Equestria RPG

I sigh as I close the door to the apartment. When my biology professor told the class that we were going to do some hands on work, I didn’t expect us to be digging holes for poles with mounted cameras when it was raining cats and dogs. ‘Seriously, why is biology a required class for any major?’ I think before slinging my backpack off my soaked shoulder. I unzip the largest pocket and pull out my laptop before flinging the backpack off to the side and walking into the living room.

The apartment isn’t very big but it keeps me warm during the night, and it’s close enough to the university that I don’t need a vehicle. There are only two rooms, the bathroom and the living room with the far right corner of the living room sectioned off to serve as a kitchen. The living room itself is… well, it’s barren. The walls are uniform white, a small coffee table takes up the center of the room draped in a makeshift flag of stapled together comics. A beat up couch is pushed up against the right wall. A two foot fridge is against the left wall right next to the bathroom, and two laundry baskets filled with clean and dirty clothes are in far left corner right across from the kitchen. Aside from the overhead light in the room the only other piece of furniture is the nightstand with three drawers right next to the couch. The bottom two drawers hold two pairs of formal attire and the top drawer holds… well, it holds something very important for tomorrow.

I place my laptop on the coffee table and drop onto the couch, the furniture creaking as the old wood legs cry out in protest. I open the laptop and absentmindedly fiddle with the switch to the overhead light, flicking it on and off.

I quickly type in my password once the device starts up, immediately clicking on the beach ball icon on my toolbar. The bone dragon staring at me from the desktop is quickly replaced by a white webpage with a search bar in the middle. I click on the writing in the upper right of the webpage and open up my mail.

I take a look through the various emails sent to me today, before sighing and checking the spam folder. ‘There it is,’ I think to myself, clicking on the message.

Dear Jack,

We here at Tell-A-Tale Games were quite impressed with your last submission on our newest edition. In light of this, your request for an advance on your pay has been approved.

With that said, we have another game for you to work your magic with and we need your response asap. I have sent the game files down below, when you are able, get to work on them.

We hope to hear from you soon!

Sincerely,

D.Cord

I download the attached files and start installing the game, grimacing at how slow the progress bar starts filling. With a sigh I close the webpage, kick off my worn out shoes, and lie down on the couch. I don’t know how long I lie there looking at the ceiling and listening to the rain outside, but I’m startled out of my daze by the sound of a warhorn.

Blinking in surprise, I drag myself into a sitting position and scratch my neck before checking the clock on the computer. ‘...Alright, I know I can zone out for long periods of time, but did I really just waste four hours staring at the ceiling listening to the rain?’ With a sigh I chalk it up to my ADHD acting up again and turn my attention to the game. It is done installing and I raise my eyebrows once I realize I am looking at a picture of a group of anthropomorphic horses charging into a sea of darkness with weapons drawn and fire in their eyes. I am immediately confused since the characters would probably be good in a children’s game, but the title screen makes it very clear that this is going to be rated “M” based on how the female characters look, and the amount of blood in the title screen alone.

‘A game with anthro horses? ...Alright, I can understand how Digimon was popular, but you’re setting this game up to fail by trying to cater to an older audience,’ I sigh and dredge up the energy to hit the “New Game” button. The chanting in the background stops abruptly and the scene shifts to a character creation screen with some upbeat tavern music playing in the background.

Four figures made out of shadows present themselves to me in framed portraits. The first looks almost ordinary except for the fact that it has a massive build, almost like a football player. A wall of text appears underneath the portrait as I scroll the cursor over it.

The Earth Ponies have watched over the land for generations. Their connection to it grants their kind great fortitude and strength. +4 Constitution & +3 Strength.

‘So we’ve got the barbarians,’ I think to myself, pulling the cursor over to the second portrait, the shadowed figure slightly smaller and sporting a horn on its head.

The Unicorns are the most physically weak of the pony tribes, but make up for that with their mastery of magic. +4 Magic & +3 Willpower

I sigh, realizing that I’m going to have to play the mage class eventually, before scrolling over to the third portrait, this figure shows off a pair of wings that would probably be useless in the real world.

