EliteCommander

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Ssarak Dyreackthanose

---

Ssarak took hold of the pumpkin carefully, so as not to extinguish the candle within. "Hmm, I believe I understand now. The face would be clearly visible from a distance at night. Mine is..." He began, his voice trailing off as he looked over to his own pumpkin. His own attempt at carving had not gone nearly as well. Initially, he had wanted to carve the form of a dragon, but he had erred in his strength and had been far rougher than he should have. As such, his carving did not really look like anything at all. Nevertheless, he shook his head as he smiled. "You know, I believe I was far too ambitious in my design. I suppose you can consider it an...abstract art piece."

Returning to the topic of Meirin's monastery, Ssarak believed he understood well how Meirin had been forced to live. Although, it seemed like they had been forced to for very different reasons. "Anyway, you say your lifestyle was minimalist out of tradition? I am unsure how to feel about that; I suppose it depends on how their resources are saved. If they insisted on surviving on little so they could keep a large stockpile of reserves, I believe I could understand it. Your life, it seems, was quite similar to mine, so I can certainly understand why you would prefer the college's lifestyle. Indeed, I find myself quite enjoying the luxuries the college provides. Abundant food, water, shelter which completely protects against the elements; it all seems extravagant. It has actually been somewhat difficult to adapt to. I still find myself being needlessly conservative with resources. My furniture is sparse, my baths short, and I still feel uncomfortable wearing anything that is not leather. Cloth is quite new to me, and somewhat itchy. In my village, I often wore just simple loincloths; sometimes more, if we had the leather. Although, I still do find it to be a superior material. It is much more durable than cloth, and can even be made into armor, if properly hardened."

Shaking his head again, Ssarak gave a chuckle. "Hmm, now I am going on a tangent. I believe you may be...rubbing off on me. Regardless, I should have no issue adapting to your monastery when we visit, except for perhaps the food. I find eating fruits and vegetables to be...laborious. I cannot usually tear them like meat, and my teeth are simply horrible for chewing. Perhaps I will simply stick with soup? I am just hoping you do not find it necessary to change yourself too much upon your return. I understand you will likely want to...tone down some of your new habits for them, but I rather like the person you are now. I like that you are comfortable talking, and comfortable expressing yourself. I believe that the person you are is someone worth expressing."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

As the pack was waiting for Gallus and the rest of his pack, a few conversations popped up between members of the pack and a few of those that had come to see them off. Some were related to the task they were be undertaking, while others were simply final goodbyes. Since the attack years ago, Ahnasha and Caldris had become rather close, particularly competitive friends, so Caldris had come to speak to her. They regularly worked closely together, so Ahnasha was finding it difficult to accept that she would not be able to speak to her again for quite some time. Of course, there was no way she would say that aloud. Lorag had a small group of some of the older, more experienced warriors in the clan come to see him off. Evidently, all of them had separately come up with the idea to give him a bottle of mead before he went on his way, so, much to his satisfaction, Lorag had a small pack full of them for the road. With his thick furs and an assortment of bags and packs on top of his freshly-shined steel armor, Lorag appeared rather bulky, but he was used to dealing with the weight. Kaleeth actually had one of the diplomats from another clan come speak to her. He was a light scaled Argonian man from the Black Marsh clan, and a werecrocodile as well. Naturally, as they were the only two of their kind in the clan, Kaleeth had sought him out shortly after she learned he had arrived. On a few occasions, he had helped her learn to deal with the more specific problems of being a werecrocodile. Meanwhile, Meesei did what she could to assure the representative of the Senchal clan that they would do everything in their power to ensure his clan would be safe. He had actually wanted to join them, but as he was more of a diplomat and tradesman than a fighter, Meesei had to convince him that his skills would be of the most benefit to his clan if he remained. From Bruma, he could negotiate with other clans for additional aid, if it became necessary.

