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[Kel the Oblivious]

I see an open slot...

Name: Ragebrew

You supported who during the civil war? None. Worked the land, had no time for war.

Your Belief(s) Eat, drink, savor every moment, live to see another day.

Your goal(s) Survive, make a new home, die in a blaze of glory if it comes to it.

Your Instinct(s) Wrathful, mirthful, aggressive, loyal.

[DVNO]

Galena 5th

Well, Reasoning with the metal monster failed. The memorial slabs for Euphoria Treaty and  Deer Helpleopard are underway. What’s left our friend Lesson is being melted down into a set of tower shields as of writing. Whatever his tactical worth was nulled when he killed those two ponies. Hopefully he’ll be of use to Tarus and his newly christened squad, The Spear’s Tip.

Galena 7th

  Our fort is gathering quite a shanty town in front of it. Workshops of all sizes and functions are being built by our steadily growing population. Twenty more ponies have joined our cause. More housing is on the agenda.

Galena 12th

Love is in the air, apparently. Ponies are pairing off left and right, and our priest is working around the clock. I’ve personally attended, What? Eight weddings so far? And the month isn’t even half-over. Why the sudden spike? When things get darkest, we cling to what we still do have, I suppose.

With bedrooms in a precariously short supply, and with marriage making ponies very eager to share them, who am I to stand in the way of true love? 

  Galena 15th

Military Breakdown

The Spear’s Tip;

Lieutenant: Tarus Dawning

Subordanites;
Cover Dashprofane
Bastion Slimgaze
Bulwark Squidsorcerer
Lark Meetmint
Fog Swallownew
Sky Dissolve

A squad  composed of Seven already adept warriors, armed and armored to the teeth with metal mined from the caves. Built to take punishment, they are meant to hold the line at all costs. I expect nothing but the best from these veterans. Though rusty, I’m confident Tarus can get them in shape.     

The Wheels of Change

Lieutenant: Jaxler

Sub-Lieutenant: Snow

Subordanites: 

Twenty ponies I may not want to get attached to.

The offense, fast and maneuverable, they fight with metal helms and any armor they can find. Weapons are optional. Their job is to funnel the enemy into the Spear’s Tip, run down anyone on the retreat, and rush archers.

I’m sending any buck with a death wish Jaxlers way. He’ll teach them -well not respect-  but discipline. He’ll teach them how to survive, teach them the dirty tricks to win.

 When used together I think they’ll be stronger than any walls I can build.The walls I am  building won’t hurt though.The cave entrance Is sealed off on all sides except south, opening up to a military barracks. Anyone going up or down has to go through the spear’s tip first.


17th

Toast is an incredible cook. She’s working miracles with what we have, which is meager. I need to do something about it, though I’m not sure what....


19th of Galena

 There is a ... Caravan covered in skulls outside at the trade depot. They, don’t seem that interested in trading, I hear. They want ... something else. The ‘liaison’ of this group is demanding to see who’s in charge. I Invited him to my ramshackled office, he should be here any moment.

Surefire put down his journal at the sound of a knock at the door. He looked at the door pensively,  grinned at himself. After what he’s survived, he’s still worried about first impressions. 

He pulled the doorknob with his mouth and let his guest in.

“Greetings, peasant! Greetings from The Oblivion!” A yellow pegasus mare with mauve eyes and butter yellow hair barked loudly.

“Uh, Hello.” Surefire returned. “Would you like a seat? A glass of tactical wine?” He motioned to his desk made of scrap.

She winced in disgust at this whole travesty he called an ‘Office’. 

“Hmm, That’s how you greet royalty around here? Very well.” She grumbled.

“So, What do we owe this pleasure? I’m Captain Surefire. Your?” Surefire asked curiously.

“I’m Liaison Bee, of The Oblivion!”

“Oh! The Oblivion!” Surefire said, nodding his head. ”Never heard of you.” He snarked in a deadpan.

“What?” She gasped.

 “W-We are the only free state to see the end of the world, and come back stronger for it! Its the only civilization for hundred of miles. We are the new Equestria.”

“Funny, I didn’t know the old one was gone yet.”

“You ... You don’t go outside much, do you?” 

“So, you have a trade caravan outside, I’ve heard.”

“No, not a trade caravan, a Collection Caravan.”

“And what do you collect, exactly?”

“Taxes. From the peasants of our great country! Peasants like yourselves... That is why we’re here.”

“Oh?” He stated in surprise. “We’re part of this country, now?”

“You’ve decided to make your homes on her soil, so yes. We come for what’s rightfully ours, peasant. We demand a reasonable five hundred Bits. Or an amount of food of the equivalent sum. That’s all.”

“Hmm...” Surefire leans back in his chair, as if in heavy thought.

“Bee, as in?”

“The insect...”   

“Ha, Because you’re yellow. Clever.” Surefire smirked. 

 “Listen Bee, I don’t like you. I don’t like the fact you act like you own the place. I think you need to work on your negotiating. Outright demands aren’t welcomed very warmly, If you didn’t know, But I see your position.  Let me strike a counter-offer; How about you get half of absolutely nothing. How’s that sound?” He said, not humoring her even slightly.

She looked taken aback, leaned closer to him.