The pegasus tribe has controlled the skies all throughout history. Their abilities to control the weather and weaponize lightning make them formidable foes or great allies. +3 Cunning, +2 Dexterity, & Ability: Flight

“Huh…” I mumble, wondering how the flight mechanic would work in a RPG. I scroll the cursor over to the final portrait, this one bearing a similar frame to the third figure but with slightly different wings.

The Thestrals (Bat Ponies) have always been shunned by the other tribes. Their appearances alienate them, and this tribe has weathered the worst exchanging the ability to manipulate the weather for the ability to survive the worst the world throws at them. +2 Constitution, +2 Cunning, Ability: Flight, -1 Dexterity during the day.

With a sigh, I click on the third portrait, wanting to start things off on an interesting note. The camera zooms in on the pegasus and I get to work on creating my character.

“Alright,” I whisper, scrolling over the customization options. “We’re going to be… well, we’re going to be female for one.” Clicking on the female icon at the top of the customization screen my character shrinks several inches and grows a rather large pair of mammaries all fitted on an hourglass figure.

Customizing my character takes a while, but in the end I have a deep blue pegasus with short, messy, black hair and tail, sporting a pair of turquoise eyes, all on a slightly curved figure a little bit taller than the default.

Clicking continue, the camera zooms out, my character following it, before sitting down at a table the camera focuses on from overhead. My character takes out a pack of cards and flips two over before stopping. One card shows a figure charging into a horde of creatures and the other shows a figure sneaking up on an individual who is writing a letter by candlelight. Rolling my eyes at the obvious implications I click on the sneaking individual. My character proceeds to take both cards back before flipping two more cards onto the table.

After my character is finished the camera zooms in on the two cards at the top of the board, highlighting the skill trees available to me.

Dual Wield

The individual has amazing hand eye coordination, able to use two weapons to attack their foes. Unlocks the Dual Wield Skill Tree.

Bow and Arrow

The individual has eyes like a hawk and a steady aim to compliment it. Unlocks the Bow and Arrow Skill Tree.

“So I’m locked in from the beginning huh…” I mutter under my breath. With another sigh I click on the dual wield skill tree. My character picks up the two cards and shuffles the deck before laying six cards face down in a column. Words appear to the left beside each of the cards, along with arrows bearing plus and minus signs. Hovering the cursor over every word makes a text box appear at the bottom of the screen.

Strength: - 10 +

Strength directly affects a warrior’s damage output, along with slightly increasing a character’s health (+5 damage for every point / +2.5 health for every point).

Dexterity: - 12 +

Dexterity directly affects a character’s ability to hit a target as well as their ability to dodge an attack. Slightly increases a character’s crit damage with every point (+5 crit damage for every point).

Cunning: - 13 +

Cunning affects a character’s slight of hand and awareness of their surroundings. It also directly affects a rogue’s ability to penetrate armor. Slightly increases a character’s crit rate with every point (+.5% crit rate for every point).

Willpower: - 10 +

Willpower directly affects a character’s stamina/mana pool, dictating how many times a character can use a skill or spell (+10 stamina/mana for every point).

Magic: - 10 +

Magic directly affects the strength of spells. It also affects just how effective buffs and debuffs are on a character (+5 spell strength for every point / +2.5 armor vs spells for every point)

Constitution: - 10 +

Constitution directly affects a character’s vitality and how well they can take attacks. (+10 health for every point / +2.5 armor for every point).

Available points: 5

Looking over the stats and what they do, I finally decide to put two points into dexterity, two points into constitution, and a single point into cunning.

Strength: 10

Dexterity: 14

Cunning: 14

Willpower: 10

Magic: 10

Constitution: 12

Available points: 0

Is this correct? [X] Yes [ ] No

After confirming that everything was correct, my character collects the cards and shuffles them once again, this time picking two cards from the middle of the deck and placing them in front of the camera. One of them shows a grand blue castle with someone standing behind it, bracing a shield in front of them. The other card shows a group of individuals laughing around a fire, a blue figure sneaking through the background with a hooded cloak covering them.

A text box appears as the cursor hovers over the card with the castle.

