In Changelingia (West Equestria), Brie gains the support of a Changeling queen for his endeavors. Spark is doing his best to help an ill Wolf spiritual leader.
In Free Equestria (East Equestria), Iron is trying to intimidate a group of criminal griffin interlopers. Fantasy Play is helping to shut down an Anarchist press. Silver is helping his new household. Amber Sunset is walking through the city, and Dark Star has just finished helping the orphans.
2415 replies and 50 files omitted.
>>135627"You are particularly interested in ponies of far south east Equestria, huh?"
>>135628She nods
"It was the focus of my thesis. Specifically, to what extent they actually adopted Celestialism after being integrated into Equestria, or just continued their old practices and called it "Celestialism"
>>135629"And what was conclusion you came up with?"
>>135630"Well, in the larger cities and in the areas with the most Castallion settlement, you do see something kind of like the celestialism practiced in the Heartland. If anything it's an older variety, since changes in practices adopted in the Heartland, like a general tendency towards austerity over ostentation, haven't occured in the Southeast. But further away from the cities and the settlements, you have more of an identification of Celestia with the Sun itself, or even what seems to be a direct worship of the celestial entity of the sun, as well greater fetishism of things like the solar calendar. You'll see this most obviously with the lay ponies, though sometimes even with the ministers. And that's more consistent with what we know about the Solar Cult than traditional Celestial Universalism. Of course in almost all of these places the religion is nominally Celestialism, with Celestialist style churches, and ministers reporting to Canterlot."
>>135631"Little of column A, little of column B?"
>>135632“Well, I thought it was a success. An argument for the survival of the Solar Cult, albeit in a passive, and ‘above ground’ form.”
>>135633"I do not know much of region, but I could believe it. You would definitely know more than me."
He scratches his chin.
"So...what do you know about
kirin religion?"
>>135634“Well, there are several in the several Kirin nations.”
>>135635"What about Great Vehicle?"
>>135636"Yes... That is one of the more widespread religions of the Kirin folk. It is a specific permutation of a more widespread lived philosophy that follows the teachings of the 'one who came,' who dispelled darkness," known as Sageheart Contentment in life. That lived philosophy sees the world as coming from one spiritual being. Well, not so much 'being' in the sense of a living, conscious thing, but rather, one spiritual existence, like all of consciousness is one thing, or can be, and reunification with this consciousness is desirable. It generally sees suffering as coming from unfulfilled passions, hence reducing the passions itself generally the goal. What seperates The Great Vehicle from the other versions of the same philosophy is that it's more... 'social.' Well, perhaps that isn't the right word, buts its morality has more focus on altruism and compassion, and helping others than the other varieties, which tend to think of spirituality as something you do alone, and still another version is very austere and shuns all possessions, whereas The Great Vehicle shuns acquisitiveness, but it doesn't shun owning possessions. Well, that's sort of an overview. It's most common in Ngua Nam and the Kirin Communities of the old Empire, especially in the south and on the coast, but not so much in, for example, the Khamare lands."
>>135637"It sounds rather noble, and fitting for kirins. You would not happen to know Great Vehicle stance on warriors, or taking another's life, would you?"
>>135638"Well... Generally it's associated with pacifism. For instance, the great stag of the Chital, Sorrowless, was a conquering emperor in his younger years, but converted under the Great Vehicle and spread the religion in his later reign, regretting his earlier conquests. But at the same time, it's kind of hard to say, because unlike Celestialism, and certainly unlike any of the Griffin Pantheon, The Great Vehicle doesn't really moralize actions. It moralizes states of mind. So it isn't so much the act of killing someone that is forbidden, so much as anger, or revenge, or the desire to exert power over someone else. Spiritual leaders in that faith have said that killing in self-defense isn't prohibited. But it really isn't a faith associated with warriors in the way that Celestialism sometimes is, or Borealism is, or even than the followers of the Second Son in the Kirin Grove."
>>135639He listens, nods, and contemplates on how he can use this information to maybe help Khoi. After a few seconds, he smiles at Pear.
"You really
do know your stuff."
