Guide:

Dwemeris

Thoughts

"Speech"

"Dovahzul"

Warnings/Disclaimer: see chapter 4

Chapter Warning(s): Ignorance should be a crime. I mean, look at America. Who even needs to know about Climate change, right? (no offense)

Enjoy the chapter! Ps I think this will be the standard for now, no need for page-long A/N's. Unless I have something important to say. Such as, I'm moving next week so I might miss an update or two whilst I get settled in!

Last time…

On another note, I now need to play hide and seek with a ghost and possible threat in the middle of the night. I'd better catch some sleep now, since the journey here tired me out plenty, before tonight. Maybe I'll have some time to sharpen my axes, though I haven't seen a grindstone around yet. Maybe the barkeep can help me out – to figure out what creature I might find, that only walks after the sun has disappeared below the horizon.

Chapter 6 – This Bites

As I sit at the bar, the Redguard woman that keeps the inn takes in my appearance and promptly puts down a bottle of ale in front of me. "I don't know what happened in the hour that you've been gone, but you look like you've seen a ghost." She's wary of me, as all inhabitants seem to be.

I pop open the bottle and drop some septims on the table with a chuckle at how close to the truth she is. "What creature walks these lands that can only come out at night?"

It sounds almost like a riddle when I put it like that. I frown, observing carefully as the woman goes six shades of pale. She leans in closer to me after glancing around carefully to see if nobody is watching. "You're the one investigating the case of Hroggar's house, aren't you? The halfbreed?" The what now? Nevertheless, I nod slowly. She draws in a sharp breath.

"Are you telling me there's vampires involved?" I narrow my gaze, my own voice also dropping to a whisper. "I'm afraid I've never faced one of these… vampires in battle. Should the creature responsible be a vampire, what do I have to watch out for and is there a way to kill them quickly?"

Jonna hisses darkly, looking nervous and scared, but determined. "They were living things once, humans or elves that caught a disease called Sanguinis Vampiris. When untreated, it turns them into vampires. You kill them like you kill any other men or mer, but… be extremely cautious! They have special abilities to enthral you, too - to bend your mind to their will. Also, they may infect you with the disease with every spell or touch. You should probably buy a Cure Disease potion at the Thaumaturgist's Hut from Lami before leaving, elf, just to be safe." I nod right away, taking the good advice and warning for what they are – a sign that I have, indeed, gotten myself in severe trouble.

After finishing my ale and paying ahead for the room, I first visit the Alchemist that has a liking for experimenting with her stock to buy two of the red bottles that might save my life. I put both in my knapsack, and when I glance up at the sky I see that it's already quite late in the afternoon.

I'm nervous, but also strangely looking forwards to the challenge. My people never back down, we endure whatever Nirn throws at us. So, I will be an example of that, and take down the 'other one', the possible 'vampire', preferably before they even know I'm there. Mellte and I had lots of practise in sneaking around. I wonder if the snow will hinder me to the point that I might as well start training all over from the start.

I take a deep breath of air, before retiring for the day, falling asleep with some trouble as my body has adjusted to the 24-hour solar cycle all the surface-dwellers follow, and it's not late at all. I manage, though, and when I rise from the hay mattress, I walk out the door with a small nod at Jonna, who is now carrying a steel dagger on her hip. I don't draw my axes just yet, but I go to the abandoned house, before walking up the hill behind it where Jonna pointed me the girl had been buried. It's my best bet.

All manner of small animals chirp even in the dead of night, and my eyes get used to the dull red and blue glow cast on the land by the large twin moons above me. I stick to the shadows, keeping my breathing steady and soft. Every step makes the same small noise of cracking snow, and I curse the white dust in my mind. It can compromise my cover faster than any mistake I make ever will. Nevertheless, I draw my axes with a zing, approaching the location of the grave and spotting a figure dressed in black, leafing through a book and chanting words over the half-uncovered coffin, several sizes too small for an adult.

Helgi… Is it desecrating Helgi's body? I want to growl, but settle for a dark grimace as I aim carefully. I only have two axes, but I've mastered them faster and better than any other steel or bow I've ever gotten my hands on. A moment later, Dwemer gold sings through the air, and the thing – woman, vampire woman – screeches but isn't fast enough to dodge as the sharp blade of my axe buries itself in her skull, between the eyes, with a crack that has me gag instantly. I hold my other axe in front of me defensively, jumping at every sound and twitch of the darkness around me, but no other enemies are forthcoming.

I stare at the child coffin for a few moments, before silently uttering a prayer to Sithis, that he may protect her soul as it traverses the Void to go wherever other good humans go. The vampire, fangs gleaming in the moonlight, is dead as can be, even as I pull my axe out of the skull and clean it in the snow nearby. Part of her body crumbles into ashes, but most remains intact. "You found me!" The airy voice of Helgi echoes all around me. "I knew you would!" She goes on to explain how cold she was, and I hold my heart as it hurts for her – the poor thing. She can't even find peace yet, can she? Stuck to this plane until proper revenge has been wrought.

