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Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by EliteCommander
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La'khay kept her hands on Sabine's shoulders, still observing all the fine details of Sabine's appearance as she answered. "Oh, this is all La'khay's own artistry. This one has had so much more time with the clan being stable and secure again. She can see you have also been keeping yourself in good shape, though..." She began, taking on a somewhat critical expression as she narrowed her eyes and placed her hand gently on Sabine's cheek to turn her head slightly. "You look stressed too. La'khay can see it in your eyes. This one thinks you are probably working too hard. Before La'khay leaves, we should definitely get together and see if we can banish all that stress away from your beautiful face. Maybe give you a fresh new look too; something to surprise your mate."

Once she finally had the opportunity, Ciinriel enthusiastically gave Sabine a cheerful hug. Upon getting closer, Sabine might notice that Ciinriel had a much smaller, more conservative tattoo on her neck consisting of swirling lines, like smoke rising from a fire. She wore a bit more substantial clothing than La'khay in the form of a dress that had the appearance of being made of alternating layers of wrapped animal hides from different kinds of creatures, with a gap over her stomach and lower back. "It's really great to see you again, Sabine. And you too, Meesei. I'm glad we're finally allowed to come here. This place is...hard to describe in words."

In contrast to the last time they spoke, Ciinriel did not show any of the reclusive personality she had once possessed.
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"I will try to find the time, if I can," Sabine said with a little regret. "I have never forgotten how much fun it was when I was younger..." She ran a hand over her knuckles and spoke more seriously. "But things have changed since then. Especially recently. You will find out with the announcements during the feast."

Ciinriel's embrace just as quickly turned Sabine's mood positive again. "Ciinriel!" She brought her arms around Ciinriel's head to return the hug. Sabine still stood taller than the Bosmer girl, but... "You have grown! I remember when you spoke even less than I used to." They pulled away and Sabine ran her hands down Ciinriel's upper arms, grinning. "I am glad you are here! And you are looking lovely. It looks like much has happened for you as well, since last we met."
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Ciinriel smiled and gave a light tug on her own dress. "Thank you. La'khay made my dress for me; she thought everyone should look their best for today's feast."

"You always deserve to look your best." La'khay commented. "Both of you do. La'khay will not be taking no for an answer. She is sure we will be able to make the time after the feast to catch up. No matter how busy you are, it's always worth it to make time for friends."

Ciinriel looked away briefly towards the City, and the people that were starting to walk down the tall stairway and towards the clearing. "I'm not sure how much longer we have before the feast, but hopefully we will be able to get everyone together afterwards. I know my husband is dying to meet you. Don't tell him I said it, but I think he's always been a bit jealous of the fact that we got to know you and your pack. He is very devoted to Hircine."
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Sabine nearly gasped. "You married?" She pulled Ciinriel into another quick hug. "Congratulations! I want to meet him. Tell me about him. What is his name?"

Though unconscious of it, Sabine was savoring every distraction she could find from the feast itself. Not that it diminished the news.

"Bring him when we all catch up together," Sabine added. "I am sure everyone will want to meet him. I know I do."
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Ciinriel kept a bright smile. "Married with children, actually. His name is Lenuin; he moved all the way from his home in the Arenthia clan just so he could stay with me. Our daughter was born just a few months ago. I wanted to take her with us, but we still think she might be a bit too young to take her to faraway places. La'tahne is watching her right now."

Around them, people were starting to come in from the city. Given the size of the event, the Council had assigned organizers to direct people to the feast in groups, so the crowds would not become too large at once. Meesei moved over to the head of one of the tables to take her seat. As the Champion, she was naturally given the most prominent place of honor, but Sabine had her seat right beside her for this announcement. Being members of Ri'kalesh's pride, Ciinriel and the others would at least be seated at the same table, though.

Seeing that people were beginning to gather, Ciinriel started to move towards the table as she continued. "What about you, Sabine? Have you found a new mate? Colors talked about you in one of his letters a while back. Such a coincidence that you happened to run into him. He mentioned that you were no longer with Peiter, right?"

