Hello people and welcome back to Skyrim: Darkblade Chronicles. You know the drill, I cook a chapter, Sheldon cooks a feast...and who knows what else.
With the skeletons in the darkest shadows of my past finally illuminated, there was a deep sense of relief I had not felt in many a year, if I ever have. The irony I had spoken of continued to grip me at every opportunity, but there was little to tax my peace of mind. How much of fate is rooted in what is to be expected, and uprooted by chaos is in no less conflict than the difference between righteousness and wickedness.
Then there was Dexion...it was the blessing of the most righteous daedric prince that helped to slay his captors. Now he is on the side of a faction of vampire hunters under the watchful eyes of Stendarr, and baring the arms of the Dragonborn, the one the people fable as the champion of Skyrim. Dexion was a true Moth Priest; frail in body, but steadfast as the Vigiliants of Stendarr themselves. With an Elder Scroll within his reach, the secrets within were at the fingertips of the sentries who guard those who live in the light.
This spelled certain doom for the minions of Molag Bal, and they were lurking in more shadows than any would dare count.
By the time the sun rose all the way, Sheldon had prepared enough food to fill the entire table despite it being over twenty feet long. A large kettle of boiled mudcrab legs, and claws laid at the base of the cooking fire, and the tables themselves held a few pots of crab or clam chowder. Platters of fruit salad, and beef or venison steaks, bread loaves with or without melted goat or cow cheese covering them laid alongside the pots as well.
Pastries stuffed with various fruits, berries, or even pieces of beef, chicken, venison, or pork were present as well. Some of the meat-filled pastries had the same melted cheese the bread had. The bowls of vegetable soup, stews, and gravy, as well as the bottles and tankards of ale and wine bottles compounded with the already-appetizing set-up.
Even a smaller kettle filled with boiled entrails was prepared, and placed on the side of the kitchen.
"O.k...I think that should do it." Serana said seriously.
"I believe so too." Sheldon said, then he took the kettle of organs, and Serana followed him to the cavern on the other side of the fort.
When they got there, the two dogs raised their heads, wagged their tails, and perched themselves on the top of the wooden wall of their pen as Sheldon set the kettle down.
"They're happy to see you apparently." Serana said casually, then Sheldon placed some of the organs in the two bowls on the ground, and opened the pen's door.
"Eat up." He said, then the two dogs went directly to their bowls, and started feasting.
"Leave it to the Dawnguard to put leather armor on a pair of huskies, although considering that Gunmar thought putting armor on trolls was a good idea...I shouldn't be surprised." Serana said.
"A fair point." Sheldon said.
"Also...I know dogs are food fanatics by nature, but you'd think that a pair training by vampire hunters would be keen on wanting to tear into a vampire on sight." Serana said.
"Maybe they weren't trained well enough, or they aren't meant for attacks." Sheldon said.
"Well, tell that to the death hounds. Those things make frostbite spiders look like regular dogs." Serana said.
"That is...a less fair point." Sheldon said.
"Hey, even fellow vampires have a hard time keeping death hounds under control. If you want a death hound to do something, you just point it in the right direction and let it do its thing." Serana said.
"I've noticed." Sheldon said.
"Back at my home, there's never been a single time where a death hound was fun to be around, not even for my father." Serana said.
"No surprise." Sheldon said, then Serana looked behind her.
"Speaking of people who aren't fun to be around..." She breathed out, then Sheldon looked to see Isran enter the lobby further from the cavern.
"The rest of the Dawnguard-" Sheldon stopped talking.
"Everyone! Wake up!" Isran exclaimed, then Serana looked at Sheldon curiously, and walked toward the lobby.
"What...? What's the matter?" Sorine asked.
"The sun is rising, now wake up and get ready for your training." Isran said, then Serana and Sheldon looked inside the lobby, and everyone slowly and steadily sat up, and placed their feet on the floor next to their beds.
"Alright, no need to rush us." Gunmar said.
"The vampires are resting now, which means we are not resting anymore." Isran groaned, then he sat down on the table and watched the rest of the Dawnguard soldiers gathered their equipment, and put on whatever armor they weren't already wearing.
