Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Shit happens. I got lots of study done instead :)

G'night!

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine was not only surprised to find that Hal-Neesa was the only one who stepped forward to help, but also detecting the only hint of humanity from her expression that Sabine had witnessed since she had first seen her. Sabine silently followed behind them all, hoping that the cult had some ingredients she could make use of. There wasn't likely anything left if the fires had found her own stash of ingredients. Perhaps one of the cultists would recognise her potion bag and bring it back for her. She could hope.

Both Fendros and Janius had a reeling sensation as Fendros was lifted into the air. Janius was virtually thrown onto his back as he fell off him. Llarvan was not angry, it seemed, but more than capable of ending Fendros' life if he disobeyed. No matter how Fendros tried to pull the intangible force away from his throat and flail his claws angrily in direction of the out-of-reach vampire lord, he couldn't do anything about Llarvan. His rational mind was completely overtaken at this point, so it took enough wheezing and flailing for Fendros to completely black out before his body returned to Dunmer form. Janius was at first worried that Llarvan had completely suffocated him, but when Fendros was released, he landed in Janius' arms and breathed in deeply all of a sudden. This preceded a fit of rough coughing and some fast, shallow breaths induced by being close to death. Janius carried him off away from the smoke, giving one last look to Llarvan over his shoulder on his way out. Fendros managed to wheeze out Rhazii's name weakly before he fainted from exhaustion and asphyxiation.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Even though Fendros was running at full speed, he couldn't keep up with Ahnasha as they ran to the xanmeer. Once inside, Fendros was right behind Ahnasha as they both stormed into the fires to retrieve Rhazii. Fendros was already worried sick, but the fires and the dead Khajiit carer made him fear it was too late. The state Rhazii was in when Ahnasha and Fendros emerged was not a moment too late, but not soon enough to prevent grievous burns. There was no guarantee that Rhazii would even live beyond the day, but there was a certainty that the scars would last.

Sabine jumped off Lorag's back in short order and look a quick look at Rhazii's wounds. It was worrying enough to make Sabine tremble, but she was focussed enough to know what needed to be done. She spoke to the surviving cultists with a frantic confidence, "We need clean bandages, aloe salve, healing and magicka potions, now!"

Fendros was enraged. The targets of his fury were the cultists at first. He roared in their direction with his clawed arms spread at his sides. "HE WAS SCREAMING! WHY DIDN'T YOU HELP HIM!?" Fendros faced Llarvan, his vampire lord form causing no fear to Fendros in his state of pure anger. "YOU LEFT HIM TO DIE!"

To anyone who wasn't a trained fighter and werewolf, Fendros' intention to attack Llarvan might not have been telegraphed. However, to Janius, and likely Lorag as well, the way Fendros positioned his feet and tensed was warning enough. Janius virtually tackled Fendros out of the air in mid-leap to stop him attacking Llarvan before the movement was even processed in the minds of anyone else present. They rolled over as one along the ground before stopping and started to struggle against each other, growling and snapping. With Lorag nearby, restraining Fendros wouldn't be too much trouble, but Janius was having some trouble pinning Fendros on his own.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Excuse me, I think I need to look at videos of puppies and kittens for a few minutes.

G'night!

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius nodded to the cultist healer and delicately placed Kaleeth on the ground before him. Before he left, Janius knelt down and put a hand to Kaleeth's cheek. She was barely conscious, but he wanted to say one more thing before they left. "You did well, Kaleeth. No one was killed by you who was not an enemy. You showed that you could have control." Janius couldn't much smile in this form, but there was a pride in his eyes. "You have earned a rest, we will see you soon." Janius gave no further heed to the nervous healer before he stood up and joined the pack.

It was now that Fendros took the opportunity to assume his own beast form. His desperate and scarred veneer was quickly replaced by all the bottled up rage he had. Even with no enemies present, Fendros held his head up and roared into the sky with pure rage. The last of their torturer's legacy was threatening his child, and he would take whatever revenge he could. He could hardly contain his energy as he scuffed at the ground, losing his patience. He didn't know the way back, but if he did, he would already have bolted off.

