EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ri'vashi took a seat near the end of the table, though she left the ornate stone chair open for Meesei. She did not care too much for the symbolism, but Meesei sat in it regardless, if only to be nearer to the clan leader. For Ri'vashi, she was suddenly given quite a few revelations all at once, which was compounded with the reveal of the impostor less than half an hour prior. Understandably, it took her a few moments to process the information.

"That...is quite an array of good and bad news. It is wonderful to know that at least some of the Senchal clan survived, and that we actually have a target to strike against, but...based on what this one was told about the group to the east by her scouts, she can gather that there must have been...many casualties." Ri'vashi responded.

Meesei gave a nod. "Yes, about a third of the clan remains. We have been traveling for close to a month, and we are running low on supplies, especially clothing. I would like to bring the remainder of the Senchal clan into your stronghold, at least until we can secure a more permanent, and safe, home for them."

"Without question, Champion." Ri'vashi answered immediately. "It will not be easy to take on such a large number at once, and this one's council may not like it, but we will find a way. Ri'vashi will not allow the Senchal clan to suffer any more than they already have. It will take time to find space for everyone, but we have food, and more than enough water. If you want to send someone right now to alert them, this one will make sure to be ready to receive them by the time they arrive."

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

@Rtron
WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME IT HAD FIRE

@Freeshooter92

Luckily, there is a slithering corpse you might be able to use.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei nodded in agreement. "Yes, I will want to know as much as I can about this incident, of course, but there are more pressing matters we need to attend to at the moment. I am afraid we did not come here simply for a visit."

"Of course, Champion." Ri'vashi responded immediately before her gaze went down to the unconscious Argonian on the ground. "Allow this one to get some soldiers to bring her to a cell, then we will go down to the council chamber."

"Very well. Irenya, I would like for you to remain with the prisoner and keep her alive until I can question her." Meesei instructed.

Ri'vashi stepped away once more, though much more briefly. Within a few minutes, she returned with three Khajiit warriors in tow. They had been told of what they were doing on the way, but the scene they approached was still a shock to them. Nevertheless, they picked up the dismembered Argonian, then left with Irenya down the passageway out of the chamber to their right. Everyone else followed Ri'vashi through the other corridor, down to the lower levels of the ruin. The hallways had more of the same old, worn stonework lining the walls, but it still all seemed structurally sound. Most of the people they passed had varying degrees of worry in their expression, while all of the soldiers were on high alert for the impostor's companions.

Eventually, the group reached the council chamber, which was seemed much larger than their meeting chamber back in Bruma. In terms of floor space, it was not greatly larger, but the ceiling was much taller, which gave it a highly spacious feel. At the center of the room was a stone table that could seat at least two dozen individuals. It appeared to be as old as the ruin itself, so it was doubtful that the clan's council actually had that many members. Most of the chairs around it were simple and wooden, apart from a more ornate stone chair built into the floor at the far end.

"We can safely speak here in private. Normally, I would call my council for such a meeting, but given the situation, I do not want to delay you any farther." Ri'vashi explained.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

With the point Fendros brought up, Ahnasha looked around at the plants more curiously. "That's a good question. I guess it really depends on if those waterfalls were working when they arrived. I'm guessing those streams are what give the soil its water. These plants wouldn't survive here just on the occasional rainstorm this place might get. I know tiger lilies take a lot more water than that." She observed.

Soon enough, the rest of the group had found a spot to sit or stand to relax themselves. The impostor eventually shifted back to her Argonian form, though remained unconscious for the moment. The arm remained just as it was, answering Gallus' question. For a while, none in the clan directly approached the group, but crowds certainly started to form elsewhere in the chamber, looking at the scene from afar. The blood from the fight covered the stone walkway, and the dismembered Argonian on the ground near Meesei quite understandably captured their attention. Most of them eventually moved on, though likely only to talk about what they had witnessed with others.

It was about fifteen minutes more before the Cathay woman, Ri'vashi, returned. She came into the chamber from the passageway to their left alone, and with an expression that failed to hide her fear. Nevertheless, she approached them directly, and without hesitation. Meesei stood up to greet her, but allowed her to speak first.

"Champion, Ri'vashi has had her warriors block all exits, and has enacted a complete search of our entire stronghold. Most of the impostor's companions have been captured, and only a few more remain. We should have them all within the hour. But...for introductions, this one is Ri'vashi, and she is the leader of the Orcrest clan. And...she apologizes for all of this. She will fully bear the blame." The Cathay explained as she lowered her head in shame.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I think I'm going to watch a movie for a bit.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Since the conflict was now at least over, Ahnasha walked over to the grass near Meesei as well and took a seat. She leaned back and stretched out her legs, supporting her upper body with her arms. "Yeah, hopefully this will be a safe place. If Vile has an infiltrator, his forces might know of this location. Though, it looks like it would be hard to attack. The entrance was hard to find for us, and we knew where it was supposed to be. Not to mention, that cave leading up to this place would be a bottleneck for any invaders, and it even slopes upwards at the end, so the clan would have the high ground. And, with that hole up there, trying to smoke them out wouldn't even work. This place is definitely defensible enough to be a Blades outpost."

Taking a moment to look around her in more detail, she observed the plants in the garden around her. There were a few bushes, complete with colorful berries native to Elsweyr. There were roses, morning glory, and thistle plants scattered around. In particular, Ahnasha took interest in a flower near to her: a tiger lily. With a smile, she reached out and touched its bright orange petals. "I guess this is far from the worst place we could be waiting. I never would have thought how much I would miss the feel of grass."

