[IC] Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

[EliteCommander]

Ri'vashi too followed in introducing herself. "This one is Ri'vashi, commander of all warriors in the service of Hircine, who fight under his Champion's banner."

Meesei turned her head back towards Rossarm with a nod. "And I, of course, am Meesei, the Champion of Hircine. 'Champion,' is acceptable for my title." She answered to him before finally answering gro-Tagnud. "I have not recruited another battlegroup this time. Rossarm is an individual, but one of substantial power, as one of my packmates has assured me. He is a mage of considerable skill and experience, like myself and Commander Teroiah. A significant asset, as I am sure you can all imagine. I called you here so that we can discuss in what role, and with what army, his abilities would be put to the best use."

Ri'vashi took a brief moment to look over Rossarm. She did not have a uniform, but she had come to dress as formally as the others for such meetings. Though, she was not partial to robes or dresses, instead opting for simple, but colorful trousers and a doublet. "Ri'vashi would agree that he could be helpful, but that would most depend on what exact skills and experience he actually possesses. What sort of magical training do you have, Rossarm, and do you have any experience fighting Daedra?"

---

"I'm not sure..." Julan started, his voice trailing off for a few seconds as he continued to stare into the water. He let out a long breath, and only looked away once a frog disturbed the surface of the water and broke up his reflection. "I almost didn't recognize my own reflection at first. It's just so...different. They said it was all meant to be, and I really have earned the honor and respect of the marks, but...I'm not really one of them. I'm not a part of them."

[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?"

[EliteCommander]

Meesei quickly noticed what she interpreted as surprise in Fendros' reaction, but did not dwell on it. In truth, she was somewhat surprised as well, but it was a pleasant surprise for her, as it meant he was far more likely to be a true asset to their invasion. "Well, then it seems Ahnasha's instincts were correct. I am sure we all know the reputation of Telvanni wizards, and that degree of experience can produce great strength through necessity. I am hopeful that your strength and experience will save lives during what lies ahead, though if I am being honest, if it were my choice, I would not want to pull you back into war, Rossarm. I would rather allow you to retire in peace, but the Daedra do not have a habit of giving us such choices, do they?"

"At any rate..." Meesei continued. She glanced briefly at Saras, as she noticed he was now concentrating more strongly on Rossarm's face and other features. However, since Saras said nothing for the moment, she simply continued to question Rossarm. "...I would like to hear your own thoughts on what sort of military force you would be the most comfortable fighting alongside. I know the Legion was active in Morrowind during the timeframe you described, but it does not sound like you fought with them."

---

Julan nodded to Janius, though his eyes were soon examining the markings on his own arms. "Yes...sort of. That is the...thought they gave me I think. I'm not too sure; I don't really understand all of this, but I don't think any of it was an accident. Mother leaving the village, being with you, and me not...being a part of the Hist. I think they expected it. I was afraid they would hate what I am, but the only feeling that kept coming to me over and over was just sadness."

There was another sigh as Julan's arms flopped back down by his side. "I don't know why I have to get all these marks if I'm never going to be a part of them, but I guess there's no going back now."

[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?"

[EliteCommander]

"Our people do not have such a rigid hierarchical command structure as the Imperial and Dominion militaries." Ri'vashi spoke up. "It is not uncommon for leaders among lycan clans to change, usually through challenges. Many clans are different in many ways, but a common culture between us all is the strongest rise to the top. As long as they trust in your skill and experience, they will be willing to follow you, regardless of your lack of lycanthropy. We also have several clans from different parts of Morrowind, and though this one has not yet worked too closely with them, Ri'vashi is confident that their warriors and mages already practice the Dunmer military customs you are familiar with. Fighting alongside them would not likely require much adjustment from either side."

Although Meesei was still not completely sure if Rossarm would be willing to fight alongside lycans, she did agree with Ri'vashi's reasoning on the matter. There would be much less resistance to Rossarm taking a leading role among one of their clans than in a "professional" military. "I do believe that it is an option worth considering. Fendros is my second, and commands considerable respect among our people, especially the Morrowind clans. Being his father would likely lend you some credibility from the start."

