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+---- Thread: [PQ] antler-taining the thought (/showthread.php?tid=12156)
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antler-taining the thought - Deimos - 11-04-2025
With another regional quest upon them, their group of enterprising individuals had long since ridden out on their trusted, but drafty and plodding steeds, with all the intentions of snagging at a small and modest herd of luxere. In between the hours in the saddle, Deimos had passed down the necessary information; for as much as Halovians seemed to hunt the creatures, he’d experienced the aspect of enticing, and making them stay, for several LongNights. The noteworthy additions came upon notions of songs, apples, and hay, and the way they avoided darker magic potentially flowing through some of their veins – his especially.
But it hadn’t stopped him before, and today certainly wasn’t the time either. The morning air held its usual crisp, chilling breeze, and with it, he’d sent Belial out to scout ahead, searching and spying from the skies. Once the peryton had returned, they could move out into portions of a small clearing. [say]“The luxere are around that grove of trees,”[/say] he pointed to the near distance, around twenty or thirty yards off. Enough to give them time and space to coordinate.
Dismounting from Zuriel and heading towards one of the soldiers with their accompanying sled, he motioned for his constituents to do the same. [say]“I figure we can entice them towards us. We can put out the hay and fruit,”[/say] of which there were a good quality of bales and apples. [say]“And then maybe someone can lead us in song,”[/say] he mused, with a wry grin and a slight wrinkle to his nose, already moving towards the bushels.
--
[say]Welcome to the RQ PQ to gather a herd of luxere for our current regional quest. The PQ must start in the Greenwing, then we’ll subsequently be splitting off into the Hollow Forest, and so on.
The current task is to start putting out the supplies to lure the luxere to the group! There are three NPCs, as well as our own characters, to help. No post order!
1. Deimos
2. Amhran
3.
4. Marcus[/say]
RE: antler-taining the thought - Amhran - 11-05-2025
Amhran has been surprisingly content on horseback, given that the gelding he's been assigned to ride is enormous but slow and sweet, and he's slowly gotten the hang of reins and bridle and saddle and managing to keep his feet in the stirrups. By now he's following contently at Deimos's heels, drawing to a halt when he motions for them to do so and peering at the sled. [say]"Oh, can I try?"[/say] he asks of leading them in a song, his smile quietly cheerful as he dismounts the gelding.
Tying him nearby - not that there's a chance he'll be going anywhere - Amhran joins one of the NPCs other citizens to assist in unloading a hay bale. Once it's successfully off the sled and he's got some hay to hand (and has fed an apple to his horse, obviously) he makes a slow approach towards where Belial had indicated to try and lure a few of the creatures to them.
Amhran helps to unload a hay bale and offers to sing while he goes about trying to lure the luxere!
RE: antler-taining the thought - Damien - 11-06-2025
Blue’s breath plumed white in the morning air, her ears twitching with every creak of saddle leather and crunch of snow. She wasn’t built for speed, not with her thick frame and shaggy coat, but she was steady as the cold itself—exactly what Damien needed for the long ride out. He swung down as Deimos brought them to a stop, boots sinking deep into the crusted snow, and gave Blue’s shoulder a brief pat before looping her reins over the sled’s side rail. The dappled mare snorted, as if unimpressed with the whole idea of standing still.
He listened while Deimos spoke, dark eyes following the motion toward the grove. Luxere. Always beautiful creatures, and always a strange sort of irony that Halo’s survival so often depended on hunting them or corralling them. He wasn’t much for songs—never had been—but hauling feed and setting bait, that he could handle.
[say]“Right,”[/say] he said, more to himself than anyone else, before taking hold of one of the bales. The hay crackled faintly under his gloves, brittle from the cold but still sweet-smelling. He dragged it toward the open patch of snow, setting it down in a loose scatter to make the space seem less deliberate, more inviting. Apples followed, tossed gently to catch the light and scent the air.
He glanced up as Amhran started forward. A quiet smile tugged at Damien’s mouth—small, but real. [say]“You sing,”[/say] he said, tone wry but not unkind. [say]“I’ll make sure they’ve got reason to stick around.”[/say]
And with that, he went back to work, breaking the crusted tops of the hay bales so the scent would carry farther into the trees, patient and unhurried as the cold wind whispered through the trees.
Damien starts setting out the hay and some apples. He did not bring Aria.
RE: antler-taining the thought - Marcus - 11-06-2025
Accustomed to being on the back of an equine, Marcus settled right in with the horse he was given. Along their route he patted its neck, whispering gently to it as they rode out. He missed Vi'dore, his father's unicorn, and this dappled gray beast made him miss him even more. Perhaps when they returned from this venture Marcus would go to Frey and ask for his own unicorn. His thoughts mulled and played with the thought, shifting to even such endeavors as asking Frey to become a unicorn, before the young hybrid was pulled back to reality by Deimos' voice.
