EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ahnasha was not nearly as nervous as Fendros, but she was alert. There was no denying that there was some risk in what they were doing, perhaps not to their lives, but in other ways that were important to Fendros. For the most part, she knew what he was going through, but there were potential problems for him that she had not been forced to face in Leyawiin. His parents were much different from her own. The vineyard itself was nice, tranquil. It was close enough to benefit from the safety of the city, but far from the crowds that inhabited it. For one less adventurous than herself, she might see the appeal of living in such a place.

"Okay, so that window?" Ahnasha asked, pointing as they reached the side of the house. Once she had confirmation, she carefully picked up a stone from the ground and grabbed a hold of it telekinetically. She was not nearly as skilled in the practice as someone like Meesei, but she could hold up a simple stone. She floated it over to the window and used it to knock just loudly enough to be heard from within. It perhaps would have been simpler just to throw stones normally, but she wanted to make sure that only Llarasa heard them.

---

It only took an instant for that voice to alert most of the pack. Lorag, Meesei, and even Kaleeth turned their heads towards her. The moment she recognized who it was, Meesei reached into the satchel on her hip. Luckily, she had brought it with her into the city. Ever since Harriet's escape, she had carried her tracking ring with her, the one bonded to the ring she had implanted within Harriet. She did not always carry it on her person, but it was at least with her belongings. This time, it was with her, and when she slipped it onto her finger, she felt that its counterpart was within range.

Meesei looked around quickly, giving a nod to Sabine, Janius, and Lorag. Kaleeth walked over to Janius and touched him lightly on the shoulder, whispering to him that she would take over watching the children. Lorag, without any sudden movements, put away the knives he was sharpening and picked up his bags. Meanwhile, Meesei was already taking the lead after her. Lorag and Harriet had made eye contact briefly, but she had not yet seen Meesei. The fact that she had put up her hood to cover her face made it even easier for Meesei to remain out of her peripheral vision, and the bustle of the crowd nearby hid her footsteps.

Meesei did not have any intentions of threatening Harriet just yet, but she was not going to wait to confront her. No matter what Harriet might believe, Meesei currently had the advantage. As soon as she was close enough behind Harriet, Meesei spoke up clearly, and in a neutral tone. "You know that we could not attack you right now, even if we wanted to. The least you can do is talk."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ah, so it's still there. I have some time, so I might be able to respond before you have to go. Maybe.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

So you know that ring Meesei used to track Harriet, the counterpart of which she implanted in her? Meesei still carries that around. What would happen if she used that for tracking now?

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Even if Ahnasha had been blind, she would have been able to pick up on Fendros' anxiety. She was a simple blue and green outfit with a long, ankle length skirt that marginally annoyed her. She knew how to seem perfectly Cyrodilic, not that she particularly cared about blending in with every societal norm. When Fendros loosened his grip on her, the put her arm around his in protest. No matter where they were, she did not want them being dishonest about who they were to each other.

Regardless of Ahnasha's stubbornness, she did not ignore the struggles that Fendros was surely facing. She had been through it before in Leyawiin, so she was not going to push him too hard at once. "I think we should get the hard part out of the way, but...maybe not too much all at once. How about we try just to find your sister? Talk to her, let her know we're here, and them figure out what we should do from there. You know I think you should confront your whole family, but we don't have to start out with them all."

---

Among the group in the city, Lorag was the one essentially guiding them. There had been a lot that had changed since he left, but the basic layout remained the same. He knew where to find the market, the guilds, residential homes, and a few specific stores. As they were divvying up tasks, Lorag took the bag Janius gave him, but he did not move from where he was standing, despite knowing exactly where to find the smithy. "Hey, uh, look. Maybe someone else should deal with the smith, right?"