---

"I...think so." Julan replied, though his tone was hardly convincing. He made an effort to force himself to stop concentrating on his tattoos, and turned entirely away from the stream so that he could not see his own reflection. "I guess there is a lot more out there outside the clans, but I do feel at home back...home. I've never wanted to leave or anything. I mean, really, I wish we could all spend more time there without you and mother being so busy."

Julan gradually started to seem more nervous as a select few of Janius' words got into his head. "You don't think anything...bad is going to happen to you or mother, do you? In the invasion?"

[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."

[EliteCommander]

In immediate contrast to Rossarm, Meesei was giving a grin and a quick chuckle towards the Commander. "I think you personally would benefit from such a challenge, Teroiah. A new opponent with new strategies, new magic to observe in practice...I would take that opportunity in a heartbeat. And I have to admit that I am eager to see how you are able to improve when properly motivated." She remarked, allowing some of her own, more selfish desires to show through. There was a substantial part of her that wanted to see and learn from any unique forms of magic that Rossarm might have at his command. If Teroiah would not take the challenge, Meesei herself would certainly be willing.

Despite Meesei becoming somewhat distracted, Saras remained quite serious, and characteristically on-topic. He was no longer staring so intently at Rossarm, having evidently come to a conclusion on whatever he had been thinking on. "I would advise against entirely dismissing the idea of working with lycan troops. It may yet be the best fit for you. Since our clans began organizing more closely as a result of the war, former military officers have risen through the ranks in many clans, and many of our people now have training as 'professional' soldiers. They are merely more accustomed to changes in leadership. But, more to my point, I do have an idea of who you might work with. Try as I might, I cannot quite remember you. I too was in Mournhold at the time of the fabricant attack, but I was still injured and recovering from an incident a few days prior. I doubt we ever met. But, there is one other who comes to mind. I happen to know that the man who oversees training in one of our central Morrowind clans was once a High Ordinator in Mournhold, at the same time that you served the city by your description. Is Varalyn Madral a name you remember?"

---

Julan looked away from Janius, holding one arm over the other. The pessimistic thoughts that accosted his mind made him feel almost sick to his stomach, and there was a hesitation in his voice that betrayed his anxiety when he did speak. "I know...you have to fight. I know there isn't a...choice."

Julan swallowed after becoming briefly unable to speak. When he finally did make eye contact once more, there were tears streaming down the side of his face. He was shaking, and his gaze itself practically screamed out with a genuine terror. "What if you aren't tough enough? What if they kill you? What if they kill mother? What if they kill all of you, and then I'm alone? What do I do?"

[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?"

[EliteCommander]

"I see. Well, if you do have the notoriety that Teroiah indicated, then he may still remember you. It may at least be worthwhile to speak to him and his mages." Saras recommended.

Regardless of what role Rossarm was going to end up serving, Meesei agreed that he would probably need to demonstrate the skills he was bringing into their war effort. No matter how much of a reputation he might have, it would not be wise for any of them to give him an important role without knowing the limits of his capabilities for certain. "In the meantime, Legate General, Commander, in what ways would you two prefer to determine the extent of Rossarm's skills and ability?"

---

The worry for his parent's safety had been in Julan's mind for quite some time. Especially once he had started his own training in the clan, the reality of the risks his parents, and the rest of their pack, took as a part of their duties had started to dawn on him. But, to hear his father openly acknowledge the reality that neither of his parents may return to him struck him at his heart. "So...it really could happen. Even with how powerful you are and...how much the pack has done...you really could die." He looked down at the ground, his mouth slightly agape. "Xhuth..." He muttered.

[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."

[EliteCommander]

Given the nature of Teroiah's test, everyone else had moved clear of them and were observing from the other side of the table, in case of any errant spells. Meesei understood the point of what Teroiah was doing, but did not take much special interest in it herself. She supposed that testing the strength of his wards could give a general impression of his magical ability, but Meesei herself did not see a great deal of value in it. Though perhaps not common, one without powerful wards could still be a powerful mage. Ahnasha was an example that came to mind for her. Even so, Rossarm hardly looked like he was failing the test.

