The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Story of Octavian
Corrupted Sanctity
It was a long, arduous struggle getting to the fortress. Mostly uphill on ice-encrusted slopes, were it not for Jongard having some old ice hooks we would never have made it before dawn. All around the place was a thick, bluish-gray mist. It didn't feel natural. Jongard cried out and there was a hiss, we ran over and he was standing over a shattered skeleton.
"The thing just attacked me. I think I'm starting to get an idea of what's corrupted this place."
We silently entered the silent, moldy-smelling tomb. The door slammed shut behind us and all light was extinguished.
"Cast Night-Eye. I don't want to risk using a torch and drawing attention." I said to Jongard, since Janus and I could already see.
We snuck along, Jongard moving remarkably quiet for someone in a full suit of Ebony. We rounded one corner and encountered a horrible sight.
It was in a suit of Blades armor and held an ancient katana, but it's skin was peeled off, revealing decomposing muscle. Strings of flesh hung down from it's arms where rats had begun to eat it. It took one look at us and howled. It struck out at me but I drew my sword and blocked, then Jongard slashed it from behind as Janus stabbed it; but the thing was already dead, so it merely threw us off and attacked Jongard. I jumped on it and grabbed it's neck, then tore its head up and off. It wheeled around and cut me across the face, but then Jongard stabbed it through its ancient heart and it finally fell.
It glowed with the same unnatural mist from outside and then a ghost, fully formed and human, came out.
"Where am I? I was sent my lord Tiber Septim to purify Sancre Tor, but the traitor, Zurin Arctus, was waiting for us. He slaughtered us with his black magic and bound us to his will. But thanks to you, I can finish my journey. Three of my comrades are also cursed. Free them and the shrine can be purified."
With that the ghost walked towards the center of the ruin, paying us no further heed. In one room there were four doors. One led to the Shrine, and the other three we didn't know.
"Knowing our luck, there's probably one in each area. I say we split up. As soon as we kill one we meet back here." I said.
"Fine by me." Jongard said, and took one passage, Janus took another, and I wound up going down into the catacombs.
It was pitch black, except in one room, which swirled with blue mist. I could hear the shuffling, skeletal feet behind me, so I whipped around and struck at air. There was a cackle next to me, so I thrust that way, but I missed again. I couldn't see a thing, so I tried a detect life spell. It was a weak sign, a flicker, but I could see the movement now. It was moving towards me, and at the last second before it struck, I ducked aside and spun, severing it's head, then drew my other weapon and stabbed it through the heart. It gave a sigh and a ghost appeared.
"Out of my way, I need to get to the shrine. It needs to be purified, by order of the Emperor."
I followed it back to the center, and the others were already there. Into the shrine we went, the Tomb of the Reman Emperors was lit by blue torches and the mist ahead. The four ghosts knelt and the mist exploded outwards. The torches flames flared red and the ghosts were gone. We walked ahead and saw the armor, crusted with blood and practically rusted onto the pedestal. I grabbed it and lifted it off as reverently and gently as I could. By this time my internal clock told me the sun would be setting, so we set out and ran as fast as we could back to the Temple with our sacred burden.