After Equestria (RP, not a jump-in)

[The Wandering Magus]

Sign-up: http://forum.legendsofequestria.com/index.php?topic=9555
OOC: http://forum.legendsofequestria.com/index.php?topic=9563

one sentence: All gods and demigods vanish as an Ice Age comes, and ponies have to figure out how to fix it.

short: Celestia, Luna, Cadance, Twilight, Discord, and sentient god- or demigod-level creatures have mysteriously disappeared.  Meanwhile unstoppable blizzards suddenly take the world by storm without warning, plunging the entire land into subzero temperatures and blizzards that overwhelm even the united efforts of all the ponies of Equestria in an undending Winter.  You, and the other survivors, must figure out a way to solve this mystery and bring back the Spring, and Harmony itself.

long:

Spoiler: show

It began with a single snowflake that wasn't supposed to be there.  Then came news that the Princesses, the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony, the Tree of Harmony, and Discord had all vanished, everywhere.  After that came panic.  Ponies crowded the streets, the Guard standing helpless as the Sun and Moon once again hung still in the sky, and the snow kept falling.  Pegasi succeeded in pushing the first of the clouds back... but they couldn't hold the storms for long.  At first most ponies thought it only a temporary thing.  That thinking changed after the first year.  Then the second.  And the third.  The world was covered in ice all the way from deep within the Arctic North down to just before the tropics far to the south.  It wasn't Windigoes.  It was something... more sinister.  There was SOMETHING in the blinding snow, SOMETHING that survived the subzero temperatures with ease, consuming, devouring, and keeping this endless Winter in place.  Ponies went underground, or the wise ones did.  Almost anypony who came out of their shelters froze instantly.  Canterlot was a frozen monument to an empire long gone.  Ponyville was abandoned, then covered in snow, and forgotten.  The Everfree Forest shielded itself with its wild magic for a while, but soon it, too, was frozen.  Only a few communities survive now, most underground, besides the Crystal Empire far to the north, now cut off from the outside world without their princess to support them.  Some of you will lead these communities.  Others will come from them.  But there is a key, one last hope to saving the world, of bringing back Spring.  A letter found in Fluttershy's home.

From Oak to Holly, from Holly to Oak,
The tale we hide, The meaning cloak.
From Smooze of old, to great Tirek,
They ever come, the world to wreck.
A thousand years, ten thousand more,
The land was safe from shore to shore,
For Princesses and Elements,
Did grace us with benevolence.
But now the ancient curse is come,
Our bones to chill, our skin to numb.
To solve this ancient mystery,
Look back into your history.
No longer is it endless hate,
Nor arrogance, nor anger great,
But snow and ice are just the same.
Return to that from whence you came.

*****

Please see Sign-Up page for Rules and more information.

*****

Accepted characters:
Frostina "Frost" Nova (Omega_Khaos) - Factionless Wanderer
"Mr. Brown" (Bravo 539) - Farm Assistant, Duchy Fancy
Aldorn Ceraphil (Bane Emural) -  Factionless Wanderer
Asterian Élire (Asterian) - Noble, Duchy Fancy
Sandy Atoll (Coffee Rush) - Factionless Wanderer

*****

Factionless:
The snow is blinding, as usual, but overall it's what might be considered mild weather.  Mild enough that the winds only throw you about twenty lengths rather than over and across the mountain, and that's not an exaggeration, as you've come to realize during the span of your life.  Nopony knows how high the storms go; pegasi that went too far up never came back down, and the rest never saw even a glimpse of light up there, though presumably the Sun and Moon had to exist.

Most caves and shelters were, obviously, occupied and heavily fortified by surviving communities, and many were less than friendly to wanderers, since there was so little food and space to spare already.  The ones that weren't occupied by ponies were often occupied by all manner of creatures.  If you were lucky, you found an animal that only hurt you slightly before giving you what nutrients its body could provide.  If you were unlucky, well, you never lived to tell the tale.

