February Event: Bitten by the Love Bugs

 

Some strange looking insects have started appearing near Ponyville. They resemble butterflies, but instead of two pairs of wings, they have one set, each in a heart shape. The wings come in all manner of colors and patterns and glitter in the sunlight. With spring still a way away, many ponies find them charming. They started showing up near warm areas…bonfires, snuggly bundled ponies, and kitchens. They seemed relatively peaceful…but unlike their butterfly look-alikes, they sported small little mandibles that could give a nice little nip. It was when these bugs started nibbling on unwary ponies that things started to become rather…strange.

Those afflicted with a bite were suddenly overcome with puppy-love toward whatever they saw next…living or not. This caused some odd instances of ponies becoming enamored with neighbors, but also toasters and flowerpots and other strange things. Not everyone knows about these “love bugs” yet and what their bite does, but word is starting to spread. It’s a shame so many ponies have already welcomed these little creatures inside…

 

Prompt: Depict your character trying to avoid a Love Bug bite or the effects if they end up bitten by one!

Note: Please remember you cannot use another player’s character in a piece without permission. This is especially true with this sort of prompt. Please help keep our community a safe and comfortable place!

 

All event pieces are due February 28th at 11PM EST, though an additional prompt to advance the plot will occur before then.

Mini Event: Menagerie Mishap Finale!

 

The Animal Adoption Coalition was right to put its faith in the hooves of local ponies. Soon visitors were arriving at the new shelter location one after another bringing back animal friends of all shapes and sizes. With each passing moment Starlit Plume’s worry began to ease. She was certain that no critter would remain lost with such a generous effort by so many!

 

By the next day all the missing creatures had returned to Starlit Plume’s care. It was clear, however, that some of these animals had bonded with their rescuers. Some asked Starlit Plume if they could go stay with those ponies for good…and while she couldn’t make any promises, she agreed to send letters on their behalf. 

 

All participants will receive a Limited Pet Voucher in their character’s inventory. This may be redeemed to get 1 pet that was depicted in your event submission!

 

Pets are now officially available. Pet vouchers have been added to the Store as well. Please read more here.

Pets

 

 

Pets are unique items that offer bonuses when they appear in pieces with your character. These bonuses may affect Stat Checks, currency rewards, or sometimes provide other special abilities. While no pet is 100% identical, there are categories of pets that indicate what bonuses they provide.

 

Pet Types

 

 

Luck Pet: These pets are lucky somehow. They somehow make it so Stat Check rolls cannot roll below a certain number.

 

Loot Pet: These pets help characters acquire more Horseshoes or have the chance to find items.

 

Mystic Pet: These pets add + bonuses to INT Stat Checks involving spells.

 

Tracking Pet: These pets help to detect sounds, smells, or sights in the environment. They give + bonuses to WIS Stat Checks involving finding or noticing things.

 

Therapy Pet: These pets are innately charming and soothing. They provide + bonuses to CHA Stat Checks.

 

Working Pet: These pets are hard workers with a lot of strength. They provide + bonuses to STR Stat Checks.

 

Racing Pet: These pets are light on their feet! They provide DEX Stat bonuses in some situations. 

 

Utility Pet: These pets are good at manipulating certain objects. They provide DEX Stat bonuses in some situations.

 

More pet types may be added in the future.

 

 

Acquiring Pets

 

Characters can find pets in a lot of different ways. Sometimes Characters will find them on Adventures or during Random Encounters. Sometimes they may be awarded from special events. There are two other ways to get a pet…Adoption or redeeming Vouchers.

 

Pet Vouchers are items that let Players draw their own pets based on requirements found in the type of voucher used, if any. These vouchers are a one-time use item and disappear once the pet is created.

 

Types of Pet Vouchers

 

 

Custom Pet Voucher: You get to design the pet and choose the pet type, though you do not get to choose the bonus number.

 

Semi-Custom Pet Voucher: You get to design the pet, but not choose the pet type or bonus.

 

Limited Pet Voucher: You are given a general description of the pet, as well as given a specific type and bonus. You only get to design small details of the pet’s design.