"Sorine?" Sheldon asked as he walked into the room, and Sorine flinched and gasped.
"Dear Stendarr!" She exclaimed.
"I'm sorry for startling you, but last night, me and Serana found the schematics you wanted." Sheldon said as he took the item in question out of his satchel, and gave it to Sorine.
"Oh, good. I was just starting to get bored." Sorine said casually.
"Very amusing..." Sheldon groaned, then Sorine looked over the schematics.
"Would you look at that...an exploding crossbow bolt, this should be fun." Sorine said.
"Exploding?" Gumnar asked seriously.
"Here, let me show you how this works..." Sorine said.
"No need, I looked over it in my spare time." Sheldon said.
"I don't blame you, if these are going to be even half as destructive as I think they'll be...yikes..." Sorine said.
"Indeed, but I doubt they will be able to keep up with true destruction magic, as will gunpowder weapons." Sheldon said.
"Nevertheless, destruction magic is not, or cannot be used by just anyone." Sorine said.
"True enough...which is why I do encourage the development of such arms." Sheldon said.
"Did you prepare any food for them?" Isran asked simply.
"Of course I did, and Serana aided me." Sheldon said.
"Good..." Isran groaned.
"Alright, let's eat then." Sorine said, then the Dawnguards left the room one by one, and Serana moved to the side opposite from the path to the kitchen, and none of the Dawnguards paid her any heed other than Sheldon.
The Dawnguards sat down and began eating almost immediately as they entered the kitchen, but Sheldon and Serana went back to the cavern where the dogs were.
"Sheldon? I've been meaning to ask...what's going on with your eyes?" Serana asked.
"A side-effect." Sheldon said simply.
"Of?" Serana asked, then Sheldon removed his helmet.
"Remember how I said that it's possible to store excess magicka? Well, a side-effect is glowing blue eyes, not unlike the draugrs." He said.
"Is that another reason you keep your helmet on at all times?" Serana asked.
"Yes...as for the draugr, I couldn't help but notice that they possess nearly limitless magicka. For the longest time, that puzzled me, even with Clairvoyance helping me solve the mystery. Then...I discovered that their magicka doesn't come from conventional sources; it comes from their souls directly, which is far from normal." Sheldon said.
"That sounds like the rituals used to create liches." Serana said.
"It's exactly like that, and it's no coincidence. The dragon priests drew their power directly from the draugrs that serve them." Sheldon said.
"Did you ever try something like that?" Serana asked.
"Not the way they do it; I simply took magicka that was already taken. Besides, even if I did become a lich...it would be redundant." Sheldon said.
"How?" Serana asked.
"Liches, like all undead, gain immunity to poison, disease, cold, and the like, but also they're harder to kill, or should I say destroy, than living people. They also gain various necromancy spells...none of those things appeal to me, if they're even needed considering how many of those weaknesses and abilities I can cover with...other means." Sheldon said.
"You mean like enchantments, or your armor?" Serana asked.
"Precisely." Sheldon said.
"And the magicka gains from souls?" Serana asked.
"I told you, I just take what is already taken." Sheldon said.
"I see..." Serana trailed off.
"We should see to Dexion." Sheldon said, then he and Serana exited the cavern.
They then walked through the hall to the stairs to the second floor, traversed them, and walked around the circular balcony to the room in which Dexion was resting.
"Ah, my rescuers." He said.
"Good morning Dexion, are you feeling better?" Sheldon asked, then Dexion sat up.
"Much better, thank you." Dexion said.
"The others are in the kitchen eating, would you like something?" Serana asked.
"Later please, I would like to stay here and rest a while longer." Dexion said.
"Suit yourself." Serana said, then Sheldon turned around and Serana followed him until they reached the area where Isran's bedroom, and the torture room were located.
"Before we continue, I have questions of my own for you, unless you disapprove." Sheldon said.
"No, I don't. What do you have in mind?" Serana asked.
"Not here..." Sheldon trailed off, then they went to the torture room, and Serana stood where she stood when she and Sheldon reunited.
"So...here we are once again. Now, what's on your mind?" Serana asked, then Sheldon used a muffle spell.