Out in the cold, the few wanderers consisted mostly of ponies with some sort of personal heating device, strange ponies who actually weren't hurt by the cold, and of course all manner of monsters and creatures.  Star-creatures, like Ursae Majorae and Ursae Minorae, were fortunately rare, and mostly in their millennium-long hibernation cycles.  Unfortunately, Frost-Wolves, Ice-Drakes, Snow-Bears and White Lynx seemed to prowl in abundance.  One might find herds of Woolly Mammoths or Hoary Aurochs out here, but those were rare also, feeding on the rotting plants beneath the ice with gigantic tusks, or occasionally finding rare Snowberries and other plants that somehow adapted to the subzero temperatures and hundred-kilometer-per-hour winds.

The last pony you heard from, oh, maybe a month, maybe a year, maybe just a week ago (time was hard to keep track of without sun or moon or stars), probably mentioned a rumor about an unbelievably large underground CITY somewhere around here, with its symbol being the Triple Crown, mark of the legendary Lord Fancy Pants from an eternity ago, before the Ice.  "Look for the Mountain," they'd said.  "A mountain with doors, and a great stallion of stone clad in gold."  Most likely just a rumor... but at this point, it might be better than nothing, at least.

*****

Duchy Fancy, Orod Khazad:
It's mid-morning on a mild summer day down here in the stone cities, and somepony over at weather control decided to turn up the temperature and let the warm air from the Hall of Fire fill up the rest of the place.  It's pleasant, and there wasn't such a thing as "too warm" unless you were right next to a forge or kiln, or a magma river.  Birds were singing in the parks and gardens, little chicks, kids and foals going to and fro, playing hide-and-seek among the grand columns of the Merchant's Hall and trying to keep their mind off the fact that school starts again in a month.

Morning actually does shimmer, seeing as that the stored sunlight from the Sun-Crystals up in the far reaches of the massive cavern light up all the polished angles of the stone and crystal buildings, and the tiles underhoof.  In smaller places like Gemton and Rockton, you might see the mayor giving a speech, and everywhere you went you could always find merchants and artisans, street hawkers, street cleaners and errand-colts rushing past with "very important" messages.  The occasional odd pet.

Nobles were likely relaxing in their grand marble mansions, or surveying their vast estates while having tea and crumpets served to them on platinum platters.  Most other ponies had "real jobs" to do, but life was actually rather relaxed around here, with plenty of spare time for hobbies and the odd "adventure" through a park-forest.

Many citizens had completely forgotten that there ever was such a thing as "above-ground".  The foals, kids and chicks certainly had no comprehension of that place, only rumors of some sort of death world if you dug or wandered too far up or down, filled with either ice or magma.  The magma, at least, they could understand and see.  Nopony WANTED to see the Ice.  To them, this was the universe, an endless series of tunnels and caverns to explore, work, and live in, and occasionally discover and colonize when they grew up.  Equestria was an ancient civilization from what for all they knew was a million years ago, the sort of thing you read about in a boring history book and forgot.  Oceans, stars, grassland, beaches, deserts, all these were pretty pictures on a wall, or strange and exotic places you heard about in old stories and sad songs that always seemed to make the adults cry when they listened or sang.

But some ponies couldn't keep their minds off that world far above, and the ponies that might still be alive up there...

[Asterian Starfall]

Off in the House of Élire, a young stallion walked among the endless marble halls. His brilliant golden cloak softly danced behind him, trailing his figure as if it were a shadow. [glow=yellow,2,300]"Father?"[/glow] he called out. [glow=yellow,2,300]"Fa-ther?"[/glow]

Strange. Jace was usually in his study if he were not out in the city, and Asterian knew that he most certainly was not roaming the streets. The colt set his path to one leading down another hall-way, hoping to find his quarry somewhere else in the mansion.

[Bravo 658]

Mr. Brown completed the last sunlight spell for the morning, lighting the final crystal suspended over the caverns.  "Well, that's that," he sighed.  He'd be a bit more cranky if somepony hadn't turned up the heat in the caverns... at least he could be comfortable while he was tired.
The turquoise unicorn finished his morning routine by heading off down the strong granite-cored but decoratively marble-plated pillars to a local favorite drink shop of his, Starbits, where he sat down and ordered a mug of hot cocao.

