EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"It is an entirely different form of magic to what most of us use." Meesei commented. "The witches of Glenmoril practice magic as old as the Breton race itself. It does not surprise me that they are the group in Tamriel most proficient with shapeshifting magic, considering that they are also the closest to Hircine. Regardless, it is nothing I could accomplish, not without extensive training. This also means that the Breton, that zealot Arinette, it at least as well-trained and dangerous as Sabine. We should not underestimate her. You saw how she spoke to Do'rhajul, how...demanding she was with her supposed leader. Do'rhajul commands them, but he may not be the only one pulling the strings."

Shortly afterwards, Meesei finished writing down everything she could remember about the people she had seen in the market. It would be useful information to give to their agents. "Fendros is right; it would be safest not to sleep anywhere near here. But, if we do wish to attempt to make any of them doubt their cause, I feel we will need to do more than simply speak to them. It is possible that we could have given them some doubts today, but ultimately, anything we simply say may be written off as lies or manipulation. And Arinette shall certainly be doing everything she can to calm their worries. To have any chance of converting any of them, we would need a way to prove our words."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei held her arm close to herself, being sure to keep it stable for Sabine. "You did well, thank you." She said softly before turning her attention back to the rest of the pack. "We should find somewhere private to discuss this. I feel we have some decisions to make."

The pack paused their discussion as they cautiously made their way back to the inn. It would be wise for them to find a different place to stay, if they had to remain in Sentinel any longer, but they would at least need to gather their belongings before moving from the inn. They kept a sharp eye out for anyone that might have been following them, in the event that there were more members of Do'rhajul's team than had been present in the market. Meesei drew some eyes carrying a raven on her arm, but otherwise they were able to get through the streets without issue.

Once back in the inn, Meesei was quick to gather everyone in her room and lock the door behind them. The room was too small to hold everyone comfortably, but at the moment, the need to make a plan quickly superseded any desire for comfort. Meesei grabbed a parchment and quill from her bag, sat down at the small, sole table in the room, and started to write out the descriptions of each of Ro'rhajul's team from memory as quickly as she could before that memory started to fade.

"So...I don't think we should stick around here long. No telling what they might be able to do now that they know where we are." Ahnasha commented.

"Agreed." Meesei responded. "But we still need to make a plan of dealing with them more long-term. With them being this close, I doubt we will escape them for long. At least, not while still tracking our quarry. It would be easy enough to return home, but abandoning, or even delaying our mission is not an option. That said, they did not seem to be as united as I had expected. It may be that Vile is not supporting Do'rhajul with the loyalists he needed, so he may have needed to look elsewhere for specialists. Or perhaps they did not have loyalists with the skills he required. In any event, their loyalties may be a point of weakness for them."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The Breton woman remained just as firm and angered in her speech. "As I said, this is pointless. Try to follow us if you like, dogs, but you shall not find a place to attack us in this city."

It seemed that the Breton woman was eager to get the General's team away from the pack. If Meesei was being optimistic, she would think that the Breton was perhaps afraid of what they had to say to her allies. If they were not operating on the truth, then exposing that truth to them could end up affecting their allegiances. Do'rhajul stared down Fendros for a good few seconds with an immutable, unreadable expression before giving a grunt and a quick motion towards his men before he started to walk away from the pack.

If there was any questions as to which of the bystanders were associated with the General, they were answered quickly. There was little they could do to hide themselves while following the Cathay-raht away from them. In addition to the Breton, twin Orcs, and Nord they had already identified, there was another Nord and Breton, both male, a Redguard woman, and an Argonian man. Seeing them now would help greatly in identifying threats in the future. With luck, there would be no more of them to worry about aside from those they could see.

Meesei looked quickly to the members of her pack closest to her. "It is too risky to follow. They may involve the guard if they can frame it as harassment. Just stay alert, and remember their faces."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Do'rhajul briefly eyed the crowds of the market. "I know not what 'cult' you are referencing, but it seems you do not either. Infecting people? Killing Talos worshipers? Our people have done nothing of the sort. Do you think me so daft that you can convince me I am committing your crimes? My sole purpose is to punish the one who destroyed my life, and the lives of so many others. The one whose will you perpetuate, and the one who is threatening Tamriel with his curse."

Meesei actually found herself confused by what Do'rhajul was saying, almost all of it was obviously and provably false based on the information that each of them knew the other had available to them. Just on this conversation alone, Do'rhajul would be able to tell that her pack had discerned Vile's true purpose and learned what his cultists had been doing. It seemed pointless to not only try to deny it, but claim that it was Hircine's doing when there was no one else present for him to persuade. Unless, of course, there actually was. The Nord had made it clear that Do'rhajul's team was not entirely united. He could have been trying to convince his own team that their cause was a righteous one. It was even possible that Do'rhajul himself was in the dark on Vile's true goals, though it did seem hard to believe that they could keep their goals secret from their highest-ranking general. However, it was not quite impossible.