 

 

Adoption

 

Adoption is when pets arrive at the Animal Adoption Coalition and are looking for a new home. These animals are refugees from throughout Equestria that have been displaced due to Wild Magic. They would like to live with somepony, but it’s not first come first serve! Ponies are encouraged to socialize with the pet and try to convince them as to why they’d be a good friend to live with. In the end, the animals choose who they want to go home with.

 

Adoptions are essentially Draw/Write to Adopt events for Pets. Each pet will be open for submissions for a certain window of time where you can create submissions showing your character trying to bond with the pet up for adoption. 

 

There is no cost associated with winning an adoption.

 

Current Open Adoptions: None

 

 

Pet Creation

 

Adoption pets are usually created as soon as the event ends. In other instances, you may need to provide art or other information to have your pet created. 

 

Click here to make a submission for Pet Creation.

 

Pet Art Requirements

 

Pet art must either be your own work, from a free base, or artwork you commissioned/were gifted for the pet. No copyright characters or images may be used for pet art.

December/February Event Finale: Defining Love

 

Initially Ponyville was plunged into chaos. Changelings tried to run and hide from the Famished, but their pony forms didn’t fool the pursuers one bit. Some resorted to direct confrontation, fighting against their transformed kin. And they were not alone. Just as ponies had shown their support with banners and protest, they now too defended their changeling neighbors. Guards and Knights fought famished directly, while other ponies hid or hurried the changelings away. This was far from over! As the famished pressed on through the hours, so too did ponies everywhere resist.

 

It was clear as the conflict broke that Queen Vespa intended to take the train to move her captured kin, so that is where Princess Dawn Bringer and her guard held the line. They refused to let the changeling monarch access the train, holding steady for hours as Queen Vespa’s strongest tried to uproot them. This was only a temporary solution, however. Something else had to be done. The problem was that the Famished were a thing of stories…no one had seen one in nearly 500 years. Dawn Bringer had never met one herself. All she had were the stories and what was written in the history books. Would Princess Luster Dawn have fared any better..?

 

Dawn Bringer felt her balance waver and she spread her wings a bit to catch herself. It was taking a lot of effort to maintain the magic barrier she had placed around the train and she was growing weary. 

 

Queen Vespa struck again to dispel it, only to cry out in frustration when the magic held. “No, no, no! We’re finally free to leave the hive after all these years! This can’t be why we starve! I won’t let it be!” With a shriek, she threw herself at the barrier. The action was reminiscent of a foal throwing a tantrum. There was such genuine frustration behind the action.

 

It was then that Dawn Bringer realized she had been unfair with Vespa.

 

“I owe you an apology,” Dawn Bringer said. She took a deep breath to settle herself, to gather her resolve. “You wear your crown so well and time…well I admit the years escape me sometimes.”

 

“What?!” Vespa shrieked, landing just outside the barrier. She stood indignant, nostrils flaring wide.

 

“I forgot you were born to all of this,” Dawn Bringer said gently, tilting her head down. She dropped the barrier. “Is that what you all feared, that you would run out of love in the hive the wild magic trapped you in? You thought you were destined to see your people die of hunger?”

 

Vespa lunged into Dawn Bringer’s open embrace.

 

The changeling royal thrashed, kicked, and bit at the alicorn that held her tightly. What did this pony know of feeding not on food, but on emotion? Of what that did to you when you were trapped and everyone’s emotions kept spiraling further and further down as the years went on?

 

“Vespa, you’re not in this alone anymore. You never really were. Don’t you see?” Dawn Bringer held her tiger despite the pain inflicted by Vespa’s struggles. “You might not have known it then, born as you were in the enclosed hive, but can’t you see it now? No one will starve. Love doesn’t know distance or physical boundaries…and can’t you feel it? How much love there is for your people?”

 

Vespa slowly stopped her thrashing, her pants and heartbeat gradually coming down to the steady rhythm she could feel thumping in Dawn Bringer’s chest. 

 

“The love has always been there. From the day you came here, your people were already loved. You saw it yourself as everypony shouted for you to let them stay. You saw it in their banners, their protests, even their rash youth insisting on bargaining with you…those were all acts of love. Love for changelings. No one will starve. You just have to let yourself realize it’s there…no matter physical distance or boundary.”

