Friendship is Dragons
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Page 974 - Spear Counterpart
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The reward is an image, without power. What Rarity wants is power through image.
Blueblood has failed the test.
Dunno, "joint leader of the guild" souns like a pretty powerful position, as is "prince's wife". What she *didn't* get was the chance to do it all on her terms.
Makes sense. He wants her as a consort, burns her so she'd have no real reason not to accept, offers everything she wants *except* full power over the situation (although she would be perfectly placed to pull some GoT level nastiness and take over), and then reveals he was the mastermind all along so she'd be properly impressed. Add a cat and you're pretty much at the Bond-villain level.
Aaaaand this is also kinda how season 1 of Burn Notice ended. I'm guessing Rarity likes her freedom more than power (she already lives pretty well) and RariRage will ensue
Aaaaand this is also kinda how season 1 of Burn Notice ended. I'm guessing Rarity likes her freedom more than power (she already lives pretty well) and RariRage will ensue
He hasn't failed the test, he's burned down the building the test was supposed to be in and pissed in the ashes.
Then he tried to cheat on the test using a different test in a whole different language.
Then he tried to cheat on the test using a different test in a whole different language.
offroader
In the Star trek re-boot, they should have made the Kobayashi Maru test as the starting place for Kirk's later grudge matches with computers.
In the Star trek re-boot, they should have made the Kobayashi Maru test as the starting place for Kirk's later grudge matches with computers.
Honestly, I really didn't like how the new movies showed Kirk "beating" the Kobayashi Maru - I was hoping for something a little more... believable? Like, he hacks it in a less blatantly obvious way? I dunno. That's off-topic.
Dusk Raven: Yeah. It's a much more hollow victory over the Kobayashi Maru, as opposed to the original "I would have a reputation that would intimidate the enemy" solution.
What's really interesting is looking into the novels that expand on how other characters deal with the Kobayashi Maru.
What's really interesting is looking into the novels that expand on how other characters deal with the Kobayashi Maru.
He thinks she'll be satisfied with the things that can come from power, not power itself. Homie's never watched House of Cards
I think what matters here is that in his portrayal of events, Rarity is essentially submissive. It's there in every screenshot involving her. And Rarity's not the submissive type. She's active and involved.
I suspect if Rarity seriously considers what he's offering her, it will clash with her perception of herself. Sure it's an offer of wealth and opportunity, but it's also a gilded cage in a hoofmistress outfit, and I don't think that's her schtick...
I suspect if Rarity seriously considers what he's offering her, it will clash with her perception of herself. Sure it's an offer of wealth and opportunity, but it's also a gilded cage in a hoofmistress outfit, and I don't think that's her schtick...
Rarity's thoughts: "I could earn my position of power and my allies, or I could have this guy hand it to me, and have to be grateful/dependent on him for the rest of my career. Tough choice..."
After some thought, to the DM, from Rarity: "I give the rest of the group a "cause as much chaos as possible" look, by executing a flawless bluff of acting like everything is fine, but really wanting help underneath, in such a way that my FRIENDS would notice, but Blueblood wouldn't."
DM: "Um, what are you writing down?"
Rarity: "Oh, I'm just preparing notes for a... performance... yes. That's the right word! A performance, for everyone!" *Grins evilly*
DM: "Remind me to never get on your bad side!"
After some thought, to the DM, from Rarity: "I give the rest of the group a "cause as much chaos as possible" look, by executing a flawless bluff of acting like everything is fine, but really wanting help underneath, in such a way that my FRIENDS would notice, but Blueblood wouldn't."
DM: "Um, what are you writing down?"
Rarity: "Oh, I'm just preparing notes for a... performance... yes. That's the right word! A performance, for everyone!" *Grins evilly*
DM: "Remind me to never get on your bad side!"
Not quite. He's thrown in 'secret joint leader' in there, and it's hard to be a figurehead when you're a secret leader, so he has to be offering some real power in the Guild there. Now, it could be a case of "you're the joint leader as long as you never disagree with me", but on the face of it he is offering her real power within the Guild there.
She doesn't get to power-behind-the-throne a Prince, but if he can be taken at his word, he is offering her high rank in the Guild along with the comforts and prestige of nobility. There's both image and power there - it's just that the power isn't directly connected to the image.
She doesn't get to power-behind-the-throne a Prince, but if he can be taken at his word, he is offering her high rank in the Guild along with the comforts and prestige of nobility. There's both image and power there - it's just that the power isn't directly connected to the image.
I hear those boat trips are quite the adventure. They feel like going on for 40 years at least.
I'd just hoof it and travel by land if I were you.