Lorag had his glare firmly on the general from the moment they saw him. He was seething in anger, which only grew stronger as their conversation continued, but it was also mixed with disbelief at what he was hearing. "What have you become, Do'rhajul? You used to be the best commander I'd ever seen, and the only one I'd have chosen to serve under. Now look at you; you sound like some kind of puppet!"

"So, it is really you." Do'rhajul said, letting out a sigh as he looked to Lorag. "I had hoped the reports were false. That I was mistaken in what I saw all those years ago. You had your life ripped away just as I did, and yet instead of fighting it, instead of trying to claim back what you had earned, you became a dog to your new master. You were a promising soldier, Lorag, but you were corrupted like so many others. There is still a chance, you know. To reclaim what time you have left for yourself. There is a...solution, a cure. I have seen it work myself. Work with me, fulfill your duties, and it can be yours. Any of you could be saved from your current path. I may not completely agree with the one whom employs my services, but he will fulfill the bargains he makes. And in this case, his desires happen to align with the interests of Tamriel."

Lorag grunted. "I think you've got it mixed up on which of us has been corrupted."

"Indeed." Meesei added, focusing her attention on the Nord and twin Orcs. "Has your general told you of how it was your master, not us, who started the war? Or of all the families his people have slaughtered, and how their souls were harvested? Or how it was your master that spread the so-called 'curse' for all those years? Do you know your master's true goals, and why they are now killing innocent Talos worshipers? Has he given you any actual proof of anything he has told you, or have you just been taking him at his word?"

"Enough!" A female voice sounded out nearby. From the alley that Sabine had been watching, a Breton woman emerged. She was dressed in local-styled robes, but clearly matched the description of the zealot that had been described to them. Out of all of Do'rhajul's team, she was the most likely to be a completely loyal servant of Vile. She marched up to the group nearby and took her place next to Do'rhajul. "Why are we still listening to this drivel? It is clearly pointless. These monsters are as deceptive as they are dangerous. We may not be able to act here and now, but know that your days are numbered, beasts. Now, let us leave this place. And watch the raven on that roof; it is her."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Do'rhajul grunted. "I think you shall not resist saying your words regardless of what you do."

Meesei doubted that anything her or her pack could say would influence Do'rhajul's thinking. However, drawing out a conversation might give her time to pay attention to any bystanders to watch their reactions, and determine which of them might have a vested interest in the conversation.

"We have learned much about you over the years, Do'rhajul. We have learned that you are just as much of a victim in this as the rest of us. You have been lied to; tricked into serving a master that intends to bring an end to anything you may care about. You joined this war because of your desire to fight...my kind, yes? Your master plans to destroy the Tamriel we know; we are the ones trying to protect it." Meesei asserted, all the while paying attention to the reactions of anyone nearby.

Sabine may have noticed that the other raven gave a particular reaction to Meesei's last statement. It fluttered its wings, then flew down and retreated into a narrow alleyway, from which a soft violet glow started to emanate.

Predictably, Do'rhajul was not swayed by an as-of-yet unsubstantiated claim. "Is that the greatest lie you could produce? I expected more. Perhaps it is your master that has lied to you? Or do you truly think that spreading your vile curse will 'help' Tamriel?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

It seemed that the General's team, with perhaps the exception of the Nord, were skilled at blending in. Had Saras' agent not described the Orcs to them beforehand, Meesei would not have been able to determine with certainty that they were associated with Do'rhajul either. Regardless, Meesei made every effort she could to remember the faces of those around her. If she saw any of them in the future in the presence of Do'rhajul, then the chances would be high that they were affiliated with him. That was at least some value they could derive from tracking the General to this place. Meesei had a feeling that neither of them were going to risk open hostilities in a public place.

Do'rhajul stared down Meesei, showing some small hints of frustration in his expression. Unless this was an elaborate ruse, he had not intended to confront the pack here. This encounter served much more to the pack's advantage than his, as it confirmed beyond any doubt that Do'rhajul was tracking them.

The General finally spoke up in a heavy, firm tone. "This can all end much easier if you surrender. You will be stopped regardless, but you can prevent anyone else from dying. Any more lives from being ruined."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei held her hand out to her side, halting her pack behind her. "Be ready with the antidote if needed, but do not draw a weapon unless attacked. Anyone who starts a fight here will have all of the Sentinel guard upon them. Just watch, do not let anyone too close to you, and try to identify his associates."

There was a complete still and silence between the two groups before the Nord following them walked, just as boldly as ever, past the pack and straight up to Do'rhajul. The Nord finally broke the silence as he stopped near him. "So these are the monsters you brought me along to hunt?"

Do'rhajul appeared irritated as he looked down at the Nord. "You were meant to remain inconspicuous, Yerig."

"Wasn't me that gave it away. It was your bird that was too damn impatient. Sat right outside the window, despite what you told 'er." The Nord remarked.

The Cathay-raht gave an annoyed grunt. "Now is not the time for this. You can give your report later."

