THE QUEST FOR THE STAG

[halfbloodhillmods]

WHO: Chloe Saunders, Derek Souza, Gabriel Novak, and Leo Valdez
WHAT: The Quest for the Stag
WHERE: New York City, New York
WHEN: July 17-20, 2013
WHY: On July 17, the goddess Artemis arrives at camp and asks for an audience with Chiron at once.



It's not often that the Hunters of Artemis are sent into a panic, but today's one of those days.

Their goddess appears to them quite often, having shown herself just last month when a boy was bullying Hunter Arin Mistry. But today she's here at the camp once more, arriving with a group of her most experienced scouts, and she's without her faithful hunting companion, the Golden Stag.

Artemis had gone to Chiron immediately, explaining her situation. She'd left her tent one morning to bathe in a pond with her ladies in waiting, and upon her return, the stag went missing. She'd taken a group of scouting Hunters from the camp to go on a cross-country search for the animal to no avail, and now she called upon the more permanent campers for help.

The centaur brought the goddess herself into a meeting with Rachel Elizabeth Dare, who was finally done with all her exams and is staying at camp. Rachel issued this prophecy:

Heroes search for a goddess's sign
Sly, strong of heart, and quick of mind
Venture out into a brave new land
That's long forgotten, a journey unplanned
The halflings treasure they hold dear
Keep out until the coast is clear
The black elves' shining metal hoard
Hidden in plain sight behind a door

Based on the words of the prophecy, Chiron chose three of his campers who fit the description, Chloe Saunders, Gabriel Novak, and Leo Valdez. However, wherever Chloe goes, a werewolf isn't far behind...

Artemis has instructed Chiron to tell the heroes that should they be successful, a reward for each of them is personally in order.

The questers are expected to leave at noon on June 17 to allow them to get a head-start on their journey before anything else happens to change their fates, and must return with the Stag by noon on June 20 so Artemis can resume her godly duties in a timely fashion. They will be equipped with backpacks containing a small bedroll, two vials each of nectar (one-half of the vial will cure most wounds, a whole vial will cure fatal wounds) and one piece of ambrosia (one half will cure most wounds, a whole piece will cure a fatal wound), mortal first-aid equipment like bandages, matches, a length of rope, and three golden drachmas. They may take their weapons to aid them, as well as any special items they may have on their person at this time.

Good luck.

Comments

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Leo jumps, completely unaware that Derek is in the area until he speaks. ]

Whoa! Don't do that!

[ Breathe, Valdez. None of them need the human flamethrower going off without warning.

Sure would have been nice to have a warning.

...Wait, did Chloe say dead? (She's a daughter of Hades?) As in... He looks around warily, but no, everyone around looks normal. ]

Where, exactly, are you getting a zombie from?

[wolfs]

Sorry, I'll try to keep from walking places in the future. [Derek excels at sarcasm, as it turns out.

He's on the verge of disagreeing with Chloe, when he notices the way she's biting back a smile (maybe no one else could tell, but he's had occasion to learn her mannerisms over the past few months). His jaw clenches, and he lets out a sigh that sounds more wolf than human. The full moon is approaching, after all] Fine. But be careful.

[necromancies]

[There's a grin now, because it feels good to have people actually listen to her.] Don't worry, I am the master of subtlety. [Well.... Sort of not really but whatever.

At Leo's question, she makes a face.] Not zombies. I can't do that. [But there's a lingering 'yet' left unspoken, an air of complete confidence that she knows she can do it.] But I figure I can get them wherever there's a dead body. [Duh.] I'm talking about ghosts. [She nods to one hovering near Leo. Not that he can actually see the perky blonde girl there, but she figures it can't hurt.] Her name is Liz, and she says she'll scout for us. [There's a moment where she goes quiet, and Chloe's face goes a little pink.] What? No, I'm not going to tell him that. [That's so embarrassing, Liz, get out.]

[angeliaforos]

Leo, relax, it's a death god thing. I think we have it in the bag.

[then again, he's also been on a quest with her before.

Gabriel waves to the space vaguely next to Chloe. He can't see the ghost, but he'll take her word for it.

And he'll have to ask Chloe in private later what Liz had said. He's nothing if not nosy.]

Ok, go on, scout the area if you can. We'll keep it safe out here.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Leo does a double-take and, sidestepping, stares at the empty air beside him as if someone is going to materialize there. No one does, so he looks back at Chloe with a confused expression. ]

What'd she say?

[ Oh wait they're here for a reason aren't they. ]

Uh, I mean, yeah, go ahead! We got this.

[ Brave face! Ghosts do demigods favors all the time! Totally normal. ]

[wolfs]

[Scowling at Chloe rn] No you're not. You're the opposite of that. [Eyeing their two companions here] ...But you're still the least likely to attract attention out of all of us.

[There's a pause, and then something about him seems to lighten up, somehow. It's probably the closest to smiling the boys have actually seen him] Liz is here? Good. [Because Liz protects Chloe. And maybe they get on sometimes a little.

People are still glancing at him, and he tugs up the hood on his sweatshirt like that's somehow going to make him less suspicious. He mumbles the next part] I should go somewhere less noticeable.

[necromancies]

[There's a grin.] You guys do realize that I don't actually have to go in, right? Liz can be my eyes and ears for us. [A beat.] She also says hi to you, Derek.

