EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ahnasha was in a hurry, and entirely not in the mood for delays. Her beast spirit served only to amplify such emotions, however; these sentries were as good of people as any to warn about the incoming hunters, so she was able to maintain enough patience to not attempt to barge through the gate.

"I'm Ahnasha, of the Champion's pack. I have a...warning. We tracked an agent of the enemy, and found a group of lycan hunters at least sixty strong. They may be coming here right now. We need to ready the defense!" She shouted, her words mixed with periodic growls. The fact that Rhazii could be in danger had her emotions running high, so her beast spirit had a tighter grip over her than usual. Fortunately, she was still coherent enough to be in control of her actions.

This time, Meesei had no particular desire to preserve Galsek's life. Whether it was her or Harriet that carried it out, Galsek would die. However, they could at least squeeze whatever bit of information they could out of him before ending him. Luckily, despite her rage, Harriet seemed to have the same idea, though her technique was far too...forceful. Too much more and she would kill him outright.

Meesei placed her hand quite firmly onto Harriet's shoulder to grab her attention as she spoke up loudly, and authoritatively. If she continued to beat him, Meesei would be ready to act. "Harriet, hold. He cannot talk if he is dead." She began, turning her head to the snake. "Or rather, when."

Quickly, Meesei cast a shield spell over both herself and Harriet as a precaution. If she had to guess, Galsek likely had a blade hidden on him somewhere, though whether he was dexterous enough to pull it quickly was another matter. With both of them protected, Meesei cast another spell, this time at Galsek. He started to glow with a dark violet energy, indicative of the school of Conjuration.

"Do you know what I just did to you, worm? I told you I would kill you if you returned to your former master, and as you should well know, I always keep my word. You are going to die, here and now Galsek. Perhaps you believe that Clavicus Vile can take your soul regardless of your beast spirit, but I think you will find that irrelevant right now. Answer Harriet's questions, and I will wait until the spell wears off to end your life." Meesei demanded. She expected that the threat would grab his attention, as the spell she had cast upon him was one of soul trap.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I was thinking, Meesei probably would have used a collar for Harriet that could handle a transformation, wouldn't she?

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ahnasha moved quickly and quietly away from both the road and the lodge a short distance before she began to take on her werewolf form. She did not have her equipment tied in the same way as Turala, but she had not taken anything of particular importance with her, so she could afford to lose it. As long as she remained in her werewolf form, her fur could handle the cold.

As soon as she knew she was far enough away not to be heard, Ahnasha started off at the highest pace she could maintain for the distance she needed to travel, being sure to stay a far enough distance from the roads. Luckily, she had paid enough attention on the walk away from the ruin before that she did not have too much issue finding her way back. It took time, but in her beast form, not nearly as long as the trip to Bruma.

Once she noticed the landmarks indicating that she was close, Ahnasha sprinted towards the entrance of their cave as fast as she could, despite the distance she had already ran. If those hunters were coming to the clan, then she had to get to Rhazii and make sure he was as far from the entrance as possible. She ran into the cave, slowing herself only because she had to allow her eyes to adjust to the change in light. First, she was going to find and warn someone on watch so they could mobilize the defense, but then she was heading straight to their room where Sabine and Kaleeth would hopefully be with Rhazii. For now, she decided to remain in her lycan form for as long as she could, as she would not be able to transform again anytime soon if she shifted back.

Meesei could not say she was surprised that Harriet went into such a rage, though honestly, she was almost glad that she had. Meesei felt much safer having Harriet in sight, rather than her being with the warband without her being present. No matter how skilled of a fighter Harriet was, Meesei could currently end her life by speaking but a single word, so she could be of no threat to any of their allies as long as Meesei was present.

Meesei had to sprint to catch up to the enraged Harriet. "You may kill Galsek if you like...but I can say now, Harriet...I will not go back on my word. You will have your fight...whether now or later. There will always be...more of Vile's minions to kill." She said between breaths as they ran.

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Ssarak Dyreackthanose

---

As soon as he heard Meirin's voice, Ssarak lifted up his head, and his smile widened. He was seated in the grass in a part of the garden which he felt looked particularly nice. The platter of food he had brought was covered to hold in the heat, but fortunately, he had not had to wait too long for her to arrive.

