"Do not fear the shadows, though they are your foe as much as they are your friend. Fear what the shadows may hide, should they hide more than you."
- Master Hlan Llethari, Morag Tong trained to Bann-Je
Claudia did not understand what had gotten into Sibylla and Do'Ravier. She had warned them that Bann-Je could return at any moment and that in itself would probably mean they would have another big task ahead of them. Getting plenty of rest was implicit with such information. Instead, she just saw Sibylla idling in the temple sanctuary, reading a book despite the heaviness forming around her eyes, absolutely refusing to sleep. Do'Ravier stayed up into the wee hours of the morning, quaffing cup after cup of warm team before slumber finally took his eyes and his head quite literally crashed onto the table.
Admittedly, neither of them wanted to talk about the ghost story. Alaviera refused to as well, but she spent the night at the local inn. Claudia for her part managed to sleep soundly. When she awoke the next morning, the sun was just barely climbing over the horizon and the smoky white clouds overhead painted the landscape in a pale light. Passing the sanctuary she found that Sibylla had passed out at some point in the night, sprawled out where she collapsed on the pew that she was sitting on. In the dining room, she spotted a disheveled Do'Ravier reading a book while sipping from a cup of tea. He was crushing generous amounts of a dried herb into it. Claudia suspected it was probably an energy booster. Alaviera was also present, sitting off to the side of the Khajiit though she seemed to have just been idling.
"Sleep well, Miss Vivinici?" Alaviera asked polietly as she passed.
"I did. Yourself?" Claudia returned.
"Not really." Alaviera replied in a half groan, half murmur.
"My apologies. Is there any more tea, Do'Ravier?" Claudia asked.
The Khajiit simply grunted tiredly and motioned backwards towards the kitchens.
Claudia left them, hoping that Do'Ravier had now brewed the tea too strongly though she had little hope for that. While she was gone, Alaviera brushed the stray wisps of her platinum locks out of her eyes and looked at the Khajiit who somehow was reading a book, albeit rather slowly.
"I have a question, if you don't mind?" Alaviera announced.
"Hmbgh?" Do'Ravier grunted, his eyes half closed.
"I noticed you seem to excel at telekinetic spells and lightning. I heard that in Elsweyr, Khajiiti mages like to study local archtypes. Telekinetics and lightning are ironically a type called 'storm mages.' Care to shed some light on that topic?" Alavier asked.
"It's true. Telekinetics are used to forcefully fling objects, and in the case of Elsweyr, there is plenty of sand to be tossed to create a miniature sandstorm. The lightning is just from local tradition. But if you were to go against a single mage pummeling you with sand and lighting, you'd feel like you were going against a miniature storm." Do'Ravier explained tiredly.
"I heard there's a superstition that mages using telekinetics should never use it to move a living being, only objects." Alaviera commented.
"It's true. If we move a person, it's because we are latching onto an object that a person is wearing but never manipulating the person themselves. Just a local tradition. The belief is that magic should never be used to to clutch another being's soul like that so closely. Soul gems is one thing. It's another to use telekinetics to clutch another person's being like that." Do'Ravier explained.
"Interesting theory." Alaviera muttered with a wry smile.
Both the Khajiit and High Elf looked up when they spotted Bann-Je plodding into the room. At least, they assumed it was Bann-Je since he was the only other Argonian that could conceivably be entering this far into the building without a word. It was hard to confirm that, though. Bann-Je was covered snout to tail in mud.
"Did you have an accident?" Do'Ravier asked, staring dumbfounded at his mud covered friend.
Bann-Je's yellow eyes blinked once before answering.
"Had to keep my scent from the wolves. Mud was the best solution at the time. Tell Claudia I have returned. I must wash myself." Bann-Je announced before heading in the direction of the baths.
Alaviera, whose mouth had been parted in shock until now, finally voiced her thoughts.
"How is it that he's covered in mud and yet did not leave any footprints walking in here?" the Thalmor asked in bewilderment.
"He's an expert assassin, he can defy logic like that." Do'Ravier muttered before sipping his tea again.