 

Vespa closed her eyes. She had seen the passion of the ponies here in Equestria. She saw them stand, unified to keep changelings in their homes. She had seen ponies even risk harm for near strangers, all in an effort to help her people escape entrapment. These ponies, beings she had only heard of in stories, had shown unbelievable devotion to her people. And what had she tried to do? Trap them just as the Wild Magic had for all those years.

 

A hot tear slipped down her cheek as she swallowed a tinge of blood from biting her tongue. What was she doing?

 

The young changeling began to tremble and slowly the dark colors melted from her body like oil running over stones. With each tear and shake her yellows and bright colors returned. And Dawn Bringer just held her close, wings wrapped tight around them both.

 

“It’s okay. We’ll fix it together. The ponies of Equestria have the biggest hearts…they never gave up, even now,” Dawn Bringer whispered.

 

Famished across Canterlot and Ponyville all seemed to stop in their tracks. Many hunched over and collapsed until they returned to their original forms. They lay where they fell, exhausted and emotionally spent. A few Famished sensed a change, but did not revert themselves. Instead they became agitated and fled, but not back to Queen Vespa. These few ran even from her, trapped in their dark emotions, and disappeared into the wilds. It took a while, but everypony seemed to realize the fighting had stopped. Guards and Knights started helping any injured or lost. Changelings that had remained themselves helped those recovering from their transformations. Princess Dawn Bringer took Queen Vespa back to the castle in Ponyville. The young royal ended up sleeping for a few days after the whole ordeal. 

When she awoke she the first thing she told Princess Dawn Bringer was that no changeling need leave their home. She would not force changelings to return.

 

The news spread long before Queen Vespa’s departure. Equestrians were overjoyed. They had done it! Celebrations appeared all through Ponyville and Canterlot. Ponies and changelings danced and sang side-by-side. There was laughter again. The tension blew out of the cities like a held breath. By the time Queen Vespa was at that fateful train station again, the buzz of joy had rippled into small crowds by the tracks. 

 

When Vespa saw all the ponies and changelings, she seemed surprised, even sheepish. She had not expected a friendly send off after what she had done. But somehow, word too, must have spread over what had happened and what the hive changelings had feared. Her people would be fine here. And if she followed their example, her hive changelings would be fine as well. 

 

She took a deep breath and announced loudly, “All ponies are welcome to visit the Hive. We would be honored to have guests like you someday.” With a shy gesture of her wing she ducked into the train. Her hive changelings followed behind as Princess Dawn Bringer waved them goodbye. 

 

This concludes the December/January event!

 

The Hive is now a location freely visitable by train! (updated map soon)

 

All changelings have the option of taking either a standard or “Famished” form. You can only earn PP for one of these forms at a time. Switching between these forms requires a new piece of art or writing each time. Please know that these are NOT like Pony Forms which can be turned off and on like a switch; these are full-on physical transformations based on a changeling’s core emotional state of being.

 

Frostbite had 5 CP added to his inventory!

Night's Waste had 10 CP added to their inventory!

Flash Float had 10 CP added to his inventory!

Brownie Sundae had 5 CP added to his inventory!

Witching Hour had 10 CP added to her inventory!

Summer Solo had 10 OP and 5 CP added to his inventory!

Mint Chip had 10 CP added to his inventory!

Mini-Event: Menagerie Mishap

 

Note: This event takes place chronologically after the "What It Means to Hunger" event. The conclusion will offer changelings that became Famished a chance to return to normal.

 

A blue pegasus frantically tries to round up ponies milling about in the Canterlot streets. Some may recognize her as Starlit Plume, one of the members of the Council of Friendship. Once a decent crowd has gathered, she flies up into the air so everyone can see and hear her clearly.

"Everypony, I need your help! I'm in charge of the Animal Adoption Coalition...we work with all the lost critters that come into Equestria and try to find them a new place to live. One of our temporary housing centers had a fire...which caused many of the animals to run away! The fire is out but...not all of them have returned. I fear many have gotten lost and may not be able to find their way back before dark. It's awfully cold when the sun goes down. Can you please help me find them? Some may have gone even as far as Ponyville!"

