[IC] Equestrian Radio Show's Adventure Variety Hour: Explorers of STOMP

CoffeeHorse · Mar 3, 2025

Static - Misty

"I figured as much but I just wanted to be sure. Static and Misty, you wait here and I'll be back shortly." Brisk Iron then left the office.

Tour team

With a shimmering, iridescent glow from Symphony's horn, the foals reappeared for as well as she could tell. Seemingly unphased by the ordeal, most almost immediately resumed their digging. Several groups had been finding things with a few requesting help with their finds.

"..."

"So how's everything going over in Petrichor Falls?" Misty affably asks the group.

"It's been doing well. Bank security isn't where I want it to be but the outer structure has been repaired, at least," Grape Vine said.

Static let go of a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "Yeah, I haven't heard anything since the last time we met. What's the news. I'm sorry now I didn't know you were coming. I've been working on getting something similar to that basil pasta you made for us using Caballuston ingredients. I think you'd be impressed."

Maple gulped in air, now that the children were back it was safe to start breathing again.

"Great job Symphony, we're really lucky we got to be in the group with you today." Maple's last few words came out as here airflow normalized.

"Now we can use these Balloons as Prizes and the sticky notes to write down everypony's names on what they found."

CoffeeHorse · Mar 5, 2025

Scarlet leaned in and whispered.

"Quick thinking Symphony, well done.

Maple's Face smirked almost to the point of no return -as Scarlet and Symphony continued to pretend like nobody noticed how cute they were.

<_< which was silly, because - DAWWWHHHH SOOO CUTE!

Shaking the floaty hearts and romantic music out of her head maple turned back to the foals. " Did anypony find anything super neat while I was away?"

Static - Misty

"That might be a possibility for next time. But this was a bit too urgent for that kind of planning."

Tour team

While several foals had small objects, several others pointed at the ground with many continuing to dig furiously...

Wanderlust suspected that someone was trying to sabotage the field trip, but there was only so much he could do to look while keeping pace with The Horde. So instead he looks over the foals to see what they've found.

Spoiler

While keeping a concerned eye on Latte and Cinnamon, Scarlet scanned around for anything that didn't fit.

Spoiler

Tour team

Rushing over to the foals, something in the soil gave way and Wanderlust fell into a sinkhole. Thankfully he was unhurt but it might take a bit for him to climb out. Meanwhile, Scarlet Spectrum walked over and from what he could tell, whatever it was happened to be wooden...and large.

CoffeeHorse · Mar 5, 2025

"ARE YOU OKAY?" Maple calls down into the hole.

"Oh, I get that," Static said with a nod. "I hope the two get along together. I wonder how long they've been separated."

"I wonder what's going to happen when they come together?" Misty wonders out loud.

Scarlet leaned in and whispered.

"Quick thinking Symphony, well done.

Symphony smiles softly. "Th-thanks. I'm just glad it worked..."

Tour team

Rushing over to the foals, something in the soil gave way and Wanderlust fell into a sinkhole. Thankfully he was unhurt but it might take a bit for him to climb out. Meanwhile, Scarlet Spectrum walked over and from what he could tell, whatever it was happened to be wooden...and large.

Symphony blinks as she sees Wander disappear into the sinkhole and quickly rushes over. "Oh dear, if it's not one thing it's another... Maybe this field trip is cursed..." She questions to herself as she looks into the hole. "Wander, are... are you okay?" She asks are her horn illuminates and she shoots a beam of light into the hole to try and see him.

Spoiler

"'Cept for my pride." Wanderlust grumbles, shaking some dirt out of his mane...and his withers...and his eyes...before starting to climb out of the hole. "What did they find?"

Scarlet had been on the verge of pulling out his lasso to try and help Wander, but relaxed upon seeing Symphonys light and the bedraggled Wander emerging from the sinkhole.

"While i'm not entirely sure what it is. I know it's big.

The Chief will definitely want to here about all this."

Heading over to the wooden thing for a closer look, Scarlet wondered what it could be. And how anypony could have snuck the nets, the invisibility spell and whatever this was, pasteveryone involved in setting all of this up!

