Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine stifled laughs at Colours' telling of the pack's exploits. She spoke to clarify. "It was not a rock slide, it was an avalanche. Snow. Anyone could have done it, but Meesei struck the slopes with a lightning bolt to set it off from a distance. I do not know about the swamp. I think we set a trap rather than getting ambushed. The enemy fled because they were confused. I do not think they knew it was us. I doubt that they were all eaten, either."

As for Colours' next claim, Sabine remarked sarcastically. "A few." She lowered her eyes and her smile. "Most people think I am untouchable, though. Most of the rumours I have heard make me sound scary. I do not mind so much, most of the time I am researching or travelling. Having a mate would be difficult for me and whoever else it is." Sabine lifted a hand and manifested a small spell that made her hand sparkle with frost as misty cold wafted off over her palm. "I do not even 'bend nature,' I do not know what people mean by that. I just use water and cold to fight. Most people do not understand, so they are afraid."

The way Sabine's voice seemed to fade off as she explained hinted that she did in fact mind to some extent.

---

While Maroc listened intently to Saras' response, nodding every now and then, the last words caused Lunise to quietly snap at Saras. "Were you not listening, Dunmer!?" She leaned a hand on the table. "We know that outing your clans would mean being forced to flush you out. That's the point! All of this is without the knowledge of all but the highest levels of secrecy!"

"Lunise!" Maroc boomed at a volume completely contrary to his previous diplomacy. It silenced the entire room. After eyeing the justicar for enough time to make his point, Maroc murmured. "Calm yourself."

Lunise lifted her upper lip and returned Maroc's look. "We were meant to be speaking with the champion. Not this..." She pursed her lips and gestured at Saras. "...this...this pawn! We do not even know his name or his role. Do not step too far."

Maroc blinked. "Indeed, if you would..." He turned his head to Saras. "May you please give us a name to refer to you by? As for your concerns, Lunise is correct. This will not be something that the public is aware of. Neither of us can afford that. I am glad that you are open to cooperation, however. Our requests shall remain as they are, but is there anything that you would request before agreement? Time to confide in your clan more widely, for instance? Or other clans?" Maroc glanced to Lunise again. She was still cross. "We would much prefer to discuss larger parts of this agreement with the champion. I am sure she would like to hear about it before you make...binding decisions."

Mid/High Casual - Divinus: The Deity Roleplay Mk.II

@Lauder
"You're out of might!? I thought you made them hurt with the might in the air!?!"
"There IS NO might in this air!"

Damn, I love that movie.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I am glad that it is enjoyable," Sabine said. "I never liked ships much. Too smelly."

Sabine turned her eyes forward again with an abashed grin. "There have been rumours spread," she explained. "I think some things that we have done may not be exactly as they are told. Meesei normally prefers people knowing the truth, but she says that the stories give our people hope. We have needed that since the gas."

Sabine's smile drooped into a curious frown. "I have to admit that I have not heard many of the stories myself. What did you hear?"

---

Marod took a seat at the table with his fingers woven in front of him. He seemed to be the only one of their party comfortable enough to keep his attention solely on Saras.

The previous wide smile appeared again across Marod's face. "If you knew more about the infiltrators than we do, good representative, I would be surprised myself. After all, Lunise has had all of three attempts on her life since she first began digging deeper." Marod placed a hand on his chest. "My involvement has been relatively safe at only one assassination attempt." He nodded with one corner of his head. "Fortunately, thwarting assassins is part and parcel of my profession."

Marod took a deep breath. "Now then, as much as I would prefer to play at intrigue and information games, I feel it is time I reached the crux of this visit. My pinpointing and contacting your sweeping organisation has been the culmination of over a decade of cooperative, under the records, investigation from myself and Lunise here." He snorted, "In fact, what started all this up was when Lunise met the legendary Meesei herself in the deserts of Anequina. The champion was escorting an entire small town's worth of population through under the story of being escaped slaves. And they disappeared them all! Can you even believe it?"

Lunise's scowl deepened. "Get on with it, Marod."

"Very well, very well," the jolly agent said, mollifying Lunise with waves of his hand. He breathed away his amusement to continue. "Anyway, the point is that while we do not know every different hole you are hiding in, we have enough information to declare you all a continent-wide security threat to both our governments, and could send a recommendation to neutralise the...communities in hiding -- I believe you call them clans -- that we are aware of. The thing is, that would require manpower, legionnaires lost to their families, and an overall excess of bother. The Empire and the Dominion would much rather reserve their military for staring each other down than fighting guerrilla wars with physically prime creatures of prey."

Marod rolled one hand open on the table and bowed his head to look at Saras frankly. "Now, I may seem like a dolt, but I'm smarter than your average knee-jerk peasant who sees you as mindless monsters." He half shrugged, "Cultists, you might be. Many of you, that is. But we have enough of them that keep to themselves in the Empire that I have little reason to see you as unworkable." Marod's next breath was quick, weaving his fingers just as quickly again. "So here's the proposal: By means very hush-hush, we start a relationship, you and I. A channel of communication between the lycanthrope population and the Empire. Lunise is willing to be a similar go-between for the Dominion." He leaned back and took on an irritated tone. "All the talk of sovereignty, protection, black market trade on the parts of you and Vile's cult, all that can wait. We, first of all, would like to see a resolution to this war. We provide information on our investigations into Vile's cult. In return, we request only three things for now."

