In Her Majesty's Service

[Toboe LoneWolf]

IN HER MAJESTY'S SERVICE

Or as he's known the spy world, Mane. Con Mane.

Background:
This campaign follows the United We Stand, Divided We Fall campaign intro, begun here as run by Archivist. As Real Life as a way of happening, the UWS campaign has been put on hiatus but the players have split off their characters to start up a new campaign with a rotating GM basis. The original thread was at the Ponygoons forum, but we'll be making our new home here!

Campaign Concept:
In this campaign, the characters find themselves caught in a strange tangle of mysterious organizations, shaky alliances, and strained loyalties. A coalition of ponies have been working together to reclaim the power of the sun and moon through ancient arts, so that they may aid the Princesses in the greatest way possible. How will our heroes respond to this cause? How well can they walk the tightrope before them?

How will you serve?

Active Players - Characters
Hunterwolf - Aegis
Toboe LoneWolf - Bali
Hecmanstar - Slow Purpose
Page Turner - Briny Blue

Inactive Players - Characters
Skystrider - Skystrider
bubbahooftep (Patton) - Bubba Hoof-tep
Starseeker - Starseeker, Sunrise "Sunny" Song
Equestrian Wyvern - Silver Etching
Rodger Marsh - Palerider, Dame Sturbridge

Game Rules / Notes
We are currently playtesting the My Little Pony - Savage Adventures rules that was tailored to better fit our Secret Agent Indiana Jones Hijinks atmosphere. We formerly used the Savage Worlds of My Little Pony, 4th edition rules for sessions 1-71.

Master Character Sheet (MLP:SA make-up)
Session Logs
In Her Majesty's Service Session Summaries --> To latest summary

NPC list
The Far North
The World of In Her Majesty's Service - Player's Guide
The World of In Her Majesty's Service - GM's Guide
Map of the World of IHMS

SW:MLP Downtime - A Day in the Life
House Rules for IHMS
Notes for Dice Rolling in MLP:SA

Method of Play:
We use IRC for the main rp, and Skype for OOC chat.
Rolz.org preferred for dice rolls (Dice log)
How to Use Rolz Cheat Sheet
This campaign uses a rotating GM system, alternating GMs after each adventure arc.

Timing/Where:
Currently set for Mondays, 7PM-1AM ET (6PM-midnight CT; 4PM-10PM PT)
Server: irc.canternet.org
Channel: InHerMajestysService

[Toboe LoneWolf]

The Story Thus Far:
aka where Toboe makes a tl;dr of all the tl;dr summaries of ALL THE LOGS

Our makeshift group begins, as these things tend to do, with a door. No wait, a Door, capital D; it's a Magic Door. Anyways our party gets trapped in a tavern and they are forced to work together to break out and defeat the Shadowy Magic Monster. (United We Stand, Divided We Fall arc)

Our characters go off their separate ways, although from time to time fate conspires to place them all in the same spot and dump Terrible Things on them, because the GM is laughing that's how life works. (One-shots in the UWS aftermath))

But the real trouble excitement begins when our intrepid party meets up once again (on purpose this time) to share a meal in Canterlot. As fate would have it, our party is swept up into a CONSPIRACY GROUP. Luckily our party is able to thwart the group's vile stealing plot (Where Your Loyalties Lie arc). The party has seen the dark side of Equestria, and so Princess Celestia and Princess Luna themselves enroll our party as auxiliary members the Equestrian Secret Service (although some members are on a free-agent basis).

Their first mission is to investigate rumors of some scheming about a traveling circus, currently at Lumendell. This, somehow, turns into stopping a giant death laser from blowing up Canterlot. (The GM totally knew what they were doing why u doubt me) (Circus/Lumendell/DEATH LAZER arc)

Their second mission brought them to a small town called Freedom's Progress, introducing and returning new characters into the conspiracy pile. Our characters are confronted with the dark side of science (don't do drugs kids), but the leaders are quickly subdued. (Science and Earth arc)

Their third mission changes into the land of the mystical, when the party's train is stopped by goo aliens The Noise, and the party helps save the town of Luscinia with the assistance of a cranky ghost and the power of music. (Luscinia arc)

Their fourth mission briefly brings the party back to Canterlot, only to be sent out again by request of the Princess to find an old ally. Princess Celestia neglects to mention that it's a dragon, but who's counting. Unfortunately some not Nice Ponies want in on the dragon thing too, and our party fights off the invaders and brings back an old friend and a Powerful Ally into their circle. (Sapphire Spirit arc)

Their fifth mission begins an abrupt teleportation and an immediate Run For Your Lives by fanatic pegasi who worship Candy Mountain (This Is Not A Joke mostly) The party stays barely one step ahead (or below) and in so doing brings another powerful dragon ally into the fray, right after stopping a giant volcano from erupting and fighting off a huge fanatic horde of candy-worshiping pegasi, no big. (Volcano arc)

Our story now runs in Manehatten, a city fallen under disrepair and turmoil...