But this vampire woman…

A torch approaches, a man yelling. "Laelette!" It's Thonnir, I see as he comes close enough to see the chaos. "My own wife… A vampire!" He's besides himself with grief. I watch dispassionately as he crashes down to his knees in front of her, caressing her face. I would be aghast too, had I lost my spouse, even though I'm technically not even allowed to marry yet. I've seen this sort of grief only once before… on my mother's stricken face. I bite the inside of my cheek. It won't do to dwell on memories when in dangerous places.

"Do you know more about this?" I ask after the man has spent several minutes staring listlessly at his wife's corpse. "She… She last visited Alva. They became fast friends a week or so ago. Alva said she ran off to join the Stormcloaks… In fact, the night she disappeared, she was supposed to meet Alva, but Alva said she never showed up. Oh gods, what do I tell my son now?" He stutters feverishly, running a hand through his tangled hair. I think about it for a few moments. "Do you think… Alva may be a vampire, as well?" I ask delicately, since the facts seem to point at it. Which would mean that Alva is involved as well, not just this Laelette woman, and that means this plot is bigger than a mere house fire.

"There's … Wait, you think Alva might be a vampire? You damned half-bred bastard! No! I refuse to believe it! Not Alva! Laelette must have met her fate in the marshes. Alva cannot be involved in this." I'm slowly getting annoyed by these people. First, they refuse to enter a ruined house because someone died in it, then they're incapable of investigating. Then, when someone does come along to solve their problems for them, they refuse to believe the evidence! No wonder they still can't built something as simple as a bathtub with running water, or a steam-powered heater. If I ever buy or built a house here, I'll buy a proper stone structure on solid ground, and make my own damn bath. I'm already sick of using buckets… Or washing up in a river where everyone can see.

Speaking of which, this corpse might be evidence, but it still doesn't explain the house fire. I… I need to find a way to access Alva's house. Isn't that Hroggar staying there as well? The one who people suspect because he moved in with a different woman the day after his wife's death. I can see that possible motive to burn down his house, but it just doesn't add up with these findings and Laelette. I join Thonnir as he walks back to the village, the torch shaking violently and the man obviously still distressed.

I'll have to think on this. Preferably after a good night's rest. It's a good thing I have a dagger to put under my pillow – vampires are out and about at night. Though Laelette wasn't really a challenge. Tomorrow, I'll contact the jarl to see if I can get a guard with me during my investigation, and I'll also have to see if I can get legal access to the house… Or if I have to wait another day, sneak out at night once again, and put my skill at lock picking to use.

…

"You believe Alva might be involved?" I nod, keeping my stance firm as I stand in front of the Jarl of Hjaalmarch once again. I clear my throat, happy that Jonna had given me another ale on the house after extracting the promise that I'd kill every vampire I found. "Aye, that I do. I visited Helgi's grave last night, searching for a possible clue. I found the coffin half unearthed, and a strange woman clad in black. It turned out to be the vampiric remnant of one… Laelette. Thonnir's wife? He followed me and identified her corpse." I report, seeing the woman in front of me seemingly age ten years with her severely troubled expression. "And how does Alva fit in all this?"

I take a deep breath to steady myself, dearly hoping that I wouldn't warn Alva into running with this. "She was supposed to meet Alva, the day she disappeared. Now, she's back, as a vampire, with Alva saying she joined up with the Stormcloaks despite also claiming Laelette never showed up at her house." I bow shallowly. "I ask your permission to search her house immediately. If she has nothing to hide, she will have no problems with this." The jarl frowns pensively. "I cannot give you such permission, unfortunately. But I will alert my guards to not attempt to arrest you should you trespass."

I feel my hands trembling at potentially facing a more powerful vampire than Laelette on her own turf, but I nod. This is probably the most I can get out of the Jarl before proving Alva's involvement. Stone cold proof is something I normally approve of, but I'd rather not they receive it in the form of my stone cold corpse.

I exit the longhouse and immediately make my way to Alva's house. The door is open, and I open it but ensure that I'm not seen. I hear a confused "What..?" Inside before the tell-tale sound of a weapon being unsheathed follows. Hroggar storms out of the house, I recognise him as the man who had looked so depressed only a day ago. When he sees me, he roars and attacks. I barely manage to duck at the unexpected attempt at my life with a loud cry of alarm, catching the attention of the guards even as I weave and dodge more swings of the huge hammer he carries.

