Equestria Girls: Caverns and Critters

Chapters

Prologue: You're All Sitting in a Tavern
Chapter 1: Wenches, Wine, and Wistful, World-weary Wanderers
Chapter 2: Roll for Initiative
Chapter 3-1: Steelhammer Makes a Friend, Maurin Makes an Enemy

Prologue: You're All Sitting in a Tavern

Prologue: You’re All Sitting in a Tavern...

“Alright, Twilight.” Sunset Shimmer groaned at the newest addition to their little band of friends, opening her hands and letting them drop to her sides. “There’s got to be something you like to do!”

“I told you already!” Twilight wailed, cringing away from the angry and exasperated expressions all around her. “I just like to read and study… This whole ‘friendship’ thing is really new to me! Like, really really new!”

“Ain’t that much inta music, not the ‘outdoorsy’ type – understandably so –“

“Hey!”

“An’ y’all ain’t really into video games or sports or, shucks, anythin’!”

“Totally un-cool.” Rainbow Dash nodded sagely, crossing her arms. Of all the people in their group of friends, however, the one who seemed to be getting the most upset was Fluttershy. Sunset was just as shocked as everybody else when Fluttershy spoke her mind.

“We’re honestly just trying to help you, Twilight. We know you had a hard time at Crystal Prep, but here at Canterlot High, we do things a little differently. Believe me, I know what it’s like to be ostracized; I’m pretty much only interested in animals – or I was before I met the others – yet I managed to branch out and enjoy music, hiking with Applejack, and even playing an occasional sport with Rainbow Dash.” She stepped forward, gingerly laying a hand on Twilight’s shoulder. “If I can branch out and try new things, then so can you.”

“Yeah, but-“

“She’s already been doing other things, darling.” Rarity groaned, rolling her eyes. “I mean, even embroidery failed to keep her interested, and let’s face it, what’s more fun than that?”

“Ah huh.” Applejack deadpanned, turning her attention back to Twilight. “An you ain’t no farmhand, that much is fer sure. Don’t worry, I talked to granny about it, and we have enough spare wood to repair the barn door no problem.”

“How was I supposed to know how to drive a tractor? I don’t even have my license yet.” Twilight’s plaintive complaint fell on deaf ears, as Sunset began rubbing the bridge of her nose.

“I’m just surprised that reading and studying are your only passions. There has to be something communal for us to do together.” She lifted a hand, cutting Twilight off before she could open her mouth. “That isn’t a book club.”

“I thought it was a good idea.” Twilight puffed her cheeks out, though she seemed to shy more and more away from the others.

“Anything? Something?” Rainbow Dash asked, mirroring Sunset as she lifted her hands and let them fall. “I mean, even a book we could like, read together, or-“

“Well, there is one thing.” Twilight intoned. It was the first glimmer of hope Sunset had seen from the poor girl since the whole fiasco with Crystal Prep. “But honestly, I don’t know if you guys would be into it…”

“Just spit it out, girl. Ain’t nothin’ ah won’t try at least once.”

Twilight took a deep breath, seeming to mentally prepare herself for the revelation that had been a few weeks in coming.

“Have you ever heard of the pen-and-paper game, ‘Caverns and Critters?’”

There was a short pause as everyone in the group shared looks, ranging from concern to interest and everywhere in between. Sunset could honestly say she had heard of the game, but aside from whatever she’d seen on the news about demonic cults and overblown parental reactions to the occult content of the game, she knew nothing. Skepticism was high on her list of things, but the prolonged silence seemed to be making Twilight the most uncomfortable among them all. Sunset spoke first.

“I don’t think we really have, but if you think it’s something we could all do together, then far be it from us to say no.”

“I only know that my dad used to play it way back in college. He still has some of the old dice and stuff. I tried to use them for yahtzee a few years back, but they were all funny-shaped. Oh, but he plays all those fantasy games, and those are pretty cool. Will it have like, dragons and stuff?” Rainbow Dash seemed most interested of the others, which helped Twilight come out of her shell a little more.

“Yeah, there are dragons, and other creatures too. It’s kind of halfway between writing a book and playing a video game without a TV or anything. A lot of it is story-telling.”

“That actually sounds really cool!” Rainbow Dash grinned all around at them, helping spread the excitement.

“Ah think Big Mac played with it for a few years. Ah cin ask him about it.”

“Ooh, ooh, I know my sisters really liked that game! They played with their friends all through high school!” Pinkie Pie chimed in at last, having been uncharacteristically quiet up until then. Fluttershy had moved from a concerned frown to a supportive smile. Sunset thought it was good that they were beginning to show interest in something.

“Well, it’s a game you play using mostly your imagination, but you can draw maps and castles with rooms on paper… Look, it’s really complicated and would take ages to bring you all up to speed, but if we really want something we can do together, I…” She sighed, rubbing one arm with the opposite hand. “I always wanted to try playing a campaign that I read on a whim a few years ago. Nobody at Crystal Prep really played, or if they did they weren’t really the nicest of people. So I guess we could give it a shot.”

“And I have the PERFECT place for it!” Pinkie Pie gasped. She began flapping her hands, as she often did when excited about something. “My sisters used to play in our basement all the time, but once they went to college they took most of their stuff with them. They left the tables and chairs and even a few smaller things behind. We could play at my house!”

“I have all the other materials we’d need, which if I’m being honest isn’t much.” Twilight smiled, a genuine, honest smile; one of the first Sunset had seen her give since joining their group. “It’s gonna take some research and more than a few explanations, but I think you’d all enjoy it. I have digital copies of the books we’ll need, so when I get home tonight, I’ll e-mail them all to you. You’ve got my number, so just message me if you have any questions about the material. If you think you can wrap your mind around it, print off the character sheet in the back and draw one up. I’d even be willing to come over to help you out.”

“It’s settled, then.” Sunset sealed the deal, tapping her fist in the palm of her opposite hand. “We’ll take a week to get used the material, and meet at Pinkie’s next Friday.”

“I smell a sleepover!” Pinkie bubbled, dashing off to undoubtedly go prepare.

“How long do these ‘campaigns’ take?” Rarity asked the question that had been bugging at the back of Sunset’s own mind. “We all have our own summer projects to do, mind you…”

“They’re kinda long, I’m not gonna lie.” Twilight grimaced. “I’ve heard stories of games taking years to complete sometimes. Usually they take a few months, but that’s with people meeting only once a week. Since it’s summer and we don’t have class or anything aside from our projects, we can probably play through it in a month if we play three times a week.”

“Hmm. Alright, that sounds fair.” Rarity beamed at Twilight, wrapping her in a quick hug. “I need to get home and finish an arrangement, but do send me those digital copies!”

“Start with the player’s handbook, it’s got all of the important information in it. I can help coordinate the party via text or email, so you all don’t roll six fighters.”

“Fighters? Is there violence?” Fluttershy’s eyes were wide enough to be seen behind the ever-present veil of hair she hid behind. Twilight grimaced, but shook her head.

“There is, but I promise, Fluttershy, I won’t make any of you hurt any animals – real or otherwise. If there are any, they’ll be evil, or at least dangerous towards others. You can play any sort of campaign with this game – the possibilities are basically endless. Some people play evil campaigns where they try to take over the land or something like that, but the majority of them are just groups of adventurers trying to do the right thing. Save a village, stop a tyrant, kill an evil dragon… That sort of thing.”

“Oh. Okay. As long as no innocent animals are hurt.” Fluttershy smiled, fidgeting a little. “I’m actually getting kind of excited. You all seem to be looking forward to this.”

“It sure sounds like fun.” Sunset beamed at Twilight. “And we have pretty open schedules this summer, so we might be able to finish this campaign before we go back to school.”

“And it’s not like we can’t keep playing once school starts, either. I’m sure even Canterlot High encourages extra-curricular activities. Games like this involve a lot of integral concepts, like simple math, teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking, and even diplomacy.”

“Huh.” Sunset failed to see how the things she’d heard about the game could possibly translate into anything Twilight would be interested in. If the game truly was demonic or evil like those news stories said it was, Twilight wouldn’t be so excited for it. “Well, it sounds like I’ve got some reading to do, then. Next Friday at Pinkie’s it is.”

With that, they went their separate ways, though Sunset wasn’t entirely sure it was with any small amount of excitement or anticipation.

For as large as the books were, they were surprisingly intuitive, if a little dry on the ‘interesting reading’ part. Much of it was statistics, numbers, and charts, but Sunset could see a massively complex and in-depth system for a tabletop game. With just a few questions directed her way from Twilight, she’d managed to print out and create a character she felt comfortable with. Come Friday, she took the sheet with her penciled-in scribbles, a few extra pencils, and everything she’d need for a sleepover to Pinkie’s house.

“Sunset! We’re almost all here already, come join us down here!” Pinkie stood at the head of a flight of stairs leading into what Sunset could only assume was the basement of her home. Following the exuberant girl down the creaky steps, Sunset was stricken with how open and well-furnished the place was. A thick carpet cushioned her feet, and what she had thought would be cold concrete walls and dimly-lit storage space was actually a tastefully-decorated basement den. If she had to guess, it was almost the size of the floor above it, the open floor-plan broken only by sturdy wooden beams; the support for the house.

“Woah. Nice place, Pinkie.”

