EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Do'rhajul shook his head. "No, I quickly realized that would be foolish. I could not control the corruption within me. I would have killed them, or someone else. I failed them. My wife came from poverty, and I wanted to give her and our daughter the kind of life they could have only dreamed of. Then, those werewolves took that away from them, and they took my family from me. If you want to know the reason I accepted Vile's offer when it was presented to me, it was because of rage. My rage towards the lycans that had cursed me. What right did they have to take away everything I had done? All of my dreams, everything I had worked for. Everyone grows up knowing lycans are monsters. Our parents tell us the stories of men who turn to beasts and eat up little cubs who stay out playing in the woods past their bedtime. It did not take much convincing for me to agree to fight you. Then, we started hearing reports of lycan populations growing all over Tamriel. The cultists' story seemed rather believable. Now...I realize that it would have been better for everyone if those werewolves had just killed me outright."

The Cathay-raht ran his claws through the dirt, staring in silence for a few moments. "That is surely the fate that was written in the Imperial records. For an officer like myself, I imagine my wife received a personal visit from a Legionnaire to inform her of my death and console her. Perhaps she was able to invest the compensation she received to start that store she was always talking about. She deserved that much. When I die, I desire for my remains to be burned quickly, to erase any chance of her learning of what I have become."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Do'rhajul showed no resistance when Sabine seemingly started to inspect him, even though he did not understand her motivations for doing it. In that moment, she could have started stabbing him with a knife and he still would not have fought back. It no longer quite seemed like Do'rhajul was afraid of her, but from the context of Sabine's conversation with Yerig, that was likely because he was no longer fearing death.

Initially, Do'rhajul looked slightly confused. "My old life? I don't understand...no, of course. Of course you would wish to know everything. Then yes, I can tell you. I was born in Cyrodiil, my family's home for many generations. Our stories tell that my family was one of the first to embrace Imperial rule when it came to Elsweyr. It has been family tradition to serve our nation, and there are many opportunities for a Cathay-raht in the Legion. I did not have to. My family were not quite nobles, but we had wealth, influence. We had our place in the Imperial City. But it was in the Legion that I found my purpose. I served with distinction, rose through the ranks despite being Khajiit. I would not need to tell you that there is a distinct prejudice against Dominion races in the Legion, but that did not stop me. Perhaps it was my family history that allowed my superiors to trust me, but it was my ability, motivation, and effort that gave me my own command. Distinguishing myself in the Skyrim Civil War, it was to be my defining achievement. Had I been there for Windhelm, had I been there to capture the city and finally kill the traitor to bring about the end of the war, I would have made Legate. I was certain of it. That is more than just a rank. It is an honorable title; a path to true respect within the Empire. There are few ways that commoners or merchants can come to mingle among Imperial nobility, but that is one of them. Not just for myself, but my family would have finally been able to claim the nobility that they had long sought in the home they had so loyally served. My wife and my wonderful daughter, the would have known the life they had only been able to dream of before. That was the life that was taken from me when those werewolves attacked us. When they corrupted me with their cursed blood. I could not walk among people as I had before. I could not return to my duties. Everything that had once been my life was gone."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

For most in Sabine's position, the Do'rhajul in his current state would have been a polarizing sight. He was utterly despondent and defeated. Even as Sabine knelt down in front of him, he could not bring his eyes up to meet hers. He seemed almost a shadow of the great General he once was, and yet, as a general, he had been an ever-present terror for what was now the majority of Sabine's life. He was ultimately responsible for thousands of lycan deaths, including many innocents who did not even bring up arms against his own forces. Although it had been lies that had motivated him, he had led a genocidal campaign against them. And for Sabine, he had not personally participated in her torture, but he had been right there for the entire time. For hours on end, he had watched her suffer and done nothing to stop it. He had been complicit. Now that his righteous perception of his own cause had been stripped away from him, it was of little surprise that he was now so crippled by his guilt.

Do'rhajul did not look up from the ground, and for a while, there was complete silence between them. It was subtle, but the more Sabine paid attention to him, the more she would notice how his body shook, and how irregular his breaths had become. It took several minutes for him to actually speak. "You have my surrender, lycan. I will accept the fate I deserve."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"We don't have homes, really. I'm kind of a hermit, lived in the Reach. And Rhajul has been with those...people for years. Both of us just need to get away from here, away from High Rock, and away from anything having to do with Clavicus Vile." Yerig answered.

"Since you went through all of that trouble to plant that book, instead of slitting my throat in my sleep, I'm guessing your people don't have a grudge against me, specifically." Yerig reasoned. "Since you brought me back from the dead, the least I could do is join you and tell your people what I can about Vile's cult. Truth be told, though, I don't really know that much. They know a lot more." He explained, gesturing around at the unconscious people around them before his gaze finally settled back on Do'rhajul. "He knows a lot more."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

At this point, Yerig felt secure enough to extend out a hand to Sabine's shoulder. "That's good. You shouldn't want to be like that. No one ever should be like that. You had the power, and still do, but you didn't use it like that. That was your choice. But, sometimes, there are things we don't get a choice in. These people have to be dealt with, Arinette especially. And I don't know if there's a good way to do it. I've met a lot of people over the years, a lot of good and bad. Some people do wrong because they're desperate, some start from their own pain. But some people are just wrong in their hearts. Like their soul is cursed with evil. I think that's her. But, uh, maybe you don't have to be the one to deal with that? You've already been through enough."