[She makes a face at Liz who insists on Chloe repeating what she's said when Leo asks.] Look, how about we focus on the quest, and then I'll let everyone know what she said. Okay, Liz?

[The ghostly Liz rolls her eyes. Fine, fine. But I'm doing this as a favor, so you can't go back on your word. Then she's gone, disappearing in a wisp.]

Pull your hood back off. [Chloe's glancing at the people, unknowingly moving closer to Derek, as if she can protect him from stares.] And just ignore them, okay? They can't do anything to us.

[It's only a few moments later that Liz pops up again, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder as she leans in to Chloe. Doesn't seem to be a trap in there. Or any monsters. Just some really hairy short men selling a ton of jewelry. Actually, there was this really pretty necklace in there. The ghost sighs, touching her neck.] If I could find a way for you to change what you're wearing, I would. [She glances at the boys.] She says that they're a bunch of short men that are running the shop, but nothing really suspicious.

[angeliaforos]

[Gabriel chuckles along at Chloe's interactions with the invisible girl - well, it's good to see that you can have friends, even in the afterlife.

His eyes dart over to the kids playing in the street, and his hand unconsciously goes over to his back pocket for his prism, just in case. He's been on quests before, he knows that in the mortal world, it's best to keep your wits about you.]

Okay. If it's safe, then I say we go check it out. We might find something interesting in there.

Oh, and thanks, Liz.

[commandertoolbelt]

Liz, you're awesome.

[ He rubs his hands together, grinning. ]

Let's go find us a stag!

[ Forget waiting any more; Liz said there wasn't any threat, so Leo's just gonna head on over. You guys are coming, right? ]

[wolfs]

No. [That's to Chloe. He likes his hood. His hood can stay where it is.] And I know they can't do anything.

[Both boys get a dark scowl from Derek. He reaches out and grabs the back of both their shirts, making sure they stay in place for now] What are you doing? I said I'd go first. If there are any traps in there, they won't be for me. [He's immune to pretty much anything not silver]

[necromancies]

[Necromancy, man. Even when your friends die, they stick around for you, doing favors and such. Like how Liz is coming up behind Derek now and tugging his hood off for him. Since, as the ghost puts it, Chloe's too short to reach.]

She says thanks. [A sigh, from both girls, although they can only hear the one. Her head cocks.] Look, Liz says it hurts her feelings that you don't trust her, Derek. It'll be okay. [But basically, while he's holding onto Gabriel and Leo, Chloe's already walking ahead of them. Taking charge and all that with her spectral companion.]

[angeliaforos]

[Gabriel's not sure what he can do in this situation - for once, his mouth is shut and he's a bit speechless, but it's only because this big hulking guy's grabbed onto his t-shirt. He doesn't exactly want to disrobe to get out of Derek's grasp, so he's kind of struggling in the air, watching Chloe and her apparent ghost friend go away and walk on towards the shop.]

Hey, come on! Let go so we can get a move on!

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Leo's struggles are similar to Gabe's, tugging at his shirt and trying to keep moving as if the material might magically phase through the dude's fingers if he just tries hard enough to keep walking. It doesn't, and he is thoroughly annoyed by it. ]

Dude, let go! Liz said it was fine, and even if it's not I can sense traps! How do you think I put all those trick mines around camp?

[ ...Did he just say that? ]

[wolfs]

Liz. [The growl draws more attention than the removal of his hood, and by the time Derek has counted to five (he can't do ten) to try and calm down again, Chloe's running off ahead.

He drags back on the shirts in his grasp, pushing both boys behind him. A few quick steps have him caught up to Chloe, but he knows better than to be the scary looking guy reaching for the cute blond girl.] You know what would be great? If you would think of your safety for once.

[necromancies]

I am thinking of our quest, and that we don't have a lot of time to be standing around thinking about this. [Out of the corner of her eye, Liz is bobbing her head in agreement.] We're all going to be together. I'm pretty sure I'll be fine.

[She's still walking though, and they're in front of the door to the shop now. She gives Derek a pointed look before glancing back at Gabe and Leo.] So, are we going ladies first, or do you all want to step inside before me out of protection?

[angeliaforos]

[Gabriel's still struggling against Derek's hand on his shirt, but it's only his shirt, but he gives his hardest yank forward to let him free - although there's a hole in his camp shirt. When he's out he shakes his head, opening the door to the pawn shop.]

I get the whole chivalry thing or whatever, but Chloe's right. We don't have time to waste standing around here. I'm going in.

[And with that, he motions to the others before stepping inside himself.]

Holy shit.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Leo stumbles backwards and scowls at Derek. Does he have to be such a jerk? Whatever, they need get going. ]

Seriously, dude, chillax. She's a big girl. We don't need to--

[ He follows Gabe inside and stops, staring. ]

Whoa. Everything really is bigger in New York.

[halfbloodhillmods]

[The pawn shop looks fairly normal, full of all sorts of goodies your grandmother might buy and put on her mantles. A man behind the counter looks up from his newspaper, greeting them and telling them to look around.

All in all, it looks like a normal shop...

Except for the strange door at the back of a shop that's marked for employees only. A strange door where two fairly short men have vanished through. Literally. If you pay enough attention it looks almost as if they stepped through water.

Suspicious? Better think of a way to distract the clerk so you can check the doorway out.]