"Were you always a vampire?" Sheldon asked.
"That's...a long story." Serana said.
"I want to hear it." Sheldon said.
"I guess...we kind of have to go way back, to the very beginning. Do you know where vampirism came from?" Serana asked.
"Yes I do...and I almost wish I didn't." Sheldon said.
"Then...you know about-" Sheldon cuts Serana off.
"Lamae Beolfag? Yes...there's even a book about her. An exaggerated one, but the message it sends is clear." Sheldon said.
"Then you know her vampirism came from Molag Bal, and she...was not a willing subject, but she was still the first." Serana said, then Sheldon clenched his fist.
"Serana...please continue." He said seriously.
"Molag Bal is a powerful daedric lord, and his will is made reality. For those willing to subjugate themselves, he will still bestow the gift, but they must be powerful in their own right before earning his trust." Serana said.
"And by 'trust', you mean his 'attention'." Sheldon said.
"Well, believe it or not, Molag Bal can be quite cheery toward those who stand their ground before his influence. The rewards also speak for themselves..." Serana said seriously, then Sheldon took a moment to think.
"You didn't answer my question..." Sheldon said seriously.
"What question?" Serana asked.
"How did you become a vampire?" Sheldon asked.
"The ceremony was...degrading, let's not revisit that." Serana said seriously, then Sheldon stared at her.
"I...I can't believe this..." Sheldon trailed off.
"Well, we all took part in it. Not really a wholesome family activity, but I guess it's something you do when you give yourselves to a deadric lord." Serana said, then Sheldon sighed deeply, looked away, then started trembling. Serana watched Sheldon as he took in what she told him...and the implications, and thanks to his helmet, Serana couldn't see the look on his face. Sheldon's breathing was a different story; his helmet echoed his breath normally, but now it was loud and rapid, like one normally does when they were exhausted, terrified, or beside themselves with fury.
Eventually...Sheldon relaxed, then he looked at Serana again.
"Do you regret becoming a vampire?" Sheldon asked.
"Nobody's ever asked me that before, I...I don't know. I think...mostly I hate what it's done to my family." Serana said.
"How has it affected your family?" Sheldon asked.
"Well, you've met most of us. My father's not exactly the most stable, and eventually he drove my mother crazy with him. And it all ended with me being locked underground for who knows how long. It's definitely been a bad thing, on the whole." Serana said, then she looked away.
"Are you alright?" Sheldon asked.
"I will be, just give me alittle time." Serana breathed out.
"Take all the time you need Serana..." Sheldon said softly, then Serana smiled.
"Is that all?" She asked.
"Yes...that will be all." Sheldon said, then he walked away...and Serana stayed where she was for a moment, looked at him curiously, then followed him downstairs.
They then walked to the kitchen, and the Dawnguard were finishing the scraps of food left on their plates, and the rest of their drinks.
"Dragonborn! Another excellent feast." Celann said.
"You are quite welcome." Sheldon said.
"There's still some left for you if you'd like." Vori said.
"I've already eaten." Sheldon said.
"Alright then." Vori said, then she drank from her mead bottle.
"We were just talking about the Thalmor took care of on the bridge not far from here." Agmaer said.
"What about them?" Sheldon asked.
"Well...it's one thing for the vampires to know we're here, but what if the Thalmor found us?" Agmaer asked.
"I would make them regret any trouble they caused." Sheldon said seriously.
"No kidding, but it's quite a surprise that they ventured this far out." Celann said.
"They were most likely searching for me." Sheldon said.
"For all the good it did them." Gunmar said, then he drank from his tankard.
"The Thalmor are no better than the vampires..." Durak said.
"Divines forbid we encounter Thalmor vampires." Agmaer said.
"Oh that would be so much worse..." Celann groaned, then Serana smirked.
"It's not a secret that the Thalmor have been searching for me. Several of their operations in Skyrim were disrupted or halted because of me. From the Thalmor Embassy, to various hunts for Talos worshipers, to simply patrols, to Northwatch Keep." Sheldon said.
"Damn...the guards weren't kidding. You really did give the Thalmor a black eye." Agmaer said.