---

Bheja could not help but to laugh. "I don't even have to speak to get to you now. I think that means I've won."

Ma'tanza rolled her eyes. "If it gets you to shut that mouth of yours, Ma'tanza will admit defeat. Can she also surrender the next contest as well? Or the one after that?"

Bheja chuckled. "Sorry, I'm afraid it doesn't work like that."

"Hmph, of course not." Ma'tanza huffed. There was silence for a few moments afterwards before she turned back to Tzirret. As was not unusual for him, he seemed to have receded back into his own space. It was something that any mistake could prompt him to do. In an attempt to be encouraging, Ma'tanza put her arm over his shoulder and smiled at him.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei watched the Cathay woman as she directed a few of the soldiers to different locations, then followed herself down one of the corridors. Based on her name's honorific, Meesei assumed her to be the clan leader, or at least someone high in rank. Their introduction to the clan had been far from ideal, but given the situation, she could forgive the lack of a proper welcome.

"Agreed. I suspect we will have to deal with whatever sabotage she tried to enact, but we will likely have to wait until all of her companions have been captured. I do not want to discuss this with anyone other than the clan leader. We do not know who we can trust. For now, I suppose we should just wait here and keep an eye on the impostor." Meesei commented. She picked up her pouches off of the ground, along with her now-shredded robe, and moved them nearby to a sort of garden area just off of the path. She sat herself down on the grass and let out a deep breath.

"Irenya, what condition is she in?" Meesei asked.

The Dunmer, naturally, was focusing on repairing what damage she could on the werewolf's shoulder. "Unconscious from shock, it seems. I am working on stopping the internal bleeding right now. There is...quite a lot of it. She has lost a good deal of blood already, but as long as she does not lose anymore, she should live."

---

"Well, hopefully the clan is there, then. This one is looking forward to joining you this evening." Ma'tanza responded, looking at Tzirret genuinely.

M'ibasa looked up to Ma'tanza curiously "What are you going to do? Are you going to do what Bheja said he did with S'nishi?"

"Ah, Divines no. M'ibasa just...forget he said those things, please." She responded quickly, with wide eyes.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei breathed in, the scent of blood hanging heavy in the air. Some of the bystanders were still looking on at the scene, some in awe, some in disgust. As for herself, Meesei was not proud of her actions, though not necessarily because of only the wound she had inflicted. Her conflict came from the power she had held over the woman, and how she had used it. She had, of course, used her power in similar ways before, but she was no more content with her actions then as she was now.

Meesei cast her eyes once more onto the wounded lycan Irenya was stabilizing. "There was little contest to it. I suppose Vile would have had a difficult time finding an Argonian woman who both looked like me, and had comparable skills. The former might have been enough, had we not arrived. Still, she did not have exceptional control of her beast. She attacked directly, predictably. I would not call it much of a fight. I held all of the power, and it seems I used it." She sighed. The scratches on her sides that her opponent had managed to make were still open, and dripping down blood onto her waist, though Meesei did not appear to be paying them any mind.

---

Ma'tanza looked over to the hills in the distance and shrugged. "Well, this one guesses we will find out soon enough if the clan is there. We have to be stopped here for some purprose." She reasoned. "Maybe...you could ask the Champion? This one doesn't know where she is, though. She hasn't seen her since we stopped here."

"Qa'habi thinks he saw her leaving with some others earlier." He commented. "This one was getting his lunch and wasn't paying too close of attention, though. If it was her, though, then they were heading towards the hills."

Ma'tanza nodded. "Oh, well this may really be it, then. It's almost hard to think that we might get out of this desert soon."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

In the aftermath of the brief fight, there were few in the chamber who knew how to react. The Cathay woman had her hand resting on the hilt of her sword in its scabbard for the duration of the fight, but she had still not yet drawn it. As Irenya knelt down next to the unconscious werewolf to preserve her life, the Cathay hazarded a few steps forward towards Meesei.

"This...all of this is...unprecedented. Someone impersonating the Champion, but...Meesei, how can Ri'vashi be sure..." She began, but was quickly interrupted by Meesei.

"That I am the true Champion?" Meesei commented. Pausing briefly, she knelt down by the spot where the impostor had dropped her belongings and recovered her satchel. Reaching inside, she located what she had suspected would be present: the false ring. "The impostor slipped off her ring before she transformed." Meesei explained as she stood up and tossed the forgery aside. She took a few steps closer to Ri'vashi and held out her hand with the Ring. The only item that could survive a transformation in that manner was the actual Ring of Hircine. "Mine actually works."

With Meesei's confirmation of her identity, Ri'nashi let out a long, regretful sigh. "Of course...Champion. All of this...I am sorry that..."

Again, Meesei interrupted. "I appreciate your apologry, Ri'vashi, but we can return to that after the current matter is dealt with. The impostor did not arrive alone, I am assuming? Anyone who was with her needs to be detained immediately, before they can learn of what has happened.

"Of course, right away, Champion. Soldiers, find and detain the pretender's companions, and hurry!" The Cathay ordered.

Turning back towards her group, Meesei closed her eyes and let out a long sigh. Despite her success, Meesei took no pleasure in most of what she had just done.

---

"The sunset? Why would you...oh, right." Ma'tanza began. Despite how long they had been together, she was still getting used to doing things just to be alone with him. She had no problems with it, certainly, but it was not what she was accustomed to. "Of course, if we're able. Some of those hills look pretty steep, though this one supposes we could just get on the smaller ones. Hopefully we'll be staying here long enough for that. Ma'tanza guesses that the clan is probably in those hills, but she hasn't heard anyone say for sure that they are."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I have things to do as well