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1
General Discussion / Hey Kitsu: The Mad Science of National Debt
« on: May 24, 2013, 08:14:03 AM »
Have you read this yet? http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-mad-science-of-the-national-debt-20130522
Care to start a discourse on economic theory?
Care to start a discourse on economic theory?
2
Fan Creations / A Match Made in Ponyville or The Scent of Chaos (Fanfic)
« on: February 15, 2013, 05:02:16 PM »
Hello Hello. I had been meaning to write a fic about what happens to Summer Sunset in Manehatten as he strikes out from Ponyville after And the Turnabout Comes Tumbling Down, and is scarcely heard from again. I hope to put out one written and edited chapter a week for what will be a 5-6 chapter run. This one is not quite as polished since I was trying to push myself into the idea.
I'll be grateful for any feed back to help make my writing style better. I know I'm rather amateur, so obviously I need it to grow. You'll notice I didn't narrate the entire thing in Summer's accent, since that would be annoying for both myself and you. Anyway, here goes.
The Scent of Chaos: Chapter One
For a Few Bits More
All I had was a name and a location. Still, I counted myself fortunate since that tends to be one bit more than I usually have.
Not more than three days before, I jailed a good friend with the help of a talented crew any Marshal would be proud to serve with.
Colt Friday was behind bars. The sting of his betrayal still burned in my gut, reminding me of the terrible wounds friendship can leave
when ripped from you. My name? Summer Sunset, the only stallion stubborn, or maybe stupid, enough to track a rich social pillar back to
Manehatten just cause he had a grudge. Stupid or not, though, nopony escapes justice while a Sun Sworn is on the case. Those of our
creed took an oath to Celestia, herself. Not the idle kind of oath you speak infront of a smiling teacher every morning because you're
told to, but the kind that burns itself into your flesh and drives you to do something more than just stay content with the way things
are.
It was cold and wet by the time I hit Manehatten proper. The sort of cold that creeps inside you and makes the searing desert heat
feel like a distant dream. The rain drops falling from my hat framed the world in a somber curtain of hopelessness, both unwelcoming and
discouraging. Deep inside I knew the truth though. This city was the same as every back water town I'd galloped through in my years of
blood and glory and guts and shame. All I needed was a shiny enough dollar and a nosey enough pony. Secrets are never more than a handful
of bits away from spilling across the gutter like a drunkard's last meal. I found an inn, The Armored Pig, and decided to try my luck at
finding some decent lodgings.
My eyes were greeted with a familiar sight. These places always seem the same, a dirty bar, dirty glasses, and a bartender with
soft eyes ready to serve you your pain with kind words and a warm smile. A few rowdy stallions tended to a game of cards at a table. I
made my way to the bar, content to eavesdrop until I caught my bearings.
"What're ya having?" A friendly voice calls to me no sooner than get to the bar.
"Y'all got cider in these parts, ma'am?" I respond in an even tone.
"Well, how about that. By the sound of you I'd think you came here all the way from Dodge City." She laughs and then turns to a
line up of bottles. She positions each so the labels are more clear. "No cider, hun, but we got plenty to calm your nerves."
Just as she finishes, the distinct sound of glass shattering across the edge of a table breaks our pleasentry. "Oi! Luv! I told
ya if me mug didn't stay full, you'd be finding new work as a charity case. Now where's me drink!" I turn my head enough to see the
source of both bits of commotion. A scrappy and not particularly bright looking stallion with a club and dagger cutie mark meets my
notice.
"Alright! Calm down, Steps, I'm coming." The mare places a few bottles on a tray and carries them over to the table. The gathered
stallions watch with amused grins as they watch her pour another round. They're sure to give her flank a solid slap on her way back, an
act that garners a roar of laughter. I pick up my drink and move to their table. For the first time, I get a look at the bartender's
cutie mark. It's a couple of golden rings joined together with a white ribbon tied on top.
"Ya'll mind if I join yer game?" I try to appear friendly and naive. The sort of sucker this lot wouldn't mind taking for a fool.