By this point, Kaleeth had heard a lot of Lorag's stories a few times over, so she knew where he was from, and what he was avoiding. "Do you think they're still here? You know what Fendros' sister said."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. But there's more than one family of Orcs here. How about someone else just talk to the smith first, and if I don't recognize 'em, I'll step in." Lorag responded. So preoccupied was his mind that he did not even consider just looking for another blacksmith. There was only one he knew how to find off the top of his head.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Alright, I moved us along. I kept it short and vague, since you'll probably be the one leading this scene.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"That may be the case. It depends on if Gallus intends to bring the rest of his pack with him." Meesei pointed out. "If so, you will only be separated after our groups split from one another. In any case, it is inevitable that you will have to separate from him for an extended time eventually. Our pack will be taking on missions against Vile as soon as we have re-established ourselves fully, and with Peiter being unable to fight, he will not always be able to join us. Your relationship will need to be able to handle separation. If not...he may not be the perfect partner for you. I do not doubt that you both love one another, but it is rare for someone to find their best match on the first try, so to speak. You may have, and Peiter may be that person, but do not think you have done anything wrong if it does not work out." Meesei explained, trying to be as encouraging as possible.

---

Saras nodded briefly. "On that, we can agree. The more time a Daedra as cunning as Vile has to plan, the lower our chances become. If only we had god-killers among our clans. I would like nothing more than to be rid of him permanently, but we will likely have to settle for diminishing the power of his followers. On that note, there is more I should do today. I am sure I am going to be speaking with your Champion again soon."

---

It took some time for Meesei and the rest of the clan's leadership to collect reports on their overall finances, but the reports were reasonably encouraging. The Blackreach clan was, of course, stretched thin in terms of their finances, but other clans were having an easier time. In the wake of their attack on Vile's stronghold in Elsweyr, other clans, especially those in southern Tamriel, experienced less disruption by the enemy. That was sure to change once the enemy was able to fully re-establish themselves and increase production of their soul-tearing gas, but for the moment, Meesei had some coin to work with. Before her pack, Gallus, and everyone he had decided to bring along left for Black Marsh, she made sure to send word ahead to the Stormhold clan to set aside some coin for when they arrived. Combined with what Meesei's pack would be bringing with them, it would almost entirely pay off Ariel's immediate debts. The Stormhold clan would certainly have time to prepare, as, after some persuasion from Ahnasha and Fendros, they convinced her to take a detour through Cheydinhal.

It had been weeks since Meesei's pack had departed from Blackreach. Being a small group, they were able to move relatively quickly south through Skyrim, and the Jerrals separating them from Cyrodiil. They had taken the most direct route possible, and were now camped out in the forests south of Lake Arrius, not terribly far from Cheydinhal. In fact, they were not far from the area where they had first found Fendros, years ago. It was around midday, so Ahnasha and Fendros would have plenty of time to do what they needed, while some of the others probably went into town for supplies.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

We can probably do a skip to the next big scene sometime soon. That would probably be in Cheydinhal, right?

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"If that is the case, we may even be able to help her." Meesei remarked. "With the number of clans we have, and the efforts we have been making to pool more resources, the kind of coin we can spare for compensation is the kind of coin that can be a great boon for an individual person."

Standing up from her seat, Meesei grabbed her belongings and motioned for Sabine to follow her out of the room. "Floods are very common in the swamps, even in the cities. The people of Black Marsh are more than used to dealing with them, and I am sure Rukeewei will be able to help her recover, and perhaps improve her storage methods for the future. Buildings are made to resist, or at least survive floods, and the one she purchased would be no different. She may not have been understating anything to you. Once we are there, we can discuss all of the specifics with her and work out an arrangement. I am not sure what she would want to do to maintain her business in the meantime, or about Rukeewei, but I am not sure if we should try to make plans about such things without her in the conversation."

---

Sara gave a brief nod. "Only my concerns for who would lead the Riften clan in my absence. I have arranged my clan in such a way as to keep them out of sight, while still close enough to society to not be separated from it. We have greater awareness of events occurring in the hold than most clans do for their regions, and we are capable of effective information gathering. However, to maintain that requires a certain amount of adaptability and knowledge. It would not be enough for them to simply follow instructions that I leave behind. There are strong leaders in my clan, but I do not know if they could maintain the same kinds of operations."

