Red Scroll thought for a moment, visually, before starting with "Preparedness. I've been on long mapping journies and explorations, and I know a lot about survival, and the intricacies of the wilderness, as well as the underground. What mushrooms can be eaten, what can't." Plume Helm mutters in the background; "Me too..." Red Scroll thinks a little more. "Heck, I'm sure I could take a supply cart. I'd make sure we wouldn't die of thirst or starvation." The Duke looks over at her and smiles. "Ah, not to worry about that! I can provide you with a supply cart no matter who you take!" Red sighs and rolls her eyes, putting her head on her hoof and looking away a little. Pickpear, meanwhile, gets a little sparkly-eyed. "The Springs of Shyanna? Found long, long, long ago, when history was mostly in stories. It's the only spring that wasn't able to be poisoned during the ages of Discord, and also the initial location of the Element of Kindness... but not many ponies know that." She smiles sheepishly. "Uhm, I know lots of history, like the dragoness Shyanna who was tamed and befriended by the initial settlers of Gallopmere, and how she fell valiantly to the hooves of Wraithoof the Lich. I've also recovered a statue from within the mud more recently which went to a very well to-do collector. See, I-" She paused as she noticed the other ponies staring at her, and she slowly slunk back and pulled her head away, noticing that her voice had slowly been increasing towards normal volume. As soon as she started on about history, it was like seeing a whole new pony.
Rifter smiled. "So, you like to talk about history? If you want, I am sure Duke Gold Hoof wont mind if I have a little, private interview, if it makes you feel less shy." He looked from Pickpear to Gold Hoof.
"Your dukeness." Arc says, one hoof propping his head up on the table. His bored expression signalled he had a big problem with all this. "Why are we being forced to choose? Every one of them is useful to us and we're not here to hunt deer or anything, we're here to find an Element. Can we not have all four? The more the merrier an' it'll probably look good with the Princess, if that's a concern. Heck, I'm sure some sort of recompense can be found if that's it." He raises a hoof, gesturing to the duke. "When the mud hits the fan, it's only a matter of time before it affects other places too. We're in this together."
Gold Hoof smiled as he looked over at Rifter, and at Pickpear, and while he was about to speak, his ears perked up and he turned to Arc. He thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I had not thought of it. You see, in the message I received it said "help them in picking one out," so if it had said "get some guides ready" I would have just brought you these two." He motions to Chainmail and Plume Helm. Then he looks back at Rifter with a chuckle. "Now... how could I say no? There are some quieter room in the back area." He points to the back of the main hall towards some larger doors. "Now, let's see... Ah, well, I suppose if you can't choose a single one amongst them, then I guess really it's up to your group in the end... the Questers. Who am I to deny a group here on Canterlot business?" He asks with a shrug.
Rifter walked over to the doors then motioned Pickpear over with a smile Poor little one. Hopefully she will feel less shy in a more private area..
Pickpear excused herself to follow Rifter off to one of the rooms to the side, and entered the chamber. The stone walled room didn't look very inviting, but it looked like some form of study, or record keeper's retreat. Not huge, but there were parchments and quills with inkwells set about in strategic locations. After the door closed, Red Scroll looked at the Duke. "Excuse me, I can tell I'm not the most prime choice for this venture. I didn't realize there'd be entry and exploration of a location that has not been opened for a long, long time. Once it's deemed safe for the hooves of others, you let my father know, and we'll map out the underground." The Duke scoffed. "So, you're leaving. Just like that?" Red sighed and nodded. "Look, we're still pretty busy, and while this seemed like an interesting and short venture, my father will need me to help him. I'm sure your scouts will have no trouble with this. After all, your military hasn't been active for more than a hundred years. I mean, you couldn't do anything during the return of Discord, were too far off to get to Canterlot to help with the quick event with the changelings, and were just barely too late to field against Thanatos. Maybe this is your chance to get involved in something, hmm?" The duke glares at her as his tone gets flat. "You're very brash in the face of nobility. You may excuse yourself."
Rifter sat down a bit on the floor and smiled to Pickpear. "Why dont you tell me a little bit about yourself?" He asked.
Tex eyed the Map Mare suspiciously. It seemed like she was strategically angering the Duke, but maybe that was his paranoia. "Wait," he said. It sounded like they all had their areas of expertise. Red was a planner, and she would know the lay of the land better than anypony else, theoretically. Plume was a scouter, and she would be able to warn them in advance of any dangers. Chainmail was a fighter, as well as knowing the land intimately, though perhaps not in the same way that Red would. And Pickpear...seemed to...erm. She seemed to know her history, but that was a hit-or-miss thing. It might be completely useless, or extremely invaluble. She also, despite appearances, seemed to be a reputable treasure hunter. She must have gotten that reputation SOMEHOW, so...she would be useful to have along as well. But, as for fighting, he thought he had them covered, and Rifter could fly as well as fight. In fact, all of "his" little band could fend for themselves fairly well. Somehow he didn't think that the two soldiers would provide as big a boon. "I think that we should take Pickpear and Red Scroll."
