Up in the North, the ponies have successfully found who, or rather, what was damaging the mine. But their quest is not over, as they go to look for the source of the trouble. In Baltimare, Iron, Silver, and Dark Star enjoy the fruits of defeating the cultists, while Midnight herds the remaining rescues.
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/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal
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1803 replies and 54 files omitted.
>>128078
"Well, it won't necessarily be able to work like that. Everyone knows that if you need a quick loan to pay rent or support your alcohol or gambling addiction, you can go to a backroom where a member of a gang is located. For potions.... well it's certainly not impossible to make it work that way, but you have to get your name out there first.
Who is buying the potions really varies depending on what the potion is and so forth. Let's take strength potions, for instance. These aren't really illegal even though the city wants to regulate them. But they are also too expensive for most of the obvious uses. Unloading ships, loading carts, mining, construction, landscaping.... hiring more earth ponies is cheaper than potions, and now they have machines that can do the very heaviest of the lifting. So the ponies who buy it are primarily skilled laborers who need strength, rare ocassions where the time period the strength is needed is so low that it's not worth hiring an extra worker, and when you need strength but can't fit in a machine. Sea recovery workers, for instance, like strength potions. Sometimes shipyard workers will as well, when they are on a quick schedule. Certain chemical plant operators and maintenance personnel... firefighters... Adventurers and hunters who go out into the woods. But I suspect you have in mind more like those creatures who want strength because they want to pick a fight, or cheat at an athletic event.
And so it is with many of these potions"
>>128081
I would like to note that even though you can't see it on the whinnysota map, that specific highlighted province - which is the closest analog to where the events take place - is a border district against the Crystal Empire. Not that it particularly matters by the game's setting.
You can also see in that image lands that are held by the State of New Mareland - particularly Bales and Neighagra Falls (the city is offscrean, but I'm pretty sure that's what's at the top of the screenshot). Even though I don't have a firm map of where Free Equestria ends and Changelingia begins, that map should be taken as canon.
"Well, it won't necessarily be able to work like that. Everyone knows that if you need a quick loan to pay rent or support your alcohol or gambling addiction, you can go to a backroom where a member of a gang is located. For potions.... well it's certainly not impossible to make it work that way, but you have to get your name out there first.
Who is buying the potions really varies depending on what the potion is and so forth. Let's take strength potions, for instance. These aren't really illegal even though the city wants to regulate them. But they are also too expensive for most of the obvious uses. Unloading ships, loading carts, mining, construction, landscaping.... hiring more earth ponies is cheaper than potions, and now they have machines that can do the very heaviest of the lifting. So the ponies who buy it are primarily skilled laborers who need strength, rare ocassions where the time period the strength is needed is so low that it's not worth hiring an extra worker, and when you need strength but can't fit in a machine. Sea recovery workers, for instance, like strength potions. Sometimes shipyard workers will as well, when they are on a quick schedule. Certain chemical plant operators and maintenance personnel... firefighters... Adventurers and hunters who go out into the woods. But I suspect you have in mind more like those creatures who want strength because they want to pick a fight, or cheat at an athletic event.
And so it is with many of these potions"
>>128081
I would like to note that even though you can't see it on the whinnysota map, that specific highlighted province - which is the closest analog to where the events take place - is a border district against the Crystal Empire. Not that it particularly matters by the game's setting.
You can also see in that image lands that are held by the State of New Mareland - particularly Bales and Neighagra Falls (the city is offscrean, but I'm pretty sure that's what's at the top of the screenshot). Even though I don't have a firm map of where Free Equestria ends and Changelingia begins, that map should be taken as canon.
>>128082
Iron absorbs all the potential uses for the strength potion alone, nodding all the while, save for a small yawn and a rub on the eye before wildly shaking his head to wake himself up. "Those are good groups to sell to, but do you know if they are currently being supplied such things? Being a frontrunner on such a thing would prove to be quite profitable short-term for some further investments to maximize efficiency."
Iron absorbs all the potential uses for the strength potion alone, nodding all the while, save for a small yawn and a rub on the eye before wildly shaking his head to wake himself up. "Those are good groups to sell to, but do you know if they are currently being supplied such things? Being a frontrunner on such a thing would prove to be quite profitable short-term for some further investments to maximize efficiency."
