This first scene took place Friday in Ponyville Square after the All-MUCK meeting. It continues the story set in motion by the log "An artifact goes missing!"
PLAYERS:
Marble Memory
Water Mane
Derpy
Haunting Melody
Shadowed Song
Dusk
Nimble Hooves
Bardigan
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Well, it's at least a sunny day... ... in wonderful Ponyville. That's most certain, of course of course. And what is he doing? Heading for the market? For Town Hall? No, he's standing on top of the fountain in the square. It doesn't seem to be operating, he's on the very tip top, looking in the hole for something.
It might even be official business since two palace guards are there with him. Well not WITH him, just standing by the fountain watching him curiously. "I think I might have it!" Marble declares and stuffs his hoof in the hole where water comes out and finds... Nothing! "Okay, no..." Marble then pokes an eye in the hole, just as some gurgling is heard and then the fountain turns on by itself, launching the bureaucrat in the air. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
WaterMane finds it is an unfortunate time to be landing in the square, as the bureacrat is sent upward. Already a clumsy enough flyer, Water Mane has one wing clip Marble, and she goes barrelling down into the square, rolling to a stop with an 'oof!'.
Derpy happens to be flying by. It's the day before Nightmare Night--well, the day before the night before the day before--and she's diligently conducting her mail run. She gets tickled, first, by water droplets, which makes her laugh and think about looking down. Then Marble himself follows, and Derpy is bounced into a wild tailspin, flapping her wings madly. "Whaaaaaaaa--!" she cries.
Haunting_Melody has arrived.
ShadowedSong is lounging in the square when she hears a scream. she looks up and sees three ponies falling out of the sky towards her.
Dusk is also out, but thankfully over by the MRC when he hears all the commotion, and thankfully not in the path of any of the ponies. But seeing Marble messing around atop of the fountain doesn't take any special talent to expect trouble. He's already heading that way when the ponies come tumbling down. He does what he can, extending his colorless magic to reduce the crashes to at least some degree.
Nimble_Hooves has arrived.
You whisper, "Derpy makes something up! When you investigated, it turned out the tracking spell ~was~ cast on the Mirror. The first thing it produced, after someone (maybe Nettie or Luna) had processed it somehow, was this message... "Light bends upon itself when light drinkers find every piece of the spectrum, and produce the best of themselves from it! Look in a place created to celebrate such ineffable, electric bounty."" to Marble_Memory.
Soon Marble can be found splashing tremendously in the fountain and, a moment later, emerging and flopping on the edge of the fountain like some soggy fish. He coughsputters and flops out on the ground, getting up, adjusting his monocle and dripping clothing. "... Well..."
WaterMane is, luckily, much better at falling than flying. She does foul a wing a little on a hoof after her tumble, but soon straightens herself to her hooves, if looking a bit more ruffled than usual. "Stars above, what was that all about?" she asks with a look over to Marble, still breathing heavily after flying. "It's lucky I didn't tumble straight into a building."
Derpy has to agree, to the extent she can comprehend! She manages to get under control before she's flown through too many consectutive hedges, And goes about diligently gathering up her spilled mail while Roseluck yells at her. She trots back to the fountain. "Is the fountain broken?" she asks. "It seems a little too strong."
ShadowedSong opens her eyes, surprised nopony landed on her, "Woah, that was close," she gasps
Dusk makes it over to the area, and glad to see no pony was seriously hurt. It indeed could have gone much worse. Now time to go and find out what's going on. He trots over to the fountain and looks at Marble, "Mr. Memory, what is the point of all this?" He does lend him a hoof out of the fountain as he founders a little.
Marble drips all over Dusk for his trouble, but at least he isn't dripping with malice. "Oh! Uh... um... y-you... haven't seen any mirrors have you? There's been a... uh... um... incident. At the palace. When I was gone?"
WaterMane tilts her head to one side. "A mirror?" she asks, moving just a little closer to look at the drenched pony. "I can't say I have, no, but I was just flying in." Her nose wrinkles a little. "What sort of incident?"
