The Aftermath of Oblivion. (IC)

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The Aftermath of Oblivion.

Tirdas, 29th day of Frostfall, 4E 0.

The Imperial City, 12.58am.

Ava Blackthorne, Just on the outskirts of The Imperial City.

Due to the horrific murders taking place all across Cyrodiil the Imperial City had now found itself in a heighten state of alert, with High Chancellor Ocato being thoroughly convinced that vampires are the culprits behind the killings he has issued a strict curfew. With each murder having taken place during night time hours he has ordered that The Imperial Legion are to patrol the city streets as they search for the culprit, while everyone else is to remain inside the safety their homes until the morning. This has caused the Wawnet Inn located in Weye to take on a large amount of travelers, all waiting until morning to gain entry into the Imperial City. With everyone immediately accusing vampires for being behind the murders, vampire hunters from all across Tamriel have traveled directly to the Imperial City with the hope of putting a end to the threat before more innocent lives could be lost. Even those with no experience at hunting vampires have flocked to the Imperial City, having seen enough death during the Oblivion Crisis there was no shortage of those eager to take up arms against the creatures of the night to prevent more death. Many high profile mercenaries have also traveled to the capital of Cyrodiil, with the hopes of lining there pockets with large amounts of gold by capturing whomever is behind the sickening murders. With the concern of the Imperial City being attacked directly, Weye has seen its position bolstered by members of the Imperial Legion, as well as a handful of battle mages. Despite the Legions best efforts to ensure the safety of the Empire’s citizens, everyone staying at the Wawnet Inn still felt exposed being outside of the city, especially after what had happened just outside of the city of Skingrad but only a few months ago.

Ava Blackthorne had taken up residence inside of Dzonot Cave, using it as a temporary safe house due to it’s proximity to the Imperial City. She was well aware that High Chancellor Ocato had pinned the blame on all of vampire kind, but also of the threat it posed to her kin currently operating within the borders of Cyrodiil. The opening of the first Oblivion Gate’s was not only the beginning of a terrible crisis for all of Tamriel, it was also the start of another war, one that barely anyone even knew was raging all across Cyrodiil. The Cyrodiil Vampyrum Order found itself at war with the Keerilth vampire clan of Valenwood from the very start of the crisis, with the two clans eventually battling for dominance over the entire province. With the crisis coming to it’s end the fighting between the two only intensified, leading to their most recent battle just on the outskirts of Skingrad. The Keerilth had provoked The Order at the start of the crisis by crossing the border into Cyrodiil, they quickly became kidnapping anyone that they could before dragging them back to their lairs to use as blood cattle. This caused The Cyrodiil Vampyrum Order to almost immediately retaliate, within days The West Weald had contained a handful of smaller battles between the rivals. Before long the Keerilth clan had managed to secure Silorn from a small group of necromancers, establishing it as their first stronghold within Cyrodiil’s borders. During the months that followed there had been several note worthy battles, with the majority of them consisting along the southern most reaches of the providence as the Keerilth fought to tighten their grip over the land. During the final weeks of the crisis they had claimed Fort Istirus as another stronghold for the clan, using the Strid River to easily move supplies from Valenwood to their strongholds within Cyrodiil. The leaders of the Keerilth vampire clan had no doubt in their minds that The Cyrodiil Vampyrum where behind the murders, viewing it as a desperate attempt to hinder their movements without having to get their own hands dirty. Leaving the hunters to act as not only a human meat shield, but also as a very large distraction of sorts, while they consolidated their current position within the Imperial province.

Dzonot Cave had become somewhat of a temporally stronghold for Ava, and a few others of the Keerilth clan who had been sent to investigate if The Order was behind the killings. Originally the cave had belonged to a small group of bandits, all of whom had either been killed, or had been forced into becoming thralls.

” I don’t converse with my prey, now get out of my way ” Ava grunted, as she pushed one of the thralls out of her way.

” I’m sorry, forgive me, master… ” Reluctantly spoke, as struggled to come to terms with being a vampires property.

Eve spent her time searching threw the bandits former belongings, despite seeming rather experienced they had managed to gather a fair amount of loot. With most of it probably accumulated from scavenging during the Oblivion Crisis, and the rest of it probably belonging to them before they became outlaws.

” Where do you think they managed to get all this junk, can’t picture these drunken bunch managing to rob a caravan. “

” Well remember, someone did manage to steal an Elder Scroll strait out the Imperial City, I can’t say I’m surprised that these lot stole a couple of silver candlesticks. ”

” So I take it you are heading out now, just be careful out there, and don’t worry I will get these bunch into line by the time you get back.