Yerig gave another look down at the staff protruding partially from Sabine's cloak. "I can't even pretend to understand how Arinette got that thing to teleport us around, but you seem like you'd know a lot more about that than I would. I know your friends also had some way of teleporting like we did. Do you have a way you can get yourself back home? Can you take things with you?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"That is a good thought, and don't get me wrong, it's one I agree with. But, well, I'm not the one that would need convincing." Yerig replied with another, brief glance to Do'rhajul.

"Look, I don't want to put too much on you right now. I know you just want to get home. You deserve that, I think. But, like you said, these people are only going to be out for a few hours. Something has to be done for them. I honestly don't know if most of them will continue to be a threat to you after this. Though, I know one will try. Arinette, the priestess, the zealot. I had a bad feeling about her from the day I met her. Today just confirmed everything I feared. She's a horrible woman, to her core. She's worse than any bandit I've slain in my days. She'll hunt you to the end of her days if she walks away from this. She won't be as dangerous without that fancy staff, but she's still a menace. I hate to ask, but what are your plans for her?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Yerig listened along with a sympathetic look in his eyes for Sabine's entire story. As it went on, his posture gradually became more relaxed, and he eventually ended up sitting back while looking into the flamed in front of them. He remained respectfully silent while Sabine spoke, but his face told his reactions quite clearly. Sympathy and regret were both mixed into his gaze when he hazarded a glance towards her. Even if he had not directly harmed her, he still took some responsibility for her suffering.

"That's real good of you to be so forgiving, even after all you went through. For your sister, and Rhajul over there. I don't really know you, but you sound like the kind of person that anyone should aspire to be. It's just..." Yerig said with some dread in his voice, giving another glance over to Do'rhajul. "I appreciate that you're open to forgiving him. I really, really do. It's just that, I don't think he's going to be willing to forgive himself nearly that easily."

Indeed, if Sabine looked over to Do'rhajul, she would see him hunched over, staring blankly at the ground. After giving his surrender, he had hardly moved a muscle, and his face looked even more internally tortured than Sabine's. She was more than accustomed enough to Khajiit expressions to see the overwhelming guilt permeating him.

Yerig continued. "The things you just described to me: taking souls, killing children, it doesn't sound anything like the Rhajul I knew. But if those things are true, and he just found out is was all because of lies, then he's not going to let this go. I know he's still a man of honor, and that honor might make him ensure that there is justice for those crimes."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Yerig glanced back towards Do'rhajul, not answering immediately. After a few moments, he stepped up closer to the fire and knelt down to Sabine's right, though he still kept a respectable distance between them. "Took me forever to squeeze that bit of information out of him. It was a long time ago that he made it, after I parted ways with him. In exchange for curing his own lycanthropy and returning him the life he used to have, he would fight to 'end the major threat of lycans in Tamriel.' The man's a good leader, so he thought he could do it with enough soldiers and resources. Harder than he thought it was, apparently. Thing is, a pact with a Daedra isn't just some loose promise. There's power in it. He says that Clavicus Vile will end up his soul if he doesn't fulfill his bargain. Honestly, I think he's a damn fool for making that kind of promise."

Yerig shifted his gaze over the unconscious body of Arinette. "That witch-girl, the Daedric priestess, she seemed convinced that killing your 'Champion' would be enough to throw you into disarray. So, that was why they were hunting you. Why they did those things to you."

After a few more moments, a look of shame became apparent on Yerig. "I should have stopped it all sooner. It's my fault you had to go through all that. I just wasn't sure what to believe. I failed."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Yerig looked away and grunted. "What friends?"

There was a long sigh and an extended silence from Yerig before he finally spoke up again. "Look, there's no going back after this, not for them. I never swore anything to anyone, but my friend, Rhajul, he made a pact with that demon. Made a deal he just betrayed. I, well, he said you saved my life, said you healed me. I owe you. But, while I was out cold when you did it, I see the results of what you did to them. You hold all the power here, that much is clear. I know you probably need time, and take all you need, but I have to ask what happens next? What are you going to do about them, about me?" He asked.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Do'rhajul did not seem to know how to react to being essentially ignored by Sabine. He ended up sitting in silence for a while, then left his weapon and shield somewhat close to the campfire while Sabine was searching their belongings. Beyond that, the camp was still and silent for quite a while. It took time for Yerig to recover enough to even stand up, and Do'rhajul looked almost lost. For the most part, the Cathay-raht just ended up sitting on his knees with his head down, as if he were meditating.

Eventually, Yerig had managed to get up to his feet. His breathing was shaky, but otherwise, he seemed to be in decent health. At his age, it would be wise for him to continue visiting healers to make sure there were no unforeseen complications, if that became an option for him. But, for the moment, he was far more concerned about the lycan for whom he had risked supporting. Do'rhajul still seemed to be wary about getting close to her, but Yerig looked a bit more confident as he approached her. Though, even he stopped just across the campfire from her.

"Are you, uh, okay, girl? I know what happened; I know what...they did. Are you in decent health? Could you heal yourself with that thing?" Yerig asked.