d20 Pony

Borg

Let's ask if they tried any less direct approaches to the problem after the sub failed to get through; we're clearly going to need to aim for a more lateral-thinking solution so it would be good to know if there's anything that's already been tried. And let's ask them about their version of the history of Empyrius and the founding of Midgard.

You ask the unicorns if they've made any other attempts to study the Mists after the underwater craft failed to get through.

Justice: "Would that we could have. Not a day after we turned in our report, our equipment was seized by the Order. Then, we were told to find another venture, or they'd cut our funds.

If I had to guess, I'd say they were waiting for us to give it a test drive before shutting us down. Saved them the trouble of doing any of the work themselves."

Rocket Rush: "Pshyeah! The only thing the Order is good at is ordering ponies around."

Speaking of the Order of Dawn, you mention that you were reading up on Midgard's history earlier, and found that Justice disputed their accounts. You ask her what she thinks actually happened.

Justice: "I don't know what happened back then — and as far as I'm concerned, that's lost to history forever. What I do know is that the Philosopher's Stone isn't under the Order's custody as they so claim it is.

And while this may seem like a minor detail to you, it's enough to put most of their accounts up for debate. Specifically the ones about how King Empyrius earned his seat on the throne."

Rocket Rush: "And if they're lying about that, then who knows what else is a lie? Like, did they really come from Equestria? Are there really unicorns out there who can use magic? And are these really chicken eggs we're getting from the surface? I've never seen any chickens!"

Apple Basket: "Well uh, I dunno about that last part, but all the unicorns I know back home do use magic."

Moonflower: "Yuh uh! And we got stories 'bout the Paladins of Dawn too, and how they got all the shards of the Philosopher's Stone from Equestria 'fore they disappeared."

Justice: "Hmm. Yet, if a hoofful of knights was all it took to get the stone in the first place, then how is it that the Crown and his army have failed to get their hooves on it in hundreds of years of trying?"

A beeping sound emits from a nearby speaker, interrupting your conversation. Justice glances over to one of the screens, which displays a hooded pony standing on the other side of the door.

Justice: "Hold on. Is that who I think it is? ... Come in."

With the press of a button, the door slides open. The new arrival steps into the room, and pulls back her hood, revealing a familiar annoyed face.

Novelty: "You're all here. Convenient."

Justice: "Good to see you too, Novel. And here I thought you were glad to be rid of us. So, what brings you here?"

Novelty: "Them, among other things."

Novelty gestures to your party somewhat begrudgingly.

Novelty: "I came to tell you that you were right all along. After years of not getting anywhere with my project, these ponies showed up, and proceeded to mess with— I mean, help with my research. By accident, mind you, but still.

The point is, I wouldn't have been able to make the progress I've made in the last few days without their interference. So you were right: one pony, no matter how resourceful, can't always think of everything by herself."

Justice: "Interesting. And while I appreciate the sentiment, I somewhat doubt you've travelled all the way here from Astora just to tell me something I already knew."

Novelty: "Yeah, there's more."

Novelty lets out a drawn-out sigh, as if mentally preparing herself for what she's about to say.

Novelty: "I closed down my lab. I'm here to request asylum."

Rocket Rush: "What?!"

Moonflower: "Whoa! Is Eleven okay?"

Novelty: "Eleven's fine. Never better, in fact."

Justice: "Novel, you're more than welcome to stay in the Undercity, but back up for a second. Didn't you just say that you were making good progress? Why quit now?"

Novelty: "That's just it. I made a discovery about the Mists last night that you'll all want to hear. Something that would've made the Order particularly interested in my project all of a sudden.

And we both know what happens then. So I took Eleven and left before they got the chance to take him away."

Rocket Rush: "Wait, him?"

Novelty: "I-it's not important. What's important is that the presence of an equinculus down here doesn't reach the ears of anypony on the surface. No matter how nicely they ask."

Novelty looks pointedly at you.

Novelty: "You can hold your tongue, can't you?"

	nopony:
	Well, if ~~Nevele~~ I mean Eleven needs somepony to take care of him, we're happy to help, and he will be a fine addition to our party. As for keeping secrets, of course we will do it, it's against our interests if the Order finds out about any of this. So, what's that discovery about the Mists?
	#18116 May 2020

	The Mortal Paper Fist:
	Of course, we’re able to keep a secret. After everything we learnt about the Order of the Dawn, who knows what they would do with Eleven. But how are we going to hide him? The Order probably has spies in the Undercity and Eleven stands out even more than we do. Also, she mentioned a new discovery about the Mist? Would she mind telling us what it is?
	#18104 May 2020

	Borg:
	Of course! We would never want to spill secrets that could get ponies hurt. Whatever you've learned stays between us.
	#18094 May 2020

	Yoshimon1:
	Eleven is our friend, of course we can keep quiet about him being here! We're usually pretty good with keeping secrets, she just caught us by surprise last time! Like, we've been captured by pirates on our way here and talked with several knights and clerics since we've been on this island and no one figured out yet we're carrying the Philosopher's Stone around in our saddleb... Oops...
	#18084 May 2020

	KingTwelveSixteen:
	Mime closing your lips and zipping them shut, then locking your lips shut, then burying the key to the lock in your backyard, then building a house on top of the spot you buried the key in.
	#18074 May 2020

	37212513:
	"We've been pretty quite so far, and our proof would likely get us in far more trouble than you. Not that the magic jammers have been helping any...." and kinda let the conversation go from there. Got a good feeling about this event.
	#18063 May 2020

	Jinjo Bytes:
	Stick your tongue out and blow her a raspberry. Then agree to keep secrets and give a rundown of what was found in the archives.
	#18053 May 2020

	GameArtsJoy:
	Only outside closed doors, promise. What's the plan, hide down here from the Order forever?
	#18043 May 2020

	Hariman:
	Of course we can. Er, of course we can, despite prior evidence. Soooo... let's catch up with Novelty and what's been happening on her end, and give her the thumbnail brief on the odds and ends of information we've gotten from the archives.
	#18033 May 2020