[Toboe LoneWolf]

the posting spree continues!

From this point on, I'm going to try a houserule for any game sessions I run (if other people like the concept, snatch away)

SW:MLP's combat is, at its heart, a Opposed Roll between two characters. It's simple, but save for the Leadership skills/edges and some Spells/Feats, SW:MLP combat does not have a built-in mechanism for two characters to assist each other in combat. However, in the Savage Worlds Core rules, there are several ways that characters can assist: Gangup bonuses, and Tricks. These also allow noncombat-based characters to still have an impact in a fight.

Gangup bonuses apply to standard melee attacks, which aren't very SW:MLP, but Tricks imo are a different matter. Tricks, in the core rules, are an Opposed Agility/Smarts roll; on a success the defender is "distracted" and has a -2 Parry for the remainder of the round; on a Raise the defender is also Shaken.

I'm going to introduce a houserule for all future game sessions I run where Tricks will also impart a -1 modifier to all Clash of Will rolls to the rest of that round. This modifier will also stack (unlike the -2 Parry), up to a -4. A Raise still means a -1 CoW modifier & Shaken (plus a -2 Parry). You cannot get a Daunt/Wound from being Tricked twice.

I'd also like to tentatively say Strength Tricks are possible, but like all Tricks it depends on how the player describes their action (as it may be better ruled as a Test of Will or Intimidate Clash of Will). Right now I'd say actions that focus on using the setting/environment around the characters, especially to distract (such as yanking a rug out from underneath an opponent) constitute a Trick, while actions that focus directly on the opponent constitute a Clash of Wills.

This means characters now have a method to help assist each other in combat that do not require investment in a skill or an Edge. It also, imo, follows the Friendship is Magic theme of helping each other.

[Hunterwolf]

Hm...a very interesting idea. I look forward to see how it turns out!

[Hecmanstar]

Sounds good...

[Rodger Phillips Marsh]

Fine by me, but Palerider will probably stick with her tried-and-true Taunt test of wills + Smug Flourish

[Toboe LoneWolf]

Well not every character can be a smart-alek like Palerider.

The Tricks houserule should help characters like Bubba and Aegis which are not particularly combat-orientated (only a d6 in Persuasion) but have very high Smarts (d12). It'll also let Slow break out of being effectively limited to only Intimidate attacks. Granted, Slow is very effective at said Intimidate attacks, but if I pit a monster with the Fearless attribute (which is therefore immune to Intimidate), like the ghost Zwitter was, Slow is kind of up the creek without a paddle.

[Note Worthy]

Pop this in here for good measure!

Username: Sunrise_Song
Type: Pegasus
Gender: Male
Age: 27
Birthdate: February 17th, 976 CLY
Coat color: Light Brilliant Yellow (like a lemon curd)
Mane color: Naples Yellow with Lion (moderately yellow-brown) accents
Eye color: Cobalt
Cutie Mark: It is a quarter note, black, with the center hollowed out to reveal a rising sun.
Clothing: Nothing usual, aside from a “ponytail” to keep his wild tail in some sort of control and order

Abilities/Talents: Sunrise is a very talented musician, as well as a traveller during certain parts of the year. He wakes to sing as Celestia raises the sun one day, and the next offer sonnets as Luna raises the moon to finish the day. He avidly avoids baking of any sort after a nasty incident involving a teacup and a held note. Sunrise can play the violin that he was given as a gift from a friend of the family.

Personality: The sky is his friend. He is inspired by flight. Many pieces he's written reflect...how the sky changes, watching from high altitudes when Celestia and Luna change the Moon and the Sun.

Sometimes he considers himself a therapist of sorts, but he'd never claim that title as it's not truly reflective of what he does. He'll take the time to sit down and talk to you about what's going on in your life, and do the best he can to understand and empathize with you. He will sit and cry with you, but ultimately end up laughing with you.

He does have a spot of a temper, but it's kept in good check by his gentle ways. He doesn't care if other ponies look at him when he just breaks into song. Mares, stallions, colts, fillies...he's got a gift and he's sharing it. Whether or not they accept it, he's still putting it out there.

Through his years of touring all of Equestria, there hasn't been a lot he has not seen yet. He will not be quick to panic when concerning situations arise, but proceed as calmly as the circumstances merit. The years he has spent singing and entertaining ponies, griffons and others, as well as his gentle manner make give him an unusual calm and wisdom with the world.