Sabine's eyes were on all of the prisoners that were being gathered. She wondered why the women and children were being held as well, as they weren't really a threat. She hoped that it wasn't for Vinaremo or the other cultists' experiments, but she knew that was probably going to be the outcome. Some of them traded eye contact with her as she hung onto Lorag's back, but there were no words. Only a few tears from the prisoners and a wide-eyed look from Sabine. This was probably the last she would see of them.

ParaCom: Adversary Inside

Another Irishman, this'll be fun.

Also, LokiLeo. Who is Jack? Do you mean Lee? If it is Lee, when did he get a beard that required straightening? Please edit, it's confusing.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros gratefully took the carafe from Sabine and brought it to his mouth so quickly that drops escaped from the corners of his mouth. As soon as the cool liquid ran down his throat, he felt a much needed energy come over him. He left the carafe half-full of water and motioned it towards Ahnasha, placing his other hand on her shoulder encouragingly. They were both still affected greatly, but the sooner they moved, the better.

Kaleeth's entrance was one that Fendros did not expect. Her werecrocodile form was covered in blood, both her own and other peoples', and the extent of her injuries was ever more apparent when she transformed back into an Argonian. Janius rushed to support her as well, now a much easier task with her lighter frame. To make Meesei's job of focussing on her healing easier, Janius outright picked Kaleeth up and began to carry her in his arms.

The pack, now reunited save for one small member, filed out of the dungeon as quickly as they could to find Hal-Neesa. Sabine walked alongside Fendros, who was staying close to Ahnasha at the time, and asked him a question. "What happened at the ruins?"

Fendros glanced at Sabine and paused, recalling the time right before they fell into their nightmare. "We were firing down on their forces. We had just taken the life of the commander, then we were magically paralysed. We didn't see it coming. They bound us and put us in carts, then knocked us out. Then we woke up here, hanging in chains."

"What did they do?" Sabine continued.

As sensations that he wanted to forget flashed into his mind, Fendros shook his head quickly. "Not now, Sabine. Let's just...not now, let's go."

Sabine didn't quite get the hint at first, "Was it-"

"Not now!" Fendros snapped angrily. Sabine's neck prickled with fear and shame and she moved away.

As soon as the pack had space to move more quickly, Sabine motioned to climb up on Lorag's back so they would not be slowed down by her Breton form.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Actually, that's probably a better idea.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Okay, looking at a map, I realise that I have my city placements mixed up. I actually meant Bruma, not Chorrol. Still, you're right, the quickest way there is by boat to the Imperial City unless we travel over land. Perhaps there is a gathering of winemakers in Bruma for some occasion and we might run into them in or around the city itself.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Whatever resemblance to a noble that their torturer had in life, Ahnasha had torn him apart until every trace was unrecognisable. Sabine stepped back in slight fear at her outburst. Fendros was taken off-guard, but understood and let her vent her rage. He knew that taking revenge on a corpse was never satisfying, but Ahnasha was still under the influence of her beast spirit. Rational thought was behind raw emotion at this point.

When Meesei walked in, Fendros carefully walked over to her, trying to muster whatever determination he had left. "Meesei, we have to get back to the xanmeer, right now. The torturer, he..." Fendros swallowed again, his mouth dry from dehydration and anxiety, "...he ordered an attack on the cult through a rootworm tunnel. The force had been sent before you arrived. There's no telling what they'll do, but Rhazii is in danger."

Janius rubbed a hand behind his ear at this news. "No wonder the defenders were so easily overwhelmed," he reasoned in the deep voice of his beast form, "Hal-Neesa will want to hear of this."

Sabine stepped up to Ahnasha and Fendros and handed them a carafe of water. She had apparently slipped upstairs and back in a hurry to find some for them.