[EVENT] Family Obligations - DIA QUEST

There were a lot of things Arcturus hated about some of her jobs. There were a million factors that could contribute to it, and honestly, this one was assured to be on the 'never again' list before she even arrived. The main issue, being, of course...her 'backup'.

She'd done her best to keep a straight, professional face, but between the redhead excited about a 'family trip' and the unnerving smirk of her crazier cousin, it wasn't as easy as it sounded. The parts before they had met up hadn't been bad – she'd sent out messages to the two of them telling them that something extremely important came up that she needed their backup on (and had casually mentioned demotion should they refuse to boot), gathered up an arsenal of whatever loose enchanted ammo she had left to pack into a case (she'd debated taking her grenade launcher for a test drive, but figured it was better left quit for now), several different guns, and remembering the less-than-combat-centered redhead favored archer managed to fish out a powerhouse compound bow with a scope attached to it (she was pretty sure her second cousin who was far too fond of hunting had given it to her for Christmas a couple years ago, and she had no use for it). Then it had been rent a truck, and have a decent rest before they set out.

She'd felt things go downhill as soon as she fished them out of their corners at HQ, ordering them to meet her at the parking deck in fifteen, which had been followed but...the less fun part had been the speech she'd had to give them before she would even let them get in the car, her hands on her hips and her expression hard – the same face she would wear to combat assessment days, which could easily be described as 'drill instructor'.

“You two listen to me, what we're about to do is probably extremely stupid and the information is highest clearance only, so don't wet yourselves with excitement too much when we get there. Whatever you see, you are not allowed to tell anyone – normally I wouldn't involve anyone in this, but I need some backup, and for that matter what we're going to do isn't something I can necessary shoot to conquer – and the only people who I can properly swear to silence would be you two, because if you say anything I will strip your names out of our family forever and dump you into the Bermuda triangle where they can't find you.”

When she was met with enthusiasm to the threat, she'd made sure to add 'not in the research facility either, so don't get fucking excited' before ordering them into the car. The drive there had made things decidedly worse, and by the time she pulled up to the arranged meeting spot about fifteen minutes drive away, she was attempting to figure out a subtle way to throw them into the ocean. Nevertheless, she put on a grim face and hopped out, undaunted by the dark back alley she'd pulled into, and made no explanation to the others why they were there, and instead moved to the bed of the rented truck, sorely missing her baby, but glad this was at least a bigger car than the last one.

“Pick your poison.” she called out to the other two, flipping the tarp off the bed and immediately pulling out the cases for two handguns and an assault rifle, pulling her assorted ammo box of leftover enchanted bullets, which was more than she expected, but still not a lot. She had a few of the ice ones left, a few air, and maybe a couple spirit at best...it'd have to do. She'd have to pick her shots. “My best guess is that weapons will be useless, but I can promise you they're still a good way to drive something back.” she added, rolling her eyes as she thought of her encounter with Chaos. Shadow was a bitch to fight.

NAOS DIA MIRACH DIA EHEHEHEHEHEH

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Lupus had waited patiently for Arc and her team, only at the meeting place a good thirty minutes before them. He watched as Arc parked and ordered her cousins to take a weapon or two. Just at the moment Lupus had realized that he had not explained much about what the group would be doing, or even going for that matter. To say that he just forgot would be wrong, he knew what he did but also knew the IS was very good at adapting. He stood a good distance in the alleyway, far enough in that if anyone walked by they probably would pay attention to a few adults in a alley, at least not without reason. He wore a long black robe, something fitting of what a person might have wore in the time of the old kingdoms. Edges were lined in white and flowed into runes symbols that could possibly say anything.

His hair was left to fall freely across his shoulders, the white of his hair matched the white runes on his robes. He tipped his head as Arc got close, she came with a good question but one that had an easy answer. ”Greetings miss Dia, any electronics should work just fine.” His attention was then turned on the Arc’s two cousins, so two Dia’s? Interesting enough Lupus had guess that Arc would have brought at least one family member along. He placed his hand closed fist to his chest and then bent his waist in a bow. ”A pleasure to meet you both, as miss Dia has stated my name is Lupus. I shall do my best to remember your names, Mirach and Naos.” A smirk appeared on his face as he remember long ago a IS member that went by one of those names. The man was a poor excuse for a human, very rude and had a temper. ”Once long ago there was another Dia that went by the Naos name, if I remember correctly he did try to kill me once.”

