Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Teroiah called out back to Meesei over the noise of her magic. "This is no test of full capability, Champion. Merely a rapid means of ensuring we are not wasting our time!"

The next level of power Teroiah presented prompted Rossarm to turn his off hand around in a position to cast a different spell. His warding arm was starting to quiver at the strain.

Upon noticing the movement, the corner of Teroiah's mouth quirked into a small smile. She pressed on to yet another level of power.

Rossarm's reaction was immediate. A bright red whorl of magic tore open above his opposite hand. Even as darkly hued as his skin was, the veins in his wrist and hand bulged and flared as if painted with ink. Less conspicuous was his warding hand, which now was comfortably maintaining his defences with not to much as a twitch.

"Very good." Teroiah abruptly cut off the stream of lightning leaping from her hands. Little sparks arced their last between her fingers as she clasped her hands together behind her. She flicked her eyes to the rest of the meeting. "The drills may be performed at any time."

As Teroiah walked back behind her seat, Rossarm lowered his ward and resumed his own place. Though he tried to hide his hand behind his back, the blackened veins were readily apparent to all who saw him. In addition, Meesei, Ri'vashi, Fendros, and anyone else with keen enough hearing could perceive his breathing had grown very slightly laboured.

---

Janius hesitated, looking away for a moment. He gave Julan a small nod. "If they come back, yes. But there will be other friends of ours staying behind that you could gain help from as well. There's...Pieter and Uthri. There's Karl. There's Ri'Kalesh's pride -- there are some who will not be joining the invasion. If you find your way to him, I'm sure even Tzirret will help you. All the same, you and Rhazii will have to be there for one another, as you always have been." Janius swallowed some anxiety of his own. "I pray you will never have to lose any of us. But, if it comes to it, you can do it. I know you can, son."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Gro-Tagnud answered first. "I've some advisors with me who are good with assessing mages. I can leave him in their hands for about half an hour to perform some drills and they'll give me an answer."

"I can run you through such drills personally," Teroiah said to Rossarm, virtually interrupting Gro-Tagnud. "In fact, my drills will be more meaningful than any Legion checklist. In the Dominion, battlemagi must be adaptable, for their roles are core in the army." She turned to Meesei. "But for the sake of expediency, we can perform one here that shall be a strong filter. Rossarm? Take three steps back and raise your ward." Teroiah pushed up off the surface of the table and walked to a point a short distance from Rossarm.

Rossarm complied without a word or gesture. He raised his ward swiftly and precisely between himself and Teroiah.

Teroiah, now a safe enough distance from the meeting table, brought a simple lightning spell to her hands and cast it loudly onto the ward. Rossarm held it without a flinch. Without warning, Teroiah switched to a more powerful form of the same spell. Rossarm did not so much as blink, keeping his off-hand behind his back. The pose he had whilst warding almost had a decorum to it.

As greater spells continued to strike Rossarm's ward, the relative level of power also grew between them. Teroiah clearly wanted to make sure her initial spells were not overly harmful, but now they were well into the realms of lethal.

Rossarm's lips pressed together when the strain started to affect him, but he kept his stance.

---

"Yes," Janius said. "We could."

Glancing down and up, Janius lifted Julan's chin with the side of his curled finger until their eyes met again. "...But you didn't answer my question, son."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I never interacted closely with Ordinators," Rossarm said. "Their duty was always to the temple. I have no recollection of that name."

---

"Oh, Julan," Janius said sympathetically as he took Julan's shoulders and drew him into a hug. He held him for a moment without a response. There was no easy excuse Janius could give without outright lying. He looked up at the sky for any words that could help. "Julan..." He huffed out a breath, hesitating. Finally, he pulled back to hold Julan by the shoulders again and looked him straight in the eyes, no smiles or comforts. "Listen to me and listen well. If we don't come back, you and Rhazii have to take care of each other, okay? Kaleeth and I aren't the only ones who are strong. Can you promise me that?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Is Varalyn Madral a figure in lore or is it a name you made? I'm wondering if Rossarm would know them but searching UESP doesn't come up with anything about them.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros' ears twinged at Meesei's comment. Rossarm's response was predictable enough.

"If you see fit to put me in a position of command, Legion or the Dominion subordinates would be best suited. My training and experience is with rigid command."

Teroiah spoke up next with less patience. "Assessing your leadership will take time and preparation. I, for one, am eager to learn the extent of your magical prowess." She leant her elbows on the table and weaved her hands up under her chin. "I trust the intervening time since your flight from Morrowind has not degraded your skills?"

