Chapter fourteen - Deepscorn Hollow
Fredas, First Seed 31, 4E 0 - Midday
The past couple days, after Theranis had accepted Rowley's invitation into the Crimson Scar's Guild, both of them had left Wawnut Inn and traveled together. First they took the Green Road to cross the bridge of the lake, and then took the Yellow road that led south-east down the Nibaney Basin.
The road eventually had turned to point south, and they continued down the road of the Nibaney Valley. After several hours walking, they neared Leyawiin, and the Blackwood forest.
During the time they traveled, Theranis had learned a lot of this Guild and it's origins.
"The Crimson Scars was created and led by Greywyn Blenwyth, Tamriel's most powerful vampire assassin. The Scars originally split from the Dark Brotherhood and were founded in order to destroy and replace them as the foremost assassins guild in Tamriel. The Scars were ambushed by the Dark Brotherhood who had gotten word of the rebellion, and the Scars were dispersed. The remaining Scars fled with Greywyn and secluded themselves in Blackwood and the town of Weye." Rowley said.
"You must be talking about yourself." Theranis said.
"Yes, myself and another Scar who had passed."
"Who is this Greywyn?" Theranis asked.
"Greywyn Blenwyth was an Altmer vampire. Little is known about Greywyn's life or past, save that he was a member of the Dark Brotherhood. Around 12 years before the events of the Oblivion Crisis, he believed that Sithis had instructed him to convert or purge all non-vampire members from the Brotherhood, and started gathering like-minded supporters. He called his faction the Crimson Scars. Within days, however, he was betrayed by a Scar named Silarian. The Brotherhood attacked him, and he barely escaped, unaware of the fate of his followers." Rowley explained.
"Where did he go?"
"He went to where we are going now, Deepscorn Hollow. Greywyn fled to Deepscorn Hollow where he waited for his allies, he found me not long after, and we began preparing the den to act as a base for the reformed Scars. Around two months later, after he had been receiving visions from Sithis to serve him months before when he was a Dark Brotherhood Assassin, he received another vision from Sithis. This vision seemingly condemning his actions and demanding that he cure himself of vampirism. He obeyed the order of Sithis and set about finding a cure, and managed to acquire Purgeblood Salts."
"Did he cure himself?"
"He did, but not long after, his life had been given up to Sithis and his soul had joined him in the Void."
"Why did Sithis want Greywyn to cure his vampirism?" Theranis asked.
"Well, when you are a vampire, you are immortal. You can't die. Sithis ordered Greywyn to cure himself so Greywyn's life can be taken into the Void and join with Sithis."
"Oh, I see. So where is this Deepscorn Hollow? How far are we from it?"
"Deepscorn Hollow is an underground lair southeast of Leyawiin catered to infamous characters. Deepscorn Hollow is also an asylum for the wicked, a refuge from the persecution of the virtuous. It is also the home of the Crimson Scars." Rowley finished, Theranis hadn't asked any more questions.
After several hours walking, they neared Leyawiin, and the Blackwood forest. They both went off-road passing Leyawiin, then walked more south to the shores of Topal Bay.
Deepscorn Hollow had been located a little off the shore and is an abandoned, destroyed house.
"To enter inside, we must dive underwater and find a basement cellar door, enter inside, then swim in, and you'll come to the surface after that will lead to the underground lair." Rowley said.
"Alright." Theranis said, then he walked into the shore waters and dived into the water.
Theranis held his breath, and started swimming under. He went under about ten to twenty feet and found a wooden door, he opened it and went inside as Rowley followed.
He went further and the water's surface came down upon him and next moment he was breathing air. He got out the water to find a room before him, pillars placed around the room and a garden behind them.
Rowley had come up from underneath the water, then followed behind.
'Welcome home.' A voice in the back of his head had told him. Theranis wondered what it was, if it had been his conscience, or his thoughts, but wasn't sure.
"Alright, so, here she is. Crimson Hollow. Let me give you a tour." He said, then led Theranis through.
"The middle room serves as a garden, obviously, which includes the deadly chokeberry vines of Morrowind. Very rare here in Cyrodiil." He turned and led him to the room to the east where a man in black robes and a hood stood waiting.
"Alright, this man here is our Dark Minion. He is a vampire, and beside him is a chest. He will be sent out to murder in the name of Sithis. When he returns from his murderous mission he will deposit the loot of his victims in the chest." Rowley said.
"Hail Sithis." The Dark Minion said.
"...hello." Theranis managed to let out. The man stood quiet after.
Rowley led Theranis to the last room, "this room is just the storage room."
Rowley led Theranis to the second section of Deepscorn. It contained three rooms once again, as well as a secondary entrance to Deepscorn Hollow. The first room was less of a room and more of a "hub," but contains two shelves and two benches.
The second room to the south is called the "Font of Renewal", containing an altar in the middle inside a pool of water, and in the north-east corner of the room three veins of purgeblood salts.
The last room, to the west, is a small cave structure. "This area will serve the Cattle Cell. Cattle's are prisoners where vampires like you may feed on a sleeping prisoner. Unfortunately, we lack volunteers so our Dark Minion will go find us some after I give him the word." Rowley said.
"I understand." Theranis had been quite excited about that, he can feed anytime he wanted to. There's nothing he would love more.
Rowley led him to another room in the same section. "This room is called the Bastion."
The room comprises a study room, a bedroom, and a dining room. The study room housed over a dozen books.
"The next section contains the shrine of Sithis." Rowley included.
"Who sleeps here?" Theranis asked as he looked at the coffin that leaned against the wall.
"You. You are officially the Crimson Scar's leader. I'm not a vampire anymore, but I may serve useful as a merchant for the guild." He said.
"Wait, you recruited me to run this clan? You only wanted me to carry on the work of Greywyn?"
"You are a vampire, so why not? This is the perfect place for a vampire to live, no Imperial Legion would ever find this place. Go on in. I must speak with the Dark Minion and find some cattle." He said.
Theranis went in the room, looked around, Rowley had left. Theranis noticed a journal near the bed on the nightstand and picked it up.
'Greywyn Blenwyth's journal.' He read.
He began reading it, learned more of Greywyn and everything that has happened. Not too much had been written, Theranis had finished after five minutes reading then Rowley returned.
"How do you like it?" Rowley asked then Theranis turned.
"It's perfect." He shut the journal. "It's time to start recruiting our army of vampires, if we ever want revenge against the Dark Brotherhood."
Rowley smiled. "Very good, I knew you would continue the work of Greywyn."
"Not only them, but the Thieves Guild too. Before we met, the Thieves Guild arranged an attack on me with their friends. I think that the assassin's were the Dark Brotherhood. First, we will raise our own vampire army, our own Guild, then we will attack both." Theranis said with a promise.
Rowley chuckled with a smile. "I like the way you think. So we will, we will avenge Greywyn, and put an end to the Dark Brotherhood and their thief friends." Rowley said.
Theranis returned his eyes to the journal. "So we will."