The group met over breakfast. Bann-Je was wearing a woollen cloak that was two sizes too big for him but he had to make do while his freshly cleaned clothes and armor dried. Some of his scales were a little raw as well, he had scrubbed hard to get the thick layer of mud off. He was enjoying the feeling of being clean, though.
Couran, Jaspier and Alavier were also present as well as Do'Ravier and Sibylla who were still blinking heavily from lack of sleep. They all waited for Claudia to sit down first before they looked to Bann-Je to give his report. The Argonian paused for a moment. His throat still felt gritty from the stray mud he swallowed so he took a sip of tea first.
"Did you find anything useful?" Claudia finally demanded.
"A castle. I found a castle." Bann-Je replied.
"Must be one of the old ruins here in High Rock. Divines knows how many were made, forgotten and lost throughout the years." Couran shrugged.
"You'd think a castle would be hard to lose." Do'Ravier commented.
"Too many wars have happened in Tamriel. Too many people moving along and also too many years. It could have been a conflict long ago among local people who built that castle and then forgot about it." Couran explained.
"Regardless, I think I was able to navigate around those wolves. They were erratic in their patrol patterns, if they could be called patterns. Anyway, as much as it pains me to say it, there are no broken sections in the walls despite the fact that it has not been repaired in years. The only entrance is the front door. Otherwise, getting to it is very straightforward."
"I-i-is there a reasons this castle is s-s-so interesting?" Jaspier asked.
"We have no other lead, Jaspier. Plus, if you had seen those wolves you would be rather suspicious too that this castle might have something to do with this whole mess." Claudia said.
"And what if it proves to be an empty ruin?" Alaviera cautioned.
"Then we hit yet another dead end and no harm is done. Still, the connection seems too glaring. We'll want help from your other Vigilants here as well as some skilled guards. Even if there is nothing in that castle, we'll want to eliminate the rest of that wolf pack. Nothing good can come from letting that diseased group run wild." Claudia judged.
"So when do we hit them?" Sibylla asked, cutting to the point as usual.
"How soon can you have the men assembled as I asked?" Claudia asked, turning to Couran.
"We have some Vigilants out on patrol. Unfortunately, we can't do anything until tomorrow." the Dark Elf apologized.
"So be it, if we have no choice. Just make sure the guards are prepared for anything troublesome tonight. Tomorrow, we'll investigate that castle during the day, the time any werewolf would want to be hiding in there." Claudia announced.
"Oh, good. I'll be needing a nap." Do'Ravier replied.
A few hours later Do'Ravier was still working hard at that nap. Sibylla meanwhile was sitting outside the temple doors on its steps. Head Reaper was laid across her lap while she ran a shaped piece of malachite ore over the edge. She intended to have her weapon in top condition before she went out to face whatever might have been lurking at that forsaken castle. Truth be told, her ax could have been as dull as a plate edge but its weight and durability would have still made it dangerous. Nonetheless, she wanted to make sure her blade would be able to cut through armor like a hot knife through butter.
She heard footsteps approaching.
Sibylla looked up and behind her shoulder. It was all she could do to keep from scowling when she saw who it was. It was Alaviera. The Thalmor had removed her helmet but otherwise she still had all her armor and equipment. Alaviera sighed before sitting down next to Sibylla. In all fairness, the High Elf made sure to put a healthy if respectful distance of space between the two of them. Sibylla waited for what Alaviera would have to say.
"Is there going to be a problem between us before we go off on this mission?" Alaviera asked bluntly.
"Still planning on coming along, huh?" Sibylla smirked.
"I have been assigned to observe your group. I can't do that from here while you are out there." Alaviera replied, motioning to the general direction she figured the castle was.
"I can set my feeling aside while we're on the mission. Will you be a problem?" Sibylla retorted.
"I am a professional soldier of the Aldmeri Dominion-"
"There won't be any Talos worshippers for you to bound and drag away." Sibylla interrupted sarcastically.
"-I will handle myself well, Nord." Alaviera snapped.
"Very well. Then no, there should not be a problem." Sibylla replied coyly before returning to her work.
Alaviera was not convinced but she decided this was about as much resolution she was going to get. That settled, the High Elf stood once again and returned back to the temple. Only until they were on the mission would she see how things played out.