Rossarm lowered and raised his chin firmly. "I will need practice to properly make efficient larger scale destructions and alterations. However, I can assure you, Altmer, that you will require to pick from your best if you wish to find one who would defeat me." A hint of disgust showed in Rossarm's lips as he referred to the commander by her race.

For her part, Teroiah only narrowed her eyes. A much more tempered response than being challenged by Meesei, though whether that was because her prior defeat had been humbling or because of wider biases remained untold.

---

Janius turned with Julan away from the water. "We have that wish too, your mother and I," he said. "All of us being together in peace."

He did not elaborate. Janius knew Julan understood why they had trouble doing so. All the same, he could not blame Julan for his worrying about them.

"It's hard to say," Janius answered regretfully. "We're doing everything we can to tip the scales in our favour, but...It's always possible that something bad could happen. That's the risk we have to take by fighting. We're quite tough, though. Your mother especially."

Divinus: The God RP, Mk. III. Finished in Record Time™!

Kirron

This purpose was easier than Kirron had imagined. From the top of a mountain on the eastern edge of his continent, he had a commanding view of distant changes to the landscape. Already, his siblings had been drawn to his whim-borne landmass and they had certainly made something of it. He could not even see all they had wrought; there was undoubtedly more surprises beyond the horizon, over the top of Shengshi's barrier mountain range.

He stepped his way down the slopes. It was easier than making his way up from the other direction; haphazardly following the flows of Fengshui Fuyou out to their ultimate destination had brought Kirron back to the fjord-like inlets and streams of the east coast by sheer coincidence. His boat had been dashed against the earth in a white-water portion, though it was no matter to him.

Kirron's walking and leaping brought him to an oddly green meadow. A hodgepodge of trees jutted out of silky grasses that sprung in clumps from freshly ground soil. Laced through the wind was the sound of beautiful noises. Noises that were perhaps too discordant in their abundance to be called songs, but Kirron was drawn to the source all the same. He stopped and rested his fists on his hips at what he found: Flocks of squat, curved-beaked little birds, flying here and there or otherwise waddling about the ground scratching for seeds.

"Little mortal things! Who are you?!" Kirron asked with a fascinated grin.

The birds took flight. Most calmed back to the ground, but a number approached and circled the god. "We are gemstone gardeners, stranger!"

"'Gemstone gardners.' What a mouthful. What are you doing here?"

"We are gardening, stranger! We spread the plants you see. Our mother Azura told us to!"

"Hah! Sounds good to me. Keep at it!" Kirron raise his arms and every bird felt a knocking in their little chests. Their happy songs quickly grew to excitement as they flew and sowed with renewed vigor. Kirron laughed his big bellowing laugh.

Kirron walked amongst the energised parrots like new friends. "My name is Kirron, I am the god of blood. It's been a while since I've been on this rock, so what can all you tell me about what I've missed?"

---

The news was easily relayed from the gossiping network of birds. All the happenings on the land were big and lasting, from fights between gods, to mountains raised and a giant clad in iron wandering about. Kirron could not be happier enjoying the tales from the simple creatures. While their lives were comparatively mundane to the scope of godhood, their objective gave them a refreshing passion.

But there was one anomaly that caught Kirron's eye. One of the gardeners -- a bulkier one with jet black feathers wandered around with a sadness, like it had lost something. It fluttered up to a low branch and let out a sigh.

Kirron clomped his heavy feet up to the tiny creature fast enough to startle its crest up.

"Why aren't you flying with the others, little gardener? You sick or something?"

"Oh!" The bird shrank in fear. "Uh, excuse me, god of blood. I'm not sick. I just don't much feel like flying right now."

Kirron knelt down to the onyx bird's eye level. "Why?" he demanded.

The bird glanced this way and that. "It's...embarrassing, god of blood. I cannot sing like the others, and my feathers are not as pretty when I dance. They're like a shadow with just a flash of red in my tail. I may as well not be there at all."

"So, what? You're afraid of a little performance?"

"It is a matter that I do not think I can perform at all, Kirron." The bird was not sure Kirron's triangular teeth were improving its anxiety.

"And what do you do all day, gardener?" Kirron asked.

"Um...I do this!" The bird spread its wings, bent down, and tore a large clump of wood from the branch below with such ease that it seemed rotten. But the wood was green and fresh. "Wood, stone, I cut it to pieces so more can grow!"