Pickpear's ears went up a little. "About myself?" She shook her head as they drooped and she looked right at the ground. "My history isn't something I wanna talk about." She looks back up cautiously at Rifter, or past him, but avoiding his eyes. "I may be a runt... and shy... but I promise I'm useful. I'm older and more experienced than I look... and I've been through places like the underground of the Springs. I know where the entrance is, but... I didn't want to say it in front of the others." She admitted. "It might make them feel bad." She looks down again. "To tell you the truth, the place under there echos with dangerous magic, so I wouldn't dare go alone, and I don't think anypony else should risk it... but I would be very excited to see it with others who would be protective of me." Meanwhile... Red Scroll ignored Tex as she got up and began to walk towards the doors, but stopped in place when he voiced his opinion. The Duke and the other guides appeared stunned. The Duke clarified, "Are you sure? Let's see what your companions think of it." Red chuckles lightly and smiles. "Well, mighty nice of you to pick me and shorty over the scouts."
The two army brats would likely annoy Arc no end, Tyro felt. For some reason, he was far most hostile to them despite them doing absolutely nothing so far. Maybe it was the concern that they'd fight amongst themselves? Or maybe he didn't like the idea of onepony else taking charge... Arc shrugs. "I ain't no objections. Chuckles!" That was at Red Scroll, "Wanna come with?"
Rifter seemed a bit amazed at the kindness for the competition alone of the one in front of him. "So, Pickpear. What do you know about the Springs?"
Tex raised an eyebrow. "Now let's get one thing straight; I'm not picking these two because I think they're better," he said, to both Red and to the Duke, who he knew was listening. "I'm picking them because that's where the gap in talents in our group is. We already have ponies...er...members of our group that can fight and fly. And although those two," he said, gesturing to the members of the army, "likely know the land well enough, Red does too, possibly better than most. And as far as I know, noone out of our group OR the four guides is an alleged "treasure hunter" who knows the history of the area except Pickpear." He turned to the two ponies in the Duke's army, as well as the Duke. "It is not that I don't think your army well-trained; it is simply that these two, while talented, would be redundant within our group. Of course, it wouldn't hurt for them to come along, too. Pickpear and Red Scroll would be my first choices, though."
Leave it to the fighter to sweet-talk the Duke. He nodded, looking Tex over. "You're right. You've got a good head on your shoulders, you know." He rubbed his hoof against his chin. "Well, it's no problem for me." He looked over at the soldier guides, and they stood to be dismissed. "Now we'll just wait for Pickpear and the griffon." Red Scroll winked over at Arc Gust. "Looks like it's a go, Speedy." Meanwhile... "Well... the underground caverns? There used to be a mining project. That's what happened to the spring in the first place. Once word got out to the old Duke Summerhall that the underground caverns were where the Element of Kindness was found, he began organizing teams of unicorns to start digging and hunting for more. The greed from the Duke and the ponies working for him scared the elements, they say, and drove the springs deeper underground. When the water went away, the ponies took it as a bad omen. However, the Duke took his most loyal followers and went into the caverns with them." She looked around quietly as if telling a horror story. "He was never heard from again." She took a deep breath, and continued. "The Duchess at the time took city rule after he didn't return for a month, and she had the caverns sealed away. I couldn't find the original cavern entrance, but I found a way in. Who knows how far the springs retreated into the ground?"
Rifter tapped his chin. "Thank you for ya time. I think maybe someone else could have a word with you. Get to know you a bit better." He nudged the door open and motioned to Tex. "You wanna have a chat? She is a very interesting little one, I have to say! Have a talk with her if she does not mind and you do not mind then we shall discuss who to take."
Tex looked at Rifter neutrally for a short moment, then said, "Maybe I could talk with her on the way to...euh, wherever we're going." Frankly, he just wanted to get there and get something done; all this talking was making him feel really uncomfortable. He wasn't used to it at all.
The Duke greets Rifter with; "Yes, while you were holding your private interview it appears your group has come to a conclusion of which pony... rather, ponies they'd like to take." Meanwhile... "What do you mean it's a standard issue spear? I really don't care for your excuses, diamond dog!" The seargant berrated Rexxar after detaining him and the other three group members with weapons. "As for you, Power Surge, I expect more straight answers before letting you gallop around with a potentially dangerous object." He grumbles a little and nods. "Alright, well, the two of you can go on in."
"Finally!" Rexar sighed and rolled his eyes. "Stupid pony acts like he never saw a spear before..." "Finally! Quill inwardly sighed. Ponies act like they've never seen a Diamond Dog before. Rexar trundled toward the others. His mood hadn't improved since the spider attack, but at least now he had an object to direct his annoyance toward that wasn't another party memeber. He bowed to the others in a mock display of acquiescence (Quill was really getting into being Rexar. It was much different than how he conducted himself during his day-to-day activities), and explained. "Got held up. What's going on?"
Rifter turns to face Rexar. "Oh, we just chose who we are taking I think. Mind sharing mate?" Rifter looked towards Tex.
"They tried to take my rod!" Power shouted in disbelief. "My rod is not a potentially dangerous object! Who does that guard think he is? I don't like this place!" Power swatted at his mane which was now hanging down in front of his face and pouted. Power took a long look over the ponies in the room. There were five that weren't in his party. "Who are these ponies?" Power asked. "Not more guards, I hope. I swear to Celestia, if I see another guard..."
