EliteCommander

Ashes [EliteCommander and Vesuvius00]

"My favorite fruits? I rather like cherries, though we tend to have more pomegranates. Honestly, though, fruit isn't the largest part of our diet. When we are able, we eat as much meat as we can get our hands on. Just looking at my teeth can give that away." Tarentek answered, opening his mouth slightly to reveal his many long and sharp teeth. "It is quite easy for us to rip into tough things like meat, but chewing is a lot harder. We have to put in a lot more effort, and it is generally annoying. Possible, but annoying."

Another effect of Tarentek's comparatively large mouth was that he could take quite large bites. As a result, he was already close to finishing his meat pie, though he was still perfectly engaged in the conversation. "You know, I would like to thank you for showing me around the...nest today. I understand you might not be able to do so everyday, but I appreciate it just the same. Perhaps later, we can do more outside this den. As I mentioned before, I will not be up for much in the way of physical training for a time, but perhaps we could have some marksmanship training later, or at least archery? I am not certain how many bullets your tribe has on hand, so I don't know how freely you can use them for training. Sometimes, I forget that most settlements have not discovered how to make ammunition for firearms. It requires specialized knowledge that Amman's leadership was intent on keeping a closely guarded secret."

Ashes [EliteCommander and Vesuvius00]

Tarentek gave a chuckle. "Alcohol is intoxicating as well, though in a different way. As you've said, drinking too much alcohol can and will put you in a different state of mind. Some find it rather pleasurable and therefore drink specifically for that effect. However, one should avoid drinking if they have any kind of important duties, as it would make fulfilling them quite impossible for a time. For most who drink, it is a mostly harmless hobby, but some can take it too far and rely on it too much. I had a friend who was like that, but by Jhala's grace, myself and our other friends managed to help him stop. Though, it was likely his betrothed who influenced him the most."

Tarentek appreciated the compliment on his food, so he returned one in kind for her drink. "I rather like this cordial. What kind of fruit is it made from? I think it tastes familiar, but I can't quite place it. In any case, sweet foods and drinks are some of my favorites. Some of my friends have said that I like things to be too sweet, but I don't think there is such a thing." He said with a smile.

Ashes [EliteCommander and Vesuvius00]

Before beginning his meal, Tarentek tried the cordial Onyx poured for him. It was a sweet drink, much like he expected from her description of its ingredients. Visibly pleased with the drink, Tarentek moved on to finally start eating. The meat pie was partially encased by the bread, so he decided to forgo the use of utensils and simply used his hands.

"Hmm, I can understand why a race might have issue with eating eggs, but my people do not. We tend to be pragmatists when it comes to our food...or anything, really. Eggs are tasty, nutritious, and convenient. Now, if you tried to eat one of our eggs, we would have you tried and executed for murder. Bird eggs, however, go great with a number of dishes. Now raw meat, that is something neither I nor my people would choose to eat. I have had meat raw before, but it was out of necessity. There have been a few times that my scouting team was caught out in the desert with nothing to use to make a fire, usually when a sandstorm was keeping us in shelter. During those times, we ate our meat raw, but I certainly don't prefer it. Most of the people in Amman have probably never eaten meat raw. I can do it, but rather not. It's not so much because of the taste, but because of the extra risk of disease. Eating raw meat, you will probably be fine, but cooked meat will always be safer." Tarentek explained. "As far as tastes we have that you may not? Well, alcohol is a possibility. You said your people do not drink it, correct? Have you ever tried it before, or is it just something you haven't had available?"

Ashes [EliteCommander and Vesuvius00]

"Sure, I would not mind something different to drink. Perhaps in the future I could show you some of my favorite drinks as well, as long as you don't mind trying alcohol. I think the mutton is done, so I'll have everything ready in a moment." Tarentek answered as he began to move the ground mutton over onto two circular pieces of flatbread, then cover both in cheese. Once finished, he folded the flatbread over the meat to contain it so that it could be eaten with utensils, or simply with the hands.

Tarentek set down both plates at the table, then took a seat himself. "It is ready; I am eager to hear what you think. I'm wondering how well my people's tastes transfer over to yours. We both eat meat, and most of the other things you have in your kitchen, so I don't imagine our tastes are too different from one another." He observed.

The Depths of Deception

Rareth would probably end up laughing at him for being unoriginal.

Star Wars - Scum and Villainy

That's probably fine.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Kaleeth shook her head. She doubted that there was anything particularly important about her, and did not think that was likely to change. It was true that her training had made her stronger since she turned, but she would not go as far as to think she had some important destiny. "I don't think I am that important, really. I've been training, but I'm not that great at fighting. I'm really strong, but so is any other werecrocodile. I just...don't have anything that makes me special. I would be happy just being useful."