“You think you are the only group to refuse our humble demand? By diplomacy or force, The Oblivion always collects its debts.” She assured him. “Who want’s bloodshed over a couple of coins? Nobody. But  we, The Oblivion will do what it must to protect its interests. Think about your peasants ... You won't lose them, you’ll still be in charge of the place, We don’t want to take over your...” She looks around, Repulsed “Quaint, underground tunnels. Cooperate and we all rise out of the ashes together. Deny us and we’ll burn the place to the ground and take back the real estate. It's simple, really.”

“See, that’s your second mistake. You assume, because I’m shepherding these ponies through these dark times, I’ll do what's safest, regardless of the price. That I want to lie down from a few empty threats. That fighting isn’t in my nature.”

He slams his hoof on the table.

“Let me announce who we are. We are are a Company of the Celestial Imperial Army. We are not your peasants. We are a contingent of warriors, forty strong, ready and willing to fight.”

“You bluff! T-The Imperial Army is broken.”

Surefire cocks his head.

“Oh? I didn’t get the memo. Until I get that in writing from General Sepia Sparkle herself, we are not broken yet.”

She looks nervous, Realizing she’s dealing with something more organized than the usual bunch of refugee rabble.

He leans in inches from her face.

“Here’s the new deal. Before you came in, I ordered my boys to ‘relieve’ your caravan of its goods. Your Caravan is smashed apart, and you’re going to leave here with nothing but your lives. Thank your god of choice i’m not taking them aswell. If The ‘Oblivion’ feels cross about it,Well, we’ll be waiting. Probably with new spears smelted from The ‘Oblivion’s generous donation to our cause.” He smiled.

“You think you’ll get away with this? she shouted.

“It’s forty of us, eight of you, I like my odds.”

 “You’ll pay for your Hubris!” She shouted fearfully, backing her way out the door, anxious to see whether Surefire was making good on his words.

“And you’ve already paid for your arrogance.” Surefire said casually.

Surefire returned to his journal.


~ Well, that went better than expected.


Galena 25th

Tarus did it. Tarus fought a Taken and survived. The Taken are Nightmare Moon’s foot soldiers. They are sentient, living shadows that consume the dead, adding another Taken to her ranks. They fight in a very peculiar way. Before they reveal themselves, they make a mental ‘link’ with their attacker. They use their memories against the victim, making them hesitate.Then they strike. Four ponies died that way before Tarus stepped into the caves. He took down all four with his mace before he succumbed to a cut open leg. Though he has bruises all over his body, he’s enjoying his R&R in the hospital. I’m not worried about his physical recovery. I can only Imagine when the Taken put him through mentally.
 

Galena 27th

Northern Sergal Traders came to our humble little fort today. We traded a few caged animals and an anvil or two for some food crops, some gypsum, and other vital goods. Finally, a solution to the food problem. Underground farms. The sergals assured me the seeds can grow in caverns like ours.

28th

We are fifty-five strong. TileDefense died in a hunting accident. Two of Jaxler’s were injured killing the beast responsible, and a third is dead.

30th

We have a changeling in our fort.
 

[L1wW]

~Mud’s Journal #1, Date: Unknown~

   So we finally set up a settlement, and guess what? We got a running river, too! We lucked out, we finally lucked out. Then here comes the “shit yourself” part, more refugees showed up. Our little community here is now fifty strong and we even have a doctor! We also got a stable food supply coming in and we got a military ready as well, but that figures considering most of us came from the Imperial Army. And now I finally get to see my education on building shit finally pay off, I mean if it wasn’t for me we wouldn’t have the beds we sleep on! But I still got to talk with Captain Surefire about adding in defenses, because if we can bottle neck the enemy forces into a single file line, then we’d only have to fight one at a time, and the chances of us getting swarmed would be little to none. And I could also lay down some upright spear traps down the hallway to give any of those buckers meddling around behind the front lines, waiting for a chance to attack my friends, a free colonoscopy with a metal spike. Also I could set up a ballista that could fire into the hallway and skewer the enemy with a huge ass bolt. Of course there would have to be a way to shoot without chance of injuring friendly soldiers. Maybe if I and the entrance were above the hallway and the kill zone of a first floor then descended down into a secondary hallway filled with traps and then that floor maybe then descends down into a third floor containing more traps (maybe a few cage traps for some future “trap testing”) and then ramps up into the main battlefield to give our troops the high ground, and with the bottle-necking they only need to face one enemy at a time. Of course my safety comes into question if I get into a shoot out with enemy ranged soldiers. And then how do I get out of the ballista safely without the enemy archers taking pot shots at me or any bucking melee fighters coming up behind me as I kill their friends. I should run all of this by Surefire to see if I can get the okay from him about working on this little project. If we were to work fast enough, we could get this done well within a couple months if we can get enough volunteers.

