EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Perhaps, perhaps not." Meesei commented to Gallus as she walked around the prisoner. "He will die, yes, but there are worse things than death. If you cooperate with us, Hiritus, I will allow you to die on your own term. Painlessly, with your soul going wherever you like. If you fail to cooperate, however, I will be sure to capture your soul and use it to enchant a cheese knife. Do you know what happens to one's soul when it is used to enchant an item?"

Hiritus gave a single huff. "Oh, that's a tough one. Let's see, does it...go into the item?"

"Yes and no. The soul's energy goes into the item, yes, but the remainder of it, the essence of who you are? It goes to a place called the Soul Cairn, a desolate place of eternal torment for those unfortunate enough to find themselves there." Meesei explain.

"Hmm, doesn't sound much worse than the hunting grounds, or Vile's realm for those who've failed him, so...I'll be fine staying silent, thank you." Hiritus responded defiantly.

---

"That...is sensible, yes. It's just...the things I have always been told about the Dunmer and the Khajiit, as well as the Argonians. It feels like it has all been lies. It all seemed true enough in Senchal, with the thieves, outlaws, and skooma users on the streets, but nothing else since then has made sense." Irenya explained.

Irenya looked directly at Fendros, finally seeming somewhat confident in making eye contact. "After thinking on this for so long, I just did not want to leave things between us, and your...mate, as they were last time we spoke."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

As the three entered the cell, they found the Imperial bound against the wall, much as the Argonian had been. All of the impostor's companions had the scent of lycans, but they did not know for certain how many actually possessed the condition. Regardless, they chained them all as if they were lycanthropes out of caution. The Imperial had been sleeping as they entered, but started to stir as soon as the cell door was closed.

Meesei had questioned the Imperial briefly the previous night, but had only managed to learn his name. "Hiritus, wake up." Meesei ordered.

Hiritus let out a long, exaggerated yawn before looking up at Meesei with disinterest. "Oh, it's the important mongrel..." He began, glancing to Gallus and Ri'vashi. "...and her sycophants. To what do I owe the displeasure?" He said with a sarcastically polite tone.

"You know well what we want. What were your goals here, and who do you report to?" Meesei asked.

"Yeah, yeah, can we just skip the whole interrogation thing? We both know that's not going to work. Let's just skip to the part where you try to torture it out of me, then I can get back to sleep." Hiritus answered dismissively.

---

Irenya did not immediately accept the notion that she had been kind to the Khajiit, nor deserved any kindness from them. "I was just...performing my duties. My role was to ensure the health and well-being of the clan to expedite our journey. I was just doing what I was supposed to do; I did not need nor want gifts or gratitude. I tried explaining it to the girl, but she wouldn't listen. None of them would listen."

Again, there was another pause as Irenya finally finished off the remainder of her meal, after which she looked at him somewhat indirectly. "Are they all like this?"

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Hmm, I did not expect Grey to squander the distraction. I'll need to figure out what to have Ssarak do.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I'm about to head to bed. Goodnight.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Well, either would be acceptable, but I believe the second would be more likely to work. You could make him think you are dissatisfied with your subordinate position. Likely, it would be best to go through a few sessions of interrogation before letting on to that idea, but it could lower his guard. He might begin to see you as a vector of escape." Meesei explained. The three started to walk in the direction of the Imperial's cell, while still keeping their voices down.

"Now, if you find this plan agreeable, we should all head in together, question him for a short while, then we will leave you alone with him. Are you comfortable with trying it?" Meesei asked.

---

Irenya had enough discomfort in her expression that she almost looked like she was in pain. When she started to speak, she did so slowly, and without making eye contact with Fendros. "Because...these people are not what I expected. The clan, both of them, they're not...they're not like I was told. It's...confusing. I expected to be met with hostility, with anger, but...the clan hasn't been like that. The only ones who have given me any trouble are those former Thalmor soldiers."