“Is that Sunset?” Rainbow Dash’s voice came from behind her, and underneath the staircase, Sunset could see another portion of the basement devoted to a well-appointed den. A large TV was fixed to the wall, and currently showing some sporting event or another. Football, it looked like. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were watching aptly from the comfortable couch opposite the TV, while Fluttershy stroked Angel contentedly on a nearby recliner. Rarity was nowhere to be seen, and Twilight hadn’t arrived just yet.

“We’re gonna be playing over here.” Pinkie drew her attention to the last portion of the basement, a large wooden dining table that would normally seat anywhere from eight to ten people. A small collection of materials sat on the table top, the logos and scribbles looking familiar from her own books.

“This is awesome.” Sunset grinned. “It’s like something out of a college movie.”

“You should have seen my dad’s face when I told him I’d be playing Caverns and Critters.” Rainbow Dash slid up to the table, a folder in her hands. “He freaked out, taught me everything he knew, and even let me look at his old characters. Sunset, this game is awesome.”

“Is it?” Sunset had to admit to herself that put a lot of her fears to rest. If Rainbow Dash was this amped up, her energy would transmit to the rest of them.

“He told me so many stories about his glory days playing this game. If half the stuff he says is true, then we’re in for a wild ride.”

“When is Twilight gonna get here, then?” Applejack had turned the TV off and joined them, followed by Rarity descending from upstairs; presumably coming from the upstairs bathroom.

“That should be her now.” Rainbow Dash pulled her phone out as it chirped, grinning excitedly. “She just got off the bus, says she’ll be here any minute.”

“Speak of the devil.” Pinkie Pie grinned as the front door opened and closed. “We’re down here, Twilight!” Just a few short moments later and the mousy girl descended into the basement, her eyes gone wide in wonderment.

“Oh wow. This makes the two-hour bus ride worth it.” She had on a heavy backpack and conservative clothes. “Do we want to get right into it, or…?”

“Let’s go!” Rainbow Dash sat down near the head of the table, bouncing in her seat excitedly. “My character is so awesome, I can’t wait for you all to see what she can do!”

“Right into it, then.” Twilight took the head of the table, pulling several books, folders, and her laptop out. Nearby outlets provided power, and she set everything up behind a large screen, hiding her accessories from everyone else’s view. Even then, she hardly took up any space on the table. As she went around setting up and distributing pre-packaged sets of polyhedron dice to each of them, she invited them to introduce themselves.

“Go ahead and tell the others about your character, and let them know a little bit about what they do. Keep some things secret, though, since it’ll make the inter-party roleplay a little more interesting.”

“Me first!” Dash butted in, practically ripping her character sheet from its folder. “Alright, prepare to be blown away. I’m playing a human fighter.”

Silence again. Even Twilight paused in her distribution efforts, blinking at Rainbow Dash.

“A… A fighter?” Applejack broke the quiet, fighting a snicker. “The most basic and uninteresting class in the whole game?”

“Laugh all you want now, AJ!” Rainbow Dash cackled triumphantly. “I have it on good authority that fighters are the most versatile and awesome classes in the whole game! I mean come on, a bonus feat every level?! I’ll be cleaving through mobs by level four!”

“Wait, seriously?!” Applejack pulled a beaten copy of her own player’s handbook out, flipping through pages. “Aww what the heck! They DO get bonus feats every level!”

“Very smart, Rainbow Dash.” Twilight grinned. “Fighters can take bonus feats to help focus their combat style. If you really wanted to, you probably could start cleaving by level four, or even three.”

“Yeah, but I took Endurance and Quick Draw for my first feats.” Dash shrugged. “I wanted weapon focus, but my dad recommended these.”

“Alright, Applejack, what’d you make?”

“In keeping with ‘honest Apple family tradition,’ or so Big Mac says…” Applejack pulled her own sheet out, laying it on the table. “Ah made a Paladin.”

“Oh, perfect.” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Please don’t tell me you’re gonna quote scripture like that one guy in my dad’s group.”

“Aw shucks, y’all already know about that?” Applejack deflated. “Ah guess Big Mac was right, ain’t nobody likes paladins… Still, ah figger we need someone to take the hits and do the damage.” She shrugged nonchalantly.

“Neat, so we have two frontline fighters. Rarity, what about you?”

“Well, I expected no less from Rainbow Dash, ignoring the important things.”

“Hey! Cleaving is important!”

“So I made a rogue.” She smiled demurely, rubbing her sheet flat on the table. “They have the largest skill pool and the most skill points. I’ve focused on diplomacy, mostly.”

“The smooth-talking rogue, eh? That’s good. Though I hope you put some points into spot and disable device.”

“What do you mean by that?” Rarity seemed to pale at the devious look on Twilight’s face.

“You’ll see. Pinkie Pie? What about you?”

“Well, I wanted to make a bard, but-“

“But you got a call from your sister, didn’t you?” Twilight cut her off matter-of-factly. Pinkie sighed, her poofy mane of curls deflating a little.

“Party poopers. The lot of ya. No, I didn’t make a bard because apparently I’m already enough of a pain in the ass.”

Rainbow Dash was the only one who snorted.

“So I made a ranger instead!”

“That’s… better, I guess.”

“My sister said having someone who can track in the wilderness and do damage from a distance is really good to have in the party. I figured I want to help more than I want to hurt, and besides…” She flipped her hair over her shoulder, and Sunset noticed it had returned to its usual fluffy state. “Playing music to control the hearts and minds of thousands only sounds awesome.”

They all shared a look, suddenly much more afraid of the possibility of Pinkie playing a bard than they should have been.

“Right then, Fluttershy?”

“Let me guess, druid?”

“How did you know?!” Fluttershy pouted, clutching her sheet to her chest. “I worked really hard on this!”

“It’s the one that had the most to do with animals.” Rainbow Dash shrugged, leaning back in her chair with a smug grin. “Sometimes you’re too easy to read.”

“Hey, there’s something to be said for picking a class that’s comfortable to you in real-life.” Twilight went to Fluttershy’s defense immediately. “Just because we’re playing in a fantasy world doesn’t mean we aren’t putting a little of ourselves into our own characters. In a way, these people we’re making are extensions of ourselves. That’s half of the fun of this game, is letting their stories take us away to a different world.” Twilight’s eyes suddenly slid to Sunset, a faint smile playing across her lips. “As made evident by our last member…”

Sunset sighed and sat down in the last seat, pulling her own character sheet out. And with it, a spell sheet.

“Sorceress.” She groaned. She hated to admit it, but Twilight had been one hundred percent right. Being a part of the magic of the Elements of Harmony, doing all the things she had been doing the past two years, and knowing that magic still existed, made her long for her old home on Equestria. Playing the magic-casting Sorceress class was just another way for her to feel closer to home.

“It’s nice to have a spellcaster in the party.”

“Hey, I’ve got spells!” Applejack pulled her own spell sheet out, but Sunset couldn’t help but grin. She flipped hers over, revealing compact columns, each one much more thick than her friends’.

“I’ve got more spells.”

“Aww, no fair.” Applejack crossed her arms and pouted, but Sunset was all smiles.

“Twilight’s right, this game is really easy to lose yourself in. I’d hate to admit it, but I kind of wanted a taste of home, and the Sorceress is a really easy way to get that. Even if it’s just make-believe, magic is magic, and I love it.”

“So that’s it, then.” Twilight knit her fingers together behind the screen, peering over the top of both it and her glasses at them. “Six adventurers, ready to fight against overwhelming odds and injustices most foul. Are you girls ready?”

“The only question I have left is, how do we start?”

Twilight’s smile grew even wider.

“You’re all sitting in a tavern…”

Chapter 1: Wenches, Wine, and Wistful, World-weary Wanderers

Equestria Girls: Caverns and Critters

Chapter 1: Wenches, Wine, and Wistful, World-weary Wanderers

The treetop village of Solace is the sort of place adventures start. If it doesn’t serve as their genesis, it’s at least a stop along the way. A marvel of ancient nature magic has woven branches and wood together to form impressive walkways, supplemented by suspended bridges and other means of transportation. Every home in the village sits well above the forest floor, and to anyone who doesn’t know what they’re looking for, they could just as easily pass by the place, having missed the soft sounds of conversation or passing feet among the rushing of wind through leaves, or even their own breath.

Solace was and always has been a place of rest; be it a passing army seeking refuge from an enemy force, or a traveler with a heavy pack (or a heavy heart ) finding lifted spirits above the hard ground, among the trees and leaves and birds. For ages upon ages, the small village of Solace has played host to a thousand different stories from hundreds of travelers.

And today was not unlike any other day. Clutching posters taken from cities all across the realm, or bearing the whisper of words taken on the wind of gossip, six brave souls descended into the Solace Valley, bearing in them many things – a hope for a better world, a lust for the unknown, security in the form of coin and employ, duty to deity and order, a secret service to an old debtor, and an unbridled joy for the parts unknown – but above all else, the six carried a spark… A desire for something…

Different.

And different was what they would all find, before the night was out.

O-O-O-O

“Holy crap, Twilight, that was AMAZING.” Rainbow Dash’s jaw hung open, her expression nearly mirroring the other girls around the table. “You… How do you do that? I mean, did you have this planned or are you just flyin’ by the seat of your pants?”

