Uncontollable Laughter spell is cast. The tingling in Mystic Heart's spine isn't a Laughter spell, though. It's an enchantment. Twilight may have cast it on the library when she got a hold of the book, or anytime before or after. She's insane after all, she may have even cast it without knowing. The point is, to the untrained eye, the hole that leads to the basement would appear empty. That is the effect of the Privacy Spell. Spoiler: Roll Willpower for Mystic Heart 92 + 2 = 94 Through the shimmer of the Privacy Spell, if Mystic Heart squints slightly, she can see Twilight Sparkle and her two professors. They are looking at something that is out of view. Spoiler: Roll Perception for Grey Mane and Silver Shield (who are not quite at the crowd yet) Grey Mane: 41 + 8 = 49 Silve Shield: 30 + 8 = 38 As she approaches the crowd, Grey Mane hears the sound of a door slamming. Meanwhile, Silver sees a purple and blue blur from his peripheral vision.
Well, if it smelled like trouble, felt like trouble, LOOKED like trouble, and SOUNDED like trouble, it was most definately that... trouble. She turned back to her esteemed coleagues and shouted out to Silver and Grey Mane with abandon of who heard her. "Hurry! To me! An illusion covers the hole, we must get in there, our friends could be in danger!" She was a little more concerned with the possibility that Twilight may do something to them... or the tree would fall... or Twilight would do something to make the tree fall. Then, she thought it would be her who made the hole to trap them! It must have been. She galloped off towards the hole.
Immediately, Silver stopped walking toward the crowd and turned to face whatever it was that he had seen from out of the corner of his eye. He was used to being jabbed in the side or shoved from behind (it happened enough to him as a foal), so his reflex was to confront something coming at him from the side right away.
Mystic Heart Spoiler: Roll Speed for Mystic Heart ... 1 + 4 = 5 Mystic's rallying cry does not go unnoticed by Tip Top and Licorice who attempt to stop Mystic Heart from bolting toward the hole. Spoiler: Roll to Grapple Licorice: Total = 91 Mystic Heart: 37 + 8 = 45 Unfortunately, Mystic is quickly subdued by the pegasus, and a small crowd has now gathered around her. Tip Top attempts to reason with the cyan unicorn. "Illusion? What are you talking about? Have you gone mad? It's just a hole..." ----- Silver Shield At the same time, Silver Shield turns his head in time to spot a baby dragon running away from the scene. A large, blue bag is over his shoulder. ----- Grey Mane Spoiler: Roll Perception for Grey Mane 59 + 8 = 67 Grey Mane can see the crowd that's gathered around Mystic Heart, but does not notice Spike running from the library.
Silver recognized the dragon as Spike, and simultaneously ran after him and attempted to catch him with a levitation spell.
Grey Mane rushed towards Mystic, stopping outside the crowd for stealth purposes. She waited, just like before.
Silver Shield Spoiler: There's a bit of rolling here for Silver Shield Roll Perception: 93 + 8 = 101 Roll Magic: 62 + 10 = 72 Roll Strength: 59 + 8 = 67 Silver's aim is true, and he manages to capture the fleeing lizard in a magical aura. Spike struggles valiantly but Silver's hold remains true. Spike suddenly stops when her realizes that the one holding him is an ally. His eyes wide with fear, he begins speaking in hushed tones as Silver draws him closer. "Twilight has a...thing down there! It's going to get Follia and that mare that's with him!" He rustles the bag. "I had to save My Sweet and the others. They're in here!" ----- Grey Mane Spoiler: Roll Stealth for Grey Mane 92 + 5 + 5 = 102 Grey Mane has no trouble at all blending into the crowd. Nopony at all seems to notice her as she edges closer to Mystic Heart.
"It's, It's called Buttercup?" Ah! Let us dive into the inner mechanics of the ol' Professor's head where things are being processed and sorted. The Professor has been strange and unusual creatures before. His entire job is to study strange creatures and then yabber on about them to students that would, largely, rather be anywhere else except for Follia's damp-smelling lecture hall. He pokes, prods and then opens up to then poke and prod in some new areas sometimes, day in day out. Cockatrice, Huli Jing, Snails: he's poked and prodded a lot of things. So it's odd to think that something new would shock a colt like Follia. But the hulking frame appeared to large for his eyes to fully take in, his voice croaked with the ache of spending a lot of time in the higher registers and you can definitely see a sweat forming. He lets out a nervous, desperate laugh before turning around and slamming into the tree roots. He scrambles back up the sand pile, kicking more of the stuff behind him than making any forwards motion before ramming a shoulder against the roots, keeping a good eye on Buttercup. Mitzy continued to growl at the creature, barking profusely.