Meesei was silent for a few moments, even after she finished writing. Up until now, she had kept many of the important details from her interviews hidden from the other lieutenants, but now, she had a definite inconsistency. Both Vera and Harriet had declared and confirmed that they each left last, so one must be lying. Given that Sabine's test had essentially ruled out a poisoning before the meeting, a lie among those two firmly places suspicion on them. Meesei had been reserved so far, but now was the time for her to press her suspicions based on the evidence she had gathered. However, she would still do so tactfully. No matter what she said, narrowing her suspects between the two would certainly cause some worry for Harriet, but if she made herself seem open to the idea that Vera could be the killer, then she might say something useful, or incriminating. Meesei let out a deep breath as her expression became more severe. "Then I know I have been lied to, but not yet by whom. You see, I know that Jerrick was poisoned through his waterskin, and that waterskin was left on the table when he stepped out with Darahil. You claim that Vera was the last one left in the room, while she claims that you were the last. That moment would have been the perfect opportunity to poison him. Do you believe that Vera was capable of killing Jerrick? Do you know anything that might provide evidence for that?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I...don't know exactly. I don't remember everything about it." Kaleeth began. She still seemed nervous, though not to quite the same degree, as it seemed like Vera was more interested in her past than she thought. "I was not sure what I wanted to do. I wanted to stay home with my family, but I also didn't want to leave Janius. I remember asking him about being a werewolf, but he did not like the idea of making me into one. He said it was something I couldn't take back. I couldn't decide myself, so I decided to try and commune with both the Hist and Hircine. I went on my own into the marsh and...that is where my memories start to go away. I remember trying to kill a...crocodile, I think, as an offering, but I made a mistake. I didn't get it at first, and it bit me badly. I was bleeding everywhere. I think I did commune with Hircine, but I don't know for sure, and I don't remember anything else, not until I woke up as a werecrocodile."

As usual, Meesei showed no particular visible reaction, apart from writing down a few notes, but her suspicion was immediately strengthened by Harriet's answer. There was an inconsistency: Harriet claimed she left before Vera, while Vera claimed the opposite. Currently, did not know who was being honest, but once she got her own pack's statements, that might change. Regardless, Meesei remained composed, not intending to let Harriet know of her suspicions just yet. "I see, so just to clarify, you are saying that Oswall left first, followed by Jerrick and Darahil, then you, then Vera? Do you remember what it was you and Vera spoke about?" She asked.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Kaleeth scratched the back of her neck nervously. "Oh, well, I don't think it is the same thing as...all of this, but he was my village's Master Hunter. He was one of our leaders, but...he hated everyone but Argonians. Especially Imperials. He tried to teach me to as well, but...I never really thought about it much. I never saw a non-Argonian until Meesei's pack showed up in the village. I was curious, then I spent time with Janius, then...we fell in love. I tried to hide it from my father, but he found us mating outside the village." She explained. Her tone did not change in the slightest, demonstrating how surprisingly open she was about discussing such matters. "I thought father was going to try and kill him. The look in his eyes frightened me, but luckily he didn't. Still, he yelled at me, he called me a foolish disappointment. He said I was betraying him and our people. I didn't know what to think about it all. I have always loved my father, but I felt terrible, stupid, and angry at the same time. I might have stayed, but after I became a lycan...that couldn't happen. Like I said, though, none of that is as bad as, well, you know."

"I will consider that." Meesei responded simply as she made a few notes on Harriet's response. She had not seen Jerrick drink directly in the main chamber, but then again, Meesei had not truly expected her to. Oswall would have been more likely to see him drink, and perhaps Darahil if he was attentive. However, he did take note that Harriet was attempting to blame Oswall. That either meant she believed he was guilty, or she was trying to shift suspicion from herself. "Next, I would like to focus on the meeting itself. After myself and my pack were sent on our way, how, and in what order did the rest of you leave the room?" She questioned.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Kaleeth was nervous and uncertain as she sat down beside Vera. It was easy to tell what she meant by her question, and it was not something she felt she could truly understand. Unless she was the killer, then one of her friends had definitely murdered her husband. Kaleeth could not begin to imagine how that would feel, and she hoped she would never have to. "I, um, well, I really started to doubt my father in the days before I left my village, but...that isn't really the same thing, is it?" Kaleeth answered meekly, unsure how to express her sympathy.

Meesei was watching the door as she waited for Harriet, so fortunately, she did not need to make any noise when she finally arrived in order to alert Meesei to her presence. Meesei turned to Sabine and whispered so as not to disturb Rhazii. "You can remain here with Ahnasha this time. I will have Lorag keep watch." She said briefly before quietly heading over to the door and slipping out into the hall.

"Come, there is a room at the end of the hall for our conversation. I would like you to stand outside and keep watch, Lorag. Tell us if anyone comes close enough that they might hear us." Meesei explained as she led the pair of Orcs down the hall. Just as before, she stepped into the room with Harriet and took a seat on one of the crates, then started a new page in her notes.

"I am sure you would like to get back to your packs as soon as possible, so I shall begin immediately. Firstly, I would like to ask if you have been able to recall anything over the past day that might be helpful to my investigation. If not, then my next question would be if you remember seeing Jerrick as you passed through the main chamber on the way to the meeting yesterday. I would like to know if you saw him drinking from his waterskin." Meesei asked.