“I mean, I’ve had an idea in my head for a while, but I’m kinda just filling in the gaps here.” Twilight blushed, retreating behind her screen a little. “Am I too descriptive?”

“Hardly!” Applejack gave Rainbow Dash a reprimanding swat, urging her to be quiet. “Y’all are doin’ jes’ fin-“

“SHH!” Fluttershy shushed them all with an uncharacteristic sound, glaring around the table. “I want to hear more about Solace. Keep going, Twilight.”

O-O-O-O

The Solace Tavern and Inn was a godsend for many, especially a stout dwarf bearing with him a shield and sword, having come from mountains far, far to the North. For others, it was but a short hike from the nearest city, be it Azimandas to the West, or Brackenbay to the South. Others still found their way from the wilderness, from untamed forests and uncharted mountains just East of Solace. But from whatever paths they trod, the adventurers found themselves climbing a long, winding series of steps set into the side of one of the larger trees in Solace. It was one of only a few ways up into the bustling tree village, and provided a wonderful view of the surrounding homes and businesses along the way.

Their arrivals were staggered, from a comely sorceress arriving early in the morning, to the surly dwarf paladin arriving later in the evening.

O-O-O-O

“Really, AJ? A dwarf?”

“They get constitution bonuses. Shaddup.” Applejack scowled at Rarity, pulling her character sheet closer.

O-O-O-O

Although it was perhaps one of the only things in the entire village made from anything other than wood, a massive stone hearth provided the inn with delightful warmth, its flickering light complimented by only a few chandeliers and candles spread about. While many of the common areas were as bright as day, corners and along the walls were shrouded in shadow, further enhanced by the cloying, ever-present cloud of pipe tobacco.

It smelled of home; firewood and delicious food, strong spirits, laughter, and oak. For some, how Solace had managed to remain undamaged by the myriad of wars and conflicts that had ravaged the countryside around it had been a mystery up until crossing that threshold. It was the sort of feeling that said ’anyone can enjoy this – from the mightiest knight to the lowliest goblin.’

Alas, the six adventurers hadn’t arrived for smells and food; no, they were here for something much greater. A sense of wonderment and adventure filled them all, and whispers of dark things were in the cracks between the branches, through which both the smoke from the fireplace and omens filtered.

O-O-O-O

“Alright, so you’re all in this tavern. What do you want to do?” Twilight peered around the table with a warm smile. There was a moment of silence as Sunset processed the question, but she was the first to speak.

“What, you mean like, what do we want to do? Us?”

“No, not quite.” Twilight rolled her hand. “Remember, I told you all this was a role-playing game. Your characters are just that – yours. I cannot directly control them or force them to act. That’s up to you six. So, you tell me what you want to happen, and then I make the story around it.”

“Okay, so you’re literally flying by the seat of your pants here, then.” Rainbow Dash guffawed. “I can dig it. Well, if that’s the case, then I-“

O-O-O-O

In through the door of the Solace Tavern and Inn bursts a tall, striking figure. He is grizzled and unshaved, but his outfit appears well-kept, as does the weapon draped across his shoulders. The man swaggers up to the carved bar, slapping two gold pieces down and proudly proclaiming a drinking challenge to anyone willing to accept. His speech is a little thick, and he appears crass, but he is muscular and moves with a grace born of battlefield experience.

Never being one to pass up a challenge when ale is on the table, the dwarf is the first to speak up.

“I’ll accept yer challenge, laddie! An’ don’t skimp on th’ gold when yer face is on the floor!”

O-O-O-O

“Wow, AJ. Nice accent.”

“Big Mac taught me some things.” Applejack blushed once more, rubbing the back of her neck. “Too much?”

“No, no, it’s good!” Twilight smiled warmly. “It really helps get into character. Nevermind the two of you are playing guys-

“What’s so wrong with playing a guy?” Rarity piped in, her cheeks puffing up. “I rather like the roguish charm of a well-muscled warrior.”

“Or the slight features of an elvish rogue?” Twilight piqued an eyebrow at the fashionista.

“He would be very easy to fit with a dress, that’s all I’ll say on the matter.”

“Right, then. So…”

O-O-O-O

Patrons of the bar either gather around the drinking contest, placing bets and cheering on their favorite, or they stay in their seats, shaking their heads with wistful smiles. Among all of the guests at the tavern that evening, though, one in particular doesn’t seem to enjoy the noise as much. To anyone with an even moderately keen eye, they would see the man with his back to the wall, a smoldering pipe clenched between his teeth and a wary eye kept on the others in the tavern.

O-O-O-O

“So this is an important thing that happens quite often in these situations,” Twilight derailed the narrative to look at all the others. “I’m going to ask you all to make a ‘check,’ specifically, a ‘spot check.’ I need you all to roll your D20’s, and add your ‘spot’ modifier. For most of you, this will just be your Intelligence modifier. Some of you have put skill points into that, though, so it’ll be easier for you to succeed.”

“And in my case…” Sunset frowned at her character sheet.

“Right, you’re a sorceress, and you have a familiar. An owl, right? You get plus two to low-light and shadowy spot checks, so add an additional two on top of whatever else you have.”

There was a series of clattering and muttering as the girls all rolled their plastic dice, consulted character sheets, and reported their numbers to Twilight. Twilight’s fingers flew over the keyboard of her laptop, and she scribbled down a few notes before continuing on.

O-O-O-O

Of the group of adventurers, only four of them noticed the man in the corner, and on the table before him was a series of scrolls, rolled and piled neatly. Each one was fixed with a wax seal, and the man would occasionally glance at them, as if reminding himself they were there. They remembered that a man would be seeking adventurers in Solace, and he certainly fit the bill. The sorceress was the first to approach him, right around the same time that the drinking contest began.

“Are you… the… ‘Ambassador of Brackenbay?’” She asked timidly, though her fears were dissipated as the man pulled his pipe from his mouth and smiled at her.

“I am. I see you have my flier.” He waved at the parchment in her hand, taken from a posting board in the city she had come from. “I’m seeking six people for an assignment, so you’re welcome to join me until we have enough. You made good time, by the way.”

“Oh, thank you.” The sorceress took the seat opposite the man, a dusky owl fluttering across the room to light deftly on her shoulder. The man cast the odd woman a curious glance before speaking again.

“My name is Matthias, of Brackenbay. I’m glad you answered my summons, as there’s a dire problem in my home.”

“Can you tell me anything about this problem?”

“Only that it’s best we speak of this elsewhere.” He peered about searchingly. “Prying ears, you know.”

As the night wore on, three others would join the man, a slight man shroud in a cloak, a mysterious bow-wielding Halfling, and a beautiful, dark-skinned human woman who wore a tunic that appeared to be woven of leaves.

“Hmm, we cannot leave without at least six of you.” The man spoke, having fallen quiet after each brief introduction. By this point, however, the drinking contest at the bar had reached a fever pitch. The two contestants had matched each other pint-for-pint for almost the past hour, and their audience was cheering raucously.

“Drink! Drink! Drink!” They chanted, waving coin purses and stomping boots. The dwarf tiled his flagon back, slamming it into the wood with finality.

“Eight!” He roared, red in the face and a fire in his eyes.

The human swayed on his stool, blinking unevenly at the dwarf as he groped for his drink. The bartender pushed it into his hands, patting his shoulder before going right back to cheering and placing bets – which favored the dwarf considerably.

“DRINK! DRINK! DRINK!” The patrons shouted, urging the man on. With no small amount of trepidation and sloshing, the man downed his pint. A few drops remained on his beard, and he held the pint warily over the bar.

The whole tavern fell silent, even those who hadn’t been looking on before watching in grim silence as the pint wavered, lowered…

And clattered to the floor, along with the spent human. A deafening cheer rose up as curses and praises were traded from either side.

“I think those are your last two.” The cloaked man spoke quietly, leaning in to the ambassador. The man from Brackenbay grumbled and stood from his seat, ushering the other four along with him as they approached the competitors. Coins and handshakes were being traded back-and-forth, but the ambassador cut into them with a sort of ease borne of politics and slimy, under-handed dealings. He clapped the dwarf on the back, leaning in close to whisper something in his ear. After a hushed exchange and a few fingers, the dwarf and the ambassador hauled the drunken human to his feet, shuffling him along with a whispered promise of ‘reward,’ and ‘coin.’

To the dismay of the patrons, the party of seven left the tavern, the stumbling human supported between the stout dwarf and a cheery halfling. The ambassador stopped to give them a brief explanation just outside of the tavern, before they began crossing the suspended bridges between trees.

“We’re moving to the temporary house I’ve been allowed, just a short ways away. I promise, I’ll divulge more information there. You’ll have to forgive me for not speaking in the tavern, but… prying ears and all.” As if to punctuate his point, his eyes flickered to the walkway behind them, leading from the tavern. Two shadowy figures watched the party, but didn’t follow, their head and hands shrouded under heavy cloaks. “Best be movin’, yeah?”

“Agreed.” The sorceress strode forth, leading the party further into the town of Solace, her owl perched on her shoulder. Boots (and in one case, bare feet) thumped or thudded across wood planks and woven branches as they traversed the town, though the halfling kept casting a wary glance behind them, to see if the shadowy figures would follow. Once or twice, she could see them, moving through the torchlight in their wake.

