Slayer Gothic 2 - Dawnguard

Part 3

Sanctuary. Oblivion.

When my Daedric Prince counterpart had offered to take me somewhere I could get drink and some rest I'd not expected to be transported to a Plane of Oblivion. Although really I shouldn't have shocked since Tenebrous was a human who had been turned a powerful Dedra.

Normally being in such a place would be a very bad thing for a mortal, but I had enjoyed my time in the realm known as Sanctuary. I would have liked to explore the land further, but time was of the essence. I had to deal with the vampire problem as quickly as possible so I could return to Sunnydale and to my girls.

The Prince could have sent me home, however he wasn't willing to upset the Divines and since the Dragonborn, who was also another version of myself, was off dealing with the bad guy in the other DLC that meant someone had to deal with the vamps, and I was a Slayer.

Besides the clan of leeches that was being led by Harkon were in the service of Molag Bal, and if that Prince was planning to invade Buffy's world, after dragging Sunnydale into his realm, then then taking out his vampire supporters here was a good idea.

Now after a night's rest and a good breakfast a portal had provided for me. It was a blue swirly thing that had been formed in the courtyard of the palace that was the Prince's home. All I had to was step through it and I'd be back in Skyrim.

"My lord!" a voice called out.

I turned to see a female Dark Seducer, a gray-skinned, dark-haired, humanoid Daedra who was rather scantily clad despite the fact that she was wearing armour. Also I noted that she carried a shield and an axe.

"My name is Vika, my lord" the daedra said "I once served the Mad God, and was posted at Cylarne. Then I was sent to serve the Dark Prince along with the rest of my clan".

It was odd that she addressed me in such a way as males in Dark Seducer society, were often looked down upon, and even the males viewed themselves as lesser than the females. Although I had no idea why.

"Hi" I greeted.

I hadn't been able to think of anything better to say.

"The Prince regrets he can not be here to see you off" I was then told "He wanted to present you with three great gifts to aid you in your important quest".

Again I couldn't think of good words to use. I'd never spoken to a daedra who wasn't threatening to kill me.

"Okay" I said.

Vika gestured and three Succubi, who were attractive looking red skinned daedra that had wings and small horns, came over to where I was standing. Each of the creatures carried an item on a velvet pillow.

"The first is a pouch of gemstones" Vika explained "They are of great worth and will ensure you have funds while travelling in Mundas".

As I took the pouch I was surprised by the weight. It was heavier than expected.

"The next is an artifact that was enchanted by the Dark Prince himself" I was informed "It grants a extra stamina, magic, and health to whom ever wears it. No doubt a warrior such as yourself will benefit from it greatly".

I imagined I would.

"The last is a ring that will allow you to summon me once a day for a long as your magicka can sustain my presence in your realm" Vika explained" The amount of time I can remain with you, will increase every time you summon me as the spell will become less taxing to cast. The amulet will aid in the casting".

It was a Daedric artifact so it made sense that it so powerful despite it looking like a plain silver ring.

"In essence I am the third gift" the Daedra went on to say "Should you accept me I will serve in any way you wish, no matter how painful or pleasurable. If I am defeated in battle I will return to this realm, and you will be able to summon me again".

Now I had something to say.

"What do you mean by painful or pleasurable?" I wondered.

Vika smiled at me, it was a grin that was predatory, but not in a way that made me think she wanted to eat me.

"You are the brother of the Dark Prince, and a great warrior" she said "I will happily serve in anyway you wish, should that be on the battlefield or in the bedroom".

I'd figured it was something like that, and while the female daedra was attractive enough that the matter of her being a different species didn't seem important, I already had a harem and they might not approve. On the other hand I didn't need to have sex with Vika for her to be useful.

Then again my girls had all agreed that what ever happened in Mareth would stay in Mareth, meaning I could just summon the Dark Seducer in that realm should I feel like fucking her, assuming it worked there, and that way I wouldn't be breaking the contract. At least not in word.

"I have sworn only to serve you my lord" the daedra said "I will not allow any other to touch me or to harm you in anyway as long as you live. I will perform any task you desire and if I displease you in anyway then I will punish myself harshly, unless you wish to take matters into your own hands".

My life was very interesting, and even with the danger I was enjoying it, yet I couldn't help thinking that somewhere out there some higher being was a few laughs at my expense.

(Line Break)

Fort Dawnguard. Skyrim

As soon as I got back to the fortress I was more or less interrogated by Isran.

"You're going to tell me why a vampire showed up here looking for you" he demanded.

All I felt was bewilderment. I had no idea why a vampire would be looking for me, unless it wanted to kill me. I figured that it was Serena, but she had just gotten home after being away for centuries so it made no sense for her to leave her father so soon.