Derpy hears the exchange, herself exchanging glances with Shadowed Song. "Too close!" she agrees. "So close it actually hit me!" Under her breath she mutters, "I don't know if it even ~gets~ closer than that." She listens to Marble talking with Dusk. "Mirrors? For getting your costume picture perfect?" she speculates. Nightmare Night is tomorrow, after all, and Derpy is excited!
ShadowedSong creeps forwards, "Is there black vines on the back of the mirror?"
Haunting_Melody looks around curiously as she looks to see whats happening at the square as she hears the sounds of all the comotion of things, her ears perked as she hmmms, spotting Dusk anything up?" she asks.
Indeed, at least it is a sunny day to be getting wet. Dusk wonders as well, "There are plenty of mirror about town here, Mr. Memory." Though being Marble, and an incident at the palace, Dusk suspects something to do with the artifact vault. "This wouldn't be a.. special mirror, would it?" He looks over, seeing Haunting and give a nod, "Greetings. We're trying to figure that out actually."
Marble of course panics. The idea he might have done something that indicates he might suck at his job is most certainly scary to him. "AHHH! No!" Marble says, then he pauses. Wait, how is he going to get help if he acts like nothing is wrong. "Th-that is to say... y-yes! Um... an artifact was stolen. When I was gone and NOWHERE NEAR THE PALACE."
"An /incident?!/" a big, bellowing voice booms out from behind the crowd. "An /incident/ Derpy says?! In the PALACE?!" A big, burly pegasus with a beard the size of a large dog and about as fluffy pushes and jostles his way into view, wearing what appears to be some kind of strange mixture of Trottingham business casual and Shakespearean puffiness - but the feathered hat identifies him as Bardigan. "Are the Princesses in danger?! Are there polar bears to be punched?! I think a good drawing and quartering is in order for the bureaucrat involved!" He points directly at Marble. "'Twas the /only/ punishment in my day, even for minor infractions!"
ShadowedSong jumps and hids behind Derpy as Bard stomps out
WaterMane is about to ask Marble more about this artifact and what has happened, but then she stands still and stares a moment as Bardigan enters. She blinks, slowly, and finally looks to Marble. "Maybe I could do a sweep from the air and look for it." she suggests.
Derpy jumps in surprise and hides behind Shadowed Song! But then she spies the familiar feathered hat and steps out again. "Bardigan! What a nice costume! Are you Spearshaker? Wait, no! Francis Bake Oven! I'm an oven ~too!~" She looks between Marble and Watermane. "What mirror? Is it dangerous?" She gasps. "Is it like the Mirror Pool that made Pinkie Pie so... so many-ous??"
Haunting_Melody looks about curiously as she is confused by it all, "Whats happening?" she asks looking towards the others as she wonders, curious about this mirror thing now, "There is a Mirror?" she wonders.
Dusk smiles, seeing the various other ponies seeming to gathering more around at the activity at the fountain. Then Bardigan arrives quite heavy hoofedly. Though in fact Dusk almost doesn't recognize him at first, from the few times he had seen him before. "Oh, Mr. Bardigan! I think that sounds a little extreme, not even knowing what is up yet." He looks back to Marble, who's activity is rather suspicious in his own right. "And what sort of artifact mirror is this? Is this something hazardous? And what brings you here to Ponyville?"
"Well, I-I live here... in Ponyville." Marble then nervously blurts out. "I HAVE A WIFE." He flails when Bardigan makes his grand entrance, terrifying the stallion. "AAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" He falls over and -splash- right back into the fountain. Sputtering, he clings to the edge like some surviving sailor from a naval battle. "I'm looking for a very large... magical mirror... the Mirror of Escalation!"
