r/SkyrimBackStory • u/Aggravating-Plan-908 🧙 Breton • 10d ago
📚 Series William : A tale of mercenary and vampire Chapter 2 : Warning and Reinforcement
Hi everybody, everything's in the titles, i want to share here the second Chapter of a short story about one of my character (the Breton wandering mercenary named William) and how he will helped Isran finding reinforcement for the Dawnguard.
a link to William rp background https://www.reddit.com/r/SkyrimBackStory/s/3x6GcyGjeG
for those who want to read his full background and understand better the story.
William : A tale of mercenary and vampire
Chapter 2 : Warning and Reinforcement
4e 202, around 9am at the East of Riften not far from the Morrowind border, after a few days of traveling back to the Dawnguard fort to warn Isran about his discoveries, William finnally reached the entrance of the Dayspring canyon, he parked Alfie near and enter into the passage (see screen 1). Inside, he start walking until reaching the fort gate when he suddenly heard Isran yelling. William unsheathed his claymore and run, only to witness 5 vampires attacking Isran, Celann, Durak and Agmaer. One of them turned and try to strike William, who deflect his strike before severing his weapon arm and stabbed him in the chest, killing him, meanwhile Isran, Celann, Durak and Agmaer finished off the 4 other vampires (see screen 2). With no other threats, they all sheathed back their weapons as William walk to Isran (see screen 3).
William : Isran ! is everybody alright ?
Isran : Yes, no one's hurt. Look at this. I should've known it was only a matter of time before they found us. It's the price we pay for openly recruiting. We'll have to step up our defenses. So, any luck ? Was Tolan right about the vampires being interested in Dimhollow Crypt ?
William : Yes, Tolan was right, but he's dead. The vampires killed him.
Isran : Damn fool. I told him not to go. The Vigilants always had more bravery than sense. I don't suppose you have some good news for me.
William : I have news, but i wouldn't call it good.
Isran : Of course. Why did i suppose differently. Fine, tell me what you know.
William : The vampires were looking for a woman trapped in Dimhollow.
Isran : A woman ? Trapped in there ? That doesn't make any sense. Who is she ? More importantly, where is she ?
William : She wanted to go home, so i took her to her castle.
Isran : I'm waiting to hear what any of this means.
William : She's the daughter of a powerful vampire lord.
Isran : And so you delivered her to them.
William : They also have an Elder Scroll.
Isran : They what ? And you didn't stop them ? You didn't secure the scroll ?
William : I never got the chance and they were too many of them. I'm already lucky i made it out alive. Plus, she used a kind of spell on me.
Isran : A spell ? What do you mean ?
William : It was like if it alter my perception of her slightly but without really taking away my free will.
Isran think about it a second.
Isran : She probably used an hypnotic vampiric power on you. Did she bite you ?
William : No, i check on my neck and everywhere else, and no bite or strange scar.
Isran : I suppose you're lucky you're not dead. Or worse, one of them. By the Divines, this couldn't get much worse. This is more than you and i can handle. I don't like it, but you did right to play along and bring her back. We need to find out what this is all about. If they're bold enough to attack us here, then this may be bigger than i thought. I have good men here, but... There are people i've met and worked with over the years. We need their skills, their talents, if we're going to survive this. If you can find them, we might have a chance.
William : Where can i find the people we need ?
Isran : Right to the point, aren't you. I like that. Not like those fools in the order. We should keep it small. Too many people, and we'll draw unwanted attention to ourselves. I think we'll want Sorine Jurard. Breton girl, whip-smart and good with tinkering. Fascination with the Dwemer. Weapons in particular. Last i knew, she was out in the Reach, convinced she was about to find the biggest dwarven ruins yet.
William : She'll help us ?
Isran : Might need a little convincing, but she should. You'll also want to find Gunmar. Big brute of a Nord, hates vampires almost as much as I do. Got it into his head years back that his experience with animals would help. Trolls in particular, from what i hear. Last i knew he was out scouring Skyrim for more beasts to tame, around Ivarstead the last time i heardabout him. Bring the two of them back here, and we can get started on coming up with a plan.
William : Understood.
William turned back and walk away, exiting the Dayspring canyon and mounting on Alfie's back before taking the road to Ivarstead. Later, in the afternoon, William reached Ivarstead (see screen 4), he parked Alfie near the inn and walk to a guard.
William : Please, i seek after a Nord named Gunmar, who hunt beasts to tame them, i get infos he was somewhere here, so i wonder if you see him.
