The cold winds from the Sea of Ghosts blew towards Skyrim. They blew across the dark waters towards Haafingar and the mighty city of Solitude. The icy winds whirled around the ancient fortress of Castle Volkihar. The fortress was covered in a veil of mist and made from dark stones. Bone-Hawks flew around the Castle that would frequently fly to the mainland to gather information for the Lord of Volkihar.
The Lord was currently sat in a meeting room of sorts near to his personal quarters. Lord Harkon Volkihar did not sit alone, at his table were his advisers Vingalmo and Orthjolf along with his steward Garan Marethi.
He had sent emissaries to the nineteen other great Vampire Clans of Tamriel. He had requested that the other Clans send him reinforcements. He would never consider asking for help from the other Dark Lords or the secretive Vampyrum Order of Cyrodiil or dark Glenmoril Wyrd of High Rock under normal circumstances, but these were not normal circumstances. He was going to fulfil a prophecy written in an Elder Scroll known as The Tyranny of the Sun. It dictated that a powerful Vampire Lord would block out the sun and Vampires would rule the world.
"What word from the other Clans? Have the Lords of Iliac Bay offered any support to our cause?" He asked as he turned to Orthjolf, who had been sent to that region.
"No, my lord. They have sworn loyalty to Lord Calliux Artellius of Deepscorn Hollow."
Harkon's face had been affected by vampirism in the way most of the Volkihars was, his nose was bat-like, his eyes were burning orange and his skin was now pale and wrinkled. The transformation meant that he could rarely display emotion facially, but to the other three Vampires the Pure Blooded Vampire Lord was clearly showing one expression. Complete and utter shock.
"Are you trying to tell me that a 200 year old who was infected by some petty savage has united Nine Clans who have been killing each other since before the time of King Lysandus?"
"He challenged the old Lords and defeated them all in one on one combat. He positioned those loyal to him as the Lords of Clan Anthotis, Clan Garlythi, Clan Haarvenu, Clan Khulari, Clan Lyrezi, Clan Montalion, Clan Selenu, Clan Tharfey and Clan Vraseth. He has declared himself as Shadow-Lord of Iliac Bay. The Glenmoril Wyrd refuse to join him, but also refuse to send us aid."
Harkon turned to Garan Marethi, hoping that the Dunmer Clans would be more helpful. "What of your people, Garan? Have the Lords in the East been of anymore use than the Lords in the West?"
"Lady Dhaunaye Aundae sails personally with the entire Aundae Clan, my lord."
Harkon found himself bewildered for the second time that day. "Lady Aundae sails in person. With the entire Clan, why?"
"Raxle Berne and his Clan joined Calliux the moment he set foot on the Isle of Vvardenfell. The Shadow-Lord also wants control of Vvardenfell, apparently, he has challenged and killed Lady Volrina Quarra and positioned one of his lieutenants as Lord of Clan Quarra. Lady Aundae fears for her position."
"If Calliux really wants to kill her we do not have the forces to stop him." Orthjolf added, worry apparent in his voice.
"I am aware of that. Out of the twenty great Clans of Tamriel this boy, a boy who doesn't even belong to a Clan,now commands eleven of them. He has no intention of hunting her down though, Orthjolf, you can rest easy. All he wants are her feeding grounds."
"How has he been so successful?" Vingalmo muttered to no one in particular.
"He has a certain talent for combat. Undefeated, they say." Orthjolf replied to his rival.
"If he was undefeated he'd still have both eyes." Garan countered.
Harkon nodded in agreement. Calliux Artellius was renowned to be a fierce warrior and excellent swordsman. He was the younger brother of the legendary Sir Titus Artellius. The Dark Lord of Clan Volkihar was no coward but he wouldn't have dared to cross blades with Titus, even if he had an army at his back. Luckily for him he wouldn't have to, the Champion of Cyrodiil and Knight of the Imperial Dragon had disappeared in the early days of the Fourth Era.
"We need him as an ally." Harkon stated.
"We may have before long, my lord," Vingalmo piped up with, "although he was in Iliac Bay whilst I was in Cyrodiil I managed to gain an audience with Uzgahk the Dread, one of his chief lieutenants. He was entrusted with safeguarding Deepscorn in Calliux's absence."
"And?" Harkon was irritated that Vingalmo had waited until now to tell him of this potential alliance.
"He will journey to Calliux's base of command on the Isle of Balfiera. After that he will come to us as an emissary," Vingalmo continued with his report after Harkon indicated for him to, "the Cyrodiil Vampyrum Order has no Lord but the member I gained an audience with says that our kind has survived since the time of the Blood Matron by remaining hidden, not by fulfilling ancient prophecies. And it seems the Bosmeri Lords of Clans Bonsamu, Keerlith, Yekef and Telboth are too busy fighting over the feeding grounds of Valenwood to make alliances."
Harkon turned to Garan, "Any other alliances I need to know about?"
"The Whet-Fangs of Black Marsh sent a hundred guerrilla warfare specialists, and ask that their lord is given the title of King of Black Marsh if you are successful, and that Clan Volkihar ensures no other Clans set foot in Black Marsh whether you are successful or not."
Harkon smiled. Lord Fang-Maw was a longstanding ally of Harkon. The Whet-Fangs were masters of guerrilla warfare and frequently took out greater numbers than their own on their constant raiding parties.
"So what are our final numbers?"
"Our six thousand Warriors and half that amount of Thralls, and the twelve members of court; the seven hundred Sorcerers and Battlemages of Clan Aundae, along with Lady Dhaunaye; and a hundred Whet-Fang Guerrilla Fighters. By my arithmetic that will make nine thousand, eight hundred and thirteen when the others arrive."
As Harkon opened his mouth to talk the door to the meeting room burst open and struck the cold stone wall with a loud thud. Feran Sadri stood there, his burning orange eyes wide with a look somewhere between shock and excitement. "Pardon, my lord, but Lady Serana has returned."