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Chapter 7 - Morthal

It was late afternoon when they reached solid ground and began making better progress, and dusk when they approached the Moorside Inn.

Just before they headed up the stairs to the entrance, Shanti caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of her eye, and turned to see a dark-clad figure hurl what looked from there like a thick, lit candle through the door of the house at the end of the walkway. There was a sound of something breaking, then a flare of fire, and she dropped her pack, sprinting to the house. Screams came from the door, and she plunged in, starting to cough almost immediately from the oily smoke.

"Help - my Helgi - please!" a woman called, barely able to get the words out through her coughing as she clung to the edge of the door.

Shanti was closest, so she shoved past the woman and dropped to the floor to get beneath the smoke, hearing the other two pounding up the house's stairs behind her. "Helgi - Helgi, where are you? Get on the floor, now!"

She heard a child coughing, then a scrabbling on the floor to her left, and moved toward it. "I'm coming, Helgi. Pat around on the floor until you feel my hand, and keep making sounds."

More coughing answered her, then she felt a small hand patting her gauntlet. She took the hand and guided it to her ankle. "Crawl behind me."

"Uh-huh."

But that only worked for a few seconds, as flaming oil spread toward them. Shanti surged to her feet, then reached down to snatch the child, trying to keep her elven-armored self between the child and the fire, making her way toward where she remembered the door was.

As she groped her way toward it through the smoke, a crying Helgi clinging to her breastplate, a strong hand seized her wrist and pulled her through the door. Seconds later, the roof collapsed behind her, and the flame roared higher, fed by roof thatch. Only major efforts by the town guard and citizens throwing water on nearby buildings kept the flames from spreading.

Not long afterward, she was in an inn room with the child, rooting through her pack for healing potions and trying to calm Helgi. After she fed the girl a healing potion, followed by a sleeping potion, she went to the inn's main room. "Did anyone find the child's parents?"

"Her mother's in the room next to yours," Voranil said. "I gave her a couple of potions - I think she'll be all right by morning."

Bjorn pointed to a man slumped over a table, snoring. "That's the father. Too drunk to notice his house going up in flames. Bastard."

Shanti sighed. "At least we were able to rescue the woman and child. And thank you for hauling me and Helgi out of there."

"I just wish we'd gotten a better look at the arsonist," Voranil said. "I think it was a woman - moved like one, at least. But why? Did you catch a scent?"

Shanti shook her head. "At least not enough to identify whoever it was - the smoke was too strong to smell much beyond burning wood and oil."

Voranil sighed. "I wonder why anyone would do such a thing."

No one could think of any reason, but they agreed it might be wise to keep watch just in case the arsonist tried anything else. Shanti volunteered for the first watch, since she wanted to study the Candlelight spell book she'd found in one of the Ustengrav treasure chests. Her ability to see in dim light was nice, but there were plenty of times brighter light would be more helpful.

The first couple of hours after the rest went to bed were quiet, and she studied the tome eagerly. Candlelight was one of the simplest spells in the Alteration School, and very useful if you needed to read something or were looking for small objects. When she was certain she had it learned well enough to use, she returned the tome to her pack. She could decide later whether to sell it or keep it for the library she planned to start as soon as she had a residence of her own.

She was thinking about having a half-glass of mead before waking Bjorn for his shift, when she heard sounds from the room where Helgi's mother was. She moved to the room's door quietly, and opened it slowly, peering inside. When she saw someone bending over the woman, she flung it wide instead, drawing her sword. "What are you doing?"

The other straightened, turning to her with a snarl, fangs showing, then sprinted toward her.

"Vampire!" Shanti yelled, swinging her weapon at the vampire. Unfortunately, the vampire dodged the blow by ducking, then sprinting past her, knocking her to the floor. By the time she was able to get to her feet, Voranil and Bjorn were out of their room, Bjorn with sword in hand, and Voranil with a destruction spell charged.

"Where?" the Altmer snapped.

Shanti pointed to the open inn door, casting Clairvoyance as she did. All three followed the spell's light, Bjorn in the lead. It took time, but eventually the spell led them to a cave entrance with blood and body parts nearby, and Voranil called a halt. "Back to the inn for now. I'm not about to go into a vampire den at night, when they're at their strongest."

Shanti didn't like breaking off a hunt, but she knew he was right, and didn't argue. "Take on a vampire at night?" she said. "No, thanks. Besides, we need to check and make sure the vampire didn't bite Hilde."

Back in the warm and now fully awakened inn. Bjorn and Voranil went to their room to dress, while Shanti went to Hilde. "Are you all right?" She didn't see any bite marks, but ...

"I feel like I've had one mead too many, but otherwise, I'm fine. What happened?"