>>135640For a moment, she has a proud smile on her face. It doesn't last long before her lips return to a more neutral expression.
"Only surface level. It's about what they expect you to know to teach classes in religion and comparative religion to undergraduates at the University. But the only area I am really an 'expert' and could really write anything about is the religion of the Neighua, and maybe the Coltec."
>>135641"Is that part of reason you are going with this group?"
>>135642“Well, yes. We’re investigating an archeological site reported my a visitor to a village a couple years ago. There’s the ruins of a small town out on the Snake, or ‘Windy’ River around sixty miles northeast of Tenochtitlan. They think it could have relics, artifacts, or especially architecture relating to the religion of the Neighua, specifically the Marexica nation.”
>>135368Not sure what you mean by these hours but. I just came to say shalom! Shalom!
>>135651Not sure why I made taht joke since it scks so bad. WEll ,whatever. I don't think I will be able to play for a while to be honest got irl things to do and so on.
>>135652>>135651Awww. Well, okay. I hope you come by again sometime
>>135655Think you are ready to play tonight?
>>135656Perhaps. Presumably, Spark wants to close distance between the doctor and Miskobag
>>135657Yes. He would lead he over there as soon as he has a chance. Does the doctor have anything else to note before we leave?
>>135658He wants to know,
"Where are you taking me?"
Seeming anxious
>>135659"To my friend. He is outside of this town a bit to not draw much attention from the changelings."
>>135660His hairs visibly stand up. He moves his head and opens his mouth, but only manages to get out "geh" and "ah," never succeeding in forming a coherent response as he squirms.
>>135662"They will shoot me" he answers
>>135664"For aiding Partisans. Or deserters, it is all the same to them."
>>135665"Well, what about the pony that helped take down the giant beast things?"
>>135666He is silent for a moment, though he seems to take a quick breath out as soon as he takes a breath in
"The beasts are down?"
>>135667"As far as I know. I helped take down about three. No more roaring or anything so I assume that was the last of them."
>>135668He pauses again. Both ears stand at full height, swiveled towards Spark. The left ear twitches twice. He stands there for some seconds.
"Is that - is that what that commotion was yesterday?"
>>135669"Afraid so. I would be glad to share more, but I have a feeling the changelings would not like such information being shared so publicly. Let's wait until we get to a bit more privacy."
>>135670He frowns, and the ears twist somewhat.
"I am... I am a doctor. I am sworn to help and do no harm. But going out into the forest... It is risky. Very risky..."
>>135671"Perhaps, but I would say that the risk is about equal to working with the changelings, and probably less if they are in one of their grumpy moods."
>>135672"They very much do not like those who help those who flee to the forest..."
>>135673"This isn't fleeing into the forest. Just visiting. And besides, they are a bit busy cleaning up the mess to worry about a house call."
>>135674He breathes in, closes his eyes
"Very well... I will try. But I have to be careful in how I sneak out of here."
>>135675"No problem. I'm good with illusion magic. I can cover us as we make our exit."
>>135676"Let me... close out for a few hours..."
He closed a few cupboards, and turns off lights
"I'll need an alibi if they catch me... We should take the alley to the north, down the hill."
>>135677"Sure thing."
Spark wonders why the cupboards were open.
>>135678He locks them anyways, carefully. He hands a stethoscope and bag to Spark
"I think this is your risk to take. Carry these."
>>135679Spark carries the bag and stethoscope.
"Neat."
>>135681"Okay. Onwards." He breathes in, closes the door in the office, then goes through the door to the reception area, locks it, and goes out the front door.
"Okay, you go around right, I'll go left, then go right to Hickory Street." He goes left, and spark goes through a small alleyway that goes to another street. He appears over there in his large brown coat and hat, and waves to Spark, then going with Spark down a street and another directly north, until the two walk along a dirt road by the forest
"Okay, we are clear of the main area they patrol."
>>135682I thought I would have more time to pick this back up, but it looks like it will have to wait a bit.
How will Amber's second day go?
>>135585So... it would make sense for Amber to be up before sunrise