EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Though Meesei was unable to pounce Harriet, she was able to sink her teeth into Harriet's arm. She thrashed her head back and forth to tear at the muscles, while also digging the claws in her left hand into Harriet's shoulder and attempting to use the leverage it gave her to force Harriet to the ground. With her right arm, she was ready to counter, which was precisely what she needed to do. With any fight between beasts, lycans included, the throat was often the final goal. If either side could gain a firm grasp on the neck with claws or teeth, it could often end the fight in seconds. As such, a skilled lycan always kept in mind that weakness. Meesei expected that Harriet was ready to defend against such an attack, just as she was. Without releasing her jaws, Meesei quickly brought her free hand up to her own throat with the intent of intercepting and grabbing Harriet's other arm. The longer she could keep Harriet from escaping her grasp, the more chance she would be able to gain the decisive advantage in their grapple. Even if Meesei could not gain a hold over Harriet's arm, she could at least protect her throat, at the expense of some injuries to her arm.

---

Lorag started to laugh after the Argonian gave his rather unimpressive threat. "Really, you think they're going to start a fight over you? Yeah, after you just tried to abandon them and run away from this place, I'm sure they're goin' to just leap to your aid." He commented as he stood to his feet and nodded to Janius. He had not managed to run far before being downed, so Lorag was able to quickly walk over and grab the bag of food. He took the rope that would have been used to keep it tied shut and handed it off to Janius. "Here. I guess we should find somewhere to take him. There's no telling what this snake might try if we bring him back to the duel. Probably best to let Alpha handle him." Lorag suggested.

Mass Effect: The Face of Injustice

I don't think you can whisper at such a volume that everyone but the civilian could hear you. Whispering into the radio would have that effect, though.

Mass Effect: The Face of Injustice

The Turian woman seemed to only become more panicked as more people entered the room. At first, her gun darted back and forth between each newly arriving target, but she finally settled on leveling it at Raa once she started to speak. She looked at each of the people Raa pointed to as she mentioned them, but her gun did not budge. However, she was at least listening to Raa, and willing to respond. "I...I don't trust you!. Stay back! You're...from the Council, right? Why should I trust the Council? You don't care about us, you just want our planet. You'll just...lock me away for the rest of my life for pointing this thing at you. I'd...I'd rather die!"

Avatar remained silent as the others spoke, as it knew it was the least qualified among them to negotiate with an emotionally compromised individual. It was aware that, when influenced by emotion, organics could behave irrationally, even when faced with undeniable evidence to an error in their actions. If the Turian were to engage in a firefight with their team at its current strength, the probability of her survival was negligible. However, if it presented her with that probability, she was still not likely to be dissuaded. Avatar did not understand how to appeal to emotion, so the task of calming the Turian fell to the others. Internally, however, it was calculating the probability as time passed of hostile forces arriving at the security station.

Once again using the radio, Avatar communicated with the others without speaking aloud. "The probability of hostile forces arriving within ten seconds is approximately 12%, increasing by 0.38% per second." It warned.

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Ssarak Dyreackthanose

---

Ssarak lightly scratched his chin for a moment when Meirin pointed out the complication that Alaira might present. "Hmm, I think you may be right. Alaria may not allow Lyn to leave her right now, regardless of what Lyn actually wants. Alaira could probably find some way to justify it to herself. Perhaps I will get a chance in a few hours to facilitate Lyn's conversation, once Alaira has finally returned her." He reasoned, pausing a moment as he looked down to the basket he was still carrying. It contained a few gifts from Lucilia, and no matter how Ssarak felt about Lucilia, Lyn would still likely want to have her presents.

"Still, I would at least like to give Lyn her basket. There is nothing a child likes more than presents, and nothing that will ruin their day faster than having them taken away. If we just drop off the basket, then leave, I doubt even Alaira will cause any problems. Or maybe she will try to claw out my eyes just for looking at her; it seems just as likely." Ssarak said in a lighthearted tone. Even if Alaira could get away without punishment, they could at least take solace in the fact that they now had an opportunity to turn her into a running joke.