Nothing came of it until they reached their destination, when the two mysteriously vanished from all sight. The ambassador frowned when the halfling made it known to him, but ushered them inside his temporary home anyways. Once inside, the human had sobered enough to stand on his own, albeit a little shakily. Still, the man locked the door behind them, scanning the walkway outside to ensure they hadn’t been followed, or if they had, their tail wasn’t immediately approaching.

“I don’t like the look of this, not one bit.” He griped, turning back to the party as he packed another pipe. “Chances are, I won’t make it out of Solace alive.”

“Why do you say that?” The druid spoke, the first words she had shared the entire evening. Concern was apparent on her face.

“Those men that were following us, they weren’t men at all.” The ambassador shuddered, glancing outside once more. “They are called Hands. As in, the Hands of Imoheen.”

O-O-O-O

“Time for another check! This time, I only want you to roll if you have either Spellcraft or Knowledge – Local.” Twilight watched as only Rarity and Sunset rolled their dice. Both girls relayed their information to Twilight, even as Rainbow Dash leaned over to Applejack.

“How could I have missed my fortitude save? I rolled a seven.”

“An’ y’all were eight pints inta mead. I ain’t never had the stuff, but ah’m sure it’s stronger n’ beer. Ya shouldn’ta picked a drinkin’ contest with a dwarf.”

O-O-O-O

“I’ve heard of Imoheen.” The cloaked man spoke quietly. “Some say he’s a necromancer. Others say he’s just a wizard, mysterious as they are about whatever it is they do. It doesn’t help that he lives in that old tower outside of Brackenbay, out on the point.”

“That’s right.” The ambassador nodded gravely. And he’s-“

“If they’re ‘hands,’ as you say they are, then he’s most certainly a necromancer. They’re puppets, enchanted to act as his eyes and ears, and occasionally his muscle.” The sorceress’ voice was tense with the implication, and her fear allayed to everyone near. Except the fighter, who was looking blearily at the dark-skinned woman.

“Yer pretty.” He slurred, wobbling on his feet.

O-O-O-O

“Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy blushed, retreating behind her hair while she hugged herself. “Stop saying that, it’s creepy!”

“Hey, I can’t help it; I’m drunk!” Rainbow Dash rose her hands defensively. “This is what people do when they’re drunk, isn’t it? They hit on cute girls? Twilight said it herself, we gotta role-play.”

“Yeah, but-“

“She’s got a point, Fluttershy.” Twilight sighed. “Alcohol most definitely lowers inhibitions and impedes on thinking processes. Which, unless I’m mistaken, you’ve got to be one of the stupidest people I’ve ever seen rolled, Dash.”

“Hey!” Rainbow Dash growled. “You said I could take an extra feat if I kept the seven!”

“So I did.” Twilight groaned. “And regretting it all the more. Still, of all the people here, I expected you to be the least into the role-playing. You’re… actually sticking to character really well.” Twilight arched an eyebrow at Rainbow Dash. “Any particular reason why?”

“What? No, not really.” Dash shrugged. “I just think this whole idea is cool. I mean, you’re doing a really good job of telling the town and the tavern and stuff. I can’t wait to see what happens when we get to fight something.”

“I’m glad to see you’re enjoying yourself, too.” Sunset beamed at Twilight, leaning back. “If we can keep Rainbow Dash from jumping Fluttershy, this could turn out really fun.”

“Yes, please, don’t jump on me.” Fluttershy whimpered.

“Just tell him to buzz off in-character.”

“Okay, then-“

O-O-O-O

“Not interested, bub.” The dark-skinned woman growled, giving the fighter a semi-gentle shove. He nevertheless stumbled backwards, sitting roughly down on the floor. A ripple of laughter rolled around before the ambassador stepped forward, speaking once more.

“I’ve been followed by those two since I left Brackenbay, and I think Imoheen is onto me. What I have here,” He produced the six scrolls from earlier, and began passing them off to each of the adventurers. “Is all the information on the situation. What I want is this: Investigate these claims against Imoheen. If you can, take care of him yourself. If you feel like you need more help, then you can appeal to the city guard, but only if you’ve got some good, solid evidence.” He gestured for them to open their scrolls, looking out of the window yet again.

“The city is prepared to reward you handsomely for taking care of him. But don’t let anyone around town hear you say that, at least until he’s gone. You never know where he’s got informants. Everything’s all in there.”

The six of them opened their scrolls (or in the case of the gruff human, opened them upside-down) and browsed the contents. It was a dossier of sorts, with a small map drawn of the area around Brackenbay. On the point of the land, south of the city, was a manor that had once been a light house, and was Imoheen’s current residence. The text in the scroll explained in detail the alleged crimes the magician Imoheen had committed, ranging in everything from abduction to necromancy.

“This is all well and good,” the cloaked man rolled his hand. “But how can we trust you? How do we know you’re not a hand yourself?”

“He wouldn’t be.” The sorceress shook her head. “Hands can’t talk; at least not without stuttering or sounding off. Plus they’re kind of… jerky. It’s not them controlling their actions, after all.”

“Still, you might be in league with him. How can we know you’re not-“

In a rush, two torches burst through the front windows of the home, clattering across the floor towards them. The flames leapt to life immediately, and preceded two cloaked figures jumping in through the broken windows, their weapons drawn.

O-O-O-O

“Woah! That was sudden!” Rainbow Dash blinked down at her character sheet. “What, uuh… What now?”

“Now?” Twilight tented her fingers, grinning at them all over the rim of her glasses.

“Roll for initiative.”

Author's Note

Character Profile: Talia Nightflare, played by Sunset Shimmer.

Level 1 Human Sorceress
STR: 8
DEX: 11
CON: 9
WIS: 17
INT: 16
CHA: 12

Animal Companion: Teak (Owl, provides +2 to Spot checks in dimly-lit or shadowy areas.)

Feats: Spell Focus, Conjuration; Empower Spell (Human bonus feat)

History: (Written by Sunset Shimmer, with context given by Twilight Sparkle) Talia was always a girl with a profound sense of what was right and what was wrong. Even during her youth as an orphan in Azimandas, Talia stood up for those weaker and less fortunate than herself. It earned her plenty of beatings at the hands of the local wannabe gang-boys, but she made many fastidious friends, and drew the eyes of local persons in power. As soon as she was deemed of-age, she was taken under the tutelage of Master Sorcerer Tirithal, headmaster of the Mage’s Academy in Azimandas. Even during her grueling studies, Talia continued to help those less-fortunate than herself, perhaps to make up for the wrong she had done in order to survive the brutal orphanage homes of her youth.

Today, Talia spends as much of her time split between learning new and powerful magic, and assisting others. Her master recently gave her permission to take a trip to Solace, at the behest of an urgent flier posted on a street-side job board. While Tirithal admits to having taught the powerful necromancer Imoheen, he refuses to tell Talia anything more about the assignment out of Brackenbay. Whether it’s to suspend her sense of mystery or out of personal shame for his failure, Tirithal will not say.

Chapter 2: Roll for Initiative

Equestria Girls: Caverns and Critters

Chapter 2: Roll for Initiative

The home came to life suddenly. The two shadows were suddenly revealed in the torchlight, their haggard expressions hollow and dead. They drooled from slack jaws and moved as if controlled by marionette strings, their arms and legs jerking awkwardly in their haste. Still, they got the drop on the party, swinging daggers around wildly. One of them caught the ambassador in a glancing blow, slicing him open across the upper part of his chest, close to his neck. He stumbled back with a cry, clutching at the wound with one hand while his other sought a small dagger on his hip.

“Woah!” The halfling cursed and stepped back, her deft hands flying to her shotbow. Immediately behind her was the dwarf, a paladin by the look of him, who unslung a mace from his own hip and began pulling on a large, square shield. The sorceress was the first among the six to act, having held her quarterstaff as a walking stick the entire time. With a cry, she swung the iron-shod tip around, catching one of the hands on his shoulder. With a sickening crunch, the blow connected, but didn’t seem to stop the thing. Both of the humans were stunned, blinking at the commotion in shock.

O-O-O-O

“I can’t believe I rolled a measly two!” Rarity pouted.

“Sorry, Rarity. Even with a plus two dexterity bonus, anything under a five means you’re caught flat-flooted for the first round.” Twilight chuckled, leaning back a little in her chair. “I’d like to think of it as a ‘house rule.’ Makes sense to me, if you really think about it.”

“I guess.” Rarity pouted. “I want a chance to fight.”

“Well, this isn’t meant to be a hard fight. You’ll be fine.” Twilight turned her attention to Fluttershy. “And the druid?”

O-O-O-O

The dark-skinned woman jumped into action, dashing forward and drawing her weapon along the way. The quarterstaff whistled as it swung through the air, missing the hand by a scant inch. It clacked into the floor, even as the hands readied another swing. The sorceress slipped past one dagger and deftly blocked the other with her own staff, reeling back to deliver another powerful swing. This time, the hand fell backwards, its eyes gone wide and white as they rolled back. The druid, however, was slashed across her arm, crying out in pain as the blood began to flow. It didn’t appear serious, and she recovered in time for the halfling to fire an arrow across the room.

