Vampires are creatures of night and shadow. Some believe Vampires are capable of becoming invisible in the dark. Some believe they can use shadows as portals to instantly travel great distances, or appear behind unsuspecting victims. Others still, believe they are able to snuff out all light around them, bringing darkness wherever they go. One thing is for certain, a vampire can move unseen and unheard by mortal eyes and ears when they desire to.
Vampires are gifted with an affinity towards magics. Specifically the arts of destruction and conjuration, but also alteration and illusion if they deem it useful. They can just as easily obliterate an opponent with fire and frost as they can seduce and enthrall them to their service. Their immortal lives and naturally higher Magicka mean vampires, unlike most mortal mages, are able to master several different schools of spells.
Above all else, however, vampires are bestial predators. They possess enhanced speed and enhanced strength. They have lifetimes to hone skills such as swordsmanship and martial arts. And to top it all off, they are cunning in the brewing and use of potions and poisons. Vampires are truly dangerous adversaries.
It is no surprise, then, that Serana was able to kill the mortal thrall standing guard to the entrance of the Movarth's lair without so much as a whisper, sneaking behind him and slitting his throat with her dark steel shortsword. Serana was not only a vampire, she was vampire royalty. Her skills and abilities pure compared to other, lesser vampires. The local city of Morthal had been suffering from what they thought were a string of unrelated tragedies: several murders, kidnappings, a fire that killed a child, all terrible but seemingly unrelated events. Luckily for the citizens of Morthal, Serana was there, and she could see the telltale sides of a Master Vampire's hand at work.
She crouched down and silently entered the lair, pushing her way through several thick cobwebs as she went. A young woman from the local tavern, Moira, was the most recent kidnapping victim, and Serana knew she was running out of time to save her. Serana got through the entrance and came to a stop, resting on one of her knees. Before her, a long wooden staircase descended down deeper into the lair, and Serana could hear the heavy alternating steps of a large Frostbite Spider at the bottom. That explained the thick cobwebs at the entrance, vampires liked to keep vile creatures like Frostbite Spiders as pets and guard dogs. Serana looked over the edge at the massive arachnid skittering across the ground below. She drew her sword, and in a blur of motion jumped down and plunged it directly into the creature's skull, killing it instantly.
She continued through the dark, damp cave, disarming several traps as she went. Using her Vampiric senses, which were much like echolocation, she could see a small junction further ahead with two more thralls standing guard. Hugging the shadows, Serana crept as close as she could before launching her attack. With a flick of her wrist she conjured up two ice spikes, and sent them flying into the torches on the wall behind the thralls. Both of them instantly turned in shock towards the shattering sound of the ice snuffing out the flames, then frantically tried to look for the source of the magic. But in the dark they could see nothing, and they were unable to hear Serana's silent footsteps as she closed the distance. By the time the thralls had turned back around, Serana was upon them. With two quick slices she cut both of their throats, and the thralls collapsed onto the ground, choking and clutching their wounds to no avail.
"What was that?" a female's voice called out from further down past the junction.
Damn, Serana thought to herself, before she focused her senses down the tunnel.
"You three, with me. I smell blood," the voice said, and Serana heard the sound of steel being unsheathed. So a vampire and three more thralls, quickly coming up the tunnel, all armed and expecting something. Serana decided it would be best to ambush them here in this junction, the open space and high ceiling gave her several advantages against a group of enemies, and if she positioned herself properly she could prevent someone from escaping and warning the rest of the coven. She set a lightning rune at the far end of the junction, and jumped up above the exit to the tunnel where her enemies were coming from. She flipped in the air, hooking her left foot into a root that was sticking out of the ceiling, suspending herself from the roof like a bat. A glow started to emanate from the tunnel, and it grew in intensity as the footsteps got louder and louder.
The vampire entered first, a fledgling, Serana noted. She looked around and sniffed, then squatted down beside one of the thralls corpses and examined it. "Keep going up and find who did this," she commanded to her thralls, and they continued. The thrall in the lead had a torch, and while the light helped him see in the darkness of the cave, it obscured his vision enough that he couldn't see the rune on the ground just in front of him. Serana smirked and conjured a paralysis spell in each hand. The lead thrall stepped within the bounds of the rune, and it exploded into arcs of purple energy. The energy arced through his body, seizing up his muscles and dropping him dead. Serana shot the two spells she conjured at the other two thralls, and they both fell to the ground, paralyzed and unable to move.