Ssarak looked to her with a smile as he began to walk alongside her. "Anyways, I am always ready to take to the skies, especially with you. I have found a few more rooftops and other perches which make for scenic places to relax, especially near dawn and dusk. Sunsets are simply sublime in this area. You should be able to get to them all with your magic, though if you do not want to fatigue yourself, I could always fly you around. My wings are always at your disposal." Ssarak commented, reaching out with his wing and wrapping it partially around her.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Once Meesei had shoved Harriet back, she was quick to grab the ring. For a lycan, she had quite fine motor control, though even with the Ring, there was only so much she could do with such large, cumbersome hands. As the ring was the source of Harriet's primary protection against her, it was imperative that she not get it back. Obviously, Meesei could not wear it, she had no pouches in which to store it, and if she threw it, then one of her pack might retrieve it. As such, she settled on method of disposal that might have surprised some of the onlookers: she ate it. Or at least, that was how it appeared to those watching. In reality, she was simply holding it under her tongue. In any case, Harriet would not have an easy way of recovering it in the event that she transformed back.

Once Harriet started her attack, Meesei retaliated with her own. No longer was she going to be forced on the defensive by more skilled opponent; now, she was going to press her advantage. Instead of retreating to evade, as she had been doing for the duration of the fight so far, Meesei leaped forward to both get out of the path of Harriet's claws, and to pounce onto her. Whether Harriet's attack was successful or not, Meesei intended to deal far more damage. If she could grapple her, then she could make use her newfound strength advantage, something Harriet did not likely have to face very often. Still, Harriet's skill was not to be underestimated, and she could likely protect her head and neck, so Meesei decided to start by simply tearing into her arms to reduce her ability to fight back.

---

"Hmph, what I think we should do is probably a lot different from what Alpha would say we should do." Lorag commented as he retrieved his hammer and knelt down next to the Argonian. He wasn't that impressive for a lycan, and he certainly seemed to be a coward, but Lorag was going to keep a close eye on him regardless. He certainly wouldn't put it past the lizard to try something underhanded.

"You tried sneakin' away from the crowd, then started snatching up as many supplies as you could. You know what? That sounds real suspicious to me. Question is, where are you tryin' to go? Why are you trying to go? Seems to me like you're not confident in your Alpha actually winning this thing. Maybe I ought to tell her that if Meesei lets her live? Anyway, you've made yourself a...suspect, so why don't you make things easy and just tell us why the snake tried to slither away?" Lorag asked forcefully.

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Ssarak Dyreackthanose

---

Ssarak did not have any more to add about the mission itself, but he did want to make sure Lucilia understood how much of a danger Alaria could be. She certainly had the potential to be a productive and helpful ally, but only if she could learn temperance in her actions. Ssarak nodded his head, but before they took their leave, he gave one final comment.

"Very well, and thank you, but you should be cautious with Alaira. She is an excellent fighter, but she is not an excellent warrior. Her skills will serve her well in one-on-one duels, or perhaps against a small group, depending on the skill of the enemy, but for anything more, she will be a liability. Her judgment could break allied formations, or otherwise give the enemy opportunities to exploit. If she were a warrior of my clan, she would not be allowed on the battlefield. Her skill in the mechanics of fighting is great, true, but if she is ever in a position that places the lives of others in her hands, she may very well get them killed. She needs more training, but, well, you saw her reaction towards me. It will have to be another who persuades her." Ssarak warned.

As Ssarak was about to leave the office, he noticed Lyn's basket still on the floor. Evidently, Alaira had taken her away before she could grab it. He notified Lucilia that he would take it to her, then left with Meirin. Once out in the hall, and sufficiently far from the office, Ssarak stopped to talk with Meirin. He let out a sign, his overall expression showing at least some measure of relief. After the stress they had been through over the past few days, it was calming to know that he had more responsibilities ahead of him for time being. At least, nothing aside from the daily routine.

