Daring Do, Professor of Archaeology at the Golden Oaks University in Ponyville, is known as a pony of adventure, the protege and partner of the treasure-hunting Dorado Caballeron, a mare who has traveled the world and discovered great treasures since she was a filly under the wing of her Uncle Adventure. What most don't know is her drive to discover the unknown, born the day that she witnessed her beloved uncle killed by shadowy monsters after taking an idol of a strange dog-like monster.
After one of her colleagues vanishes while searching for the legendary Sunken Church, Daring Do crosses paths with private detective Phillip Finder and sets out to search for her friend and for the hidden temple. From that day, the two form a partnership that spans Equestria, facing eldritch threats, monsters from beyond their world, insane cultists, and deadly assassins from the sinister Order of the Golden Sphinx. Their partnership grows to encompass Twilight Sparkle and Luster Dawn, two of the brightest students at Golden Oaks University; Zecora, the mysterious shaman from the Everfree Forest; Rainbow Dash, a cocky Wonderbolts reservist; and the Anomalous Investigations Unit, a small, ill-respected branch of the Royal Bureau of Investigation that handles cases beyond the pale of reason.
Obsession drives Daring Do forward in a quest to uncover lost secrets and magical treasures and to protect Equestria from impossible threats...but what might it cost her and those around her? And all the while, an ancient evil stirs beneath Equestria, hailed by the haunting chant:
Dead Ahuizotl waits dreaming...
A reboot of sorts of my former series Ponyville Noire, Daring Do: Shadows Over Equestria is an adventure-mystery story with heavy influence from the Cthulhu Mythos and related spinoffs, particularly the Arkham Horror franchise. It features many of the same characters but under different designs and inspirations.
Cover art by Redahfurerking!
Proofreading by Jade Dawn, Eagle--Paladin of Shadows, and TheLegendaryBillCipher !
