The Shadow Over Ponyville – Writeup, Chapter 2

Welcome back to another installment of The Shadow Over Ponyville. Today, I’ll be setting up the quest hook and giving the reader (that’s you guys) some insight into how my brain works.

The basic Plot Outline: Twilight Sparkle has gotten a hold of a book called the Necroequicon. Much like it’s human counterpart, the Necronomicon, the book is filled with so many secrets of the universe, that reading it can drive anypony mad.

The player characters have been summoned to Misakitonic University in Canterlot because of their respective experience and studies in “non-traditional” magic. When they get there’s they’re introduced to their mission:

If they chose to examine the letters (which are labeled for chronological purposes), they read:

(First):
Dear Princess Celestia,
Today, I met another zebra! His name was Virulento and he came to Ponyville to show the ponies here his “Amazing Wagon of Oddities and Curiosities”. Naturally, my curiosity got the better of me and I ventured inside. I have to admit, I was skeptical at first, but after seeing his collection up close, I have to say that it’s probably the most amazing collection of knick knacks and baubles I’ve ever seen. One thing in particular that caught my eye was a book. But it wasn’t just any book. What stuck out to me was that the book appeared to be bound with pony hide, or something eerily similar. I asked him about it and this is what he told me:
“The book before you is from the far off lands to the East, past the Forbidden Passage. It was written by the ‘Mad Arabian’, Abdul Has-Read-All. You see, he was a great and powerful sorcerer who was said to have dabbled in things that shall not be named by pony mouths. I have not read the volume extensively myself; they say all who read it go mad.”
I seriously doubt that. I’ve never heard of a book that can make ponies crazy just by merely reading it… If it was Virulento’s plan to make bits by having curious ponies pay repeat visits to his ‘exhibit’, then he’s got me, hook, line, and sinker.
If I can get a hold of the book myself, and if it was worth my time, maybe I’ll see about having it stored at the Canterlot Royal Library.
Your Faithful Student,
Twilight Sparkle
This note’s pretty innocuous. The TL;DR version is that a zebra named Virulento came to town to show off his traveling wagon of “The Odd and Curious”.

(One day later):
Dear Princess Celestia,
Virulento has allowed me to read a few passages from the book while he supervised. He must really believe the rumors, if he didn’t make them up himself! I’m not entirely sure if the book is worth more of my time or not; most of the writing was illegible, or at the very least, it was written in a language that I can’t read yet.
There is one thing that I can’t get out of my mind: The diagrams. Most of them feature ponies in…odd positions. They seem almost ‘ritualistic’ in appearance. Now, I’ve performed my share of ritual spells, but I have never, ever, seen anything like this…
I told my friends about the book today. Applejack said that it sounded like “some bad ju-ju”. She has some of the strangest euphemisms.
I think maybe I’ll check out the book tomorrow, to see if I can glean anything new from it.
Your Faithful Student,
Twilight Sparkle
I don’t actually know what’s in the Necronomicon since Mr. Lovecraft has been pretty vague with any details, so I just made some stuff up.

(One day later):
Dear Princess,
I must have this book. There are no two ways about it. The knowledge contained within its pages is astounding! Remember how I said yesterday that I couldn’t read it? I must’ve been hallucinating (must’ve been Virulento’s incense) because I could read it just fine today. My goodness, you should see it, Princess! It’s simply amazing! All-Has-Read’s knowledge of the world and those beyond it would baffle even Star Swirl the Bearded! I feel so privileged that I am even allowed to glance at its pages!
I don’t care the price, I must get this book from Virulento!
Twilight Sparkle
This are starting to go south for Ms. Twilight at this point.

(One day later):
Princes Constella,
Please don’t punnish me. Ive taken the book from Mr. Virulento. I know its wrong, but I couldn’t help myself. It’s in much bettter hands with me, anyway. I’m doing the world a favar! Think of all the knowlege we could gain! The wrods are coming to me much more easilier and I’ve even tried some of the spells, with varrying degres of succes.
I’ll send anoter letter when I’ve learnd more. I’ve invited my frends over so they can see the book, too. This is gonna be sweet!
Twigligt Sparkkle
You wouldn’t believe how hard it was to make all of these spelling errors. In fact, for the “It’s in much better hands” part, I almost wrote “hooves”. I decided that hands was much better. Also, if you look really closely, you’ll spot the name of my favorite OC villain. ^_^

(Three days later):
Princess! Im in dire need of halp! I dunno what todo! (Illegible) most terifiing discovery evar! (The next sentence is illegible)!!! (Illegible) MONSTARS FROM BEYOND TEH STAIRS! (It’s assumed she means “monsters from beyond the ‘stars’”)
MY FRENDS R GONED AND I DON T NOW WHAT HAPPEN T THM AND I THINK ITS M FALT ANDIMALLALONENOWANDICANTREEDANYMR(The rest of the letter continues in this manner until the letters all run together and the whole thing becomes illegible. The letter is not signed.)
I kinda hate this letter. I don’t feel like it conveys the sheer pants-wetting fear that Twilight is likely experiencing at this point. In the original draft of this introduction, this letter didn’t exist. In fact, most of them didn’t…

(Moments later):
Dear Princess Celestia,
Please ignore my previous letter. I was so absorbed in my studies that I had been going on less sleep than I originally thought.
In fact, if you would, please just dispose of that letter; it’s embarrassing to know that I wrote such butchery of the language. It was merely a cruel jest on my part, and I apologize.
All is well. I am fine. My friends are here with me, and they are fine as well. Please don’t worry about us.
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle

(Hastily scribbled underneath the main body of the letter, in a different handwriting)
Twilight’s completely off her rocker! Send somepony quick!
Spike
In the original draft of this intro, this is the only letter that I had completely typed out. I wish that I knew how to do fonts when I first wrote this. Spike’s message was supposed to be in Chiller. Back in the development stages, I sent this letter to Eight Star and he told me that it gave him chills. ^_^

Medias Res glances at all of you. "Her Majesty has arranged for an airship to transport you all to Ponyville. The sooner we can clear this up, the better. But be on your guard. The Princess has mentioned that this Twilight Sparkle is something of a bundle of nerves and that she commands very powerful magic, even moreso now that she has The Book. Expect resistance."

And, that concludes Chapter 2. Soon, we’ll get into the meat and potatoes of the roleplay! I’m going to try to not copy/paste the players’ dialogue (unless it’s important), but instead give the reader a rundown of what happened. During that, I’ll inject my own commentary, as well.

Let’s see how this goes. ^_^

Oh, and I invite the players to supply their own commentary, if they want, as well. The more, the merrier!