He raised one finger at eye level. "First, you finish this war cleanly. No mass murders, no razed towns, nothing big anymore."

Marod's second finger lifted beside the first. "Secondly, you take in the feral lycans that we capture. We do not have the means to rehabilitate them like you do and silver weapons aren't cheap. Neither are lycan slayers."

A third finger went up. "Thirdly, you will keep a dialogue with us after the war is done. You will no longer be able to hide after what has been happening in Tamriel. It benefits us both that us, calm and rational parties, work to find a peaceful future for lycan communities everywhere. I regret that you may not have quite the independent societies that you have anymore. It will mean governors, law, and potentially taxes, but through us it can keep you all a secret to the world at large. In summary, we want to facilitate a peaceful integration so that the Emperor and the Aldmeri have reasons to keep you around. And, I should not have to say that it is better than the alternative."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros emerged from the parted waterfall in a green shirt, a leather jerkin, and plain leggings. He carried his requisite supplies in a backpack and his sword and shield on his person, though he left his armour at home. He could do well enough without it outside of a large skirmish. He gave Malithus a nod in thanks.

Sabine smiled and thanked Malithus as she walked through. Her clothing was as austere as the rest of them, a simple dull blue dress and white clothing. She did not mind wearing a dress as much as they others, though she had the luxury of picking one without a long and heavy skirt. It only reached three quarters down her legs, allowing her to run or climb without as much restriction.

"Not much," Sabine said in response to Colours. She shrugged. "It is interesting. Meesei sent for many talented scholars that live and work there. The things they do are impressive. It is good to have almost everything for alchemy. Including help from people who know more than me." Sabine stopped watching her step for a moment to look at Colours. "What is it like sailing all of the time?"

---

Marod chortled and looked down, shaking his head. "Oh, good, just bickering. And it'll fix itself, that's a relief." His face lifted, turning suddenly blank. "Is your war with Clavicus Vile's cult still in progress?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine clasped her hands together and straightened her arms in front of her body. Crowds were even worse for making her modest.

"Greetings to you all," Fendros addressed the pack. "I trust you have all been told of our mission. Now, being that the people we are looking for are not actively hunting lycans, it may be that they do not expect us. However, they are still Vile's servants and may carry soul tearing gas. You will all be issued and antidote, but you are not to take it except when either I order you or when absolutely necessary." Fendros tightened his lips. He was still not quite used to speaking like an officer. "Now, let's go find out what this is all about."

In response to Malithus, Fendros smiled. "Yes, that would be appreciated. We may need to borrow some clean city clothing; I doubt chitin armour is the best way to go inconspicuous in these parts."

---

Marod stuck the tip of his tongue behind his lower lip while he processed Saras' response. He took a moment before responding.

"I have a great many matters of business here." Marod spread his forearms. "Perhaps you could shed some light, first of all, on why there are so many more lycans in Tamriel in this past decade? You've been keeping it quiet. I've been keeping it quiet. I believe we can only do so much, and thus it is within my interests to know if it will continue."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine looked away and pushed an amused breath through her nose. "You have not changed much," she remarked.

As for comments on the mission, Fendros bit his lip and nodded. "Yes, well, everything is only speculation at this stage. It just seems so out of the ordinary that it can't be ignored. Even if it weren't Meesei and us investigating, this warrants attention." Fendros straightened slightly and looked upon the others in the room. "She's put me in charge of this mission until we need to group up again. We were here to get acquainted with the others before we move out." He glanced and Colours and Malithus. "Perhaps you two could introduce us to everyone else?"

---

The agents did not speak as they were escorted. The balding leader seemed to smile amicably in spite of his surroundings, while the others remained on-guard. They eyed the carcass, but did not seem especially perturbed. When the other packs filed out, the leader turned to the Redguard and spoke briefly. "Are these all...?"

The Redguard nodded and took an involuntary half-step back. None of them sat down for now.

The leader smiled on. Especially when Saras emerged. "I am glad you asked," the leader said. "My name is Marod, this is Albus, Orphius, and Justicar Lunise." Marod gestured to himself, the second Imperial, the Redguard werebear, and the High Elf respectively.

The High Elf, Lunise, raised her arms and lowered her hood to reveal blue eyes and straight, blonde hair. She held a stern gaze on Saras.

