EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

While Rukeewei was embracing Ariel, he spoke in a nervous, somewhat stuttering voice. "I...I guess I will have to. Be there, I mean. There's just...so much to do, and who could we possibly hire, even with enough coin? Who can we trust? I mean, I don't know any alchemists that are nearly as good as you, and my brother doesn't get along too well with strangers. This is all just so much so fast."

Between his words and his overall expression, it was quite clear that Rukeewei did not want to leave. He was still afraid of the prospect of being around lycans, and he was not going to be happy leaving his business. It was only become of his love of Ariel that he was agreeing, Although, he did start to look at Ariel with some uncertainty as well after a few moments.

"If they had not come along, when were you going to tell me all of this?" Rukeewei asked.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Rukeewei brought his hands up and slowly ran them down his face. "I...I don't know. This is a lot to ask. Even if it's not forever, a year is a long time. How would I explain this to my brother, or the rest of my family? They aren't going to just accept us going all the way across Tamriel to live with a whole clan of...lycanthropes. I'm still not comfortable with that, really."

"I know lying is not particularly pleasant, but it is a necessity for us." Meesei pointed out. "I would not recommend mentioning what we are to anyone. You could say that we are bringing you traveling as a...vacation, or something of that nature. Out of gratitude for how you helped us before."

Rukeewei was silent for a while, not really acknowledging anything Meesei had said. Eventually, he opened his eyes as he spoke. "It's not going to matter what I say, will it? It's your sister; I'm not going to be able to stop you. No matter the danger, no matter...anything else, you're going. Aren't you? I..." Turning towards her, Rukeewei pulled Ariel into a hug. "I don't want you to be there without me."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

While he was not quite as confused as when their lycanthropy had first been revealed to him, Rukeewei still had quite a bit to take in with Ariel's explanation. Her story matched up closely enough with everything Ariel had said so far to him about her past that he could see she had not been directly lying, but she had obviously withheld quite a bit from him. Regardless, he now had answers, even if it was going to take him a while to process it all.

"So you went through...all of that before coming here. And that's why you trust all of these lycans?" He said before turning his attention more directly to Meesei. "But are you really sure you need Ariel for this? I know she is a skilled alchemist, but...there are a lot of alchemists in the world. Do you want her help because she has worked with lycanthropy before?"

Meesei lightly shook her head. "It is more than that. We destroyed Ariel's notes on the original suppression gas, but that could only delay them for so long. After a few years, they were able to create a new formula for the gas. Then, they modified it into the weapon we are facing today. We need Ariel because that weapon is still based upon her original creation, and she has the best chance of finding a solution."

Rukeewei looked away, still largely uncertain on everything that was being so quickly presented to him. After a few moments, he looked back to Ariel. "So...what do you want to happen?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Rukeewei had thusfar been in too much shock from everything he had been told to consider what he might want to ask them. He had only barely come to terms with the fact that he was still in the room with multiple lycans and not making his way out of the door. Even though his fear was steadily diminishing, the notion that he might willingly travel to en entire clan of lycans still seemed insane to him. Regardless, after Ariel suggested that he ask some questions of his own, he paused to collect himself and simply asked the first question that came to his mind.

"Okay, okay, so...just how did this all happen? All of this doesn't make sense to me. Why are you friends with lycans? Why is Sabine a lycan; why did you come to Black Marsh with them to begin with? If you didn't tell me about this, then is everything you told me about your past true?" Rukeewei asked.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Rukeewei held his hands up and almost recoiled back in surprise from Ariel's suggestion. "Wait, wait, you want me to come along with you? All the way to Skyrim? All of this just seems so bizarre, so...insane. I mean, you're saying that you're friends with werewolves, and...crocodiles, and they want to take you away to a frozen, far-away land so you can earn a fortune making some kind of antidote. This all has to be a joke, right? A prank that you are all conspiring to play on me?"

Meesei shook her head. "I wish it were. If so, we would not have to face this danger that is always looming over us. The poison that I want Ariel to help cure, it rips our souls from our very bodies and sends them directly to the Daedra Clavicus Vile. It is a fate worse than death itself, and it is only because of the severity of the situation that I would even think of asking this of you and your family."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"That is the amount I would offer anyone who could bring me a permanent solution to this weapon." Meesei responded. While it was true that she expected Ariel would have the best chance of creating a cure, she would reward anyone else who could complete that task as well. "I will admit, forfeiting that amount would have a definite impact on us, even if I source the coin from multiple clans, but the cost of not curing this poison is far, far greater than every single coin in every clan's coffers combined. Anything I can do to motivate a quick and effective antidote for the poison, I will do."