Luckily these city types always confuse an Apploosan accent for a simpleton. I can see it in the way they glance at each other. The way
they grin. It's a scam I've run in towns time and time again.
"Buy in is 25 bits, and you're buying next round." The lead colt grunts at me.
"Name's Summer Sunset, Y'all can just call me Summer. I was hopin' ta find a good table on gettin' inta town." I give them the most
bumpkin grin I can muster up and set my bits on the table. Their eyes light up as I do. I'm assaulted by toothless grins from clueless
henchponies. Part of me feels sorry for these types, they're always to dumb and to self important to see whats coming. On the other hand, I
never have to feel guilty breaking a table over a greedy slob.
"This is Softy, Runner, Bilge, an' I'm Silent Steps. We're playing Dodge City Hold'em. You can follow that, can't you 'partner'?"
I play along with him. Letting him buy into believing I'm every bit the simpleton he's pegged me as. I even ask him how pegasi get around
such tall buildings without flying into them all the time. The hours don't play out in their favor, however. By the time I've won most
their bits, we've bought enough liquor to stock a harvest festival. They wear their anger like a filly parading her new cutie mark. All
of them to drunk to notice I've been having the waitress dilute my drinks to keep me keen.
"Well, friends, I'd say this's about game. I wouldn't want ta go robbin' y'all of yer last bits 'er nuthin'" I play up my grin,
as innocent as ever. A grin that's smartly wiped from my face by Silent Steps as he lunges to grab my neck. His grip is strong, but
clumsy. I tighten my neck muscles and value what breath I can gasp.
"I think I caught us a cheating mule, boys. What do you think?" Steps turns to his gang, and I struggle to do the same.
"I dunno boss. I think we should just cut 'im and leave 'im for the clean up crew like the last loser what wandered into yer
territory." I can hear a loud sigh coming from the bartender. This seen isn't one new to her.
"Look boys, if you're going to do anything, take it out back. I can't do business with this place all bloodied and broken." Her
tone seems annoyed. The gang surrounds me and before long I find myself walking toward a back door with a four pony escort. Each step
feels like an eternity. I hear Steps telling the bartender she's lucky they're courteous, but the words slide across my conscious mind
like water over glass. The adrenaline is building inside of me. I wait for the clatter of a closing door to set it free.
Like a sack of bricks, I find myself thrown out of the back door. I hit a brick wall, my skull making a dull thud against the
coarse surface. Instinctively, I brace my front hooves against the wall and buck the colt behind me. Turning just in time to put some
aim into the attack, I catch him right in the jaw and he stumbles backwards. The next two to close in get a swift combo from my hind
legs. Steps takes the opportunity to wrap his front left around me and slam me back into the wall. The right cross he gives me lands
squarely on my cheek, and send my vision reeling. I duck out of his grasp and return the favor with an uppercut that plants him down
on his flank.
For the first time, I get a chance to ground myself and face my attackers. A pair of pegasi and a pair of earth ponies, their
eyes dimmed with liquor. They clumsily advance on me together. Some folks believe that a fight is an orchestrated event. That ponies
with sharp minds play out their moves like a high speed chess game. It's an amusing idea at best, laughable in it's ignorance. A fight
is no such animal, and you aren't acquainted with its flow until you've resolved to take a few hooves to the face just to catch your opponent
off guard. I plant my front hooves once again and buck with the fury I had saved from Colt Friday. Each blow they landed to me, a kick to my
gut, a solid strike to the kidney. I paid them back ten fold with a two hooved kick that was meant for the stallion who'd put me here in the
first place. One of the pegasi even tried to tackle me. He found himself bucked face first into the wall infront of me. I don't reckon his
muzzle is quite as straight as it once was.
The blood spilled across the alley soon became a price to high for Steps to accept. "Enough! You don't even know what you're messing
with, outsider. When my boss hears about this, I wouldn't be to surprised if you wake up with Luna carrying you to the Land of the Dead!