 

Prompt: Create a piece that depicts your character helping an animal from the Animal Adoption Coalition. Feel free to depict any (friendly) animal.

 

All submissions for this event are due by 11:59PM on February the 3rd!

December/January Event Part 3: What It Means to Hunger

 

 

Queen Vespa’s ultimatum left both Canterlot and Ponyville restless like a swarm of bees without a nest. Some ponies, still hurt from changeling deception or perhaps in fear of disobedience, hurried changelings out of their longtime homes. Most, however, were sick at the prospect of casting aside longlife friends and neighbors. Some kept their feelings quiet, but more and more began to voice their protests to ring out just as loudly as those first ponies the day of the announcement. Let. Them. Stay. It started to show up on flyers, banners, cakes, posters, everywhere you looked. When the final day came both Canterlot and Ponyville streets were filled with protestors. The overwhelming decision of the masses was clear; they did not agree with the terms and they wanted their voice heard. 

 

The rising tension was not lost on the Guards, both those of Canterlot and those accompanying Queen Vespa. Both sets lined the streets ahead of Dawn Bringer and the changeling queen as they arrived in Ponyville. Both royals were solemn and eerily quiet. 

 

Once the two reached the train station, the crowd roared even louder. It was only when Dawn Bringer gestured with a wing that everypony went still, watching to see what would happen.

 

Queen Vespa stood tall and spoke loudly to the crowd, “My subjects, it is time for us to return home to the Hive.”

 

The silence evaporated into outrage. Screams of “LET! THEM! STAY!” and “YOU PROMISED!” rang from all corners. Banners rose and bodies pressed in closer. Guards had to start pushing ponies back from the area reserved for the royals. 

 

Queen Vespa’s expression tightened, her eyes jumping back and forth across the crowd. It was too much. There were too many! She squinted her eyes shut before clutching at her head in frustration. With a cry she jumped into the air, her wings beating in a fierce, colorful blur.

 

“ENOUGH!” She shrieked. “You would have us starve?! I won’t have it! We won’t starve without you and I won’t leave you here to starve on your own! We will be one hive! ONE!” When the last shriek left her mouth, something strange happened. A shadow clouded over Queen Vespa like a mist, blurring everypony’s view of her. As the mist cleared, a dark sight met them all. The changeling ruler had become dark in color and tattered in appearance. She began to click and hiss as shouts of terror rang through the crowd.

 

Changeling guards and some changelings in the crowd fell over suddenly, before bursting into a dark mist themselves and changeling into dark changelings of old tales. They immediately jumped up, growling and hissing before rushing toward any changeling that remained in their true form.

 

“Seize them! We are going home!” Cried Queen Vespa.

 

Queen Vespa turned into her Famished Form and has used her special ability Famine Pheromone, which brings out the loneliness and hunger of other changelings! It has caused many to become Famished. 

 

Changelings now all have the ability to take on a Famished Form. Read more in the Abilities blog.

 

Prompt: Queen Vespa and her Famished changelings are trying to capture and take all other changelings back to the Hive by force! What will your character do? Will they try to hide the other changelings? Will they fight the Famished?

 

Note: Anyone trying to engage Queen Vespa will be engaged by her Famished guards.

 

All entries for this event are due by Suday January 23rd, at 11:59PM EST!

December Event Part 2: The Terms

 

Queen Vespa and her escorts spent multiple days in the palace without coming out again to see the public. This caused rumors to stir among the populace. There were enough whispers after the reveal that many neighbors were actually Changelings…but what could have Queen Vespa and Princess Dawn Bringer behind closed doors for so long? Anxiety buzzed through Canterlot. 

On the fourth day it was announced that Princess Dawn Bringer and Queen Vespa would speak to the city at noon. The crowd was so thick that some ponies instead sat on the roofs of nearby buildings or watched through open windows. Everyone could feel that something big was going to happen. Both royals revealed themselves together, coming to stand in the sunlight on one of the lower palace balconies.