With a solid sound, the arrow buried itself into the hand’s head, rendering it stiff as a board as it fell over. The paladin scrambled to pick up both of the burning torches and deposit them into the hearth. The rogue knelt next to the ambassador while the gruff human began stamping out what cinders had scattered from the torches.

“Stay with me, Matthias.” The slender figure pulled their hood back, revealing pointy ears and delicate features – an elf! “Don’t die on me now.”

“I told you.” The ambassador shuddered, clutching at the wound on his chest. The bleeding didn’t appear to be stopping, and he coughed once more. “I wouldn’t make it out of Solace. D-do me a favor, and burn their bodies. They might come back.”

“We will.” The sorceress said quietly, laying a hand on his shoulder. “You have our word. And we will get to the bottom of this, no matter what. Imoheen cannot get by threatening cities and assaulting officials. If half the things in this scroll are true, then he needs to be stopped.”

“Th-thank you.” Matthias coughed once more-

O-O-O-O

Twilight rolled a set of dice behind her screen…

O-O-O-O

And slowly closed his eyes, passing from this world and into whatever lay beyond. Gingerly, the dwarf took him from the rogue, leaning over to whisper a prayer. While the gruff human and the rogue rolled their eyes, they left the man to his work, going to pick through the pockets of the dead hands. Their daggers were taken, and one of them had a few gold coins in his pocket. While the dwarf scowled at them, he didn’t say anything. Instead, he solemnly began gathering the man’s body, laying him in the other room with a solitary bed.

“And these?” The druid nudged the hands, having bound her cut with some linen torn from the ambassador’s cloak.

“Toss them over the railing; we’ll burn them before we leave.”

“We leave tonight, then?” The gruff human asked, taking a quick inventory of the home. Aside from some day-old bread, there wasn’t much in the way of provisions.

“I see no reason to hesitate. If we stay here, more hands could find us. Or worse; the city officials.”

“I cannae say I like t’ run from the authorities, but the lass has a point. We ought to leave.”

“To Brackenbay, then.”

O-O-O-O

“We should take a break.” Twilight stretched her arms over her head. The group had to look around and check clocks, but they found it was already almost five in the evening. Suddenly, they were all ravenous.

“Oh, I have snacks and food upstairs, don’t you worry.” Pinkie Pie rubbed her hands together deviously. “It wouldn’t be a Pinkie Pie sleepover without them!”

“Too true, darling.” Rarity frowned at her cell phone. “I need to make a quick call, too.”

“Meet back down here in, say, an hour?” Sunset offered. Her bladder was making itself known, and the prospect of food had her more excited than she cared to admit. It was difficult to believe they had already been playing most of the day; she hardly felt taxed at all! It was all so exciting, with the way Twilight described everything, and the excitement in her voice as she played out their brief fight with the puppet-like humanoids they’d just dispatched.

“Sounds good.” Rainbow Dash shot up, intent on getting first dibs on the snacks. Applejack was on her heels, telling Dash to slow down so the rest of them could eat as well. Fluttershy pulled Twilight aside, a worried look on her face. Rarity had stepped off to a corner of the basement, talking quietly into her phone. Pinkie Pie led Sunset upstairs, though even as she stepped into the bathroom, she couldn’t help but think…

’This is so awesome.’

O-O-O-O

The road out of Solace was quiet and eerily-lit by the moon. The sorceress led their way with the owl on her shoulder, the two helping pick between the trees and follow the winding path South. They didn’t all feel like travelling through the night, however, so they left the beaten path and found a clearing to set up camp in. Around the fire, the six discussed their plan of action.

“I think introductions are in order.” The elf spoke first, opening his hands. “My name is Maurin Shadowleaf. A pleasure to meet you all.”

“What is it you do for a living, Maurin?” The dwarf grumbled, casting a weary eye his way.

“Trust me, dear paladin, the less you know, the better.”

“How didye know I was a paladin?” The dwarf blinked.

“Your shield.” The sorceress pointed. “You have the emblem of the Holy Order of Nith emblazoned on it. Let me guess, you’re doing your ten years of service to the community?”

“Ye ruin a good story, lass.” The dwarf chuckled, idly tracing a finger along the emblem. “Aye, m’ name’s Steelhammer Oakenfort. Paladins of my god, Nith, spend ten years of their lives in service to the community and good kingdoms of the world before returning to our seminary. Ah’m three years into me service, and loving every minute of it.”

“Why’s that?” The halfling tilted her head to the side curiously, having laid on her stomach beside the fire.

“No oaths.” The paladin grinned. “Not of poverty nor chastity, Sobriety or even charity. S’long as we do good by the world, we can get as drunk and be as crass as we please.”

“That’s surprisingly intuitive.” The sorceress mused, stroking her chin. “It allows you to experience life to at least some extent before devoting yourself to a higher cause.”

“Aye, and many of us stay in the order longer for it. Sure, we get a few paladins a year who forsake their vows and go back to their lives of sin and debauchery… But they were never destined to stay with the order ta begin with.”

“So that’s why you can drink a man to the floor with no remorse.” The gruff human sighed, rolling up in his sleeping bag. “I’m Grenlow Briar. In it for the coin, nothing more, nothing less.”

“Short and concise. I like it.” Maurin chuckled. “What of you, m’lady? If your familiar and garb are any indication, you’re a-“

“Sorceress. Well, apprentice, as it were. I am known as Talia of Azimandas, studying under Master Sorcerer Tirithal. It was at his discretion that I come assist the ambassador of Brackenbay, once he had received word of his former student’s wrong-doing.”

“Imoheen is a former student of Tirithal?” Maurin arched an eyebrow. “That may help us in our task… What information can you tell us?”

“Nothing much, I’m afraid.” Talia sighed. “Tirithal wasn’t very forthcoming about Imoheen; the way I understand it, my master views Imoheen’s exodus from Azimandas as a personal failure. It brings him shame.” She looked into the fire with intent eyes. “I would do anything to save my mentor the anguish he feels; even if it means taking Imoheen’s life.” A silence descended on them, but only for a moment or so.

“Well, for what it’s worth, I’m Bupin Baglind.” The ranger smiled at the group. “It’s nice to meetchya all.”

“They call me Shay.” The dark-skinned, barefoot woman rounded them out. “I will take first watch tonight. Who wants second?”

“I will,” Talia offered, crawling towards her own bedroll. “Who has the third?”

“I never sleep past the dawn anyways. I’ll take it after ye, lass.” The dwarf flipped his shield over and laid his head against it, passing into his dream almost instantaneously. The group slept through the night, not bothered by anything save the wayward animal shifting in the underbrush.

Morning came upon them sooner than later, and after taking a few moments to prepare breakfast and wake themselves with cold water from a nearby creek, the group was on their way. Sometime in the night, a wolf had strode in out of the woods, and Shay went to lay her hand on the creature’s back. While it had originally frightened Talia, as it had happened on her watch, Shay calmed her fears by nuzzling into the beast’s neck warmly. Past that, the wolf was a welcome addition to the party, and even her owl seemed to get along with it.

Now, on their way south towards Brackenbay, the six began to discuss their plans for discovering more about Imoheen.

“I say we check with the guard, first thing.” Maurin suggested. “They always know what’s going on around the city.”

“But Imoheen may have informants in the guard. The way Matthias made it sound, we wouldn’t really get any help from them unless we have some strong evidence.” Bupin intoned. “I suggest we ask around local taverns and shops; those guys have all the information on what’s happening.”

“We stand just as much a chance of running into one of Imoheen’s informants that way, too.” Talia sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Maybe if we… I dunno, see who we can trust? Maybe do some errands or work for someone in town. If we prove we can be trusted, they’ll either give us the information we want, or reveal they’re working for Imoheen. We just need to make it look like we’re not after him, is all.”

“So these are kind of condemning, then.” Steelhammer tossed his scroll in the air. “If we’re caught with them, it’ll look bad.”

“Agreed. We should get rid of them.”

“We’ll burn them at camp tonight.” Talia nodded her agreement. The scroll suddenly felt like a condemning article; one that would spell her doom were she caught with it. “Though maybe one of us should hold onto it, in case we need to prove to the authorities where we came from and what we’re doing.”

“It’s still a slippery slope either way. I’m all for keeping one, but we shouldn’t show it unless we have absolute faith we can trust the other party.” Maurin drew his hood up over his pointed ears, casting a wary glance to the left and right of the path. The day was wet and overcast, and a fog was rolling in off of the ocean to the west. It made their speech muffled and their footsteps quiet, but also that of anyone out there. They passed few people, mostly traders and cattle-drivers, along with the occasional contingent of the Brackenbay city guard. They were paid little mind as they made their way further south, nearing the city limits by the time night had fallen.

“First order of business, we need to find a place to stay.” Talia felt exhausted from the long day of travelling, and her companions were showing similar levels of tiredness, save the gruff fighter, who merely appeared hungover. “We’re going to be in town for quite some time, so a house or tenement would suffice.”

“I know of a place.” Maurin turned towards the East, immediately inside of the city gates. They went unaccosted by the guards upon their arrival, who appeared too wrapped up in their dicing to stop a group of wet and weary adventurers. Maurin led them a short ways into the East side of the city, which appeared to mostly be a commercial area; full of warehouses and shipping companies. Down several streets was one lone lantern still lit at such a late hour, and it was there that Maurin turned. The lantern hung above a sign boasting an all-night stable, accepting caravans and lone travelers alike.