La'khay, following nearby, laughed and waved a hand. "Oh, she certainly has. Just look at her. Such a beautiful and powerful woman; she is irresistible! The only real question is who he is. So, what's his name? What does he look like? How good is he in bed?"
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Sabine lowered her eyes and grinned, abashed at La'khay's curiosity. The artistic Khajiit had not changed at all. "Peiter and I drifted apart after the battle for Vile's citadel those years ago." Her smile had already lowered. "There was too much pain. And we were young. We still cross paths sometimes."

The smile returned somewhat when Sabine was almost at her seat. "The war kept me moving too much to start other relationships like we had. But then Meesei...well, there were opportunities. I am not sure how much I can say. But I took one of those opportunities with a man in the scholar's loft that I worked alongside. He is a Dwemer expert named Karl. He have not been together for very long. But he is very sweet."

Sabine turned a pursing smile to La'khay and narrowed her eyes. "And how he is in bed is special enough that I wish to keep it to myself." She relaxed and almost giggled. "He will be here at the feast eventually. I will introduce you to him."

Of course, Sabine did not want La'khay to get away with all the attention directed away from her. "What about you, La'khay? I know you are...open, but you and La'tahne were inseparable. Are you two together?"
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Ciinriel and La'khay had their seats with the rest of their pride, near Ri'kalesh, but they were still close enough to be able to talk to Sabine. La'khay tapped a finger to her chin in thought as she figured out how to word her answer. "Oh, La'khay loves La'tahne greatly. But neither of us have wanted to be mates like you would think of them. We will be together until our deaths, but not...exclusively together. We do not wish to keep our love to ourselves, you understand. And we do so enjoy mating with anyone who wants to share in our love."

Meanwhile, Meesei was taking some time to greet several of the other clan alphas, or their representatives. Most of Tamriel's clans had sent at least someone to attend, often more, which made for quite a crowded and diverse table. It seemed like pretty much every cultural group in Tamriel was represented by someone among them. There were some that likely would have been at odds with one another, or at least in more conflict, were it not for their lycanthropy to unite them.
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"I am still glad you have each other," Sabine said to La'khay. "Send La'tahne my greetings." She leant forward to speak easier. "Also, Ciinriel, tell me about your daughter. What is her name? How is it to be a mother?"

Meesei's rounds to the various clan officials was more or less amenable. Some delegates were direct and curt while others were noticeably ingratiating. Fortunately, those with cultural tensions between them kept socialising in separate groups to one another. There was no doubt Meesei was in charge here. To inflame any relationships here was to answer directly to her, the champion.

Amongst the representatives was Marod, bantering and laughing with a pair of leaders from Cyrodilic clans.

Separate was Lunise, who was speaking with a far less jovial expression to the delegate from the Arenthia clan. Given her tasks carried out with the Dominion clans there were likely more than a few present officials she knew by name.

Lunise caught Meesei's eye in the middle of a sentence but continued talking with the representative in front of her.
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Though it was a secret to a majority of their people, the relationship that the clans had with the Empire and Dominion was known to the leadership of each of the clans, which meant that most of those at the table at least knew of Marod or Lunise if they had not met them in person. Although, no one would be mentioning their allegiances aloud, given the very public setting.

Ciinriel could not help but to give a chuckle. "Exhausting. I don't think I slept for a week after she was born. Her name is Telawen, and she is, well, she is my entire life. Being a mother...well, imagine it like having someone who demands all your attention all the time, screams at you for everything she wants with no patience whatsoever, and will quite literally vomit on you without a second thought, then gets mad when you put her down to clean yourself up. But, no matter what she does, or what she managed to cover herself in, she is still the most beautiful and precious thing you could ever imagine. And you will do everything she wants and more because there is no part of your mind that could even entertain the thought of not loving her. I think that somewhat describes it."

