S'raffa Assassin Fic

Disclaimer: All familiar characters belong to Bethesda Studios. I own S'raffa.

Chapter 25: Two Forts, One Night

Seeing as how my training was a bit lacking, despite all the enhancements I had received, I had to get better, rely more on my natural skill than any of the enhancements. Do not be mistaken; I do appreciate the boosts. I just prefer not to rely on them so much.

I heard about two fort ruins that were near a farm; Fort Naso and Fort Facian. Both had undead in them and I figured it would be a good place to get my practice going.

I arrived about midday at Fort Naso. I fired my arrows, sending a bear screaming away. I chuckled at the sight of the arrows perforating his hide, knowing full well that; the more he tried to get them out, the worse it hurt.

I entered quietly through a door, turning on my Night Eye ability. Immediately, I could feel a chill in the air. There was undead here, in this fort. As I stalked the corridor, I knew I was right. Through a dense fog in the middle of the room, I saw coffins. Fort Naso was a lair for vampires.

I killed a wolf and its vampire master, firing silver arrows into the vampire's heart and throat. It attempted to scream in pain, but it was too quick. I could hear a trap spring in the distance, knowing that maybe another vampire was coming. I hid out of sight and waited until everything was clear. When it was, I examined the body of one of the vampires. It was a vampire monk of some kind. I thought to myself that maybe, this place was a monastery training vampire hand-to-hand combatants. I decided to investigate further.

I opened the coffins, the foul stench overpowering me for a moment. What I found were bones and old clothes, but I did find some gold and some gems. After dispatching some more of these vampire monks, I found even more treasures; chest containing valuable potions and gold coins. I roamed through the halls of the ruins, making sure to be aware of any unsightly vampires and their wolf companions.

Finally, I found the main casket. It was well guarded; I could see some sort of vampire matriarch guarding it, with her timber wolf. I cautiously slipped around a pillar and opened the coffin. I found a lot of treasure and I scooped it up as best I could. I then fired a few shots, perforating the matriarch's throat. She launched a spell at me while the timber wolf howled loudly. I used my Moonshadow ability and dashed out of the fort.

When I was safely away, I caught my breath. Luckily, I was still alive, but one of those vampires did get to me. I must have contracted that vampire disease as I rubbed my hand. I took out a potion of Cure Disease and swallowed it. The liquid was bitter, but it was better than being turned into a vampire, I will say that.

However much I felt I gained, it was still not enough. I had to keep going. Luckily, the second fort, Fort Facian, was not too far from here. I dashed through the wilderness and over rocks, feeling the coming of the night air. As I skulked the ruins at night, I jumped down silently, hoping to catch something out of the darkness. When I saw no one, I turned on my night eyes again and entered the fort.

This time, the air was like the same as the other one, except I could feel something different about this one. I skulked down the entrance hallway and, before I turned the first corner, I saw a ghost hovering about. His back was to me, so I was in luck. I saw a hall way and, triggering the trap, stepped out of the way. It was one of those traps that fired darts from both ends. When it subsided, I dashed through it, just barely avoiding the second wave. I skulked down some stairs and saw some more ghosts, and some wraiths. I decided to just take some of the treasures I saw in the chests and vacate the premises.

I headed to Lleyawiin and rested. From there, I would check up on my target and, hopefully, be able to complete my contract. As I rested in the inn, however, I had a very strange dream…

Next Chapter:

Finding the Key…