"I suppose this is an adequate test of his defenses, at least." Meesei commented. "But even if he were to fail, that would not be enough to declare him insufficient as a battlemage. If you recall from our bout, it is well within my ability to defend myself with evasion alone, without even bothering with heavy wards. We can move somewhere with more space, if you wish to try anything more comprehensive."

---

"I...don't know. You want me to just grow up all of the sudden, and I don't know if I can." Julan answered finally looking back up at his father. He rubbed his arm across his face to wipe the tears from his eyes, and at least made an attempt at appearing to stand strong. "I guess we'd have to. Take care of each other, that is. I guess we'd stay in the clan...keep training like we've been doing...and let all of our pack's friends help us? Like Ri'vashi, or Vera, or Gallus? Does...that all sound right?"

[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."

[EliteCommander]

Meesei supposed it was good that Teroiah seemed satisfied with the results of her brief test, but Meesei herself did not feel she had learned anything particularly interesting about him or his abilities. At least, nothing that she had not already been told. Regardless, she supposed any questions she had in that regard would be answered in time.

"I think I would like to leave it to you, Rossarm, on if you would like to take on Teroiah's drills soon, or if you would prefer to take some time to rest and settle in. We do have no shortage of potions, if you feel you need to reconstitute yourself. But, for right now, there is one more matter of importance. We have told you who we are fighting, but we have not yet informed you of how exactly we intend to fight him. We have learned that Vile has a long-term plan to weaken the very foundations of Mundus, and eventually absorb it entirely into his own realm. To stop this, we intend to drastically weaken his power...through a direct invasion of his realm. If you do receive a command, that will be the battle you will be leading your mages through."

---

While not quite sobbing, there were a few more tears to escape Julan's eyes. "Yeah, I...guess I can. Just...please come back, okay?" He began before quickly returning his gaze back towards his reflection. He took another few seconds of silence to examine the details of his tattoos that he could make out in the murky water. "I guess all this with the tattoos doesn't really mean much compared to...you know, the invasion. It's just some ink on, or...in my scales? Under them? Anyways, I guess we'll be heading back to Thorn after I get the marks finished, right? So we can go back home when Sabine comes to check on us? We're going to leave soon after the marks are done, right? Because Leeus was saying she wanted us to go on a long walk before I left, so it would be just me and her together, with only her for me to talk to for hours." Julan explained, actually looking worried by the prospect. "Can we please leave before that?"

[Muttonhawk]

Rossarm was completely still for exactly three seconds after Meesei finishes speaking. He then took a deep, silent breath through his nose, lifting his chin as he did so, and responded. "Understood."

As he quietly released the rest of his breath, Fendros noticed Rossarm's eyes stare into space with a subtle hint of something negative. Whether it could be called, anger, sadness, fear, or any mix of the three was near impossible. Fendros only knew, once again, that he had never seen anything like it from his father before.

"I will perform any drills required of me," he added. "I have no great need to rest at this time."

---

Janius answered Julan before he move back to his tattoos. "We will do everything we can. Everything. I can promise you, Julan."

His eyes followed Julan's to look into the water. He let his hand fall from Julan's shoulder. When Julan starting sounding concerned about spending time with Leeus, Janius looked at him with a raised eyebrow. Try as he might have to stifle a laugh, the contrast from the previous subject caused him to chuckle through a grin. He spoke with much more levity than just moments before. "What? Are you afraid she'll bore you to death out there?"

[EliteCommander]

"Very well." Meesei nodded. "There is a space in the courtyard near the base this tower that we use for training. Ri'vashi, could you show them all to it?" She asked, gesturing to Teroiah, gro-Tagnud, and Rossarm. "I will go gather some potions regardless. For safety."

On Meesei's order, Ri'vashi lead the three of them out of the room and down towards the courtyard. Meanwhile, Meesei held back with Saras and Fendros so that she could speak with them in private. She waited until she was sure they were not being overhead before she began. "So, for right now, what are your impressions? Saras, were you able to learn anything about him before we started?"