"I haven't a clue" I told Isran "I barely survived my last meeting with a vampire".

My next action was to explain what had happened to me. I didn't leave anything out other than the part about the Daedric Prince. I lied at that point and told the leader of the Dawnguard that Lord Harkon had sent me somewhere near to this fort, and that was how I'd gotten back to quickly.

"Fine let's go have a little chat with it, shall we?" Isran said his voice somehow even colder than normal "Maybe it will explain what in Oblivion is going on".

Following the Redguard we went down some stairs, as we moved I could hear Isran muttering to himself.

"I knew it would come to this one day, and no one listened to me" he whispered.

When we entered what I assumed to be the dungeon I disgusted by the scene before me. Dried blood was caked on the floor and there horrific torture devices all around as tool of torment hanging on the walls. Thankfully none of the stuff looked as if had been used in a while.

Serana was locked upside a cell and I inspected the vampire for signs of injury, and I found none. Clearly Serana had let herself be locked up and she didn't look at all concerned about being behind bars, and given how powerful she was I didn't think this cell could contain her if he wished to leave. Also I figured that she must have told Isran something he wanted to hear otherwise the Dawnguard would have gotten themselves killed trying to slay her.

"This vampire showed up just before sunrise" the Redguard informed me.

Isran's voice was full of hatred. I was no fan of vamps either, but he made my feelings seem like mere dislike when compared how much he loathed the blood drinkers.

"I'm guessing this has something to do with Dimhollow Crypt" Isran went on to say "Says it's got something real important to tell you."

While I noticed Isran's refusal to refer to Serana as a being I didn't comment on this as in truth I didn't see them as people either.

"I'm guessing you weren't expecting to see me again" the female vampire said.

Indeed I hadn't, and now that my eyes had adjusted better to the low light levels I saw that Serana was wearing leather armour. She had no weapon on her, but I figured that she had surrendered them to the Dawnguard.

"I'd rather not be here" she said while glancing at Isran "but I needed to talk to you".

Well that was obvious, she wouldn't have come here for tea and cake.

"So why are you here?" I asked.

There was no sense wasting time on small talk.

"It's important, so please listen" she pleaded "Its about me, and about the Scroll that I was buried with".

Thanks to my Daedric Prince counter part I now knew far more about what was going on than I had before. Harkon wanted to blot out the sun and to do it he needed a special bow and an Elder Scroll. However even the Prince wasn't all knowing so I did not have all the details.

"The reason I had it, and why I was down there," Serana said, sounding a little ashamed "It all comes back to my father".

Her tone of voice made it clear that she was displeased with Harkon.

"I'm guessing you figured that part out already, but my father's not exactly a good person" she went on to say "Even by vampire standards".

This wasn't anything I didn't already know, but I didn't think rushing Serena would help so I let her talk.

"He wasn't always like that, though" she then said "There was..."

She seemed to be struggling to find the right words.

"An event" she went on to say "He stumbled onto this obscure prophecy and just kind of lost himself in it."

Again I didn't press her to keep speaking. Instead I let her take her time.

"It was pointless and vague, like all prophecies" I was now being told "The part he latched onto said that the vampires would no longer need to fear the sun. That's what he's after. He wants to control the sun, so that vampires can control the world".

Same old story really. There was always some demon or monster that wanted to make existence even less pleasant for mortal beings such as myself.

"Anyway," Serana continued "My mother and I tried to stop him. That's why I was sealed away with the Scroll".

That sounded stupid to me because even if Elder Scrolls couldn't be destroyed then the thing could have been put into a box along with something heavy and then dumped into the sea. Also it didn't explain why Serana had been locked up with the scroll.

"So I thought you might want to know about a vampire plot to enslave or destroy the entire world," Serana finished.

Well she wasn't wrong. This was something we needed to know about.

"You've heard what it has to say" Isran said impatiently. "Why shouldn't I kill this bloodsucking fiend right now?"

Serana had an answer.

"Because we're going to need my help" she said.

Also because I was pretty sure that if he tried she'd use her magic to kill him.

"Why, because of that story about the prophecy? About some vampire trying to put the sun out?" Isran ranted. "Do you actually believe any of that?"

This time I answered a question.

"She risking her life coming here" I pointed out "She wouldn't have done that on a whim".

Isran wasn't totally convinced by that logic

"Maybe it has a death wish. Maybe it's just insane. I don't really care," Isran said irritably "Its a vampire".

The two of us stared each other down for a few seconds before Isran relented.

"It can stay here for now" he then said "but if it so much as lays a finger on anyone here, I'll hold you responsible. Got it?"