CoffeeHorse · Mar 5, 2025

Static - Misty

Just then, Brisk Iron and Steel Flint returned to the office with a metal box. It was opened to reveal the red beryl half of the Wand of Doubled Doubling. Grape Vine pulled the prasiolite half out of hair and very carefully placed the two together. A soft pulse was felt through the room and Grape Vine slightly staggered. "Are you alright?" "Yes, I just...feel like a weight has been lifted. At the moment the two are talking and I'm not sure what to do from here. Part of me feels like I should leave the wand here now that it's complete. The other part feels I should keep it in case it is needed in the Falls."

Tour team

Several groups of foals were converging on the same spots and their digging revealed the mysterious object to be a ship that had been broken to pieces.

Once Wander was safe, Symphony starts to examine the ship pieces wondering if she can tell anything about it.

Spoiler

Tour team

From what she could tell, the ship didn't look ancient. If anything, it looked somewhat new with cuts and dings to make it look older.

"Well, I hope I'm not speaking out of line or anything," Static began cautiously, "but the wand already knows who you are and you seem to already have a rapport with it. And I don't know that the Keep would be able to do much more with it than catalogue it and store it away. Of course it was Flairvoyent who rescued the other half. How about we ask the wand what it wants? It is sentient after all, isn't it?"

Static - Misty

There was a pause as Grape Vine's attention turned to the wand. After a moment she said, "The wand actually wants to stay with me." "I'm fine with this arrangement. The wand hasn't shown any open hostility and as Static stated, it already has rapport with you."

Static smiles. "That's good. Happy ending's are always nice." With such a happy moment, Static almost hugged Misty on impulse, seeing as how hugging Ms. Iron or Ms. Vine would be wholly inappropriate. But then he considered it might be just as inappropriate to hug Misty too and stopped himself.

[Since when have you been the hugging type.]

[I'm not.]

[Uh huh!]

[Blame Maple. I'm sure it must be her fault.]

CoffeeHorse · Mar 10, 2025

Maple looked completely flabbergasted... if she hadn't known she was being punished, she would have sworn her recent time off had just been so somepony could sneak this past her, still, a list was forming in her head of the ponies that could have helped with this... Unicorns, Earth ponies, Pegasuses... but that was beside the point now. This was for the kids.

"Okay everypony, we seem to have made a major discovery here today... and while we know part of this ship could hold the weight of a stallion, I just want to remind you all to be extra careful with your tools and hoofsteps. There's no telling how long this has been here..."

Spoiler

Tour team

Savant Sard chimed in, "Indeed, it could be from any time period. Maybe from ancient times. Maybe something tossed ashore during the town's founding. Those who keep up with their local history know that a hurricane wiped out most of the town except Warehouse Number Seven. Maybe it's even newer or perhaps much older. There's many things you discover on a dig that reveal mysteries of the past. Now, I know it is probably getting near time for you to go and this ship is too large to move. However, your teachers and the museum staff can help you jot down notes of the other things you found so you can go over them in your classes!"

Static - Misty

As Grape Vine hid the wand in her mane again, Brisk Iron said, "With that settled, I'm going to see how the field trip is going. You should come along to see if it would be something to perhaps try to schedule for the Petrichor Falls school. Our tour guides are excellent so I'm sure they've had no problems today."

Having hauled himself out of the sinkhole, Wanderlust approaches the...ship? He opens his mouth, pauses to consider current company, and settles for "Goodness."

Spoiler

Scarlet cocks his head as he tries to rattle his brains for any knowledge of a ship,like this.

Spoiler

Zamuel:
Static - Misty

As Grape Vine hid the wand in her mane again, Brisk Iron said, "With that settled, I'm going to see how the field trip is going. You should come along to see if it would be something to perhaps try to schedule for the Petrichor Falls school. Our tour guides are excellent so I'm sure they've had no problems today."

Static visibly cringes. It wasn't that he didn't have faith in hit team mates. On the contrary, it was supposed to be a simple field trip. Lots of foals, sure, but still just a simple field trip. He had every bit of faith in his friends that things would be okay, especially now that Maple was back in the tours department.

It was just that...

[Sweet Luna, Ms. Iron! Why would you say that????]

CoffeeHorse · Mar 10, 2025

Tour team

From the tomes they had read and the research they had made, neither Wanderlust nor Scarlet Spectrum found anything noteworthy about the ship.

