Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

It was decided. The group stayed together for a while longer, walking into Thorn.

To Janius, Sabine, and Meesei, Thorn's front gates were only a hint of the vast and elaborate beauty the city displayed on their first visit, during the festival they attended years ago. Still, there was little else in the world exactly like it. Even Karl's impaired vision did not prevent him from tracing the broader patterns and colours around the gates as he was lead through on Sabine's arm.

The walk through the city was not quite as they expected. Sabine kept slowing down ahead and occasionally looking down at a letter in her other hand, written in Dunmeris. They were not on the streets familiar to them the last time they visited Ariel.

"Uh, Sabine, where are we going?" Janius asked.

Sabine answered without taking her eyes off the landmarks around them. "To Ariel's new store. She moved into a larger building when she was expecting children."

"Ah," Janius nodded. "I've been living away from cities for so long, I almost forgot about such matters."

It turned out their destination was not far after all. It was in the same district as before, though not a small shop tucked away in an alley like before. On a main thoroughfare, close to where the market day stalls would set up each week, was a two story, ochre painted townhouse with a generous glass storefront, creeper vines up one corner, and a familiar looking sign. The building was closer to Argonian architecture than Imperial. It appeared to be built for resilience to Thorn's climate and was well positioned to avoid the more common floodings of the area. More notably, it was at least half as much larger than the previous store.

There was no pretending it was lavish compared to the wealthier parts of the city. Ariel was still a frugal individual. But, after the reward for helping the clans with her skills, it would make less sense for everything to remain the same.

Sabine smiled. "This is it."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine stepped up to assist Meesei without a word. Between the two of them, opening the portal was down from difficult and draining to plain hard work. Sabine shook for a moment in the process. She noticed herself doing so at times when she felt the Staff of Magnus absent.

Janius blew a breath out between his teeth when he stepped into Black Marsh. He was immediately less comfortable but the feeling was familiar to him.

On contrast, when Karl stepped through with Sabine's help. He breathed heavily through mouth for a while. "The air, it's so thick," he said.

Sabine responded over the sounds of insects and frogs around them. "This is Black Marsh. Very humid. It will be better at Thorn; there is an ocean breeze that helps."

"I should have worn lighter clothing," Karl remarked.

A few moments later and the entire group was on the other side. The sun, high in the blue sky, beat down on them all. But they were only at the beginning of their journey.

Janius gave Kaleeth an asking look after Meesei asked her question of them. "It would be nice to go and say hello, but we cannot spare too much of the day. What do you think, Kaleeth?"

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

My hard drive broke and I lost all my data. Create backups people, don't be like me.

@Vec

My deepest sympathies go out to you and your saved games/meme collection/whatever else.

Did you lose any posts in progress?

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The time waiting was passed with patient sitting around. Checking over all they packed was only going to occupy so much time with how light they were travelling. If there was any silver lining, Janius got to take the time to chat with Julan about what he was up to. Janius' busy lifestyle made him realise just how few times he could just sit and talk with his son. He hoped it would be an indication of the rest of the journey.

By the time Kaleeth arrived, most of the conversation was spent. They were all rearing to go.

Janius stood up to greet Kaleeth. "You're not too late, dear," he said, before he walked around her to regard her new armour. "Those armourers do a fine job, don't they? We'll have to take care not to give people a fright at the sight of you." He almost laughed. "How does it fit? Is it what you wanted?" Janius even gave Julan a look. "What do you think of mother's new armour?"

Whatever answers they had, it was just enough time for Sabine to arrive. She walked around the corner, arms-locked with the familiar face of Karl, staring absently -- if nervously -- ahead and tapping the stone in front of himself with a thin cane. In contrast, Sabine had a genuinely happy smile on her face. They carried a knapsack each on their backs for the journey, along with Sabine's usual shoulder bag.

"Sorry we are late," Sabine said. "We had to finish some last-minute business."

"It's rude to disappear without notice, I would have offended someone, either way," he said jokingly. It did not quite alleviate the anxiety held in his slightly hunched shoulders.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius kept his good natured tone. "Understood completely," he said. "If ever you change your mind, friend, just say the word."

There was little point making more of an example of the man. He had lost face. What was left unsaid allowed Janius to remain genial and, at the same time, not to be trifled with. Just like he liked it.

Besides, they were still on a time limit. Janius chuckled at Kaleeth's forgetfulness and shook his head. "Don't worry about it, Kaleeth. Julan and I will get your things together. I'm sure Sabine will understand." He brought a hand to her arm. "I'll meet you at our chambers, okay?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Kaleeth's return back to her bashful self would have been jarring after such a savage performance, but Janius expected it by now. Having both traits added to her charm in his eyes. Janius opened his mouth to respond when they were interrupted.

Janius smirked at the joke. Back in his youth, he might have taken the slight with more aggression. He instead looked across to the Nord and angled his head to reply to Kaleeth. "I think he's making a claim about my strength," he said in good nature. "Do you think he wants to fight? I can spare time for a bout."

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

@Cyclone I'm getting dangerously close to finishing this Yorumpost. How's your entrant in this race?

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

With the winner more than conclusively realised, a short cheer emerged from the crowd and Kaleeth's combatant limped back to his friends with welts and bruises already bulging from his beaten body. Janius took the moment of moving and shaking between then and the next fight to shoulder his way through to Kaleeth.

"You sometimes make me wonder why you need to wear armour at all, my dear," Janius said with a smile. He mostly spoke to get her attention as he approached. "I don't want to cut your fun short, but you've been down here a while. Julan and I are all packed and ready."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius was subdued compared to the roaring spectators around him. He knew Kaleeth's tenacity and fighting skill well, though he did not often watch her in these fighting pits. Watching Julan or tending to other duties almost always kept him too busy. In this, he realised for the first time just how adept Kaleeth had become in hand-to-hand fighting. She made it look easy. Her practice had paid off.

Still, Janius never could shake off the empathetic twinge he felt every time Kaleeth suffered a hit like her opponent was dealing out. He hoped she would finish the bout soon without leaving both her and the challenger in a bloody heap.

What would her tribe think if she returned so wounded?

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Ariel's business is still primarily in cosmetics," Sabine reminded. "I am sure she could help."

---

They were setting out today. Janius double-checked the supplies they had packed. He made Julan triple-check his belongings, especially for anything perishable that the swamp would take as a casualty.

As for Kaleeth, Janius knew where she would be even if she had not told him beforehand. The fighting pits were as often an attempt to relieve her own anxiety as her beast spirit's. However, with how soon they would be leaving, she should have been back a while ago.

The smell of anger and excitement near the training room was soon joined by the smell of blood and sweat. Janius walked in unnoticed behind the small crowd as it jeered and shouted. It took him a moment to find a view of the ring, less time to spot Kaleeth. He smirked and crossed his arms when he saw her opponent. She could have this one last fight.