Being that they were now at the table, their conversation was now a bit less private. Just across from Sabine, a few of her pack were seated, including Ahnasha and Rhazii beside one another. Given the topic, Ahnasha grinned along with her comment. "I'd say that's completely right. And it never goes away either. Rhazii here will always be my cute little cub." She said in a quite intentionally exaggerated tone as she reached up and ruffled up the fur on top of Rhazii's head. She did indeed enjoy embarrassing Rhazii with her "motherly affection" from time to time.

For a few brief seconds, Ciinriel looked visibly surprised. "That's little Rhazii? I knew you were a Cathay, but...last time I saw you, I could've held you in my arms. You've grown like a graht-oak. Do you remember me? Ciinriel?"

At this point, people from the city were being directed to their seats, and Meesei soon took hers. As soon as she was given the signal from the organizers that they were ready, she would stand and call for everyone's attention. It was difficult to speak intelligibly to such a large group, though they had prepared as best as possible. They had set up some enchanted gems on pedestals around the clearing to help her voice to echo farther, though it would still require some shouting on her part.
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Rhazii's reaction to his mother was predictably defensive. He scrunched up his face until Ahnasha moved her hand away, before looking at her with ears angrily down. "Mother!" he said, stretching out the second syllable. "Do you have to call me that in front of everyone? Ugh..."

His disgust was put aside when Ciinriel spoke. Rhazii turned his red eyes curiously to Ciinriel. "Umm..." He slightly turned his head. "I...remember mother and father talking about you, but...how old was I back then?"

"Very young," Fendros chimed in. "Not even six years old, I think." He smiled at Ciinriel. "And if you do remember Ciinriel, you might have known her a little differently to now."

Rhazii looked at Ciinriel again, wracking his brain. He exhaled and shrugged. "Sorry, I don't remember much from back then. Only a few images."

Marod, Lunise, and the rest of the delegates found their seats before long. The din of conversation was well dispersed by the expansive cavern, though the items enchanted for the speakers would still be necessary.
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As they were speaking, the last of their guests found their seats at the table. The man who sat down on the other side of Ciinriel was a Bosmer man. He looked to be strong for one of his kind, though just about at an average height for a Bosmer. He was likely the husband that Ciinriel had mentioned, but Sabine would not have time to ask before Meesei stood up to get everyone's attention.

The moment that Meesei stood, the organizers began to quiet the crowd and prepared to bring the food out to the tables as soon as the speeches had been delivered. Meesei had planned out the timing of a certain reveal quite intentionally. "It is a great pleasure to have been able to gather all of us here in celebration for this great milestone in our war against our enemy. In fact, I can proudly announce that, with our recent accomplishments, we are but a few steps from eliminating our enemy from Tamriel entirely!"

There were some predictable cheers from the audience from Meesei's claim, but she continued quickly. "I understand there has been some frustration in the past in regards to the secrecy we have used in our plans, but I can announce that our efforts have won us a decisive victory. We have claimed not one, but multiple artifacts of legendary power that will give even the most powerful of Daedra reason to fear us. The leader our our enemy's armies, the general Do'rhajul, was defeated, and shall no longer act against us. And we have secured allies that shall help ensure the downfall of our enemy once and for all."

Meesei stepped slightly to one side, allowing Sabine space to take a more central position at the end of the table once it was time for her to stand. "As much as I would wish to claim credit for these accomplishments, it was not even the combined efforts of my pack that gave us these victories. Rather, it was the bravery, skill, and willpower of but one of its members." Meesei said, motioning her hand towards Sabine beside her. "Sabine Montgrave, the woman who was once my protégée, and who has become a true hero of our people. When captured by our enemy's general, tortured by Vile's zealots, she did not submit. Rather, she freed herself, and defeated Vile's most skilled agents by her own hand. She not only defeated Vile's general, but inspired the fearsome Do'rhajul to bend his knee in service to her, instead of the deceiver Clavicus Vile."

