EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei chuckled and ran her hand through her feathers. "Personally, I think we are all far too polite for our own good." Finally releasing Lunise's hand, she took a few steps away and stared down at an open space in silent thought for several seconds. "Hmm, I believe I may have an idea quite appropriate for our indecisiveness. We have a good place to start a fire here, so we can cook up our dinner and converse for a while here. Once it is done, I can take us to the place near Thorn and we can eat there, take in the sights. Then, we can relax for the evening in Eastmarch. Is that an agreeable plan?"

---

Ahnasha responded with only a quick, silent nod before following Fendros out of the room, and away from the ears of any of the others. She did not know exactly what he had to say, but she felt that she had a few hints. She had tried to avoid worrying about Do'rhajul for most of the past week, but this meeting was showing that she had been right to worry, particularly since she would be placing herself in the most immediate danger.

"This...will be an ordeal, I can already see it." Ahnasha said, following a sigh. "I can't see this going over well with everyone. Worst part is, if everything goes to plan, the undead wouldn't even be necessary."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei responded just as cordially as Karl, giving a slight nod of her head. "Thank you, and it is great to finally be able to meet my daughter's mate, more than just in passing. She has told me much about you."

Keeping her hand in Lunise's, Meesei walked with her to approach the couple. Meesei did not want to make a point to bring up Karl's eyesight, but she supposed that he would be able to see more clearly if they were all closer together. "I will say, I have been looking forward to this evening all week. I am sure I will have a wonderful time sharing all of Sabine's embarrassing childhood stories." Meesei teased, nudging Sabine slightly.

"At any rate, now that we are all here, shall we start getting the fire going here, or teleport somewhere else for our dinner? Did you speak to Karl about those places we were considering earlier, Sabine?" Meesei asked.

---

Marcaille ran her hand through her hair as she thought. "Making them quiet? Well, muffle enchantments might work, but I have never even attempted to enchant an entire automaton before. I do not know that anyone has. That would likely make for an interesting line of research, but now is not the time for experiments. Even if we could enchant the automatons and get them working silently in the short term, we would not know if anything about the automatons' own inherent enchantments might end up breaking our magic. If that happened in the middle of their infiltration, it could be a disaster."

"Ri'vashi...does not like it." She commented after a long breath.

Saras, after fairly long consideration, finally chimed in. "We need to use the tools available to us; it would be foolish not to. No magic is inherently evil, only its applications. In this case, we would be applying it to a good cause. Our cause. I am sure we can get the corpses together, but getting mages from the clan to help may be difficult. I am sure there are...other necromancers among this clan, but that is not something to which most mages will openly admit."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei could not help but to grin as she watched Lunise quickly become awestruck by the sight surrounding them. Sabine and Karl were already present nearby, both with bags containing the food and supplies they would need for their dinner together, but fortunately, Lunise's reaction was not unusual for a newcomer to Blackreach. In fact, it was perfectly normal.

"I can assure you we are in Tamriel. It is just not a place that is known to Tamriel's scholars. The cavern has been our home for the last decade, or more specifically, that city over there in the distance." Meesei said, motioning towards the Silent City, lit by the distinctive glowing orb above it. "We could not ask for a better one."

While Lunise was taking in the sights, Meesei quickly shifted her attention to the others. "Good evening Sabine, Karl. Is the day treating you well?"

---

Pierrette, being one of those in charge of logistics, was the one who could best answer Fendros' question, but she still showed obvious surprise upon hearing it. "Corpses? I...am afraid I do not know the exact number off the top of my head, but at this clan's size, we always have some bodies waiting to be butchered. Mostly Falmer, chaurus, and some animals from above-ground hunts. It is just...are you intending to use necromancy against them?"

Ri'vashi's eyes widened slightly. "That...surely there is a better way? Perhaps...automatons are not alive. They could get close to the camp without triggering the wards."

Lorag shook his head slightly. "I'd rather use those machines too, but those things are louder than the fiery lakes of Oblivion, with all that steam. No way they're sneakin' up on anything, wards or no wards."