Saras shook his head. "No. Unfortunately, I do not remember Rossarm from Mournhold. But, I left the city shortly after I recovered from my injuries, so that is to be expected. I was somewhat surprised that Teroiah had heard of him, but it does make sense that Dominion intelligence would want to keep aware of notable individuals outside their borders. I did not have much time to look into him before you went to retrieve him, but now that I know he is from Mournhold, it should not be difficult to learn more about him. If there is anymore to learn. But if it is all the same, and do not take offense to this Fendros, but I am going to have your father watched while he is here. Discretely, of course. Now that he has been informed of the invasion, he does represent a security risk. The last thing we need now is Vile learning of our plans."

"I understand your concern, Saras, but please take care not to offend him. He is a retired mage who has simply been running a vineyard for decades. I doubt he is much of a risk." Meesei replied.

Saras gave a single nod. "Perhaps, but it is my responsibility to keep track of even the slightest risk. Do not be concerned; I have experience dealing with powerful mages. The vampire hasn't noticed me yet."

Meesei simply grinned briefly, then turned her attention to Fendros. "Well, what is your impression of your father?"

---

Wide-eyed, Julan nodded emphatically. "Yes! She's not nearly as interesting as she thinks she is. She's just...not. I don't want to make her sad or angry or anything, so I tried to make myself seem less interesting too, but it didn't stop her. I don't even know why she would want to spend that many hours alone with me." He shrugged.

Julan turned around and took a few steps away from the stream, looking back towards the village. "I guess I should go see the Treeminder now. After this, they'll be...done. He said it would be just one or two more hours."

[Muttonhawk]

Fendros lifted his open hands. "Now, Saras, you must understand I would much prefer that he is watched while he is here." He worried his brow. "His temper is worse than mine. Frankly, I'm surprised he has been as docile as you saw." He lowered his hands and exhaled. "That said, I..." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I feel as though he is completely different from the person I knew. I know mother convinced him into this but it is as if all his little triggers, all his rules and principles are...missing. I don't understand." he lowered his eyes. "I never knew about him and Mournhold before today."

---

Janius smiled and shook his head in disbelief. "If you don't want to spend time with her, Julan, just tell her. There is no need to lead her on if you would prefer not to." He turned and pat Julan on the back. "Either way, we're not leaving until dawn. We need all the daylight we can. You can think about what you want to do while you get your marks finished. Maybe the Hist will lead you out of your girl troubles."

[EliteCommander]

Saras showed no change in his concern, looking inquisitively to Fendros. "Do you believe Vile has managed some sort of influence over your family?" He questioned.

For Meesei, it did not surprise her that Saras went immediately went to the worst-case scenario. But, she supposed it at least meant that he would be prepared. "That does not seem terribly likely to me. Even if the enemy somehow learned about Rossarm, they could not know we would attempt to recruit him. I did not know we would be trying it before today. It may simply be his professionalism as a battlemage, and with his past as he described it, I could understand why he would not want to share it with his children. But...all the same, take every precaution as if it were the worst case. In fact, I want heightened security for everyone. Especially regarding anyone who knows of the invasion plans. That is the one piece of information that cannot get into Vile's hands."

"It will be done. The enchantments we have in place already will stop, and detect, any attempts at long-range magical communication from the city. Hal-Neesa has already personally complained to me about their presence, but even she was not able to bypass them." Saras explained, though he soon showed a hint of frustration as he crossed his arms. "And on the subject of the vampire, Champion, she is likely the greatest security risk we have here. She moves around unhindered, openly admits to spying on us, and can leave the clan entirely on a moment's notice, with no way of stopping her. Quite simply, I cannot protect our secrets against her."

Meesei sighed. "You have told me before how you feel about Neesa, and I agree. But, there is nothing we can do about her. We simply have to hope that she is being honest with us about her allegiance. If nothing else, we can be confident that she is strong enough for no one to be able to force her to betray our secrets. It will have to do."

Finally, Meesei stepped over to the door to the hallway. "We should not keep the others waiting much longer. Fendros...how do you think your father would respond to testing his strength against me? Do you think you could learn anything from his reaction?"

---

On the part of Thorantilth and his work on Julan's tattoos, there was nothing much different from any of the previous days that Janius had observed him. However, Janius would easily have noticed substantially more activity around the rest of the village. The people were packing what belongings had not already been stored away, and saddling their beasts of burden. It seemed like they were preparing to move rather soon.