Brisk Iron and the others walked outside, she looked to the foals and smiled. Then she looked over the lawn. Then she looked at the ship. She then waved her employees over. "For as happy as I am that the foals are enjoying themselves, why exactly is so much of the lawn dug up and what is that boat doing there?"

"Those are very good questions." Maple looks around as if for the first time noticing how vast the dig has become.

Tour team

From the tomes they had read and the research they had made, neither Wanderlust nor Scarlet Spectrum found anything noteworthy about the ship.

Brisk Iron and the others walked outside, she looked to the foals and smiled. Then she looked over the lawn. Then she looked at the ship. She then waved her employees over. "For as happy as I am that the foals are enjoying themselves, why exactly is so much of the lawn dug up and what is that boat doing there?"

Symphony blinks as she walks over. "Oh... um... you mean this wasn't all planned?" She asks the director. "Like, I noticed that that ship is... well it's kinda new but made to look old... so I... um... well I thought that you had it planted here for something for them to find..."

Wanderlust was looking a little worried. "Some of Savant Sard's stuff is in here, this has to be the official dig site, right? Maple, who was responsible for setting this up?"

Static's eyes went wide as he saw the dig site. He gave a whistle as he took in the enormity of it. "Wow! I was just expecting like a sandbox or something with a few trinkets buried. Like...a foot or two deep maybe. But this?!?"

[Today's foals have all the nice toys!]

"For as happy as I am that the foals are enjoying themselves, why exactly is so much of the lawn dug up and what is that boat doing there?"

[...]

[How do you have a ship this size buried in the back yard of your family business for so long and not know about it?]

"How do you have a ship this size buried in the back yard of your family business for so long and not know about it?" Static winced and peeked up at Brisk Iron, hoping she wasn't looking at him. "Please-tell-me-I didn't-say-that-out-loud-please-tell-me-I didn't-say-that-out-loud."

CoffeeHorse · Mar 10, 2025

More concerned than disappointed that the boat was not, in fact, any kind of old find, Scarlet could only nod in agreement with Symphonys words as the Chief looked on.

"When we arrived with the tour group, the lawn had been set up as this 'dig site'. We weren't expecting to find a boat in it. Although that isn't the oddest thing that's happened today."

Quickly, Scarlet recounted the tours events. The sudden nets, the back lawn dig site, the inexplicable magic that briefly turned half their foal charges invisible, until Symphony managed to negate whatever had caused it. Finally, he looked to the boat and shrugged.

"Something odd seems to be going on here. Who, how and why? I have no idea."

Maple looked at Wanderlust... "Was that not covered at the meeting... ? I um seem to have forgotten everything past the part about getting to go back to work." Maple's face looked almost as sheepish as it could without her actually turning into a sheep

Bottle Wary seemed confused and asked, "Wait, you didn't clear this, Ms. Iron?" Brisk Iron frowned but then Steel Flint said, "I authorized it. Sard wanted to do more than just the parts of her collection and thought something big would top off the dig. She asked some members of Grounds & Gardening and then they asked me. Since you gave me permission to handle museum affairs when needed, I cleared it. I knew you were busy so I didn't want to disturb you. Plus, time was critical. The ship was buried overnight." Savant Sard said, "I bought three just in case but only two boats were buried." Brisk Iron sighed. "While I commend initiative, still let me know next time, Steel. That way we can all be on the same page and not make negative assumptions. The nets sound like the new security system. I don't know if I should be glad nopony was seriously hurt, glad it seems to work, or disappointed that there still seems to be holes in it. Steel can look into that magical mishap. At least things..."

Brisk Iron paused, seeming to stop herself. Then said, "...went well enough. I'm glad that the Nightmare Heights class was able to join the Caballuston schools for this. And yes, I certainly did hear you Static. Just haven't decided how I want to respon..."

Brisk Iron jumped back as something crashed in front of her. Seeing it was a stallion, she said, "What is with pegasi crashing in front of me today?" He wore a mail carrier's uniform but it wasn't one for the local area. In fact, it was adorned with gilded armor...

"Are you okay?" Maple askes the Pegasus... taking her pack off in case they need medical care.