WaterMane sighs and moves over to offer Marble a helping hoof out of the fountain. "You're gonna catch a cold, soaking yourself to the skin like that." she says. "I would know, I am a nurse." she grins, before becoming more serious again. "So, you don't have any clue what might have happened to it? I'll certainly help you look for it, if you like."
<OOC> Nimble_Hooves grumbles at RL and will have to come back later.
Nimble_Hooves has disconnected.
Haunting_Melody moves over to hear whats happneing as a couple of her butterflies float around her and around the place as she speaks up to Marble, "Where did you lose this mirror? And what is it exactly?" she asks, the name sounds like it must be important.
"The MIRROR of ESCALATION?!" Bardigan bellows like billows. "That sounds like a problem that goes... ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP! GAH HA! HA HA HA!" he laughs, a deep one from his belly, and looks over at Derpy from behind his bushy brows. "My dear girl, /I/ am Blessed Bardigiano, greatest adventurer and polar bear wrestler of the Post-Classical Era! And it sounds like /somepony/ is in need of my services." He gives the beard a tug, exposing his real face for a moment before winking at Derpy. "I /have/, in fact, gone on many dangerous adventures."
<OOC> Marble_Memory weeps. What did polar bears ever do to Bardigan?
Derpy is blown a little back by the bard's breathy bellows, but bounces back like the beautiful bubble-being she's been since birth! "Polar bear!??" she marvels, gushing a little. She grins and winks back at Bardigan when Bardigiano takes a breather. "I've gone on adventures too! Adventures in courying! Sometimes adventures in lost mail," she adds forlornly, lowering her head for a moment. Then she lifts it again. "Maybe I can help too! Don't catch cold, Marble! Catch a mirror! Who took it and why and where and how?!" Derpy is a good reporter, only compressed.
<OOC> WaterMane says, "Uh-oh..."
<OOC> WaterMane says, "Bardigan has started a pun war"
<OOC> Derpy not pun! Derpy alliterate!
Dusk nods to Marble as he talks about living there, but before he can comment about it, Dusk is taken aback as Marble flips out and falls back into the fountain with another splash. Dusk takes a breath and shakes his head, looking around at the other ponies here. Well this is Marble. He goes to help him out once more, but Watermane is already helping nicely. "The Mirror of Escalation?" He tries recalling some details about it. "It effects pony talents, yes?" He knows there are some other details he's not recalling. "But I was asking why are you here, searching for it? Is there some reason it'd be in Ponyville and not Canterlot, where it was last seen?" And if he says the lighting is better here, he'll push him back in the fountain himself. He gives Bardigan another look, then realizes oh, it must be a Nightmare Night thing. That makes much more sense now!
<OOC> WaterMane says, "Pun waaaar"
<OOC> Derpy says, "What kind of pun? Liike Beardigan?"
<OOC> Scope says, "<.<"
<OOC> WaterMane says, "You'll see
"
<OOC> WaterMane says, "You'll see
"
<OOC> Dusk ducks and covers. :-)
<OOC> WaterMane looks around for turtles.
<OOC> Marble_Memory fears.
<OOC> Derpy says, "That said, Bardigan with a beard may be Beardigan. But if he got so drunk he went stiff and fell over, he'd be Boardigan! And if he lost a fight with a woodpecker, he'd be Boredigan."
ShadowedSong walks over to Marble and sniffs him, "Why do you need to get the mirror back?"
Marble nods and is grateful to WaterMane for helping him out. He shivers. It's almost Nightmare Night, so being soaked a lot isn't helping. Marble stares in horror at Bardigan as he belly laughs. What is he *wearing?* Is it a writer thing? He's never really done Nightmare Night. You'd think he'd notice when his foals dress up once a year. He looks at Dusk and Derpy, then nods. "Imagine if a pony becomes all-consumed and obsessed with their special talent. To the point they can't think or do anything else." Marble explains, "And... well... there's a riddle lock on the mirror, so I've been trying to find it... um... 'Light bends upon itself when light drinkers find every piece of the spectrum, and produce the best of themselves from it! Look in a place created to celebrate such ineffable, electric bounty.'"