Family: Phoenix Spire, 54, father--pegasus, deep orange coat and white mane. Cotton Rose, 52, mother--pegasus, white coat and yellow mane. One sister and brother; Radiant Spire, 29, pegasus--red coat and white mane, Steadfast, 24, brother, pegasus--and the oddity in the family, blue coat and purple mane. Only known extended family is his aunt, Candy Wing, who disappeared in CLY 988, after performing in Fillydelphia. It was the needed inspiration and helped him to get his Cutie Mark.

Back story: Sunrise initially started out in a suburb of Fillydelphia, on one of the many apple farms dotted about the Equestrian landscape. During his early days as a colt, he helped out with farm chores but never felt a calling for that humble of a work. The best distraction that had come up with while he was bucking apples and pulling up weeds was to sing to himself--simple melodies that helped break up the monotony of the labor.

His parents purchased instruments for all three of their children, Sunrise receiving a violin from the instrument forger Silver Hoof from Canterlot. He practiced as best he could, but it was apparent that he would not be able to realize his dreams of being a musician on the farm.

After Candy Wing's disappearance and supposed death, and the reception of his Cutie Mark, Sunny decided it was time to take flight and follow his dreams. He left the family farm, and flew to Ponyville, to take roots and continue his studies of music. On the way there, he encountered a few adventures:

"It was a rainy evening in some town between Fillydelphia and Maresburgh. She had the prettiest eyes...they cut through the dark of the restaurant like a beacon from a lighthouse. I don't remember her name...but we spent the entire evening talking. Life, love, Equestria, Luna's return, but mostly...music. She carried a flute, which I hadn't seen ever since my sister had played one. There was temptation...but I knew that I wasn't going to get satisfaction from a one-night fling. We stayed in separate rooms in the same hotel...but at 3 in the morning, I heard this crazy knocking on my door. I opened it, and it was her. She looked as if she'd been crying. I brought her in, and for two hours we played music. I have never felt closer to anypony else in my entire life. I just...remember those eyes. Was like looking into the sun. I nicknamed her Light Beacon."

Having lived in Ponyville for 10 years, he has become good acquaintances with all of the Mane 6, moreso with Applejack because of his occasional work at Sweet Apple Acres when he is short on funds while working between recording sessions and releasing new music.

During four months out of the year, he travels all of Equestria, from Canterlot to Fillydelphia and back, sharing his talents of the violin to all he encounters. On his path, he picks up stories from ponies in farther lands, and gains an experience that helps him be a better friend to the friends he has in Ponyville. He has not yet re-encountered Light Beacon, but hopes one day he shall as he tours the lands yet again, sharing his music, his life and his heart with all he meets on the way back home.

[Hecmanstar]

Hmm... I need to update this sheet.
*Copy and Paste.*

Name: Slow Purpose
Breed: Earth Pony
Rank: Novice
Experience: New

Charisma: -1
Pace: 6
Parry: 6
Toughness: 7

Agility: D4
Smarts: D4
Spirit: D4
Strength: D12
Vigor: D8



SKILLS
Initimidate: D10
Fighting: D8
Athletics: D10
Notice: D6
Leadership: D4



HINDRANCES
Geas (Major)
Cautious (Minor)
Habit (Minor)



EDGES
Brawny
Alertness
Bend Bars, Life Gates



SUNDRIES & EQUIPMENT
100 Silver Pieces



FEATS OF STRENGTH
Name: Stoic Will
Rank: Novice
Suit: Diamonds
Effects: Ignore one Hindrances or roll Leadership, if successful, lets ally ignore hindrance.



BACKGROUND INFORMATION
1. CONCEPT: Slow Purpose is a big and strong pony that is a bit wary of the unknown.

2. GOAL AND MOTIVATION: Taking care of the family business and a good mug of apple cider with friends and family.

3. CUTIE MARK AND SPECIAL TALENT: A big Boulder and special talent is moving and lifting heavy objects is no problem to this big strong pony.

4. APPEARANCE: See picture, provided. Blue coat, a black mane and tail.

5. Background: When asked about his past, Slow Purpose pauses a while to think about his answer. He mentions he is a rock farmer along Applechian Mountains, east area of Derpyshire. Rised by his grandpa, became big and strong. Told stories of heroes long lost to tame this very land and the hidden dangers that still lurk. That the unknown can still hurt us. Learned alot from that Old Cookie but one day he disappeared, like he gone fell off the face of the world. Slow Purpose had few clues to where he went, but he knew one thing. He was family and no rock will be unturned till he is found.