   And what type of diary would this be without some juicy gossip? “Like oh mah gawd that chick is just –like- so hideous, it’s disgusting!” Oh Luna, that reminds me of my eldest sister. Bonfire you bitch. Oh, and about my family, this grand bucking war caused the extinction of almost all of us. First dad get’s killed in action, and then my non-bitchy sister get’s disowned for her own damn opinion on the war. Buck, if I had spoken up... she probably hates my guts now. Sorry sis… Anyway she got kicked out by Bonfire’s call (the bucking bitch). Then I get a letter from my favorite (now disowned) sister that my little brother Sunshine died to his illness despite his care at the hospital in the mountains, AND FOR THE ICING ON THE CAKE, ME AND CLAYTON GET DRAFTED AND MOM KILLS HERSELF. I hope you’re happy Bonfire. Then military service was bucking fantastic – not. I am happy that Clay mentioned my skills at building and fixing things. At least that got me into engineering and boosted my chances of survival. Until I was digging out a trench for Clay’s regiment and what the buck do you know? One moment he talks about the never ending sun, and the next he uses his body as a shield to protect me from a sudden volley of bolts. He died then, my big brother, Mr. Invincible, died that day. Then I recall a few jackasses telling me my tears turned the dirt on my face into mud. Yeah, buck you too, assholes. Sure enough, Captain Surefire came to me and helped pull me to safety after that day. He was probably the only officer I didn’t hate. I am glad to see that my old Captain survived this shit, except he lost his horn. But he still made it… Anyway under his leadership we went from eight dumbasses to a secure community of fifty individuals. Then the Oblivion showed up. Who the buck do they think they are? Buck them and their “new Equestria” bull shit. They think that they have the right to tax us, even though they probably didn’t even do shit in the war and are probably just a band of uppity civilians that think they own everything… bunch of bucking assholes.
Well this was such a swell entry; I should do this again sometime.

Mud out.

[Zearoth]

It had been some time since a small base was established in this ruined nation. With no allies and only lingering enemies, every pony knew that getting a sturdy military presence was as crucial to their survival as food and water. Tarus, a pony of the military has met with Jaxler privately in the barracks to discuss the formation and training of one such army.

“Well. We both know why we’re here. Where shall we begin?”Tarus asks moments after stepping into the barracks as requested.

Jaxker nodded. “Well, we should discuss training, first.”

“Of course. I was thinking of replicating the training that us Imperials had undergone. It starts with a basic training. Scouting, moving through cover, making cover, wilderness survival and the basics of melee and ranged combat.”Tarus says as he takes a seat.

Jaxler sighed. “Well, seeing how it seems the dumb asses that serve under me seem to get killed off in wagon fulls, I think it might be best if go a bit about the not training regiment and opt for a slightly more cruel one.”

“Cruel?”Tarus asks as he quirks his brow.”As long as it isn’t full on abuse. A little pain will help them learn better... It will also speed up their training. But you can’t harm them too much. We don’t have the resources to mend broken bones after each training day.”

“Well, yes. I don’t plan on killing them. I was going for more of a forgiving, soul crushing kinda training.” Jaxler then sighed. “tell me what the normal training seclude would be, I’ll tell you what I want changed.”

Tarus nods.”We would wake early before marching three miles. Upon return we would take up arms and armour to begin training in melee. Often sparring. Once we ate we would have a random class. Be it for building fortifications or lodgings, survival or even simple first-aid.”He says. Sitting back a little as he remembers his training.”Every week or so we would head out for three days, up to a week to put our knowledge to the test. Setting up a camp and surviving off of supplies as well as what we could find. That’s been the basic structure for training since I served, and of course specialty training after words would be different. I only took leadership and melee combat after I was done with basic.”

“Okay...” Jaxler nods. “so, have the ponies run around the barracks in a circle for six hours in full armor. at each hour mark we fill their backpacks with more and more weighs. As for training, we force them to fight each other, in full armor, right after their done running, and the loser has to run for another hour...” Jaxler then placed his hoof on his chin. “Do you have any better idea or things I can add?”

Tarus sighs. He didn’t like the thought that they were discussing such things, and what made it worse was knowing that they had too...”I think six hours is too much. Three would be much better as it wouldn’t completely exhaust them. But we should increase the time as they get more and more use to it.”He says before thinking.”Everything else sounds well thought out. And I don’t think we’ll need to add anything onto it just yet. We should see how they handle this little bit, and then decide what to add or take away.”

Jaxler shrugs. “Yeah, I guess six hours is a bit over the top... that sounds good.” Jaxler then sighs. “Also, I think we should talk about the jackasses who managed to go KIA recently.”

Tarus gives Jaxler a nod.”What about them?”

Jaxler sighs. “I think that first off, I think that upon death, the pony who died deserves something to commemorate them, like a slab or something, and that the squad as a whole should also have some sort of a punishment for losing somepony.”

Tarus nods to the first part of Jaxler’s statement.”Yes. Even in these times we should do something. Make a small memorial for those that die serving to protect what’s left.”He says. Frowning a little at the rest of the idea.”Jaxler... Do you really think we should punish an entire squad for losing a member in battle?”He straightens up a little.”They already lose a member of their squad and have to lay a friend to rest. I think a few stern words and maybe a little more training would be more then enough. But punishment?”

“They as a group bucked up and somepony payed for it with their life. I think punishment is fit.”

Tarus shakes his head.”We can’t expect a squad to be unstoppable, sir. There will be death. But if you mean they die of a mistake, then yes, punishment would be fit. But should they die in combat then I don’t think punishment is necessary.” Tarus replies as his voice becomes a little more serious.

Jaxler sighs again. “If anypony dies, I want there to be a punishment.” Jaxler then sighed. “Maybe a week of especially tough training?”

“Fine... Should we lose a pony, the squad will have to endure one week of grueling hard training to make up for being one pony short. What else do we have to speak of about these recent deaths?”Tarus asks as he sits back. Clearly less then happy about all this...

“Well, talking to surefire about how adding a room for slabs would be good. Aside from that I’d say we’re about done talking about the dead...” Jaxler sighed again and grimaced “though I think we should also discuss those jerks from that caravan we raided.”

“You mean the one working for this... ‘Oblivion’?”He asks quizzically, waving his hoof.”What about them?”