"Hello, Meirin." Ssarak responded. For a brief moment, he simply looked at her, smiling. To him, she looked quite nice, though it was not due to the makeup, as his mind was not designed to notice the fine details of a human's face. Rather, it was because of the way she moved as she approached, because of her smile, and her tone. It was because of the effort she had placed into her appearance and clothing, and though they had each only spoken a few words, he could see that she seemed excited for this meeting.

The silence between them was just long enough to be noticed before Ssarak continued. "You look quite beautiful, I must say. Please, sit down." He added, motioning to a spot beside him. He hoped she did not mind sitting in the grass. He might have been able to find a table or bench, but the vibrance and color of the flowers in the spot he selected had a certain beauty which he, and hopefully Meirin, admired. Quite simply, it was romantic.

As Meirin approached, Ssarak uncovered the platter and started to separate out their respective meals. "I know you are missing the feast to be here, so...I thought it would be nice to have a feast of our own. Would you like a glass of wine?" He asked as he uncorked the bottle to pour a glass for himself.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The scents that Ahnasha could pick up on the wind told her of the trouble ahead just before she peeked over the bluff. Sure enough, what they saw surprised even Ahnasha. It was a sizable force of what appeared to be lycan hunters, based on the weapons they were wielding. For as long as she had been a lycan, she could recognize the familiar and insidious glint of silver at almost any range. It was plainly obvious that, somehow, Galsek had learned of their plan. This meant that their plan was going to be a failure, but more worryingly, the clan itself could be in danger as well. The lycan hunters had started out along the road, but that did not tell them which direction they would be heading.

"I'm not sure. They...actually, yes, I know what we need to do." Ahnasha responded in a whisper. The hunters could either be heading to ambush the warband, or to attack the clan while they were away. She had to get back to the clan to warn them, and more importantly, to make sure Rhazii was protected. "The way I see it, these hunters are going to one of two places. They could be going to intercept our warband, or they could be heading straight for the clan itself, and we don't have the time to watch them and find out. I'll head back to the clan and help prepare the defense. Even with the warband away, there still should be plenty of warriors and mages left. You...you are a skilled tracker, right? You should try to catch back up to the warband and warn them about this. Tell them to get back to the clan. With the size of the group, their tracks should be easy enough to follow. I would say to use your lycan form to get to them as quickly as possible; I know I will be. Come on, let's hurry!" Ahnasha suggested, though she did not look like she was keen on waiting around, as she was already getting up and starting to backtrack.

Meesei stood silent for a few moments in contemplation. Whether or not Oswall was correct entirely, it was becoming more and more clear that Galsek at the very least knew that he was being followed. Regardless of Gaslek's plans, he was not likely to guide them to the enemy, so to continue to follow him seemed pointless. She halted the warband to wait for their rearguard to catch back up. "An ambush is still a possibility, but I do fear you are correct. If nothing else, he is aware we are following, so our plan is not likely to succeed. Whatever Galsek's intentions, we should not entertain them any further." Meesei answered, taking a few steps in the direction of Galsek and staring out over the snowy expanse. After a few moments, she turned her head back and looked to Oswall.

"Once the rearguard catches up, start heading back towards the ruin." Meesei ordered before suddenly conjuring a bound sword in her hand. "I will rejoin you shortly." She added as she started to walk away, towards Galsek. He was a loose end that she did not intend to let free. She would approach with caution, but she did not intend to hide. For this, there would be a confrontation.

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Ssarak Dyreackthanose

---

At first, Ssarak was not quite certain what to do after leaving Khan’s office. There were no other tasks to complete, but Ovak had not yet told him it was time to go to the garden. The feast would likely be starting soon, but once it did, he would probably not be staying long. Regardless, he headed back to the dining hall, which was probably the best place currently to pass the time.