Pausing a moment, Irenya pulled a small object out of her pouch. It appeared to be either a small necklace, or a large bracelet, which was made of string threaded through the teeth of a small animal. "During our travels, a little Khajiit girl, about nine or ten, likely, twisted her ankle. It was nothing serious, and I treated it when requested, but then she just...gave this to me. It's just some trinket, not very well made, but...it looked like it was quite literally the only thing she owned, and she just gave it to me with that...disturbing feline smile."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Say, would you mind if I delay a bit tonight? I have Assassin's Creed rented and would like to try to finish it before I need to return it.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Hmm, that may work." Meesei commented, speaking quietly so none of the prisoners could hear her from within the cells. "Although, we will still need to be careful with the information she gives us, if she does talk. We may not be personally torturing her, but she may just say what we want to hear to stop the pain. We will need to confirm anything she says with the other prisoners."

Ri'vashi looked away briefly, towards a specific door off to their right. "This one thinks the Imperial may be a good choice to question next. Of all of them, he has by far been the most defiant. He seems bold, and certainly brave to have tried attacking the Champion. He could be their leader. He has a strong mind, so he may be difficult to break, but he may know the most."

"Do you want to attempt what we spoke of before?" Meesei asked. "If you feign offense at his taunts, beat him in a rage, you might convince him that he is getting into your head."

---

Irenya still could not bring herself to look at Fendros, and especially Ahnasha. She continued to look down, eating small bites of what was left of her meat as if to give an excuse for why she was not speaking. The uncomfortable silence continued hanging in the air for a while, and just as before, it was the silence she could not handle. She glanced up to Fendros for at least a brief moment before she finally spoke up softly. "This place is...not what I was expecting."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Dar-tzesa almost seemed to attempt to resist the potion when he forced her to drink it, but she was not in much of a position to deny anything that Gallus gave her. Regardless, she bared her teeth angrily at Gallus as he spoke. "The only relief you can give me is to kill me, you...dog. This pain, this relief...it's all meaningless. Don't you get it? I'm doomed, dead, abandoned. They told me that I would get cured, and get everything we agreed on, as long as I was successful. Well, I failed, and now I'm going to be tortured by your lord for eternity. Nothing else matters. Nothing you can do to me will matter, because it will only get worse after you kill me. So you can take your potion, and your questions, and shove them up your backside as far as I'm concerned. Because nothing. Matters." She growled.

---

Irenya looked away, down at her meal. "Well, as I said, I am no priestess. If you want answers on how to please your ancestors, you will need to ask the one performing your ceremony. I am sure he will be much more knowledgeable on it than I."

At first, Irenya seemed content to try and ignore Fendros' second question, but the silence in the conversation grew quickly awkward. She looked around nervously, uncertain of how to go about saying anything she was thinking. "That is true, yes, but...I just needed to think about it for a while to...determine how I should feel about it. That is all." She explained, though it was not actually much of an explanation. It was an answer that, while technically true, failed to actually answer his question in any meaningful way.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The Argonian continued looking away from Gallus, despondent. The pain from her burns kept her intermittently in tears, while the shackles and hard stone floor did nothing to help her comfort. "What does it matter? You're going to kill me anyway. I'm just a failure. I'll die as a failure, then get tortured for eternity. That's what I have to look forward to. It doesn't matter what you do to me, because it will only get worse. My life is over, my...existence is over. If you want a name to put on my grave, it is Dar-tzesa." She finally answered.

---

Irenya curled her lips and looked down at the remainder of her meal briefly. "I see...and I suppose you do not want them at your wedding, then? I cannot say I know where else you could find a nontraditional Dunmer priest, but...well there is nothing saying your wedding has to be within the walls of the city. I am sure your story is a common one in a place like Cheydinhal, with how the Imperials influence the Dunmer there. You could just ask for something discrete."

At this point, it seemed clear that Irenya had come to terms with, and was in support of Fendros' relationship. If not, then the act she was putting on was an elaborate one. What was not clear was why she had her sudden change of heart. Neither Ahnasha, nor anyone else had mentioned speaking to Irenya on Fendros' behalf since their last conversation aboard the ship.

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

I think I'll wait for a Grey post so I'll know what to do with Ssarak.

Is Free free to use the malice Naga in his post?