6. Reason in Derbyshire: A family friend wrote a letter, saying gramps was sighted in Derbyshire.

[Hunterwolf]

Well...I'm not sure if it's necessary to post my character here but I guess I'll do so anyway.


Picture made by NabbieKitty
Pony creator version here

(Prince) Aegis

Background:
Aegis was born into the life of luxury in Canterlot as son of a royal family. His parents, Prince Bravado and Princess Elegance are very prestigious in the land of Canterlot and come from the royal bloodline dating all the way back to the unification of the three pony tribes. Back then a relative of Princess Platinum; Princess Diamond married a very esteemed knight by the name of Targe who together helped to stabilize the union of the three tribes. Being direct decedents of Prince Targe and Princess Diamond as well as being Prince Bravados and Princess Elegances only son Aegis was expected to follow the same guidelines of how a high class royal pony should act and was expected as well to attend parties and social gatherings to one day become a big name in Canterlot.

However this was not what Aegis wanted to become. Since he was a young colt and being taught about high society he always dreamed of being a knight. Somepony who lived their life with honor and protected the innocent. Once he became of age his parents reluctantly accepted and supported Aegis’s dream of being a knight and even gave him permission to take their family’s heirloom on his travels; a shield that once belonged to Prince Targe and even helped Aegis get his cutie mark years earlier. The shield holds great sentimental value to him because it reminds him of what his goal in life is and where he comes from. Aegis now travels Equestria looking for ponies or anyone else in need to help him gain experience so that he can become a knight. He could probably just join right off the bat but Aegis doesn’t want to get any special treatment because of his royal bloodline and feels he needs to make a name for himself before joining.

During his travels Aegis likes to keep his royal status a secret because he doesn’t like it when ponies fear him or treat him as if he’s better then everypony else just because of whom his parents are. He prefers it when he can co-exist with ponies and not be treated differently. Being raised in Canterlot Aegis has developed an accent and knows quite a bit about high society but hopes ponies that notice this about him won’t look to deep into it. However, being that Aegis has a very big interest in being a knight he also knows a bit about military information. 

[Toboe LoneWolf]

oh hai here's Bali too


As drawn by Nabbiekitty
Pony creator version because Toboe can't draw ponies

Name: Bali
Breed: Earth pony
Cutie Mark: Hammer & Paper
Special Talent: Working with tools (or making the ones she needs)

Background
Bali hails from the lands far north of Equestria (like so far it's off the map), the great mountainous region ruled by griffons. Due to the harsher environment, farms are scarce; tucked in tiny valleys or in painstakingly built terraces. Bali's family, like many other ponies of the region, are nomads, traveling from one farming pocket to the next. This is the norm, as the few ponies able to cultivate farms on the steep slopes do not have time to travel themselves in order to trade for necessities such as metal work, other foodstuffs, or other goods. More specifically, Bali's family are a group of craftsponies, practiced in carpentry, smithing, plumbing, and other trades.

Bali herself is a "jack of all trades" sort of pony, as she has yet to specialize in a certain area. Specialization may well be a long time coming though, as Bali gained her cutie mark when she accidentally destroyed a family reunion craft fair (longer story) and as punishment she'd had to help each relative repair the damage. Learning the basics of each craft, and working with each specialized tool, was so much fun (punishment notwithstanding) that Bali wanted to keep working with tools - any tools - from that day on.

While life in these mountainous lands is hard, it's friendly enough, at least among ponies. Still, some of Bali's family are getting on the years. They have heard of the lush bounty in Equestria, and are thinking of moving. Bali has been sent to investigate Equestria to see if they would be welcome there, and what their new rulers would be like. (Update: LOL YEAH SO NOT LIVING IN EQUESTRIA NOPE NOPE NOPE LEAVING NOW KTXBAI)

Bali herself is a cheerful sort, eager to help and ready to go at a moment's notice. However, she is still a bit wary and tired from her long journey and hasn't made many acquaintances in Equestria yet. She is simple and plain, but that's all she needs. But sometimes, it's not all she wants.

Bali is actually the daughter of a pegasus and a unicorn. While her parents were never disappointed in her, Bali has always been envious of pegasai and their ability to fly, as well as unicorns with their much easier way of manipulating tools. While Bali is quite agile and dexterous herself, there are times when it seems to be not enough; when she's stuck on the ground with just hooves.

She doesn't like to dwell on that though, because there's always a job to do. And she's got to do it right, with the tools she has - or the tools she makes.