"I was on watch, heard noises from your room, and went in to see someone standing over you. It turned out to be a vampire." That caught everyone's attention, and Shanti continued the story, finishing, "We traced it to its lair, and we'll notify the Jarl in the morning."

Bjorn and Voranil emerged from their room, and Voranil asked, "Did anyone recognize who it used to be?"

"Laelette, Thonnir's wife," Jonna, the innkeeper, replied. "He said she'd mentioned going to join the Stormcloaks, but it's pretty obvious now that wasn't the case. You'll have to talk to him if you want to find out anything more, I'm afraid."

A man who'd been sitting beside the sleeping drunk stood and approached the group. "My Laelette? A vampire? I can't believe it! I thought she'd gone to join the Stormcloaks, like I told everyone."

Shanti cocked her head. "Well, since she clearly didn't ... was she acting strange at all before she vanished?"

Thonnir looked thoughtful, then he nodded. "She had started spending time with Alva, when earlier, she couldn't stand her. But ... Alva didn't have a very good reputation, granted. Still ... it's hard to believe she'd be a vampire."

"Well, someone turned Laelette," Bjorn said grimly. "That makes Alva sound like the culprit. We need to search her house for evidence."

"You really ought to get the Jarl's permission," Jonna said.

"We don't have time," Voranil growled. "If there were two vampires in town, there are bound to be more near by - maybe a full coven. What we found may be it, or may be just a single one's lair. We need information, and we need it now!"

A man in Morthal Guard armor stood, removing his helmet. "I agree. Unfortunately, we don't have the authority to enter anyone's place without the Jarl's authority, and by this time, Her Grace is asleep. Still, this is urgent, and we can't waste any time. Khajiit, your folk are known for illegality; how are you at lockpicking?"

Shanti shivered. "I know the basics, but I am no expert, and I have no lockpicks." And the only practice she'd had was on her own house's door, back as a child being trained in traditional arts. The Legion knew such skills were necessary, but preferred they not be taught to anyone not under full Legion discipline. Still, cultural differences ...

The guard grinned. "Divines know we have plenty of picks, from arrested thieves. And you'll have me and a couple of my men around you, literally looking the other way. Shall we go?"

The guards and those who'd been traveling with Shanti followed him to the guardhouse, where he retrieved a handful of lockpicks, which he gave to Shanti, then led them to a house a bit further down the wooden walkway. Then he and his men turned their backs to her, and she got to work.

She was nervous about doing something which was normally a crime, despite the guards' collusion. Her nervousness didn't help matters, and the lock was more complex than the one at home, which didn't help either. Shanti groaned as another lockpick snapped.

"Need a calming spell?" Voranil asked sympathetically. "You're starting to get shaky, and that can't be helpful."

"Please, yes." Shanti looked at him gratefully.

He smiled, charged an Illusion spell, then cast it at her, and she felt herself settling down. With that assistance, her next attempt was successful, and the group entered, spreading out to search.

"What are we looking for?" Shanti asked.

"Probably a coffin," Voranil replied. "Most vamps sleep in them."

Bjorn had run ahead, down into the cellar, and they heard him call, "Down here!"

The rest hurried down the stairs, to find Bjorn standing over an open coffin on a low platform. "She's not here, but there's a book in the coffin."

Shanti picked it up and opened it. "It's a journal," she said. It doesn't have dates, but it's obviously in order." Then she started reading aloud.


"My life is dreary. Where is my prince come to rescue me? Where is my bold Nord warrior to sweep me off my feet?

"I met a man today when picking nightflowers. He is exciting and exotic. We kissed in the moonlight. It was so romantic. I'm going to see him again tonight.

"Now I understand the true colors of the night. Movarth has shown me the true black of night and the true red of blood. He has promised me a feast of blood if I do his bidding in Morthal.

"Hroggar was easy to seduce. Movarth said I should find a protector first, someone to watch over my coffin during the day. Hroggar is perfect.

"Laelette came to visit me tonight. She slaked my thirst. I've hidden her away to let her rise as my handmaiden. I've spread the rumor in town that she left to join the war. Fools.

"Movarth has confided his grand plan to me. I am to seduce the guardsmen one at a time and make them my slaves. Then he and the others from the coven can descend upon Morthal and take the entire town. We won't kill them. They will become cattle for our thirst. An endless supply of blood and an entire town to protect us from the cursed sun.

Hroggar's family is becoming inconvenient. I've told Laelette to kill them all, but make it look like an accident. Hroggar must be seen as innocent if he is going to be my protector."


Bjorn turned to the guardsmen. "So she's planning to turn you into thralls. Probably did the same thing to Hroggar."