Ri'vashi lowered her head, pressing her hand against her forehead. "Okay, so...assuming we have these bodies, what exactly is your plan for them?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei readily complied, walking up behind Lunise to help her with her dress, which in turn allowed her to speak more softly into her ear. "Well, to begin, you need not worry greatly about your appearance. Your hair does not need to be perfectly brushed, nor does your skin need to be blemish free. Our clans, as you might expect, are a fair amount more...rough than a Dominion city. That is not to say our people do not care about their appearance, but we do not expect perfection. In particular, we do not have many of the luxuries that city dwellers enjoy. As for behavior, I do not think you need to worry too much about that for this evening in particular. Local customs do of course still play a role in how a clan tends to behave, so Karl will not be surprised if you are somewhat different if he thinks you are from one of the southern clans. I suppose you need only worry about giving any suspicious reactions if one of us does something you might find unusual."

Once the dress was sufficiently tightened, Meesei was recovered enough to open up a portal once more. She gave Lunise another quick, encouraging kiss, then went through the process of opening up the return portal. This would be the first time that Lunise would be setting foot anywhere in the clan aside from Meesei's closed-off, interior room, and the sight she would see would be nothing short of breathtaking.

Meesei took Lunise's hand before stepping through. The spot she had chosen was outside the Silent City, though the city was still in-view in the distance. They were just off of one of the roads, in between two of the towering glowing mushrooms, with many smaller ones all around them. The cavern was darker over all than the surface, of course, but that only served to enhance the veritable light show of mushrooms and other fungus that permeated the cavern. Even the ceiling of the cavern had many glowing spots, almost like stars above. The sound of rushing water would lead Lunise's eyes to a waterfall that was also within view, which also seemed to glow under the lighting from the mushrooms. While Meesei and her pack had become used to it overtime, Blackreach was still an entirely unique sight in Tamriel.

---

Marcaille gave a hesitant nod. "Well, yes, probably. Haven't needed to do a ritual like that since I was just a fresh-faced young woman, but I think I can remember the details. But like I said, you'd have to have something of his to use as the focus of the spell. Could be something he touched, a patch of fur, a body part. Anything his."

"I've got a shield." Lorag remarked. "Not his shield, but one of his team members dropped a big tower shield when they fled. Would that work?"

"Hmm, well I could track that member of his team, at least. So yes, that ritual could help us, if we needed it." Marcaille answered.

The plan did seem to be developing, but Ri'vashi still seemed concerned. "That could be useful if they escape again, but we already know where they are. Ri'vashi is just worried about these contingencies to keep our infiltrators safe. This one may be no mage, but her forces have utilized these kinds of life detection enchantments before, to great effect. If Do'rhajul has set them up at all properly, which she guarantees he has, then we will not be able to get anyone close enough to help in a true emergency. Against such a dangerous foe, we need to have someone ready to help in seconds, not minutes. Magic might be able to hide one or two people from the enchantments, but if we get too many living things close to those enchantments, then they will be alerted."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei continued to look on, still smiling. "You know, it does not make the decision easier when you say that all of the options are just as appealing. Although, I certainly agree. Thorn is perhaps the most beautiful place in Tamriel, but it is also hard to deny a relaxing evening in the hot springs. And our clanhome, well...you shall see it momentarily regardless. The air can be cool away from our city, but not too uncomfortably so. It does not experience the biting cold of Skyrim, at least."

Pausing a moment, Meesei lightly chuckled. "I think I should teach you how to be a lycan. You, well, I could see you standing out as much as I do when I visit Alinor. We are a people who come from all places, all walks of life. Nobility and paupers, farmers and warriors, anyone can acquire the condition. Walking among us, you can see influences from everywhere, and yet those influences do not dominate the culture. I think my most helpful advice for blending in among us would be to...erase about how people can or should behave. There are no singular proper manners, or way of approaching one another. Among lycans, it does not matter who you were, or what family you were born into. The only measures of a person in a lycan clan is who they are now, and what they can do. How they help the clan an its members to survive. Lycan clans, we have a sort of loose culture of our own, one built around our shared challenges, and how we overcome them. Essentially, if you think that your clothes and mannerisms are entirely un-presentable in Dominion society, then you will probably blend in just fine."

---

"I'll start on it as soon as I can." Marcaille answered. "But as for knowing where we are, it's hard to say if they do. That kind of scrying isn't always exact, especially from very far away. All the way in High Rock, where they are, I'd say they could know that the Champion is in Skyrim. Probably. I guess she could be anywhere right now, since we don't know where she is, exactly. That would also make it difficult for them, the fact that she frequently moves across Tamriel without a second thought. It would make scrying attempts much more scattered. If they were closer, in Skyrim, and tried it while the Champion was also here, they could probably find us. Hopefully, they haven't already done that."