If Serena decided to start killing people I wasn't sure that any of us could stop her. Not unless I could trick her into holding onto one of the fuel bombs I was carrying. I had a few such devices, but I'd rather save them for her father.

In hindsight it might have been wise to use them yesterday, but I didn't think I'd had survived that meeting Lord Harkon even if I had.

"You hear me?" Isran was now saying to the vampire "Don't feel like a guest, because you're not. You're a resource, an asset. In the meantime, don't make me regret my sudden outburst of tolerance and generosity, because if you do, your friend here is going to pay for it".

Serana seemed amused.

"Thank you for your kindness. I'll remember it next time I'm feeling hungry" She said cheekily.

Serana then changed the subject, before Isran could get upset.

"Oh and, in case you haven't noticed, I still have the Elder Scroll" she informed us "Whatever it says, I bet it will help us stop my father".

She then folded her arms.

"But of course, neither of us can read it" she then added.

From what I remembered from the game, the Dragonborn could look at an Elder Scroll without going blind, but that didn't mean he could read all of them. He'd just used one to look into the past while at a wound in time. Still he had a better chance than anyone else I knew of, and he might know someone who could read it.

Sadly he'd left the country, and no one had any idea when he'd be back, if at all. I knew he was off fighting the First Dragonborn, and he might get himself killed. However if he didn't he'd return to Skyrim even more powerful than ever and would be a great aid to us. Assuming of course he cared to. If was the Dragonborn I'd be thinking of conquering Skyrim and founding my own empire.

"Moth Priests are the only ones I've heard of who can read the scrolls" Isran was saying "They spend years preparing before they can do it, though, and even when they do it costs them their sight, at least".

The leader of the Dawnguard had more to say

"Some Imperial scholar arrived in Skyrim a few days ago" Isran went on to say "I was staking the road when I saw him pass by, maybe that's your Moth Priest".

I wondered when he'd found the time do that as he seemed to be a very busy man.

"Do you know where he's staying now?" Serana asked

I could hear the hope in her voice.

"No" he said "And I am not going to waste men looking. We're fighting a war against your kind and I intend to win it. You want to find him, you're on you own. Try talking to innkeepers and carriage drivers in the big cities".

With that Isran walked away, leaving the two of us alone.

"So do you have any idea how to find a Moth Priest?" Serana asked.

I couldn't provide that information.

"All we can do is try to track him" I told the vampire "Solitude might be our best bet being that its the capitol or we could try Whiterun, its the commercial heart of Skyrim so anyone visiting from down south is likely going to stop there to pick up supplies or rest for the night".

Since Senera could fly us across the country in a few hours we should have much trouble catching up to scholar.

"Hold on I'll get the key to..."

Before I could finish speaking Serana cast a spell on the door of the cell which unlocked it.

"I also mastered alteration fairly quickly" she said.

Now I was even more glad than ever that she was on my side. Hopefully she'd stay there.

(Line Break)

Dragon Bridge

The small village was fairly quiet, only a few people were about people doing their errands, and there were a few guards patrolling. I decided to try my luck with one of the guardsmen.

"Yes Dovahkiin?" one of the guard said before I could speak "How may I help you?"

While I'd been told by the Dark Prince that the Dragonborn was yet another version of myself, which was just confusing as hell. It didn't really sink in until someone call me Dovahkiin.

"Do you know anything about a Moth Priest visiting Dragon Bridge?" I enquired

I'd asked around and had been directed to this place. Which hadn't take long as Serena had flown us around, and then had landed outside of the settlements so we could approach them on foot.

"Ah, so that was a Moth Priest eh" the guard said "He rode through town not long ago with an escort of soldiers. They headed south if that helps".

I thanked the guard and soon Serana was following me as we ran in the direction the guard had told us to go.

"Why did that man call you, Dovahkiin?" the vampire asked "What does it mean?".

I decided not to tell her right now as explaining would take a while.

(Line Break)

Soon we came across an overturned carriage, a dead horse and a few equally dead Imperial Guards. Also there was a empty pile of clothes nearby which suggested that someone had slain a vampire, and that the ashes had blown away in the wind.

"Looks like an ambush" I muttered.

Given the damage done and the dead guards I guessed that a few vampires had been involved. Strong ones too as overturning a carriage wasn't as easy as most people might imagine it to be.

"Gothic, come and take a look at this!" Serana called out.

Since I wasn't use to being called Gothic I looked around for a second thinking that she was talking to someone else before something in my head clicked and I realised that she was talking to me.

I walked over to the vampire and she held out a piece of paper, which I then read.