Do'rhajul, upon Meesei's instruction, had been standing alongside the table, and stepped forward with his head bowed once Meesei called attention to him. Naturally, that particular announcement sparked a rush of gasps and surprised conversation among the crowd, but Meesei still continued quickly. "And among all of those accomplishments, Sabine still found the time to bring us the main course of this feast."

On his cue, one of the organizers revealed the contents of the largest, gold-plated platter at the end of the table: the roasted head of the dragon. From there, Meesei simply remained silent to allow the crowd time to react, and for Sabine to say anything she wished.
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The butterflies fluttering in Sabine's stomach turned into a churning swarm of crawling roaches as the time approached for her speech. The feelings were not helped by the great joy and celebration Meesei put into recounting her adversities. Memories she still loathed and feared were passed off as some epic of endurance, like she had some kind of choice. She could have given up, true, but it never felt like a choice. It never felt like a challenge she chose to accept. By the time Meesei motioned for Sabine to stand and speak, she rose like a ghost, despondent and pale.

Still, the crowd waited. She turned her eyes up to them and let her mouth hang open for a quiet moment. She squeezed the staff in her hands. Somehow, the vast reserves of magical power offered her less comfort in front of the waiting faces than it did against a dragon or a violent gang of Clavicus Vile's cultists.

She started with what she worried everyone was paying attention to.

"I know..." The echo of the enchantments amplifying her voice briefly put her off. She spoke slowly, gaining confidence as she went. "...I know many here, perhaps everyone here, has lost someone close to them in this war. I know many here would rather have seen Rhajul and the dragon in switched places; the dragon being under us and Do'rhajul's head on a metal plate. I lost people as well. He killed friends. He maimed others, someone I loved. He almost killed Meesei personally. I hated him for it."

She glanced at Meesei for reassurance before continuing.

"And when I was chained to a tree...When..." She took a breath. "When I was...hurt...by Do'rhajul's team. Rhajul and his one friend were the only ones who did not take part. But I still hated him. The reason I kept him alive was not only because he gave up on life after learning the lies he had been told about us. It was not only because he felt so guilty I had to talk him out of him wanting me to kill him to give him peace..."

Sabine trailed off. She carefully raised her staff over her head to show the crowd. "This is the Staff of Magnus. It held such power when I took it from enemy hands that I could have encased them all in a tomb of solid ice and watch them suffocate. I could have frozen all their blood and made their veins explode into their lungs, their eyes, their bones...I could have peeled them apart, layer by layer, in such fine pieces that their pain would have been their only conscious thought before their slow deaths. I almost did it." Sabine's jaw opened and shut as she tried to stay composed. "But right before I did, I saw that they were just as...afraid as I was just before. Tied to the tree. At their mercy. I was so wrathful that I could feel my beast spirit cowering from me! I...was a monster. The same monster that has made us ostracised as lycans in the first place. Consumed by hate. Consumed by hurt. There was no hunt to it. No sport or strength. Just hate. But I said no."

She let one end of the end of the staff clack on the ground defiantly. "I decided I would not cause any more pain in this war. I would not create more monsters. I would not kill them. I did not kill them." She looked with determination at Do'rhajul. "I cannot fix Rhajul's guilt. I cannot fix the pain and revenge everyone wants. But I know Rhajul can be useful, and I refuse to let him die wastefully."

Sabine walked out from in front of her seat and stood in front of Do'rhajul. "He is pledged to me. We have formed a new pack and I am his alpha. All who wish him harm must surmount me first. I do not wish to kill anymore, but I am prepared if I must." Sabine clenched her jaw as her heart raced. She could not even look the crowd in the eyes anymore. "If you do not believe me," she said in her nervous, shivering voice. "You can see the proof of my capabilities for yourselves." She pointed to the dragon head without looking at it.

Finally, Sabine lowered her voice. "I want to stop Vile. I want us to be at peace for once in our lives. That is all I wanted to say."