Eventually, Gallus and the rest of his pack made it to the main chamber. In addition to himself and Tzirret, there was a Nord woman who, like Gallus, seemed to be generally experienced in survival. She carried a variety of knives, hatchets, and other tools in her pack, and was armed with a crossbow, a one-handed nordic sword, and a light, iron-banded buckler. There was a Dunmer woman with a light build who, while not heavily armed, was skilled in magic, and, interestingly, the last member of the pack was someone Meesei recognized. He was a Breton named Peiter, one of Sabine's friends. He carried a halberd on his back, wish a shortsword as his secondary. Meesei had not known that he was a member of Gallus' pack.

Meesei was the first to approach Gallus. "Greetings, Gallus. Is your pack prepared to depart?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Well, of Sabine's list of friends, Peiter wasn't at the pool. I suppose that would let me establish who he is. He wouldn't be old enough to be one of the more experienced ones, though he would be more skilled than Tzirret probably. Perhaps a spearman. The skillsets of the others can be as you suggest.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

We should probably decide who is in Gallus' pack, or at least the demographics. There is Gallus himself, and I remember he had a Khajiit he was mentoring. Did you want to have a friend of Sabine's in the pack as well?

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Agreed." Meesei responded. "If for whatever reason it became necessary, we can detour to one of the other clans to receive additional funds for the return trip, but the Senchal clan may need aid quickly. I expect we will leave in a day or two, depending on how long it takes to gather the necessary supplies. Oswall, I will speak to your son tomorrow morning to ask if his pack will join us. I do not wish to bring anyone along who is not doing so voluntarily, so I do not want to order anyone to join. At any rate, unless there is more to discuss about the matter, I suppose we should continue with the rest of the meeting..."

---

As planned, Meesei's pack, and a few of the lieutenants, took the next day to prepare for the pack's departure. Sabine was approached by Darahil about their alchemical needs, Lorag spent most of the day trying to find his replacement for training, and Meesei spoke to several individuals regarding their upcoming plans, including Gallus and both of the representatives from Elsweyr. Ahnasha, in addition to determining who would take over in assisting Caldris for archery training, did what she could to clean out her hidden room in the lower levels. She could not simply take everything out quietly, particularly the larger pieces of furniture, but she could at least hide away some of the more incriminating items, and made sure there was nothing to link it back to her. Hopefully, the secret passage would not be discovered while they were away, as she did hope to be able to use it again once they returned.

After a full day of preparation, Meesei's pack awoke early in the morning, before most of the clan had risen for the day. She had been told that their supplies were ready, so they were about to head to the main chamber to collect those supplies and meet up with Gallus' pack and anyone else who intended to see them off, and to have a quick breakfast before leaving. They were all dressed in their thick furs, and even Leaps had furs tied around his body. For him, Meesei had to enchant a specially made blanket with frost resistance to make it at least somewhat effective at keeping him warm. Even so, Meesei had to use magical means to warm him periodically whenever they left the ruin. Fortunately, the farther south they went, the more comfortable the climate would become for him. Newt also gave Kaleeth and Janius some trouble, as he whined whenever he had to put on his thick furs, which he rather hated wearing. Regardless, the pack readied themselves as quickly as they could, then headed off to the main chamber.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Hmm, apart from the average stock of potions, I do suppose it will be helpful to have a surplus of stamina potions, or anything else that might help us cover longer distances. We may find ourselves in a hurry and having to keep moving longer than usual, even into the night. It depends on how drastic the situation in Elsweyr truly is. Otherwise, it is difficult to estimate what our needs may be without knowing more about the situation. Sabine may be able to tell you more about our alchemical needs, and it may also be useful to question someone who has been to the area about the challenges it presents. The representative of the Senchal clan may be helpful in that regard. In fact, I believe I will question him about the Tenmar forest before we leave, and the deserts a well, just to be safe." Meesei answered to Darahil.