Kirron grinned a knowing grin.

The bird grabbed the clump of wood from its beak with one foot. "What is making you smile, Kirron?"

"I do that all the time, little bird. Watch." Kirron picked up a large stone from beside him, placed it between his teeth, and chomped down. Shards of stone flew in all directions. Kirron swallowed down what stayed in his mouth and pointed at the bird. "I still get all the attention I want. You've seen how I sing, right?"

The bird, suddenly fascinated, leant forward curiously. "You sing? But you only speak really loud."

"Have you tried talking really loud? Do it now." Kirron beckoned the bird. "Let me hear it! Shout as loud as you can!"

The bird spread its wings. "Squee..."

"Louder!"

"Areeee!"

"More! Put your throat into it."

The bird lifted its crest and let out a wheezing "ARAAAAAAAGH!"

All the other birds stopped their songs for a moment to look and smile at their black-feathered friend.

The little bird swelled up with pride and stuck its head out again. "ARAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" It shouted so loud its cheeks flushed a bright red.

Kirron threw back his head and laughed triumph. "That's better! Now go! Dance with your strength! Sing with your voice! And teach your friends what you learnt here today!"

"At once, Kirron! Thank you so much!" The bird leapt and took off to tell his friends.

The other birds looked with wonder at their friend the onyx cockatoo as he flew, marvelling at the new streaks of red colouring it in just the right way.

Kirron Teaches a Cockatoo How To Be an Alpha Chad

Kirron has made his way out of Horizon Grotto and back onto Dragon's Foot (or whatever the continent is meant to be called).

He likes what has been done with the place.

He discovers a flock of Azura's Gemstone Gardeners and asks them what he's missed since he left. They're pretty excitable.

While getting to know the birbs, Kirron notices a virgin Onyx Cockatoo looking really mopey. Upon investigation, Kirron finds out the cockatoo is self-conscious because it doesn't have the beautiful plumage or singing voices of its counterparts.

Kirron shows the cockatoo doesn't have to have a sing-song voice or beautiful feathers to perform like its friends. It just has to play to its strengths, like its super powerful beak and its inner confidence.

The cockatoo screams out with so much pride that its cheeks turn red. It thanks Kirron for the pep talk and goes to teach its friends what it learnt.

A large section of Kirronland's population of Onyx Cockatoos are now Blood Cockatoos (styled after Palm Cockatoos). They are much more brash and noisier than regular Onyxes and a little stronger thanks to Kirron's help. This 1 MP blessing is discounted to 0 MP due to the strength portfolio, but it's arguable as to whether it has the impact to really count as a might act in the first place, so take the semantics however you please.

Might Summary

Kirron - Blood, Strength - 5 MP - 12 FP

No might spent.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Rossarm shook his head. "Any dedicated formation of competent fighting mages will suffice. My experience with mixed-role sections has only ever resulted in avoidable collateral damage."

"I've got plenty of places I could put you," Gro-Tagnud said. "But so does Teroiah and Ri'vashi. Have you lead men before? How many?"

"I have lead mer, not men," Rossarm responded. "A troop of twenty Dunmer mages."

Teroiah quirked her head. "You're really considering putting a stranger in a ranking position, General?"

Gro-Tagnud snorted. "I never said that. I'm just getting to know his experience."

---

"Hmm, interesting," Janius said under his breath, but he decided to drop the thought. It was a reasonable coincidence that the Hist would tell Kaleeth and Julan the same things. He instead refocussed on Julan's thoughts.

"Son, I will be honest with you," he began. "Your mother and I brought you here so you could learn about your heritage. Especially given how...well, this tribe would be much harder for you to find if something should happen to Kaleeth in the upcoming invasion. I know that you were never fully invested in getting the tattoos. I apologise if you didn't want to, and I apologise that we were not fully clear on what they were." Janius raised his brow. "But this visit, overall, is important for you. It's easy as a lycan to see yourself only as a lycan. Separate from any other community. From any other identity. It's especially easy when you are born a lycan and did not have a previous life to leave, like myself and mother had. This place? This place is a part of you as much as it is a part of your mother. If it were only about being a part of the Hist, there would be no Argonians at all, let alone tribes like this. With those marks, now you have a reminder that you're not just a lycan."