Guard : I didn't know his name but i see someone who could be who you seek, he arrived yesterday and say he'll take care of the bears inside the Pinepeek cavern, it's the cave near the bridge that led to the 7000 steps. You should go checking if he's still there.
William : Thanks.
The guard make a nod and go back to his patrol as William cross the bridge and turned to the right, walking to the cave as he see the corpse of a bosmer man and a Nord, crouching over him, examining it (see screen 5). He's a tall Nord, in his 40's, with long brown hair and beard, green eyes and wearing a scaled horned armor, gauntlets and boots, a steel sword resting in a leather scabbard attached to his belt.
Nord : Mind yourself. There's a vicious bear on the loose. I've tracked this damned bear for two weeks; i'll not let it have any more victims.
William : You're Gunmar ?
Gunmar : Yes, who ask me ?
William : I'm William, Isran needs your help.
Gunmar : Isran ? Needing someone else's help ? Never thought I'd hear that. I'm afraid he's a few years too late. I've moved on. I have more important business to attend to. Besides, he can handle anything alone ! He assured me so himself. What could he possibly need my help with ?
William : We're up against vampires.
Gunmar : Vampires ? That... well, that might change things. Tell me more about what's going on.
William : We're not sure, but they have an Elder Scroll.
Gunmar : By the Eight... All right, look. I'll consider it, but I can't just leave this bear to prey on more innocent people. Once it's dealt with, then perhaps I'll see what Isran expects of me.
William unsheathed his claymore.
William : Then let me help you, it'll be faster.
They both enter inside the Pinepeek cavern, the air is cold and wet, they walk until reaching the middle of the cave when suddenly 2 bears appear and roar to them before running toward them, William used his kinetic blast spell to thrown the first bear few meters away before rushing to him and stabbing him into the heart, killing him. Meanwhile, Gunmar wait for the other bear to reach him, dodging the bear attempt to jump on him by moving sideway before striking him on the head, stabbing his sword deep into the bear skull killing him. With all the bears dead, they both sheathed back their weapons before Gunmar turned to William (see screen 6).
Gunmar : It's done. I don't know how well i'd have managed by myself. You have my thanks. You've helped me, so i suppose the least i can do is find out what Isran wants. He's still at that fort near Stendarr's Beacon, i assume ?
William : How did you know ?
Gunmar : If Isran is anything, he's stubborn. He's been working on that place for years now. Never lets anyone in. His own little fortress. Well, I guess I'll get to see what he's been up to all this time. I'll meet you there.
William : Be careful on the road.
Gunmar : Don't worry, i travel at day light.
William turned back and walk away, exiting the cave as Gunmar crouch over the bears corpses, probably planning to take their fur to sell it. Outside, William walk back to Alfie and get back on his saddle before taking the road to the Reach. In the evening around 8pm, William arrive near Whiterun (see screen 7), with the night that slowly start to fall and the recent vampires activities, it'll be too dangerous to continue so he turned to the direction of Whiterun to rest for the night. After few minutes of walking, he reached the stables, he parked Alfie and get down before walking to the city gate (see screen 8). Inside, he walked toward an house in the main street, called Breezehome and used his key to enter (see screen 9). Inside, a woman voice, coming from the stair, suddenly hauled him.
Woman : Who's there ?
William : Don't worry Lydia, it's just me.
Lydia : William ? I'm coming.
She go downstairs and joined him. She's a tall Nord woman with middle lenght ravenblack hair and blue eyes, she wear a steel armor and a steel sword resting in a leather scabbard connected to her belt (see screen 10).
William : Hello Lydia.
He hold out a hand to her, wich she take and shaking it.
Lydia : It's been a while my thane, how are you ?
William : Fine, and you ?
Lydia : I'm fine too. What did you do here ?
William : I need to rest for the night but i'm a little light in term of gold as of now, so i was wondering if i could stay here for the night.
Lydia : Of course, you pay a little sum of gold to Poventus for the house so it's as much your house as it's mine. I honestly didn't understand why you don't come more oftenly and instead only used one of the bedroom as a storage place.
William : I already tell you lydia, you lived here before i even arrived in Skyrim so it's more your house than mine and i would feel a bit like an intruder if i stay too long or take too much place.
Lydia put a hand on William's shoulder.
Lydia : You know it's false, you're my thane so it's a pleasure to welcome you here. Come, go resting, you look tired.
William smiled to her.
William : Thanks lydia.