“Follow my lead.” He spoke quietly, winking at the party to indicate he was going to pull something. “Stablehand! I say, stablehand! Anyone here?!”

“I hear ya, stop yer belly-achin’.” A disgruntled old halfling waddled down out of the rafters of the stable. He smelled of stale hay and horse droppings, but brightened at the sight of the party of six. “Oh! What brings yer like ‘round here? Ain’t a horse ‘twixt the lot o’ ya…”

“I’m a friend of the owner’s, he promised us room and board. Perhaps you’ve heard of me?” Maurin withdrew his hood, winking kindly at the halfling.

“Oh, master Yewind! So glad you could make it!”

“But you’re not-“ Talia covered Steelhammer’s mouth before he could blow their cover. Thankfully, the filthy halfling hadn’t heard him.

“Right this way, master, right this way! Master Moorish is out on business for the next two weeks, but he said you could use his personal quarters. It might be a bit tight for six of ye, but it ought to work, aye?”

“Oh we’ll fit just fine.” Talia smiled, still covering Steelhammer’s mouth with a hand. “Thank you for your hospitality, little master…?”

“Sling, they call me.” The halfling beamed at Talia. He obviously wasn’t used to receiving compliments. Or tips, as it were, as she passed him a gold piece and a wink.

O-O-O-O

“Hot damn, you’re good at this, Sunset!” Rainbow Dash grinned. “I never expected he’d fall for that!”

“All the better for us.” Sunset blushed at the compliment, marking the lost gold piece on her inventory. “He’s obviously expecting someone, so if they show up, it’s best he’s on our side; the nice ones with the money. Plus, we really need this place if we’re going to find out what Imoheen’s up to.”

“Woah, girls.” Rainbow Dash was looking at her watch. “It’s already eleven.”

“What? No way.” Sunset pulled her phone out, checking the time. Sure enough, it was just a little past eleven at night. The half-windows sunken into the basement were dark, and upstairs was uncharacteristically quiet. None of them looked tired, though. In fact, Sunset felt like she could go all night.

“Do we want to keep playing? We’re kind of at a good stopping point…” Twilight was scrolling down something or other on her laptop, but Fluttershy shook her head.

“We just got to Brackenbay, there’s no point in stopping now…” She flagged a bit, concern crossing her features. “Though I’m not sure where to start…”

“Well, I can recommend some things.” Twilight smiled at them. “On your sheets, you should have a skill called ‘gather information.’”

“Right, but, it’s not check-marked.” Rainbow Dash lofted an eyebrow. “Can we still use it?”

“Oh absolutely. There’s nothing saying you can’t use a skill that isn’t a class skill… You see, you can only put MORE points into those that are. That’s why there’s two numbers there; a class-skill cap, and a non-class-skill cap… Right now, it should just be two and four. Two for non-skill classes, and four for skill classes. Right?”

“That’s what I have here.” Sunset affirmed.

“Good, then you can put points into non-class skills all you like, as long as it isn’t more than whatever your non-class-skill cap is. Rarity?”

“I actually put all four points I could into gather information… It seemed really useful.”

“And it very well may be. See, in cities, we can either take turns by full days, or by four-hour blocks. So, if you’d all like, I can suggest that you take a day to gather information and see what you want to find out. Setting out with a goal in mind is generally best, so you can split up or stay grouped all you like.”

“Hmm. Alright, then. Girls, I think we should-“

O-O-O-O

The next day dawned bright and early, with the whole group feeling rested and relaxed. They prepared a quick breakfast and convened whilst eating.

“I believe Grenlow and I should check with the local authority and see if there’s any contract work to be had. He’s familiar with working for coin, and I’m no slouch when it comes to talking to others myself.” Talia spoke firmly. Grenlow frowned, casting a quick glance towards Shay.

“I wanted to go with the pretty druid.”

“Too bad, buddy.” Talia deadpanned. “You’re stuck with the ugly sorceress.”

“Hey, I never said you were-“

“Moving on.” Talia rolled her eyes. “Shay, I’m guessing you don’t like the city all that much?”

“I’m not a fan.” Shay grimaced.

“Why don’t you and Bupin check the surrounding farms and communities? I’m sure there’s plenty of people who need help outside of the city walls, plus you can learn a little of the countryside while you’re at it.”

“That sounds like fun!” Bupin chimed in. “I could use a nice hike.”

“Then Maurin and I c’n ask around town fer others that need help.”

“I do this sort of work better on my own” The slight elf cleared his throat. “No offense, Steelhammer, but you’re not the most ‘subtle’ dwarf out there.”

“Hhmph.” Steelhammer grunted. “Well, I’m sure Nith has a church here in Brackenbay. I c’n check wi’ my bretheren.”

“I may have an associate or two around town.” Maurin nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”

“Alright, it’s settled. We’ll find out what we can and rendezvous back here at night. Agreed?”

A chorus of ‘deal’ and ‘agreed’ rang out from the group. As Talia and Grenlow left the stablemaster’s home for the city center, though, he leaned in close to her.

“Talia, what’s a randy-voo?”

O-O-O-O

“Come on, Rainbow Dash, that was so lame even my grandpa groaned.”

Author's Note

Character Profile: Grenlow Briar, played by Rainbow Dash

Level 1 Human Fighter

STR: 18 (*Written in Twilight’s hand* Swear to the stars above, she cheated on this roll.)
DEX: 12
CON: 13
WIS: 10
INT: 7
CHA: 9

Feats: Quick Draw, Endurance (Human bonus feat,) Power Attack (Warrior bonus feat,) Weapon Focus: Bastard Sword (Bonus feat for -3 INT) (*Also written in Twilight’s hand* I honestly just felt bad for her :/ )

History: Grenlow Briar has lived his entire life as a sword-for-hire. From the young age of twelve, when he was conscripted into the military, he’s lived by and behind the blade. He’s travelled far and wide, spent a few years here and there doing odd jobs, be it security for caravans or bouncing for rowdy taverns in busy cities. He’s even gone as far as sailing and fighting with a mercenary group. Over a twenty-six year career, Grenlow has seen and fought it all, from feral elves in the woods of Morne to vicious goblins in the ash-plains of Turin.

After several inevitable betrayals, however, Grenlow has become hardened to companionship, and couldn’t care less about whom he finds himself with. His dull wit and slow comprehension have made him an easy target to double-cross and short-hand, and despite receiving less than his fair share of the loot for most of his life, Grenlow seldom complained. He’d much rather leave in the midst of a battle, forcing his ‘friends’ to fight on their own against overwhelming odds.

Now, Grenlow works only for himself, seeking whatever most lucrative contracts come his way, and lending his sword to those with the most coin. Solace is a nice enough town, and Grenlow is happy to be working again.

(*Last note, written by a shocked Twilight* Wow, RD, that was… surprisingly good.)

(*In Rainbow’s handwriting* Yeah, get fucked, min/maxers!)

Chapter 3-1: Steelhammer Makes a Friend, Maurin Makes an Enemy

Equestria Girls: Caverns and Critters

Chapter 3-1: Steelhammer Makes a Friend, Maurin Makes an Enemy

While the party went their separate ways, with the sorceress and gruff fighter making their way into the center of town and the druid and halfling leaving the city by way of carriage, Steelhammer found himself alone. The elven bastard had disappeared into the shadows almost as soon as the day began, undoubtedly to go find information or do whatever it was pointy-eared ruffians do. Nevertheless, Steelhammer found himself alone in a strange city.

It certainly hadn't been the first time (and might just not be the last) and as such he actually felt rather at-home. The people of Brackenbay seemed friendly enough, giving him directions towards the Walk of Faith, which was Brackenbay's own religious district. Steelhammer found that despite the city's large size, there was a well-thought-out plan to the whole thing, with the Walk of Faith in the North-Eastern quadrant alongside a fair few shipping and distribution companies and their warehouses. To the North-West was the Business District, which housed the township and mayor's offices, as well as the guard garrison, markets, and guildhalls for craftsmen. South-East was the Residential District, with homes high on the cliffs overlooking Brackenbay itself, following dwarven-build switchbacks down into the South-Western district, known only formally as the 'Docks.'

It was towards the Church of Nith that Steelhammer turned his boots, stopping to enjoy random sights and sounds along the way. The Walk of Faith was indeed an impressive street, with impressive churches and chapels dedicated to all manner of deities lining either side of the carved-stone street. From the sweeping spires of the Church of Moth-Nel to the sinister-looking architecture of Mundaga-Hel's chapel, everything appeared to be rather well-put-together.

The Church of Nith was a modest building, as were the paladins and clerics of its order. HIs brethren boasted solid ranks and a loosely-kept if solid ranking order, with plenty of room for maneuvering within any given seminary. It was towards the chapel he turned, to pay his respects and ask for forgiveness his slights against humanity. While the ten-year period paladins of Nith took to serve the kingdom didn't require them to take oaths, they still made penance in the form of prayer for whatever wrongs they had indulged in, be it drink, whoring, murder, theft, or all manner of wrong-doing. Steelhammer had even heard of paladins of Nith fathering entire families worth of children across an entire content before taking their vows and devoting themselves to the life of the seminary. Others, like his mentor in the Under-Mountain City of Hoarstone, had committed murders most heinous before taking their place in the Order of Nith.