After Bardigan has spoken, Water Mane mumbles very softly "I think it's better to reflect on the situation." But she half-hopes nobody heard. She's a bit busy helping Marble at the moment, anyway. She peers at him. "You really should get dry. I'm not sure my little breeze magic would be much help before you get all chilled. We can start looking for the mirror while you straighten yourself up."
Haunting_Melody tilts her head a bit thinking, "that could be quiet a few different places, though..sounds like a cafe...or a concert venue?" she wonders, her butterflies floating around a bit and moving near different ponies, "If you need help with the Mirror...I can help." she says.
Derpy gives her head a shake, and a little fountain water may just fly out. "That is a very wordy riddle," she observes. "But probably better than flying random wild over town!" She thinks somepony suggested that earlier. "It would be a mirrorcle if we find it that way! This riddle? Is silver lining." She may just wink to Watermane for half a second.
<OOC> WaterMane says, "I like Derpy, may I keep her?"
<OOC> Marble_Memory says, "Honey, we already have two dogs and a cat."
<OOC> WaterMane says, "...but I don't have any ponies."
<OOC> Marble_Memory says, "Ponies or fat babies.
"
<OOC> WaterMane blames you.
<OOC> WaterMane says, "Also I do regret it, but my eyes refuse to stay open any longer. I must seek sleep."
<OOC> Marble_Memory hugs.
<OOC> Haunting_Melody will try to be out for rp more :>
<OOC> WaterMane sits on Marble. While I'm gone, I only ask that you all mislead Marble terribly for me.
<OOC> WaterMane says, "Nini!"
<OOC> WaterMane says, "<3"
WaterMane has disconnected.
Dusk raises a brow as Marble describes some of the details of the mirror. He thought some of those were just more myth than fact. But Marble is the official artifact keeper, so should have a pretty good idea if any pony does. "Hmmm that sounds like it could be very troublesome. And just before Nightmare Night too. Lots of young ones are going to be out and about, along with their families. And I see, so the riddle as taken you here to Ponyville to look for it." Though Dusk isn't quite certain that entirely fits the fountain. The water and mist can product rainbows, but bending the light. But seems to be more to it than just that. "Sounds like we need to solve this before it lands in the wrong hooves," he says with an agreeing nod to Derpy too. Dusk magics up a towel and passes it over to Marble. If Bardigan is such a big adventurer, he should know where his towel is! Dusk is glad to get to see Haunting around some more though, even if doesn't have much of chance to chat with her yet. She had been gone for a while there, after a bit of another artifact issue.
ShadowedSong scratchies at the group. "It might be talking about an art center, or maybe a glasses store."
ground
Marble listens to all the suggestions of where to look. "For all we know it has! This is why these artifacts are supposed to be in my vaults! Imagine if the Ring of Juvenile Delinquence or the Laughting Free Tuning Fork were to be held!" Marble frets. He wraps himself in the towel. "I should maybe change out of these clothes."
<OOC> ShadowedSong says, "i can sneeze a pretty dress on you, Marble, lel"
<OOC> Derpy laughs! That is the weirdest power, Shadowed
<OOC> Dusk says, "And a snow storm perhaps something he needs even less at the moment. :-)"
<OOC> ShadowedSong says, "I have so many wierd powers"
<OOC> ShadowedSong says, "including, but not limited to, being incredibly cute"
"Oh. Well. That DOES sound serious!" Bardigan huffs. "If that's the case, we will need much more than a simple questing party. We need /brains./" He gestures to Derpy and her expert riddle-solving abilities. "If we're talking about light spectrums then I THINK the best place to look would be a rainbow, eh? They are ALL lights wrapped into ONE GLORIOUS CHROMATIC GIFT PACKAGE FROM THE HEAVENS."