"I authorized it. Sard wanted to do more than just the parts of her collection and thought something big would top off the dig. She asked some members of Grounds & Gardening and then they asked me. Since you gave me permission to handle museum affairs when needed, I cleared it. I knew you were busy so I didn't want to disturb you. Plus, time was critical. The ship was bur!ed overnight."

"This was done overnight?" Static's jaw hit the floor. He wanted to do a slow clap of admiration, and was about to do just that when...

"And yes, I certainly did hear you Static. Just haven't decided how I want to respon..."

*whimper*

Static seems to shrink several inches.

[Some place to hide. I don't care if it's somewhere a foal has stuck their used chewing gum or not. I need a place to hide...now!]

Brisk Iron jumped back as something crashed in front of her. Seeing it was a stallion, she said, "What is with pegasi crashing in front of me today?" He wore a mail carrier's uniform but it wasn't one for the local area. In fact, it was adorned with gilded armor...

A shocked Static takes a giant leap back.

[What is it with pegasi forgetting how to land all of a sudden?]

CoffeeHorse · Mar 10, 2025

Symphony can't help but giggle at the mention of the net-based security system having a few holes in it... Though gasps and blinks as it starts raining pegasai... okay well just a single one... but she moves a bit closer. "A-Are you alright?" She asks softly.

Misty takes a moment to check that her wings still work correctly, or if this was something contagious.

"That's a much better idea Mr. Night Cap, you see if he's okay and I can hold up the camera for you until you're done." Maple doesn't offer to keep filming of course, the Time she spent with Static up in the booth was much more about the theoretical then it was the practical.

Spoiler

Scarlet was on the verge if laughing, as it was discovered that all their apparent 'mishaps' had not had an underhanded motive.

Then the pagasus crashed and Scarlet almost swallowed his tongue. Staggering back a bit, Scarlet wheezed.

]The foals are gone now, right?

Wanderlust lets out a syllable that sounds more like gnashing teeth than equine speech, in a language he's never learned, and zips to the pegasi's side. "First things first: are you conscious?" He asks, gently prodding the pegasus to test for injuries.

Spoiler

CoffeeHorse · Mar 10, 2025

The stallion struggled to his feet and muttered, "Why was there a shovel in one of the clouds?" Brisk Iron very briefly glanced over at the tour team until he continued. "Anyway...I have an express delivery for a Brisk Iron from the royal guard." "That would be me." He gave her a letter and a film reel shaped package. He was about to take off again but she said, "Wait. Let them look you over before you go." "I was hoping to get going before I got caught in the rain." "Rain? Oh no, what time is i..."

A heavy downpour began as the weather team was right on time. Sort of.

"It might be best if you go inside, Brisk, so your packages don't get damaged. I think I can handle it from here. Maple, if you and the rest could help the teachers herd the little ones inside, that would be much appreciated."

"yes ma'ams." Maple turned and trotted a few paces back to the group... her mane and tail doing their best to shield her from the rain... but all to soon she'd look like a wet mop.

"Okay little ponies, time to head back inside... just go ahead and drop everything, we'll get it all picked up later on... follow me and we'll see if the snack stands have any fresh donuts teheh, and then maybe when we've dried off a little, we can go see what type of neat treasures the giftshop has!"

The foals dropped their shovels, buckets, and brushes but not a single one dropped the things they had found while digging as they fell in line and followed their teachers.

Relieved for the reprieve from whatever Brisk Iron's response was going to be for his comment, Static goes to help round up the foals.

[Since when have you ever been comfortable around foals?]

[Have to learn sometime. Hope to have my own sooner rather than later.]

[Again...since when?]

[You know very well since when.]

"Wow! This is a fantastic downpour! The team really outdid themselves today," Misty comments as the rain comes down.

CoffeeHorse · Mar 12, 2025

After the classes were escorted inside, Night Cap received a big hug from Plateau Precious. Similarly, the twins walked up to Symphony and Scarlet Spectrum and said, "Thanks, we had fun."

Once the goodbyes were said and the classes left, Brisk Iron approached the group and said, "I'm going to need all of you in the conference room. There's something of interest in the letter. Steel, you get the rest of the department heads. Night Cap, make sure to bring the projector."

[Wait, Night Cap's getting the projector? But...but...that's my job!]