The Eye of Chaos has glimpsed this world, and you will be the next to feel it's stare"
"I ain't keen on that tone, friend. Tell yer boss whatever y'all feel like. Ah'm sure he'll be thrilled ta know his grip on this
street can be busted by one pony unaided." I grin and make to rush them again. They flee like the rats they are. Hired goons... always
the same. I head back inside as I contemplate what sort of report the drunken lot could possibly put together about me. If I ways lucky,
they might lie and claim they were bested by a gang of stallions. Then, at least, their boss would look first to his rivals. I snap back to
reality when my eyes fall upon the bartender who had so callously written off my fate. She looks surprised, maybe afraid, that I had
limped back inside alone.
"Hey... what happened to-"
I interrupted her by slamming a hoof against the wall behind her. Her dark orange fur seems to pale as I wipe the blood from my face. "I ain't keen on bein'
thrown ta tha rats, ma'am. Yer gonna tell me about the Eye of Chaos, and yer gonna tell me why four poor excuses fer henchponies
know what it is."
Maybe I had the wrong mare. Maybe Big Spender and the whole cult of Chaos flew over her head, and she was just a lone lass made
callous by a hard city. I didn't care enough to consider it. I needed answers.
End chapter 1
I'll be grateful for any feed back to help make my writing style better. I know I'm rather amateur, so obviously I need it to grow. You'll notice I didn't narrate the entire thing in Summer's accent, since that would be annoying for both myself and you. Anyway, here goes.
The Scent of Chaos: Chapter One
For a Few Bits More
All I had was a name and a location. Still, I counted myself fortunate since that tends to be one bit more than I usually have.
Not more than three days before, I jailed a good friend with the help of a talented crew any Marshal would be proud to serve with.
Colt Friday was behind bars. The sting of his betrayal still burned in my gut, reminding me of the terrible wounds friendship can leave
when ripped from you. My name? Summer Sunset, the only stallion stubborn, or maybe stupid, enough to track a rich social pillar back to
Manehatten just cause he had a grudge. Stupid or not, though, nopony escapes justice while a Sun Sworn is on the case. Those of our
creed took an oath to Celestia, herself. Not the idle kind of oath you speak infront of a smiling teacher every morning because you're
told to, but the kind that burns itself into your flesh and drives you to do something more than just stay content with the way things
are.
It was cold and wet by the time I hit Manehatten proper. The sort of cold that creeps inside you and makes the searing desert heat
feel like a distant dream. The rain drops falling from my hat framed the world in a somber curtain of hopelessness, both unwelcoming and
discouraging. Deep inside I knew the truth though. This city was the same as every back water town I'd galloped through in my years of
blood and glory and guts and shame. All I needed was a shiny enough dollar and a nosey enough pony. Secrets are never more than a handful
of bits away from spilling across the gutter like a drunkard's last meal. I found an inn, The Armored Pig, and decided to try my luck at
finding some decent lodgings.
My eyes were greeted with a familiar sight. These places always seem the same, a dirty bar, dirty glasses, and a bartender with
soft eyes ready to serve you your pain with kind words and a warm smile. A few rowdy stallions tended to a game of cards at a table. I
made my way to the bar, content to eavesdrop until I caught my bearings.
"What're ya having?" A friendly voice calls to me no sooner than get to the bar.
"Y'all got cider in these parts, ma'am?" I respond in an even tone.
"Well, how about that. By the sound of you I'd think you came here all the way from Dodge City." She laughs and then turns to a
line up of bottles. She positions each so the labels are more clear. "No cider, hun, but we got plenty to calm your nerves."
Just as she finishes, the distinct sound of glass shattering across the edge of a table breaks our pleasentry. "Oi! Luv! I told
ya if me mug didn't stay full, you'd be finding new work as a charity case. Now where's me drink!" I turn my head enough to see the
source of both bits of commotion. A scrappy and not particularly bright looking stallion with a club and dagger cutie mark meets my
notice.
"Alright! Calm down, Steps, I'm coming." The mare places a few bottles on a tray and carries them over to the table. The gathered
stallions watch with amused grins as they watch her pour another round. They're sure to give her flank a solid slap on her way back, an
act that garners a roar of laughter. I pick up my drink and move to their table. For the first time, I get a look at the bartender's
cutie mark. It's a couple of golden rings joined together with a white ribbon tied on top.
