Muttonhawk

The Depths of Deception

Good timing. Caught me an hour before going to sleep.

The Depths of Deception

When Rareth caught up to Shiva and asked her about her mark, she became so distracted that she hardly had the space in her mind to appreciate just how alien the alien vessel was. She just kept marching. "You could say that," Shiva answered without much confidence. There was a great deal of hesitation as she thought about whether to say anything else. Rareth had been very friendly towards Shiva, and didn't have the immediate stigma against her background, but now Shiva wasn't sure if that was because she simply didn't know.

After mulling it over for not quite enough time for the topic to fade, Shiva concluded that Rareth would find out anyway. Better that she finds out in a way that would hopefully get across Shiva's point of view. Shiva took a breath and tried to probe at what her reaction would be. "Rareth, in Rothian society, what is the treatment of convicts? More specifically, for crimes against the state?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Knowing that Ahnasha likely knew more about Rhazii's health by virtue of the book in Ta'agra, Fendros dipped his head to one side in trust of her opinion. It sounded like trying to stock up on Khajiit milk sounded like more pain than it was worth, but perhaps it was the best option. As for the archery, Fendros smiled, "I was wondering when that would come up again. I've kept up practicing, but I'm not sure that I've gotten much better on my own." Fendros looked to Rhazii's closed eyes again, "Once Rhazii is comfortable, perhaps we can pick up where we left off. Hopefully the bowstrings won't be too loud." Looking more closely at the markings that were forming on Rhazii's fur, Fendros' tone turned to be more matter-of-fact, "You know, he's starting to get a similar pattern on his fur to you."

"I appreciate it, but I understand," Janius said with a raised hand to Kaleeth in consolation. "Hopefully today will be a step towards helping with that." When Meesei approached, Janius responded, "I'm all set." He looked at Kaleeth again, "Transform when you are ready." With that, Janius took a couple of steps back and began to warp into his beast form. Once he was done, he waited for Kaleeth to finish before they set off to the nearest body of water so Kaleeth could catch something. With either Meesei or Janius keeping an eye on Kaleeth, the other would then find something to feast upon, and drag some uneaten carcass to a spot where they could begin their exercises. That was the plan, at least.

The Depths of Deception

Hey Lightbox, I think the requisitions officer is trying to talk to August. Might not want to get the silent treatment going yet.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius flexed his wrist and rubbed at his forearm. Both his lycanthropy and prompt magical healing had got rid of any visual evidence, but it was still a little sore. "Don't worry, it's all learning. It's better that we had an incident like that later on than when you were just starting out." Janius said with a smirk. If he were completely open, Janius would have admitted that he may have put Kaleeth under too much stress last time, but at least he didn't lose the arm outright. That Kaleeth held back was telling of her progress.

"Today, we are going to try something to help bridge that instinctual hostility. We might not make much progress immediately, but I think it will get better over time. Allow me to explain:" Janius tapped a finger against the side of his head, "Now, in our heads, or at least in the heads of our beasts spirits, we have a pack instinct that forges a primal bond of trust between us. Unfortunately, being a werecrocodile, we've found that it isn't present in you, as you know. But where instinct ends, training begins. I've seen you have been making the effort to try and get closer to the pack to help to get used to us, and that might help, but it also gave me an idea. After we do an initial hunt, getting our spirits calm, we're going to stay in our beast forms and try some exercises to get your form used to our presence first hand, starting with myself and Meesei. Your beast spirit might be an animal, but it can learn. It might not be quite as effective as pack instinct, but it may make life easier." He placed a hand on her shoulder, "And if you get uncomfortable, try signalling by snapping at the air and we'll back off. It'll be safer than going for my arm." Janius grinned.

Over by the riverbank, Fendros looked into the water with a frown. After thinking for a few seconds, he turned to Rhazii, then looked up at Ahnasha, "It's too risky to leave him alone or to have strangers watch him in the city. Someone from the pack will have to stay behind." Fendros' voice didn't indicate any compromise, but he rubbed at the side of his neck as he continued, "As for who, that will probably be Meesei's decision, but I had been thinking about it as well. Since you started training again, you've gained back much of your ability, so I think it will still be worth it for you to come. We would have to ask her whether it would be okay, but I was thinking that if we need as many fighting bodies as we can, then...perhaps Sabine would be willing to watch Rhazii? We might be able to try that trick in the nanny book with the milk bottle and cloth. We can probably get milk from Gideon, and if Rhazii takes to it, then he can be fed. What do you think?"

The Depths of Deception

Good to hear some things haven't changed, Shiva thought sarcastically in her head in response to Hirintka. As far as she was concerned, he was just subtly showing his opinion in his words, making him sound obnoxious. Thankfully, Shiva quickly got her wish as Shuo grabbed the communications officer's attention. It wasn't until Shiva exhaled in relief out of Hirintka's vision that she realised how tense she had become.

When Rareth approached and spoke to Shiva, she was startled enough to twitch her head towards her. "Good idea," Shiva replied in a flat tone that reflected her current mood. Without any more words, Shiva picked up and headed to the exit. It wasn't the kind of ship that was so big that you could get lost in it, and there were readable signs, so she figured finding the rooms would be easy.

Shiva made a mental note to thank Rareth for bailing her out of that awkward situation.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sure thing.

I'm going to be a bit busy today, so I'm not sure if I'll get any more posts in before the witching hour.

The Depths of Deception

Shiva's eyes looked to Hirintka, quickly went to the floor, then looked ahead again. There was a pause where Shiva's silence gave a hint at her disposition to such questions, but she indulged the minimum about of information. "Twenty-two years, sir." She said as tersely as she could.

Funnily enough, Hirintka's tone didn't indicate hostility, but it was still rather shaming to draw attention to her mark with the ship's officers present. This masulu may have been assembly staff, but he either didn't have tact, or had his own way of making Shiva's life difficult. Why couldn't he just greet Shuo and talk about old war stories or something.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Vampires," both Janius and Fendros said in unison. They were both on the same thought as well. If Molag Bal was the patron of vampires, they were probably going to face some in this lair they were going to. Both knew some of what they were capable of, or at least enough to know that if a fight broke out, they would have a much harder time killing them.

Sabine turned her head forward again. It was no wonder that Molag Bal was considered as such by the way Meesei described him. She was amazed that such a cruel being could exist.

Janius took a deep breath, "So our task is to convince power-hungry and conscience-devoid scions of a patron of violent dominance, some of whom are vampires, not to strike out against Hircine's followers during a daedric war where they may be left vulnerable." Janius looked at everyone in turn, clearly daunted beyond believing the task to even be plausible, "Any ideas?"

Fendros didn't respond beyond his own worry. Sabine seemed to be thinking, but didn't have any immediate insights.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The next to put forward a question was Fendros. "I've read a little about all the daedric princes. Molag Bal didn't seem pleasant. Would his followers respect his domains? Do you think we'll have to...dominate and subjugate them?"

"Well if that's the case, we might be attacking anyway. Perhaps it would be smart to try and scout ahead once we get there." Janius added.

Up until now, Sabine had been quietly listening. Of the daedric princes, Molag Bal was not one she had much exposure to. In the few times she witnessed him being summoned by the coven, it never ended well for the followers summoning him. Whenever she asked about why Molag Bal was so insidious, the other witches just patted her on the shoulder and said it was because he was evil. This conversation had begun to renew her curiosity. "Who is Molag Bal?" Sabine asked in a an intentionally non-specific manner. It sounded like he was something to be worried about and she wanted to know why.