I'd just hoof it and travel by land if I were you.
Which is why I said "on the face of it". What he's saying is close enough to what Rarity would want. Whether she'd actually get it... is another question entirely.
His comment about Celestia being caught unawares suggests that he's planning to use Rarity against Celestia, for instance, which Rarity might not agree with now that Rarity is no longer Evil. How many assassinations away from the throne is Blueblood, exactly?
His comment about Celestia being caught unawares suggests that he's planning to use Rarity against Celestia, for instance, which Rarity might not agree with now that Rarity is no longer Evil. How many assassinations away from the throne is Blueblood, exactly?
Wait, that's true, he was as much her mark as she was his. Of course, he still was in a position of power over her, being her boss, a prince and the one holding all the knowledge, which makes his side still creepier by a bunch. But Applejack's player is right, there are no innocent victims here.
STORY TIME!! Discovering that an enemy/rival/suspicious NPC had been working for the same goal as you the whole time.
STORY TIME!! Discovering that an enemy/rival/suspicious NPC had been working for the same goal as you the whole time.
To kick things off, here's mine:
It was a Dungeon World one-shot, but a long one. The caretacer of an ancient tree in the center of a city had asked us to infiltrate the castle and retrieve a stolen seed which held great power. Our motivation for the retrieval was more or less noble, we thought the nobility had betrayed the tree.
We concocted a plan, then of course ended up failing at the first step and improvising all of it along the way. The thing is, after each encounter we started noticing there was always this "shadowy figure" that eluded us as soon as we tried to catch it.
Fast forward to when we were about to retrieve the seed... You can probably guess it wasn't there. "THAT MISTERIOUS BASTARD!!" We all exclaimed, and since we had no way of tracking him/her/it, we just went back to the tree, where the caretacer was merrily waiting for us with the seed in hand. As it turns out, the fiigure WAS the caretaker, and the whole "help me retrieve was a charade to both keep the palace guard distracted by our shenannigans and deflect blame. It goes without saying that we (both characters and players) were rather pissed, but the reward for our unwitting help ended up being too high to keep complaining: we each got a minor wish granted straight from the magical tree, and the promise of its blessing. Our fighter still punched the caretaker in the face for good measure while we were leaving, but he took it in stride and still bid us farewell and good luck. It was hard not to kinda like that jerk.
It was a Dungeon World one-shot, but a long one. The caretacer of an ancient tree in the center of a city had asked us to infiltrate the castle and retrieve a stolen seed which held great power. Our motivation for the retrieval was more or less noble, we thought the nobility had betrayed the tree.
We concocted a plan, then of course ended up failing at the first step and improvising all of it along the way. The thing is, after each encounter we started noticing there was always this "shadowy figure" that eluded us as soon as we tried to catch it.
Fast forward to when we were about to retrieve the seed... You can probably guess it wasn't there. "THAT MISTERIOUS BASTARD!!" We all exclaimed, and since we had no way of tracking him/her/it, we just went back to the tree, where the caretacer was merrily waiting for us with the seed in hand. As it turns out, the fiigure WAS the caretaker, and the whole "help me retrieve was a charade to both keep the palace guard distracted by our shenannigans and deflect blame. It goes without saying that we (both characters and players) were rather pissed, but the reward for our unwitting help ended up being too high to keep complaining: we each got a minor wish granted straight from the magical tree, and the promise of its blessing. Our fighter still punched the caretaker in the face for good measure while we were leaving, but he took it in stride and still bid us farewell and good luck. It was hard not to kinda like that jerk.
STORY TIME!
No matter the medium, plotters (authors, Game Masters, grifters, parents) get a certain satisfaction out of that slow burn coming to fruition, and the ensuing fallout.
Four years is a good burn. What's your best revelation?
For my regular home game, it was about 18 months in the making.
While exploring the tomb of an Immortal Priest-King, our excitable gnome cleric decided to try walking through the gate of black mist - which flat out kills you.
The party drags his body back and stabilizes him. For the next month and a half of in-game time, I note everything he does, and carefully deflect or redirect anything involving him and food, drink, or bodily functions.
During the denouement battle of the "Agatha Christie meets Sam Raimi Mystery Mansion" session, one of the maids pops up and stabs him in the heart. He fails to stop moving. This is when they discover that he's actually been dead for the past six weeks, and his zombie squirrel familiar/holy symbol is his fetch/phylactery.
I have another one that's still burning.
No matter the medium, plotters (authors, Game Masters, grifters, parents) get a certain satisfaction out of that slow burn coming to fruition, and the ensuing fallout.
Four years is a good burn. What's your best revelation?