>>128083
"I believe there are some suppliers, yes. If a niche exists and is profitable, in most cases someone's already done it. Now, making a potion that's entirely new could do that, or finding just the right market. The War has changed things up more than a little bit."
"I believe there are some suppliers, yes. If a niche exists and is profitable, in most cases someone's already done it. Now, making a potion that's entirely new could do that, or finding just the right market. The War has changed things up more than a little bit."
>>128084
Iron nods, biting his lip softly as he mulls over the information provided. "...I see..." he turns his gaze to Cauldron once more. "so I will have to do some scouting to ensure I have somepony to sell to, meaning I should have a strength potion or two on hoof to whip out and sell off when they suddenly need it in order to plant the seed of recognition and, with enough selling, my reputation would spread. The more I have of each potion type you can make and distribute out and promptly sell off to influential ponies, the more I myself will be recognized as somepony who sells it," He pauses, starting to nod his head as the path in his mind start to straighten. "Meaning after a while, that notoriety should be enough to get permanent clients, right?"
Iron nods, biting his lip softly as he mulls over the information provided. "...I see..." he turns his gaze to Cauldron once more. "so I will have to do some scouting to ensure I have somepony to sell to, meaning I should have a strength potion or two on hoof to whip out and sell off when they suddenly need it in order to plant the seed of recognition and, with enough selling, my reputation would spread. The more I have of each potion type you can make and distribute out and promptly sell off to influential ponies, the more I myself will be recognized as somepony who sells it," He pauses, starting to nod his head as the path in his mind start to straighten. "Meaning after a while, that notoriety should be enough to get permanent clients, right?"
>>128085
"It could work that way, yes, if you think you have what it takes to be a good salespony"
She smiles awkwardly
"In all of my years working with basic potions, I didn't really think that hard about sales. Just making it or working with it seemed like enough"
"It could work that way, yes, if you think you have what it takes to be a good salespony"
She smiles awkwardly
"In all of my years working with basic potions, I didn't really think that hard about sales. Just making it or working with it seemed like enough"
>>128086
Iron can't help but to stick his tongue out in thought, considering his past experiences, but nods. "With Sands, it should not be too complicated, considering her silver tongue," he mutters "seems I will have to drag her along for a long while, huh..."
The native can't help but chuckle softly. "Oh, I hope she likes walking for hours at the docks," he comments amusedly before looking at Cauldron. "Where do you think I will have the most luck in finding a suitable situation to start the selling act? The docks, right? Maybe the fight club? These firefighters... maybe that pony selling weaponry for hunting.." He bonks his head as he forgot the stallion's name, "Ugh, what was it..."
Iron can't help but to stick his tongue out in thought, considering his past experiences, but nods. "With Sands, it should not be too complicated, considering her silver tongue," he mutters "seems I will have to drag her along for a long while, huh..."
The native can't help but chuckle softly. "Oh, I hope she likes walking for hours at the docks," he comments amusedly before looking at Cauldron. "Where do you think I will have the most luck in finding a suitable situation to start the selling act? The docks, right? Maybe the fight club? These firefighters... maybe that pony selling weaponry for hunting.." He bonks his head as he forgot the stallion's name, "Ugh, what was it..."
>>128087
She blinks
“Which potion type? For strength I would start with underground fighters, but that may not be a big market. For health potions, well, we talked about that already.”
She blinks
“Which potion type? For strength I would start with underground fighters, but that may not be a big market. For health potions, well, we talked about that already.”
>>128088
"Either the resistance or the contractors, right?" he guesses, trying to ensure his tired memory was on point.
"Either the resistance or the contractors, right?" he guesses, trying to ensure his tired memory was on point.
>>128090
Iron nods. "I believe the resistance to be good enough for the time being," he admits "but what other options do you know for sure would want to buy it? See if I can establish contact with them if I can."
Iron nods. "I believe the resistance to be good enough for the time being," he admits "but what other options do you know for sure would want to buy it? See if I can establish contact with them if I can."