'I have new orders for you. Prepare an ambush south of Dragon Bridge. Take the Moth Priest to Forebears Holdout for safekeeping until I can break his will. Malkus'

On the back of the letter was a map which showed the bridge and the Holdout, which was lucky for us.

(Line Break)

Forebears Holdout

Serana and I entered the cave to find a huge passage, a cavern and some stone architecture. Which was pretty standard from what I remembered from playing the game. A lot of Skyrim societies seemed to have built underground, either that or they'd been buried by time.

Without being seen Serana and I were able to observe some vampires who were further inside the cave, and two of those evil hound things which were much closer to the entrance. I also spotted a magical barrier in the distance.

"Take out the dogs first" I ordered "and try not to make any noise while you do it.

I aimed my crossbow at one of the two hounds and they immediately died. Thanks to a well aimed bolt and a very sharp ice spike.

"Follow me" was my next command.

I quietly killed two vampires before making it up the stairs of a tower, and doing that allowed me to see three vampires who were standing in front of a magical barrier, and there was a man in white robes trapped within the magical spell. I guessed the poor sod was the Moth Priest.

"How much longer can you keep this up, Priest?" I heard an Orc vampire say "Your mind is strong, but you're exhausted from the struggle".

As the vamp talked, Serena and I began to move closer to the three blood drinkers. They were so focused on the Priest that they hadn't even noticed the dogs or their fellow vampires being killed.

"Must resist…" the man inside the barrier moaned.

He was putting up a good effort, but judging by the strain in the man's voice he wouldn't last much longer.

"Yes, I can feel your defences crumbling" the undead Orc was now saying "You want it to end and give in to me. Now acknowledge me as your master!"

Senera and I were now much closer, but not quite ready to strike.

"Yes… master…"the man said.

The Moth Priest had stopped struggling.

"We attack now" I decided.

Serana had sprang out from our hiding place, rushed into battle and engaged them before the projectile I'd just fired from my crossbow hit its target. Serana shot bolts of lightning and used ice spikes against the vampires. She managed to kill one very quickly and my crossbow had dealt with the other, so soon there was just the Orc left to worry about.

Not that I had to worry for long as it turned out that Serana really didn't like the Orc, she transformed and ripped into the vamp who soon became a pile of dust. When that happened I felt the urge to both attack Serana or to run away as she was scary, but I was able to restrain myself.

"Lets figure a way to remove this barrier" I said once the vampire who was my ally had retaken human form "I'll try a spell".

I decided to try some Old One magic

"Zhro" (lift spell)

The magic barrier started to dissipate.

"And since he's enthralled, expect him to try and kill us," Serana warned me.

Serana was right. After the barrier disappeared, the Moth Priest moved to attack.

"I serve my master's will" the man said "But my master is dead and his enemies will pay!"

The Moth Priest charged at us, and was getting ready to launch a fireball by the looks of things, but I got to him faster before he could and slapped him across the face. The old man fell to the ground. I felt bad about hitting a blind man, but had needed to be done.

"Wait stop, I yield!" the Moth Priest cried out as he regained his senses. That… wasn't me you were fighting. I could see through my eyes, but I could not control my actions".

I'd figured that a good shock to the system, like a slap across the face would snap him out of it.

"Thank you for breaking that vampire's hold over me," the Moth Priest then said.

I helped the old man up off the ground.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Yes, I am thanks to you" he answered "My name is Dexion Evicus. I'm a Moth Priest from the White Gold Tower. These vampires claimed that they had some purpose in store for me, but they wouldn't say what. Probably to ransom me, the fools".

I knew this wasn't the case so I explained some of what was really going on.

"They didn't want you for ransom" I told the old man "They wanted you for the very same reason we do".

Naturally the Moth Priest became concerned.

"You do?" Dexion asked "What do you want with me?"

Again I explained at least part of what was going on.

"We're with a group known as the Dawnguard" I told Dexion "and we need you to read an Elder Scroll".

The man's expression went from one of concern to an almost child like wonder.

"You have an Elder Scroll? Remarkable!" Dexion shouted "If my knowledge does not fail me, I recall that the Dawnguard was an ancient order of vampire hunters. I will be happy to assist you by reading your Elder Scroll. Just tell me, where do I need to go?"

From what I knew, the Dawnguard had been forgotten for a long time, so for this man to know of that group meant he'd been very well educated.

"The rest of us are Fort Dawnguard, in Dayspring Canyon" I told the man "But I think its best if we go with you in case another group of vampires kidnap you again".

This offer was accepted.

"Very well, lead on," Dexion replied "and on the way you can tell me why you have a vampire working with you and what world you come from".

For an old blind man this Dexion sure saw a lot.