[Bane Emural]

Aldorn marches through the snow of the surface world. Always searching, always looking for something of interest. He spots a house and goes into it. He searches inside of it and picked a few items and put them into his bag. He checks his heating device. "Not much longer, need to find another tunnel. Hopefully a friendly one this time." He ventures out into the surface, searching for a cave.

[The Wandering Magus]

Off in the House of Élire, a young stallion walked among the endless marble halls. His brilliant golden cloak softly danced behind him, trailing his figure as if it were a shadow. [glow=yellow,2,300]"Father?"[/glow] he called out. [glow=yellow,2,300]"Fa-ther?"[/glow]

Strange. Jace was usually in his study if he were not out in the city, and Asterian knew that he most certainly was not roaming the streets. The colt set his path to one leading down another hall-way, hoping to find his quarry somewhere else in the mansion.

Asterian passed by a few maids, who curtsied to him, as he approached one of the mansion's libraries.  He could hear voices from within; it sounded like Father and Mother speaking in hushed tones.  It wasn't an argument, but it didn't sound like a very happy subject either, judging from the tone.

-*-*-

Mr. Brown completed the last sunlight spell for the morning, lighting the final crystal suspended over the caverns.  "Well, that's that," he sighed.  He'd be a bit more cranky if somepony hadn't turned up the heat in the caverns... at least he could be comfortable while he was tired.
The turquoise unicorn finished his morning routine by heading off down the strong granite-cored but decoratively marble-plated pillars to a local favorite drink shop of his, Starbits, where he sat down and ordered a mug of hot cocao.

Coffee Joe came over in good time, with the best hot cocoa in the city, smiling.  "Good morning, Mr. Brown," the stallion nodded as he set the mug down on the table.

*****

Aldorn marches through the snow of the surface world. Always searching, always looking for something of interest. He spots a house and goes into it. He searches inside of it and picked a few items and put them into his bag. He checks his heating device. "Not much longer, need to find another tunnel. Hopefully a friendly one this time." He ventures out into the surface, searching for a cave.

The blinding snow made it very difficult to tell what was out there, but from the shadows he could faintly see what looked like a dark wall.  That indicated a mountain, more or less, and as he approached, his guess was confirmed, the endless white covering giving way to a rocky ridge.  He couldn't really tell, but he thought he could see geometric shapes carved into it.  Maybe some decoration from back before the Ice.  Speaking of which, there might be a tunnel around, if the ponies back then had bothered to make something of the hill.... mountain... rock-thing, whatever it was.

[Coffee Rush]

Atoll, dressed in whatever scrap of cloth she had managed to find, trudged through the thick snow. It was a miserable lifestyle, and she had been unlucky enough to not have found civilization yet. Stuck outside, she hated the weather, and it hated her back. Atoll always thought how it could be worse, finding herself saying aloud "It will be worse". The words were drowned out by the howling winds, though. Admittedly, she had bundles of clothes and a personal heater, which kept herself feeling a temperature above freezing, one similar to a chilly fall night. Not pleasant, but it would do. As Atoll stumbled along her merry way, she remembered the words of an innkeeper that she'd listened to a while back. The thought of some sort of civilization was reassuring enough for her. With her equipment the mare trudged on.

[Bane Emural]

Aldorn looked at the carvings for a bit before continuing on. "Got to keep moving on before my heater runs out of energy." He searches for any tunnels nearby.

[The Wandering Magus]

Atoll, dressed in whatever scrap of cloth she had managed to find, trudged through the thick snow. It was a miserable lifestyle, and she had been unlucky enough to not have found civilization yet. Stuck outside, she hated the weather, and it hated her back. Atoll always thought how it could be worse, finding herself saying aloud "It will be worse". The words were drowned out by the howling winds, though. Admittedly, she had bundles of clothes and a personal heater, which kept herself feeling a temperature above freezing, one similar to a chilly fall night. Not pleasant, but it would do. As Atoll stumbled along her merry way, she remembered the words of an innkeeper that she'd listened to a while back. The thought of some sort of civilization was reassuring enough for her. With her equipment the mare trudged on.