“My dear ponies, these are challenging times for all,” Dawn Bringer began, her expression solemn. “Friendship and community must be our top priority, for these bonds will help us stand strong against anything we face.”

There was a pause, just long enough to cause discomfort among the crowd. Dawn Bringer continued, taking a breath to steady herself, “As with all things in life, there are costs. An alliance with Queen Vespa and her people is critical if we are to continue to try and restore Equestria.”

Queen Vespa took one step forward. She clearly did not share Dawn Bringer’s hesitation as she spread her wings, “We want this alliance as well. The world is a dangerous place. We have only one term that must be met: All changelings, all my subjects, my people, must return with me to the Hive.”

Murmurs erupted and spread through the crowd. Many ponies had actually been welcoming the newly revealed changelings, though those that felt the surprise as a betrayal were delighted by the idea of forcing them out. Either way, emotions began to flare and restlessness spread.

“This is non-negotiable. We shall all leave in a week’s time to return to the Hive,” Queen Vespa’s voice cuts through the thrum of the crowd, dropping it into a chilling silence. Without another word, she turned and disappeared into the palace. 

Dawn Bringer stood quiet for a moment before she cleared her throat, “Those Changelings that are relocating…if you need assistance, please let the guards know. We will offer what we can.” With nothing more to say, she followed the changeling queen inside.

 

Prompt: All changelings are being forced to leave and return to the Hive with Queen Vespa! How does your character react? Will they go along with it? Help the changelings move? Protest the decision? Try to hide changelings away?

 

All December event entries are due by December 31st, at 11:59PM EST.

December Event Part 1: Ending Deception

 

The Friendship Express did something unusual on the first day of December. It had left Ponyville to the west, but did not go to Sumit’s Hollow. Instead it followed a new split track and went…somewhere else. When it returned, it did not stop in Ponyville as was normal. Instead it went right through and on to Canterlot. This caused quite a stir among the residents, as the train had been pretty regular in its schedule. 

 

In Canterlot the station was surrounded by an unusual number of Daywatch guards. Citizens started to gather, crowding the area until the guards themselves had to make them move back. The road was clear for a few minutes as the crowd whispered, but soon excitement moved through the crowd. Dawn Bringer was coming down the road with Captain True Heart to meet the train. 

 

Anticipation began to build as the smoke from the train showed up on the horizon. Soon the crowd was clamoring with excitement. Who could it be that had brought Dawn Bringer herself out? Everypony was practically vibrating and shifting hoof to hoof when the train slowly brought itself to a controlled stop at the station. With painful slowness the train settled and the doors opened.

 

Out stepped a tall, graceful figure that glittered in the sunlight. She was nearly as magnificent as Dawn Bringer herself. While some of her body was covered in a soft, fuzzy coat, the rest gleamed with a glossy sheen. Her hair, more membrane like than anything made of strands, sparkled as light passed partially through it. When she was fully on the platform she caused a gasp to rise from the crowd as huge wings were revealed with one quick flick of the shell on her back. Large and colorful, the wings were a sight all their own.

 

“Welcome to Canterlot, Queen Vespa,” said Dawn Bringer, “It was a great relief to find the Changeling Hive was intact and your people well. I look forward to Equestria welcoming Changelings once more.”

 

“Well enough, if isolated,” Queen Vespa acknowledged. “Thank you for the warm reception, though please don’t be insincere. We both know that Changelings are not new to Equestria…and that many never left.” 

 

She lowered her lashes and looked out pointedly at the crowd. “My subjects, I think the time for deception is long past. I know you are here.”

 

A ripple of confusion spread through the crowd. Unease settled upon many.

 

Queen Vespa spread both wings wide. “You would continue to lie to your neighbors? Your hiding was so you could stay and stay you did. What purpose does it serve now?”

 

The silence stretched until it broke at the first gasp. Part of the crowd shifted away from a pony who suddenly went from a simple pegasus to a changeling in an instance. Once one changed, another followed. A cascade of changelings revealed themselves among the Canterlot citizens. These were even ponies who had grown up there, been born there.