Starting stats: Rulebook 2 Version
Starting stats: Rulebook 3 Version <-- As starting out
Current Stats
Bali's Cutie Mark Story
Bali's Homeland: the Far North

Additional Notes:

1. Since Bali's cutie mark entails all tools, I have not included those in the cost of buying the rest of Bali's stuff. Otherwise, it'd be kind of like requiring Applejack to buy her own applecart.
2. Bali is a complete Outsider to Equestria and thus has only the knowledge imparted by traveler's tales, which have effectively turned Equestria into the Land of Milk and Honey. Her homeland is harsh, wild, and untamed, as well as being slightly oppressed by griffons.
   So even though Bali's impressions of Equestria have been pretty much dashed to pieces in this campaign so far she is at least willing to check out some Equestrian locales (that are on route of her escape back home) in case, by some miracle, there is actually some pocket of Equestria that her family could actually, conceivably, maybepossiblyyou'reaskingforamiraclenow settle.
3. For Bali's Geas, it is more of a long-term mission. Bali needs to primarily establish contacts (after working through her Outsider hindrance) in order to build up her and her family's craft reputation as well as determine the general atmosphere of Equestria. This may require acquiring political information or other information on the general safety of Equestria, although it is important for Bali to not get in trouble with the authorities. As Bali has strong family ties, it is also important for her to ensure that whatever happens, her family is safe.
   (Update: Bali has determined that Equestria is a terribly unsafe and unfriendly place to live, none of the rules make sense, everything is magic and sugar and conspiracy hijinks, all of which is Do Not Want, the cake is a lie, and is currently working on hightailing it out of here.)

waaaaaalls of text

[Toboe LoneWolf]

And now, the conclusion of the Balance of the Glade arc!

Session 27: Finishing What Somepony Else Started

[/s] calms the crowd down. The Princesses themselves hail the party as heroes. WIN![/ul]

OMG WE DIDN'T DIE PPL

AND WE TOTALLY BASHED A QUEEN

...Princess Celestia plz don't send us to the moon

[Rodger Phillips Marsh]

...and Palerider slips away once again to avoid having to possibly pay for her considerable criminal record.

For the record, I've still got plans for a game that involves both Slow Purpose and Skystrider when the latter returns, as well.

[Toboe LoneWolf]

And now, we enter a new arc! this time, without immediate destruction of a town guys this is a amazing

Session 28: Welcome to Saddleport

The party reconvenes in Saddleport as a paid vacation, courtesy of Princess Celestia. Saddleport is just about to being their yearly celebration of the city's founding, Buildfest! Buildfest is a grand competition where participants showcase what they have built, and the winner becomes highly regarded amongst the Equestrian workforce. Entering the Dusty Hoof Tavern, the party orders a round of milkshakes (in Slow's case, a few) where they learn a bit more about Buildfest, as well as who was the winner last year: the Flim Flam brothers, who are entering again this year (much to the dislike of the Saddleport residents). Afterwards, while Sunny plans revenge a song to trump Flim and Flam in the Dusty Hoof Tavern, the rest of the party heads out to explore Buildfest. Along the way they see some street festival games, one being the ye old High Striker game. Slow wins the game easily, and lets Bali pick the prize. She chooses a well-crafted music box made to play the prelude to Love Is In Bloom, from the royal couple's wedding.

The box is a lie

[Hunterwolf]

Boy, what a session! I totally knew what I was doing Anyway, I've been thinking and I realized that we haven't really established what we want for our characters over the course of our campaign. I'm sure I can speak for most, if not all for us when I say that we all want our characters to develop over time and complete goals. I think that if we discuss what we want then it could help the campaign and make it more interesting!

As for my character Aegis, it's simple for the most part. He wants to get married to a pretty pony princess become a knight, complete with shinny armor and fine steel. "How come he just doesn't become a knight or at least buy armor and such with his vast amount of royal funds?" you may ask? Well that's where things get a little more complicated.

You see, Aegis is a little more down to earth then his other royal and noble brethren. At the same time though he knows how high society works and what his title of a royal prince entails. He's quite confident that he would get special treatment when he joins the military and that's why he feels like he has to earn the right to become a knight especially since he knows that his parents could reasonably pull strings to make training or assignment easier. He's also aware that he's naive and has a lot to learn about the world at large and thus is the reason he travels.

Aegis, also feels the same way about his title. Don't misunderstand, he's proud of his heritage but at the same time it makes him almost sick that ponies give him reverence all because he was born in a royal bloodline and nothing else. His ancestor, Prince Targe earned his title by doing great deeds of justice and Aegis wants to earn his the same way or at least similar. He hopes that one day he won't have to mentally groan or sigh whenever his title is dropped and instead can bear it with honor as well as pride. For now though...he's just happy to be another pony in the group.

So...what about the rest of you?