Leaning forward and finally taking another drink, Saras let out a sigh. "But, perhaps that sacrifice would be worthwhile. My experience could be to the benefit of our efforts against Vile, even if my clan faces troubles as a result."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei nodded to Sabine. "I agree. But, if she knew what kind of a situation we are in...what kind of danger you are in, I have no doubt she would already be trying to help us. Indeed, I honestly doubt we would have to give her anything for her to help, but I do not want her to lose what she has. There is much we will need to discuss with her, much we will need to plan, but hopefully we will be able to reach an agreement that does not cause her too much harm."

"I know we have not been able to exchange letters in a while, with the clan moving, but what was her life like the last time she wrote to you?" Meesei asked. "Have there been any major developments in her life?"

---

Saras shook his head. "No, I have noticed these heroes have a tendency to disappear, or fade away into time. The Nerevarine became immortal as a part of the prophesy, but he went on an expedition to Akavir shortly before the Oblivion crisis, and did not return. The Hero that closed half of the Oblivion gates in Cyrodiil disappeared after stepping into a strange portal that opened up in the Niben bay, Talos either died, or became a god, depending on whose religion you believe. The only great hero who is known in Tamriel today is the current holder of the title Ysmir, the one who slayed the dragon Alduin. But, I would have no desire to meet any of these people; there would be nothing I would gain from doing so. Being a werewolf, it would just be a risk. I study them only out of...curiosity, and because I have the capability to do so. I have learned quite a lot about information gathering through the years. It was an important skill while I was with the Dark Brotherhood, and I have only gained experience since then. It is why I suspect that our Champion will ask me to become the spymaster for her new council. I have been debating on whether or not I should accept." Saras explained, mostly ignoring his drink by this point.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei had no remark between Oswall and Gallus. Any issues that Gallus' decisions created between them were private, family matters, and she had no desire to become involved. The reason she intended to allow Gallus to join him was simply because she recognized that it would be a cheaper, more convenient traveling arrangement.

Once Gallus was finished, Meesei took another look around the room. "If there are no other announcements, I believe that is all we have to discuss for now. Once we have reports on the clan's financial situation, we will meet again to discuss compensation for Ariel."

As the meeting was adjourned, Meesei packed up her belongings, but remained seated in case someone wanted to speak to her. In particular, she imagined that Sabine might want to talk.

---

"Oh, they were quite sinister. In all likelihood, they deserved their fate." Saras remarked, again with no particular regret or other negative emotions in his tone. "The Dark Brotherhood takes in many kinds of people, from heartless, sadistic murderers, to desperate people with no other choices in life. For the shadowscales, they were simply taken at...hatching, for training. But, all of us were killers with no reservations. Except, I had a desire for survival. I did not become a werewolf until about fifty years after the Oblivion Crisis, but that physical prowess would have meant nothing, even if I had possessed it at the time. For the Nerevarine, he cleared our sanctuary just like it was another bandit lair. It was an experience that...changed me, certainly. I did not understand how one person could be so powerful. I took a certain, almost scholarly interest in his achievements, and those of other heroes in history. By all accounts, he went on to kill the goddess Almalexia, which would be the second god he had killed, and third he had defeated. Prior to coming to Mournhold, he was involved in the Bloodmoon Prophesy. If you are as devout as your Champion, you know that is a hunt that Hircine himself holds every era, involving whatever beings on Tamriel he deems powerful enough to be sporting. For the Nerevarine to have survived, he would had to have defeated an aspect of Hircine in single combat. There are few people in history who have held that kind of power. Thousands of years ago, they were often known as Shezarrines: incarnations of Shezarr, or Lorhkan as he is known outside the old Cyrodilic tradition. They were heroes with almost supernatural fighting prowess, like Pelinal Whitestrake or Talos. Some say that modern heroes, like the Nerevarine, may also be Shezarrines, but that is purely speculation."

As Saras spoke, it was clear that he had at least some degree of respect for the Nerevarine, despite what he had done to his "family." Though, while some of what he said was common knowledge, there were quite a few details which showed that he was educated at a level well-beyond the average person. He would had to have spent a great deal of time performing dedicated research on such subjects.