Derpy's eyes are already contracting, soon to come as close as such semi-constrained orbs can. Her ears too revolve in place. "Rainbow. Feeding? Effable! What is ineffable? What is electric?" She looks up at the clouds. "What is Free Tuning Spork?" And she spread her wings and folds them with a whoomp. "Does anypony have any ideas about the riddle?"
<OOC> Bardigan is afraid he must go.
Bardigan has disconnected.
Haunting_Melody hmmmms, "So where should we go first?" she asks as sounds like quiet a few good possible locations, it's just a matter of wich one is the best fits it, though she's not the best with riddles.
You whisper, "Though we could just say it means Cloudsdale and track the mirror there! Either way is fine.
I just want people playing!" to Marble_Memory.
"Ahh.. AHHH!" Marble lets loose a heck of a sneeze, clinging to the towel tighter. "ACHOOO!" He sniffles. "Oh no..." It seems Marble has caught something. "No... I do'd wadda be sig." Marble begins to idly float for home. "I cad odly hobe i fide th'birror sood." For now, he plans to get cleaned up.
Dusk nods to Marble, "Yes it is good you keep them out of the general population, Mr. Memory. So we have a riddle of a clue to its location. Any idea how it left the vault, while you weren't there?" He chuckles at Derpy and smiles, "Yes, excellent questions as well, Lady Derpy." He agrees with both Bardigan and Shadowed Song, and seems Haunting is ready to start searching too. Perhaps we can get this wrapped up before there are any undo issues indeed.
Marble_Memory has disconnected.
Derpy starts to pace. "What is place created from bounty? What is rainbow produce?" She starts to trail a track into the soft wet earth around the recently splashed fountain. Her mail bounces in its bags. "What if the mirror catches us?" she suddenly asks, scared. "What will I do if too many headbubbles?"
ShadowedSong giggles, "Don't worry, we'll find the mirror. We should check the glasses store first?
Haunting_Melody hmmms, "I wonder what all this thing does." she says, "Make you focus on cutie marks more? WHat oes that all mean."
Dusk hmms and considers as well. He nods to Haunting, remembering some more about it now that Marble filled in some details. "Yes, it has affect on the viewer and their cutie mark. Strengthening it, now that I recall some more about it. Making it more powerful and focused. And Mr. Memory suggests it makes a pony more obsessed about their talent too. Though I imagine it will have varying effects on different ponies, as such devices tend to. Which brings up a point. If we do go looking, and we find it, do not look at your reflection in it. Cover it with a cloth or such as soon as you can, for yours and others protection."
Haunting_Melody nods, "Though do we have a good description of it, or a image? And yeah...I probably better not look into it, I have enough trouble with one over powered nasty artifact till I find Virga." she says with a small sigh, "Wouldn't want to add this on top of it."
ShadowedSong says, "Good thing I dont have a cutie mark." She wiggles her blank flank cutely.
Derpy looks at Shadow's blank flank. "That's true!" she says. "Maybe blank foals should look for it! Or maybe we should blindfold." She ties her postal vest over her face and walks around lumberingly. "Where should we look first?"
Dusk raises a brow to Haunting, "You still have not returned that item, Miss Melody? Indeed, that would probably be a bad combination." He ohs, looking to Shadowed and Derpy, "Hmm that is a good point! Perhaps all the foals out this weekend might be a good thing to help track it down, /if/ it doesn't effect them. And I have a rough image I recall of it being described, but I had hoped to get an accurate detail from Mr. Memory, but seems he had to leave a bit quickly."
Haunting_Melody nods, "But if we don't know what it looks like, how would we know if it's true?" she woners about that, "Well I haven't found Virga, I've been trying to return it to him...figure maybe it be safer then well other things...but maybe I should just return it, I don't need it any more." she says, "Oh I forget if I mentioned it, but the one problem resolved itself." she says to Dusk.
ShadowedSong sniffs at the ground, walking towards the edge of the square, "You'll know it when you see it. Where are we heading first?"