Marod continued. "We have had an eye on this 'lycan' business for quite some time. Now, we appreciate the reasons for your secrecy, though such a large matter is the concern of the Empire, of which you are all residing in." He clapped his hands and clasped them together. "I promise it isn't about taxes. Unfortunately..." Marod's persistent smile faded as he raised his eyebrows and spied the packs around him. "I was under the impression that we might meet with the Champion herself. She does reside in this Jarldom, correct?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"It sounds as if you're doing well for yourself. That's good to hear," Fendros said. "Ahna is well. She has gotten much better with her magic, despite us both keeping our hands full with Rhazii. You won't believe how fast he and Kaj-Julan have been growing." Fendros turned himself to let Sabine and Kaleeth speak about those they were closer to, but he added one last thing. "The others in the pack are on a different assignment right now. We will probably end up meeting here at the clanhome again, perhaps we could all catch up."

Sabine wore a sad smile. It had been a long time since Elsweyr for her as well, though Peiter's ordeal still held a small sting in her heart. "Peiter was never the same after the battle. Life is much harder for him with only one arm. We...separated a while after we returned home. We could not stay together our pack was travelling." She looked down and up, speaking with a bit more hope. "We are still friends, even if we do not see each other as often anymore. He is still in Gallus' pack. He is finding his way."

---

The bottleneck of the cave entrance, coupled with the advanced warning that they had, meant that the gate guards were prepared for the arrival of the foreign scents in close proximity. They had their spears and shields raised, even if they had nothing to look at.

Crunching snow footsteps eventually came to the cave entrance, prompting the guards to speak out. "Halt! We know you're there!" The footsteps stopped and the guards looked left and right. "Turn and leave or reveal yourselves. You won't come a step further without our permission."

There was a pause taken, as if for consideration. The sound of one of the figures turning on its toes on the dirt scraped to end it. A calm, refined, and unmistakably Cyrodilic voice sounded out from nowhere. "Very well; Justicar Lunise? If you would please reveal us?"

A snap of green magic arced to four places on the ground, making four figures appear out of nowhere. The first was a balding, dark and grey haired Imperial in light legionnaire's armour. The armour itself was coloured dark and had the insignia of an eye on its chest. He stood with military posture, his hands behind his back, and his feet at his shoulder width apart. The second figure was also an Imperial in similar armour, though he seemed narrow-eyed and sprung. It was difficult to see his hair with his leather helmet on, but he wore a scowl and a broad nose. The third figure was none other than a Redguard in a large winter cloak. He seemed neutral, if uneasy, though the guards could specify him as the source of the lycan scent. He was a werebear. The fourth and final figure was the tallest -- a figure in a long, deliberately covering brown cloak. A bronze, pointed, and feminine chin could be seen wearing a frown below her upturned hood. She was an Altmer.

None of the figures were recognisable except for the two Imperials, who resembled the descriptions of two of the three investigators. The apparent leader, the balding Imperial, held up his hands. "We mean you no harm, followers of Hircine. We merely wish to speak with your leader, on behalf of the Emperor."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I guess? Your last post appeared to flow on to it, unless there was more detail you wanted to write out.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros laughed at Colours' surprise and drew him into a firm hug. "It's good to see you again, after all this time." Sabine gave Colours a hug, too, grinning. Even with Colours' reputation, they had been through much with him and his pack.

"I suppose we are the special help. We're here to catch Talos hunters," Fendros said after the initial greetings were done. He placed a fist on his hip and looked to Malithus. "This man-" Fendros gestured to Sees-No-Colours with his other hand. "Though his reputation is deserved as a scoundrel -- was instrumental in smuggling the entire Senchal clan survivors -- now the Torval clan -- around the waters to the other end of Elsweyr, to bring them safely to the Orcrest clan. This was well before the Orcrest clan was attacked, of course, but we were there." Fendros looked at Colours and lowered his gesture. "He can have that achievement, but you've probably learnt to not believe half the things coming out of his mouth. Keep being sceptical. He's still a scoundrel, aren't you Colours?"

"We did not know you were here," Sabine said, still smiling. "What orders brought you?"

---

It took roughly a week and a half for Saras' rumours to bring results. It was not the easiest situation to gauge, but scouts began to report occasional sightings of hunting parties. These were not bandits, Imperial foresters, or even silver-wielding monster trackers, but merely small groups of local Nords hunting deer and the like. This would have been innocuous had they been more common in the area around the cave. Additionally, one report came in of them drinking vials of potions and scanning blankly into the trees. Regular hunters were not wealthy enough for potions. A few hunting parties drew especially close to the decoy cave entrance. Although, none of them took any interest in entering it.

When the hunting parties were trailed, they did not seem affiliated with the Penitus Oculatus agents at all.

The point at which Saras was called was not with a sighting of any agents or hunters, but by a scent warning. There was an unfamiliar lycan smell on the wind, accompanied by the smell of humans and elves of some kinds. The trail was located and found to be already extremely close to the cave entrance. They would not have much time before they arrived. The strange part was that none of the scouts could spot the approaching group. Only one of the scouts could locate them exactly as she had learned how to detect life through magic; they were invisible. She stalked them while other scouts went to report back.

Mid/High Casual - Divinus: The Deity Roleplay Mk.II

@Antarctic Termite Somehow, I can't think of how a cream coloured morph suit and a bed sheet toga for a Toun costume could possibly be a bad idea. Then again, I haven't LARP'd before.