Friendship is Dragons
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Page 962 - Waxing Diabolical
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Newbiespud
19th Sep 2017, 6:00 AM
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Further proof that this kind of messed up isn't that special... eehh... sadly?
Yeah. Because if you are A HERO everyone expects you to do the right thing free because it's the RIGHT thing.
And if you can get that way by removing a threat to the world, hey, bonus.
Yeah, but loot tables being what they are, "heroes" tend to amass considerable wealth by 2nd level (in comparison to most mortals, 1000 gp is enough to retire on) and are as potentially wealthy as many towns by 10th.
And yet they keep on adventuring, because they also spend that wealth on, or find/liberate material goods to make them more powerful so they can take on greater threats for even more loot.
I had an evil character in a good campaign, who was adventuring because he'd had a revelation. Adventurers are beloved by the people even though they treat everybody like dirt, while he treated everybody like dirt (spoiled noble) and folks hated him.
He figured that if he took up adventuring he could amass all the wealth he needed to live comfortably, and people would love him for it. And since he specialized in ranged attacks, his personal risk was minimised
Damn shame that game only went a few sessions
And yet they keep on adventuring, because they also spend that wealth on, or find/liberate material goods to make them more powerful so they can take on greater threats for even more loot.
I had an evil character in a good campaign, who was adventuring because he'd had a revelation. Adventurers are beloved by the people even though they treat everybody like dirt, while he treated everybody like dirt (spoiled noble) and folks hated him.
He figured that if he took up adventuring he could amass all the wealth he needed to live comfortably, and people would love him for it. And since he specialized in ranged attacks, his personal risk was minimised
Damn shame that game only went a few sessions
If Equestria is anything like the UK, however, Blueblood's assets don't belong to him but to the state - or at least to Celestia. And if she has anything to say about it, Rarity wouldn't inherit anyway. Her only real chance is to *actually* loot the Treasury.
Really? Not even if she manage to falsify a last will leaving everything to the poor widow?
It's a little more complicated than that. A ways back, the Crown made a deal with Parliament: The income from the Royal Estates and the Royal Treasury were put in the care of, and made available for the use of, the government. In exchange, the royal family receive rather generous pensions plus have the physical use of the estates.¹
In this situation, 'the widow Rarity' would at the least continue to receive her pension as Blueblood's princess-consort and probably also receive at least part of his as survivor benefits.
1: This is also why all of the various "stop paying the royals" pushes are non-starters. Ending the pensions means giving everything back and the income the government receives from it more than pays for the pensions.
In this situation, 'the widow Rarity' would at the least continue to receive her pension as Blueblood's princess-consort and probably also receive at least part of his as survivor benefits.
1: This is also why all of the various "stop paying the royals" pushes are non-starters. Ending the pensions means giving everything back and the income the government receives from it more than pays for the pensions.
Considering how Rarity rises to certain challenges, telling her that her only chance to win great fortune is to rob Celestia's piggy bank is like waving food in front of Pinkie. You *know* what's going to happen.
Of course, it'll also make an epic adventure...
Of course, it'll also make an epic adventure...
"...Kill crazy mercenary horse" made me bust out laughing.
...Is she dressed like L. Ron Hubbard in that bottom left panel?
That was from an episode where they literally were on a boat... however, in this context it could easily be reinterpreted as a Sea Org of the billion year contract reference.
Or, she could end up trapped in a loveless marriage and put on the wayside with little to do other than go to cocktail parties and gossip.
Oh snap, sorry for the double post, but I realized something even crazier:
Rarity, if Blueblood really IS Elusive, could use this as a setup to discredit Blueblood in public, leave him without contact with the Thieves Guild, AND take over the Thieves Guild, ALA Liara and the Shadow Broker in Mass Effect 2!
Rarity, if Blueblood really IS Elusive, could use this as a setup to discredit Blueblood in public, leave him without contact with the Thieves Guild, AND take over the Thieves Guild, ALA Liara and the Shadow Broker in Mass Effect 2!
You sir are an evil genius, however I doubt Elusive would let himself fall into a trap like that when he knows what Rarity is like after having her work under him.
Ah, that's the thing: They're in public, with much of Equestria's nobility there. Rarity doesn't need to catch Elusive. She needs to get the public face so shamed that he can't maintain his public persona, so that Celestia can sequester him enough that he can't maintain control of the Thieves Guild.
I do hope I've hit close to home with my theories. Because I want to see Blueblood/Elusive get his comeuppance.
Although, this is still predicated on the theory that Blueblood = Elusive. He might not be Elusive, or he might be only a high ranking Thieves Guild member, and the actual thing taken from Celestia.
