EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei nodded affirmatively as Janius moved to find Najirra's daughters. As for herself, she listened to the lieutenants begin their accusations and arguing as she looked around for a parchment on which to write. Meesei did not want the lieutenants to know the identities of the individuals who received the letters, as she had a plan for how they could be helpful. If Jerrick wrote to them, that meant they were trustworthy. Therefore, they might be able to provide aid to the investigation in ways Meesei or her pack could not. The traitor was certainly going to be on guard whenever she or her pack was around, so having secret informats could prove useful. It was shortly after Meesei gave Najirra the list of names that the lieutenants were starting to get into another argument, which was suddenly put on hold by a spell from Najirra. For a person of his age, Meesei supposed he had considerable arcane knowledge. One quality of mages, unlike warriors, was that their power only increased with time, as long as they retained their right mind. Meesei shifted somewhat awkwardly, as even she would not have paralyzed the three, but being an old, respected man, she supposed they would judge Najirra less harshly. Meesei cleared her throat, then returned to addressing the group. "Yes, well...I am not as focused on the specifications of the poison at this moment. Once we have identified exactly what it is, I will investigate that. For now, what I want to know is who had the ability to actually place the poison in Jerrick's waterskin without his knowledge. He carried it around with him all day, did he not? From where would he have gathered his water, and at what point might he have not been carrying it on his belt? There could not have been too many opportunities for someone to get to his waterskin unnoticed." Meesei quieted down once she heard footsteps approaching, as she too assumed it was Janius with Najirra's daughters. She wanted to minimize the number of people who were aware of Jerrick's death.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei gave a respectful nod to Najirra. It was fortunate that the old Khajiit was such a respected member of the community, as his word was greatly helpful to prove Meesei's own innocence. His old age meant he had essentially no motivations for power, no reason to take sides in petty politics. He was someone Meesei might be able to seek advice from, once she was away from the lieutenants. Now Meesei's own innocence had been established, Meesei was able to speak with much more weight. However, she did not want to anger the lieutenants too greatly. After all, they would still have their positions once the traitor had been found. At this point, she needed to approach the situation in a way that would convince them to cooperate. She had to remind them that all but one of them were on the same side. She nodded to Oswall, but her expression seemed regretful. "I am afraid Jerrick was rather certain of it. Hircine warned him of it, and, despite my best efforts, his prophesy came to pass. This makes the rest of his warning all the more concerning. You see, this traitor is playing directly into Vile's hands, whether they are aware of it or not. Jerrick warned that, if chaos was allowed to spread in the clan, then when the full moons rise, this clan will fall. We cannot afford to allow the clan to divide itself in some sort of struggle for succession. Therefore, we cannot allow the clan as a whole to learn of Jerrick's passing until the traitor is found. Once that is done, you will all get a chance to prove your worthiness in leadership to me." Meesei paused from speaking to the lieutenants to address Najirra. "There were a few other letters sent to trusted individuals. Could you have your daughters bring them to you so I can speak to you all at once? I will give you a list of their names. There are some things I wish to ask of you" Meesei shifted her attention back to the lieutenants. "Just remember, we are not all enemies in this. Only one of you is the traitor; the rest are just as dedicated to the clan as they have ever been. With all of your cooperation, we might end this quickly, as right now, we have a lead. We know exactly how he was poisoned, we just need to determine who had the ability to poison his waterskin."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Quite understandably, everything about this situation was generating considerable anger and frustration among the lieutenants. Not only had they lost their leader, but now they were each being accused of being the murderer. In particular, Meesei was sympathetic for Vera. If she was innocent, then all of this together would be beyond devastating. Meesei just hoped she could resolve the situation swiftly so that Vera and the others would have a chance to grieve and recover from the loss. At the moment, none of the lieutenants seemed to trust Meesei. Darahil was the closest, but she suspected it was an act on his part to keep his distrust hidden. Hopefully, once Meesei proved that her words were genuine, they would see the gravity of the situation and become more cooperative, at least with her. After all, only one was a traitor. The rest had at least been loyal enough to follow Jerrick's leadership, and they would likely want to expose the traitor as well, especially since Meesei mentioned she would be selecting a leader from among them. With Fendros leading the way, it did not take too long to reach Najirra's chamber. The daughters awoke first, then left upon Darahil's request after they woke their father. Meesei kept her eyes on the daughters as they left the room, then, once they were sufficiently far away, stepped forward to address Najirra. From his expression, Meesei suspected he knew what was happening, though she would ask all the same. "I am Hircine's Champion." She said, extending forth the hand that bore the ring so he could see it more clearly. "Earlier this evening, Jerrick had a letter delivered to you. Have you yet had a chance to read it?"