“well, they came into my fort in a skull clad armored caravan, demanded money, and threatened us with death. I suspect them to be the kind of ponies who would make an example out of us for what we did to them.”

Tarus nods and gives a sigh.”Yes. And we shouldn’t take any foe lightly. I don’t care how strong our forces are. We should be weary of them and prepare for an attack. Perhaps set up some battle ready patrols to keep an eye out for any signs of an offensive against us?”

“Yes, that would seem smart, though the one thing I’m really afraid of is, what if they have a spy? they are the same race as us, so it should be possible.”

“Hmm...”Tarus taps a hoof to his chin as he thinks.”We’ll need to come up with a way to check for spies within our ranks... Do you think that any of our unicorns could check for malicious thoughts, like that of a spy? We could use them to scan over our forces, or other ponies.”

“I would under no circumstances expect or order us to do something as vile as reading other’s thoughts. it would be best if whenever a group of refugees come here, we demand a background check and simply demand proof of who they are.”

Tarus gives a nod. Feeling slightly embarrassed out how bad his own suggestion really was. Maybe the heat was starting to mess with his own thoughts...”That’d be the best solution. But... Wouldn’t you think a good spy would be able to have a believable background? And how would we know if they weren’t who they say they are? It isn’t like we have the means to check some pony’s DNA.”

“We could get a unicorn to run a test to see if they all aren’t lying.”

“Sort of like those old lie-detector machines did? Only this would be difficult, if not entirely impossible to fool.”Tarus thinks over the idea a little before giving another nod.”Very well. I’ll put out a request for a unicorn with the knowledge of such magic immediately.”

“Okay, in that case I’d say we’re about done here.”

Tarus gives a nod.”I’ll get to work for the discussed training methods we’ve gone over.”He says before getting out of his seat.”If you need to speak with me again, don’t hesitate to ask.” With that, he makes his way out of the barracks and begins work on the changes needed.

[melkor]

posting to follow

[jaxler]

Jaxler's journal.

Welp... this is just bucking perfect. I make myself this place's lead military officer, and as a reward, I get sent every mentally handicapped  dumbass with a death-wish and a weapon. It seems like my unit is more of a suicide squad than an actual attack force. I can't believe I've been given the job of keeping as many of those lunatics alive as possible. Well, anyway, if I'm going to be in charge of the army around here I might as well start making everypony treat me like it. I Might start making everypony who serves under me refer to me as Major General Jaxler. That has a nice ring to it...

[L1wW]

Mud watches as Jaxler trains the recruits, chuckling slightly at how much it must suck to be in the military again. He sits around until the recruits thin out, he needed to talk to Jaxler about something... private. With the last of the trainees gone, he strides over to Jaxler. “So Lord King Major Colonel Jaxler the Fifth, got a sec?” Mud asks.

Jaxler rolled his eyes and turned over to the unicorn. “That’s major general Jaxler to you, and yes I can talk with you.”

“Alright then, Major General, I need to know something... how did you survive in the mountains?” Mud asks, also taking a moment to make sure is mask is properly covering his face.

Jaxler sighed. “Well, I made a house out of logs, and used my crossbow to hunted for food and kill monsters.”

“Alright then... so you lived alone I take it? You mentioned building a house, so did you live somewhere else before that, like with your family?” Mud asks. He already knew the right answer, he just needed to hear Jaxler’s.

Jaxler sighed again. “well, I didn’t live alone for my entire stay in the mountains...” Jaxler then broke eye contact with mud. “and yes I did have a family that I used to live with.”

Mud takes a moment to look around his surroundings. Making sure it’s just himself and Jaxler. He pulls part of his balaclava off, revealing only his mouth, nose, and a little space around his eyes. He continues to speak with a little more than half of his face concealed “You may or may not remember me, but I still remember you, and Bonfire was a bitch.” Mud says, grinning slightly.

Jaxler freezes for a second. He hadn’t seen this pony in years, and the amount of emotions he felt was unbelievable. It took him a few moments, but as soon as he got his wits about him, he threw his hoof directly at Mud’s face.

Mud ducked. “So after all this time, your first thought is to punch me in the face? My handsome face? Why would you do that?” Mud says, laughing his ass off. “Ah, you haven’t changed a bit...” Mud pulls Jaxler in for a hug. “I’m glad you didn’t forget me...”

Jaxler was shocked even more by the hug, but still put his arms around mud. “Wha- yeah. The hell could I forget my own brother!”

Mud chuckles slightly and looks up to his older sibling. “Goddamn, have you always been taller than me?” Mud pauses for a moment, “And... I-I take it the rest of the families... g-gone...”

“I...” Jaxler breaks the hug and sighs. “I honestly don’t give a rat’s ass, in fact I don’t even know why you’d hug me after what happened.”

“Jaxler! It’s my fault, I believed you made the right decision, but with everything so bucked up, I… c-couldn’t... voice my opinion...” Mud says, breaking the hug and looking down at the floor. “And then I was chosen to take your place and was thrown on the cart with Clay...”

“but.. is this some kind of an apology?”

“No, it’s me telling you that you still have family... Jaxler.” Mud says, he then throws the mask on. Taking a moment to make sure it fits over his horn. “I’m going to keep this mask on, even though there’s no need for it, except for hiding... something... it just makes me feel like less of a weakling you know? Like an impervious wall hiding me from everything out there to get me...” He sighs.