He waved his hand as if to dismiss the comment and place his focus on Arc. ”I would assume that your group is ready? We will be traveling in a quiet interesting way, I will create a portal that will offer safe passage between here and our target. Is there any questions before we leave?” Just tend he remember the earpiece that arc had handed him, if anything with this he could just feed them information as they went, saved from spending an hour on lessons.

electric has gangnam style and back to neverland

Lupus was unsure of what Mirach was up to, but when the young Naos jumped in as well he decided that they were surely up to something. It was only farther noticeable when rc moved in to keep Mirach’s hands at bay. Lupus held a small pouch that hung over his shoulder, inside had a few interesting items, but the main one was his information book. Lupus had been tempted to pull it out, to get an idea of what Mirach and Naos intentions really were. Yet something told him that he relying just a little too much on his book and needed to lean more on reading the people in front of him.

”The Dia name is surely an interesting bunch, I will admit that I may not be under the level of what you would determine control to be, but I do my best to be of help to the society.” He decided now was a good time to get the portal ready before they spent the rest of the day playing Q&A. He took a few steps away from the group to give himself the space needed to work. He looked into his back and pulled out a piece of paper, read what information he had on it then returned it to his bag. With location in mind lupus faced the nearest wall, said a few words in an unknown language and then placed his hand on the wall.

An oval shape of runes appeared on the wall and glowed a deep purple before the wall shimmered and created a portal. The other side could be seen quite easily, a large open space, a few rocks here and there, it was the inside of a canyon. He then looked at Naos to quickly answer his question. ”The method will be up to your leader, but you are here to gather something very important.” With that he smiled and lead the group through the portal. The transfer was easy enough, all you had to do was walk in and you would find yourself on the other side. Once on the other side Lupus turned to Arc and asked her a question that he already knew the answer to. ”Are you sure about this? Once the beast is free you will have to gather what you need and then guide it back to its prison, killing it will not be an option.” In fact Lupus was sure there was no human that could kill it, this creature lived passed the great war with little trouble but a sealing.

electric has gangnam style and back to neverland

The Dia family was as he remembered, full of sarcasm and willingness to get the job done, regardless of the details. Lupus found himself comparing the young Naos with the Noas of his past. Very different, and yet Lupus couldn't shake this feeling that he should keep an eye on the young man, better to be safe then sorry. While a few questions were being directed at him, Lupus took the opportunity to survey his surroundings. Yes they were at the right time and place, now all he had to do was release Humus and then let the Dia’s take care of the rest. Lupus had agreed to answer Arc’s questions, show her what she needed, but he did not agree to physically help in any way.

”For a long time he has just been called Humus Movendis, commonly known as the moving earth. Humus is a fairly passive creature, but due to a past event the great beast was corrupted. This corruption is what you are here to collect.” Lupus left it at that as he took a few steps away from the group, before he continued it was a good idea if he showed them what they were to deal with. He pulled out a small flask of water and began to pour it on the ground, then bent down and placed his finger in the soften ground, whispered a few ancient words and then stood back. The weakened soil started to shift, the soft earth moved away from Lupus and headed for the opposite side of the canyon. Once the soil reached the fall wall the mud like substance crawled up the canyon wall and created a large rune.

The ground began to shake, small rocks falling from the cliffs above them as a opening cracked along the wall and then slowly opened. Inside the newly made hole was nothing but darkness, but Lupus know that what they came for was inside and fully awake. ”To continue, once a passive creature, Humus used to protect a small village upon his back, longer than he is wide, Humus is powerful but never used to turn its power upon humans until it faced a corrupted creature. It bested this creature, but not without becoming infected.” Just then the ground started to shake once more as the creature in question finally took a few steps out of it’s prison.

”You can not see it from here, but the site of infection is at the base of his neck, think of the body of a dog, or horse, right where the body and next meet.” Lupus directed his attention towns Arc for his next statement. ”He may not react at first, but once you, or your cousins begin the climb, he will not react kindly.” Still, the only why they would get what they wanted is if someone climbed up there and collected the corruption that has been festering at the base of this beast neck for countless years.