The vampire looked up and hissed, drawing a steel short sword and conjuring a fireball in her left hand. She shot the fireball at Serana, who deftly pushed off from the roof and flipped away, the fireball passing by her harmlessly. Serana landed on the ground and ducked under the swing of the sword aimed at her head. She weaved left and right, gracefully dodging the wild thrusts and swings of the hissing vampire. The vampire, in a fit of rage, swung as hard as she could at Serana's throat, but it was this moment Serana had been waiting for. She spun and bent her knees, dropping her low to the ground and under the swing of the sword. As she spun she stuck out her right foot, hooking it just behind the vampire's knees and sweeping her legs up. While the vampire was still falling, Serana stood up and drew a small dagger from her waist. The dagger was a pointed spike of silver, with a grip heavily laced in leather to protect Serana's own hand. At the same instant as the vampire hit the ground she drove the dagger into her heart. The vampire's eyes widened in shock and she gasped, before withering and turning to dust. Serana quickly sheathed the dagger, even with the wrapped grip and her gloves she could feel the heat from the silver in palm.
"Animal," Serana cursed under her breath.
The battle had set Serana back, the time for stealth was over. She ran down the tunnel, sensing that the true lair itself was just at the other end. She was right. As she came to the end of the tunnel it opened into a massive cave, dimly lit by torches and braziers, the air thick with the smell of smoke and blood. From the open ledge she was standing on she could see a massive dinner table in the middle of the cave, covered in candles and questionable meats. Along both sides were female vampires sitting at the table, 8 in total, feasting and drinking from ornate golden goblets. In the center of the table was Moira, the girl who had been kidnapped. Her eyes were closed, in some kind of trance, and she lay motionless on a bed of green grass and red flowers. And at the far end of the table, sitting on a large stone throne, was Movarth, the Master Vampire and patriarch of the coven.
Serana jumped down into the cave and approached the table. The two vampires closest to her noticed and stood up, instinctively reaching their hands to the weapons.
"Easy girls," a dark, brooding voice echoed out, "easy."
The two vampires sat back down, but kept their eyes on Serana.
Movarth laughed, "another dinner guest?" He sniffed the air, "oh, or perhaps you've come to join my harem, vampire?" The rest of the vampires now all looked at Serana with morbid interest.
Serana stopped just before the table. "I've come for the girl," she said.
"You have, have you?" Movarth said. "And what makes you think we will give away our main course?"
"If you don't give her to me, I will kill you."
Every vampire at the table burst into laughter. They looked at each other in disbelief.
Movarth laughed louder and harder than the rest. "You are a bold one," he said, "your place is definitely by my side."
Serana's hearing, even by vampiric standards, was really good. She could tune out distractions and focus on the smallest of sounds. Through the laughter and clinking of goblets, back down the tunnel past the junction and the wooden stairs, she heard the sound she had been waiting for.
Just a little longer, she thought to herself. Serana brought her hands up and pushed her hood back. Instantly, the laughter stopped. Several vampires stood up and drew their weapons, others hissed and growled.
"You!" Movarth spat out, "the traitor of Volkihar! How dare you show yourself."
"I will only warn you one more time," Serana said defiantly, "release the girl or I will kill you all."
Movarth laughed again, but this laugh was one of anger and malice, "we will make you suffer for your insolence."
The nearest vampire to Serana pushed her chair back and moved to attack. Before she could get to Serana, a crossbow bolt hit her right between the eyes and she fell back, crumpling over her chair.
Isran dropped the crossbow and picked up his massive warhammer, the Hammer of Light, its glow illuminating an entire Dawnguard strike team. "For the Dawnguard, attack!" Isran cried. Several Dawnguard crossbowmen fired bolts from the elevated ledge, killing or wounding some of the other vampires. An armoured troll roared and led the charge on the table, followed by Isran and knights clad in Dawnguard plate armour wielding axes and shields.
The vampires were quickly being overwhelmed by the onslaught. An enraged Movarth hissed loudly and drew his own sword. He leapt onto the table and moved to kill Moira where she lay. Serana was too far to stop him in her current form. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then jumped upwards. Her physical form disappeared, replaced by a swarm of bats. The swarm crossed the table in a heartbeat, and as it passed over the sleeping body of the girl the bats melted away into the shadows. Serana's form appeared once again, her sword drawn. Using all her strength and momentum, she swung her sword in one powerful slash. She flew right past Movarth, and his headless body collapsed and fell off the table.