The final details that remained on Julan's marks would take little under an hour to complete when Zharanthixil. entered the hut. From the fatigue he showed in his movement, as well as the dirt and mud on his scales, his limp did not stop him entirely from working. "Is everything going well, Treeminder?"

Thorantilth nodded. "Indeed. I will be finished just about when I estimated."

Zharanthixil looked directly to Janius. "Then your son will soon be one of us."

[Muttonhawk]

Fendros looked away, thinking behind his discomfort. "Well, I might see if his...professionalism extends to his attitudes against Argonians. Hearing that he fought Argonians in a losing war makes me think he is unlikely to underestimate you as harshly as Teroiah did." He half-heartedly nodded upwards. "You might find out if he has more tricks up his sleeve, magically speaking. I don't really know what else there would be."

---

While they headed to Thorantilth's hut, Janius eyed the activity around them. He wondered if it would feel somewhat strange to stay behind for one more night if everyone decided to leave today. He doubted they would set out late in the afternoon, but the tribe was nothing if not full of surprises to him.

Janius decided to keep Julan company for a little while as the finishing touches of the tattoos were applied. He hid his surprise when Zharanthixil walked in, instead smiling. He nodded at Zharanthixil's statement. "Just like Kaleeth-rei is. It has been good to find the tribe again.

[EliteCommander]

"I see. Well, if you do not think you would be able to learn anything from it, then I may not bother to make the challenge myself if Teroiah has any other plans." Meesei answered, though as they started out into the hall, she started to grin. "Although, speaking entirely selfishly, I would rather like to see those tricks. Even if he does not end up being as strong as Teroiah or myself, that does not mean I could not learn from him. Honestly, I am wondering if Teroiah is curious for the same reason. I wounded her pride when I defeated her, but I have to wonder if I have awakened that same sort of...spirit of competition in her. The same kind that drives me, and so many of us. She would naturally want to make herself strong enough to be confident in besting me, should we ever fight again. Hmm, but I suppose I am just guessing at this point."

Just as she said before they left, Meesei made sure to procure several potions before re-joining the others outside. The training area in question was near one of the outer walls of the city, and Ri'vashi had already cleared out those who had been using it before so that Teroiah could carry out her drills unhindered. Though, that also meant they would have more of an audience than they had for Teroiah's simple warding test.

"As promised, I brought a few healing potions in case of an emergency." Meesei announced as she placed the bottles down on a table up against the outer wall. As it was a usual training area, there were already healing potions kept in a cupboard nearby, but Meesei had made sure to grab a few stronger potions. Depending on Teroiah's plans, the risks could be greater than normal training. "So, what is it exactly that you intend to do, Teroiah?" Meesei asked.

---

"Yes, and I will be awaiting the day that you find it again." Zharanthixil replied. Walking past Janius, he stood over Julan, watching the Treeminder magically guide the ink beneath his scales. "Once the Treeminder is finished, we will pack away his belongings, and the village will be leaving while there is still enough daylight for us to use. My grandson's marks were the last thing keeping us here, and we will be delaying no longer. If there is anything more you wish to say or do while you are here, then you should do it soon."

[Muttonhawk]

The three entered the training area to find the Gro-Tagnud and Ri'vashi off to the side while Teroiah and Rossarm stood nearer to the centre. Rossarm had his head down and his hands woven together, silent, while Teroiah turned to respond to Meesei.

"I shall start with the standards of magical skill and fitness required for elite Dominion battlemages. Skipping over the lengthier endurance tests, of course. Anyone with the magic this mage wields is all but guaranteed to pass those tests." She turned her head to Rossarm. "Rossarm here appears to prefer warming up through meditation. The drills will begin in a few minutes. After the drills, my best conjurer will arrive to summon Daedra for Rossarm to best. I believe that shall demonstrate a fitting sample of his relevant capabilities, don't you?"

---

"Indeed. I should find and farewell those I helped earlier-..." Janius stopped and lowered his brow. "Hmm. Julan mentioned that the girl, Leeus, invited him to walk together after he finished receiving his marks. I suppose they will not have the time after all."