>>128091
"As I said, the Overseas. I suppose it would be called "The New Mareland Army Core. They have a garrison, but's the quartermaster who would do the procurement, if any. The Resistance is at least two distinct groups, with The Popular Front being the bigger one. There may be others here within the Waterfront Gang who may want potions. Aside from those... well, under the table doctors like that Veterinarian I took you to last night. Some floor bosses may want health potions in case of accidents... many don't care though. Some cautious ponies just want them for personal use. Adventurers and hunters into the wilderness generally like to take a few, and farmers or others who may encounter dangerous wildlife like to keep them around. There are also criminal enterprises in other cities. In every case, you have to wonder why they don't want to go to a licensed dealer."
"As I said, the Overseas. I suppose it would be called "The New Mareland Army Core. They have a garrison, but's the quartermaster who would do the procurement, if any. The Resistance is at least two distinct groups, with The Popular Front being the bigger one. There may be others here within the Waterfront Gang who may want potions. Aside from those... well, under the table doctors like that Veterinarian I took you to last night. Some floor bosses may want health potions in case of accidents... many don't care though. Some cautious ponies just want them for personal use. Adventurers and hunters into the wilderness generally like to take a few, and farmers or others who may encounter dangerous wildlife like to keep them around. There are also criminal enterprises in other cities. In every case, you have to wonder why they don't want to go to a licensed dealer."
>>128092
Iron pokes his snout, wondering what's all this licensing stuff. "...I see," he surmises "so long as the interests of the group directly opposes the dominant powers', I should be able to sell them easily, then, correct?"
Iron pokes his snout, wondering what's all this licensing stuff. "...I see," he surmises "so long as the interests of the group directly opposes the dominant powers', I should be able to sell them easily, then, correct?"
>>128094
Iron can't help but let out a single chuckle and a shake of the head. "Seems everypony is eager to take a potion these days, eh?" he comments amusedly, smiling softly "know a place where I could contact either of these two resistance groups?"
Iron can't help but let out a single chuckle and a shake of the head. "Seems everypony is eager to take a potion these days, eh?" he comments amusedly, smiling softly "know a place where I could contact either of these two resistance groups?"
>>128095
"The Equestrian Liberation Front, I am not sure about. I would hardly be surprised if they have merged all of their operations in Baltimare with the Popular Front, but I don't know. Now, the Popular Front, that I know about. There is a soup kitchen a few streets over, as well as an entire portion of a street in another area that they control."
"The Equestrian Liberation Front, I am not sure about. I would hardly be surprised if they have merged all of their operations in Baltimare with the Popular Front, but I don't know. Now, the Popular Front, that I know about. There is a soup kitchen a few streets over, as well as an entire portion of a street in another area that they control."
>>128096
Iron pondered, rubbing his snout with a hoof in a circular motion. "I have a feeling we have encountered this faction before, and not in a good light," he comments aloud, unsure what he precisely meant by that himself.
Iron pondered, rubbing his snout with a hoof in a circular motion. "I have a feeling we have encountered this faction before, and not in a good light," he comments aloud, unsure what he precisely meant by that himself.
>>128097
“Yeah, I think you have. You might want to avoid those who will recognize you, or at least have a good story. They may be distrustful of the Waterfront gang in general after, recent events. But they may still be willing to buy.”
“Yeah, I think you have. You might want to avoid those who will recognize you, or at least have a good story. They may be distrustful of the Waterfront gang in general after, recent events. But they may still be willing to buy.”
>>128098
Iron nods some more, feeling the discussion for these events are starting to end. "...I believe that would be all in terms of planning for now," he surmises, still rubbing his snout absentmindedly "I will need some samples to distribute, but it can wait in case the debt collection is needed currently."
Iron nods some more, feeling the discussion for these events are starting to end. "...I believe that would be all in terms of planning for now," he surmises, still rubbing his snout absentmindedly "I will need some samples to distribute, but it can wait in case the debt collection is needed currently."