"I suppose that went as well as it could have. Satori will bring forward word of Lucilia's transgressions in regards to Lyn, and hopefully, Lucilia will still heed our warning on Alaira. Since we did not say anything about Lyn, she will not have any particular reason to be angry with us. For now, I am simply glad to be free of these burdens. With all of that out of the way...I am looking forward to being able to spend time with you, without all of the stress and danger looming over us. Right now, I would like to bring this basket to Lyn, and perhaps do a favor for her as well. I was speaking to Lyn before, as you likely gathered. She is very developed for her age, her mind even moreso than her body. She has been worried about the depression plaguing her mother recently, and wants to talk to her. It is something she has never been able to do before, and I would like to help her. You do not have to come if you do not wish to, of course, but I would be happy to have you along. Even if you cannot read Lyn's mind, I am sure you could help. You do have a way of touching others' hearts. Though, hopefully not in the same way as mine." Ssarak said, giving a chuckle and a warm smile.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Harriet's response was exactly what Meesei had been wanting, as it finally separated that ring from her finger. Unfortunately, Meesei did not yet have the magicka to transform back and press the advantage of her magic, but with the strength of her beast form, that might not be necessary. Harriet's transformation would give a brief moment of vulnerability, but Meesei was hesitant to take it in order to finish her opponent. After this crisis was over, Meesei was going to need the confidence and loyalty of the clan's people, but to kill Harriet during her transformation could be seen as dishonorable. It could suggest that she did not believe she could best Harriet in a direct fight. Nevertheless, Meesei was not going to let the opportunity go to waste, so she settled on a compromise.

Having kept her eyes on the ring since Harriet removed it, Meesei dashed forward and struck Harriet mid-transformation not with her claws, but with the sheer weight of her body, intent on throwing her to the ground. At the same time, she went for the ring. Obviously, she could not wear it in her current state, but she wanted to make sure she was the one in control of the powerful tool.

---

As luck would have it, Lorag and Janius did not actually have to scour the entire Ayleid city looking for their quarry, as he was not too far away. As they walked up on him, neither of them really knew what the Argonian was planning, but evidently, he was afraid enough try try and run away. The Argonian threw the bag he had been filling at Janius' face, but could do no such thing to delay Lorag. Perhaps he thought it would be easier to outrun the big Orc. Indeed, Lorag was wearing his iron armor, but it wasn't exactly a full suit, and it did not weigh him down that much. Still, as Lorag was chasing him down, he decided to make the effort a bit easier on himself. Lorag grabbed the hammer from his back by its head, then threw it at the Argonian's back. He was close enough that it was an easy throw to make, and it was probably enough to cause him to fall on his face without seriously injuring him. Lorag could probably have caught him in the normal way, but using the hammer was far more satisfying.

Mass Effect: The Face of Injustice

After the hostiles had been neutralized, Avatar grabbed one of the Turians' weapons before Donny could break it down. The shotgun it had been using was effective for some circumstances, but an assault rifle could fill a more versatile role. It was a rifle in the "Vindicator" line of weapons. It was not the most recent model, but was known to be 10% less likely to fail than the current version, at the expense of 8% less kinetic force per shot.

Avatar quickly scanned the Turian soldier's face once he removed his helmet. His file identified him as Solares Vanore, a man in service of the Turian military who was present as security. Though, it gave little other information of note. The conversation between him, Raa, and Voira did indicate that he was familiar to them, and gave some details about him, but Avatar judged that there was not sufficient time to maintain a conversation. If enemy forces behaved as expected, they would be converging on their location within two to four minutes. Likely, they would be forced to hold against at least one enemy attack.

Raa, and the other diplomats who were rounding the corner, showed signs of stress from the fight, but dedicating time to calming them would not be worth the additional risk, Avatar judged. "Warning: it is not advisable to remain here. Hostile forces may converge on our location shortly. I recommend moving into the security station and establishing a defensive position while I attempt to access station security."