Steelhammer was thankfully absent any of those egregious sins, but there were still slights he had to make up for. Chiefly putting Grenlow on the ground with a rather unfair drinking competition, and turning a blind eye to the theft of a dead man's possessions. After making his peace, he sought an Elder Brother, finding a slight middle-aged man sweeping the hallway outside of the chapel.

"Good morn, Brother." The man greeted Steelhammer warmly, draping his wrists over the end of the broomstick. "What brings you in?"

"I seek information." Steelhammer said cooly, nevertheless touching his fist to his breast and bowing his head. "I'm spending my time at the moment with a group of adventurers, and we seek a way to undo the evils of Imoheen. Anything the Order can tell me would be much appreciated."

"Ooh, you will want to speak with Chief Scribe Thunder Quill." The man nodded sagely, setting his broom against a nearby wall, swapping it for a sword belt instead. "Follow me, Brother." They stepped outside of the church, but only to walk around the side and into the back yard. Behind the chapel proper was a squat building that was bustling with a small amount of activity. Squires were practicing in the yard between the two, dueling with wooden swords and padded maces. They skirted the practice group under the watchful eye of a dark-skinned man, who barked at the young squires if he saw anything wrong.

Inside of the wooden building was a series of rooms, looking as if it were the headquarters for this branch of the Church of Nith. Everything, from requests for charity work to consignment for military units, was handled through offices like these near every church of Nith. A few well-wishers were speaking with an elderly Sister, her hair done in a tight bun and a shield draped across her back as she worked at writing down their request. Steelhammer was led deeper into the office, past a small barracks were those who had sworn their service to the seminary lived on meager possessions, and into a more quiet area of desks and storage. One table nearby had a map sprawled across it, with marks of red ink all over the surface.

"Right through here, Brother. Nith guide your path."

"Nith keep you safe, Elder Brother. Thank you." Steelhammer left the man at the entrance to a short hallway, at the end of which sat a slightly-open door. Upon entering the room, Steelhammer was greeted by an absolutely massive man, a savage from the lands far to the South, it seemed, but not as unkempt as those brutes were. Gone were the greasy locks of unshorn hair and garish tattoos and piercings. Instead, this man bore only the dark skin tone and stature of the barbarian-clans outside of civilized land. He was obviously a convert, and his eyes gleamed with intelligence.

"Brother. What brings you to my humble seminary?" The man's voice was deep and powerful, and as he stood from the desk, he carried himself with an easy grace born of years of experience. There were several scars up and down his muscular arms, evidence of his service to both Nith and the good kingdoms of the world.

"Information." Steelhammer greeted the man as was custom, with a fist to his breast and a bowed head. "I've allied myself with a small group of well-wishers who want to see Imoheen's evil brought to justice."

At his words, a visible wave of relief washed over the man's face. He grinned from ear-to-ear, shuffling quickly around the desk to grasp Steelhammer's hand and shake it vigorously.

"At last! Oh, at long, long last I've found you!" The man practically danced with excitement, and was already gathering his posessions. A pack, a massive two-handed maul that leaned nonchalantly against the wall nearby, and a gleaming set of armor.

"F-found me? I'm confused, Chief Scribe..."

"A Scribe I may be, and the Chief at that, but I am no slouch in my service to Nith and the good kingdoms of the world!" Thunder Quill began shoving things into his pack, parchments and scrolls and writing utensils. "Ever since I was saved by the paladins of the order, I've seen the evil of Imoheen's shadowy dealings, tough as they are to discern in the twisted light of day. Come, brother, I will talk as we walk." Thunder Quill bustled out of his office, practically dragging Steelhammer with him.

"You see, I cannot deal with Imoheen as I would have in my own ten years' freedom. That is to say, with a firm smack to his greasy face... No, my service to the Order has seen me simply gathering information, tracking his deeds, shoring up evidence in hopes that one day, I may make a convincing enough case to rally the township behind removing that menace." Thunder Quill shook a hand at the map that had spots marked in red. "Attacks by his Hands across the territory." He pointed to another on the wall, with artist's renditions of Brackenbay Manor, the alleged home of Imoheen. Beneath each picture was a compact series of writing, illegible as the two bustled through the offices. "Details of the comings and goings we've managed to get accounts of."

"And, lemme guess, wi'out an unsworn Brother t' act as mentor for, you're unable to leave the seminary to effectively gather information?"

"Precisely!" Thunder Quill clapped a massive ebony-colored hand onto Steelhammer's shoulder, rattling him terribly. "So, Brother, you'll have to forgive me, but I'm going to be using you for the next day or so. I have some information to attain." With a fire in his eyes, Thunder Quill dragged Steelhammer out of the Walk of Faith and straight into the heart of the city.

O-O-O-O

"So, what now?" Applejack piqued an eyebrow at Twilight. "Do I get to follow him, or...?"

"Nope." Twilight grinned at Applejack, leaning back in her chair. "You get to take a twenty on your Gather Information check."

"WHAT?!" Rainbow Dash sat up excitedly. "Seriously?! That's awesome! How?!"

"Look at it this way," Twilight popped her back and leaned forward. "... this Thunder Quill has a personal vendetta against Imoheen, for whatever reason. But he's been sworn to the church of Nith for a long, long time now, unable to act thanks to his vows. But as Chief Scribe, he's still investigated to the best of his ability. He's talked to everyone who came to him with information, poked, prodded, and liaised as best as anyone possibly can from his position in the church. He's in the perfect position to get what you guys need, since he knows exactly which ears to grab and which arms to twist. He's been at this for years. And he's going to share all this information openly with you, Applejack, meaning your check is basically a natural twenty, with all the preparation he's gone through. He just needed an unsworn member of the order of Nith to mentor for, freeing him from his position behind that desk." Twilight grinned at Applejack.

"Your idea to check with your order's church was perfect."

"Aww yeah, way to go, Applejack!" Rainbow Dash shared a high-five with the grinning farmgirl, but the smile on Twilight's face was anything but forgiving.

"What's with that look?" Sunset frowned at Twilight, whose grin only grew wider.

"Think about it this way. You've got the Chief Scribe of the order of Nith and a burly dwarf toting around the holy seal. It'd be like if the police knocked on your door and started asking about the mafia or something." Twilight chuckled. "You guys might get information, sure, out of upstanding citizens and the like, but ne'er-do-wells and other people like them might not be so forthcoming."

"So it comes with a catch."

"Circumstantial bonuses and penalties." Twilight nodded in affirmation. "Luckily enough, Thunder Quill knows it, and will focus his search accordingly. Sorry to say, Applejack, you're just along for the ride at this point."

"Hey, that suits me jus' fine." Applejack grinned, twining her fingers behind her head and leaning back. "Ah ain't exactly cut out fer all this 'role-playing' anyways."

"That's not true." Fluttershy piped up, smiling at Applejack. "You're doing really well. And I like your accent."

"She's right, you know." Twilight nodded. "You might not feel like it, but you've got a knack for this."

"Well, shoot. Ah still think the story ain't as interestin' followin' Steelhammer around, though. What're we gonna do, talk to a fisherman?"

"Actually, yeah." Twilight scrolled through her notes. "You'll find out plenty, but like I said..."

"Ne'er-do-well's and the like will hardly give you the time of day, darling." Rarity flipped her hair over her shoulder, tapping her character sheet with a devious grin. "That's where I come in."

"The sleuth is on the case." Pinkie Pie puffed on a bubble pipe, which she seemingly got from nowhere.

"I do love parties with a smooth-talking Rogue." Twilight grinned, clicking a few times on her laptop before looking over the rim of her glasses at Rarity. "It's time for Maurin's turn."

O-O-O-O

The damp streets of the Docks muffled the soft pair of boots as they stole from foggy corner to corner. Maurin slipped through the pearly light of the morning with a sort of practiced ease that Steelhammer and his associates would find rather frightening if they knew about it. Still, Maurin was on the hunt, and looking for something in particular. He followed streets and signs, pausing to run a hand over a hewn-stone column, or peer at the underside of storefront's awning. Eventually, he made his way into the very south-eastern part of the city, only a few blocks removed from the bustling docks.

Nestled between two buildings, in a stinking alleyway, was a small hatch set into the stone of the street. Maurin fiddled with the handle for a moment before prying it open and slipping inside. The stink of the sewers engulfed him, but the clever rogue pulled a scarf over his nose, helping block out the scent. The tide was on its way out after the long night, and the sound of rushing water helped mask his footsteps, but also that of anyone or anything else down in the stinking sewers beneath the city.

And yet, set into alcoves on the wall, were lit candles, guttering in the faint breeze as the water was washed out to sea. Maurin followed these, sticking to a rough stone walkway above the steady stream of wastewater. Worn wooden planks and scaffolding bridged some parts of the sewer, carrying him over the black tide beneath.

O-O-O-O

"So, you remember that knowledge category I told you to take?" Twilight asked Rarity, who peered at her character sheet.

"Knowledge - Tradecraft?"

"Exactly. Make another check for me."

