EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Well, among Khajiit, it is pretty much to be expected. I wouldn't say single births are rare or anything, they still probably make up more than half of births, but, well, the other half is twins, triplets, and so on. Now, when the father isn't Khajiit, that can make it more complicated. I'm not an expert on this or anything, but I think which race the father is will affect it differently. With a human father, multiple births would still be fairly common, but not like normal. With you being a Dunmer, I doubt it is very likely at all. Dunmer women can only have a few children in their lifetimes, right? I personally don't think I've ever heard of Dunmer twins, though I'm sure it has happened. If I had to guess, I would say the likelyhood of twins would be small, but still a possibility." Ahnasha explained. She really wasn't sure if everything she was saying was factually accurate, she was just making educated guesses based on her experiences. Besides, she would probably know by now if she was carrying twins.

Kaleeth returned only a few minutes later, more quickly than they were expecting. As luck would have it, her beast spirit had stuck to the same river, so she was able to swim back in about the same time as it took to get there. The intensity of her first full moon made her silent once more to everyone except Janius, though it was more due to shock than anything and would likely pass in time. Most of the pack, save Ahnasha, had to then finish up packing their belongings. If they wanted to have even a chance of getting to Stormhold in time, they needed to move quickly, something that Ahnasha was decidedly terrible at currently. As they were about to leave, Ahnasha approached Fendros once more, this time with more of a saddened expression. "I guess it's back to traveling, and me inevitably holding the rest of you up. I'm surprised Meesei hasn't insisted on the others carrying me yet. I've been useless at every other task, and now it seems I can't even walk right."

The Depths of Deception

Sorry for the delay, but I have been a bit busy as of late. I only just got home recently. I'll try to work on my next post today, but it probably won't be done until tomorrow.

Elder Scrolls: Terror of the Padomaic

Sharee's officers were prompt in arriving at her cabin, a quality she was glad had developed among them. Almost everyone present, save one, was an officer, as it seemed like most of them had left their team members behind: a wise decision, likely. With the information they had collected over the past few days, they had developed a few plans for how to approach the situation. Given the numbers Sharee had at her disposal, she figured a stealthy approach would be best. Since an entire crate of skooma was not exactly a light object, they wouldn't be able to sneak out with it, but they could at least formulate a surprise attack.

Sharee, who was already armed and ready, stood up from her table once everyone had arrived. "Okay, that looks like everyone. Since only one of you has brought any of your teams here, I'm guessing you don't think the others are ready. That's probably accurate, and as long as we're coordinated, we won't need them. I've looked over everyone's reports, and unfortunately, it looks like we only have one real good option here. The Dominion is too smart to leave their moon sugar fields lightly defended, and the Miriam's crew are too smart to leave their skooma unattended, so that means we need to go after the one stupid group left on the island: the bandits. From your reports, they look like a small clan, less than two dozen in all, but that's still more than us. They operate out of a cove on the east side of the island. From the glimpse Malakaus' scout got of the place, they have a wooden dock set up inside the cove, with a door that looks like it heads into a cave in the back. Now, the fact that they seem to keep most of their supplies and loot out on the dock suggests that cave is small, maybe enough for a room or two, but you never know. From what I've been told, these bandits should have at least a crate of skooma, maybe more, hopefully not less. Now, thing is, I don't have any more information other than what I just told you. That means we're going to have to make up a plan once we're there and can survey the situation. One of the issues with this camp being in a cove is that it can be difficult to get a good look inside without being spotted, which is probably why they picked it. We might have to do some improvising, but that's why I selected you all as officers, you have judgement. I'm assuming you all armed yourselves already. If not, do that now. Also, to answer Sarel's question, we need to be quiet on the approach, so we will be walking. This island isn't that big, so it won't take long."

Elder Scrolls: Terror of the Padomaic

I was wrote part of my next post earlier, but got caught in other things. I have a long day tomorrow, so it will be later int he day before I can finish it. For those who we haven't heard from in a while, if you still want to be a part of it, feel free to post in the meantime .

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ahnasha had thought about what Fendros asked before, and it was not an easy question to answer. The various forms of Khajiit were radically different, and while she was worried that she wasn't qualified to raise any of them, she did have somewhat of a pragmatic view on which would be easiest on both of them. Of course, she would love her child no matter what it ended up being. That much was ingrained into her mind as a mother.

"Well, I suppose it would be easier to raise the forms most like me, since I am obviously familiar with myself. Unfortunately, there is no chance of this child being born as a Suthay-raht. If I had to pick one form...that would be hard. A Cathay would be closer to a Suthay-raht like myself. They do tend to be larger, but not too much larger than we are. On the other hand, as a Cathay-raht, our child would be a strong, powerful individual. I believe we saw one back in Vos, so you know how big they can get. I know that can create its own challenges, especially in civilizations outside Elsweyr, but for our lifestyle, out in the wilds, it would be an advantage that would make for an easier life. I don't know if I can decide between the two, I just...I am hoping that it doesn't happen today. If it does, it would be a Senche and...I know you said you would love our child no matter what, but I know you wouldn't be comfortable with that." Ahnasha answered.

The Depths of Deception

Let's just say the currency is valuable. They would be well compensated.

