[center]Skirmish in Stros M'kai Final 5th of Midyear, 4E 205 Hircine's Summoning Day[/center] The fire atronach reared up to its full height, towering over the redguard, who used the moment to rush ahead and sting it with Coldfang before running back the other way as the great arms of fire flashed into powerful swipes. Thinking pursuit imminent, Kiania cut to the side and dived headlong into a roll, turning halfway into the circuit in case she had to continue right over the edge of the building. The atronach, though, didn't pursue. Instead it roared off the other way, burning a line over the fornt edge of the building, then down into the street where it left a scarred trail back to the house from which it had emerged. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Soldiers patrolled the streets of the port town as the ruin of the previous skirmish was swept away slowly. Kiania sat back resting on an overturned box as she took the chance to catch her breath. The sound of approaching footsteps drew her attention to Dorio as he walked up with a smile on his lips and a water skin in each hand. He reached her and stepped over an overturned water barrel before sitting on it; offer her a water skin as he did. Thirsty as she was, not to mention hot (fighting fire elemental's will do that to you after all), she took it gratefully. She was already bringing it to her lips as Dorio started to speak. "Looks like we got all of them, or most of them anyway, the rest of the ragun is already on its way." She eyed him for a while then responded curtly. "Thanks." Dorio mocked innocence as he put on a look of confusion. "For what?" "For helping with the atronach of course. I doubt that dagger found its way into that mages back on its own." Dorio only shrugged. "You'd do the same for me." It wasn't long before their scout parties’ leader returned to the square where Kiania, Dorio, and a few others who had been lightly wounded rested. "Well you won’t believe this but it turns out these weren't Thalmor spies, at least, not working for the Dominion directly. But happen to be breton mages working for a certain lord Dupont; a Pirate Lord of some renown." He said looking rather pleased with himself. It seemed he had rather enjoyed beating the information out of the man. "With any luck, we might be able to squeeze out where these weasels have their lair..." [center]Valenwood Coastline 24th of Midyear, 4E 205[/center] "Hmm, I don't like it, this changing of the meeting place especially." Khasta voiced. Temijen only shrugged as two squires helped pull on an ivory colored breastplate, completing a suit of pure ivory white. The suit was in truth simply a dyed set of ebony armor. "I expected as much, there is hardly much trust between our two people." "For good reason." Khasta went on with a shake of his head. "Hence I'll say it again. This feels like a bad idea." "Perhaps it may feel so, but we cannot pass up this opportunity, besides the Bosmer may prove an asset if we play our cards right, and make no mistake Khasta, I do plan to play my hand if I must." "Do you think they will really go along with your proposal?" Khasta said after a moment’s pause. Temijen tightened the cords of his gauntlet as he responded. "We will see, but yes, I think they will. They hardly want a war, especially so soon after expelling the Thalmor from their lands. They can only benefit, that is if their Keeper can see what his people stand to gain." As he spoke he began to walk out of the tent they had met in as Temijen prepared for the meeting ahead. Temijen had forgone a helmet, after all, gods willing, he was hardly marching to a battlefield. "So have you chosen your five? I assume I'm among them?" Khasta asked as he kept pace with Temijen. "Of course, without your annoying pessimist nature, how could I dream of negotiating anything successfully." He gave Khasta a side long smile, and then added. "But yes, Varnklith for one, Khaeem as well, Dorikwon and, Karlan-if we can keep him from trying to kill any of them as soon as we meet." Khasta shook his head at that and grinned. Karlan was known for his...dislike of elven kind in general. "I'm sure he will be on his best behavior." Reaching his horse, a dark grey mare of formidable height of 18 hands, he mounted it with practiced ease despite being adorned in full plate mail. It didn't take long before the rest of the party assembled. A messenger already sent to the Keeper to inform them of the agreement to the proposal of a neutral meeting ground, adding that no soldiers of either side would be allowed within one kilometer of the meeting place. [hider=Actions] -Skirmish in Stros M'kai concluded, where about's of Pirate lord Dupont possibly uncovered. -Temijen agrees to meeting with the Keeper and brings the agreed upon small bodyguard. -Units of Hammerfell portal outside the safe distance of the meeting place to assure cooperation. [/hider]