"Ya'll mind if I join yer game?" I try to appear friendly and naive. The sort of sucker this lot wouldn't mind taking for a fool.
Luckily these city types always confuse an Apploosan accent for a simpleton. I can see it in the way they glance at each other. The way
they grin. It's a scam I've run in towns time and time again.
"Buy in is 25 bits, and you're buying next round." The lead colt grunts at me.
"Name's Summer Sunset, Y'all can just call me Summer. I was hopin' ta find a good table on gettin' inta town." I give them the most
bumpkin grin I can muster up and set my bits on the table. Their eyes light up as I do. I'm assaulted by toothless grins from clueless
henchponies. Part of me feels sorry for these types, they're always to dumb and to self important to see whats coming. On the other hand, I
never have to feel guilty breaking a table over a greedy slob.
"This is Softy, Runner, Bilge, an' I'm Silent Steps. We're playing Dodge City Hold'em. You can follow that, can't you 'partner'?"
I play along with him. Letting him buy into believing I'm every bit the simpleton he's pegged me as. I even ask him how pegasi get around
such tall buildings without flying into them all the time. The hours don't play out in their favor, however. By the time I've won most
their bits, we've bought enough liquor to stock a harvest festival. They wear their anger like a filly parading her new cutie mark. All
of them to drunk to notice I've been having the waitress dilute my drinks to keep me keen.
"Well, friends, I'd say this's about game. I wouldn't want ta go robbin' y'all of yer last bits 'er nuthin'" I play up my grin,
as innocent as ever. A grin that's smartly wiped from my face by Silent Steps as he lunges to grab my neck. His grip is strong, but
clumsy. I tighten my neck muscles and value what breath I can gasp.
"I think I caught us a cheating mule, boys. What do you think?" Steps turns to his gang, and I struggle to do the same.
"I dunno boss. I think we should just cut 'im and leave 'im for the clean up crew like the last loser what wandered into yer
territory." I can hear a loud sigh coming from the bartender. This seen isn't one new to her.
"Look boys, if you're going to do anything, take it out back. I can't do business with this place all bloodied and broken." Her
tone seems annoyed. The gang surrounds me and before long I find myself walking toward a back door with a four pony escort. Each step
feels like an eternity. I hear Steps telling the bartender she's lucky they're courteous, but the words slide across my conscious mind
like water over glass. The adrenaline is building inside of me. I wait for the clatter of a closing door to set it free.
Like a sack of bricks, I find myself thrown out of the back door. I hit a brick wall, my skull making a dull thud against the
coarse surface. Instinctively, I brace my front hooves against the wall and buck the colt behind me. Turning just in time to put some
aim into the attack, I catch him right in the jaw and he stumbles backwards. The next two to close in get a swift combo from my hind
legs. Steps takes the opportunity to wrap his front left around me and slam me back into the wall. The right cross he gives me lands
squarely on my cheek, and send my vision reeling. I duck out of his grasp and return the favor with an uppercut that plants him down
on his flank.
For the first time, I get a chance to ground myself and face my attackers. A pair of pegasi and a pair of earth ponies, their
eyes dimmed with liquor. They clumsily advance on me together. Some folks believe that a fight is an orchestrated event. That ponies
with sharp minds play out their moves like a high speed chess game. It's an amusing idea at best, laughable in it's ignorance. A fight
is no such animal, and you aren't acquainted with its flow until you've resolved to take a few hooves to the face just to catch your opponent
off guard. I plant my front hooves once again and buck with the fury I had saved from Colt Friday. Each blow they landed to me, a kick to my
gut, a solid strike to the kidney. I paid them back ten fold with a two hooved kick that was meant for the stallion who'd put me here in the
first place. One of the pegasi even tried to tackle me. He found himself bucked face first into the wall infront of me. I don't reckon his
muzzle is quite as straight as it once was.
The blood spilled across the alley soon became a price to high for Steps to accept. "Enough! You don't even know what you're messing
with, outsider. When my boss hears about this, I wouldn't be to surprised if you wake up with Luna carrying you to the Land of the Dead!