Eventually, the guards come up to us and put the human in chains, after aiming several arrowheads into his legs. Hroggar's eyes are unfocused, I notice with a start. Is this the sign of a vampire's thrall? I enter the house, finding nothing in direct sight. Strange… Alva wasn't out in the village, as far as I saw. Which is also odd, considering it's the middle of the day and pretty much everyone is out at this time of day. The door to the basement looks anything but inviting, but I open it anyway, drawing my axes as I descent into the dark.

A short, bloody fight and a Cure Disease potion later than quenches a thirst that I hadn't even really noticed I had, I walk back out of the door, pale-faced, aching from the fresh, stinging burns on my arm, and a walking speed and severity that has the confused guards step out of my way rather than attempt to at least stop me. The red notebook in my hand feels heavy as a ton of gold, even as I present it to the Jarl and it is taken from me, the weight does not seem to leave.

"Alva was responsible for the fire." Are the first words out of my mouth, the first words anyone speaks after Jarl Idgrod and her Steward have both read the ominous little notebook. "I do think this is enough to warrant a follow-up investigation. Perhaps the guards might look further into it." I suggest hesitantly, not liking the look of Idgrod's face.

…

"Why the fuck can nobody in this damn city solve their own problems?" Are the words that leave my mouth in a single breath once I'm outside once more, this time with the assignment to pretty much singlehandedly clean out a vampire coven. Do I really look like a sellsword THAT much? I glare at the guards as they stare at me confusedly. "What was that language? I've never heard it before." One of them asks cautiously, and I give him a toothy grin that looks unsettling if his reaction to grab for the sword at his hip is anything to go by. "Nobody's spoken it in centuries. Not surprising that you've never heard."

I grin even wider at his widened eyes, though my expression is far from kind, and not wasting anymore words I look at the assembled villagers. "All right, let's head to that cave they're holed up in." I follow after them as they walk down a dirt path right out the city, holding knives and iron swords, not even wearing armour, and all in all not looking dressed for the occasion. I tilt my head as we reach a cave, the bloodstains and parts of corpses casually strewn about a clear indicator of trouble ahead.

The villagers exchange wary, uncertain glances.

"It looks dangerous…" "I think I changed my mind…" I nearly sigh.

I knew I was right about having to do this almost singlehandedly. This time, I actually sigh, and call after them: "Do me a favour and get some guards to help with the cleanup! When that cleanup includes burying me we're going to have a real problem…" I add cynically under my breath, fully planning to come back haunt the cowards, should that happen. Only Thonnir remains, and I give him a grateful look.

"You know that entering this place in just that tunic is a deathwish right?" I ask out loud, not addressing him specifically as I dig around in my knapsack to pull out my spare leather cuirass. "Here, this try on. I assure you that it's not as uncomfortable as a dagger in your gut." He lets out a shaky sigh, but equips it with a bit of help on my part. Wait, did I say that right? Why is their language so complex even though they seem to be such simple creatures?

I draw my axes, and he holds up his sword. "Alright, let's go." Thonnir murmurs and we enter the cave side by side. Here goes. As we proceed, I feel more and more like I'm going to be sick all over the bloodstained floor.

I had expected maybe two or three of the damned creatures. I have… sorely underestimated the amount of enemies and the unbearable stench of decaying corpses and blood permeating through the entire cavern. When we come across a pit filled with disgusting, fresh, stinking bodies with faces still screwed up in terror, I lose the fight with my stomach, throwing up next to a table, keeping my hand on the edge to hold myself steady.

Why in the mines are there so many BOOTS in this place?

It seems to take hours, and by the time we get out I am so damn done with Morthal that I start making plans to leave out loud in muttered Dwemeris, confusing the tired, injured Nord I support even further as I give him my last Cure Disease potion, knowing full well that Lami does not have more to spare. I'm pissed off and thirsty where I should not be, alerting me to the fact that Thonnir wasn't the only one to catch the disease that turns people into bloodsucking leeches. After we finished, he raided their ale stock, claiming to desperately need a drink, only to complain that he was still thirsty for something.

Needless to say, after the potion does its work, he's no longer complaining. His right leg bears a deep gash, but the leather cuirass at least protected his vulnerable chest from the brunt of a dagger. He'd carry the scars for the rest of his life though. I'm not much better off myself, sporting three deep scratches from an honest-to-gods claw to the face. The burn on my arm that Alva so kindly gave me is showing the first signs of infection, and I'm sporting a few new cuts and bruises on my arms and torso, my armour not protecting me against the blunt force of a Warhammer. I'm winded, so I might have some bruised ribs, too.

I want to get out of this damned city. At least I have enough coin to last me to Whiterun… Whiterun sounds nice and peaceful. And vampire-free, which sounds wonderful right about now.

A/N: …But seriously, if vampires were real, they'd all be armed to the teeth (hehe) protesting against climate change since, you know, more heat and damaging sunlight.