d20 Pony

Spamotron

Ask Zecora about the ingredients and the hazards around them. For example what are Sun Bees and how do you extract their honey safely? What does Blue Yarrow look like and is there anything we need to know about harvesting it? What kinds of beasts live on the Ridge? etc.

Eager to begin your expedition, you ask Zecora what she can tell you about the sun bees and their honey.

Zecora: "How does one collect a sun's tear, you ask? There are many ways to go about such a task. None of them are easy, I'm afraid, but such are the risks of the trade.

A two hours' walk through plains of green will lead you to a deep ravine. Atop the cliffs many a tree grows, where you must look for one which glows.

Once you have found a sun bee's hive, a plan of action you should contrive: whether to offer a sugary drink for the queen, or to steal a piece without being seen.

If you provoke the colony's ire, beware their stings of fire. I advise swiftly making a break, or maybe diving in the nearest lake."

With these words of wisdom, the zebra offers you a jar in which to carry any sun's tear you may find.

You get Glass Jar!

Moonflower: "The yarrow's the tiny bunched flowers that grow on mountaintops at the edge of the forest, right?"

Zecora: "It seems you already know it well. There is not much more for me to tell."

Apple Basket: "Uh, and you said somethin' about dangerous beasts?"

Zecora: "That I did, my young friend; two of them are known to me. Great care do I recommend, for both can prove quite the enemy.

One is the diamond dog who lives underground. It can be driven off by a loud high-pitched sound. Otherwise, it could steal you away, never again to see the light of day.

The other, the roc, is a much bigger threat — the largest bird of prey I have ever met. If you are seen, to avoid getting caught, you simply must fight with everything you've got."

Apple Basket: "Land's sake! If these ingredients are what's needed for the cure, then I'm startin' to see why they ran out."

You nod. However, as you begin to think about the distance you have to travel to gather both of them, you realize that time is against you. A quick look at your pocket watch indicates less than eight hours left before sunset.

	8Yoshimon1:
	No need to rush. If we have to, we can save some time and skip the whole trip back to Hoofington by using our Rune of Homecoming. We still shouldn't waste time, though. We can probably travel together for part of the way, but we likely have to split up eventually. Apple Basket should be able to handle the bees on his own, trading with the queen for some honey sounds just like making another trade deal. Just gotta give him some of our cookies for sugar and maybe the Wind Caller for safety. Meanwhile, Moonflower can identify the flowers and screech away Diamond Dogs while we defend her from giant birds.
	#28197 Jun 2022

	7DeathR:
	Seems like we'll have to split up in order to get both in time. Let's ask Zecora if she'd be willing to help Apple Basket gather the sun's tear, while we an Moonflower go get the yarrow.
	#28187 Jun 2022

	The Mortal Paper Fist:
	Not a command: I don‘t want to downplay Apple Basket’s skills but is it wise to send him out on his own? He’s brave and eager to help, but what if he runs into a dangerous creature? Does he know how to defend himself? And wouldn’t the Ghastly Gorge be a really bad place for somepony who’s afraid of heights? If we split up it’s probably better to have either Trailblazer or Moonflower accompany Apple Basket and the other one collecting the honey on her own.
	#28146 Jun 2022*

	Duskdweller:► The Mortal Paper Fist (#2814)
	Yeah, that does make me nervous, too, but there are only three of us, so I figured someone had to go solo. (I honestly didn't think of asking Zecora until nopony mentioned it, and still can't think of a way to do so that wouldn't come off as rude.) The roc really does seem like a problem best suited for Trailblazer, and identifying the yarro is in Moony's wheelhouse so--AB gets screwed. Shrug If my command does get picked and goes wrong, I'd feel bad, but right now it does feel like the most logical answer I can come up with.
	#28176 Jun 2022

	6nopony:
	We should do both at the same time then, but it would be better if none of us goes alone, so ask Zecora if she is willing to help one of us.
	#28136 Jun 2022

	nopony:► nopony (#2813)
	Also I love the picture!
	#28156 Jun 2022

	RangelostQuest Master:► nopony (#2815)
	I'll consider it a success!
	#28166 Jun 2022

	5Borg:
	I imagine a mixture of water and crushed filly guide cookie would suffice as a sugary bribe for the queen, so we've got a handle on that. In the interest of time, Apple Basket should take that and head to the sun bees while Trailblazer and Moonflower go after the yarrow.
	#28126 Jun 2022

	4The Mortal Paper Fist:
	No time to waste then! We should collect the Blue Yarrow first since it sounds like the more dangerous task and we may need Moonflower’s help for it. If we’re running out of time after obtaining the yarrow Moonflower can leave for the ceremony while Apple Basket and Trailblazer collect the honey alone.
	#28116 Jun 2022

	3Maddjak:
	Would it even be possible to get both and get back in time for the venture to even be worth it? Maybe we'll have to split up?
	#28106 Jun 2022

	2Duskdweller:
	With time being a factor, maybe we should take the risk of splitting the party. Have Apple Basket take the glass bottle, glass jar and some extra bits; his call on whether to stop and gather some pollen or swing by the Ponyville market for some honey, but he should be able to get the Sun's Tear with a bribe for the queen. Meanwhile, we'll armor up and accompany Moonflower; she seems to know what the yarrow is and can bat-scream any diamond dogs, while we're ready to see what bucking a roc in the face is like.
	#28096 Jun 2022

	1Spamotron:
	So any delay or complication whatsoever will make us miss the rest of Moonflower's ceremony. Ask her if she's okay taking the risk. If she says yes let's get the more unpredictable threat dealt with first and head for the Blue Yarrow.
	#28085 Jun 2022