The Eye of Chaos has glimpsed this world, and you will be the next to feel it's stare"
"I ain't keen on that tone, friend. Tell yer boss whatever y'all feel like. Ah'm sure he'll be thrilled ta know his grip on this
street can be busted by one pony unaided." I grin and make to rush them again. They flee like the rats they are. Hired goons... always
the same. I head back inside as I contemplate what sort of report the drunken lot could possibly put together about me. If I ways lucky,
they might lie and claim they were bested by a gang of stallions. Then, at least, their boss would look first to his rivals. I snap back to
reality when my eyes fall upon the bartender who had so callously written off my fate. She looks surprised, maybe afraid, that I had
limped back inside alone.
"Hey... what happened to-"
I interrupted her by slamming a hoof against the wall behind her. Her dark orange fur seems to pale as I wipe the blood from my face. "I ain't keen on bein'
thrown ta tha rats, ma'am. Yer gonna tell me about the Eye of Chaos, and yer gonna tell me why four poor excuses fer henchponies
know what it is."
Maybe I had the wrong mare. Maybe Big Spender and the whole cult of Chaos flew over her head, and she was just a lone lass made
callous by a hard city. I didn't care enough to consider it. I needed answers.
End chapter 1
3
Ask Everyone! / Ask Pinkie Pie! (Canon)
« on: November 02, 2012, 08:27:31 AM »
((Hey guys. The old Pinkie Pie threads were a little ancient and mixed with OC's, so I figured I'd give Canon Pinkie Pie a fresh reboot. If there's any interest, I could take over Cupcakes Pinkie for a bit also.))
Oh Hi! I didn't know YOU guys were still around. I ducked off to Sugar Cube Corner for a bit, and Rarity was there, and she was all 'Yes, and they ask me questions and want to know all sorts of things.' Then I remembered, 'Hey! I used to do that!'
I mean... it's been sooooo long since I answered anything. You guys must have a TON of questions! So why don't we play a game?
Pinkie says, 'Ask away!'
Oh Hi! I didn't know YOU guys were still around. I ducked off to Sugar Cube Corner for a bit, and Rarity was there, and she was all 'Yes, and they ask me questions and want to know all sorts of things.' Then I remembered, 'Hey! I used to do that!'
I mean... it's been sooooo long since I answered anything. You guys must have a TON of questions! So why don't we play a game?
Pinkie says, 'Ask away!'
4
Spam / SunSworn's Lyrical Levities
« on: October 01, 2012, 06:13:12 AM »
Come one, come all. SunSworn is making forum songs out of pony songs.
I'll take them in the order I recieve them, and, if you so desire, you can even give me a theme you'd like them to be based around.
Note that longer songs will take me longer to finish, and I'll take a bit of time on each since I intend on producing quality products.
Finished Projects:
Current Project: Find a Post
Future Projects:
I'll take them in the order I recieve them, and, if you so desire, you can even give me a theme you'd like them to be based around.
Note that longer songs will take me longer to finish, and I'll take a bit of time on each since I intend on producing quality products.
Finished Projects:
Spoiler: So Many Spammers by Warwolf/SunSworn (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: This Thread Aria (click to show/hide)
Current Project: Find a Post
Future Projects:
5
Ask Everyone! / Ask SunSworn
« on: September 05, 2012, 06:10:38 PM »
I figured one more tread on this board couldn't hurt.
I am a 28 year old financier from Salem, Massachusetts. Many are the days I have spent reading philosophy, history and the nature of fiat currency.
By day, I correct the jumble messes of loans uploaded by sales people, that they might be legible, legal and not confuse the hell out of your average underwriter. By night I am content to allow brightly colored ponies reconnect me with the parts of humanity I enjoy most.
Ask of me what you will... I anything at all.
I am a 28 year old financier from Salem, Massachusetts. Many are the days I have spent reading philosophy, history and the nature of fiat currency.
By day, I correct the jumble messes of loans uploaded by sales people, that they might be legible, legal and not confuse the hell out of your average underwriter. By night I am content to allow brightly colored ponies reconnect me with the parts of humanity I enjoy most.