The Nord, Yerig, crossed his arms. "I can give it now; it isn't much of one. They just sat around...talkin' about their children." The Nord's tone, along with his stare, was almost accusatory.

"Now is not the time." Do'rhajul repeated, now obviously angry. "Just trust me on his, Yerig. You know me."

Yerig sighed. "Fine." He responded before stepping back behind Do'rhajul.

Though it was out of most of the pack's line of sight, Sabine's acute eyes may have been able to spot movement on one of the rooftops to the left of and slightly behind the pack. The other raven walked into view on the rooftop, focused on the pack beneath it.

Coruscant Sacked: Aftermath

~|Strike Team Base of Operations, Feena|~

~|Day 6, 13^th Hour|~
Fa-Val-Kuul

---

The return of the team’s shuttle, along with what were apparently new arrivals, certainly threw a hydrospanner in all of their carefully-laid plans, but Fa was just as assuredly going to deal with it as best as she could. She had already called back Vebra’s scouting team out of safety concerns, in the event that the shuttle’s arrival happened to draw any Sith attention. When Master Gar emerged from the shuttle, he would find that Fa was not there to immediately greet him. Rather, she was in their camp outside the cave, giving orders and directions to her team. She made sure that her soldiers were covering the shuttle to make sure it was hidden the moment the engines powered down, as well as ordering a scan of all known Sith communication frequencies. It was a task made difficult by the propensity of the planet to seemingly jam sensors, but it was not a part of security protocols that Fa wanted to ignore.

Fa herself did not wear traditional Jedi robes, nor much of anything else. She did not speak nor carry herself with the kind of calm that was usually expected of Jedi. She seemed more like a military commander than anything else at the moment, making sure that each piece of the machine that was her team was doing everything necessary to ensure their safety. Were it not for the lightsabers on her belt, it would be difficult to identify her as a Jedi at all.

Once she finally had the time to do so, Fa did approach the old Human who had identified himself as Master Gar. Undeniably, Fa was not happy, but she did not want to let it show, at least not yet. There was no gain from starting out by berating this Jedi Master for his dangerous usage of their shuttle, and his unplanned arrival into enemy territory. Unless his business was exceptionally important, he likely did not realize how dangerous his arrival actually was. Even if it was important, there was still no guarantee that he would be familiar with how to operate behind enemy lines.

Even so, this was the situation that Fa now had to deal with. As much as she wished they had not shown up in such a manner, she did at least need to figure out why they were actually there before saying anything about it. “Master…Gar, is it? Excuse the lack of pleasantries, but if a team of Jedi is arriving here of all places, then there must be something important happening. I need to be briefed on what you know.” Fa said directly. Her tone did not display anger nor frustration, but it did convey the severity with which Fa was approaching the situation.

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Ssarak Dyreackthanose

---

Ssarak knelt down next to the wooden hatch and tried to listen for any movement below, though his hearing was not the best for listening for faint sounds. Not to mention, the warded mind of the thief made it difficult for him to reach inside and discern his exact location. But, one thing that Ssarak was sure of was the fact that they could not afford to wait long. It was possible the thief might know of a secret exit, so they had to act quickly, or risk losing their property.

”I have an entrance on the roof. I can jump down inside safely, capture, and hold their attention. Everyone else, enter from different entrances and hit them from all angles immediately afterwards. With luck, our thief or thieves will surrender immediately. If not, prepare for a fight.” Ssarak said telepathically to all of his allies.

Ssarak looked to Lyn and spoke quietly. ”It would not be wise of me to try to jump down carrying you. I do not know what I am dropping into. You carry plants or seeds with you, correct? Can you support me from up here, Lyn?”

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

From her vantage point in the sky, Sabine was able to lead the pack far more reliably than they could have from the ground. The birds flying through the sky certainly drew eyes from the ground since they were not a common sight in this part of Hammerfell, but it was unlikely that many, if any at all, of the city's citizens recognized what was truly taking place.

The chase eventually led the pack towards the market, which Sabine would have saw the raven fly into from above before going out of sight. The rest of the pack as quickly as they could get through the crowds, which, while they were not at their thickest at this time of day, were still something of a hindrance. All the while, the Nord from the inn was still following behind them, and still making seemingly no effort to hide that fact.

Regardless, the pack was not in the market long before they spotted something that caused them to halt in their tracks. Among all of the early-risers, shopkeepers, and stall owners starting out their day, there was a rather conspicuous individual sitting on a bench around the market's center fountain. He was dressed in local garb, but there was no hiding the fact that he towered over everyone else around him. He was a Cathay-raht: Do'rhajul. He had the appearance of not being armed or armored, but there was no way to know for certain if that was true. And he noticed the pack just as quickly. He stood up, stared at them from only a short distance away, but did not move himself. Around him, there were several individuals, but it was hard to tell which ones were actually associated with him, and which were just citizens who happened to be sitting at the fountain. The only ones who were distinctive were the twin Orcs at a nearby bench.