Lorag huffed. "Whether they know or not, if we can deal with 'em soon, then it won't matter. So let's assume that Sabine or Meesei are going to be helping Ahnasha sneak in with that book. How are we gonna do it? What are the rest of us going to do? Are we going to be waiting at a distance to jump in if something goes wrong, or what? Let's get the details sorted."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei chuckled and gave Lunise a comforting pat on the shoulder. "Do not worry, our secret is going to be perfectly safe. If we just avoid talking about professional matters, he will have no reason to be suspicious. And I am sure we will have plenty else to talk about; he is a scholar of the Dwemer. I think you might be interested in some of the findings we have had in our home, and I myself have a few months of catching up to do. I would quite love to show you around our city, but I suppose just the area around it will have to do. That is where we will be teleporting to. After that, though, I was thinking of letting you choose where we shall have our dinner, if any of those places I mentioned earlier sound appealing to you."

Meesei finally released her grip on Lunise to allow her to change, though she still looked on with a growing, amused expression. "Hmm, you know, personally have been wondering how you would go about blending in with lycans, should the need arise. I suppose if you cannot find anything suitable, you can have my clothes. I could make them fit, I think. You are a professional agent and diplomat, though, so I am sure you will do fine."

---

Marcaille answered directly and immediately. "Aye, I can do it, but I don't have a concoction already made. Just like with his enchantment, I would need time to finish it. Though...I would say I could have it by tomorrow. Enough time to still act on this, definitely."

"We should still ask Meesei and Sabine if one of them can assist me when we can speak to them, regardless. I don't imagine us trying anything without them, so we will have a chance. If we decide definitively that this is what we're doing, of course." Ahnasha suggested.

Marcaille did not disagree, but she did have one further suggestion. "I know the Champion is exceptionally capable, of course, but...I think Sabine might be better suited to help you. She can not only mask her life force, but she can hide in plain sight, as it were. Ravens are native to High Rock, you see. But...well there is another reason. A theory I have, based on how this team has been behaving. Now, I can't really be sure without proof, but if that zealot is one of the women of the wilds, then she may be using certain rituals to track you. It's the Psijics that are most famous for their scrying ability, but the followers of the Old Ways are not without similar rituals. Somewhere, sometime over the years, they might have found something of Meesei's, which might be used to hone in on her position in the world. It's not perfect, and it takes time, but it could explain how they found you to begin with. If the Champion gets close enough, though, it might possibly alert her."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I may not know him well, but Sabine certainly trusts him. I have faith in her." Meesei commented. "And it is important to remember that the vast majority of my clan does not know you exist, let alone what you look like. Only the leadership of the clan know who you are, and of them, only Saras has seen you directly. And those few warriors who were with him when you first made contact in that cave, I suppose. Regardless, Karl will have no reason to associate you with the Thalmor, and I will not be taking us to a place where I would expect to run into anyone else from the clan. It is simply in proximity to our city."

Meesei's nostrils flared for a moment. "And I think with a simple illusion, I should be able to give you a convincing lycan scent. To him, you will just be an Altmer woman from another clan."

--

Ri'vashi looked ahead, tapping a claw on the table in front of her as she thought. "That is a fair point. If they are not attempting to spring a trap, then a distraction might end up making it harder than it could be. Ri'vashi has trained her warriors how to be alert and watchful in stressful situations, and there is no reason to believe Do'rhajul's team is any less capable."

"If it is helpful, the enemy did not place their camp in a location which was easy to find. Our scouts did have to scour the area thoroughly, and even then, may have had some luck in finding it." Saras pointed out.

Lorag had a rather severe expression on his face, with conflicted thoughts going through his mind. "Still, havin' someone go in alone seems like it's just asking for trouble. How can we give them a way out if we can't get anyone else close?"

Ahnasha let out a quick, audible breath, but spoke with some determination. "I am willing to do it. I could plant the book. And I would not necessarily need to be alone, as long as my partner is a skilled enough mage to mask their presence from life detection."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I forget, is Karl blind, or was that someone else?