"More like two black eyes." Durak said seriously.
"And I freed several prisoners of there's, including a member of Clan Gray-Mane." Sheldon said.
"Damn...even the Gray-Manes are in their sights." Celann said seriously.
"Well, it shouldn't be long until the Thalmor are kicked out of Skyrim for good." Agmaer said.
"Wishful thinking, the Thalmor are nothing if not stubborn." Sorine said.
"Do not worry about them. When my time in Skyrim has passed, I will see to it that they are dealt with according to the crimes they've committed." Sheldon said.
"What?" Sorine asked.
"O.k. not even you can take on the entire army of Summerset Isles alone." Celann said.
"Maybe not, but the Thalmor need to be stopped just like the vampires do." Sheldon said.
"As much as I agree with that, dealing with them all at once is suicide." Celann said.
"There are many tactics available in this regard, not just a one-man frontal assault. Besides...I will only consider my options when Skyrim no longer has need of me, which from what I understand might take months, years even..." Sheldon breathed out.
"Well, if the Thalmor want to invade Skyrim instead of the other way around, then that's where things get interesting." Sorine said.
"Here's hoping the Empire stays out of it, for their sakes." Gunmar said.
"Yeah, thick chance of that." Celann said.
"They really should given how thoroughly the Thalmor destroyed them in the Great War." Gunmar said.
"And with their emperor recently dead, it is unlikely that they will find a new one in time. So if a second great war happens, we might very well be on our own." Sorine said.
"But with the Dragonborn here..." Agmaer said.
"I have enough power to face entire armies alone, but I cannot be everywhere at once. If more than one part of Skyrim is in jeopardy, there must be defenders there as well." Sheldon said.
"All the more reason for us to get ourselves together. If any Thalmor show up here, we'll give them what for." Sorine said.
"But...we are getting very ahead of ourselves. For now, just continue your work, and leave the rest of Skyrim to me and Serana until then." Sheldon said.
"You can count on us Dragonborn." Gunmar said.
"On that note...last night, Serana and myself looked over the outside area to see what could be done to improve upon it. The walls you currently have are adequate, although obviously incomplete, but the canyon itself has potential to be of use to the fort itself." Sheldon said.
"In what way?" Celann asked.
"There could be a plethora of walls and towers at the area at the canyon's entrance, not only the entrance itself. There could even be a barracks just within the walls for the sentries stationed there." Sheldon said.
"That's quite a bit of pairing for our defenses. Here's hoping Isran agrees with it." Celann said.
"If he's half as serious as he was before, he'll definitely agree with it." Sorine said.
"I also want the walls, gates, and towers...to be made of stone." Sheldon said, then everyone widened their eyes, recoiled, or gasped.
"You really are serious aren't you?" Celann said casually.
"I'm rarely not." Sheldon said simply.
"Well...we're going to need alot more manpower before we can pull off projects like that." Gunmar said.
"And how are we going to pay for all that?" Sorine asked.
"That will not be a problem. In my travels throughout Skyrim, I acquired enough wealth to buy countless properties in all nines holds. As you can no doubt imagine, my various doings throughout Skyrim were not without expenses, and lots of them. So acquiring as much wealth as I could wasn't only a personal goal, but also an absolute must." Sheldon said.
"And all of it is available to us." Sorine said casually.
"Indeed." Sheldon said, then Agmaer smiled.
"I'm glad I took this job more and more." He said.
"When Dexion wakes up, we will listen to him read the Elder Scroll, and I have a sense it will lead Serana and myself to a long and perilous task. Until we return, Sorine, I have some formulas for you. One for gunpowder, and others for the Dwemer weapons I encountered during my battles within the Dwemer ruins throughout Skyrim." Sheldon said.
"Alright, let me see them." Sorine said, then Sheldon materialized several scrolls, and gave them to Sorine.
"How about we look at them in the cavern?" Gunmar asked as he stood up.
"I agree, this is probably going to take a while." Sorine said, then she followed Gunmar to the cavern.
"How long do you think you'll be gone?" Agmaer asked.
"I do not know, but I doubt it will be as simple as leaving and returning..." Sheldon said.