"I'm glad I put two points into this." Rarity mused, rolling her dice and adding all the modifiers accordingly. "Erm, seventeen?"

"Perfect. See, Tradecraft is known by just about all Rogues. It's stuff like how to find the thieves' guild in a city, the proper way to go about fencing, leaving dead drops for other rogues, or speaking in code. What you're doing now is looking for the thieves' guild, which should be protocol for you in each new city you go to."

"Am I already a member?" Rarity asked.

"All Rogues are. At least, that's the way I play it. Your mentor in your home city would have taught you the things you know. Like your sneak attack, and later on how to disarm traps and stuff like that. The guilds in this part of the world are all interconnected, or at least operate similarly. Your tradecraft checks will allow you to follow signs and meet with other members. You passed your check, so..."

O-O-O-O

"Bingo." Maurin grinned as he found an arrow etched into the stone wall, leading down one fork instead of the other. He followed it quietly, keeping an eye and an ear out for any disturbances. For the most part, the passage seemed well-travelled, with service corridors branching out to the left and right. This part of the sewers appeared to be further inland and a little uphill, since whatever water existed was trickling down and back the way he had came. Soon, even the causeway was empty of water, but appeared damp from the tide that had gone out just that morning. Gone was the rushing water, replaced instead by the soft echoes of boots on stone, and something else...

Conversation. The words were largely indistinguishable, but someone up ahead was talking. The flickering candles were growing more dim in lieu of a brighter source, a torch or a lantern of some sort. Rounding the corner, Maurin was greeted with the sight of a group of hooded figures standing outside of a worn wooden door, guarded by a burly-looking man dressed in a dark cloak. It was open and the hood was down, revealing his musculature and features, and he was conversing with the group of shrouded figures in front of the door. There were six of them in the small hallway, each with their hoods up, and standing rather still.

O-O-O-O

"Make a spot check." Twilight nodded to Rarity, who rolled accordingly.

"Fourteen?"

O-O-O-O

Too still. Maurin hadn't yet been noticed by the group, and upon stepping closer, he noticed why.

None of the cloaked figures was breathing. The one at the front, with whom the guard was speaking, was the only one who showed any indication of being alive. Icy realization washed over Maurin, even as he pulled on his weapon - a trademark punching dagger that lashed to his wrist, the blade extending out from his curled knuckles.

"Shadow and Light, they're Hands!" Maurin called out, lashing straight into the nearest one. His dagger sunk deep between the Hand's shoulder blades, severing its spinal column and sending the helpless bag of bones tumbling to the floor. He whirled on the next and slashed at it across the face, getting lucky as he sliced the walking corpse's jugular. A black ichor oozed out as the body slid down the wall. The remaining four were slow to act, their arms and heads jerking spasmodically as panic erupted. The guard in the cloak cursed and kicked the door open, shouting inside as he pulled his own dagger free of his belt.

Someone within the door was ready for the eventuality, as a crossbow clicked to life, sending a bolt whizzing into the compact space of the hallway. The first Hand jerked once and fell over, sliding down the wall even as the guard drove his blade forward into a second. In moments, the six had been cut down to two, but those two were acting more and more sure of themselves as their numbers dwindled. One of them pulled a mace free of its belt and whirled on Maurin, swinging crazily and coming wide. The solid head of the mace crashed into the brick wall near Maurin's face, kicking up shards of masonry and mortar, but luckily not bone shards and blood. The other Hand rushed at the guard, a dagger already clenched in its fist.

Maurin stepped to the side and drove his punching dagger forward once more, sinking deep into the corpse's neck and dropping it instantly. The guard and whomever was inside the wooden door grappled with the last Hand, until at last a sickening crunch dropped the corspe to the ground, though the guard sported several cuts and scrapes along his face and neck, almost as if the Hand had been trying to bite him.

"Hold." A crossbow was leveled at Maurin, who raised his hands in defense immediately. "Dance in the Dark..."

O-O-O-O

Rarity rolled her dice, adding the Tradecraft modifier to it.

O-O-O-O

"To find the Light."

"Brother." The crossbow was replaced with a hand, which Maurin clenched in greeting. "Help us get them inside; we'll have to burn them." The hand belonged to a stunning woman, who stripped her hood off even as she leaned the crossbow against the wall just inside the door. She released Maurin and the three of them set to the task of shoving the six dead Hands into the doorway. Another party joined them, a halfling by the look of their stature, who wasn't much good except for holding legs or kicking dropped weapons through the doorway.

"Halfhan, are you okay?" The woman turned to the bloodied guard, who grimaced at her. "Come, we'll have Ingrid patch you up. And you," She turned to Maurin, even as she withdrew a vial from a pouch along her belt line. "Hold your tongue until Brother Alnor gets to speak to you. I am Mira. This is Halfhan, and Noreen." She gestured to the bloody guard and the halfling respectively. "Follow me, and watch yourself." She wiggled the vial with a devious grin. "Alchemist's Fire. We'll drop this tunnel, since they obviously know we're here."

Once inside the door, the four of them jogged down the hall, though Mira stopped to throw the vial against the closed wooden door with force. The glass shattered and the magical potion roared to life, flame filling the hallway and immediately incinerating both the bodies of the Hands and the wooden support beams. With a groan, the ceiling began to cave in, chasing the four rogues up the passageway on a wave of dust, masonry, and dirt.

They fell into silence then, coughing now and then from the dust coming from the collapse, but otherwise sharing nothing more than a quick look. This passageway was much better-lit than the sewer, and grew even more warm as they walked on. Eventually, it opened into a wide underground antechamber, populated by even more hooded figures.

Among them all, though, was one figure in particular, a man wearing a white cloak, a veritable beacon in the sea of shadow and darkness. It was towards him that Mira and the others took him, though the burly man by the name of Halfhan slipped off to be tended by another person in a black cloak. The two of them left the antechamber, leaving Maurin alone among a sea of strangers.

The man in the white cloak spoke, his voice light and thin, like a forbidden whisper on a cool night.

"And who is this? A new figure, a stranger to us, who comes on the tails of Hands."

"I come in peace. I hail from Mornoth, far, far to the North, near the Freezing Sea."

"I know of Mornoth, what I do not know, stranger," The white man pulled his hood off, revealing a middle-aged man with a shock of well-kept, silvery-white hair. His eyes were amber and intense, piercing into Maurin as if seeking his very soul in the folds of fabric or the features of his face. "... Is who you are, or why you find us at the same time as Imoheen's mindless drones."

"My name is Maurin Shadowleaf-"

"Say no more!" The man in the white cloak cut him off just then, whirling to the others. "We're on the run. Scramble our runners and go to ground. Clear the safe houses and go floating." He cast a look over his shoulder at Maurin, a grin on his thin lips. "As of right now, we are at war with the necromancer Imoheen. And our friend Maurin here is going to help us."

Author's Note

Character Profile: Maurin Shadowleaf, played by Rarity

Level 1 Elf Rogue

STR: 11

DEX: 17

CON: 10

WIS: 14

INT: 18

CHA: 15

Feats: Skill Focus: Diplomacy (+4)

History: Maurin Shadowleaf is the bastard son of an elven whore, orphaned at a young age when his mother was ejected from the brothel, for having grown too unattractive after her birth. Theirs was a tough life, particularly since he himself was of mixed blood, between two social castes of elves. His mother, being a lowly whore, had no right to the social trappings his father had, being a high-class member of some noble family or another. While his real father remains a mystery, Maurin was left alone and abandoned at a remarkably young age when his mother died of sickness from living on the streets of the elven city of Mornoth.

He spent his youth begging for scraps, stealing food, and running from the authorities. The thing is, he was surprisingly good at it. For whatever reason, the genes of his unknown father blessed him with a capable physique, hardened by the bleak living conditions of a wretch. Nevertheless, Maurin was noble in his pursuits. He never took more than he needed, and often would steal to help other unfortunate orphans or crippled, helpless homeless veterans of any number of the elves' civil wars. It was both his skill at evasion and thievery, alongside his chivalrous selflessness, that drew the eye of the thieves' guild.

Taken under the tutelage of one master thief, Maurin was groomed to do what he was already doing, only better, and with less attention from the authorities. But more than that, the master thief began to train Maurin in social mannerisms, high-class speech, and etiquette. Soon enough, Maurin could take his pick between cutting a mark's purse from their belt and making off with the gold inside, or charming it out with a clever scheme and a witty plan. He was implanted into wait staff and servants, advisors and associates, and could steal information and gossip as easily as he could gold and jewels.

All of his sleuthing has cost Maurin, however. As is the inevitable way of the thieves, Maurin took one too many jewels from one too many nobles, and was burned by his very master, the one who had taught him everything he knew. While his master was subsequently ex-communicated from the thieves' guild for betraying one of its members, Maurin is still a made elf, and has authorities searching for him all along the Northern kingdoms of elf and man, with orders to kill on sight, if he cannot be detained.

Maurin bought his escape from persecution by the good graces of a master spellsmith, a man to whom his old master owed several large favors, and now to whom Maurin owes his life. His first act of repaying the wizard who saved his life? The elimination of a little... competition.

With his sights set on Imoheen, Maurin made for Solace, and the company of an ambassador who would just as soon see the necromantic scourge ousted from Brackenbay himself. All the while, Maurin operates with his own agenda.