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"We have all recovered by this point." Meesei answered. "Most of our wounds were not caused by silver, thankfully, and lycans regenerate quickly. If something does not kill us, there is a good chance we will recover fully. The children have been staying back in the clan for weeks, though Rhazii did witness his mother being shot with a crossbow bolt. That was not pleasant for him. Or her, but I think the scar it left on him is longer-lasting. He was quite insistent on helping us, and his parents finally agreed to allow him to start joining in scouting parties around the clan. Low-risk tasks to give him experience, and such."

Meesei paused and took in a long breath. "But, I do not think we need to focus on all of that this evening. At least not for now; I am sure we can discuss it later. You can rest assured that I do not intend to be caught off-guard by Do'rhajul again. For now, I had something special in mind for us tonight, if you would like to do it. Sabine has somewhat recently found a mate of her own, a scholar named Karl. I do not know him very well as of yet, so I was wondering if you would like to join myself, Sabine, and Karl for a nice dinner together? We have several destinations in mind, depending on what you would prefer. There is a place near Thorn that is beautiful beyond imagining, a spot near the hot springs in Eastmarch, or perhaps a scenic place right next to my clanhome. I know that you have not seen any other outside my room in my clan, and Saras would be furious if he knew I let a Justicar in the clan, but I trust you, of course. He does not know you like I do." She said, giving her another quick kiss. "That said, I...would not wear your uniform."

---

Ahnasha followed Fendros' response to Ri'vashi. "I agree. As much as I would like to just throw an army at them, that won't work. That zealot was able to put up a barrier with that staff that we couldn't penetrate, then teleport them all away in an instant. Much faster than either Meesei or Sabine can open a portal. If they know they are outmatched, they will just leave."

"That staff is what really gave them the edge last time." Lorag spoke up. Doubt that Breton could beat the Champion without it, and she knew it. Even with the staff, she was able to eviscerate that zealot. Ripped her open. When she started to conjure up those wisps, she was afraid. Saw it in her eyes. But...that probably also means she's paranoid about now. If I was her, I wouldn't let that staff outta' my sight. Doubt we're gonna be able to steal it."

Again, Ahnasha interjected. "I still think the last plan we came up with is a good one. We still have those notes. The original notes we recovered back in Elsweyr. If we can plant them where the General, or maybe Yerig could see them, then that might do something. The Nord is already doubting; that might push him over the edge. We would just need to be able to sneak into their camp."

"Possible." Saras commented. "But, perhaps not simple. Among the reason our scouts are keeping such distance is that they believe there are magical means of detection set up around the camp. The mages believe they have detected such enchantments from a distance, but they cannot get close enough to determine their exact nature, or position."

"It is possible to hide from life detection spells and enchantments, but not for many people at once. One, maybe two of us could probably get in without being detected." Ahnasha reasoned.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei lightly shook her head. "Not my clan, but my pack, specifically. We knew he was tracking us, and through some means, he was able to find us. He found us when we were investigating in Sentinel, but was unable to confront us in the city. Once we moved to High Rock, however, he and his team were able to follow us. Despite our best efforts, they were able to find where we teleported back and attack. Several of us on both sides were badly wounded, but there were no deaths. I do not know if he is aware of our purpose in High Rock, but he does know that we have some goal in being there, and he will not leave. Facing a dragon will be hard enough without him hunting us. We have no choice but to deal with him first."

Meesei made no effort to hide her worry in front of Lunise. "It shall not be easy. Not only does Do'rhajul wield the shield Spellbreaker, but one of Vile's zealots is with him; a woman by the name of Arinette. I am fairly certain she possessed the Staff of Magnus. It seems that Vile's followers have been hunting for artifacts over the years."

---

With a brief nod, Saras pushed a small stack of parchments across the table to Fendros. "Our scouts have drawn some maps of the area, and given some drawings of the areas around the camp they have established. So far, the scouts have been under orders not to approach the camp close enough to risk detection, so unfortunately, we do not have too many details of what has been going on within the camp. We do not know if Do'rhajul's team is alone, or if they have been receiving any supplies or other help from their allies. But, with a definite location, you can plan a definite attack."

"If...attacking is what you are going to do." Ri'vashi added. "Have you made any more decisions on if you are going to try to...reason with them? Just say the word, and Ri'vashi can have a small army surrounding that camp."