The Depths of Deception

After the healing was complete and Shiva went on her own way, Rareth actively sought to make the rest of her day as relaxing as she could. Once she had a shower to clean up, she headed straight to the mess hall for a well-earned meal. Her armor and equipment was being cleaned and repaired, so she did not have to worry about it beyond just giving the technicians a place to deliver it. For her meal, she decided on something exotic, or at least exotic to her. Like all Rothian vessels, it was supplied with plenty of meat in its cuisine; in this case, from animals native to Pax. Given the diversity of the crew, there were also plenty of plant-based foods available, but Rothian physiology was less accepting of plant matter. There were some that were safe to eat, but others could cause rather...uncomfortable digestive problems. Since she was not sure of what plants she could eat from Pax, she avoided them entirely. The rest of Rareth's day was spent in her room, enjoying the downtime after the mission where no one was being sent to bother her. She was able to disregard formality and lounge in casual attire, which, for a Rothian, was nothing. It reminded her of her off-duty time in her own apartment back on Rothia, aside from the fact that the officer's quarters were far smaller, undecorated, and with few luxuries. Still, even just the entertainment she had saved on her own computer was enough to last months. The only thing that would make it better would be a network connection to anything outside the ship. Eventually, Rareth heard a knock on the door, which she expected was one of her team members. Given that they shared the room, Telmeck was already present, but she did not know how many more would be arriving. She supposed she would just give an hour or so from that point for everyone who planned on coming to arrive. Standing up from her bed, she walked over and opened the door, revealing Shiva standing outside. Somehow, Rareth guessed she would be the one to arrive first. "Ah, Shiva, good to see you. Come in; we'll wait a while for the others before I get started. I'll turn down the heat for you."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

As Meesei expected, the reactions of the lieutenants were varied, ranging from despair to anger. It was difficult to determine from their emotions alone which was the guilty party, especially since she did not know them too well. However, it was notable that Oswall was the first to attempt to blame Meesei for Jerrick's death. She would remember that. Just as she also expected, the news quickly prompted the lieutenants to begin arguing amongst themselves, casting the blame on everyone around them. It certainly seemed like Jerrick's prediction was accurate. Meesei needed to once again take hold of the situation, so while the others were arguing, she brought her hands together to subtly charge a spell. She cast it moments later, sending a green haze across the room as the spell of silence took hold. Suddenly, all but Meesei found that their voices, and indeed, nothing they were doing, could produce a sound. Her response was not to shout, but nonetheless, she carried an authoritative tone. "Enough! If I wanted to promote someone I liked, I would pick from my own pack. The next alpha will be chosen based on the merit of their leadership ability, nothing more. And no one here is going to become the alpha until the traitor is brought to justice, I will be sure of that. If the traitor's identity cannot be proven, then I will ensure none of you gain the title. Turning her head to Vera, her expression and tone adopted some sympathy, but was still overall firm. "Vera, this is the worst of any way I would have chosen to give you the news, but it is necessary. You may see him in time, but for right now, understand that I cannot, and will not absolve you of suspicion. Jerrick trusted you, this I know for sure. His...final words to me were that I tell you he was...sorry. He loved you with his last breath...but I do not know any of you. I have arrived only today, and Hircine's word was that one of his lieutenants would be the one to murder him. I have to recognize that Jerrick's own feelings might have clouded his judgment. If I refused to accept that you, or any of the others, might be the traitor, then I would be doing a disservice to your husband." What Meesei said to Vera was not what she wanted to say in such a time, but it was what she needed to say. She could not afford to show any break in her resolve. As such, while the spell was still in effect, she looked to address the group as a whole, though initially, she looked squarely at Oswall. "You are quick to blame me for his death, but take a moment to think, and you will see that I have no motive for such an attack. I am the Alpha of alphas; there are none among Hircine's hounds who are above me. I cannot gain rank by killing an alpha, as I already outrank them. If I felt that Jerrick was unfit for his position, I can command he be replaced; such is my authority. Jerrick, from all I know of him, was a capable and honorable individual. To have built and sustained a clan such as this proved he was deserving of his title. This clan is lesser for his loss, and our lord's Hunting Grounds have strengthened with his gain. But, you do not need to trust my word, as Jerrick and I prepared for this...outcome. Just as night fell, he had letters delivered to a few, trusted individuals explaining our plan. Each letter was tailored to the recipient to prove that he was the writer. You are all going to follow me to Najirra's chamber; he will confirm my words. Once we are done there, I have an idea for an angle to pursue to uncover the traitor. Until that is complete, none of you are to leave my sight, and none of you are going to breathe a word of Jerrick's death to anyone else." Upon delivering her orders, Meesei ended her spell, allowing the others to speak once more.