Avatar had noted before that, despite the fact that the group had not reached a consensus, Donny had prompted the others to follow him simply by taking action before anyone else. Avatar decided to integrate that tactic into its approach by moving to the door to the security station nearby and opening it from the control panel beside it. Immediately, Avatar stepped into the room and moved inside along the wall with its rifle at the ready. Within moments, it detected movement in one of the corners, on the far end of the right side of the room, a Turian woman had been attempting to hide behind a row of weapon lockers on the wall, but the angle from the lockers to the door gave a clear line of sight. Unlike those in the hall, she was wearing civilian clothing, but a facial scan could not identify her as a member of the Council delegation. Likely, she was one of the civilian crew of the station.

The woman stepped out from behind the locker holding a common "Predator" pistol, which she was pointing in the direction of Avatar and the others entering through the door. Based on her breathing rate and the noticeable trembling in her hands, she was significantly afraid. "D-don't step any closer! I'll...I'll shoot...I mean it!" She stammered.

Mass Effect: The Face of Injustice

Avatar will probably be grabbing one of those guns for a bit more range.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Physically, Meesei was growing stronger, even as her magic grew steadily more strained. The effects of each restoration spell was compounding on top of the others, making her more threatening to Harriet in melee combat. Although, Meesei did not doubt that her skill would still outmatch her own. The words of the crowd did not register in her mind as Meesei continued to bolt around her opponent. She kept her pattern as unpredictable as possible, often changing the direction she escaped, but sometimes repeating them so Harriet could not rule out any direction. At one point, Meesei even teleported close enough to make a thrust with her spear, though she had to bolt away again when the attack failed.

As feared, Meesei's magicka was draining, but the ring's enchantment had not yet failed. Worse yet, there was no way to know how much of a charge was remaining on it. Although she was not yet entirely exhausted, she could feel the magical fatigue creeping through her body. If there was one thing she had to avoid, it was draining herself of magicka entirely. It was time for a new strategy, one that did not rely on magicka, and one which could actually give her the advantage.

Meesei bolted as far as possible from Harriet while still remaining in their fighting area, then threw her spear at Harriet to delay her while she renewed the shield spell on herself. For the first time since their fight began, Meesei spoke, though only briefly. "You should not forget, Harriet. I have my own magic ring."

With those words, Meesei underwent a rapid transformation into her werewolf form. She showed no need for any mental or physical transformation; it simply occurred on demand. This was the first time Meesei had taken her wolf form in front of the clan, and it was a sight that might give even Harriet's supporter's pause. In her normal form, Meesei did not appear exceptional for a lycan. By virtue of her beast blood, she did of course have a muscular build, but not to the extent of someone like Harriet. However, in her werewolf form, that did not seem to matter in the slightest. She was larger and stronger than a normal lycan in no insignificant way. As the Champion, with Hircine's blessing, she had a body fit for the alpha of alphas. Beyond that, the Ring of Hircine granted her perfect control, in and out of beast form. By its influence, her and her beast spirit could work in unison, with each of their strengths complementing the other. If those factors were not enough, Meesei had not just maintained her stamina for the fight, she had increased it with her restoration spells. She had fortified her speed, strength, agility, and perceptions, and her shield spell still protected her, though she would not be able to renew it without transitioning back to her normal form.

Altogether, Meesei had been increasing her own strength while working to tire out Harriet. It had not been her only plan for the fight, but it was not an accident. Without transforming, Harriet would be at a massive physical disadvantage to Meesei, and if she did transform, she would be losing both the ring and her mail. Harriet had been keeping Meesei on the defensive so far, but she hoped to make this the turning point of their battle. She did not attack first, and instead waited for Harriet to make the first move. She let out a menacing growl, a display that was more a show of power for the crowd than for Harriet.

---

"With pleasure." Lorag grunted before stepping away from his position in the front of the crowd to join Janius. Most of the people were too fixated on the action to bother giving them any more than a passing glance. As they reached the exit to the chamber, Lorag looked to Janius beside him. "You have his scent? I think I've heard about this squirrely little worm, if it's the one I'm thinkin' about. It'll be a cold day in the Deadlands before I let this one get away."