The Lost Gifts - Aquarian

It wasn't exactly clear how a reindeer-led sleigh managed to slip in and out of Draco without being stopped (or even, it seemed, passing through the Aperture) but nonetheless it had: a brief flash through the Chaos-infused air, not bothering to pause as a gift thudded down and tumbled to the strangely warm stone below. This gift was quite small and lightweight, wrapped in swamp-green packaging with brighter streaks, and a brown-red ribbon like a stripe of mud tied it all together.

The attached paper tag said, "To: Aquarian," but anyone unable to read who might touch the package would also know who it was for. This package would need to be escorted to Cetus, to its recipient. Otherwise, Aquarian's holiday gift might never reach him!

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This is one of six Lost Gifts threads in the Holiday 2023 event! Characters may each choose one NPC to aid this year, but players can have as many characters as they like take part.

Characters who wish to aid Aquarian should first post in this thread, and can then create more threads to travel with or simply deliver the package! Anyone may join any of these threads (but remember, just one NPC per character).

The delivery thread can be found here.

Edric stretched his snout as close to the Black Spire as he dared to go, trembling (only slightly! ONLY! SLIGHTLY!) before its power. "Shadows..." he whispered with all the intensity of a fanatic cultist. "Do you..."

A thump sounded behind him, and the moment was gone. Edric whirled around, snarling at whatever had broken him out of his trance. A... package? HAHA, don't mind if I do. His mood lifting as quickly as as it had darkened, the boar scrambled over and snuffled at the wrappers. Suddenly, a vision of a giant... uh... dragon-serpent thing flashed through his mind. "WHAT THE HELL?" Edric blurted out loud, not thinking or caring about who might be disturbed by it. "WHAT IS THIS?"

Edric gnashed his teeth. He had half a mind to rip this package open right now and see for himself what was in it! ... And possibly take for himself, too, if it was good! But... the vision seemed kind of cool. The serpent was giant and VICIOUS. WHO DIDN'T LOVE THAT? And, well... maybe he kind of wanted to see it.

And if EDRIC WANTED SOMETHING, EDRIC GOT SOMETHING!!! HAHA, NO ONE was going to stop him from taking this package to... wherever that swamp was! Edric wasn't too sure where it was. But NO ONE meant NO ONE, INCLUDING EDRIC'S OWN IGNORANCE! This place was only so big. Edric had FULL CONFIDENCE in himself!

"Well, well, well," the boar chortled, casually placing one spiked, armored hoof on top of the package in what he probably thought was a stylish manner. "Off we go."


+2 corruption points from spire interaction

V-Onyx-Two hesitated only briefly. It was important, he'd learned, to look confident even if he didn't feel it--and the ominous, spiky and wholly chaotic Boar gloating over the package did not instill such confidence. So he drew himself up, a haughty coldness to him as his wings flared out ever-so-slightly.

He prodded the package with his foot. An image flickered through his mind, knowledge, and he went from about-to-demand-jurisdiction-over-a-holiday-gift to blinking in surprise. "I'll accompany you, boar," he declared, tone decisive, but really he was wondering what the hell was going on. And since he couldn't exactly follow up such a statement with "as soon as I get permission, I mean, from my grandpa," he shifted the sickles in his hand and raised his head even higher. "I must first report, but I will catch up to you. Unless you can't manage to carry this-... thing," he added, with a snobby sniff and a careless gesture at said box.

It wasn't all that large, really.

He'd report to Vargas, hopefully get permission to ensure Master Aquarian's box got there, and then come back.

But really, he just wanted to get out of Draco for a little while.

The loud voice attracted Scion to maybe stretch out and trudge out of its den, a little grumpy at being woken up, but eh, maybe it was worth it. It stuck out its head and then the rest of its body, yawning widly as it approached the other two already gathered at the present.

It grumbled, looking between the two and then the package. Eyes widened briefly and it stood up a little taller at the name. Oh...oh! Perhaps this was some kind of job for the forge! Something they had to do or...something!

It didnt know the pig so, uh. Not responsible for that. But the other kid? Yeah, it knew him, and it felt like this might be a good way to show off its leadership skills to Master Vargas. Twin tails curled in a faint sjow of delight as it nodded to the Onyx. "I will accompany you and ensure this is completed. If this is for one of the Masters, then it is surely of great importance!" It tried to sound as authoritative and leaderly as possible but it came out sounding just a little overly formal. Not that Scion picked up on that.