[You think in all the excitement she forgot what you said about the ship in her back yard?]

[Are you kidding? This is Ms. Iron. She never forgets.]

Static makes sure to stay quiet on his way to the conference room.

"Good Morning Static! I wonder why Mr. Night Cap is still doing the camera work now that you're here with us?" Maple looks up at the sky trying to see the sun, but the lingering clouds are a bothersome nuisance. "...Or is it Afternoon? I wonder what this meeting is about, you've been with her most of the day right? do you think it is about something other than the boats that got planted? Did you see Boss Vine?" Maple bounces around Static Signal before she collapses onto his back/shoulders and begins to murmur in her sleep.

"forgot to eat a lot of sweets... zzzzzzz, forgot foals are tuckering ....*snore* ... "

Destron D-69:
"Good Morning Static! I wonder why Mr. Night Cap is still doing the camera work now that you're here with us?"

"Well I'm sure Night Cap is more than capa..."

"...Or is it Afternoon?"

"I seem to have left my watch at ho..."

"I wonder what this meeting is about, you've been with her most of the day right? do you think it is about something other than the boats that got planted?"

"I honestly have no id..."

Did you see Boss Vine?" Maple bounces around Static Signal before she collapses onto his back/shoulders and begins to murmur in her sleep.

"We spoke brief...uh..." *sigh* "Sleep tight. I'm sure you've got a few minutes before the meeting starts.

whether just settling in or not, Maple rolls into a pose that feels like a hug, hanging her limp forehooves down either side of Static.

CoffeeHorse · Mar 12, 2025

Misty trots alongside Symphony and Scarlet Spectrum. "I heard you got to help out with those foals on the field trip today! That sounds like it was fun."

Wanderlust pats the messenger on the back as he takes off, then hurries after everyone to the conference room, giving one last look over his shoulder at the unearthed ship...

Once the group was brought together and Night Cap returned with the projector, Brisk Iron announced, "Some of you who have been here longer know of the difficulties with our prior royal liason, Major Delight. The letter I have received is from our newly assigned contact and I would like to read it to you:"

Dear Chief Director Brisk Iron and other appropriate museum staff,

My name is Major Key and I am your new royal contact. I have been briefed on your situation and I hope to make a better impression than my predecessor. I feel that what you do has worth but understand that sometimes there are unforseen circumstances. I had hoped to meet you directly but unfortunately, duty calls. However, I am sending you something as a token of goodwill. Attached is a copy of one of our training films. This is a work-in-progress copy instead of the polished final but I checked and the infomation is still presented accurately. May it be of use to you and yours when dealing with the unknown.

Sincerely,
Major Key

Static winced. He couldn't help but feel a bit responsible for Major Delight's being replaced. Sure he was a jerk. Sure Static hoped he'd get an earful, enough to whip him into shape and maybe humble him a bit. He hadn't intended on getting him sacked, though.

Still, this Major Key seemed to be a much more agreeable type. From the sounds of it, Static couldn't really be sorry they'd be dealing with someone a bit less on the antagonistic side of things.

He couldn't wait to see the film.

All this went through his head, but he had learned enough at these meetings to know better than to actually say something. Bad things still seemed to happen whenever he talked.

Wanderlust cocks an eyebrow. "What was the deal with this Major Delight guy?"

CoffeeHorse · Mar 12, 2025

BEFORE:

Scarlet grinned at the twins.

"Glad you two had fun. Tours aren't always this unpredictable, but we do our best.

Take care."

Following Symphony, he headed to the meeting.

NOW:

Scarlet sighed sadly. He had mixed feelings about Major Delights 'reassignment'. While he felt bad for the royal guard and knew that the outburst that must have precipitated this was , unavoidable, one more thing to lay at his feet. Scarlet couldn't help feeling that this might be for the best. Taking Major Delight away from the Keep meant that he wouldn't be constantly reminded of Rain. Of Scarlets mistake. Of his anger and grief. Maybe he'd have chance to heal.

Or maybe, just may, Scarlet could final unravel the mystery of where Rain was trapped and get Delight his niece back!

Maple rolls in her sleep and lands on her face with a thud next to Static... after a moment of her legs wiggling in various directions. Muffled/ labored snores can be heard making there way out from under the edge of her facesplat.