She uneasily peered her eyes up to keep an eye out for any objections. She half-expected Ri'kalesh and anyone from a decimated or destroyed clan to get up and charge her at once. She was prepared to defend herself. The shame of putting Meesei's more hopeful mood into the dirt was not even in her mind in that moment.
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There was likely nothing that Sabine could have said that would not have been divisive to some degree, and the reactions from the audience were as varied as might have been expected. Some were angry that Do'rhajul was alive, others respected Sabine's mercy. Some were pragmatic, accepting that the former enemy general would certainly be useful in the war effort, while some feared Do'rhajul. Those who were particularly devoted to Hircine would respect Sabine's abilities and accomplishments, though her power also caused some to fear her as well. Regardless of whether or not they agreed with him being alive, it went without saying that having Do'rhajul submit himself to Sabine's leadership was a strong demonstration of authority and strength, particularly among lycans.

Do'rhajul, understandably, was not keen on being the center of attention at this particular moment, but he had little choice at this point. His identity had been confirmed, so there would be no going back. At the very least, no one was being violent, though that could perhaps have just been because of the public setting. Still, less of the audience responded as negatively as he had anticipated. He supposed he may have understood lycans less completely than he had once thought.

In all honesty, Meesei could not say she was thrilled with the direction that Sabine had taken her speech, but she had to work with what she was given and think quickly to follow up Sabine. "Clavicus Vile's time to challenge us, and the rest of Tamriel, will quickly be coming to its end. With Do'rhajul having seen the truth, we now have all of the knowledge we need to devastate the last vestiges of resistance against us in Tamriel, and prevent Vile from attempting this again. So I encourage you all now: eat, and celebrate the victories we have had, and the victories that shall come soon."
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Fendros and Janius each remained quiet, glancing occasionally at the members of Ri'kalesh's pack to gauge their reactions. Even Rhazii kept his eyes down, even though he had been talking across to Ciinriel just moments before like nothing was wrong.

In particular, Sabine looked sideways at Ri'vashi nearby on the main table. They never did get to meet face to face to talk the issue through, much to Sabine's regret. Perhaps that was why Sabine remained standing in front of Do'rhajul. She felt too anxious to sit down. She felt she had not said the right things, or not said them the right way.

The awkwardness kept the feast from immediately erupting into loud chatter. Sabine took the chance to turn and speak to Do'rhajul. "Is there anything you wish to say, Rhajul?" She tried and failed to breath in evenly. "If not, we should find a place to eat."

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Do'rhajul stayed silent, raised up a hand slightly, and shook his head. He did not want any more attention on himself than he already had. Though, that was perhaps an effort in vain, considering how many eyes were already on him. He preferred to simply step back and find a seat that would make him at least somewhat less visible. He supposed he could join in the feast, though he did not have too great of an appetite at the moment.

As Meesei had been speaking, the organizers were already moving to the tables with platters of food and bottles of wine, ale, and mead. Although, they were going somewhat unnoticed with the low roar of conversation going through the crowd. For those sitting more closely to Meesei and Sabine, the reactions were no less varied. Ri'vashi and the rest of the council already, of course, knew of the announcement, so they were calm and mostly intent on observing the rest of the crowd. Ciinriel was showing some definite surprise and was currently leaned in, conversing in whispers with her husband, while Ri'kalesh was staring ahead silently, with an intense look of contemplation. Other clan leaders had been less personally-affected by Do'rhajul, given that he had mostly been operating out of Elsweyr, but everyone knew him by reputation. The Dunmer clan leaders gave each other subtle, but noticeably worried looks, and one gave a nod towards Fendros, wanting to speak to him in private later. The reactions of the Argonian clan leaders, meanwhile, were quite the opposite. While they were not outwardly "excited" about the news, they were already conversing in hushed Jel with one another about the potential merits of the arrangement. The leader of the Daggerfall clan was seated on the far end of the table from Sabine, and was one of the more difficult to read. He had his hands clasped together on the table in front of him, and his expression was mostly emotionless. His eye showed the faint remnants of a bruise from where Meesei had struck him before Sabine's return, but he did not seem focused on Meesei. His attention was on Sabine, and after a moment, he seemed to grin.
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"Fendros, my friend," Janius said quietly over the din to Fendros sitting next to him. "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"

