High Gate Ruins

by Ghostkill44

A quick adventure in the life of a character that I thought up some time ago, a Dunmer named Khan. His quest will take him into High Gate Ruins, a Nordic barrow infested with Draugr where he seeks an artifact of great power.

1. Chapter 1

11

The Dunmer known as Khan, a vampire lord, rode his summoned skeletal horse to the crest of the hill and reined it in to gaze at the view. His long, dark cloak flapped in the wind, exposing dimly glowing steel plate armour enchanted to boost the regeneration of his magicka. He wore no gauntlets to maintain a better grip on his sword. An ancient black mask of ebony taken from the dragon priest Nahkriin veiled the tell-tale glowing eyes of a vampire and boosted his already considerable offensive magical might. Khan's reputation as a powerful spellsword was well known throughout Skyrim. He was often asked for training in the schools of magic as well as martial skills, but his swordsmanship was especially renowned. It was a style developed by his old master that used a combination of destruction magic and conventional weapons. Khan's sword, Soul Hunter, lay at his side in a sheath. It was made from the black volcanic glass known as ebony, and he had personally forged and enchanted the weapon himself. Its powerful frost enchantment and ability to absorb the life essence of enemies made it among his most powerful possessions. However, Khan had come here to claim an even more powerful artifact from an ancient evil.

In the distance, Khan could see the decrepit yet darkly prideful remains of an ancient Nordic temple rising high to the north. The vampire could feel the evil within, guarding the relic he was hunting for. Khan turned his head when his Nord guide caught up to him.

"That is High Gate Ruins?" Khan asked in a low pitched voice, the cultured accent of a Morrowind noble coloring it.

"Yes, milord," the Nord hunter panted. He had had to jog all the way to keep up with the stranger whom had hired him. "Legends tell of an old evil inside, remains of the Dragon Cult. Me pa used to say-"

Khan cut him off quickly. "Thank you for your service, Nord. Here is the last of your payment." Khan tossed a coin purse towards the hunter, whom caught it and peeked inside to see a sapphire and a ruby. He nodded his thanks enthusiastically and left hurriedly, glancing nervously back at the temple and the mysterious mage riding forth to venture into its depths.