"Well, in the meantime, I will continue to train with my axe and crossbow." Agmaer said.
"And when we return, I will tell you all I know." Sheldon said, then Agmaer smiled.
"Don't teach him too much, or you'll make the rest of us veterans look like novices." Celann said casually.
"Relax, there is much to learn, and Agmaer being the only one who learns is unlikely at best." Sheldon said.
"If you say so..." Celann said, then Sheldon walked to the stairs with Serana behind him.
When they reached the roof, Sheldon slowly marched to the sun dial.
"Why are we going up here again?" Serana asked.
"Because I am curious as to how effective this sun dial is." Sheldon said, then they continued their walk toward it, and they both looked it over.
"Well, looks fine to me." Serana said.
"Yes...it does..." Sheldon trailed off, then he looked over the sky itself.
"The sun isn't as bright as it usually is, although that may be because of the immunity to the sun you mentioned before." Serana said.
"The sun hasn't truly risen yet; it's only five hours before midday." Sheldon said.
"How can you tell? There's barely any sun." Serana said.
"My eyes are no less than yours." Sheldon said.
"Oh...right..." Serana trailed off.
"Are you thirsty?" Sheldon asked.
"No, I still drink from the White Phial regularly." Serana said.
"Good to know..." Sheldon said simply, then Serana looked at him curiously.
"Are you o.k.?" Serana asked.
"You...acquired vampirism...by subjugating yourself...?" Sheldon asked seriously.
"Yes..." Serana breathed out, then Sheldon removed his helmet, and his eyes were both closed...and furrowed.
"Was it like the way Lamae acquired hers...?" He asked.
"Sheldon...I..." Serana trailed off.
"Was it...?" Sheldon asked seriously.
"I don't know!" Serana exclaimed, then she sighed deeply, and Sheldon took a moment to think.
"From what I understand...Molag Bal is keen on using an extremely advanced form of Illusion magic, one that supposedly is about as invasive as it can possibly get. As for vampirism itself...well, blood magic is considered unholy for a reason." Sheldon said.
"So what? You're saying Molag Bal just played the world's nastiest trick on me? Because there is so much wrong with that I don't even know where to begin." Serana said seriously.
"I'm saying I doubt Stone Fire's honesty in more ways than one, and I have little reason to doubt the information sources I came across." Sheldon said.
"Well, I call shenanigans. Everything he put me through was frighteningly real, Illusion magic or no. So if you want to downplay this-" Sheldon cuts Serana off.
"I am doing no such thing. Daedra worship is forbidden for many reasons, but they all can be summarized with one reason. You cannot trust them." Sheldon said.
"Maybe not...but what's done is done, and even though I didn't want to do it, I still did it, and I'm still here, just like you are." Serana said, then Sheldon stared at her, and eventually he sat down.
"The way I acquired vampirism wasn't pleasant either." He said.
"Well, I doubt it was worse than the way I acquired it..." Serana said seriously, then Sheldon sighed deeply.
"Answer me this...what do you think it would be like, if you were part of a group, all of whom have known each other for years, if not decades. They take you in when you have nowhere else to go, they train you, teach you, harden you against the horrors the world has to offer. Then...one time just before the sun sets, a pair of vampires slip through your home, massacre every last one of the warriors who live their lives preparing to face any and all foes to their last breath. None of them see their assassins, or even hear them...but you do, and each time you try to warn them, the damage is already done. In the end, all but you, and one other remain...and only the dead ones were lucky. The next thing you know, the two vampires bring you to the third one, their nightmaster. The trio then celebrate their time of bloodshed by toying with their new captives. They sink their fangs into every part of your body, bleed both of you within an inch of your lives, then throw you in a cage. The other captive...a woman, is brought before the nightmaster. She's bled to the point of passing out, gets mauled, has her virginity ripped out of her, and finally...killed.