Spoiler

Static nudges Maple to wake her up.

" Five more minutes... if we wake up now the evil monster from dimension x will break free and Mr. Night Cap and Miss Black Night can't defeat it without my help.!"

Maple mumbles around the floor in her mouth

Static raised an eyebrow. He then gave Brisk Iron a look as if to say "I tried."

CoffeeHorse · Mar 12, 2025

Jogged from his inner thoughts by the thump, Scarlet looked over to Static. Giving him a sympathetic smile, the pegasus was about to try and help... when he remembered where they were.

Brisk Iron sighed and then nodded to Melon Hide. He got up and very gently nudged Maplejack. With a calm voice, he said, "Maple, please get up. You're needed right now."

"Sorry about that." Maple says, as she picks herself up off the floor.

"To answer your question, Wanderlust: Major DElight was our prior contact for interacting with the royal guard and Princess Celestia. He was disagreeable due to both his own personality and him not wanting his niece in dangerous situations. This interaction became worse after she did wind up in danger. Admittedly, I probably should have contacted Celestia directly but I felt I needed to handle the situation on my own.

Hopefully things will go better with Major Key. On that note..." Brisk Iron directed Night Cap to start the projector. As the reel spun and the volume kicked in, the group saw a few guardsponies in what seemed to be a tunnel. Suddenly a cardboard prop of a glowing, spikey creature in desaturated colors appeared in front of them with a strip of tape with the words 'NOT FINAL' writen across it. "While exploring a new area, you stumble across a creature from another plane! What do you do?"
One of them looked at the camera and said, "Um, try to befriend it?"
"Usually that's an excellent idea but what about the times it can't be befriended?"
Cardboard spiky props with the words 'BAD THINGS' appeared on top of of several of the ponies around him. "Um, I dunno. I don't have a horn."
"Ah, but there is something you can do!" A piece of chalk was shown. "With a simple writing implement, even you can solve this crisis with a banishment circle! In a few simple steps, you can send it back where it came." Several runes and diagrams flashed on the screen but a bit faster than they should have for an instructional video.

"PRACTICE TODAY!" Then one of the guardsponies walked in front of the camera and it fell over. The screen went black, then with the film over the pure projector light was stark white.

"Minor pacing edits at the end but nothing we can't fix. It'll need to be taken to editing so that those adjustments can be made and the team can properly learn from it in case it's needed in a mission."

"Heh! Probably could've used that a couple days ago! Go thing Night was with me." Here he looked to Night Cap. "Anything to add to that?"

CoffeeHorse · Mar 17, 2025

Scarlet chuckled.

"I guess even the royal guard can't get past instructional videos feeling unavoidably awkward. K8nda reminds me of some of the educational PSAs i had to show in class.

Still, its interesting to see a prelim tool for the guard.

'sigh'

I hope Major Delight can find a bit of peace away from any reminders.

Until i can fix things. "

"Until WE can fix things," Static corrected.

"Indeed, we'll find her soon enough. No use beating yourself over it. For now, I'm just glad today went well enough. Night Cap, since you handled filming today, you'll be working on making sure it's properly edited down to something professional. Static, your job is to verify that this happens."

And yet another adventure concludes. Will the next STOMP escapade involve the antics of the young or will it be something more sinister? Tune in next time folks for more of the Equestrian Radio Show's Adventure Variety Hour!

*static crackle*

*static crackle*

Good evening folks! It's time for another exciting Saturday night with the Equestrian Radio Show's Adventure Variety Hour! This week we once again bring you to the explorative exploits of the Explorers of STOMP. Last time, most of the team hosted a field trip full of calamity and surprises. But a surprise for them was Grape Vine showing up to receive the other half of the Wand of Doubled Doubling and that the royal guard left them a training movie with useful information.

Now a few weeks later, the group received an urgent request to come to Brisk Iron's office. After everypony had gotten settled and were fully alert, she announced, "A research team was doing some work near the mountains west of White Tail Woods. I'm planning on sending in a rescue party because earlier today we lost all communication with them. Their last message on the Morse code transmitter being:"
..._ _ _...
..._ _ _...
..._ _ _...
..._ _ _

Static winced. "SOS definitely isn't a good sign. Even worse when it gets cut off like that."