Surprisingly, the waiting till the mission went much quicker than Claudia had grown used to. The others had needed rest and Couran needed to gather the require men. Claudia also had spent the time making sure her equipment was in order.
And before she knew it, it was late the next morning and her team was with her following Bann-Je through the woods. Behind them was Alaviera, Couran, Jaspier and a handful of Northpoint's best guards and vigilants on hand. Claudia could only hope it would be enough. She was fully expecting worse things to be found. If all it was were those wolves then Claudia could live with overreacting. You only regret going in with not enough men, never too many.
The guards all wore their standard issue equipment though many brought extra potions for healing or other ailments that might come up. The extra vigiliants had their usual gray cloaks but many wore a steel breastplate since they were fully expecting trouble. Claudia, Bann-Je and Sibylla had left their cloaks behind to give them full range of motion. Do'Ravier always had his black battle robes on over his armor.
The woods were quiet even if sunlight filtered in down from the trees. Bann-Je moved silently but surely, leading on a direct path straight to the castle. Claudia could also tell he was moving at a fast pace. Claudia was not sure if he was moving because of a sense of urgency or if he simply wanted to make good time. She wanted to ask but the gravity of the situation forced her to remain silent. Considering she could hear the constant flickof Bann-Je's tongue, she figured he was keeping a diligent watch on anything that might be creeping up on them.
"There." Bann-Je pointed as they went up and over a rise.
The Argonian simply pointed out the castle in the distance. It was not far. However, the group did not have any time to gawk because Bann-Je did not stop for a moment. He only wanted them to see, not to examine. There would be plenty of time for that later. Bann-Je was keeping up the pace and the others had no choice but to keep up. For Bann-Je, the scents his tongue caught told him that the wolf pack was not around, certainly not in front of them, that was for sure. Kynareth had been gracious to them as the castle was upwind to them. It made traveling a little difficult but it also meant that the wolf pack would not get any advance wind of their scent. Instead, it would be Bann-Je would would smell them first.
At least something was going right.
They were creeping up at the castle entrance within the hour. The place looked like it had not been disturbed in ages, much less visited. The old fortification was practically part of the landscape and the woods had swallowed it long before. Trees, shrubs and all manner of vegetation had grown up against it as well as inside it. However, they could tell that it stood over a cliff side which plunged into a river below.
Unfortunately, storm clouds had gathered overhead and it was already starting to pelt down great drops of rain onto their heads. The group was already miserable, that much was certain. However, they had gotten this far and they needed to stop whatever threat might have been in there.
"So what's the plan?" Couran asked as they huddled outside the gaping hole that was the entrance to the castle.
Claudia glanced at all of those gathered before she made her decision.
"My team will take point ahead. Alaviera, stay behind us. Couran, I want you and the rest to bring up our rear. If we hit a problem, we'll call you up accordingly." Claudia decided.
The group exchanged glances, assuring each other that they all understood and that they knew what they were doing.
"W-w-what i-i-if we find the w-werewolf?" Jaspier stammered.
"Just leave that to me and my team, Jaspier." Claudia reassured. After all, that's why she and the others had left Wayrest in the first place.
"Alright, lets get this over with. I'm getting cold, wet and generally miserable." a guard announced from the rear.
"I could not agree more." Claudia nodded.
Here it was, the moment of truth, there was no turning back now. Claudia led them the whole team in. The castle opened up into a large room. The Imperial saw no doors or passageways that looked like it would lead to an underground level. Instead, there was only one large ascending set of stairs that spiraled upwards. Realizing her bow could not be effective in these close quarters, Claudia returned it to her back and drew out her rapier.
Save for cracks or open windows, there was not a lot of sources for light. The group had to wait for their eyes to adjust to the dimness and Claudia was not about to go charging into the unknown without their eyes at their best. Still, she made sure they pressed on. Still, Claudia had a bad feeling about the place. It seemed that with each step they took to climb higher, so too did the chilling weight of fear dip in their stomachs.
She had to keep pressing them on.
Claudia continued to lead them further up the winding stairs that went up the castle's central tower. The air was becoming cold and the storm overhead had turned the skies so dark it might as well have been dusk. The wind was also starting to pick up. They were at least sheltered from the rain but that was little comfort with their gear already wet and the surroundings were freezing.