Silver frowned. "Your...sweet? And the others? You mean a bunch of jewels or something, right?" he asked hopefully, not wanting it to be what he thought it might. That...would be just too creepy.
Follia Spoiler: Roll Strength for Follia 35 + 10 = 45 The roots prove too much for the aging professor. He bats against them with his forehooves, doing a little damage to the improvised cage. Spoiler: I forgot to roll initiative for Mitzy 87. It's Mitzy's turn. ----- Silver Shield Spike's eyes get misty as he whistfully replies, "Only the most precious jewel I've ever seen..." He opens the bag, revealing five dolls. They are the same dolls you saw in the library earlier that day. Spoiler: Roll Perception for Silver Shield 95 + 8 = 104 Shield looks in to the bag and notices...did one of them just move? Nah, it has to be a trick. An illusion of light and shadow. He takes a better look and notices a water droplet on the white unicorn doll. If he didn't know better, he would say it was a teardrop.
Toxic Rain gasps, sitting in a pile of mess in front of the ambling monster and the crazed purple unicorn. Yet her eyes are glued to the magnificent tome, sitting open in its glory. She thinks quickly for half a second, comparing the threat of the monster and its creator. She then quickly opens her wings, attempting to throw sand in the creature's face and push Twilight harmlessly to the side, as she dove for the book.
Spoiler: Oh my. So much rolling… Roll Strength for Toxic Rain: 86 + 8 = 94 Toxic Rain’s wings kick up a great amount of sand, almost enough to cause a small sand storm. (Hidden Rolls for Twilight and Buttercup) Buttercup holds her arm in front of her face in an attempt to keep the sand out of her eyes as Twilight Sparkle raises a magical shield in front of her own face. As Toxic tries to fly past, Twilight extends a hoof in an attempt to trip her up. Spoiler: Attack of Opportunity Since Twilight is still capable of seeing, we have to roll to dodge. Twilight’s Perception: Total = 50 Toxic Rain’s Speed: 99 + 4 = 103 Critical Dodge In a feat of aerial acrobatics, the likes of which are comparable to Rainbow Dash, Toxic easily evades the lavender mage and grabs the book from its resting place, closing it in the process. Spoiler: Roll Willpower for Toxic Rain 79 + 2 = 81 Toxic Rain feels a slight tingle as she grasps the book in her front hooves and develops a slight headache. As the sand dies down, Twilight lowers her shield. She blinks a few times, then observes the scene before her. Follia is desperately trying to claw his way out of the hole, while his faithful companion growls menacingly at Buttercup who is just lowering her arm from her face, and doing some menacing growling of her own. Toxic Rain has the book safely in her possession and Buttercup is growling menacingly. (Yes, I did mention that twice.) (Hidden Willpower Roll for Twilight Sparkle vs. Fear) Her eyes widen and her knees begin to shake. [size=-3]”What have I done…?”[/size] She begins breathing heavily while keeping her gaze fixed on Buttercup. Buttercup makes the next move. “Harvest!” She leaps forward and attempts to smash Twilight with her hammer. Spoiler: Roll for Buttercup to Hit Twilight Sparkle Buttercup Perception: Total = 28 Twilight Sparkle Speed: Total = 42 Twilight manages to keep her wits about her as she quickly evades Buttercup’s blow, which smashes part of the floor into splinters. Spoiler: Roll Initiative Follia: 28 + 6 = 34 Toxic Rain: 22 + 4 = 26 Twilight: Total = 20 Buttersup: Total = 12 Follia goes first again, followed by Toxic, Twilight, and Buttercup. Toxic is in a corner of the room with the Book. Follia is near the hole on the other side of the room. Between them is Twilight and Buttercup, who are Engaged in Melee Combat.
(HAH! I knew it! I am proud to say I figured it out before you posted it. ^^ Unfortunately, Silver hasn't, since he doesn't know much about Spike's crush on Rarity...) Silver shook his head. "Spike, what do these dolls have to to with Twilight's missing friends? Tell me!" He didn't yell this, but said it with a calm authority.