The Depths of Deception

Despite the blunt nature of August's question, Ghirn answered without skipping a beat. "Payment for most of you is being handled by the governments who sent you, and will most likely be the standard of whatever your government pays. For those of you who are independent contractors, the payment you have agreed to is outlined in these contracts...here"

With the press of a button, Ghirn activated holographic displays in front of every member of the team, each one of which displayed a contract drafted specifically for the person it was being presented to. "These contracts outline the terms and conditions of your service to the Assembly in this endeavor. For most of you, it essentially boils down to a simple non-disclosure agreement, though as I said, if you are a contractor, i also outlines your pay. You may examine it if you like, but we cannot continue until everyone here has signed the agreement. If you do not like the terms, you may leave now. Be aware that, after signing this agreement, if you reveal any classified information you learn during this mission, the Assembly will have the authority to detain and imprison you."

Rareth was no stranger to these agreements, so she wasted no time in signing her NDA. The holographic display was able to take her biometric readings for identification, meaning all she had to do was to give her thumbprint. As she was no mercenary, her pay was taken care of by the Rahn'Masser, and was no different from her normal salary. The wording on the mercenaries' payment contract was actually a bit complicated, but if they performed well, they could stand to make half a million credits for a year's contract.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Well, I remember a lot of sleeping, and a lot of eating. I...think we're almost out of meat. That probably means we'll have to stop and hunt before we get to Stormhold, unfortunately." Ahnasha commented to Fendros. While Meesei and a few of the others started packing up their belongings, Ahnasha sat up against the tree and beckoned for Fendros to sit beside her. It wasn't as if they could leave without Kaleeth, so they had time.

"So, we could become parents any day now, it seems. Unless it happens today, it doesn't look like the child will be a Senche. More likely, it's going to be a Cathay, or Cathay-raht. Like I explained before, both of those are humanoid. One is big, the other is really big. They're all born the same size though, thank Hircine. I don't think i could handle anything bigger than that. Whatever it ends up being though...it's not looking good for us getting to Stormhold in time. We might have to do this ourselves." She said in a worried tone.

Elder Scrolls: Terror of the Padomaic

I think I need to determine if some of the others are still with us. Also, today was the release of Destiny, so I was otherwise occupied.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

For Kaleeth, her night involved her drifting in and out of consciousness while her beast spirit hunted. There were sections of her memory that seemed to be completely absent, though she assumed they were all the same as the parts she could remember. She often found herself waiting at the bottom of the river, or floating near the top with only the tip of her nose cresting the surface. Crocodiles were patient creatures and the lycan versions were no different. All she had to do was wait and something would inevitably come to her. She had no luck in finding something especially large like the dreugh during her first hunt, at least not in what she remembered, but there were some large fish that her beast spirit deemed worthy to catch. The most striking feature about the night that she remembered was how strong the beast spirit felt in her mind. Even her very first turning could not match the intensity of what she felt during the full moon. It was frightening; if the beast could take over her mind so completely and forcefully during a specific time, what was stopping it from doing the same thing at any time? Could Hircine give the beast spirits of all of his lycans the ability to overtake their hosts on a whim? Nevertheless, Kaleeth awoke in her Argonian form washed up on the side of the river, having lost consciousness after her beast spirit retreated back within her mind. Provided she was in the same river, she could find her way back to camp, though it might take an hour or two.

Lorag's group had a mostly uneventful night. They did not find any kind of spectacular or dangerous prey, but they did find enough to satisfy their beast spirits. For Ahnasha and Meesei, on the other hand, there was far more tension in the air for the duration of the night. Unlike Ahnasha, Meesei was unable to sleep or rest for a second. As peaceful and content as she seemed from the outside, Ahnasha was not in control of her actions. The appetite of her beast spirit coupled with the increased hunger from her pregnancy meant that Meesei had to make sure she had something to eat at all times, else she try to go elsewhere to satisfy her cravings. She ended up consuming the majority of the pack's remaining stores of meat. It was always a great relief when Ahnasha fell asleep for a nap, even if it was always short-lived. In a few instances, Meesei feared that the birth was upon her. She often shifted uncomfortably and let out pained whimpers at her discomfort.Each time, as cautiously as possible Meesei approached Ahnasha with her restoration magic to soothe her pains. At the same time, she made sure to examine her body to see if anything was out of the ordinary. Meesei could easily feel the child's life energy, as well as physically feel it moving within Ahnasha's stomach, but at no point did the birthing process begin. When the sun rose, Ahnasha awoke from a much needed nap, this time in her Khajiit form.

Ahnasha slowly opened her eyes, expecting to feel a great deal of soreness, but finding none. Meesei was sitting on her knees beside her with hands that pulsed with restoration energy. She gently rubbed them over Ahnasha's joints and stomach to negate the discomfort the transformation would cause. Though Meesei was not entirely sure, she guessed Ahnasha's current condition would magnify that pain if left unattended.

"So...I guess I'm not a mother yet, then." Ahnasha said in a weak, tired voice once she was cognisant enough of her surroundings to make sense of what was going on.

Meesei grinned, then lightly grabbed Ahnasha's hand and placed it on her stomach to feel the child kicking within, even though she was probably already well aware of that. "At this point, you're already a mother, Ahnasha. You just have to get through the formality of getting the child out of you." It was at that point where Meesei heard footsteps approaching, which she assumed to be Lorag's group returning.