The stairs led to a landing that must have been the top floor. Immediately in front of them was an open hall while to the right was an open threshold that led a semi circle balcony overlooking the river that ran far below it.
However, what immediately got her attention, and nearly made her jump, was that there was a group of people already waiting for them.
Claudia and the rest of her team, those that could see, were shocked to find others up here. All of them wore black, hooded cloaks though it was clear that some of them wore armor underneath. The hoods did a good job hiding their faces though. However, the one that stood in the center, while he also wore a dark cloak, did not wear the hood. His complexion was deathly pale while his long white hair fell to his shoulders. His hands were bony and Claudia noticed that he was feverishly ill with some sort of ailment as open sores and greenish discoloration ravished his flesh. He might have been a Breton. Once. However, there were two features that demanded her immediate attention.
His eyes were blood red while two fangs peeked out from under his top lip.
Vampire.
"We expected you. The wolves caught your scent just before you arrived. Nice try trying to be subtle. Alas, you failed." the vampire without the hood and the long white hair said, almost apologetically.
"You're connected to the wolves?" Claudia asked as she raised the point of her rapier higher, preparing to fight.
"Yes. It's no secret vampires can enthrall others, so why not wolves? They make an excellent cover up. Maul a victim so that it is easier to feast on the blood without drawing suspicion to who the real culprit is. Pity the ruse did not last forever." the vampire continued, still not even threatening.
"So you're behind that dead victim on the road." Claudia said, more of a statement than a question.
"Oh, don't act like you're so innocent. Where do you think this hellish fever and sickness came from, the one that ravages myself, my kin and the wolves? Your foul mages did this to us!" the vampire spat.
Claudia had no idea what he was talking about but there was no time to find out. They heard the howl of wolves behind them and the vampires drew their weapons. The fight was on.
Claudia and the vampire leader found themselves locked in a intense clash of blades, Claudia parrying and taking pecking stabs with her rapier when possible, otherwise dodging the swings of his ebony shortsword to avoid his attacks. The other vampires had their hands full handling Bann-Je, Sibylla and Do'Ravier. However, Claudia only had eyes for her opponenent. Everything had descended into chaos.
Couran, Jaspier and the guards doggedly fought with the lesser vampires. Couran noticed that for all them, vigilants, guards and the vampires included, all preferred one handed melee weapons. However, the similarities ended there. The battle flowed and ebbed and while a guard or vigilant could take on a vampire in single combat for a time, the vampires always started to gain the upper hand. They had to keep fighting two at a time against their enemies.
Couran noticed Jaspier. A long time before he thought Jaspier would never make it, the man was just a few bad moments short of being a nervous wreck. However, it turned out that Jaspier suffered more from a social anxiety than actual cowardice. Jaspier always looked like he was frightened by everything but Couran had never seen Jaspier break in a fight. The mousy Breton was too loyal to leave a man behind and he could still handle himself in a fight. He always looked desperate when he fought but who didn't?
Still, they needed this fight to end soon.
Do'Ravier was doing the role he knew how to do. Lightning spells where he found an opening, spear strokes when someone got too close. Sibylla was doing a wonderful job intimidating many of the vampires from overrunning them but the group found themselves being fought out onto the balcony. However, Do'Ravier noticed that they were becoming cut off from Claudia.
"Bann-Je!" Do'Ravier shouted while stunning a vampire with a bolt of lightning.
The assassin took a moment to glance at him and then followed the Khajiit's gaze while deftly avoiding his attacker.
Claudia was slowly but surely being fought down by the vampire.
Bann-Je broke off his attack. He managed to work his way around the hellstorm that was Sibylla and Head Reaper creating a dangerous kill circle. Unfortunately, he only made it three feet before the diseased wolves arrived. The foul creatures created more confusion, savagely bounding up to their targets. Bann-Je suddenly found himself needing to deal with these new nuisances as he conjured his bound blades once more.
Alaviera was holding her own on the porch when the wolves arrived. Despite the other vigilants and the extra hands they brought, there were more than enough wolves to go around. Do'Ravier was doing fine, he had even driven his spear through one of the vampires but the newly arrived snarling wolves started pushing him back further and further towards the edge of the balcony. The Khajiit must have been caught with his reserves of magic low since he only tried to fight them off with his spear, backing away until he was forced right to the very edge.
