Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros waved a finger at Colours and spoke just as softly. "You have a point. I'm not used to blackmail, but that is probably the best chance we have." He stopped to look ahead and think for a moment. When he spoke again, he did not look up from the ground ahead of him. "Then again, we will have to bluff a little to convince them that it isn't useful for them to deny it. We could say that we know where he bought it, where he is keeping it, and who would testify against him. Revealing that much information might just make him dispose of the shrine that very night, or at least hide it better." He turned his head to consider the others. "We should plan our approach word-by-word. I suggest that Sabine is the one that speaks."

Sabine's eyelids fluttered in surprise and she looked at Fendros incredulously. "Why me? I would get nervous."

"That's the point," Fendros hinted a smile. "The Thalmor do not employ nervous young Breton women as enforcers, neither do professional blackmailers. Even though I'm Dunmer, a shady Dunmer foreigner isn't the longest stretch for an unscrupulous group of state-funded Aldmeri manhunters. You'll make them second-guess us, hopefully." Fendros turned his eyes to the others. "You won't be going in alone. We'll have the others covering the exits while Colours, Kaleeth, and I will stand behind you. We'll need Colours to keep an ear out for any contacts, and Kaleeth to look like we mean business."

"I do not know if I can do it right." Sabine looked at the ground, a little worried.

Fendros rubbed her shoulder. "We'll teach you. Remember, we only need to get leads, not to put them under our thumb like a protection scheme." Fendros looked to Colours. "By the way, do we have the names of any local Talos worshippers that the bounty hunters caught recently?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine was still looking a bit guilty. She regained her confidence gradually as she spoke. "Yes, he has a...small Talos symbol." She held her hands up apart a far enough distance to demonstrate the size of the shrine. "It was the sword with the curved shape in the middle, driven into a base. I recognised it. He put it in a locked metal box." She also added, "He also has a mate."

"Good work," Fendros said. "That confirms that we have a contact. Now we can plan around how to approach him."

"We are not going back there, are we?" Sabine asked.

"Not necessarily. Breaking in is just one option. A risky one at that." Fendros ran his fingers down his short beard again. "Although, I am not sure if any approaches are not going to be risky. Confronting them directly in their shop doesn't guarantee that we will be alone; they will not want it out that they have Talos paraphernalia. Really, the hard part is getting them to trust us. They would have no reason to trust us just because we are hunting their hunters, let alone the fact that we are...turned." The code word they had been using for lycans came out in spite of the near-empty streets at this time of night. "Does anyone have any ideas on how to gain their trust? How to approach them?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine had spent much of her childhood climbing trees and, while climbing on this building was different and difficult, the experience served her well. Kaleeth could barely hear Sabine sliding her way up to the window for support.

When Sabine strained to look into the window without compromising her grip, her keen eyes spotted the shrine just in time. She had been shown what symbols of Talos looked like beforehand. For a few moments, she thought she might risk looking for a longer time to catch them praying. However, things were panning out differently. She had no interest in peeking at any other of the merchant's private affairs.

Looking down, Sabine found herself in a difficult position. She could not reveal break her invisibility, but at the same time, making noise to get Kaleeth's help could attract attention as well. She hadn't caught the hang of levitating like Meesei, either. Her invisible face flushed with embarrassment for not thinking this far ahead.

There was nothing else for it. Sabine angled herself, and leapt off the side of the building, landing as steadily as she could, bending her knees. It still made a sudden thud on the ground, but she had at least considered that. She immediately revealed herself in a wipe of purple magic, before urging Kaleeth up against the wall of the building with her hand. Sabine pressed her back against it as well. She peered up at the shadows cast from the window above in the hope that they would not consider the sound to be anything more than street cats.

Fendros lowered his brow in worry from the distance he watched the scene from.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine looked down and curled her lips. "It is not easy magic," Sabine said by way of answering both Kaleeth and Malithus. "I could try, but it might not work. I think it would be easier for me to turn invisible and try to climb up."

With a glance to the others, Fendros raised his brow, trying not to look as surprised as Malithus was. "That is as good a plan as any," Fendros responded. He gestured to Kaleeth. "Go up with her and give her a boost after she hides herself. We'll keep watch from back here."

Sabine nodded and gave Kaleeth a look before walking across the street with her.

Fendros crossed his arms. He muttered to himself as he looked on. "And here I thought she just had a pet bird all along."

First of all, Sabine tried her best to tie her skirt up above her knees in order to properly use her feet to climb. It was clumsy to watch, but she was able to tie the front around her waist by folding it up and securing it with her scarf. She then directed Kaleeth where to stand and hold her hands out, before weaving a purple spell in her hands and disappearing in place. Kaleeth felt a weight on her hands as signal to pull the invisible Sabine up to the jutting features of the building and up to the window.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I suppose it would have crossed Sabine's mind. I'll say that she is not very practiced in it, seeing as it's a crazy out-there ancient magic.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

That's a good point. Would Marcaille have taught Sabine something like that? If not, she can just make herself invisible and climb up.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros had the back of his mind pondering on how to handle a quarry throughout the afternoon. By the time the wealthy-looking Breton left with whatever business he had, Fendros curled his finger at the group and leaned in. "He'll be wary. Everyone, come with me. Malithus, Kaleeth, stick with me. The Rolaan, you're with Sabine and Colours, follow from the other side of the street. Follow my lead."

Part of the plan was to simply follow a quarry back to wherever they lived. They did not want to cause an incident with the guards while knowing nothing about their catch.

The group filed out, onto the street and immediately began to shadow the Breton from two different groups so as to avoid spooking him. The groups were organised with at least one person knowledgeable of the city in each of them. They kept their eyes peeled for anyone else that might be following the man, lest Vile's hunters or any Thalmor were on a similar trail to them. Occasionally, Fendros would gesture for the other group to circle around the building blocks to better keep track of the man. If he, for some reason, decided to seclude himself in a place where he could be privately cornered, Fendros kept the option open to surround him.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Oh yeah! I must have forgotten, I'll edit.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

You don't need to write out the answers that Malithus pack give, Fendros was just making talk while they wait.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

For having such an important task ahead of them, Sabine, Kaleeth, and Fendros likely did not foresee the first steps involving relaxing for a drink for what could be most of the day. Fendros settled into his hard wooden chair, leaning back and nursing a mug of filthy-tasting ale. Sabine started with a cup of water, though with some leaves and magic, she ended up with tea that would likely be tastier than any run-of-the-mill beverage on sale in the premises.

It did not seem like there would be constant business floating in and out from the traders' room, so Fendros struck up some small talk with his team. "So, you two," Fendros said with a wave forward at Malithus and Rolaan. "Did you all grow up local to this city?"

Talking about something would at least help them blend in while they waited.