A cliff... well, it was something at least, something concrete, something that wasn't endless miles of snow and blizzard.  Wait... were those... tracks?  Hoof-prints in the snow?  It can't be.  Can it?

What's coming through the...

Aldorn looked at the carvings for a bit before continuing on. "Got to keep moving on before my heater runs out of energy." He searches for any tunnels nearby.

A stallion!  Another pony.  It wasn't... civilization, but it was a pony, genuine article.  Hopefully not here to take her equipment, but hey, you have to start somewhere.

The cliff... it looks... too angular.  Smooth cuts.  Like something that could only be carved with tools that didn't exist anymore, to her knowledge...

As Aldorn and Atoll approached each other, they could vaguely see each others' outlines through the blinding snow.

[Bane Emural]

Aldorn stops and looks at the pony. "Hey! Who is out there? Friend or foe?"

[Bravo 658]

Mr. Brown shrugged nonchalantly.  "I suppose I'd have to agree there, Coffee.  Somepony made it about as toasty in town as you keep it in here for a change," he said, pausing to take a sip.  "Have you heard anything of interest lately?"

[Coffee Rush]

For a few seconds, Atoll thought. She went with the best of options, and shouted out "Friend!" towards the stranger. For a second, she hesitated, almost reaching for her long rifle. She put the thought to rest, and carried on towards the figure. Without her goggles, she would have been snow blinded. Atoll made particularly sure that she was close to the solid wall, to keep her heading proper.

[Bane Emural]

Aldorn smiled under the mask. "Good, I would hate to fight against some other wanderer out here. I would be guessing you are looking for a shelter, right?"

[Coffee Rush]

"Anything like that." Atoll was closer to the other scavenger now. Her two weapons were now obvious; a rifle and a knife. Adorn could make out her other equipment, too. For Atoll, it was nice to see bits of friendliness in the barren wasteland that was Equestria.

[Asterian Starfall]

Asterian, despite being a typically respectful pony, couldn't help but wonder what was going on. What were they talking about? [glow=yellow,2,300]I must know now,[/glow] he thought.

He silently approached the door, knocking against it. [glow=yellow,2,300]"Father? Mother? Is everything alright?"[/glow] he asked. He was not sure if they would be angry or joyed by his presence, but... What could be more important than what worried his parents?

[The Wandering Magus]

Mr. Brown shrugged nonchalantly.  "I suppose I'd have to agree there, Coffee.  Somepony made it about as toasty in town as you keep it in here for a change," he said, pausing to take a sip.  "Have you heard anything of interest lately?"

The shopkeeper shrugged noncommittally.  "I hear the excavators found another cave system to mine and colonize.  There was a glow-worm infestation around the waterworks, but it's taken care of last I heard.  Cave-claw was found trying to eat the iron ore down by the Deep Delvings, but they shooed it off.  There's another rock concert by the Destiny Crusaders going on tonight in the amphitheater.  Someone said something about that fire-drake laying an egg the other day."

Asterian, despite being a typically respectful pony, couldn't help but wonder what was going on. What were they talking about? [glow=yellow,2,300]I must know now,[/glow] he thought.

He silently approached the door, knocking against it. [glow=yellow,2,300]"Father? Mother? Is everything alright?"[/glow] he asked. He was not sure if they would be angry or joyed by his presence, but... What could be more important than what worried his parents?

The voices hushed, and one of his trusted butlers, Silver Platter, opened the door and bowed.  "Milord Élire, Master Asterian is at the door, sir.  Shall I let him in?"