The only child of a knight, your mother has always done her duty for the crown. Going above and beyond what is expected of her, she has performed what many others consider miracles. Acknowledged as the best at what she does, you have learned a lot from her and many wonder if you will follow in her hoofsteps.

I hum as the cursor is dragged over to the other card.

Orphaned at the young age of ten, your mother taught you two rules to live by that you follow to this very day. Listen to the wind, for it will keep you safe, and always finish the job. You have made a name for yourself traveling throughout the land, and have made friends in both high and low places. Your fee might not be cheap, but when failure is not an option, you are the one many turn to.

‘Oh yeah, we’re definitely a merc!’ I think with a grin on my face. Confirming the second background, my character puts the castle card back in the deck and proceeds to flip quite a few cards onto the table into several little groups. The camera zooms out so I can see all of the groups before asking me if everything is correct. Confirming it, the game pulls up another message right in the middle of the screen dimming everything behind it.

What is your name? ____
Custom: ___
Leliana
Storm
Isabella

I pause for a moment before deciding that a default name would be alright.

Your name is Storm?

[X] Yes [ ] No

Warning: Once you have confirmed your choices you will be unable to change them. Are you sure everything is correct?

[X] Yes [ ] No

Confirming that everything was correct, my character picks up all the cards and starts walking towards an illuminated wooden door, the camera following her until she opens it and steps into the light beyond. The scene fades to white as the light engulfs the camera.

Saving, do not turn off your computer.

Glancing at the computer clock I’m surprised to see it’s already midnight. With a sigh, I walk over to the two foot fridge and take a bottle of water from it. Unscrewing the cap, I take a swig and walk into the bathroom.

Closing the door behind me I answer nature’s call. Opening the door once the dirty deed is done, I find myself staring at two guys who are trying to cram my laptop into my backpack. We all freeze for a moment, but they shake off the shock quicker than I do. The lean guy on the right drops the backpack and jumps over the coffee table. In a knee jerk reaction, I throw the half empty water bottle at him. My makeshift projectile flies true and hits him right above his right eye, the robber yelps and stumbles as his feet hit the floor, slamming into the wall right next to me. Reacting on instinct, I kick him in the one place a man should never be kicked. He yells out a string of profanity as he drops to the floor, cradling his family jewels.

I turn to the other robber just in time for him to introduce his meaty fist to my face. I feel my feet leave the ground and the next moment a sharp pain shoots through my neck. Blinking away the stars I can see the two guys scrambling towards the kitchen. I try to get up, but I can’t move.

‘...What?’ I think, trying to get up. Fear grips my heart once I realize I can’t move my body, and I can’t breathe. I panic as my vision blurs and I realize what happened. I try to move, to breathe, to do anything. My thoughts, screaming in denial as my senses shut down, slow to a crawl.

Your adventure is over.

‘What?’ I think when two buttons appear in front of me.

[X] New Game [ ] Quit

I pause for a moment trying to figure out what is happening, before hesitantly reaching out somehow and hitting “New Game.”

Everything fades to black and I suddenly feel like I’m falling. The sensation quickly passes when I feel something pushing down on me. ‘Wait… I’m moving? How?.. And why... is it so hard… to think?’ I feel incredibly disoriented as a cold feeling washes over me and a pair of hands grab me. I can’t think and the cold air is chilling me to the bone. I whimper and start crying as I feel the hands holding me wrap something around me. While it does restore some warmth, it does little to stop my crying. That changes as soon as I feel someone else take hold of me, restoring even more warmth. They also seem to be trying to comfort me, humming softly and rocking me gently back and forth. I can hear someone talking, but I can’t focus at all. It sounds like they are speaking gibberish.

“(Congratulations Windy, you’re the mother of a healthy pegasus filly.)” A gritty old voice whispers in front of me. The one holding me chuckles quietly before replying in a worn out whisper.

“(Oh shut up you old bull. I swear, if you become a bad influence on her I’ll put you in the ground myself.)”

“(...Do you have a name for her?)”

“(Actually, I do… Her name is Storm.)”

The one holding me stops rocking me back and forth, and a steady heartbeat fills my ears. Exhaustion washes over me and within seconds I am carried off into the land of dreams.

“(Good night my little angel, and welcome to Equestria.)”