>>128099
She smiles again, half warmly and half mischievously
“We normally wait until night for collection. I suppose it can occur during daylight, for some at least”
She smiles again, half warmly and half mischievously
“We normally wait until night for collection. I suppose it can occur during daylight, for some at least”
>>128100
Iron can't help but smile back, starting to feel a bit nostalgic. "Well, I suppose we can do some collecting, then" he replies before posing dramatically, puffing his chest out "I will be your hoof, Cauldron."
Iron can't help but smile back, starting to feel a bit nostalgic. "Well, I suppose we can do some collecting, then" he replies before posing dramatically, puffing his chest out "I will be your hoof, Cauldron."
>>128102
Iron's ears immediately straighten as his eyes widened, blinking profusedly before smiling sheepishly and his puffing abruptly ends. "Oh right," he agrees, the bags in his eyes ever more apparent as he blushed slightly "perhaps it may be best for me to take a nap..."
Iron's ears immediately straighten as his eyes widened, blinking profusedly before smiling sheepishly and his puffing abruptly ends. "Oh right," he agrees, the bags in his eyes ever more apparent as he blushed slightly "perhaps it may be best for me to take a nap..."
>>128104
Iron hums slightly before shaking his head. "I will have to pass," he declines "I need to check up on Sands first... tell her what is to come." With that, he gives Cauldron a small nuzzle and a content sigh before quickly receding with a smile. "I will see you tomorrow, same place?"
Iron hums slightly before shaking his head. "I will have to pass," he declines "I need to check up on Sands first... tell her what is to come." With that, he gives Cauldron a small nuzzle and a content sigh before quickly receding with a smile. "I will see you tomorrow, same place?"
>>128106
Iron couldn't help but to tilt his head, looking inquisitively at Cauldron as a pout slowly forms at her reaction. "Is something the matter?" he asks, concerned tone apparent on his voice.
Iron couldn't help but to tilt his head, looking inquisitively at Cauldron as a pout slowly forms at her reaction. "Is something the matter?" he asks, concerned tone apparent on his voice.
>>128108
Iron can't shake the feeling he's missing something with that reaction, activating in his sleep deprived mind the empathy to understand her reaction.
[1d20+2 = 10]<Sense Motive
Iron can't shake the feeling he's missing something with that reaction, activating in his sleep deprived mind the empathy to understand her reaction.
[1d20+2 = 10]<Sense Motive
>>128110
Iron, following his gut and senses, decides to instead place a hoof on Cauldron's shoulder, smiling softly. "It is fine," the stallion replies, half-lidding his eyes due to his tired status and to provide some more comfort for the zebra "you can tell me."
Iron, following his gut and senses, decides to instead place a hoof on Cauldron's shoulder, smiling softly. "It is fine," the stallion replies, half-lidding his eyes due to his tired status and to provide some more comfort for the zebra "you can tell me."
>>128112
Iron widened his eyes at such a loaded statement. (Is... is that jealousy I hear?) he thinks to himself, astonished, before pouting lightly. "Well, I would not want to sand your routine up by my tired state," he admits, retracting his hoof into a twiddling motion "I assumed you were busy."
Iron widened his eyes at such a loaded statement. (Is... is that jealousy I hear?) he thinks to himself, astonished, before pouting lightly. "Well, I would not want to sand your routine up by my tired state," he admits, retracting his hoof into a twiddling motion "I assumed you were busy."
>>128114
Iron's look softens up before giving Cauldron a good ol' hug, gently wrapping his forelegs around her nape, with an added nuzzle to top it all off. "Perhaps tomorrow we can take a jog together," he offers, smiling softly. "Maybe more of a stroll along the park, if you want to."
He retracts his head back, looking at Cauldron in the eye. "What do you think?"
Iron's look softens up before giving Cauldron a good ol' hug, gently wrapping his forelegs around her nape, with an added nuzzle to top it all off. "Perhaps tomorrow we can take a jog together," he offers, smiling softly. "Maybe more of a stroll along the park, if you want to."
He retracts his head back, looking at Cauldron in the eye. "What do you think?"