Suddenly, fear was not the only thing on Rukeewei's mind. The talk of the reward had rendered him speechless for a short time, and while he was still unmistakably afraid, he was now willing to talk about more than just his fear. "So you will pay us ten thousand septims, and all my wife has to do is make a potion?"

"I imagine it will be a more complicated task than that, but essentially, yes. However, to be able to work on it effectively, she will need to be able to join us in Skyrim for at least a year's time, unless she devises an antidote sooner. Just to compensate her for the work, I can offer to pay all of the debts both you and Ariel have in the city, and help make sure your businesses remain stable in that time." Meesei explained.

Rukeewei stared ahead blankly, his expression doing little to hide the conflict within him. "That is...a lot of coin. But, what will all of this entail?" He began, turning to Ariel and grabbing her hand in both of his. "I don't want to lose you for a whole year. Even more with travel. To imagine you across the world, surrounded by lycans...I would worry myself to death."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Rukeewei did not exactly settle, but again, he did not run. He gripped Ariel's hand tightly, looking over Sabine in particular with a mix of fear and suspicion. "How do you know? They say the moons make them go crazy; how do you know its safe?"

"We are always very aware of the moons. Even if you cannot trust my word, the moons will not be full for almost another month, regardless. You are not in any danger from us right now. You will never be in any danger from us." Meesei said reassuringly.

Rukeewei remained steady, though his tone was at least slightly calmer. "Just...what do you want with Ariel? What kind of help do you want from her?"

Meesei was calm and diplomatic, and made sure to stay calm in her voice. She could see there was a chance of getting through to him, so she did not want to make any mistakes. "Alchemical help, naturally. There is a poison that is a great danger to us, which is being used by our enemies. Ariel is one of the few people who stands a very good chance of being able to develop an antidote. We would like her help. We can offer considerable financial help in return, and I can even offer a large reward for a completed antidote."

"What kind of reward to you mean?" Rukeewei asked hesitantly.

Meesei responded in an almost matter-of-fact tone. "Ten thousand septims."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Though Ariel had so far been brief in her explanation, Rukeewei’s mood started to turn just as quickly. It was just a few seconds after Ariel mentioned that they were lycanthropes that his eyes widened and he became distinctly nervous. He shifted in his chair and looked as if he were ready to bolt up and flee at any moment.

Rukeewei responded in Jel as his emotions started to naturally take over. ”Wait, lycanthropes? Aren’t…aren’t they those crazy cursed beast people that go around eating people? I don’t…that doesn’t sound…”

Before Rukeewei could build up too many thoughts in his mind, Meesei intervened to at least make an attempt of settling him down. “That would be the popular conception of us, but there is only a partial truth in it. Feral lycans, those without any training, discipline, or experience, can be just as you describe. But, for those like us, we are organized and…civilized. We do not attack common travelers on the road, or raid farmsteads to kill families. We are just people with a complicated condition.”

Meesei’s words had mostly only seemed to prevent Rukeewei from running out of the room. It was not as simple as just a few words to dispel what was quite literally thousands of years of myths and traditions. Rukeewei’s eyes were darting around the room and he was breathing as if in a panic. Meesei could smell the fear on his very breath.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The rooms could potentially provide some privacy, though Meesei would be sure that the rest of her pack kept an eye out in the main room to ensure that no one was listening in. Even Meesei had to admit that it was a level of caution bordering on paranoia, as it was highly unlikely that anyone would be following them or otherwise eavesdropping. However, for matters as important as this, she was beyond careful.

Meesei headed into her own room, signaling for Sabine to join her, Ariel, and Rukeewei inside. Rukeewei was mostly confused as to what they could need to talk about that would require such secrecy, but he went along with them. There was not much furniture in the room, aside from a small table, so Meesei took a seat on the side of her bed as she waited for the others to join her.

"I have to say, I didn't really expect anything serious like this out of your visit. Is there something wrong, or..." Rukeewei began, looking to Meesei questioningly.

"That is actually something of a complicated question. There is nothing immediately wrong with any of us, no. We are all safe and in good health, but we are in danger. One of the greatest reasons we came here was for something you might consider a business offer. We spoke with Ariel about this earlier, but as this involves her, it also involves you as well. Do you want to start, Ariel?" Meesei asked, reasoning that Ariel would know best how to reveal everything to her husband.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Also, I'm finding myself rather busy today, so my post may be a bit delayed.