General Knowledge

Roll(1d20)+0:
19,+0
Total:19

19 + 14 = 33

Does Static know of any recent reports of animal attacks or are there any regional stories of predators in the area.

CoffeeHorse · Mar 17, 2025

Static Signal hadn't heard of any recent attacks in the area. However, it was generally uncharted territory so it couldn't be ruled out. In fact, the unknown status was likely why it was being researched. Meanwhile, Brisk Iron frowned at Night Cap. "I don't know why you would pack spears. Anyway, there's a research station near the area with a newly built teleport room so getting to the general area should be easy. We just don't know what their exact coordinates are or what they discovered."

A rescue mission sounds exciting!

"Alright! I'm ready to go right now!" Misty exclaims.

"Those of us with any medical training should be prepared for the worst... since as far as we know they've only been out of contact for part of today, we shouldn't need to bring extra food and water for the research ponies."

Spoiler
Wanderlust nods at Maple's mention of medicine. "What were they researching?"

"Geology with some basic cartography of the area."

CoffeeHorse · Mar 17, 2025

"So it's not like they were looking for trouble. When do we leave?"

"Frozen caves, wasp attack swamps with underground lakes, Volcanoes ... when Equestion Geology is involved we may not have to go looking for trouble... it could very well be waiting there for us." Maple sighs, "Have there been transcripts made of the last reports from the group? We'll lose the rescue party too if the Basement unicorns teleport us onto a bed of quicksand...and as the rescue party it'd be good to avoid that."

Static clinches his jaw hearing Maple talk.

[Luna! She's been doing this for too long. If this job can start getting to even her...]

Static rests a hoof on Maples shoulder.

Turning her head away from the chief to look at Static, and his hoof on her shoulder... "Did you have something to Add Static? Did I forget a geological danger from one of our missions? ... I know I read the report about the mission directly preceding my joining the team, but I don't remember anything specifically geological being involved there."

[She probably doesn't even realize how much she's changed]

[It's called growing up, Static]

With something in his voice a cross between sorrow and pride, Static shakes his head and removes his hoof. "No, sorry, you're doing just fine."

[Just fine.]

CoffeeHorse · Mar 19, 2025

"Did the first expedition team also leave from the teleport room? If we start from the same point they did, we can retrace their hoofsteps and find them that much easier!"

"You'll be leaving right now," "Brisk Iron said." "On the matters of the teleport circle, they only transport between each other and yes, the other team did leave from that one."

Scarlet nodded.

"Quicksand is highly unlikely to be an issue teleporting in. A rescue hunt in unusual circumstances. I have a few tricks to assist with dealing with uncertain terrain or weather.

So long as we have the basics with us and take things slow and steady, we should be alright.

I'm ready Chief."

Looking over to where Static stood next to Maple, he gave his friend a quizxical 4xpression.

"Are you ok Maple?"

"I'm fine Mr. Spectrum... let's stay focused on the mission." Maple gave the chief a stern nod before looking over to Scarlet.

"We should head out if there isn't more to discuss."

Symphony had remained quiet while the others talked, but a question rang forth in her head "So, Um... Are we really the best suited for this task? I mean... uh... well... isn't this team meant more for recovering artifacts?" Sh had no issue rescuing others, she actually has a bit of experience doing that on occasion before now, but still she was curious why them and not a team more used to such rescues.

"While some teams may be good at rescuing, we don't have a dedicated rescue team. Moreover, some who would be good at such a thing are not immediately available due to being on various expeditions."

CoffeeHorse · Mar 19, 2025

"Ah, okay. I suppose that's why I'm here today rather then Rhapsody." Symphony replies. Her sister had recovered fairly well over the past couple of weeks since being discharged from the hospital. Last she heard was the Rhapsody was sent on mission a few days ago. "I guess she's not back yet."

"Unless it's broken when you find it. ...Then we try to fix it, Right Mr. Night Cap!?" Maple's glower turned into a beaming grin as she replied to her Dashing hero.

Scarlet remained silent, not sure what to make of Maples sudden fervor for this mission and general attitude. Her glower didn't help. Though watching it change when she heard Night Cap made him chuckle inwardly.