I was an afterthought to them; cast aside like I was worth less than the average scrap of rotten food. Even though I was alive, but not well, I was helpless to do anything but watch and simmer in my misery. On the third day, the day I became a newborn vampire, one of the two vampiresses who captured me, who forced me to experience the ultimate indignity, opened the cage thinking I would be drained of my spirit, and be an easy target...she was dead wrong. As soon as that cage opened, my misery was replaced with anger. I sank my teeth into her neck, and took back the blood she had stolen, then I went for the other two vampires as they slept in their coffins. When I was done...their blood flowed through my veins, and I vowed vengeance against anyone and everyone who dared follow in their footsteps." Sheldon said as Serana stared at him with widened eyes.
"That's...that's unthinkable...!" Serana breathed out.
"I repaid that humiliation a hundred times over, and saved countless lives in the process...but personally, I gained nothing. I was as cursed as the monsters I hunted, but at least I had the resolve to make my curse yield blessings for others. By my reckoning, that makes me both a hero, and a monster...and the ultimate insult to the daedric prince who scorned me, and so many others. A thorn in his side that I will never see removed..." Sheldon said, then Serana took a moment to think.
"So...you traveled all of Tamriel...just to spite Molag Bal..." She trailed off.
"And spare everyone he had yet to scorn." Sheldon said, then he looked away and clenched both of his fists.
"This gets more intense every time we talk about it..." Serana trailed off.
"It's also yet another secret I've never told anyone, even when I was the Beast. I've told people I was a vampire before...but never once did I tell anyone how it started, nor why I really did what I did." Sheldon said seriously.
"Well...I am most certainly not sharing that; even I find it unsettling." Serana said.
"Serana...my words do not do it justice. Only the Divines prevented me from loosing myself to madness." Sheldon said.
"Even as a vampire? No offense but...that make any sense. Pardon the rhyme..." Serana said, then Sheldon smirked.
"You said yourself, I did what I did to spite Molag Bal, and that included seeking the Divines' favor. Despite the...discomfort I felt in doing so, it was a small price to pay." Sheldon said.
"Damn...I get why you're mad at him, but that's just insane." Serana said.
"I also discovered that the Divines don't turn their backs on vampires, or at least the people they once were. I know that Lamae was a priestess of Arkay...and Molag Bal told her that Arkay abandoned her. As usual, he deceived her; Arkay's tie to her was cut, but his care for her was not. I am certain that if he, or any of the Divines could get rid of vampirism on their own, they absolutely would. However...it falls to their followers to do so, if they're so inclined." Sheldon said.
"Or apparently another vampire with a mountain-sized bone to pick with them." Serana said seriously.
"I used to...but now I realize my hate was misplaced. Like myself, many vampires did not become vampires voluntarily...and when vampires die, and eventually they will, Molag Bal claims their souls." Sheldon said.
"Until someone like the Vestige comes along." Serana said casually.
"It matters little; spending one's afterlife in Molag Bal's clutches is unacceptable, even if it's for a moment. If anything, it was pity that was warranted for the vampires I slew, not hatred." Sheldon said, then Serana folded her arms.
"Do you think I deserve pity?" She asked.
"Of course not...but you don't deserve to be punished for a crime you didn't commit either." Sheldon said.
"It's alittle late for that..." Serana trailed off, then Sheldon sighed deeply.
"We should see to Dexion...again." He said, then he followed Serana to the exit.
The plot thickens indeed, and the shadows darken...although I did say Sheldon has a colorful backstory already. But then again, considering how FUBAR things get in the Elder Scrolls behind the scenes, and in person...one should not be surprised. And I did look into Molag Bal's deal, and it turns out he really is proficient with illusion magic, and give his...questionable anatomy, and his sphere of influence, I would not be in any way surprised if what he did to Serana was a combination of illusions and blood magic. In other words: it's a literal mindfuck...all of which justifies Sheldon's disdain for good old Stone Fire, and everyone else's disdain for good old Stone Fire for that matter.
Also...in the Witcher 3: Blood and Wine DLC, there's an enemy the people dubbed "The Beast of Beauclair." I won't spoil anything aside from that, but I swear that is only a coincidence; I've been preparing to write this story for months before I started, and I somehow didn't think about that. Although, for the record, Sheldon and the vampire in the Witcher I just mentioned are radically different. You want the finer details, you're on your own.
Anyway, please be sure to Rate, Review and Share...you know the rest...