 

Dawn Bringer addressed the chatter and panic that began to rise. “Please, everyone. See this as a blessing, that we are now in a time again where Changelings feel they may be open with us. This is a step toward the Equestria of better and brighter days.”

 

She directly faced Queen Vespa, “Please, let me take you to the palace so you may rest and we may speak further.”

 

Prompt: The Hive of the Changelings has been rediscovered! Not only that, but it has been revealed that some Changelings have lived among the other ponies even after Wild Magic rose to power. How does your character react to this reveal? Do they personally know anyone that was actually a Changeling?

 

 

Changelings are now a species! See more in the Species of Equestria blog.

 

The story will progress December 9th!

 

All December event entries are due by December 31st, at 11:59PM EST.

November Finale: Under the Full Moon
 

While some ponies were basking in anticipation for the completion of the ritual, tensions were rising nearby. Summer Solo wasn’t the only pony to come to stop the ritual. Horn alight, Jade Caster walked from the outskirts of Ponyville towards the ritual’s location with a small group of followers. It was a mix of primarily Canterlot ponies, though there were a few bat ponies in the mix who still remembered the horror brought on by the Moon Widow. The group moved slowly and deliberately. They were not hiding their presence. They were there to take a stand.

 

Golden Sage saw the light in the distance and sighed. She shook her head, seeming more disappointed than worried. “Stubborn stallion. It is a shame an academic is so close-minded.” She lifted her nose to the sky and closed her eyes. A light began to trickle from the base of her horn to the top, where it pooled in a bright ball. It began to sparkle and spark like a flame, but instead of causing a true fire, the light twisted and molded until it took the shape of a glowing moth. Once fully formed, the moth took flight and soared high into the sky, leaving a glowing dust trail behind it.

 

She turned back to the circle of ponies present for the ritual. She motioned for them all to sit.

“Fear not. We continue as planned.”

 

As Jade Caster and his group grew close enough to see figures around the fire, he stopped in his tracks. One of the ponies behind him even bumped into him, as nopony had expected him to stop. But the hair of the back of his neck was standing on end. A moment later dark shapes descended from the sky. Before them landed Dark Wing and some of his Nightwatch Guards. Not only that, but beside them suddenly appeared a group of knights, including Sword Dancer, who’s horn still glowed from the remnants of the cloaking spell she’d dropped.

 

Jade Caster hissed as he gritted his teeth, “Dark Wing…Sword Dancer…what is the meaning of this?”

 

Surprisingly, it was Dark Wing who spoke. The often drowsy bat pony was serious and sharp as a claw under this full moon. “We are here to stop you from causing trouble.”

 

“Trouble?! Why don’t you turn your attention in that direction then? There lies the trouble!”

 

“As of now there is no evidence to support that claim.”

 

“Evidence? Is the Corruption’s rampant ruin of the realm not evidence enough? Dark Wing-” Jade Caster lifted a hoof to take a step forward.

 

“Enough!” Dark Wing’s sudden harsh tone brought the headmaster to a stop. “Dawn Bringer has ordered no interference.” 

 

For a long moment, everyone was still and silent.

 

Dark Wing sighed, “Go back to Canterlot, Jade. Know we are here if anything goes awry.”

 

The headmaster’s followers shifted uncomfortably in the following silence. It was long and weighted. Nopony wanted to fight one another. Finally, with a frustrated grunt, Jade Caster turned and stormed back toward Ponyville. 

 

Back by the fire, Golden Sage told everyone to concentrate on her words. 

 

“Everypony, clear your mind. Open it instead to the sensations around you. Feel the warmth of the fire on your fur as it seeps into your muscle and bones. Smell the smoke and spice fill your nostrils. Feel the earth under your hooves and the grass against your legs. Feel the weight of your own flesh and the strength of your heart. Open your very being, your very self.” 

 

Anypony who did as she asked would feel warm and heavy. A tingle would start to build deep within them. Golden Sage’s words would change, taking on an unfamiliar language. The tingle would build into a low hum that would start to cloud their ears. The hum echoed in their skulls, becoming a buzz. The feeling would completely drown out Golden Sage and they would be unable to tell she had stopped. Just as the sensation became unbearable it would dissipate like a burst of steam and their mind would clear.

