Tsunar and Borgakh were briefed on their first task. After learning of their careers as adventurers, the Redguard, who called himself Isran, sent them to accompany the robed man to an ancient ruin in search of some long lost vampiric artifact. The man who'd accompany them, a Vigilant named Tolan said that he'd go ahead and meet up with them. Borgakh and Tsunar took a moment to look around the fort while Isran set about training the young Nord who accompanied them up the path. While they looked around, a loud twang would sound every now and then as the boy trained with one of the Dawnguard's unique crossbows. Once acquainted with the place, the two set off for the ruin Isran told them of. The journey took them passed Whiterun, and they took the opportunity to stop in Breezehome to ensure everything was going smoothly in their absence. Once rested, the pair continued their journey. After two more days of travel, the two found themselves on the side of a small mountain, looking at an old stone door that resembled the ones they'd seen in ancient Nordic crypts.
They entered, both of them could overhear talking. Borgakh's armour was a dead giveaway, so she stayed put while Tsunar scouted ahead. His predatory instincts took over as he crouched low and crept forward. He saw two figures, dressed in dark robes. At their feet was Tolan, unmoving. Nearby was a dog like creature, though it lacked fur, a tail, had a mouth spilling needle like teeth and seemed to wear a coat of smoke. Tsunar's fears about Meeko becoming a vampire dog seemed justified as he looked at the deathly hound. Tsunar rushed the hound and brought his saber to its neck before it could make a sound. He waited for the vampires to move way from each other before attempting to kill. His skills as a hunter proved more than effective at dispatching the fiends. Once the chamber was cleared, Tsunar and Borgakh spent a moment searching before they pressed on. Tsunar muttered a small blessing as they passed Tolan's body.
"May Sovngarde welcome you, Vigilant."
They pressed on and found themselves in an ancient crypt. Tsunar could smell the familiar dusty rot and heard the creaking of draugr. Before he could warn Borgakh, they both heard the clashing of steel and saw a red flash from the corridor in front. The two crouched, seeing a woman in red armour back into view, a stream of red energy flowing into her hand. Tsunar's bestial vision could see her deformed features. The flat, bat like nose, sunken orange eyes and pale skin all marked her as a vampire. She bared her fangs as a hulking draugr walked into view. The gray skin similar to hers. The pair traded blows from swords before one of the black hounds jumped the draugr from behind. It took only a single swing from its black sword to sever the beast's head, but as the draugr turned back to its main foe, the woman took her opportunity and plunged her blade into the draugr's chest. The lights in its eyes dimmed as it went limp. The vampire brushed silver hair from her face as she sheathed her blade. Before she had a chance to enjoy her victory, a silver saber, wreathed in blue fire burst from her chest. As the vampire ceased moving, Tsunar ripped his blade from her torso and gestured for Borgakh to follow.
The pair were forced to carve their way through dozens of undead. Vampires attacked from the shadows, draugr emerged from their sarcophagi and those umbral dogs seemed to spring from nowhere. Eventually, the architecture changed, slowly. It took on less Nordic elements and started to resemble some of the more Gothic parts of Cyrodiil. Before either adventurer could ponder the shift, they heard voices. The two came to a balcony over looking a large open chamber. It was impossible to tell if it was carved out or a natural part of a cave system. Either way, below them, they saw three figures.
"I'll never tell you anything, vampire." A Nord man was dressed in rags and bound at the wrists. "My oath to Stendarr is more powerful than any suffering you can inflict on me."
"Oh, I'm sure." A Dunmer vampire bent to eye level with their captive, a steel sword in hand. "Now, why don't you go and meet your beloved Stendarr?" With one swift motion, the Dark elf sliced the man's throat. The man slumped over as the vampire sheathed his blade.
"Are you sure that was wise?" A female vampire asked. Before the male had a chance to answer, Tsunar and Borgakh rushed down the steps and engaged. The vampire's thralls joined the fray and tried to protect their masters. They were cut down easily enough as their masters fell not long after.
Borgakh and Tsunar followed a stone bridge to a circular platform. The white stone formed a fancy display of archways around the platform. Grooves in the floor connected silver braziers, in the middle of the platform was a pedestal with a button.
"What could go wrong..?" Tsunar muttered as he removed his shield and pressed the button. As his hand touch the stone, a large spike shot up. Tsunar shouted in pain and almost dropped to one knee as the stone spike impaled his hand and pinned him to the pedestal. Borgakh rushed over and drew an axe. Before she could destroy the stonework, the spike retracted and a small rumble went through the platform. A purple energy traveled through the grooves in the floor, going from the pedestal to one of the silver braziers. Borgakh helped Tsunar to his feet and offered him a healing potion. The Nord gulped it down and sighed with relief as the hole in his hand began to close.
Once his hand was healed, the two approached the silver brazier the purple energy had gone to. The light seemed to form a thin wall along the groove in the floor, passing through the brazier and ending at a turn in the groove.
"Push the brazier to where the light stops." Tsunar gestured at Borgakh.
"Why do I gotta do it?" Borgakh asked, only half serious. "You're the one with daedric durability, wolfy." Tsunar held up a blood covered gauntlet, his hand still shaking slightly from the pain. Borgakh's smile dropped as she pushed lightly on the brazier. The pedestal shifted at her touch and stopped at the energy's end. The purple light continued and stopped just before another brazier. As Borgakh repeated the process, she found herself thinking aloud.
"It's just a button. How'd the vampire's never figure this out?"
"Blood." Tsunar answered, rubbing his now fully healed hand. "Thing probably needed blood to activate. Something vampires lack." As Tsunar finished answering, Borgakh moved the last brazier and the platform rumble again. The rumble continued as the center of the platform opened to a purple light, the pedestal with the button rose up and a stone monolith formed. The middle of the platform closed up again and the lights faded. Borgakh drew her axes as Tsunar approached the monolith. He lightly touched his fingertips to the cold stone. As he did so, a portion of the monolith slid away, and a young woman stumbled out of the structure.