Fendros nodded back to the Dunmer leader trying to catch his eye before leaning over to respond to Janius. "I'm seeing about as much trouble as I would have expected. Maybe less, though trouble all the same."

Janius appeared slightly worried. "Look at the way the Daggerfall leader is...smiling. I think he may still hold a grudge."

"Just keep your wits about you and make sure any factions remember who the common enemy is," Fendros droned.

The murmurs and plots in the immediate area weakened upon the next event. Sabine pulled Do'rhajul gently by the wrist back to the main table. In her other hand was a spare seat that she placed next to her own. She insistently ushered Do'rhajul to sit down before resuming her own seat as well.

Gone were the smiles and small talk from before the speech. Sabine looked at her plate with a nervous frown while food and drink were served. She did not have much of an appetite either. However, she was determined to make it clear her righteousness. To shy away was to acknowledge the shame many would no doubt send her way.

Janius made an attempt to break the silence. "Do'rhajul," he began. "Thank you for deciding to help us. I know not everyone agrees with Sabine's decision, but...I agree with her. And, also, thank you for assisting Sabine. She is a sister to us. It brought me no small amount of relief to see her safe and home."

"You almost killed members of my family," Rhazii butted in, staring and fiddling with his mug.

"Rhazii..." Fendros warned.

Rhazii raised his voice. "It's what everyone is thinking! It's stupid to pretend like he's suddenly our friend. Look at everyone, they're all wondering what in Oblivion just happened!"

"That's enough!" Fendros scowled at Rhazii, Rhazii looked back in silence, defiant but made quiet. Fendros gestured his head in Do'rhajul's direction and lowered his voice. "Son, if you want to know of Sabine or Do'rhajul's motives, ask them before assuming. In fact, if you are so passionate, ask them now." Fendros permitted with a flick of his hand. "Go on. Ask."

Rhazii frowned at his empty plate. His ears pulled back in embarrassment. When his eyes went up, he looked at Do'rhajul with equal levels of fear and barely-contained anger. "Why?" He asked. "Why did you do it all?"

Sabine nudged Do'rhajul and gave him a small nod. "Answer him, please, Rhajul."
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Their table was separated enough from the majority of the clan that they would not be able to clearly hear the conversation unless they were trying to speak to everyone intentionally, particularly over the general noise of the crowd. However, all of those at the their table could hear them clearly, and they were a rapt audience. It was a confusing announcement that Do'rhajul had been spared, and all of them sought an answer. Do'rhajul's explanation would be important for more than just calming Rhazii.

Do'rhajul felt the eyes on him, but he had little choice but to answer. There was a pause, and a deep breath from him before he finally spoke. "Did Captain gro-Konesh...Lorag, ever tell you the story of how he was turned, young one? His story was the same as mine, in that regard. I was, at that time, Tribune Do'rhajul, proud and loyal servant of our Emperor and his army. From my birth, it was my fate to serve our people. Our nation. We were the protectors of peace and safety for our, and it was the only life that I had wanted. It was not Stormcloaks, but lycans that ended the lives we had. We were on a patrol when they attacked. It was like nothing I had seen up to that point, and nothing I could have prepared for. We were not equipped to deal with such ferocious beings, and we were slaughtered because of it. I saw my brothers and sisters in arms ripped apart before my eyes, eaten alive. I only barely escaped, severely wounded...and infected. Until I learned of Lorag, I thought I was the only survivor."

