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

BREAKFAST, JUNE 17

[halfbloodhillmods]

[Say goodbye to the questing demigods, campers.]

THE QUEST

[halfbloodhillmods]

[Argus has brought the heroes into the Bronx, but this is as far as he can take them. The area looks fairly residential - two family houses on either sides of the street, kids playing hopscotch on the sidewalks, and corner bodegas on each end of the street.

One of the bodegas just happens to be a pawn shop...]

[necromancies]

[Chloe's standing a little further back from the others, feeling slightly awkward. She knows Gabriel a bit from the last quest, and she knows Leo from camp, but she hasn't really ever spent a lot of time alone with guys before. Derek didn't count. Well, Dereks, since her brother was in her cabin, too.

It's not just the awkward of being tossed with boys on this quest that is setting her apart. Mostly it's the chattering of several ghosts surrounding her. She's doing her best to ignore them, but there's a pinched look on her face and she might be waving her hand around, like she's shooing bugs away. They keep talking about the pawn shop, which is equally annoying.]

So. Just as a suggestion, but if we're dealing with treasure, should we check out that conveniently placed shop there? [It's probably a trap.]

[angeliaforos]

It's almost as if they want us to find it. Come on, guys.

We're supposed to be demigods, using our intuition to track down things, keep us on our toes, not have it glaring right in front of us!

[Gabriel actually has no problems with anybody that's with them right now - Chloe's one of the Romans that's easier to get along with, and Leo's a pretty funny guy himself. He'll try to keep things light in this situation, though, since it's clear that none of them had expected to be put on a quest this soon after the last one in the first place.]

I'm surprised your boyfriend hasn't showed up yet, Saunders.

[necromancies]

[Another quest, another prophecy. It sounds like the plot of some Lord of the Rings mini movie, with halflings and elves and...

Chloe really hopes they're not about to run into any dragons on this thing.

She's eating what looks like a strawberry poptart, breaking off tiny pieces to put into her mouth. Before sitting down, she probably sacrificed about ten of them to Pluto for good luck. Do children of the death god get good luck?]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Leo rolls his head back and groans. Did they have to say things like that? ]

This is just asking for Murphy's Law to come out of nowhere to kick us in the face.

[ And he hates to admit it, but they're right. The pawn shop is painfully obvious, and who knows? Maybe this will actually be easy. Here's hoping.

...No, Valdez, stop thinking like that! You'll doom them faster! Giving himself a mental shake - and ignoring the comments about Chloe's boyfriend; who cares - Leo looks at the other two expectantly. ]

So are we gonna stand here and stare at it all day, or are we gonna go?

[wolfs]

I'm not her boyfriend. [Derek's scowl is dark as he strides over, looking a little worse for wear from his journey, but otherwise in one piece. But it's not just because of Gabe's comment. His hulking form (wrapped in a hoodie to make him look fat, rather than built) has drawn attention, and a couple of people have pointed, either laughed or shied away like they think he's going to pull out a gun and start shooting everyone. His face is turning a kind of mottled red, but none of that shows in his tone or demeanour.]

I can go in first. [If it's a trap, he's the best option. It's not like the things that usually kill demigods can get to him]

[necromancies]

He's not my boyfriend. [Chloe mutters about two seconds before Derek pops up. She can't say she isn't happy to see him. She totally is. And she also knew that he was going to show up at some point. Glancing him over to make sure he's at least okay, the necromancer bites back a smile. Because there's really no point throwing the fuel on the fire in this regard.

Chloe shifts a bit, glancing from the other questers to Derek to the pawn shop.] No. Let me send someone in, to take a look around first. It's not foolproof but there are advantages to controlling the dead. [And also maybe it'll get people's attention off of Derek's hulking form and on her instead. She can deal with them thinking she's crazy for talking to herself.]

[angeliaforos]

Okay, okay, sorry.

[Yeesh, alright, maybe this wouldn't have been as easy as he thought. He listens to the two argue their points, though, and nods, looking Chloe's way. He puts a finger to his chin, thinking, then nods.]

Yeah, if you think you can keep it under wraps, be my guest and send a scout in.