“Well.. so long as you feel a little safer... though you really shouldn’t need a mast to feel that way.”

“Did I mention that Clay died saving my sorry ass from a volley of bolts?” Mud asks. “And then did I mention that the other soldiers insulted me because I was the youngest in the company-” Mud smiles slightly underneath his mask, “-and that I cried for four hours after the ordeal?”

“you haven’t changed one bit, either and no offense, but I could care less about clayton.” Jaxler looked away again and huffed. “At least the back stabbing son of a bitch died with some honor.”

Mud looks down at his hooves. “Clay wasn’t that bad... just... Bonfire had to buck things up...” He slowly looks back up to Jaxler after gaining some composure. “So with feelings and reunions aside, how bucked are we out here?”

the markspony placed a hoof on his chin and thought for a moment. “oh... yeah we're bucked I’d give about a few more months before we’re all dead.”

“Damn, I need to talk to Surefire about getting some walls set up, maybe a few traps here and there, and maybe some ballistas too...” Mud sighs. “This is gonna be a long damn month... especially with the Oblivion breathing down our collective necks.”

Jaxler smiles maniacally at the mention of the Oblivion. “Yeah... god as wrong as this sounds, I hope they send another caravan we can raid. Those jackasses had so much shit from other forts I couldn’t help but keep some of their wares for myself...”

“Huh, I never thought you were still as greedy as before all this shit happened. Guess old things never change huh?” Mud teases. “Yeah, let’s just say I wouldn’t mind ‘testing’ a few traps on those bastards...”

“Well, I wouldn’t mind sending some of my ponies in to kill them either.” Jaxler grins a little and chuckles.

“I guess sadism runs in the family?” Mud laughs a bit. “Makes sense why most of us are dead and probably burning in hell... speaking of families, any stallions catch your eye?” Mud asks.

“Buck you man, you better not tell anypony or I’ll put a dent in your skull.”

“Relax, I won’t tell a soul who you really are, but just think about that for a bit, because it would really blow if both of us were to die and our family were to be wiped out.“ Mud says. “But coming clean may not be such a bad thing...”

Jaxler shrugs. “Meh, whatever. I prefer I stay the way I am...”

“Very well.” Mud says. “I guess I’ll leave you to training the recruits when they come back, any chance you’ll lighten up on them?” He asks as he starts walking out of the barracks.

“I already have.”

Mud laughs a little as he walks out of the barracks.

[DVNO]

Whew! My third fully scripted, fully voiced Skyrim mod is out the door! Great Success! But you didn't come here for that. you came for pony. I bring OC and some screens for your delightments. 

Spoiler: Surface Level (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Old Dining room (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Rooms&StorageX6 (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Caverns&Barracks (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Ragebrew (click to show/hide)

~ Limestone ~

   Celestia’ sake! We are damn sure not alone out here. More and more refugees come flooding in every day from the wastes from every direction. We are eighty strong now. I want to be ecstatic about it. I really, really do. I want to put on a smile, and be mirthful and join in on the party downstairs, but I know better than to celebrate yet. They are all looking up to me, doe eyed, expecting food, water, and shelter, which I can’t exactly promise. We simply don’t have the infrastructure of a small town in place to support the newcomers yet. We are working double the speed to accommodate, New wells are being built, A massive dining room is being carved out, trade goods are being manufactured to sell for essentials, it’s all coming. It’s just not coming as fast as the refugees.  I literally have no more ponies to throw at the problem. Everyone is working day and night, and Jaxler’s squad has been temporarily  disbanded to work in shifts. That unfairly leaves Tarrus to guard both entrances in squads of five. If an invading army wanted to stomp us out, now would be the opportunity. Of course, exterior threats are the least of my concerns. At least they wear uniforms.

  Even with being so understaffed, Snow and her squad are jotting down every name, and I’m building a dossier on every single one of the refugees. I’m getting the family names down, medical histories, other personal details. Also i’m regrettably building a jail.  We can’t have let a single one of Nightmare Moon’s changelings slip through the gates.  The insect-like monsters kill a pony, steal their identity, and hide among us. The spies relay everything they see to their hives telepathically! That’s devastating enough on its own, but oh, you know it has to be worse. While they blend into the general population, they eject invisible spores, infectious spores. These spores get in your head, make you progressively more paranoid and aggressive. Get blasted with enough of it, The fort will tear itself apart. I’ve seen this time and time again; you’d think after a while, it’d just seem like another normal hazard to occasionally check for, like every other cruel obstacle thrown at us. But It never stops nagging at the back of the mind. I’ll never get used to it. I will never stop being apprehensive when I meet someone new. How can I?


~Sandstone~

One hundred and ten strong.

7th
  You know what? I’m putting in a order to build a bar on the third level. I’m going to have a big opening day party and all my friends are invited. Why? because I run the place and ‘them’s are’ the perks. Its either that, or I snap from stress.

11th
  I have a suspicion our new residents aren't taking the extra security precautions around here seriously.  ‘Bright Rotball’? ‘Glen Blowwipe’? ‘Cream Enchantpants’? yeah, those names are fake. They’re being rounded up, and we’re going to have a little ‘chat’. 

14th
  While passing though this fort’s  halls, I met a particularly odd earthpony named Ragebrew. Ragebrew rushed me on the way to a meeting and fired away all sorts of questions about alchemy that went straight over my head. I just nodded with a smile and assured him we have all the comforts of a proper alchemy lab down in the caverns. (Hopefully far enough away from the housing if there ever was an ‘accident’)

He’s content with his devices, I’m hoping he’ll make a few alchemical concoctions of the restorative variety.     