Janius put a hand on Julan's shoulder. "All the same, don't worry about pretending to be anyone you're not. We'd much rather you discover what you are. Understand?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Rossarm lowered his head and was silent for a long moment. Again, no emotion came through his countenance. He was thinking. He began with no preamble. "I was taught magic by my father Droun Avarul and extended my abilities under the tutelage of the wizard Sibaryl Telvanni for sixteen years. The tutelage began in Mournhold, during which time the city was attacked by fabricant creatures conceived by Sotha Sil. I was enlisted to repel them alongside guard and militant individuals. After the incident my studies directed away from agriculture and focussed closely on battle magic. Five years later I was enlisted again to repel an invading force. Myself and twenty other battlemages took shifts to hold the Southcast gate against Mehrunes Dagon's daedra for two weeks until reinforcements could relieve the city. I was one of the seven that survived. I remained in Mournhold for a further six years assisting efforts to rebuild the city until the Red Year and the Accession War. During that time I fought field battles against Argonian militants. In my absence, Mournhold was sacked, my mentor was killed, and I was forced to flee with my family. After a short few decades in eastern Skyrim, I proceeded with my wife to Cyrodiil, where I have been trying to rebuild what is left of my family name."

Gro-Tagnud blinked, unsure what immediately to think. Fendros was still as a statue and wide-eyed.

Teroiah, cross-armed and scowling, turned her eyes to Ri'vashi sceptically. "This one has notoriety. I have read and heard about Mournhold's trials near the turn of the era. If he is who he says he is, this Rossarm Avarul is listed amongst the most distinguished battlemagi to emerge from Morrowind still alive to this day."

---

Janius looked sideways at Julan with a small, somewhat forced smile. He nodded after a moment. "That's correct, you aren't," he admitted, looking back at the water. "You grew up around lycans in Cyrodiil and Skyrim." He paused and glanced at the tattoos. "But it's a part of you now."

After another second, Janius lowered his brow and turned his shoulders to look at Julan directly. "'It was all meant to be,' they said?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros was no more talkative than Rossarm was on their way to the meeting chamber. If there was one thing he was grateful for in his mother leaving promptly, it was the brevity of their travel thereafter. Still, nothing was left to decrease the overall tension.

Rossarm marched on with his jaw clenched.

In the meeting chamber itself, the leaders arrived with their typical appearances. Legate-General Gro-Tagnud and Commander Teroiah each maintained their uniforms to a more than presentable degree, even in relatively unfamiliar circumstances such as the Silent City. Gro-Tagnud was neutral in his stance, sitting with his fingers woven on the table in front of him. Teroiah kept her hands on her lap, naturally taller than everyone except Ri'vashi. Teroiah's eyes squinted at Rossarm and his garments, apparently pondering, but not speaking.

While Fendros sat beside Meesei, Rossarm preferred to remain standing near one end of the table. He held his hands clasped behind his back and his feet shoulder-width apart. He flicked his eyes to Meesei when she spoke up. He very slightly nodded and took a quick breath to speak. "Uniforms have changed in intervening years. I would respectfully ask how I should refer to those before me."

Fendros was unnerved. The deference Rossarm expressed was unfamiliar to him.

"I am Army Commander Teroiah of the Aldmeri Dominion." The Thalmor battlemage was not shy in answering Rossarm's request. "Unless you represent yet another nation's battlegroup, you will refer to me as Commander."

Gro-Tagnud stopped side-eyeing Teroiah. "Legate General Gro-Tagnud. Imperial Legion." He looked to Meesei. "Who have you brought us, Champion of Hircine?"

---

The sounds of the swamp, as constant as they were around Julan, were soon joined by footsteps behind him.

"There you are," Janius' voice said. He stepped up beside Julan and peered into the water to see what he was seeing. "Rather fearsome, isn't it?" He said after a moment, before looking up to Julan's face. "And almost done, too. How do you feel?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros showed a little concern. "Are you sure you...? No, you're right. I'll come find you after the meeting."

"Thank you again, Meesei," Calia said before stepping through the portal.

All the while, Rossarm stood waiting at the open door to his quarters, staring square at a wall off to one side without a hint of emotion.

---

Sabine hesitated. She was not sure how she felt about serving refreshments. "I will...find some for you." She took a breath and turned to leave, but stopped halfway. "Thank you, Hal-Neesa. I know you do not have to be kind. I appreciate it."

She then prompted Rhajul and Tarna to follow her out. Tarna kept giving unsure glances between Rhajul, Sabine, and the large Dwemer mechanism over her shoulder.