Darahil took a long breath in. "May I attempt a perspective on this matter?" He looked quickly to everyone. "The Empire and the Dominion. Both hold great military might, both hold a number of our clans under their confidence, and neither will be comfortable sending soldiers to a secluded cavern with the other. Without considering the temptations they may both feel upon seeing the abundance in our hidden home, to lend us aid would be a risk. Not from us, but from their enemy. The best I can envision if we find a compromise is that they both send paltry forces." He turned his head. "This is a more delicate matter than it may appear on the surface."

"I hazard a guess." Oswall grunted. "Saving Tamriel from certain destruction at the hands of an enterprising Daedra won't be enough?"

"To our current liasons -- the ones we report to about the war -- yes," Darahil answered. "To those that command the soldiers themselves, the context may not be appreciated."

Tola lowered her brow. "Then what can we do?"

"It is possible that we may find more men by only petitioning one side." Darahil lifted his chin. "That is, if we are prepared to accept the subsequent diplomatic consequences."

"A letter each to the Emperor and the Thalmor directly could have a chance," Janius joked.

[hr]
"Many of the buildings are still yet unused," Sabine added. "But you are correct. The people living here amount near to that number."

Sabine continued their incidental tour through a series of cookfires underneath sizzling metalwares, each frying various meats and other foodstuffs. Packs gathered around each to socialise and to trade things to the more experienced cooks for a quality meal.

"We mostly grow our own food." Sabine nodded to the stored food in crates and pots. "The light above the city works like the sun and we breed pigs, chaurus, and other animals. Good cooks here trade their skills but anyone can get food here on their own. Because lycans do not get sick, many like their meats raw. Chaurus is a strange taste but you will come to like it, I think."

Various cuts of the large insectile meat and pieces of discarded carapace made the relative absurdity of Sabine's words more real.