Focusing quickly on the directions, the Olson swung off his horse. Too quickly, as it were, for the young man winced slightly as shocks of lightning ran up from his legs to his hips. He had forgotten that part about riding for such a long time in the cold, cold weather. Pressing his own hand against his side to offer himself a little boost of healing, Marcus moved on to assist the others without drawing much attention to himself.
He helped pull hay until there was enough on the ground, and then he stepped towards the young demigod, offering him a smile and a nod that indicated he would follow him in whatever song he had to offer.
Marcus dismounts, helps, and gets ready to sing!
RE: antler-taining the thought - Deimos - 11-06-2025
The dispersal of the fruit and hay went well and accordingly amidst all the participants (though several horses thought they’d be much more inclined to have the food), placed to lure the (hopefully) incoming deer. From overhead, Belial spied the luxere, keeping a watchful eye on the horizon, and delivering the sentiments towards his bonded. From the far-off distance, luxere heads went upwards and nostrils flared, curiosity tipping in their direction. Even with their normal eyesight, everyone would be able to see the impact – the modest glow of antlers beginning to maneuver in their direction, gentle, light-hearted creatures eager for the opportunity for a free meal.
Smiling, the Warden gave a rumble of amusement, but final touches would need to be made in song. Deimos was grateful for Amhran’s volunteering – the Sword certainly didn’t have the platitudes to lead in those accords. [say]“Go for it. We will follow your lead.”[/say]
--
[say]The luxere are headed towards the group, but will need to be pulled in by song to really entice them. Let Amhran lead the serenade and everyone else may follow suit![/say]
RE: antler-taining the thought - Amhran - 11-07-2025
Smiling towards
Clearing his throat softly, the Raeling takes a few steps further out into the clearing, his voice filling the chill air as he leads them in a mellow, lilting sort of melody. And evidently song is something he's either innately good at or a talent he's been hiding (canon because Hozier, fight me), the music rising and reaching towards the herd like a hand open in invitation.
Amhran sings! For this round's choice, it's Empire Now.
RE: antler-taining the thought - Marcus - 11-07-2025
Marcus had little trained musical ability. His mother had been an amazing singer and passed that trait on to Margot, but Marcus could do little more than match pitch. There was no harmonizing, no melody coming from him. He listened to Amhran sing for a few bars and then added what he could with humming and adding in some whistles as he felt appropriate.
It was all he could do.
Cerulean eyes flicked from the Rae demigod to the gentle slope he hoped the luxere would crest. He kept humming along, low and rumbling, following the lead of Amhran and the contributions of the others. He wondered what would be their next step if the luxere were to come, and suddenly a prickle of anxiety started up from the bottom of his spine.
He hoped he didn't do anything to scare them away. Trying to lure them in this way was such a different experience than hunting them.
Marcus sings!
RE: antler-taining the thought - Noah - 11-19-2025
Noah and Eira rode the currents high above the tundra. In his gyrfalcon form, the cold barely touched him. Instead it sharpened his focus, carving the world into motion and shadow. The party below moved as a small, dark thread across the pale expanse, their figures clustered close as they made their slow approach to the clearing where they meant to call in the luxere.
Noah circled wide, ans Deimos directed. Out here, danger often came silent and swift, and he would not let it slip beneath him unnoticed. He adjusted his wings, angling into a higher glide, giving himself a broader view. They were exposed on all sides. He would watch, hold the sky for them, until he wa needed on the ground.
Noah (and Eira) keep watch in the sky.
RE: antler-taining the thought - Deimos - 11-19-2025
Granting an encouraging smile towards the demigod, he listened to the song for a few moments, before placing his efforts within. Deep rumbles and accords aimed to match at the different pitches amongst their gathered, hoping it would be enough to entice and lure – for gentler creatures to not fear or flee, but to be coaxed away from their comfort and into more. Even if they weren’t the most trained, practiced, or skilled vocalists, maybe the luxere would appreciate the efforts.
[say]“Good work,” [/say]he extended quietly, as the rise and fall of glowing antlers persisted, continued. A gentle, slow walk, cautious but incoming carried on through the greenery and snow, but he could feel some of their eyes on him as they came towards the collection of food offerings. Knowing his incantations would be an issue, he quietly clenched his jaw, trying to maneuver to the back and stick out a little less in the shuffle of calm movements. Amhran and Marcus, of course, would find some far more indulgent towards them, and even Noah, flying overhead. [say]“We can keep singing, and get on the horses. But slowly and cautiously. We do not want to disturb them.”[/say] Sudden, swift movements would be more likely to spook the incoming herd.
--
[say]Keep singing and get on your horse as calmly as possible! Noah can choose to join or watch from overhead. [/say]
RE: antler-taining the thought - Noah - 11-22-2025
The luxere seemed very interested in the song that the others were singing. Glad to not be down there, joined in the chorus, Noah banked lsightly. He caught a warm draft and lifted higher in the air, glacier eyes moving away from the luxere briefly to give a scan of the terrain. He wasn't sure if their activities would draw anyhting else in -- giants, ursur, shadowfangs -- but he wanted to be ready. Eira tilted her wings and banked opposite her bondmate, but executed the same maneuver and strategy.