"Indeed, so we need to move fast. I'll be on this end coordinating with you since there's multiple things I'm juggling at the moment. Bear with me if a Morse code reply is slow."

Moving swiftly, the group was swiftly escorted to the teleport room. After travelling quick as a wink and arriving at the research station, they were given the approximate coordinates of where in the uncharted region the missing team should be and so they set out to find them...

Spoiler
Zam

Maple steadies herself, both physically and magically after the teleporter magic fades... a thin ripple of her own magic travels along her body, just to make sure all her bits are in the right places. While doing so, her eyes scan the area to see what she can tell from the environment at first blush.

"That still makes me feel all wiggly." she mumbles.

"Yeah, bit of a rush every time. Fun isn't it?" Static takes a moment to orient himself. "Okay, let's get our hooves back under us and get moving. This research team seemed in dire straights when they messaged the Keep, and that was hours ago."

CoffeeHorse · Mar 24, 2025

Misty uses her navigational senses to help her figure out which direction the team should head in.

Spoiler

For a brief moment, Misty Monsoon once again had a brief vision of the sun. Something was subtly off about the sky but she couldn't place just what it was. However, the vision ended and she was able to quickly assess that the group should be heading west. To reach the coordinates last given, it might take them about an hour of travel unless there was some sort of faster option. At least the weather was fine on this bright and sunny day.

Maplejack could tell this was a wild and untamed area outside of a few spots around the research base. However, it wasn't overgrown. If anything, it was almost as if the wildness was being subtly contained.

Wanderlust generally likened teleportation to clinging to the back of a particularly rude dragon, but given that he wasn't supposed to have met any dragons, he settles for, "Teleportation's not so bad. Just think of it as a bumpy cart ride.
...A really bumpy cart ride. A bumpy cart ride where the cart is plummeting through space, and sometimes gets really hot."

"It always feels to me like crackling of electricity, and time and space being torn, ripped and bent all around you. It's a rush of being instantly ripped from one place and dropped off in another. Kinda hars, sudden, violent. I absolutely love it! I wish I were a unicorn just so I could teleport all the time!" Static looks over to Misty. "So, you're the navigator. Which way?"

Misty shrugs off the strange vision that appears once again. "Go west!" she replies enthusiastically to Static's question, and points a hoof in that direction for added emphasis.

CoffeeHorse · Mar 24, 2025

Two missions in a row now... Maple would follow this Pony wherever she wanted to go.

"West it is then, Misty." maple replies, "Ears on a swivel though ponies, this part of the woods seems to be behaving itself... but I can't be sure it'll stay that way."

Static raised an eyebrow. He trusted the botanist to know what she was talking about. But that just raised the hair on his neck even more. "Define 'behaving itself'," he said cautiously as he started to walk off to the west.

Symphony recovered from the teleport, she'd never quiet done it that way before. It wasn't really the roughest she's done, but it had left her in a lurch for a bit as she got her baring in the forest. "Ah, well... Normal Teleportation, least in my experience; is much more... um... stable... then that is." She says looking to Static. "Maybe the difference between one and many..." She muses a bit to herself. "Oh, really Static?" She asks cocking her head a bit. "I um... think that Maple's terminology is very clear... This is an uncharted place, where a previous group has disappeared. Right now everything seems... well... stable, calm... If there is some sort of um... malevolence force, it's not acting on us being here... yet..." She says taking a deep breathe as she looks around, trying to remain on guard.

"Yeah, it was just an observation Static." Maple said, as she eyed the way the forest held itself back from the ponified areas. "Despite them being alive... my magic doesn't really work the same on plants as they do on ponies, oh how much prettier the gardens at the keep would be if I could feel the plant's feelings." Maple smiles turning to Symphony,

"Yes, that's all I meant... I don't think this is a 'Brusselsprouts' situation." Maple adds, turning back to Static.

Wanderlust kicked himself for not bringing it up faster. He had just been happy to be back in the woods. "And, just, the overgrowth's understated. There should be vines webs between trees and grasses up to our noses in some places. To me, it feels kinda...cropped. Like some herbivores live here. Or at least eat here."

[IC] Equestrian Radio Show's Adventure Variety Hour: Explorers of STOMP

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

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Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.

Exhausted, but still standing.