Derpy shrugs. "Maybe the schoolhouse? We can ask the uncutied cuties if they can help! But does anyone have any ideas from the riddle?"
Dusk nods to Haunting, "Well if some new mirror has shown up around here that matches the general description, then that can be a start, and we can secure it, until we sort out if it is the one. And oh? Which problem? I recall there being at least a couple, Miss Melody," he says with a bit of a grin." He nods to Derpy and Shadowed, "Good thinking. And indeed.. 'Light bends upon itself when light drinkers find every piece of the spectrum, and produce the best of themselves from it! Look in a place created to celebrate such ineffable, electric bounty.' Perhaps a bit cryptic."
Derpy's ears poink from under her vest on her head. "Good memory, Mr. Dusk! Maybe it's constructive crypticism!"
Haunting_Melody nods her head as she hmmms, "It's the original problem that I came to you about with it." she says, "they decided they like how it...worked out." she says with a shrug, "So where should I return it now if I'm going to just return it now?"
Dusk chuckles to Derpy and smiles, "Why thank you. And perhaps it is! And we need to cryptic critique it, now." He nods to Shadowed, "Well if we can't figure something more specific from the riddle, then checking out possible places is a good start." He also nods to Haunting, "Mr. Virga would still be a good choice. Or to one of the Princesses is another. Or perhaps back to Lady Zecora, if run across her too."
Derpy nods! "Ask Princesses! And... and Virga?" She shivers at the name. Derpy only knows of Virga by reputation, but he clearly chills her. "Maybe Zecora. And childs. We should split up." She pulls herself one way and another, and then bonks into the fountain, unable to see.
Haunting_Melody hmmmms, "I could try one o the princesses, well the interim princess Fluttershy." she says and shrugs, "I have it here with me...too worried to have it on me, and too worried to leave it." she says.
ShadowedSong says something relevent to the conversation
<OOC> Dusk says, "How meta. :-)"
<OOC> Derpy says, "Brillian, Shadowed! Are you sleepy?"
<OOC> Dusk says, "I'm starting to get a little bit there too. :-)"
<OOC> ShadowedSong says, "woops, i meant to say something relevent to the conversation"
<OOC> ShadowedSong says, "wow, i am slightly out of it"
ShadowedSong vollenteers to go with dusk
if we split up
Dusk ohs, "I suppose you didn't hear while you were away. Princess Celestia had return, relieving Lady Fluttershy of Princess duties. And worse case, perhaps I might help you with it as well, of course." He grins and shakes his head a little, stepping over to lift the covering Derpy had put over her eyes. "I don't believe that will be needed, as long as we're careful, Lady Derpy. But good thinking yes." He smiles, "Well thank you for offering, Miss Song!" He'll do his best not to lose this one.
<OOC> Dusk ;-)
<OOC> ShadowedSong says, "I just got home from work, its 2 am and i started work at 8 am, and i have work again at 8 am. BUT that wont stop me from doing this game until i pass out"
Haunting_Melody nods her head, "I will see about returning it." she says with a small shrug, "And after that I will see about helping with this artifact." she says.
Derpy nods and lets her wings shoot out. "Team Mirrorfind Deescalade... SPLIT UP!" She takes off, apparently flying to the schoolhouse.
ShadowedSong sniffs Dusk, "Lead the way, Boss."
Dusk waves as Derpy takes off in the direction of the schoolhouse. And nods to Haunting, "Then that sounds like a good plan as well." He then turns to Shadowed as she sniffs. Dusk smells pretty decent at least. Mirage makes sure he takes care of himself and doesn't get completely caught up in his work. "Then it looks like it's you and me, kiddo." He smiles and looks around for the first place to go.
Haunting_Melody looks around curiously as she hmmms, "I will catch you guys later." she says as she turns to figure out about the amulet.
Derpy hopes that folks do some awesome Nightmare Night RP tomorrow, and then we can continue our plotline of the Mirror of Escalation beyond that until it's finished! Good night! (Public-pose)