[say]I will stay up here just a while longer,[/say] he called down to all of them across the attuned bond, [say]if something happens and I need to, I can always shift and compel the luxere.[/say] He knew, too, that Deimos could aid in such a way, even if the deer were hesitant about him and his intrinsic dark magic.
Noah arcs wide to keep watching the tundra, but readies himself to shift and compel!
RE: antler-taining the thought - Marcus - 11-22-2025
Even though Marcus wasn't the most skilled, trained, or even devoted musician, his contributions seemed to be helping rather than harming. A smile broke over his face as he kept humming, eyes lifting as the familiar shadows of his father's gyrfalcon form and his griffin companion shifted and shimmered over the tundra. Marcus kept humming his notes, deep and methodical and following Amhran's cues.
Deimos voice cut over the snow and the Olson son nodded, stepping back carefully. He moved a few feet before turning to see his mount. It hadn't moved far from where he parked, motivated to stay by both training and the opportunity to munch on some of the hay provided. Marcus grabbed rein and mane, lifting his foot to the stirrup, before stepping up onto the draft-type's back and swinging his opposite leg over.
Marcus keeps humming and mounts up!
RE: antler-taining the thought - Amhran - 11-22-2025
Clearly delighted by the approaching antlers, Amhran would have forgotten all about the riding element of all of this if it hadn't been for Deimos, and he offers a nod over his shoulder to the Sword as he retreats towards the back of the group. Continuing with his song and exchanging a smile with Marcus, as the luxere continue to approach Raeling leans carefully down to grab a little more hay, tossing it and a couple of pieces of apple towards the herd to give them something to enjoy while they decide how close is close enough.
Providing they are occupied by that, Amhran will start to retreat, keeping his footsteps careful as he approaches his own mount. At last he's forced to tear his gaze away to get himself back in the saddle, but to say he'd happily have just hung out with the luxere for the rest of Flowerbirth is an understatement. Hopefully they've done enough to get the herd to stick with them for the journey.
Amhran tosses a couple of apple pieces and some hay towards the luxere, keeps singing and backs up to get back on his horse!
RE: antler-taining the thought - Deimos - 11-22-2025
Deimos kept a keen eye on the masses and multitudes, readying another sled, ensuring it would be an enticing lure to keep the herd moving as they wound through other parts of Halo. His gaze narrowed, feeling the deer’s glances and stares on him too, then striving to alter the length of calm within his frame. Rather than use his compulsion, he streamlined the attuned measures across the expanse to remain unruffled, unperturbed, deigning to give no reason, save for the inherent darkness lodged in his veins, for the luxere to flee.
But they were still wary – and he couldn’t blame them. As Marcus and Amhran hummed and sang, he continued to give his own rumblings. [say]“If one of you want to take this and lead the way,”[/say] and he offered the rope lined to the sled that would be pulling more hay, more apples, along their journey, [say]“The rest of us can surround the herd from all sides.” [/say]At least from a widened standpoint, so as not to appear threatening or overbearing.
Hauling himself back into Zuriel’s saddle, he prepared to head towards the back, when a ripple of motion began to unfurl from those quarters. Whether or not he caused it, one of their fellow constituents, or anything else, one of the younger luxere spooked – and began tearing off back towards where they’d come from – and they’d need to do something to ensure the others didn’t.
Reaching through the Attuned bond towards Noah, he gave the order. [say]Can you grab that one?[/say] Turning to the rest, he shook his head. [say]“We maintain our calm and singing so the others do not feel the need to take off either. I can have Noah try to get it.”[/say] Once stirred, he could imagine the rest of the herd might try to do the same, though he was already threading that way, in case portions failed.
--
[say]One luxere has spooked/run off! Your options are:
1. Take the food sled/wagon to keep everyone going/unaware of the drama in the back (1 person)
2. Help surround the rest of the herd so they don’t take off (1 person + NPCs)
3. Help retrieve the spooked luxere (Noah + NPCs)
RE: antler-taining the thought - Noah - 11-22-2025
The moment Deimos’ command cut through the attuned bond, Noah folded his wings and dove. Wind screamed past his feathers as the lone luxere bolted from the edge of the herd, its panic a bright, skittering thing as it burst over the tundra. Noah hit the tundra in a burst of snow, shifting mid-stride. His talons lengthening into boots, wings collapsing into arms, breath searing his lungs as he surged upright, and immediately he unfurled a deep magic from his being.
He grabbed at two does, attempting to peel them from the group to flank the frightened youngling. Noah stepped into the path ahead of it, palms lifted, his presence a quiet wall. [say]”Become a wall! No pressure on it!”[/say] Noah commanded the
Noah drops to the snow and shifts, using “Can compel like-minded animals for assistance (1 large, 3 medium, 5 small, from the same animal family)” to bring two does to help flank the younger luxere and gets in he path of it and tells the NPCs to act as a wall vs. putting pressure on it.