When Darkness Falls (Sign-up)

There were a lot more Alicorns and Draconequui back in the day, but their civilization fell to corruption despite their power and knowledge, ultimately being destroyed when a mysterious creature called Sam-Uzu (aka Smooze) wiped out their civilization, leaving only a few survivors, including Celestia, Luna, Cadance and Discord, as well as a mysterious Prince. Now, however, relics and items are being discovered such as the Alicorn Amulet dating back to that time, and a portal has been discovered holding an ancient army of these Antedeluvian monsters and threatening to open at any time. At the same time, news of a protectorate ruled by an insane Prince in the long-forgotten city of Pandaemonium has reached Equestria, worrying those in authority still further. As Discord is cured of his madness and volunteers to help the Three Princesses keep back the hordes, you and your friends/partners are assigned or volunteered to help unearth and enter the long-buried ruins of the city of Pandemonium in order to find a way to stop the corrupted alicorns and draconequui, and their chaos, from escaping. You should also look into this "Protectorate" and the mad Prince, and see if you can do something about it before he tries doing something he'll really, really regret. You get special tools and can find new tools as you adventure. There's also "stations" to trade in or fix old tools.

"Long ago, long before the continents were divided, or the mountains raised, Ponykind was a great and powerful civilization. In those times, there were no pegasi, or unicorns, or earth ponies, but only alicorns, and draconequi. Yes, thousands, millions, billions of them, each godlike in power. Their cities reached to the heavens, their wisdom surpassed that of any alive today save the Sisters.

"They grew proud. These gods were not content with what power their Parents, the All-Makers, blessed them with. They wanted more. They wanted everything.

"In those days, child, they went whithersoever they pleased, to the farthest star and back. They were powerful, and cruel. Simple art and philosophy no longer satisfied their thirst; they delved into dark arts, terrible arts. Do you wonder at the cruelty of the Alicorn Amulet? Or at the wretchedness of the Diamond Dogs and their ancestors, the Grundles? That was not by chance. In their pride, these gods of old grew proud. They sought to supplant the All-Makers, to bring their evil to all the universe and beyond.

"Such could not stand forever.

"The first sound was a roar unlike anything you or I could ever hope to imagine. A roar that tore at the very fabric of reality. They say it was as if the very sky were rolled back like a scroll, as though the stars were blotted out one by one. In a single day and night, it is said, all the majesty, the power, the glory, the wisdom of those days, all the cruelty and malice, was swept away by a living flood- Sam-Uzu, the God-Bane. In latter days when those of lesser races grew up to fill the void left behind by the deluge, this creature of destruction would be called the Smooze, and became a foal's tale to laugh and jest at. It was not at that time.

"But the All-Makers were merciful. A few were spared the destruction. Among them were three Sisters, one Brother, and a Prince.

"Yes, my child. The very Sisters that rule us today were among the sole survivors of that great calamity. And with them was a fair and beautiful spirit of creativity and invention, of newness and innovation: Anelkisteras was his name. He was a Draconequus, young and bold and wise, though cunning and mischievous. There was also a great Prince who once ruled over a vast domain in the time before the Deluge.

"But in the hearts of those that come from such a past ever lay a seed of the malice of that time...

"The first to fall was Anelkisteras the Fair. Even as he helped to rebuild and repopulate the devestated world, his jests became crueler, his tricks ever more malicious. Soon he abandoned all civility altogether, and made war upon the Sisters, saying: "The world has ended, and this world is ours to control. Yet what is life without a bit of Chaos?"

"And they cursed him, and called him Discord, for that was what he brought everywhere he went. Soon, Luna Herself fell to jealousy, and Cadance to infatuation. The Prince fell to a madness akin to that of Discord, and went far into the North to the lost city of Pandemonium with his servants, with the intent of unearthing and ruling over the ruins as a god. But not all was lost. The Elements of Harmony were forged in the Fires of Friendship, and our ancestors helped Celestia to banish all three of Her Siblings and seal the Prince deep within the lost city. In time, Each Sibling,, as you know, were cured of Their madness. Anelkisteras was the most recent to be cured by the Element of Kindness, though he keeps the name of Discord.

"Yet with the curing of Their minds came the trouble you discovered. A gateway was found, an ancient holding cell. Tartarus it was called in ages past, but even now the seals are breaking. Soon it shall break completely, and not even Cerberus will be able to hold back the demons within, the ones who called themselves gods, the ones who sought to supplant the All-Makers. At the same time, rumor came of the mad Prince, now even farther from the grips of reality, leading an army of ponies empowered by the dark power of the city he found, seeking to break free of the darkness and take over all the land.