>>128115
She turns her head, leaning her black muzzle just a little bit closer, and letting at least one eye look back on him
“I suppose. Stretch out the legs. Relax a little”
And she smiles to him
She turns her head, leaning her black muzzle just a little bit closer, and letting at least one eye look back on him
“I suppose. Stretch out the legs. Relax a little”
And she smiles to him
>>128116
Iron's heart beats the slightest bit faster at the smile and closeness he's with the zebra, smiling still. "Maybe after that, we can both enjoy some of your delicious cooking while gazing upon the sky or stars," he closes his eyes cheerfully, with a decent blush on his cheeks "up to you, though."
Iron's heart beats the slightest bit faster at the smile and closeness he's with the zebra, smiling still. "Maybe after that, we can both enjoy some of your delicious cooking while gazing upon the sky or stars," he closes his eyes cheerfully, with a decent blush on his cheeks "up to you, though."
>>128118
Iron can't help but chuckle as his eyes stared at Cauldron's, mesmerized by the looks now after all that has happened. "I have no doubt who I am going to rely on for that," he lets out softly as he slowly and gently trails his hoof up and down her nape.
Iron can't help but chuckle as his eyes stared at Cauldron's, mesmerized by the looks now after all that has happened. "I have no doubt who I am going to rely on for that," he lets out softly as he slowly and gently trails his hoof up and down her nape.
>>128119
She seems to tense for just a moment. Iron can feel her mane, long, straight, and black, which is pushed aside as his hoof goes down
She seems to tense for just a moment. Iron can feel her mane, long, straight, and black, which is pushed aside as his hoof goes down
>>128120
Seeing there's no immediate retort to his slow, trailing hoof, Iron recedes in his endeavor, looking Cauldron straight in the eye. "I cannot wait what you will have in store," he utters dreamily before letting go of her hug and steps back with a smile. "see you tomorrow, Cauldron."
Seeing there's no immediate retort to his slow, trailing hoof, Iron recedes in his endeavor, looking Cauldron straight in the eye. "I cannot wait what you will have in store," he utters dreamily before letting go of her hug and steps back with a smile. "see you tomorrow, Cauldron."
>>128122
Having set that, Iron felt things were going better than anticipated, starting to consider breaking the ice further and unleash the news to Cauldron and feeling tomorrow is going to be the day that things start to get rolling.
Thus, with a hop and skip motion, the native hums happily as he goes for the door, turning back to give a wave before opening and closing the zebra's door, letting himself out. After a few staircases to go down, he goes to the side of the road, ready to take a taxi and go back to Sands at the hotel.
Having set that, Iron felt things were going better than anticipated, starting to consider breaking the ice further and unleash the news to Cauldron and feeling tomorrow is going to be the day that things start to get rolling.
Thus, with a hop and skip motion, the native hums happily as he goes for the door, turning back to give a wave before opening and closing the zebra's door, letting himself out. After a few staircases to go down, he goes to the side of the road, ready to take a taxi and go back to Sands at the hotel.
>>128123
A taxi comes soon enough, and is told the location of the hotel to take him there
>>128124
Is mlemmed
Yay!
A joyful smile replaces her otherwise sad disposition, and Keskoo jumps at the news
"Oohoohoo!"
She prances in place, dancing up and down with her eyes closed, and ends with her legs apart in a position like she is ready to jump.
A taxi comes soon enough, and is told the location of the hotel to take him there
>>128124
Is mlemmed
Yay!
A joyful smile replaces her otherwise sad disposition, and Keskoo jumps at the news
"Oohoohoo!"
She prances in place, dancing up and down with her eyes closed, and ends with her legs apart in a position like she is ready to jump.
>>128125
Iron couldn't help but rub his eyes slightly as the taxi barrels off towards the hotel. "Ugh..." he groans, blinking a couple of times. (That stuff took a toll on me.)
Iron couldn't help but rub his eyes slightly as the taxi barrels off towards the hotel. "Ugh..." he groans, blinking a couple of times. (That stuff took a toll on me.)
>>128128
Iron blinks a couple of times before he enters the hotel room, eager to finally set his plan in motion for tomorrow and relax for the next couple of days.
Iron blinks a couple of times before he enters the hotel room, eager to finally set his plan in motion for tomorrow and relax for the next couple of days.
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