Alaviera saw her chance.
The Khajiits could keep their superstitions about using telekintetics directly on a person. There was a wind and the Khajiit had been forced into a bad position. Discreetly, one hand using her shield to keep a wolf at bay, Alaviera pushed with her other hand which still held her sword.
Do'Ravier disappeared over the balcony ledge in an instant.
Claudia could feel herself wearing down. The vampire did not tire and Claudia could slowly feel herself realizing that her adversary was now just playing with her. She needed to think of something fast. Where was the rest of her team?
"The vigiliants had nothing to do with this curse. Did you see who did this to you?" Claudia panted, just barely blocking one of the vampire's swipes.
"Don't lie to me, Imperial whore!" the vampire snarled, still keeping up the pressure.
"I'd let you live the rest of our miserable undying days in this fever but I think now we're just trying to give you mercy." Claudia snapped, steel clashing against ebony.
"It was some dark elf. The wolves came upon him in the night but he just stared at them unafraid, as if he knew. The wolves heard him say 'Take this as a blessing of Peryite" before he cast some magic spell on them. Before long, myself and the other vampires had it too. Now die!" the vampire snarled, driving the blade forward with tremendous speed.
Claudia went to parry but it felt like she was trying to stop a wall.
Claudia felt a flash of fire burn right through her midsection and everything in the world stopped save for the vampire.
"I've had enough of you." the vampire snarled in her face before she felt a sharp pain starting to pierce her neck. Claudia started to feel her strength receding, her heartbeat was already pounding in her brain. She needed to do something...
Suddenly, the vampire stopped and looked over. Somehow, Claudia had managed to bring her rapier up and had stabbed him with the point. Under normal circumstances it should not have been lethal, especially to the undead but...
"And I've had enough of you as well...the blade was sprinkled with silver shavings..." Claudia growled weakly.
The vampire tried to pull the blade out but his hands started to smoke the moment they touched the steel. The creature howled in desperation but it only lasted a second. The vampire suddenly burst into smoke and ash but by then, Claudia had already passed out.
Caught up in the battle rage, and no small amount of anger, Sibylla shouted like a woman possessed. She was not sure how many strokes it took, it could not have been more than two or three but suddenly, after Head Reaper made a few long arcs, the room suddenly went quiet. The vampires and wolves were dead, dying or, in the case of a pitifully small handful of wolves, retreating. Amazingly, she did not see any casualties among the guards or the vigilants who were already trying to catch their breaths or tend to their minor wounds. However, Sibylla then saw was Claudia lying the corner, blood slowly flowing from her neck while an ebony sword was buried hilt deep into her stomach.
"NO!" SIbylla screamed.
Everything happened all at once. Sibylla did not remember traveling the distance between where she stood and getting to Claudia's side but somehow she was there and so was Bann-Je. The Argonian was quickly checking her vital signs before he pulled Claudia's head back and poured a healing potion down her lips.
"She's in bad shape. This will only stave off death, it can't heal the magnitude of these wounds. Where is Do'Ravier?" Bann-Je demanded.
Do'Ravier, he was an accomplished healer as well as battlemage! He could fix this.
"Do'Ravier!" Sibylla bellowed, looking around.
"I-I'm sorry, Sibylla. He got cornered by two wolves...I saw him go over the balcony." Alaviera panted, still trying to catch her breath, her eyes apologetic.
Sibylla fell deathly silent, her eyes wide.
"Tend to her, I have to find him." Bann-Je said.
"No, you know more about healing and death than I do. You stay with her Bann-Je or I'll kill you myself." Sibylla snapped.
"We need to find Do'Ravier! He could still be alive." Bann-Je hissed.
"Couran!" Sibylla shouted.
The Dark Elf left the others alone as he had been tending to other minor wounds. He walked up to her breathlessly.
"What is it?" Couran asked.
"Take one other man, go to the river. Find our Khajiit. Now!" Sibylla snarled.
Sibylla would not admit it but she was certain they had already lost one of their teammates. She needed to make sure they didn't lose one more.