” I have no doubts, but you be careful as well, with all those hunters just across from here you can’t be too careful. With any luck we can put down this killer down before he draws any more attention, the sooner we get back to Silorn, the better. ” Ava spoke, as she checked over equipment before heading out.

” If I am not back before first light you know what to do, I will meet you there if I can’t make it back here. ” Ava spoke, as she began making her way towards the exit.

After exiting Dzonot Cave Ava carefully began heading north, crossing underneath the massive bridge connecting Weye to the Imperial City. Before long she reached a wayshrine to Julianos, using it as temporary cover as a Imperial patrol made their way past her on the way back towards the Chestnut Handy Stables. She was planning to use the Imperial City Sewers – North Exit as her way into the Imperial City. Being a route she has used many times in the past she was confident it was the best chance she had of getting into the city, with bandits having taken up residence within Vilverin the Imperial Prison Sewer entrance was out of the question. Once she passed Sinkhole Cave she began to pick up the pace, now sprinting as continued heading towards the North Exit. By the time she had reached the gate she needed a moment to catch her breath, and as expected the gate was locked, but unexpectedly there was fresh blood on the bars of the grate.

This quickly caused her to cast a defect life spell, followed up by a detect undead spell. However the only thing she detected was a handful of mudcrabs underneath the water, allowing her to return her focus back on the lock. She tried a Alteration spell to unlock it, but it had no effect, she was going to to have the pick it opened.

” …The Order think they’re better than us… hiding among the humans… pah, they’ll be the first to burn when the mortals get organized… “

Ava continued muttering to herself as began picking the lock on the grate, with the scent of fresh blood distracting her just enough to break a lock pick in the process.

Jasayla Valraenos, The Imperial City Market District.

Only a few hours had passed before another body was discovered, this time being left in the center of The Imperial Market District. The victim was a young Imperial boy, who couldn’t have have been more than twenty years old. His eyes had been carved out of his skull, replaced by tiny rocks with symbols carved into them. With each victim the pattern had mostly remained the same, all of them had strange symbols carved into their flesh. With the symbols being placed on their chest, forehead, as well as all across their backs. Judging by the bruising around his neck, someone had strangled him to death, then violently began carving into him with a knife. After receiving permission from High Chancellor Ocato, The Champion of Cyrodiil had joined the investigation into the strange murders. With this being the third corpse that she had discovered since promising the people of the Imperial City, that she would swiftly bring the culprit to justice for their heinous crimes.

” This boy couldn’t have been more than twenty years old, whomever is doing this is no vampire, there are no signs of any bite marks on him at all. Unless we are dealing with a vampire that has no issue passing up a free meal, I highly doubt this is the work of just any vampire, something else is going on here. “

” What kind of monster, carves out another persons eyes, whomever is behind these murders is completely heartless ! ” Carodus Oholin spoke.

While the Imperial Legion had fought valiantly along side the Champion of Cyrodiil against the forces of Mehrunes Dagon, they couldn’t help but feel like they had failed to protect the citizens of the Empire. Jasayla had also felt this way, she gave her word to carry out justice, but so far she had been eluded. Before leaving the boys side, she began saying a short prayer for those who had lost their lives to what could only be considered as the work of a madman.

” Send word to High Chancellor Ocato, tell him that there has been another victim. ” One of the Legionaries shouted.

” This has gone on long enough, we are going to have to search every home, as well as the sewers. ” Another of the Legionaries spoke aloud.

Jasayla got back up to her feet, holding onto the letter that was left in the victim’s pocket in her hand as she watched the guards carry the body away. With another life taken she began to question if this could be the act of a single person, the bodies had been discovered in almost every section of the city. She knew that the symbols carved into the flesh of the victims had to hold some kind of importance, but so far they had consisted of unknown origin, with nothing similar in known record. The guards where right about a lot of things, more than likely peoples homes where going to be searched, and the sewers where going to need to be cleared.

Carodus Oholin gave a look of a concern, as he noticed the look on Jasayla’s face. ” How are you holding up ? “

” I’m alright, I just want to put an end to this, too many lives have been lost already. ”

” Try not to beat yourself up over it, you are doing the best you can, we all are. “

” I know, but I can’t help but wonder, will our best be enough. Something dark is going on here Carodus, we need to be more vigilant then ever. I can’t help but shake the feeling that this is the work of something more sinister than Ocato believes it to be, why would vampires be doing this, it just doesn’t add up. “

” Come on, we should take this letter strait to High Chancellor Ocato, he will want to review it’s contents immediately. “

• This topic was modified 3 weeks ago by  Ava Blackthorne.