Muttonhawk

The Depths of Deception

I think I'll let cqbexpt answer this one first.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"It has...something, maybe two things in it that I have not seen before," Sabine began, slowing down her emotions so she could explain. "I don't know how to identify them, but I can try to do another test tomorrow to test how long it would take to kill. I can make a mixture that would make the poison react like it was in a body, and it would tell me when it would kill. It would take as long as it would in a real person, though. If I set it up tonight, I would have to watch it all night and I don't want to fall asleep if I do that." Sabine seemed to be past her frustration for now. She merely sounded tired and gravely. She sniffed, swallowed, and looked up at Meesei properly, "I will need some more things from the scholars, something to time the reaction with, and a lock of hair or a piece of fingernail from Jerrick's body. If I make it tonight, someone will have to stay awake to watch it. I don't know if I can." At first, Oswall seemed mistrusting. He stared daggers at Ahnasha for assuming authority over him. However, by this point Darahil had opened his eyes and was giving Oswall a look that told him to see the truth, or more specifically not to make any more of a fuss. It was cross in any case. Oswall's eye was caught by Darahil, causing the old Nord to shift in his seat and sigh. His expression was still belligerent, but he was done complaining. "You speak truth," he said reluctantly, bringing his eyes to the table again.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Thankfully, Sabine managed to calm down a little in Meesei's arms, but she was still upset when she responded. "That's what I am trying to find. The tests are failing! Nothing is working. I keep ruining it." Sabine stopped to breathe for a moment, then continued, "This poison, it was made with a method I don't know about. The tests I've done turn it into this useless thing," Sabine gestured to the partially filled bucket. Her next string of words were beset by her frustrated tears returning like a tide, "The only other tests I would know would take even longer, but I know we don't have time, and I don't even know if they would work, and I would need some other ingredients from the scholars, and..." Sabine lowered her head and started to jolt her shoulders with more tight, quiet sobs, "...I feel like nothing has worked. I feel...scared, like I was before the ritual. This isn't supposed to happen." Where Oswall had been braced to stand up from his seat, Ahnasha's words brought him slowly back down. "I...of course I desire justice," he said with a calmer impatience, "This sitting around makes me uneasy. Any one of us could have committed this crime. Disgusting." Oswall scanned his eyes over the lieutenants present again. Over by the door, Fendros was leaned up against the wall with his hands clasped together in front of him. He caught Ahnasha's eye and unclasped one hand to give her a quick thumbs up and nod. Oswall seemed to be the most reactive of the four, so keeping him quiet would likely keep the others similarly placid.

The Depths of Deception

It took a sideways glance for Shiva to realise that Telmeck was looking at her in a way that seemed odd, even if she wasn't too good with Rothian facial expressions still. Shiva saw herself conversing with him about her past in the near future. Hopefully he would be as understanding as Rareth. Unfortunately, no one had any clear answers on where their little outfit would be heading next. Given Rareth's reasoning on this operation technically being a test, Shiva guessed that would make sense. As Shiva took another sip of the wine, she actually didn't mind that she didn't know where they were headed. This was a high-end team, but she was still appreciated. It would be dangerous, yet worth every moment. It was like it was cheating her prison sentence by having such company. "Maybe our next operation might follow up what happened on that space station," Shiva suggested, "I'd certainly like to know what happened, especially with that one we captured that had that kill switch thing. If it even was a kill switch." Shiva shrugged, defaulting to a soldier's mindset, "Or not. It's not like we're the detectives or anything."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

What Meesei found when she came upon her pack's chambers was a very hunched and distraught Sabine. Normally whenever she performed alchemy, she was in her element. Nothing seemed to agitate her while she was so focussed. Here, though, her every action suggested that something was not right, that she was trying to salvage a rapidly deteriorating situation. Kaleeth was nearby, but any approach to work out what was wrong was met with a rapid swipe of Sabine's hand. She didn't want anyone to interfere. Sabine had become so flustered that when Meesei made her presence known, Sabine turned around and burst into tears in the space of a few seconds. She dropped the pestle in her hand and buried her eyes in the inside of her elbow, sobbing in frustration. Jerrick's waterskin was still half-full off to one side, but there was also a bucket on the opposite side of Sabine's equipment that was full of a thin black water. Failed tests. Sabine didn't respond in any way that explained what exactly the problem was, but the tightness of her breathing and sobbing told of overwhelmed frustration more than grief and loss. In the meeting room, the lieutenants were gathered once again. The reality of the situation had made them quiet and solemn at first, but the idleness was starting to wear on their nerves to varying degrees as time passed. Harriet was picking at a splinter on the table. Darahil had his arms crossed and his eyes closed, but it was hard to tell whether or not he was sleeping. Vera stared forward, breathing lightly and looking hollow. Oswall also had his arms crossed, but he was sitting low in his seat and fidgeting his legs, his lips pursed behind his beard with his waning patience. He couldn't hold out much longer before he had an outburst. "Mmmn..." he growled, shaking his head, then looking to Lorag. "How much longer is the champion going to be? Are we expected to sit here awake all night?!" he spat.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Grolak, Caleb, and Caldris each nodded in agreement to Meesei's plans. Grolak even gave a curt, "Understood." Looking away in silent thought, Najirra seemed conflicted for a moment on Meesei's plan. Instead of looking at her with his comforting smile, he raised his eyes to meet Meesei's with a serious frown, but his tone was still agreeable. "This one will trust the ability of your pack mates. But, see that you visit them each periodically. This one smells that we may have yet to see the last betrayal before the guilty one is snared." He raised one index finger from its position atop his walking stick, "Of particular importance is the secret of Jerrick's fate. If the culprit is clever enough, the rumours of his absence and of his death will conflict. You three," Najirra shifted to face Grolak, Caldris, and Caleb, "You must propagate the Champion's rumour as soon as you can tomorrow. The first to reach the ears of this place will hold the most weight." The three nodded once again, understanding the situation. After a few more seconds evidencing that Najirra had finished talking, Caldris spoke up to Meesei. "Will that be all for tonight, Champion?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Right," Caleb responded at once, "I can ask around. I was mostly sparring and training this morning, so I didn't see any of them after breakfast." Caleb's eyes lit up and looked at Meesei directly, "I did see them all come out of the meeting room during lunch. That's something, right? And then Harriet challenged Lorag to a fight. I watched that. After that, I think they were all busy until dinner." "I can back the kid up about them leaving the meeting room and attending meals," Grolak added, "Didn't see 'em otherwise. I was busy." Caldris faced Meesei and nodded in agreement. "So was I. On watch for half the day, crafting in the other half. I might know a few people that could have more information on the lieutenant's movements. I will inquire with them tomorrow." "Yeah, me too. Let us know if you need anything else," Grolak said, leaving his grumpy demeanour behind for being refreshingly determined. There was a pause where Najirra placed both his hands over the top of his walking stick and leaned forward with a quizzical look. "I just have one more question before you go on your way, Champion. What do you intend to do about the lieutenants while you investigate?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

So the previous business ended up taking a while and I'm pretty much booked for most of tomorrow. My next post will have to be postponed for another day. Sorry.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"This one...understands," Najirra said with an uncertain raised brow, "It has been a long time since I will have wandered about the halls and amongst the packs. Hmm." Najirra looked to each of them with more conviction, "This one will do his utmost for this home." "Sounds like a plan," Grolak said with a grin. Caldris nodded as well, in as much thanks as she would muster. "Champion," Caleb had been quiet, but looked up to Meesei's eyes with a new motivation. "I want to help. How do we find out who poisoned by father?"

The Depths of Deception

Congrats on your new nibling, Leon!