Mud has been making excellent progress on setting up traps around the fort with the surplus weapons around here! I especially like what he did with the comically large axe blades we had laying around. I would have never thought to use them like that....

~Timber~

One hundred and thirty strong.

16th
Alright, new mandate. NO MORE FOOD IN LIVING SPACES. ANYONE CARRYING FOOD OUT OF THE DESIGNATED DINING ROOMS WILL BE PROSECUTED. I  can’t believe I have to spell this out! The rooms smell like cloying death!

 I mean, I get It. nobody has had a shower in months, We’re all matted sweaty balls of reeking shit anyway, why not have your room smell like a festering puss-riddin’ wound, too? Why not add some icing to the shitcake? But Godamn! The dorms smell like a meat locker baking in the summer heat!

No more food in the dorms. Anyone else gets the idea to put three stacks uncooked raw meat in a chest for four months I’ll execute him myself.

 I need some air. I’m heading down to the caverns to clear my head. Its oddly beautiful down there.



 ~Down in the caverns~


   
 Surefire walked down the over crowded hallways, down, down to the very bottom. It wasn’t easy, scrambling over everypony doing gods knows what anymore. The fort had become a living thing, a rock organ pumping pony blood cells every direction, performing so many vital tasks he couldn't even keep hope of keeping track of. He was just a soldier a few months back, commanding no more than thirty. Now look.   

As he steps off the last stone, he’s greeted by Tarus and his squad, keeping the local kobold population in check.


He walked off into a far corner with a torch and laid back on a piece of granite and looked up to the distant cavern ceiling. The illuminate  fungi on the ceiling reminded him of the stars. Which reminded him how much he missed the real thing. The stars calmed him, made him feel at home, in an odd way. As if the world never fell apart and everything was normal.
   


Surefire heard whimpering. “Hello?” he called  out.

The whimpering continued. Piqued, he got up and headed in its direction.

“Hello? Anybody there?” his golden eyes scanning every rock culvert for the source of the noise.

He saw the blur of a creature out of the corner of his vision.

“Whatever you are, If you’re looking for a fight, I will kill you!” He shouted at the dark, lying through his teeth. This was supposed to be a leisurely stroll, He didn’t arm himself before leaving the fort’s safety.   

He saw something scurry past and he pounced at it.

It was a foal, probably no older than ten.

“Oh, Sergal spit! What are you doing down here?” Surefire exhaled in relief.

“I-I-”

“Never, Never! Play around in the caverns! It’s not safe down here!” Surefire scolded. “Here, follow me, I’ll get you back to safety.”

“No, you can’t...” she glowered.

“What?”

“You adults always say that! you always say you’ll save me! My parents said they’d save me. They died. The nice blue lady said she’d save me. She died. Now, you want to save me! You’re going to die too! You’re all liars!” she cried.


  “ ‘blue lady’? What ‘blue lady’? “ Surefire asked cautiously.

She looked in direction, he followed her gaze.

He saw Lieutenant Snow.

More specifically, he saw the upper half of lieutenant Snow, with her bloody entrails leading off into the dark. Her fore-hooves were outstretched, as if she was cut in half mid-stride running away from something, her face had a permanent expression of fear etched on it.

“You can’t save me ...” she murmured.

Surefire wanted to ask her for a vague description of what did this, but it was almost pointless.  He only knew of one creature capable of this ...

  He turned, and looked into the black mass of shadow staring back at him. He knew in this was the work of a Taken. 

   The dark mass loomed just outside of the weak flicker of his torch.  If it weren’t for the Taken’s deathly weakness to natural light, he and the girl would surely be dead already.

  Surefire walked slowly over to Snow and picked up her warhammer with his mouth calmly. He showed no fear. That was its weapon. He knew negotiating, bribing, or pleading with it was useless. It just wanted one thing; Total Assimilation.



part 1 of 3
 

[jaxler]

Jaxler's journal.

THIS PLACE SMELLS LIKE FREAKING HELL! DEMANDING NEW BIGGER ROOM ON ANOTHER FLOOR!

[Zearoth]

On the twenty-fifth of Galena, Tarus awoke from his slumber with a sudden gasp. Panting heavily and sweating.”I... It was, just a dream...”He says. He wipes his brow and lays back, staring up at the ceiling to calm himself before climbing out of bed. He had been uneasy for a while now, ever since hearing of the loss of four other guardsponies. His paranoia was getting to him, giving him such worry. Worse still, he was given the order to investigate these deaths.

Looking into the matter, he found that they all perished after visiting a nearby cave... His favored weapon, an Imperial Sabre, was damaged, and so he took up a mace. Something that he was trained in beside a sword. A fact he was thankful for... Dawning his armor, he bravely marched off to this cave.

Nearing the mouth, he could feel a darkness within. An unsettling feeling that chilled Tarus’ nerves... He shook his head, and gazed into the cave before stepping in. Journeying deep inside the dark passageway as he scanned every nook and cranny. His breaths were becoming a little heavy as he took in the stagnant, dusty air.

As he ventured deeper, he could swear that he heard whispers... Playing it off as wind blowing over the mouth of the cave, he ignored these noises. Until a voice called out...”T-Tarus?”Said the soft voice of a mare. Tarus froze still at the voice, his eyes shooting wide open.”I-it’s me... Oh I can’t believe I’ve found you...” Tarus gazed around, before seeing a young, caramel coloured mare. Walking beside her looked to be a few Imperial’s, all in weathered armour and looking tired.

