Night-walkers

An Elder Scrolls: Skyrim Fanfiction

Disclaimer: the author claims no ownership for Skyrim, The Elder Scrolls, and pretty much anything you might recognize

Chapter Five: Prophet: The Secret Clan

Another week passed in the Volkihar Keep, and Eradil was finally familiar in the castle. At least, most of the clan masters knew him.

While Lord Harkon was the lord of the castle and the clan patriarch, the clan was basically ruled by Vingalmo, Orthjolf, And Garan Merathi. Each of them trying to one up the others, and as a result, all of them worked for the betterment of the clan, something he suspected Harkon knew as well.

Hestla, a Nord vampire with a vendetta against the companions was the smith, armorer, and in charge of the Armory.

Fura, another nord vampire, was basically the weaponmaster, and could always be found in the training area near to the Smithy.

On the other wing of the Castle, a dunmer named Feran Sadri was the potions master. he and his apprentice, a Bosmer named Ronthil, seldom left the wizarding station, only leaving for feeding or sleep.

The strangest thing about the castle was the dungeons: like harkon has boasted, a group of men and mer were in the stable in the dungeons, packed in four cells, for anyone who needed feeding, or as Harkon had put it 'stoop to the level of ferals to stave off the sun'.

The Thrallmaster was a nordic Chef, who had warned Eradil on his first day back, "you can feed on the thralls all you want, but as long as you're here, you go by my rules, one of them is, don't overfeed. If one of my Thralls dies, you regret it"

Serana has told him after leaving the stables, "my advice, go for potions. They're basically blood, just bottled instead of inside a body. It may not taste as good as blood, but it has lesser risks" she has laughed, "for one, no mortal checks the insides of a potions bottle"

It was around then that the threat of the Dragons ended, the Dragonborn returning to Whiterun from a Journey to Skuldafn (something the Black Horse Courier had explained in details), and the civil war ended with an uneasy truce. While the Jarl of Windhelm remained on his throne, his army returned home, back to being farmers, fishermen, guards, and legionnaires (another thing the courier had mentions in details, claiming it to be 'the second greatest show of diplomacy in North in the entire era, only to the Decree of Monuments')

With a peace achieved, many scholars and people with dreams of great fortune moved to skyrim.

That night, Eradil was on Guard duty on the watchtower near the docks. Another vampire, a loyal Volkihar by the name of Modhna, was on guard duty as well, when the strange scholar appeared.

Eradil didn't see him, of course, but Modhna was far more experienced, and had the good mind to use her vampiric vision while guarding the castle at night, and said "There's a boat sailing towards us, four people in armor rowing, an elf in blue robes sitting. What should we do?"

Eradil thought, "let them enter. They're either vampires, and they're welcome, or they're food. Neither is a problem," he paused, "on second thought, I'll go greet them. Cover me from above if things get ugly"

And when the boat dropped anchor near the docks, a lightly armored Eradil was there to greet them.

"who goes there?" he asked, when one of the men helped the elf out of the boat. The four warriors raised their weapons at once, summoning the aura of Fire.

The elf clapped once, "at ease" and the four sheathed their weapons. The elf said "I am here for an audience with the lord of this clan. I take it you can take me there?"

With a focused look, Eradil noticed the vampire eyes on the elf, even if he wasn't exactly like them and had an aura of unknown around him, he indeed was a vampire.

Fortunately for him, the lord accepted Audiences from fellow vampires at night. Eradil nodded at the robed elf," indeed, please follow me"

Trusting Modhna had heard him and knew what was going to happen, he led the vampire to the court room, where other vampires were doing their own business.

The lord was sitting on his throne. Eradil said "please, wait here for me to announce your arrival" and walked over to the balcony, and said "MY lord, a fellow vampire asks for an audience" loud enough for Harkon to hear

The Vampire Lord said "we accept his demand. Let him in" before ordering another vampire, Menasur, to call the court.

When everyone had gathered around, sitting in their places, the Elf walked in the middle of the room. Harkon said "well then, fellow vampire. tell us why you're here"

The elf began, "I am here from a clan of our kin in the Rift. My superiors are not pleased with how things are going in skyrim" he explained, "The Volkihar clan, as the only active clan in Skyrim, is failing to do its job"

Lord harkon looked at the elf with amusement, amazed at his courage, speaking to a clan patriarch like that.

His subjects were not as amused, though. Orthjolf, the Nordic vampire in charge of clan politics rose in rage, "how dare you come to our hall and speak to our lord like that, you insolent-"

The elf said "calm your subject, Lord Harkon"

Vingalmo, Orthjolf's Rivan and ally of consequences, said "While i wouldn't put it as rudely as my Nordic clan-mate did, he's right. it is common courtesy to talk to a clan patriarch with respect, you should not-"

Garan interrupted, "there are no clans in the Rift. The last time someone tried to form one, their fate was not…pleasant"

The elf laughed, "of course. Venerus Vulpin's pathetic attempt at forming a clan. Oh yes. My clan thanks you for it, but I assure you. There has been a clan of Vampires in the Rift, for almost four eras. Unlike you, we do not follow the Lord of rape. We profane him, for we follow lady Beolfag, She who is blood-matron to all" he paused, "but that is irrelevant"

Harkon said "you accused us of failing to do our 'job', explain to me why would you think so."