Once he rejoined the crowds in the dining hall, Ssarak wandered mostly aimlessly. He did see Meirin, but she appeared to be in a conversation with two finely-dressed individuals, perhaps diplomats, and an old Yarsomerian man. Based on the description he had heard of Ovak, he felt that it might be the Archmage, but he had never actually seen him in person before. He did not wish to interrupt, so he continued to search around the room to perhaps find another of his friends to converse with. However, his thoughts kept going back to Meirin, which had not been uncommon over the past few days. He felt like he was becoming a bit obsessed, honestly, but he did not quite believe that to be a bad thing. To him, it meant the feelings were genuine, instead of some trick of his mind.

After a few minutes, Ssarak decided that there was no reason to continue waiting. Ovak had not told him it was time, but there was no harm in arriving early. It would give him the chance to actually prepare something for Meirin. Luckily, the fact that it was the day of the feast meant that there was plenty of food around with which he could collect a dinner for himself and Meirin. He was quick to gather food for his own meal, but he took more time making his selections for Meirin. He knew she did not eat meat, but it took some time for him to think back on the foods he could recall her eating, and what she had liked. Nevertheless, he was able to put together a plate of steamed vegetables, a bowl of mushroom and cream soup, a side of watermelon and grapes, and some wine for the both of them. He was fairly certain she would eat cream, though he would have to ask to be sure. He put both dishes, along with the wine, into a large, covered platter and carried it carefully with him out of the dining hall. He was not certain if the staff would want him to take an entire platter…but he did anyways.

Ssarak rarely had a specific reason to go to the garden, so he had to wander for a few minutes in the right general area in order to find it. As he hoped, he was the only person present for the moment. The feast had drawn most of the population of the College to the dining hall, and the area around it, so it seemed as if he would have the chance to spend quality time alone with Meirin. He just needed to find the best place for them to sit; Ovak had mentioned something about cupid roses, though he could not confess to actually knowing what those were.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"You're right, it isn't." Ahnasha mumbled, mostly to herself as they continued on. Once they made it to Bruma, Finley's pack set them on the path following the Altmer. As Meesei had hoped, the Altmer's trail could still be followed. Her footsteps were still visible in the snow, an upon close examination, Ahnasha could identify her scent. As long as that did not change, following the Altmer would be no different from tracking any other prey. With both her and Turala being quality hunters and trackers, it would likely take strong magic to throw them off of the trail. Hopefully, the Altmer would actually lead them somewhere of consequence.

The warband continued along the path, now with Lorag assisting the rear guard. Meesei could watch for signs of life ahead, and mostly everyone was watching out for traps. Since they were now in danger of being attacked, idle conversation had all but disappeared, and everyone was at the ready, just waiting for the ambush they were expecting. Though, it did not seem like that ambush would happen on the trail, as Galsek had moved south into a more open area. If they ran into an enemy force, they would have the high ground, but that did not mean an ambush could not be effective.

Meesei reached into one of her pouches and produced a magicka potion, which she drank quickly. With some of her energy restored, she lead the way down the path to the south, pulsing her detect life spell. The transition from a narrow path to an open area could provide an opportunity for an effective ambush, so Meesei did not intend to be caught off-guard.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Yes, I am. I've thought a lot about that, but it hasn't changed anything about my decision." Ahnasha answered. Of course, she did not mention the actions she had taken in response to that issue. She did not exactly want others to know about the tome back with the rest of her belongings that she had been studying, at least not strangers. Necromancy was not a popular practice anywhere in Tamriel, and it was particularly reviled in Dunmer traditions. Given the size of the clan, there were likely mages among them capable of necromancy, but she did not know if any of them practiced it openly. Ahnasha was not content with dying after only a fraction of Fendros' lifespan, but she could act as if she was.