“Summer?...”Tarus spoke up as he looked to the mare. She gave him a nod and a smile, slowly approaching him.”Summer... I can’t believe... I thought you would’ve... I thought you were.”

“Shhh...”The mare hushed Tarus, and gave him a sweet smile.”I’m here... We all are, Tarus. We’ve all been so worried about you...”She speaks. The other three start moving up. Though something seemed off about all this...

Tarus seemed lost in his thoughts, he couldn’t think to judge them. It was though he were happy to see them, too happy to question this. A gift of fortune in his eyes.”But we’re all together again, Tarus... You, me, your guardsponies... I’m so happy, Tarus... So happy we’re together again.”The mare spoke as she continued towards the stallion. They seemed to surround Tarus...”And now... Nothing, will separate us...”

She now stood inches in front of Tarus, reaching out to rub his cheek. While beside him, an Imperial raised his weapon, his eyes as black as the coal on the cave floor... Tarus closes his eyes as he’s caressed, but as the Imperial went to strike, his eyes would shoot open.”No...”

Tarus jumped away, the sabre cutting deep into the flesh of his arm. Blood started to trickle out.”I do not know any of you... Mmf... You are not the ones I remember.” As Tarus stared at the four ponies, they turned gray in colour, their bodies now surrounded in a dark aura. Tarus drew his mace as the four gathered.”You... You killed those guards ponies.” The group look to each other as Tarus speaks and ready their weapons.”You will not defeat me, as you did them!” The stallion lunges forward and strikes out with his mace. The heavy weapon clashing against the armour of this shadow-beast, denting it and delivering a painful blow to its shoulder. The other three strike out as a counter assault, but the quick stallion evades two, and parries the third before launching a counter of his own.

The mace crashes into the skull of one of the beasts, splitting it with a loud crack. He collapsed to the ground as the others strike for Tarus once again! Still recovering from his swing, Tarus couldn’t maneuver well, and was only able to defend against two of the attacks.

With a blade pressed to his mace, Tarus grits his teeth and grunts as another sabre stabs into his shoulder. HIs armour, thankfully, leaving it at no more than a shallow wound. With a twist he forces the one parried off balance before striking at the beast that stabbed him. The mace drives into its leg, the limb bending with a crack as the beast bellows a horrid shriek of pain.

Tarus raised the mace once more and dealt a lethal blow to its head. Its body laying lifeless by the other.”Will you continue this? Or will you retreat!? I’ve already defeated two of you... You have no chance!” Tarus taunts. The beasts let out a cackle.

“Do not delude yourself, foal... We serve the mighty Nightmare Moon! And in her name we shall slay you!”One shouts before striking out. Tarus perries the blade before the mace of the other comes for his head. He barely evades, his helmet being knocked off and dazing the him.

He recovered quickly before the beast could finish him off. The adrenalin was coursing through his veins, as his eyes glowed with a  fiery vengeance. Charging forward, it was clear this battle was to end now! One of the beasts raised his mace as the other stabbed the charging stallion in the breast. The sword slid from the strong armour before Tarus’ mace shattered the leg of the other pony. It shrieked in pain as Tarus swung his weapon back up. Delivering a crushing blow to the pony that stabbed him.

The last of the four beasts laid on the ground... Whimpering in pain of his shattered arm. Tarus stood over him, staring down with the mace held in his teeth. There was so much he could do... His anger was clear, and he could make this creature’s death slow and excruciating. The beast saw the hate in Tarus’ eyes. His pride replaced by fear...”Mercy. Aaaggh... M-mercy please!” He cried out...

“The mare you disguised as... Do you know who she is?”Tarus asked of the beast. The creature looked a little surprised at this, but nodded.

“Y-yeeees. Sh-she... She was y-your...”Tarus presses a hoof to the creature’s mouth, swallowing. He didn’t want to hear any more...

“Then you know why I give my mercy... I pray you peace in your afterlife, beast... You may thank her for that should she be there.”Tarus spoke, his mood almost opposite that of the hate. He raises the mace, the beast only looking with Tarus’ words in lieu of his thoughts before he was struck down.

Tarus backed away a little, looking at the four creatures he killed. It was then his legs shook, and the mace fell from his teeth. He had lost so much blood during this battle... It was a wonder how he could have even fought this long. Not a moment later, he collapsed to the ground. Only to be recovered later by a search party, and brought to a hospital base for treatment.

Though, after this battle... The worst wounds, would not be those on his body.

[jaxler]

Jaxler walked into the hospital. He had his trademark frown on and looked irate. He only had one pony on his mind, and that was the stupid bastard who about died. He honestly was pissed off as buck at him, but at least was professional enough not to kick him out of the army.

Upon entering the hospital, Jaxler was greeted by one of the staff members working there. “Can I help you with anything?” She asked as she looked to him.

“I need to see Tarus.” He says in a cold and harsh tone.

The mare starts a little from how Jaxler spoke, and give a sudden nod.”Erhm, of course. His room is down the hall, second door on... On the left.”She says with a nervous grin.”He’s, still weak. Suffering the effects of blood loss. So, try to, go easy on him.”

Jaxler nods and sighs. “good.” and started walking down the hallway. Once he got to the room, he didn’t bother to knock and just walk in.