"Celestia, Luna, Cadance and Discord will hold back Their fellows as long as They can, along with the Elements of Harmony and the Crystal Heart. Your task is to find a way in the deadly city of Pandemonium to stop the door from opening, or if that is impossible, to stop the hordes that come out, and to stop the mad Prince. It will not be easy. Who knows what Nameless things dwell in the darkness, long bereft of the light of the world, gnawing themselves in the shadows and growing in strange ways. You will come to the uttermost Foundations of Stone and face terrors beyond your worst nightmares, but you will prevail.

"Take these swords and spears and bows. They were forged by Their Majesties and borne by Them before the Deluge. No other weapon will suffice in the Depths. As you go, you may find ever stronger Legendary Weapons of Ages past. I suggest that you use them as best as you can. We have already sent scouting parties before you into the Depths. They will do what they can to assist you.

Good luck.

Legendary Bow: infinite Legendary Damage arrows, up to 3 shot at a time.
Legendary Staff: changes spell and summon/pet damage to Legendary
Legendary Spear: mid-range Legendary Damage
Legendary Hammer: short-range Legendary Damage
Legendary Sword: mid-range Legendary Damage
Legendary Claws: very short-range Legendary Damage

Tian Long (ArtVeigar) - Melee DPS - Sword, Spear (+Fire) - Strength, Power, Agility - Sword Sweep stun/damage/+wound, Swirling Blade multiple-target single 10% attack, Solar Stab 20% damage + 10%/turn Fire-buffed wound, Lunar Slash 20% damage + 5%/turn wound, Sword Hedge reflect 50% and reduce incoming damage by 50% while disabling all outgoing attacks, Slicing Wind 10%/wound ranged AoE, Aurora AoE 10% stun ranged
Range Conjure (The Stars) - Constructor/Summoner - Staff - Wisdom, Defense - Biting Shadows multiple-target DoT, Test of Will single-target stun/10% attack, Blinding Flash AoE Mesmerize, Cratered Earth root/stun/10% AoE
Crimson Blood (The Stars) - Berserker - Staff - Wisdom, Attack - Biting Shadows multiple-target DoT, Test of Will single-target stun/10% attack, Blinding Flash AoE Mesmerize, Cratered Earth root/stun/10% AoE
Price (The Stars) - Spy - Sword x2 - Agility, Speed - Sword Sweep stun/damage/+wound, Swirling Blade multiple-target single 10% attack, Sword Hedge reflect 50% and reduce incoming damage by 50% while disabling all outgoing attacks, Slicing Wind 10%/wound ranged AoE
Noy Gazer (Rundo) - Overseer - Staff (+Buff), Spider's Silk - Knowledge, Wisdom - Biting Shadows multiple-target DoT, Test of Will single-target stun/10% attack, Blinding Flash AoE Mesmerize, Cratered Earth root/stun/10% AoE
Majem (Chirp) - Scout/Strategist - Bow, Sword - Agility, Wisdom, Speed, Accuracy - Sword Sweep stun/damage/+wound, Swirling Blade multiple-target single 10% attack, Quad Shot, Piercing Shot 5%/turn wound/10% attack, Sword Hedge reflect 50% and reduce incoming damage by 50% while disabling all outgoing attacks, Slicing Wind 10%/wound ranged AoE, Fire Storm AoE 10%/wound ranged AoE
Aubade "Sunny" Trek (Silver Snake) - Ranger/Summoner - Bow, Staff - Agility, Accuracy, Wisdom - Lightning Wave AoE stun, Biting Shadows multiple-target DoT, Quad Shot, Test of Will single-target stun/10% attack, Blinding Flash AoE Mesmerize, Fire Storm AoE 10%/wound ranged AoE, Cratered Earth root/stun/10% AoE
Bleyd Master (bleyd) - Assassin - Claws (+Venom) - Strength, DoT - Slashing Claws triple attack, Piercing Shot 5%/turn wound/10% attack, Snatching Claws Stun/Attack, Silent Defeat 1/encounter non-boss ranged one-hit-defeat
>unnamed< (Somebeing) - Engineer/Researcher - Hammer - Strength, Crafting - Fix It temporary one-turn repair, Strike Ground 10% stun melee AoE
Glimmering "Glimmer" Health (super_chris85) - Healer - Staff - Wisdom, Knowledge, Healing - Healing Wave (1/fight) AoE 20% heal, Biting Shadows multiple-target DoT, Improved Beacon of Hope continuous 10% group heal, Test of Will single-target stun/10% attack, Blinding Flash AoE Mesmerize, Cratered Earth root/stun/10% AoE
Leafa Whitewood (Ryo_D_Disk) - Mid-range Duellist - 2 Sword - Speed, Power, Agility - Sword Sweep stun/damage/+wound, Swirling Blade multiple-target single 10% attack, Sword Hedge reflect 50% and reduce incoming damage by 50% while disabling all outgoing attacks, Slicing Wind 10%/wound ranged AoE