"Might as well, Silver.  Thank you," he could hear Father's response as the butler opened the door fully to let him in.  Father was sitting in a sofa while Mother had apparently been pacing near the hearth, which like any other hearth had an illusion of fire but really just used conventional heating, since it was more efficient and actually gave off enough heat to warm the room.  Father smiled and beckoned for Asterian to sit with him on the sofa.

"Come on in, son.  Your mother and I were just... discussing politics."

"Oh, for Summer-land's sake, Jace, there's no need to be all politically correct with him," exclaimed Mother.  "Asterian... do you remember what it was like?  Before the Blizzard?"

Father sighed; evidently this was an ongoing conversation, and Asterian could recall Mother bringing up the over-world a few times in the past, usually when she was upset.

"Anything like that." Atoll was closer to the other scavenger now. Her two weapons were now obvious; a rifle and a knife. Adorn could make out her other equipment, too. For Atoll, it was nice to see bits of friendliness in the barren wasteland that was Equestria.

The cliff wall helped to block the wind ever so slightly as the two ponies conversed.   Looking a bit closer, they could tell that it was rougher to the left, and more pony-made to the right; there could possibly be a tunnel or some sort of shelter in that direction, hopefully unoccupied.

[Bane Emural]

"Well, lets find some sort of shelter. I would hate to freeze up in the middle of our conversation." Now visible to the other wanderer, Aldorn was carrying a sword and an assault rifle, along with his other equipment. Aldorn looks around a bit for any signs of a tunnel or cave.

[Asterian Starfall]

Asterian's look of concern masked itself behind slight happiness as he nodded. [glow=yellow,2,300]"Vividly,"[/glow] he said. [glow=yellow,2,300]"I remember back when we would trot the streets of Canterlot, making business trips and purchases. I remember when we made that one trip to Ponyville when I was nine years old. Mother wanted a new dress from the finest seamstress in Equestria... Miss Rarity the Beautiful, if I recall."[/glow] His fond childhood memories quickly faded as he dragged himself back to reality as he sat down on the sofa next to Jace.

[glow=yellow,2,300]"Forgive my prying, mother, but I am more piqued by the demeanor of this conversation. Why so angry?"[/glow] he asked.

Spoiler: Status Counters • show

((I am going to place status counters at the bottom of every post. I have a multitude of them, but if they do not show, then nothing has changed. I'll just show the main ones for starters.))

Mood: Inquisitive
Techniques Employed: None

[Coffee Rush]

Atoll chuckled a little, but it couldn't be heard due to the wind. She leaned near the wall, giving it a look over. The wind didn't seem as severe as it did elsewhere, most likely due to the cliff face. "Aye. Somethin' about this... wall seems different over there." Atoll pointed to the right, running her hoof along the cliff face. Again, she remembered the words of an innkeeper. The thought of any civilization made her feel hungry, a feeling that she had suppressed for a while to focus at the task at hoof. "It'd be nice to find a cave or somethin' along those lines..."

[Bravo 658]

Mr. Brown raised an eyebrow at the mention of a fire drake egg.  "Well, imagine that... a young fire drake growing up in the city.  I hope it's kept under control, but a second fire drake should help this place stay warm," he chuckled.  "At any rate, I've scheduled a meeting with some diamond dogs for the appraisal of some recently acquired gemstones in about half an hour.  Is there anything that needs doing around here to pass the time?"

[Omega_Khaos]

Wandering Like she had for the past two years Frost travels the frozen land. she picks up a little of the snow and consumes it like food knowing that it provided little nourishment but plenty of water. The winds she felt were relatively calm today. she know however she couldn't fly as she looked for the rumor she heard. "[glow=blue,2,300]Look for the mountain with doors, i think that one said. A place to rest. Hopefully it isn't too hot as to completely shut down my abilities should things get ugly like last time. Lets hope i find this place soon. I promised that group I would do my best to find them a permanent place to live. I won't let them down.[/glow]"

Frost continues looking for the mountain with the gate she is trying to find, ignoring for the most part the weather around her. The cold doesn't bother her and as long as she grounded she has no worries of the wind either.