At least Humus moved slow, taking each step with minutes in between. The base, his hoof like feet and long legs were covered in a hard rock, meaning climbing should be fairly easy. At least easy for anyone that knew something about rock climbing. The rest of his body was covered in moss, grass and soil. His back had everything from lush trees, to runes of what was leave of the village he once protected. Although it was hard to see, the closer a person’s eyes wandered towards the neck the easier it was to notice the dead or dying trees, and the brown rotting grass.

electric has gangnam style and back to neverland

Mirach had asked a good question one that Lupus could answer, although he had been willing to watch the group try to run across the great distance. He wasn't really a mean guy, but there were just something that he did out of the fact that there could be some humor behind it. Sadly he would not get to see Arc run across the field, since Mirach mentioned it Lupus could not leave his answer for later. He did however wait for Arc to pick out who was doing what, causing Lupus to be a little surprised that Arc was not going up alone. He listened to Arc’s plan and thought that if anything there was a better chance of at least one getting to their destination. He reached into his bag and pulled out a glass jar, the lid had a rune on it, made to keep whatever inside trapped. This jar would be what Arc was meant to place the corruption in.

The reason they had to go so high was because the point of infection would have the purest corruption, and for what Arc needed it for, she could only use the best. ”First of all use this jar to collect the sample you’ll need, its spelled to hold the corruption long enough for you to do what you need to do. Also, you’ll need to cut open the creature at the infection zone, the blood is what you want. I do hope you brought some sort of blade with you.” He took his eyes away from Arc to pull his book of tricks out and studied a few lines before closing it and returning the book to his bag.

He chose to ignore Arc for the moment as he took a stick and drew a few runes into the ground, said a few words and waited. Unlike summoning, what he was doing was requesting a certain creature to come to them. These creature were smart and had the will to reject the call, so all Lupus could really do was hope that they would answer. In the mean time a short explanation may be in order.

”Well to be honest I have never angered Humus by trying to climb on his back while he is infected with corruption, but if I had to make a guess, I would say something to do with vines might be something to look out for, maybe shifting stone, but to be honest a lot of what he can do is a mystery to even myself.” Although there were stories, but why should Lupus worry them with info that could be a lie, just a story made to scare away visitors.

”I have however called us a ride, something that will help cover the distance. Although, they may not of heard me.” How foolish would he look if they did not show? He was pretty sure he had called them right, these things were smart, ruled by a leader that was directly connected to the rune spell. So if they really did not want to respond then it would have been by her choice. Lupus took a few steps from the group, one to get a better look down the canyon and two so that he could quietly think to himself about what else he could do to help.

Thankfully Lupus would not have to come up with a plan B, since the sound of running reached his ears. In the distance could be seen a small group of deer, the only thing was that these were not normal deer. They were native this this area, wherever it may be. There were four of these deer, three as large as a basic horse, the last being taller than the rest. They all had antlers, although each one was slightly bigger or smaller than the others and affected by their age. The three similar deer all had smoky grey hides, while the large one was more white. They took to standing before the group of humans, the largest eying everyone as it sized them up.

Before Lupus could explain the white deer spoke, with a tone that showed how un-amused it truly was. “You call for us, and the great one is free from his sleep and in pain, why have you done this. I, Isuth will listen long enough to pass judgement.” A female voice? how odd, last Lupus remember the only white deer he had met had been a male, could this be his offspring? Either was he took little time explaining, telling the deer that they needed help and that they were not there to harm Humus, but to just collect the corruption in hopes of studying it. He then lied, something he only did when he had to, but he told them that studying the corruption may lead to then finding a cure for it.

This was enough to convince their leader to lend a hoof, but only under a strict rule. “We will aid you, but if the great one becomes too stressed or begins to endanger the forest beyond the cliffs, we will take action, even if you are my father’s favorite human.” Lupus couldn't only nod, knowing that he was really abusing his friendship with their kind ruler. ”Very well then, let us get on with introductions and then we can carry on with the task ahead. The small one needs to take a place upon the cliffs, while the other two will need help getting to Humus and climbing him.” The white deer nodded and picked which of her followers would help who.

“Tela will help the boy, Errian will help the shorter of the females, and that will leave Filyon with the remaining. I will stay here and watch Lupus, as my father would have done.” Lupus was not sure sure if it was a good or bad thing that he got Isuth watching over him. Either way everything was settled now and Lupus could leave the rest to Arc and her family.

(Below I will list each deer’s personality, gender and defining markings. You may rp your deer within your post if you like.)

Naos = Tela -Brave, Bold - Female - short black line above her nose
Mirach = Erran - Rash, Sassy - Male - red triangle under his left eye
Arc = Filyon - Mild, Serious - Male - white spots along his back