Meesei was increasingly aware of the terrain the group was entering into. She considered the potential tactical implications of the terrain, and though several of them actually worked in their favor, she did have a few worries. The trail was narrow, so they did not have as much room to maneuver as she would have liked, though neither would their enemy. Fendros' observation was likely correct, so she needed to plan to make the most of the situation. "Yes, this trail is something like a pass, without much room to maneuver. Provided it does not open into a wider area, we would be forced to fight the enemy only a few at a time...though that is not a disadvantage for us. We are lycans, after all; in single combat, we are quite capable of overpowering most normal mortals. The most effective strategies for fighting lycans involve surrounding, outnumbering, and outmaneuvering us. Since this pass prevents them from effectively outnumbering us, they may be looking to surround us. If there is an enemy force following us, they would be able to attack us from both sides. Oswall, could you have one or two of your men follow a short distance behind us? Preferably people who can move stealthily and warn us if the enemy is approaching from behind, without being detected themselves. With warning, we could turn such an attack into an ambush of our own. And of course, we will need to keep an eye out for environmental hazards around us as well, such as falling rock traps." She warned before turning her head to Lorag.

"Also, Lorag, I would like you to move to the back of our group and help guard our flank, in the event that we are attacked from behind." Meesei added, to which he quickly agreed.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ahnasha was true to her word in that she had no problems keeping pace with Turala, despite the terrain. She was not quite used to moving in such heavy clothing, but her training and natural agility could compensate. With the cold biting against her, she was glad to have the furs, as her own fur was woefully inadequate for dealing with this climate. It was more designed for keeping her cool and protected under a blistering desert sun.

"Yes, Fendros is my mate. We have a son named Rhazii." Ahnasha answered without a hint of hesitation. In their travels, she and Fendros had not yet faced many issues with others regarding their relationship, apart from Fendros' brother. Though, that was mostly because they did not usually associate with others outside the pack for any extended duration. She knew there were those who would take issue with it, and some who might even become confrontational over it, but Ahnasha had decided long ago that she was not going to hide it, nor would she just take any insults lying down. There was something off about the way Turala asked about it, but she did not know quite yet if it was going to become a problem.

Despite the false alarm, Meesei was as alert as ever as they continued on shadowing Galsek. In regular pulses, she scanned the area all around them for signs of life. A few times, she stopped them once she sensed something, only for it to be an animal. Luckily, the fact that they were on a frozen mountain instead of a dense forest meant that such interruptions were sparse. They could keep up with Galsek, even if some of the warband did not have quite the endurance of the rest. Even Meesei was not as adept at handling such extended physical exertions as mountain climbing, but she could use her magic to restore her stamina. Thanks to the potions she was carrying, she was not in danger of running out of magicka any time soon. Lorag, meanwhile, hardly looked as if he had exerted himself at all compared to most of the others. Evidently, his body was not nearly as old as his mind had convinced him that it was.

"He may, or he may not. I would not make to many assumptions of his movements." Meesei commented to Harriet. "Vile's followers may have a cave like ours. They could be anywhere, if it is indeed them that Galsek is leading us to. If he somehow managed to learn we are following, we could be going anywhere. Though, he cannot lead us on forever. Unless he is planning on sacrificing himself just to throw us off of his allies' trail, he will need to find some form of civilization soon enough. Do you think he would be willing to die for them, or am I right in judging him to be a coward?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ahnasha smiled at Fendros and gave him a quick hug. "Don't worry about me; I know how to stay hidden. You just keep an eye out for traps and show that snake that he's just not good enough to surprise us." She answered. Her new partner, Turala, seemed ready to go, so she turned to her, nodding in confirmation. "That sounds good; I can keep up. Since you know the area, you can lead the way." Ahnasha answered, motioning for the Dunmer to take the lead.

Meanwhile, Meesei paused to take a look at her supplies, and to think about how they should proceed. Of course, there was no guarantee that Galsek was taking them into a trap, but it was a strong enough possibility that she needed to plan for it. Likely, they would rely on the element of surprise to gain an advantage over them, but if they could give a surprise of their own, then the advantage could quickly turn in their favor. It was already difficult enough to fight a warband of lycans with a solid plan, much less with one that had fallen to shambles.

"I will keep leading and use detect life periodically to make sure we are not walking into a trap. I brought a few magicka potions with me, so I will not exhaust myself before the fight. If we detect a hostile force soon enough, we might be able to form our own ambush. If not, I will at least order our attack in such a way as to eliminate theirs. For now, let us keep pressing on ahead. And keep idle conversation to a minimum; consider us now in enemy territory." Meesei ordered, quickly taking the lead once more.