The senior guardsman nodded. "Harl, Franks - back to the inn, and take him to a cell. We'll have Falion take a look at him in the morning, and if he is enthralled, see if Falion can free him." When they acknowledged the order and left, he turned to the remaining three. "You, come with me. This, we do need to wake the Jarl for."

As they started to follow the guardsman, Bjorn touched Shanti's hand. "I was born and raised here. Jarl Idgrod is ... um ... a bit strange. Sees visions, that sort of thing. So if it seems she knows more than she should, that's likely why."

At Highmoon Hall, to Shanti's surprise, they found Jarl Idgrod awake and waiting for them. "My visions tell me our visitors have something I should see. What is it?"

Shanti stepped forward and bowed, handing Jarl Idgrod the journal, rather amused that Bjorn's warning had borne fruit so quickly. "This was in the coffin we believe was Alva's."

The Jarl read it, then said, "That traitorous bitch! Morthal owes you a debt." She turned to her steward. "Get that gold I had you separate out, and bring it." When he had, she handed Shanti a heavy pouch. "Here. You and your companions have earned this,but I need one more favor from you. Morthal is still in danger. The journal mentions Movarth, a master vampire I thought was destroyed a century ago. I'll get some of my townsfolk to accompany you, of course."

Shanti thanked her, then said, "I don't think your townsfolk should go. We found what seems now like his lair, last night. We three are a master mage, a scout, and a spellsword - having untrained people with us would simply hamper us. Perhaps a guardsman or two, but no civilians."

Jarl Idgrod smiled. "As you say, youngster. Guards only, then, and only those who volunteer."


When they gathered at Highmoon Hall the following morning, there were four guards, and Laelette's husband Thonnir. Shanti approached him. "Why are you here? she asked gently. "You don't seem like a fighter. Why don't you go to the inn, or home, and ... have a drink or something?"

He looked grateful. "Thank you ... I'm really not a warrior, but for Laelette and our boy ... "

"You'll do your boy more good by staying alive for him. Now go."

When he left, looking grateful, she turned to the ones remaining, both Hold Guards and both Nords. "Follow me."

At the cavern entrance, which was even less attractive in daylight, but didn't smell any worse, after a brief hesitation they entered, Bjorn scouting ahead,

They weren't very far into the lair when she heard Bjorn cursing about spiders, and the sounds of a fight. By the time she got to where the fight had been, she found three dead spiders. Their venom sacs were still full, so she took the time to collect the venom, then caught up with the rest, swearing to herself. Yes, frostbite venom was useful - and profitable - but the delay would cost her experience, with everyone else ahead of her now.

There was more fighting that she could hear but not see until she reached the aftermath, though she was able to make a contribution by healing one of the guards who'd taken a nasty blow to one arm. He thanked her when she was done, but then got back to work.

She didn't get to see or do anything more until they reached a larger chamber and the ones ahead of her spread out and began fighting. This looked like a dining room, with someone just rising from a throne-like chair at the far end of the table. Movarth?

Maybe, maybe not, but he was still a vampire, and she had a clear shot, so she focused flames in her left hand - she'd had her sword in her right the whole time - and yelled, "Movarth!"

The vampire turned to her, and she cast her spell at his face. It hit, and he screamed, then came at her faster than she'd have believed possible. She backed away as quickly as she could, gulping a magica potion, and charged flames again, casting as soon as the spell was ready. This time she focused it on his eyes, and was rewarded with another scream as he began clawing at his face.

She rushed forward, now wielding her sword two-handed, a combination of fear, fury, and revulsion adding strength to her blows. She kept hitting and hitting until she was pulled away and an amused voice said, "You can quit now. Not even a vampire can survive having his head cut to splinters. Not bad, and anything he has on him is yours."

"We ... should split it all, shouldn't we?" Though she seemed to remember a few exceptions to that general rule ... "

"Solo kill of a vampire," Voranil said in an amused tone. "Were-creatures the same. And dragons, of course."

"All right. But check the whole place out; a lair this size should yield plenty of loot. Maybe." She recalled the size and poverty of this Hold and its capital, feeling a bit ashamed. Divines, if not for having to establish her own home, she'd probably be offering the Jarl a share.


Instead, when they returned with news of Movarth's final death and the extermination of the vampire coven, the Jarl rewarded them again. "You three have done a great thing for my city and Hold. I sense you will do far more, in time. Especially you, my furry young friend. Divines bless you on your journey."

Shanti bowed politely. "Thank you, Your Grace. May They bless you and yours, as well."

"Oh, They do, though not in ways most consider normal. Your horse and two for your companions will be here for you in the morning. Now go, get some rest. You have a long journey ahead of you."