The battle in the cave quickly wrapped up. All the vampires were slain, and the Dawnguard only suffered a few minor injuries between them. Serana lowered herself off the table, and wiped her sword off on Movarth's tunic as she walked past it.
"I thought the plan was to wait for us before assaulting the lair," Isran said as he walked up to Serana, the Hammer of Light in his hands now covered in blood.
"I didn't think the girl had enough time, so I had to improvise," Serana said as she sheathed her sword.
Isran walked over to the table and rested his warhammer against it. "Hmm, good call. Can you help her?" he asked.
Serana joined him and examined Moira, "yes I can, she's under a basic paralysis spell."
"Like the two thralls you left at that junction?"
Serana laughed. "Nowhere near as strong as those spells," Serana replied. She raised her hand and passed it over Moira's head. Moira's eyes opened and she sat up, gasping for air. She looked around in horror, her eyes stopping on Serana and Isran.
"What happened," she asked, "where am I?"
"It's ok you're safe now," Isran replied as he grabbed her hand and helped her off the table, "this lady saved you, we can take you out of here." Isran called over two Dawnguard knights, and they motioned Moira towards the exit.
Moira nodded, tears streaming down her eyes. She jumped at Serana and hugged her tightly, sobbing several times. "Divines bless you for this," she said, then she turned and followed the knights.
"Touching," Isran said, "well, we're heading back to Fort Dawnguard, you're welcome to join us."
"I'm ready to go when you are," Serana said. She put her hood back on and walked over to the Dawnguard tending their wounds, helping them as best she could.
The journey from Morthal to Fort Dawnguard took several days, but Serana and the rest of the Dawnguard convoy eventually made it. The verdant approach to the fort was the same as when they left, save for a small campsite that had suddenly sprung up beside the river.
Isran gestured to the Nord and the Khajiit sitting at the campsite, "they're here for you, I'm guessing?"
Serana squinted at the pair, the blinding sun obscuring her vision. "Is that…?"
"Serana!" Inigo yelled out, dropping his fish skewer and running out to meet her.
Serana smiled and jogged to meet him. The two met in the middle of the field and hugged. "I had no idea you guys were planning on coming here," she said as she exited the embrace.
"Neither did we until a few days ago," Inigo said.
Heavy footsteps approached Serana and Inigo. "It's good to see you well Serana," Ysmir said.
Serana smiled again and tried to hug Ysmir, but couldn't wrap her arms around his armour. They settled for an awkward but good enough side hug.
"You too, old friend," Serana said, "you know you don't have to always be wearing armour."
"It's better to be prepared," Ysmir said, "we're here because we need your help."
"I figured," Serana said. She was more than ready to join Ysmir and Inigo again. In fact, since they parted ways, Serana had spent a small part of every day missing the pair and the adventures they had shared as a group. "Just let me say my goodbyes here."
"Of course," Ysmir said, "take your time." He and Inigo went back to the river and began packing up their campsite.
The rest of the Dawnguard had continued on into the fort, but Isran waited behind. He was standing with his arms crossed, waiting patiently for Serana.
"I assume you'll be going then?" he asked.
"I will be," Serana replied. She looked up at the tall towers and walls of the fort, "I'm sure you guys can handle things without me."
"Not as smoothly, but we will," Isran said, "it's been a pleasure working with you. You're alright for a bloodsucking fiend."
"And you're not so bad for upstart cattle," Serana replied.
The two stood in silence for a second, then they both smiled and slowly started laughing. The two of them laughed for a while, then Isran reached into a pouch on his belt.
"You'll always be welcome here, Serana," he said, "here I had this made for you." From his pouch he produced a small ring, the crest of the Dawnguard emblazoned upon it. Serana's eyes widened as Isran dropped it into her hands.
"Don't worry this one's not made of silver," Isran said, "I officially welcome you, Knight of the Dawnguard."
Serana slid the ring onto her finger, made a fist and examined it. The ring was enchanted, Serana could feel it fortifying her Magika reserves. She bowed her head, "thank you Isran."
"You've earned it," Isran replied. He nodded to Serana and walked away, never one for long goodbyes.
Ysmir and Inigo had finished packing up their campsite and strapping the bags to their horses when Serana rejoined them. They had overheard everything, so they both congratulated Serana on her achievement.
"So, what do you need me for?" Serana asked.
Inigo looked over to Ysmir, who nodded and motioned for Serana to have a seat. Serana sat down on a log beside the extinguished campfire.
Ysmir took a deep breath, "I've had this dream…"