Stanzi (GalvinRoe) - Quest PC, Enchanter/Artificer/Puppeteer - Staff, Shillelagh, Band of Sustenance - Knowledge - Immune to Starvation, Fix It: temporary one-turn repair, Puppeteer: create three strong golems from any non-Legendary inanimate material (removes other spellcasting abilities as puppeteer must focus will to direct Instant Golems; golems fall apart on Interrupt, Stun, Cancel, Defeat or voluntary cessation of spell), Puppet Strings: control one non-boss non-Adventurer non-Camp-member creature which has directed its Aggression towards you and is attacking for 1 turn (cannot command it to harm itself)
Night Wing (darkstar1105) - Rogue - Legendary Bow, Legendary Claws - Strength, Agility - None
Coppershine (Morning Glory) - Tank - Legendary Shield, Weighted Horseshoes - Defense, Stamina, Power, Health, Healing - Shield Strike: Interrupt/Stun/Damage, Empathy: take somepony else's damage for them, Always Faithful: 1/fight self-heal 20%, Turtle Stance: temporarily Immune to damage (but unable to attack), Encouragement: health exchange giving up to 50% of one's own health to another pony
Clouded Mind (cloudandis) - Scout/Ranger - Legendary Bow - Agility, Accuracy - Quad Shot, Piercing Shot 5%/turn wound/10% attack, Trick Shot obstacle-skirting attack, Snare Trap light Root, Fire Storm AoE 10%/wound ranged AoE
Rhyme Writer (rhyme writer) - Party Defense/Summoner/Bard - Legendary Staff - Wisdom, Defense - Biting Shadows multiple-target DoT, Test of Will single-target stun/10% attack, Ink Barrier, Minor Ink Creature: create one weak Ink Creature to aid in battle (removes other spellcasting abilities as summoner must focus will to direct summon; Creature falls apart on Interrupt, Stun, Cancel, Defeat or voluntary cessation of spell), Slashing Tentacles triple attack, Blinding Flash AoE Mesmerize, Cratered Earth root/stun/10% AoE
Oblivion Alexander Swords (Haned tom.) - Mimic - Legendary Claws - Strength - Slashing Claws triple attack, Mimic: attempt to copy the DNA of another creature (non-Legendary only, 3 turn induction, cannot perform any other action during induction and is Stunned for 1 turn if Interrupted), Snatching Claws Stun/Attack, Silent Defeat 1/encounter non-boss ranged one-hit-defeat
Laebenal (Laebenal) - Sneak/Rogue - Legendary Dagger, Legendary Cloak - Stealth - Blinding Flash stun, Plain Sight instant Legendary Stealth (breaks on outgoing or incoming damage), Backstab 20% damage + 10%/turn wound (breaks stealth, can only be done from stealth), Dagger Slash 10% normal damage, Silent Defeat 1/encounter non-boss ranged one-hit-defeat
Pale Flare (Laebenal) - DoT/pyromancer - Legendary Staff - Burning Embers 5%/turn fire debuff, Firewall halves damage and reflects half damage to attackers (stationary, breaks on movement), Biting Shadows multiple-target DoT, Test of Will single-target stun/10% attack, Blinding Flash AoE Mesmerize, Cratered Earth root/stun/10% AoE
Bulger (Mr.Fox) - Assassin - Legendary Claws - Strength - Slashing Claws triple attack, Snatching Claws Stun/Attack, Silent Defeat 1/encounter non-boss ranged one-hit-defeat
Techno "Tech" Blitz (Midnight_Aurora) - scout/engineer/advanced technician/aerial fighter - Wing-Blade - +Mobility, +Attack, -Health, -Critical - Lightning strike 10% single range, Feather Darts x6 1% rage (stun if Lightning buff), Fly-by Strike 10% melee (prereq: speed), Slashing Wind 10% AoE melee, Air Slash 10% single / 5% multiple melee
"TC_101" (Midnight_Aurora) - summon - "Bow" - Wisdom - Quad Shot, Piercing Shot 5%/turn wound/10% attack, Fire Storm AoE 10%/wound ranged AoE
Tezaku Blues (Tezaku) - Tank - Wing-Blade - none - Lightning strike 10% single range, Feather Darts x6 1% rage (stun if Lightning buff), Fly-by Strike 10% melee (prereq: speed), Slashing Wind 10% AoE melee, Air Slash 10% single / 5% multiple melee
Farsight (Seriack) - Support/Ranged DPS(Mostly DoTs and minion damage) - Staff - Attack - Biting Shadows multiple-target DoT, Test of Will single-target stun/10% attack, Blinding Flash AoE Mesmerize, Cratered Earth root/stun/10% AoE, Healing Dream restore 20% health (Mesmerizes target for one turn since it's a dream), Living Nightmare weak summon (continuous Mesmerize on one target, ends if target awakes, goes unconscious or is defeated, or caster is incapacitated in any way. One target/summon at a time.)

Villain:
Prince Impera Caeterus: Arch-Nemesis - Strength, Speed, Accuracy, Agility, Power, Stealth, Power, Healing