With a brief silence, Do'rhajul's gaze moved between the clan leaders watching him. "It is not an uncommon story for lycans, I am told. From what I understand, Captain gro-Konesh went on to find your Champion, your pack. A family. I did not. What I found was isolation, fear. Before my turning, I had a family: a wife and child. I had my purpose in my career, camaraderie in my fellow soldiers. Afterwards, I had nothing. I tried to return to a settlement to get help to get back to my garrison, but that was a mistake. I am not sure what happened, but I found a farmhouse, the owner gave me clothes, a meal, a warm fire. I remember him giving me a map and explaining how I could get to the nearest village, then I spotted his little boy playing with his dog in the snow. I smelled them both more intensely than I had ever smelled anything in my life. Their flesh...the blood pumping through their veins. I don't remember anything else, except waking up in the wilderness somewhere hours later, some dried blood on my fur."

The pain that Do'rhajul's memories brought him was palpable in his expression, but he pressed on with only a brief delay. "After a while, I sought to end my own life, and was stopped only by the effort and charity of Yerig. He helped me to find some peace, but there was nothing to replace what I had lost. When I was found by Vile's cultists, I was easy to convince. I had only ever known lycans as the ones who had destroyed the lives of myself, and those that I had come to see as my brothers and sisters. When they told me that those monsters had a plan to infect all of Tamriel with their plague, I believed them. Why would they risk attacking an Imperial patrol otherwise, if they were not so confident? Everything I had seen of Hircine and his lycanthropy was monstrous, and Vile offered me the hope for a cure, and a return to my family. With all I had experienced, how could I not see their cause as righteous?"
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Rhazii looked around at the faces of those listening. His anger was softened somewhat by their hints of sympathy, small as they were. He had been raised a lycan, but was very aware the tragedies involved with infection.

However, Rhazii was not mollified. Particularly at Do'rhajul's rhetorical question.

"I heard about all the things you've done," Rhazii continued. "What you did to the Orcrest and Senchal clans. That wasn't righteous, that was horrible. Did you just not see it for yourself? How did Sabine change your mind after you did all of that?"

Rhazii's scepticism was allowed my Fendros and Ahnasha for now, but he held a suitably adolescent tone of disgust towards Do'rhajul.
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by EliteCommander
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Do'rhajul looked down at the platter in front of him. He had not eaten a bite yet, and his self-reflection certainly was not helping. "Indeed. You should take care not to mistake my words for excuses. There is no adequate excuse, only explanations for my mistakes. Vile's priesthood hid much from me, I see now, but they could not hide everything. I knew that I would be killing lycans, and that the gas would be killing lycans. I knew it would be indiscriminate. Do you know what they told me? That it was a mercy, in the end. I had been convinced that your clans were conspiring to spread lycanthropy to everyone, and were essentially keeping their people bound to them through their condition. I knew firsthand that a lycan could not survive among civilization, at least not without specific training. I thought that most of your people were being forced to serve your clans because they had no other option. The cultists, they convinced me that they did not have the means to cure every lycan, but that they could save your souls from being bound to Hircine for eternity."

The Cathay-raht could no longer bear to maintain eye contact with anyone around him. He had his head down, staring at the stone table in front of him. "Of course, even they did not try to convince me that Vile was doing it for charitable reasons. I was told that Vile to remove the beast spirits from your souls, then you could serve him for some time to earn your way out of his realm. Eventually, you would all be able to move on to Aetherius. It was a lie I should have seen through, but it was the one that motivated me to fight."
Hidden 6 yrs ago Post by Muttonhawk
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Rhazii's glower hardly faltered. He gripped the table's edge until his claws raked bright scratches in the wood. He quickly shook his head before responding.

"So, what now?" He raised his voice only slightly. "What are you fighting for now if you only just figured out the big fat lie he had you under!?"

"You will not shout, Rhazii," Fendros said before it escalated.

Rhazii bared his teeth, returning to a more polite volume of angry words. "Do'rhajul, why are you even here?"
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