PROLOGUE

On the eve of dark times
Evil shall reign
Fear shall fill the new land
Death will come
War soon approaches and
with it comes blood
Night falls upon the land
Death falls upon humanity
The war shall begin
and end with a IV
When the sun rises again
Night shall be vanquished
Dawn will come

The loud clash of steel smashing against steel echoes eerily throughout the blood-stained Field of Souls. The Kingdom of Heltreid is at war, no, all of Kalheim itself is; a war that has claimed the lives of many. Pain-filled cries of sheer, mortifying terror fill the desolate air as one after another, men on both sides of this violence fall, killed by the blades of their enemies; enemies who at one time they considered to be their brothers and sisters. It is the seventeenth of Mid-Year, 4e 313.

The armies of Vampire Lord and acting Grand King Calcifer Blood-Omen have advanced, taking over the whole of the Kalheinian province. They have forcefully murdered the innocent and demanded loyalty undeserved. At their opposite is the army of the rightful Grand King and the leader of the rebellion Lorcan Bren-Gard IV; a man of honor and respect.

The war has been going on for what seems to be an eternity now, and this battle alone is reaching it's third day. Night is nearing it's end, and the sun is set to rise. The armies begin their retreat, halting the war for the night in order to tend to their fallen. An agreement between the two leaders that some disagree with, but has already saved the lives of many.

However, even though his men fall back, returning to their camps, one man stands there with purpose. He knows that the fight is not yet over, and that things will only get worse if it is not finished now. His hair cut short, black as the sky above and a matching beard, Lorcan stands across the battlefield from his blood-hungry enemy, staring into the eyes that glow in the night. The silhouette of Calcifer Blood-Omen stands before him.

"Calcifer!" the man roars out into the emptying battlefield. The shout is filled with emotion; pouring everything he has into it. Warriors on both sides turn their heads to the scene, surprised by the man's sudden outburst. His blade brandished, the knight stands there prepared to continue the fight.

Only feet away from him, Calcifer Blood-Omen stands there, a smirk upon his face. His sunken, ash-grey skin shows the affect of the vampiric disease running through his veins. His actions have become infamous; the slaughtering of so many innocent lives. A once proud Dunmer man, distorted by his wish for ultimate power and dominance.

As the thousands of men stand there watching, the great vampire begins to turn. His features distort as his body changes. His armor shatters as his body grows in size. His flesh bubbles and grows, creating a shape that brings fear to many. Claws sprout from his fingers and fangs from his gums. His eyes become blood-shot and his head morphs as though the boned beneath it have changed their shape. All that remains of his clothes are his leggings and a blood-red cape hanging down behind him. A sound of terror fills the air as the dreaded vampire lord is revealed.

However, Lorcan stands his ground, unaffected by the hideous transformation of his opponent. For he had seen this before, during his first fight with the monstrous being. He knows it's strength, and the powers it holds. This is a fight he's been waiting for since the war began, a fight he has prepared himself to win.

"Me and you Calcifer! Let's end this war right now! How many more need to die!?"

Laughing, the vampire nods and replies, "Agreed. The useless shedding of blood serves us no purpose. It is wasted. Whoever wins takes Kalheim."

Smiling, Lorcan nods. The menacing creature across from his laughs, genuine interest in his eyes. He wonders exactly what this lowly man can do. None have stood before him with this kind of bravery before. He respects that. And so he steps forward, validating the challenge. The warriors call to their shield-siblings and everything, even time itself, seems to stop as the two strongest warriors in all the province walk towards each other.

Every man and woman on the battlefield watches in heated anticipation as the two close the distance between each other, slowly approaching with every step. Then, in the blink of an eye, it happens. The gigantic form of the vampiric beast shatters, and thousands of vampire bats shoot forward at a speed unheard of. The knight raises his great-sword and yells out, "For Kalheim!" before rushing the unformed creature.

He swings his blade with the force of a true warrior, and comes into direct contact with the claws of the now rematerializing Calcifer. A shock wave of pure, unadulterated power shoots throughout the surrounding area, and those standing by begin to feel a cold shiver pass down the center of their spines. Such power, such terrifying, amazing power. The two break apart and the demonic creature releases an evil laugh.

"Is this the extent of the Imperial race!?"

With another roar, Lorcan jumps back as his opponent stands there, amused. He then rushes again, swinging the blade with amazing speed. However, Calcifer dodges it quickly and takes advantage of the moment of weakness in his opponent. He flies forward, ramming Lorcan and sending him flying back again, smashing right through a catapult the rebellion had set up.

The shattered wood pierces the man's armor, and blood squirts out at various points on his body. He cries out, and the vampire approaches again, not allowing Bren-Gard to make another move. He lands on Lorcan, stomping hard onto his ribs, shattering them with the greatest of ease. Suddenly, the warrior unsheaths a hidden blade and swings it.

Narrowly escaping the attack, Calcifer roars angrily and bares his fangs. Bren-Gard climbs to his feet, the long sword held firm in his grip. Screaming, the vampire runs with vicious intent at his opponent, but the Imperial is too fast, thrusting the blade right at his enemy. Everything stops, and the faces of all watching turns to that of pure shock.

The vampire lord, unable to restrain his momentum in time, runs face first into the sharpened blade of the sword. Blood shoots out as the blade makes it's way through the front of the face and out the back. Silence fills the battlefield, but only for a short moment. The villain suddenly screams out through what's left of his mouth and reaches forward at blinding speed.

The monsters claws tear into Lorcan's chest, slicing right into the flesh and spilling blood everywhere. Within a second, the vampire rips his opponents heart clean out. Those watching stare open-mouthed in utter disbelief as both men fall, dead. The war is finally over, but has come with the deaths of both armies leaders. By rule of first lethal strike, Kalheim once more belongs to the Empire.

The sun begins to rise over the hills, and the remaining vampires retreat. The soldiers of the rebellion set the body of Calcifer Blood-Omen ablaze, destroying the remains. It's a bitter sweet victory, for despite the death of the acting Grand King, they've lost their rightful leader. They had such a hope for the future, and the man who gave it to them has sacrificed his life and shall never see the fruits of his labor.

Such sorrow fills the battlefield as everyone begins to walk away towards the camps, mourning Lorcan Bren-Gard IV's untimely demise. He ended this war, as the legendary prophecy fortold; the war would begin and end with a IV. Light shines on the new age, and only one is left standing among the blood and victimized bodies. The daughter of the fallen Lorcan, Ramedi, looks on at the sunrise and smiles. Her father's unfaltering heroism has made this all possible, and he will be remembered for all of time. The vampires have been defeated, and once again, Kalheim is at peace.