Turning to Oswall, Meesei nodded. Gallus' pack was seeming like a good option, though she did not wish to make a final decision before actually asking the pack directly. "Gallus' pack could be a good choice. I spoke to my pack earlier this morning, and they would be most comfortable bringing a pack with at least a few members they know and trust. Just be aware that our mission may be dangerous, though his pack would not likely be facing the heaviest of those dangers. As for other supplies, we have all been maintaining our own equipment. The resource that will be most likely to be helpful to us is simply gold. The fastest route to Senchal would be to take a caravan to the Imperial City, then head by ship south to the Topal Bay, and then to Senchal itself. We will need enough gold to pay for passed on the way there, and preferably for the return trip as well, if we are to get back quickly. For our traveling expenses, we may need somewhat more than usual to convince the captain of the vessel to allow our wamasu on board. Beyond that, we are of course capable of hunting for our food, but we would be able to concentrate on our mission more easily if we can simply purchase our supplies."

Meesei looked around to the others. She knew that some of them, particularly Vera, were not keen on their departure, but she was also sure they understood the need. "Does anyone else have further questions or suggestions? We will likely leave as soon as all necessary preparations have been made, perhaps in two or three days."

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Ssarak Dyreackthanose

---

Unlike the previous year, the demonstrations that Ssarak and Meirin were able to observe were actually pleasant, and even quite interesting. It was perhaps a bias of his, but he found particular interest in Satori's displays of psychomancy. They appeared to have missed her actual demonstration, but her ability to condition the animals around them into her service was an ability with great potential. Manipulating the minds of simple creatures was, in general, far easier than that of a person. The potential utility of such an ability was vast, particularly if the psychomancer was creative.

After the demonstrations, the pair moved on outside. The day of the feast was essentially like a festival with the amount of merchants and other businesspeople it attracted to the college. The same had been true last year, though for obvious reasons, Ssarak had been unable to see what they had to offer. Although, Ssarak was not quite certain where to begin himself. He had only attended such an event once before in his life, and that was in Felldor. Outside his homeland, he had mostly only witnessed the normal operations of the places he visited, and even they were sometimes unusual to him. For a day such as this, Ssarak was not quite certain what to expect. As such, he followed Meirin's lead, for the most part, The displays of art, whether it be paintings, sculptures, or simple trinkets, often caught his eye. They originated from many parts of Tiien, and as such, were all drastically different in style. Some possessed a realism that almost did not seem possible without the aid of magic, while others sought to please through more abstract means. Unfortunately, the most impressive of them were more expensive than the amount he was willing to spend. He would have purchased a mask along with Meirin, but he was stopped mostly by the fact that the vendor did not have any available which would fit an Esyire's snout.

Ssarak found himself somewhat confused by the business of carving pumpkins. There were certainly strange displays of art around the courtyard, but he did not quite understand why one would wish to take the time to carve something into a berry. Surely the pumpkin would rot within a few weeks, at which point their art would be ruined? In his village, everything they made, apart from their housing, was meant to last as long as they could make it. Artwork was often carved or painted onto stone, partially so it would not need to be recreated as frequently, and partially because stone was rather common. The concept of carving a food item was unusual, but nevertheless, Ssarak gave no protest. He sat down at the table beside Meirin, staring at the large orange fruit for at least a minute after Meirin had began to think of what design he might try to create. "I...do have to admit that the visual arts have never been my specialty. Music was what captured my interest. Carving, well, I did attempt it as a child." He explained, as if he felt compelled to explain the reason why his own carving was likely to be...subpar in quality. Eventually, he slowly reached out and stabbed a claw into the pumpkin to begin his carving. He was going to attempt to create the silhouette of an actual dragon, though he was not anticipating a great deal of success.

"Are you talented in visual arts, like painting, carving, or sculpting?" Ssarak asked Meirin curiously. "You certainly have the dexterity for it. I know at least with the grace with which you move, you could be a talented dancer."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei understood, and had expected, the protests from some of the others. She looked around across the table at the others as she asked her next question. “Are there any other matters of similar importance that anyone intended to bring to the council’s attention today?” She asked. There was a pause as a few of the lieutenants shuffled through the papers in front of them. However, after a few moments, it became clear that none of the others could find an issue of similar potential importance, particularly issues about which they knew so little about.