Legion, keep it in the OOC, all right? Trapped! The feeble strength of the Professor clearly wasn't enough to break through but that was a town up there in that hole! Maybe somepony could help him break this open? "Hello?! Anypony nearby?! Hello! Anypony?! Help!" But if this plan isn't likely to be fruitful without some time to help it along. Something in here could weaken the creature enough to allow for evasion even down here in this basement. A weapon like a stick or a broom or... His eyes fell on Mitzy, still barking at Buttercup and bouncing on her front paws like she was chained back on a leash. "Mitzy! Get it! Get it on the rump!" The small dog looked back Follia, as if to check that it was indeed him that just told her to attack. She bent low, launching herself forwards like a coiled spring, ready for an attack!
Toxic pressed a hoof to her forehead as her head pulses, but clutches the book tightly to herself. She gasps as Buttercup's hammer demolished the floor, sending painted splinters flying, and she ran desperately for the basement door that lead up to the Library. "Twilight, Dr. Follia, up here!" She shouted back as she pushed the door open. She peered inside for a moment, her eyes widening at the peaceful scene inside, tainted only by the ominous dolls sitting around a table cluttered with books, and took a deep breath as she ran in.
Silver Shield Spike flinched and wiped a small tear from his eye. "These are Twilight's friends! We have to find a way to turn them back to normal!" ----- Follia and Toxic Rain Looking up through the hole, Follia can see the townsponies who are gathered around Mystic Heart. They seem to notice his presence as well. A few, upon seeing Buttercup, scream in horror and run away. Mitzy, being Follia's ever-faithful companion and part-time protector, leaps at the distracted Buttercup. Spoiler: Roll for Mitzy to Hit Buttercup Mitzy Perception: 38 + 5 = 43 Buttercup Speed: Total = 42 Buttercup hears Mitzy coming and turns just in time to get bit in the arm. Mitzy latches on tight as the abomination swings her arm frantically, trying to get the canine off of her. Spoiler: Roll Damage Mitzy's Bite does 1d6*2 6 * 2 = 12 - Buttercup's Endurance = Hidden for dramatic effect Surprisingly, Buttercup treats Mitzy as more of an annoyance than a threat. She shows no sign that she's in pain. Since the only hostile entity in the room is distracted by two foes now, Toxic Rain has no trouble making her way up the stairs and sprinting through the doorway. Spoiler: Note to Toxic Rain The only problem is, the dolls are gone. Spike has them. Spoiler: Roll Willpower for Twilight Total = 60 Twilight shakes her head vigorously and decides to stay downstairs and assist Follia. She shouts, to both him and Toxic Rain, "We need the book to send it back where it came from! Page 47!" This is all the time she has to shout before Buttercup slides toward her and swings her hammer again. Spoiler: Roll for Buttercup to Hit Twilight Buttercup's Perception: Total = 69 Twilight's Speed: Total = 24 Result: Twilight gets hit Despite the dog hanging on her free arm, Buttercup's hit is true as she lands a solid blow to Twilight's back, knocking her to the ground. Spoiler: Roll Damage to Twilight All rolls kept hidden for dramatic effect. The unicorn tries valiantly to stand, but finds herself unable to. Buttercup seems satisfied with her hit as she slides closer to her prey.
[Ah, I'll edit that.] Toxic throws herself to her belly in the doorway, opening the book and frantically flipping pages, looking for page 47. She summons as much magical strength in herself as she scans the page anxiously.
Silver was about to tell Spike to stop joking around, but the more he thought about it, the more sense it made. "...All right, you're right. But first we've got to stop Twilight and get that book. Right?" Not bothering to release Spike or the dolls from the grip of his levitation, he turned around and headed for the tree library. He was already late and...and um, ponies were screaming. That wasn't good. He galloped towards the crowd, and when he saw the hole, immediately made his way towards it.
Trying to crawl out from the pile of ponies she cries out; "You see?! An illusion, and my friends are in danger!" She tried focusing in her power for magic... come on, it's just like enchanting, but a pony, right? Twilight needed to Endure... needed to endure the pain, and survive the beast. Please get up, Twilight... Before Mystic Heart came to town, she had great respect for Twilight, knowing what she had done for all of Equestria. Although driven mad, Mystic saw the turn-around, and didn't want her gone now. Her horn glowed white as she tried to focus, to concentrate... could she pull it off?