Ask of me what you will... I anything at all.
6
General Discussion / Crunch the Rockdog
« on: August 21, 2012, 04:56:30 AM »
G1 Ponies really wanted to be metal, I guess. I present to you Crunch the Rockdog. He hates soft things and possesses the completely awesome power to turn things into stone Langoliers. This song really needs a guitar solo.
I think I might have come to understand the circumstances of my own death.
I think I might have come to understand the circumstances of my own death.
7
Ask Everyone! / Ask Summer Sunset
« on: July 20, 2012, 09:01:25 AM »
I've never been one for these things, since they essentially destroyed tumbler. However, I guess there isn't much escaping it as everyone's already put one up in such a short freakin' amount of time.
Anyway, if anyone feels the need, here you may ask Summer Sunset any number of questions regarding Apploosa, the Sun Sworn, marshalhood, etc.
Anyway, if anyone feels the need, here you may ask Summer Sunset any number of questions regarding Apploosa, the Sun Sworn, marshalhood, etc.
8
Investigative Role Play / For Case Writing: PC's to fill in your NPC's
« on: June 24, 2012, 08:24:46 PM »
Guys, considering that we've started to have PC's feature as cameo's in regular storylines. I think it'd be cool if some players were willing to work their characters to fit some of the cases we write. For an Example of what I mean say:
What if Summer Sunset was acting deputy for your case? Or, since Paladin sells himself as a handyman, what if he was hired to fix a busted circuit that ended with him being a witness?
I know we've spoken of it before, and had some reservation behind character egos taking over the case writer's intent. However, I think that we have a base of people who are mature enough to mold their characters to fit the author's vision rather than their own. This post is inspired by the fact that Paladin's last post about case count solidifies that Summer will not be a main character for a while until a large list of other players get a chance to actually play.
What are the thoughts on some of us who've been spending a lot of time fleshing out the flow of these RP's signing on as personalities on the sidelines while the newer players to take the spotlight with in the future cases? I know a lot of us Role Playing vets can follow directions and a script well enough to have fun doing it.
What if Summer Sunset was acting deputy for your case? Or, since Paladin sells himself as a handyman, what if he was hired to fix a busted circuit that ended with him being a witness?
I know we've spoken of it before, and had some reservation behind character egos taking over the case writer's intent. However, I think that we have a base of people who are mature enough to mold their characters to fit the author's vision rather than their own. This post is inspired by the fact that Paladin's last post about case count solidifies that Summer will not be a main character for a while until a large list of other players get a chance to actually play.
What are the thoughts on some of us who've been spending a lot of time fleshing out the flow of these RP's signing on as personalities on the sidelines while the newer players to take the spotlight with in the future cases? I know a lot of us Role Playing vets can follow directions and a script well enough to have fun doing it.
9
General Discussion / Anime Boston 2012 Cosplay
« on: April 08, 2012, 07:49:40 AM »
Hey guys, just a short post for those of you who are into this kind stuff. There was SO MUCH PONY to be had at the con this year. I didn't really think this belonged in fan made so I place it here.
There's me as Braeburn standing between Vinyl Scratch and Apple Bloom. This was our line up for side characters.
There's Celestia, complete with two guard ponies. It was to bad there were way to many of us to get a shot bowing to her.
There's the full group of us. Unfortunately Vinyl and I were the tallest next to Celestia, so we got shoved in back. You can only really see my ears and her mane.
Tell me if you're curious to see more. We have pictures of all the main sixers lined up by pony, and I can dig up more photos as they come in.
There's me as Braeburn standing between Vinyl Scratch and Apple Bloom. This was our line up for side characters.
There's Celestia, complete with two guard ponies. It was to bad there were way to many of us to get a shot bowing to her.
There's the full group of us. Unfortunately Vinyl and I were the tallest next to Celestia, so we got shoved in back. You can only really see my ears and her mane.
Tell me if you're curious to see more. We have pictures of all the main sixers lined up by pony, and I can dig up more photos as they come in.
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