"The Volkihar clan is the only active clan here, but there are a lot of ferals in this province. Our blood-fiends failed to survive the currents of time, of course, and your clan has been in seclusion for so long" he said, "that's the reason my clan proposes a pact"

"tell me of this pact"

"like you, we do not condone the actions of the less civilized folk of our kind, they are a scourge on both us, and the mortals, and for the sake of our continued safety, if nothing else, we agree they should be slain. Like you, however, we did not act on this opinion, and decided to stay in hiding" he sighed, "we were wrong

"this threat has caused the mortals to take action. Reform an ancient organization that was dedicated to hunt our kin. We can't ignore it anymore, lest the Dawnguard finds about our clans"

Harkon frowned, "is this true?"

Man in the court said their agreement, The Thrall master said "I have experienced some trouble when I was out to acquire our thralls. Locals with chain-mail harassing others, but nothing more"

Ronthil rose as well, "if M'lords allow me, I also faced troubles on the roads. A group of five in chain-mail armor and strange bows have been patrolling the roads of the Rift. They were more of a nuisance that anything, but I could see why they might prove a problem later on"

The elf said "indeed, if they're left alone, they have the potentiality of becoming a genuine threat later on. For this, we ask for an alliance. Let us work together, help each other out if there's any problem for each of our clans. Once this threat is done and over with, we can return to our own lives. What say you?"

Harkon pondered, "we need more time, before answering to such a preposition. Give us a few weeks, I'll send a courier to the rift, no doubt you'll find them and learn of our response"

As the vampire left, Harkon, Garan, Vingalmo and Orthjolf left to talk.

The next day, Garan told Eradil "lord harkon has summoned you. Make haste"

Walking to the second floor of the castle, he walked to Lord Harkon's Chambers, where the ancient vampire was scribing something.

"you wanted to see me" said Eradil.

The vampire looked up, "yes, I did" he paused, "you see. When I told you I was grateful for my daughter's safe return, I was honest. but I didn't tell you everything"

Logical, Eradil was but a lackey of the court. "I expected as much" the nord nodded in approval, "good. Strong instincts and a cunning mind will serve you as well as blade, spell, or claw."

He then began explaining, "As you no doubt know, vampires are powerful, but we do have our limits. Our great enemy has always been the sun, and enemy we've never had a chance to fight." He paused, "well, until now. For centuries I've searched for an answer to this problem, until I found one. Recently, I read of a prophecy, as it was explained by a moth priest"

At eradil's confused face, he explained "they're an order of monks who dedicate their lives to reading elder scrolls. That certain prophecy foretells a time when no vampire has to fear the sun. when we finally overcome this everlasting enemy"

Well, lack of Sun damage would be quite useful. Harkon continued, "I have reasons to believe the key to unraveling the prophecy is written in the scroll serana carries" "but we can't read elder scrolls"

Then, he said "indeed. That was why I decided to keep this revelation a secret. The declaration of this new clan, along with the revival of Dawnguard, has forced me to play my hand. I've called upon the court to assemble. I have a task for all of us. And that includes you as well. Join the court and hear my proclamation"

Down in the court hall, Eradil Joined Mdhna, Fura and Ronthil, when Lord harkon walked to the balcony above his throne, and began

"Scions of the night, Hear my words! The prophesied time is at last upon us! Soon, we will claim dominion over sun itself, and forge a new realm of eternal darkness! Now that we have reclaimed one of our elder scrolls, we must find a moth priest to read it for us!"

Well, that's the answer to the big question.

"I have spread false rumors about the discovery of an elder scroll in Skyrim, to lure a moth priest here. It is time to see if those effords have borne fruit!"

Then he said "go forth! Search the land for rumors of a priest within our borders! Look to the cities, talk to the innkeepers, carriage drivers, anyone who would meet a traveler! Go now, and carry out this task! So commands your clan father, so says Harkon Volkihar!"

With that, like everyone else, Eradil left for his travelling pack. Leaving the court and castle for the priest.

As soon as Eradil reached the door, Serana was there.

"why do we always meet up at the door when I have a mission?"

Serana chuckled at his whining, "Well, I don't know, but perhaps it will be in our advantage if do this together. Where are you planning to go?"

He shrugged, "ask the drivers? Maybe travelers?"

Serana sneered, "do you really think a mysterious monk who's looking for an ancient treasured artifact will enter inns? Take local carriages? I don't think so" "what do you have in mind?"

She shrugged, "Shalidor's Hall of Mages, is it still active?"

How do you know of SHALIDOR but haven't heard of an empire of cyrodill? "the college of Winterhold? Yes, it's still active. What about it?"

Serana sighed, "the college is one of the two places of arcane knowledge in this entire province, and high Hrothgar doesn't accept visitors. If a priest is searching for an elder scroll, he's probably been there. Why not start our search there?"

No other plans, so the two set course for Winterhold. Fortunately, there was a possibility of sailing there

Continued in Prophet: laid to rest

A.N:

Notes:

1) I'm pretty sure Shalidor didn't name it 'College of Winterhold' when he was building the mage hall in Winterhold (I'm pretty sure there wasn't a Winterhold back then, according to UESP he built the city with magic)

2) I'm pretty sure Serana couldn't've known of the college, considering it was built around the times of TES:Online (second era, before the septim wars), if she was entombed in the first era.

Come to think of it, the whole 'cyrodill is the seat to an empire' dialogue is more about the seclusion of the Volkihar castle. Think about it, the only way she wouldn't know about an empire in cyrodill is if she was from the mythic era. And by the looks of her armor, she can't be that old

3) and here is the where we part ways with canon, I've decided to revive the clan of vampires in TES: Online (at least, the Ebonheart side of it.) they're in the rift, but they are better at hiding that Volkihars. So DOVAHKIIN can't find them.

unfortunately, i haven't play TES:O myself, so i don't know the name of the clan. if anyone does, please inform me.

I think that's it. the next two chapters are parts of a three-chapter arc.

Until next time,

Davoid, signing off.