What better prize than a member of the royalty, eh?
I do hope I've hit close to home with my theories. Because I want to see Blueblood/Elusive get his comeuppance.
Although, this is still predicated on the theory that Blueblood = Elusive. He might not be Elusive, or he might be only a high ranking Thieves Guild member, and the actual thing taken from Celestia.
What better prize than a member of the royalty, eh?
Except Liara KILLED the old Shadow Broker before taking over the operation, and I don't think murdering Celestia's nephew would go over very well with said princess even if he IS running the Thieves' Guild. In fact, that sounds like an excellent way to commit suicide in this setting.
Then again, I am probably taking your example a little too literally in which case I apologize. Still, I agree that Rarity could easily take over the Thieves' Guild by using her position to discredit him in the eyes of the guild before taking over herself. HOW she'd prevent him from becoming a future threat is another thing entirely since, if he IS Elusive, he is no doubt a skilled Social Rogue in his own right. Once he became aware of the threat, which her deposing him would make ABUNDANTLY clear, he's not likely to just let it go. He'd find some way to take the Guild back unless she found a way to neutralize him permanently. The trick is doing so WITHOUT angering Celestia.
Then again, I am probably taking your example a little too literally in which case I apologize. Still, I agree that Rarity could easily take over the Thieves' Guild by using her position to discredit him in the eyes of the guild before taking over herself. HOW she'd prevent him from becoming a future threat is another thing entirely since, if he IS Elusive, he is no doubt a skilled Social Rogue in his own right. Once he became aware of the threat, which her deposing him would make ABUNDANTLY clear, he's not likely to just let it go. He'd find some way to take the Guild back unless she found a way to neutralize him permanently. The trick is doing so WITHOUT angering Celestia.
Yeah, I mean Rarity would go nonlethal, as the full Liara/Shepherd solution is a bit much for the Ponyverse, even the more rough and tumble Friendship is Dragons universe.
No worries about taking the example literally, as it is a concern in skullduggery.
Public embarrassment and bringing in Celestia is actually the best option in my opinion. Bluelusive's public face could be sequestered under heavy guard under the auspices of "he's taking a break from public life, and wishes to not be bothered after embarrassing himself so thoroughly. He'll be spending time in thought and reviewing the proper ettiquette before he returns to public life".
I don't think such a plan would go without a hitch though, as I think some of the Thieves Guild and their allies would figure out the con, while others would either not know, not care, or like the new leadership.
And Blueblood, or possibly his allies, WOULD be a threat, as I think they do reappear at later points.
So, either way, fantastic role playing opportunities.
Of course, if Blueblood isn't Elusive, all of this falls apart. Blueblood could just be a higher up in the Thieves Guild, with Elusive still hidden. Or he could be part of another not so savory faction.
Then again, I'm fond of the theory that Blueblood IS what the Thieves Guild took from Celestia, and that she knows, but has no way to do anything about it without making a public scene and discrediting herself if she does anything personally. ;D
No worries about taking the example literally, as it is a concern in skullduggery.
Public embarrassment and bringing in Celestia is actually the best option in my opinion. Bluelusive's public face could be sequestered under heavy guard under the auspices of "he's taking a break from public life, and wishes to not be bothered after embarrassing himself so thoroughly. He'll be spending time in thought and reviewing the proper ettiquette before he returns to public life".
I don't think such a plan would go without a hitch though, as I think some of the Thieves Guild and their allies would figure out the con, while others would either not know, not care, or like the new leadership.
And Blueblood, or possibly his allies, WOULD be a threat, as I think they do reappear at later points.
So, either way, fantastic role playing opportunities.
Of course, if Blueblood isn't Elusive, all of this falls apart. Blueblood could just be a higher up in the Thieves Guild, with Elusive still hidden. Or he could be part of another not so savory faction.
Then again, I'm fond of the theory that Blueblood IS what the Thieves Guild took from Celestia, and that she knows, but has no way to do anything about it without making a public scene and discrediting herself if she does anything personally. ;D
I mean, playing black widow to an evil husband is hardly the worst possible course of action.
If kill-crazy barbarian is saying you are messed up, you should think about your life choices once again.
I've always been infatuated with making my villains interesting. Giving them actual motivations and the flaw of a twisted worldview. Just once I want to see my players try to redeem a big bad of mine instead of killing them. These more... complex relationships with a major villain aren't something I thought about before, but now, you've gotten me interested. A campaign I'm running right now has a perfect opportunity for one of those... who knows. Newbiespud: Making GM's better one day at a time.