[It's a lot less obtrusive than his plan, too, which was definitely along the lines of 'turn everyone invisible, get in, look around, and run like hell.]

[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. ]

[clearasil]

[ Natalie paces alongside her table, chewing on the rope of her necklace nervously. She's hardly eaten and is likely to crawl back into bed after this. Sure, the stag has gone missing but she's pretty sure they're bound to open yet another can of worms, just like everyone else has on their past excursions, official quests or not.

She puts her hands in the pockets of her cropped sweatshirt, fiddling with its contents, wondering if she should offer some advice to someone. What advice would she even give? Besides. Leo's the only one who hasn't been on a quest yet. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Leo's not really interested in breakfast right now, so instead he's sitting at the Hephaestus table fiddling with... something. There's a lot of wires and nuts and bolts and bits, and he looks very into it... moreso than usual, as if he is deliberately focusing on his project and nothing else.

And he is, because this stupid quest kind of annoys him. So Artemis lost her precious deer. Big deal. She can just turn one of the campers into a new one. His frown deepens as he tries to connect a few wires, twisting them together. Gods. One minute they're turning you into animals, the next they're begging for your help and making you go on a potentially life-threatening quest for them when you have your own problems to deal with.

He's not sure he's feeling too helpful this morning. ]

[clearasil]

Boo.

[ Despite her hesitation, she eventually decides to pay him a visit. She won't be much help but she could at least offer moral support of some sort.

She shuffles towards the table and claps a hand on Leo's shoulder, smiling in her usual serious manner, just a quirk of her lips. ] You haven't touched the oatmeal.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Leo starts and looks up at her in surprise, having failed to hear her approach. Must have really been in the zone. He gives the oatmeal a dubious glance and shrugs. ]

You're right. Can't let mush this good go to waste.

[ He tries a small spoonful, and... nope, still not hungry. Shaking his head, he pushes the bowl away and looks at her with a vaguely apologetic expression. Eating is something he should be doing and he knows it, but it's just not happening. ]

Another offering to the gods, I guess.

[clearasil]

Don't worry about it. [ She doesn't push. After all, she's used to other people pushing food at her, all good intentions. Instead of sitting, Natalie rests her knee on the bench next to him ]

So, uh. [ She rubs the back of her neck, fishing around in the pocket of her sweater, rolling the stone around in her palm until it's warm. ]

I got you a present.

[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.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ He's started gathering up the mechanical paraphernalia, shoving it all into the pockets of his tool belt indiscriminately. It's not like he has much time to work on it, anyway. He'll just have to drop this off by the cabin before they leave.

He raises an eyebrow at Natalie's announcement. A present? Nobody ever gets Leo things. That's not how his life works. ]

You know my birthday's not for a few months.

[clearasil]

[ Natalie pulls out a a stone with a symbol she etched herself quickly. It's rough but clear enough and hopefully powerful enough to be of some help. ]

It's for protection. Like, to help keep you concealed, especially when you need it most.

[ She rubs the back of her neck sheepishly. ] It should work.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ He smiles. ]

What're you so nervous about? I'm the one going on the quest.

[ Taking the stone, Leo turns it over in his hands and brushes his thumb over the engraving. The engraving isn't the best, and its meaning is beyond him, but it is what it is. If Natalie says it'll work, it probably will. ]

Got my tool belt. Got a magic rock. I'm all set for this quest! Thanks, Nat.

[angeliaforos]

[Gabriel's about to head back to the Iris cabin to grab some stuff for the quest when he sees his fellow counselor pacing, chewing on her necklace.

Well, that can't be tasty.

Still, he strolls over to her, raising an eyebrow.]

You doing okay, Nat?

[wokethedragon]

[It's hard to be around camp on a day where a quest is leaving, particularly if someone you consider yourself close to is one of the chosen heroes. There are so many preparations to be done if one fails - the burial shrouds made by the siblings, for one, are what Dany hates most. She already had to watch the Apollo children do it for Enjolras once, and now the Pluto children must do it again for Chloe, just as a safekeeping.

Worst of all, she's got to make one for Leo, and the thought hurts her more than anything.

Dany approaches Chloe at her table from behind after she's done eating breakfast, tapping her friend on the shoulder.]

Chloe?