Entering the room, Jaxler could pick up the usual scent of medicine in the air, as well as what ever they used as a sterilizer. Looking over, Tarus could be seen laying on a bed. His left foreleg and shoulder bound in bloodied gauze and bandage, and his cheeks a little pale. The pony in general didn’t look well... After a moment, he slowly looked up to see Jaxler standing in the room.”Good evening, sir.”He says weakly.

“Why why buck where you in the caves?” he says coldly, not seeming the slightest bit concerned about how harmed he was.

“I was, given the order to... To investigate the deaths of the four guardsponies...”Tarus answers.”I was, just following orders, sir.”

“who gave you this order.” Jaxler looked more irate than before.

“One of the officers... He wanted to know what it was that killed them.”Tarus pauses for a moment to gather his thoughts.”So he sent me out to scout around the caves, since I’m one of the best guards here.”

“if you are lying i will have your sorry ass court mashled.” he says even more coldly.

Tarus looks away a little. All this stress wasn’t doing him much good at all. And he seemed to bear a sad look in his eyes.”I wouldn’t lie to you, sir...”

“Good... now.. who was this officer who told you to do this?”

“I... I hadn’t asked his name at the time... I just knew he was an officer because he was commanding a group of trainees, sir...”Tarus replies. “May I ask you something, sir?”

“... what?”

“What does all of this matter?... I did what I was ordered, and defeated a threat to us without losing my life.”Tarus asks as he looks back over.”Why does it matter who gave me the order, or why I did it?”

“you would have died if nopony would have found you. What if something else did? You shouldn’t have taken that order, and whoever told you that deserves to be fired. I don’t care what you found in there, because taken aren’t nearly the most unholy abomination one can face in the dark places of this earth. You are my soldier and I’m tired of going to requiems of those I’m supposed to lead and protect.”

Tarus looks away again, and swallows.”I... I’m sorry, sir... I won’t let it happen again...”

“Now tell me, what did this “officer” look like!”

“U-um... He’s, a light silver. And, has a dark mane. That’s all I can remember.”He says before looking to Jaxler.”But... This isn’t his fault, sir... I should’ve brought back up with me..”

“You don’t get any holidays off for the rest of the year, you have to do double the training for the next month after you get out of here, and if you lie to me again i’ll demote you.”

Tarus looks over.”Sir... I, I never lied to you...”He says, sounding a little confused.”Why... Why the punishment?”

“Because, I’m 100% sure you lied, and i honestly know that you’re lying.”

Tarus opens his mouth to speak up, though looks away once again. He wasn’t going to protest against Jaxler, even if he didn’t lie.”Yes sir... Understood, sir.”

“also, you almost died, I would be demoting you if you were anypony else.”

“Yes sir... But, why am I so different from the other ponies?”Tarus asks as again turns to look to Jaxler.

“um...” Jaxler paused. “You seem like you know what you’re doing, and you haven’t bucked up until now.”

Tarus smiled a little at that, even if he did mess up he liked hearing that he was at least a bit more tolerated than other ponies... He side softly and laid his head back down.”Is there anything else you need, sir?”

“Nope. also you’re not getting anymore pain meds. Part of my new pain tolerance training.”

Tarus sat up a little.”Is... Is that, really necessary, sir?”

Jaxler brings a hoof up to his chin. “Well... kinda.”

Tarus swallows at the thought, but gives a nod.”If th-that is what you see fit, sir...”

“Good.” Jaxler then starts to move toward the door.

Tarus waits a moment before speaking up.”SIr?”

“promise me I won’t have to show up to your funeral.”

Tarus goes silent for a few seconds, looking on to Jaxler."I... I promise, sir."

“also... never... bucking... lie... to me... ever."

Tarus gives a weak nod."I won't, sir. I, will also promise that."

Jaxler moved out the door and stopped again. "get well soon."

Tarus smiles a little and gives Jaxler another nod before laying his head back down.

Jaxler sighs again and walks away. He really seemed less stressed than he had before.

[jaxler]

well, i'd like another poneh!

Moral decay

who now?

I must become a god

if it wants hurt you, then burn it!

[Lovecraft]

Name Lovecraft

You supported who during the civil war? Military Chaplin of Celestia

Your Belief(s) ( thinking with your heart) All ponies need to stand together, no matter what they may think they need to do.

Your goal(s) (What your trying to accomplish) To reconstruct pony society and ensure that the old ways are remembered.

Your Instinct(s) (Thinking with your gut) Cowardly but caring. Wil act holier than thou. Tends to be a little bit unintetionally manipulative.

[jaxler]

The light blue glow of mushrooms was pristine, and the crystal clear wave-less water of the lake reflected the stalagmites perfectly. The dark places of the world were truly beautiful. the few places left untouched by the purging everlasting sun were home to some of the worlds most amazing  sights, and creatures. Things so horrid and twisted that one would wonder of the gods of the world were still present.

The dark haze of the caves only shielded the eyes of the unprepared from the evil abominations of this dark world, and the mushrooms that mimicked the tress of the over world gave off their normal diluted glow. A dark figure seemed to move through the odd mist, toward an odd torch lit passage.

[Zearoth]

On this very evening. Tarus Dawning was making a quick run of the areas near the caves. Only suspecting rats and other lesser monsters to be lurking in the dark crevasses and passageways. Never straying too far from the light of the torches, the stallion stood tall and ready as each hoofstep gave an echo through these natural halls.