For my regular home game, it was about 18 months in the making.
While exploring the tomb of an Immortal Priest-King, our excitable gnome cleric decided to try walking through the gate of black mist - which flat out kills you.
The party drags his body back and stabilizes him. For the next month and a half of in-game time, I note everything he does, and carefully deflect or redirect anything involving him and food, drink, or bodily functions.
During the denouement battle of the "Agatha Christie meets Sam Raimi Mystery Mansion" session, one of the maids pops up and stabs him in the heart. He fails to stop moving. This is when they discover that he's actually been dead for the past six weeks, and his zombie squirrel familiar/holy symbol is his fetch/phylactery.
I have another one that's still burning.
Oh... I think I see what's going to happen...
This ENTIRE Arc exists cuz the DM went and ACCIDENTUALLY made Rarity unplayable via w/e his original reasons for the blacklisting was... And now he's trying to make up for it by effectively making her Character Retirement scheme effectively a sure thing with a bigger reward then expected... BUT ITS GONNA BE TAKEN WRONG, just like how this all started, and renew Rarity's drive to play her current character....
...possibly wipe out the thieves guild and/or take it over/make her own... Would make for some bitching context gor all those "Totally legit businesses" she starts opening everywhere...
...still, I think this is not going to go how the DM expected, mostly by reversing the script unsolicited.
This ENTIRE Arc exists cuz the DM went and ACCIDENTUALLY made Rarity unplayable via w/e his original reasons for the blacklisting was... And now he's trying to make up for it by effectively making her Character Retirement scheme effectively a sure thing with a bigger reward then expected... BUT ITS GONNA BE TAKEN WRONG, just like how this all started, and renew Rarity's drive to play her current character....
...possibly wipe out the thieves guild and/or take it over/make her own... Would make for some bitching context gor all those "Totally legit businesses" she starts opening everywhere...
...still, I think this is not going to go how the DM expected, mostly by reversing the script unsolicited.
Guessing that things aren't going to go the way this GM expected is not that big a stretch.
Firepaw, I think it's the opposite. I think the DM WANTS Rarity's player to burn Blueblood for offering her power from HIM, not from her own efforts, so that Rarity will remain with the Mane 6 Players.
Also, I think the DM here has learned to expect the party to throw monkey wrenches into the works, and has planned for both if Rarity accepts, or if she "betrays" Blueblood.
But I really do think/agree that this is a con on the DM's part to keep Rarity in the group.
Also, I think the DM here has learned to expect the party to throw monkey wrenches into the works, and has planned for both if Rarity accepts, or if she "betrays" Blueblood.
But I really do think/agree that this is a con on the DM's part to keep Rarity in the group.
Everything the player wants on a silver platter. So of course she's going to reject it in the strongest terms possible.
Because it turns out people don't actually know what they want.
Because it turns out people don't actually know what they want.
The twist: secretly DM is actually genuinely flirting with Rarity.
Ah, the "you want this exact dream, so I'll set it all up for you and take all the value away from it in the process, AND alienate you from your new friends/beloved leader after ruining your life."
I'm eagerly awaiting the realization and the public humiliation!
I'm eagerly awaiting the realization and the public humiliation!
I dunno, there's a lot of backlash here but if I were in Rarara's shoes I'd just go for it. Very rarely will a DM hand you the world on a silver platter like this. :3
The best part of all of this is... Rarity is not only being offered everything she wanted, but being reminded that she was planning to do exactly this sort of thing to HIM. (Which means her denouncement against him will either be extremely hypocritical, coupled with a self-determination to reject everything she once thought she believed in, or both)
Which is... not very different from the actual show. There's a significant minority of the fans who believe that the prince was being deliberately oafish to drive away yet another golddigger he saw coming a mile away... :p
Which is... not very different from the actual show. There's a significant minority of the fans who believe that the prince was being deliberately oafish to drive away yet another golddigger he saw coming a mile away... :p
I have to admit, this is a really good play by the GM. As I see it, there are four ways this could play out (given what the GM knows). First, Rarity the character could accept Blueblood's offer and leave the party, and Rarity the player find another character. This allows Rarity's player to start over, while giving her character the best ending she could possibly want. Second, Rarity could accept Blueblood's offer, but not retire her character. This opens up entire new plot arcs, with the party now having new adventures as they aid Rarity in her new illicit reign. Third, Rarity could pretend to accept Blueblood's offer, and work with her party to bring him down. This offers an obvious and excellent plot arc. Fourth, Rarity could reject Blueblood's offer, in which case the plot presumably shifts to focus on one of the others. And the best part is, it's entirely Rarity's choice which path she walks down.
...yes.