The Depths of Deception

Probably nothing interesting will happen until later in the night, when Rareth requested the others to meet her in her room. We can go head and skip to then. It will give CQB a way to wake Shuo up.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

As the lieutenants gathered in Vera's room, Meesei made sure she was the last to enter, and therefore closest to the door. She had to make sure that the news of Jerrick's death did not yet spread to the clan as a whole. Meesei noted that Vera was quick to ask where Jerrick was, but then again, he was her husband, and the only leader not present. Regardless, Meesei took a deep breath and began her explanation. "Earlier today, just as I was finishing the tale of how I became Champion, Jerrick pulled me away, ostensibly to speak to me about dealing with Vile's followers. However, his true intention was to warn me of a revelation Hircine had given to him." As she spoke, Meesei watched the facial expressions of each lieutenant, looking for anything that might hint at guilt, or surprise. "Hircine told him that his life would be taken tonight, by one of his own lieutenants. We staged an ambush in the meeting room down the hall, but only Vera entered the room, and he did not eat nor drink anything she brought. He perished to a poison in his water, the only thing he had consumed all day. One of you is the poisoner, a traitor who intends to grab control of the clan for themselves. What this traitor does not realize, whether through ignorance or pride, is that, without intervention, this clan will be torn apart by their arrogance. Hircine has foreseen it. My purpose now is to ensure the clan survives, to choose its new leader, and to bring the traitor to justice." Meesei's voice was now harsh, almost accusatory, and her eyes were scanning over them like a hawk, searching for any hint of treachery.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Lorag quickly dressed himself in his loincloth and a few of his furs, but with how much of a rush Meesei seemed to be in, he did not even bother to grab the rest before marching over to the door, ready to get moving. His demeanor had become just as serious as Meesei's in only a few seconds, even if he still had no idea what was going on. He trusted Meesei absolutely, so if she was in a hurry, he was in a hurry. "What are we waiting for, take us to 'em." He said to Harriet, almost impatiently. As they started off towards the bedroom, Meesei elected to give Harriet some form of an answer. "Like I said, I'll explain it once we are all together. We are not under attack, but the threat is just as dire. We will need to act quickly in order to minimize the damage." Luckily, it was not too far to reach the hall containing the lieutenants' bedrooms, as well as the meeting room in which Jerrick's body still lay. Once they had arrived in the hall, Meesei was quick to give her orders to the others, including Harriet. Wake them, hurry. We can use Jerrick and Vera's room. she said, though her volume was likely enough to wake them by itself. Quickly, she peered into Vera's room and saw that she was present, which meant Ahnasha was likely nearby as well.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Unlike Janius and Fendros, Meesei maintained a completely serious demeanor. In fact, she gave no reaction at all to the scene before them. Her mind was completely focused on the task at hand, and even if it had not been, Lorag's business was his own. She approached the pair of Orcs and handed Lorag's hammer to him. She spoke without anger, but in a nonetheless serious tone. "Get up you two, this is important. We need to get to the other lieutenants as quickly as possible. I will explain in full once we are all together, but the fate of this clan is at stake." She explained briefly, taking particular note of every facet of Harriet's reaction. Lorag was about to return with his own banter before most of his pack suddenly showed up. His attitude, however, shifted quickly from annoyance about being barged in on, to legitimate worry from his Alpha's utterly serious demeanor. Even from Meesei, he would have expected at least some levity under normal circumstances. And if she had brought his hammer, whatever they were doing could not be pleasant. "Of course, Alpha."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei let out a sigh. It was not the answer she was hoping for, as it meant they were no closer to finding the traitor than they were before. They would have to confront the lieutenants and fill them all in on the situation. It would not be pleasant, but it was better than letting them find out on their own. Meesei would need to take charge of the situation, as she had ideas for how to take some advantage of the fact that the clan as a whole did not yet know of Jerrick's death, as it would make the investigation easier. It was going to be a veritable inquisition to discern the identity of the traitor, and they did not have an unlimited time to act. "Very well. Kaleeth, stay here. I am not expecting danger, but I would like to be safe. Everyone else, let us go find Lorag. With luck, his scent will not be too difficult to follow, though I cannot imagine why he left to begin with." Meesei ordered. She was already prepared, so the only thing she grabbed was Lorag's hammer, which he had left behind. --- The room was only dimly lit, and entirely empty, save for the two Orcs and the clothing strewn about across the floor. Lorag was laying beside Harriet on the stone floor, though it did not bother him in the slightest. Overall, he felt quite good, but he couldn't shake the thought that he was more tired than he should be. It seemed to get worse the more he thought about it. Some of the others had told him he was too young to be feeling the effects of aging, but he had a hard time believing it. He tried not to show his worries and instead gave a slight chuckle. "So, how you feelin' now?"