 

Upon opening their eyes, they would feel, rather than see, everything a little differently. Everything, from the rocks to the flames to the crickets had a feeling. It wasn’t something they saw with their eyes, but rather sensed in another way entirely. 

 

Golden Sage looked between them all with a smile, “Now you all must tell me about your experience. We have so much to learn.”

 

End November Event

 

All ponies who took part in the ritual will receive the following ability:

 

Ritual Sense: Allows +2 to all WIS Stat Checks that involve Wild Magic. 

 

Your pony didn’t take part, but you want the ability? No worries! Any pony may seek out Golden Sage at any time to do the ritual and acquire the ability. Simply create a piece that shows them taking part in the ritual.

 

Brave Storm received +5 Chaos Points

Summer Solo received +10 Order Points

Witching Hour received +5 Chaos Points

Pas received +5 Chaos and +5 Order Points
Gold Standard received +10 Chaos Points

Frostbite received +10 Chaos Points

Nights Waste received +10 Chaos Points

Pearl Moon received +5 Order Points

Swan Song received +2 Chaos and +2 Order Points

November Event Part 3: The Ritual

 

All November Event Submissions are due by November 30th at 11:59 PM EST.

 

 

Golden Sage was pleased with all the assistance she got with her research. More than that, she was happy that other ponies saw her pursuits as worthwhile. The powerful and famous sorcerers in Canterlot may have been against her work, but not everypony was. With that hope in her mind and heart, she had some very special news to share with her assistants. 

 

“Your help has been invaluable. As a reward for your hard work and your trust, I wanted to offer you a special opportunity.” Golden Sage’s delight was clear by her wide smile and twinkling eyes. “I found a ritual in some old scripts I plan to try. It is supposed to help attune your mind and body to Natural-Wild-Magic. Nothing too dangerous, I assure you. It is meant to open your mind’s eye, in a way. Make you better able to feel the natural magic around you.”

 

Knowing that this still may frighten some ponies, she simply provides the date and time for the ritual for anypony who wishes to attend. It is set for the next full moon at midnight.

 

Jade Caster was livid. Not only did few ponies give him the results he wanted, but heard that Golden Sage was going forward with not just more research, but spells too! It was almost blasphemous. He called another meeting in hopes he could motivate more action.

 

“This study of magic corruption has only advanced…and it is worse than I feared. Golden Sage plans to engage directly with these forces, to conduct a ritual under the light of the full moon!” Jade Caster stomped his hoof for emphasis. “If you are not worried, then I do not think you grasp the potential consequences of this. How would you feel if your very neighbors were corrupted with Wild Magic? If you could not be safe in your own city or town?”

“This must be stopped. Dawn Bringer’s focus is so wrapped up in restabilizing Canterlot’s barrier that I fear she does not see how dire things are. It comes to us, then, who see disaster coming. We must stop them from performing this ritual!” Jade Caster declares his intent with certainty. Golden Sage must not be allowed to complete her spell.

 

The night of the full moon was brisk. No pony would freeze being outside at the late hour, but it would certainly cause some discomfort. Luckily part of the ritual involved a bonfire that Golden Sage set by the river. Leaves and herbs were added to the fire, creating a spicey incense in the circle of the firelight. Small cushions were placed in a circle and an oversized kettle warmed above the fire.

 

Golden Sage welcomes all those who chose to participate. She instructs them to take a seat and also take a cup. Inside is a steaming liquid that smells like a mix between warm apple cider and honeyed tea. Once everyone is seated, she offers some instructions. 

 

“Welcome, everyone,” Golden Sage beams at all of her volunteers. “Based on the old texts I found this is a very simple ritual, but it should open your mind to Natural Magic in a way unfelt by pony-kind for centuries. The brew you have is part of this ritual. We shall all drink together, then I shall lead us in a meditation to connect to the magic all around us.”

 

The ritual is about to begin.

 

Prompt: What does your character do? Do they participate in the ritual? Do they try to sabotage or stop it?

 

The event will resolve November 30th!

 

All November Event Submissions are due by November 30th at 11:59 PM EST.