“Lord Hircine gave me this vision only this morning, and seemed to indicate that I would learn my destination very quickly. Yes, the option does exist to send a lower profile pack, but I am sure you all know of the potential implications of this lack of communications. Losing the Senchal clan would be a tragedy in multiple ways. If Hircine wants my pack to personally deal with this issue, then the situation could be dire, and I cannot ignore that command. I can say that it is my intention to return here once we deal with whatever situation has developed there. This location is ideal for carrying out my normal duties in this war, and of course, it is a pleasure to work with you all. I cannot absolutely guarantee that I will be able to return, but it is my intention. Besides which, I do trust this council to be able to be able to carry out my duties while I am away; you are all quite capable in your respective specializations.” Meesei explained with a good measure of confidence in her voice.

“In addition, “ Meesei continued, “I would like to request the aid of another pack on our mission. This task could be a dangerous one, so the additional support could be quite useful. Although, I will not lie, many of their responsibilities may not involve directly aiding us in combat. Certainly, they do need to be capable in combat, and some of us will very likely end up fighting together if Vile is indeed involved in this situation. However, we mostly have need of a pack who is comfortable in a supporting role. All of my pack may be needed directly on the mission, and it is dangerous for one to leave their camp, and therefore supplies, unattended in the wilds. Not to mention, members of my pack have children of their own. In the past, we have been forced to leave one of our own behind with the camp, or take the risk in leaving it unguarded, but that is a risk I would like to eliminate since I have the opportunity.”

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei nodded, placing a hand on Sabine's shoulder. "If at all possible, yes. There are many reasons for us to be here, practical and otherwise. I can think of no better place in Tamriel to make our home. I do have some duties to attend to, unfortunately, but as I said, you should enjoy the rest of the day as best as you can. You can give your farewells to your friends if you like, but if I can help it, they will not be permanent."

It was not long before Meesei was forced to take her leave and begin work on her duties for the day, which, as usual, meant developing and refining plans for many aspects of the overall war effort against Vile for all of Hircine's followers across Tamriel. The clan now played host to representatives from every clan in Tamriel, from High Rock to Black Marsh. She often spent much of her time planning and negotiating with them on most aspects of the war. There were even representatives from groups of Hircine's followers who were not themselves lycanthropes, something that did cause some tension among the clan, as in normal times, those very same groups often hunted lycans themselves for the challenge it provided. It was hunters like them who made lycans into both predator and prey. Regardless, the day was no less busy than any other, so she had plenty to do before the evening's meeting.

---

One by one, each of the clan's leaders arrived in the meeting room. Meesei had been the third, just after Vera, and with Oswall being the last. As usual, they locked the door behind them as several of the lieutenants laid out on the table whatever documents applied to the topics they needed to discuss. While they did not hold these meetings every single day, they were quite routine. Normally, they started out by bringing to the attention of the council any events or developments that would be of importance to the clan, but this time, Pierrette led off with a question that was surely on several of their minds.

"So Meesei, there has been a rumor spread around today that you and your pack are going to be leaving us. Is that actually true?" She asked.

Meesei nodded. "Yes, in this case, the rumor is true. I received a vision from Hircine just last night that my pack will be needed elsewhere. He did not, however, specify where. He said only that I would learn soon where we are most needed. Have there been any major occurrences that any of you intended to bring to the council's attention?"

"Um, yes, there is actually." Tola said, briefly looking to one of the documents in front of her. "It's the Senchal clan. We haven't heard from them in far too long. If they are following the standard schedule, then they would have sent two messengers by now. The Orcrest clan intends to send scouts, but I was going to suggest sending a pack of our own to investigate, just in case."

Meesei clasped her hands together, staring ahead as she thought of the implications of the news. "Then it seems that pack will be mine."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Maybe, though it might not be practical. I suppose we'll just have to see how it goes. It might not end up being so much of a big deal.