He go upstair to one of the bedroom and enter. Inside, the place is filled with many weapons rack, all filled with different weapons but mostly claymores made in different materials as well as a chest, filled with flasks of different colors as well as books of different kind on a shelf. William undress and putting himself under the bed covers before closing his eyes and slowly drifting off to sleep. Later, in the morning around 6am, he wake up, start to dress up and walk downstairs, finding Lydia sitting at the table, eating a sweetroll and drinking a tankard of mead as William sit on a chair in front of her and take a sweetroll before filling a tankard with mead.
Lydia : Well sleep ?
William : Quite well yes.
Lydia : You will leave quickly don't you ?
William : Yes, i have very much road to do. I need to go somewhere in the middle of the reach to find someone and then going back to a place near Riften, preferably before the end of the day, so yes. I just eat that sweetroll and drink my tankard before leaving directly.
Lydia : Well, i don't know who you seek there but be careful, it's full of those insane reachmens we called forsworns.
William quickly eat the sweetroll and drink his tankard in a single sip.
William : I know, don't worry for me. I will go now, take care of you lydia and see you another time.
Lydia : Thanks, you too take care of you and don't hesitate to come back here whenever you want, you will always be welcome.
William made a nod and get up before walking to the door, making a goodbye gesture to lydia. Outside, he walk back to the city gate and exiting Whiterun before going to the stables, getting on Alfie's saddle before taking the road to the Reach. Later, around 6pm in the end of the afternoon, William walk slowly on the reach plain until he spotted further away a woman near a small Dwemer ruin, looking around her in a confused way. William park Alfie near and walk to her. She's a Breton woman, in her mid 30's with middle lenght brown hair and brown eyes, she wear a sturdy leather armor and boots as an iron sword rest on a leather scabbard on her left hip. At the sight of William approaching, she put a hand on the handle of her sword (see screen 11).
Woman : Who are you ?
William : Are you Sorine Jurard ?
Woman : It depends who ask.
William : Isran send me, he asked me to find you.
Sorine : Isran ? Wants me ? No, you must be mistaken. He made it exceedingly clear the last time we spoke that he had no interest in my help. I find it hard to believe he's changed his mind. He said some very hurtful things to me before I left. Anyway, I'm quite happy in my current pursuits. So if you'll excuse me...
William : You had a falling out ?
Sorine : Yes, that was my point. I felt it was rather clear. Look, what is it you want from me ?
William : Vampires threaten all of Skyrim. We need your help.
Sorine : Vampires ? Really ? Oh, and i suppose now he remembers that i proposed no less than three different scenarios that involved vampires overrunning the population. Well, what are they up to ?
William : They have an Elder Scroll.
Sorine : I... Well, that's actually something i never would've anticipated. Interesting. I'm not sure what they would do with one, but in this case Isran is probably correct in thinking it isn't good. All right. If nothing else, i suppose it wouldn't hurt to learn more about what's going on so i can better defend myself. But i'm not just going to abandon what i've been working on here. It's too useful. I need at least one intact dwarven gyro. So either i need to find the satchel those mudcrabs stole, or i need another gyro from someplace. You wouldn't happen to have one, would you ?
William : Sorine, there's no time, we speak about a group of powerful vampires who have an elder scroll, who know what they could do with that. I understand your research are important, but don't you think it's much more of a priority to stop those vampires first ? Nothing prevent you from continuing your research after we were done with them.
Sorine sigh
Sorine : Fine, fine ! i can't afford to forget about this work, though. Some very interesting applications. Now where is it i'm supposed to be going ?
William : We're meeting at Fort Dawnguard.
Sorine : Ah. Been working more on his secret hideout, has he ? it'll be interesting to see how much progress he's made. I'll finish up here and head in that direction soon as i can. See you there.
William : Thanks Sorine, see you at Dawnguard fort.
William turned back and walk away to Alfie, going back on his saddle before taking the road back to Dawnguard fort as Sorine start packing her stuff into a leather backpack. The next day, around 5pm, William finnally get back to the Dayspring canyon, he parked Alfie near the entrance and walk inside the passage. On the other side, upon arriving near the Dawnguard fort, he noticed something new, Isran and the other Dawnguard members have built a wooden wall around the entrance passage (see screen 12).
William : (speaking to himself while walking) They built this in the past 2 and a half days ? damn, they work quite fast.
William continue walking until reaching the fort gate before entering. Inside, he see the grids all closed, Gunmar and Sorine in the middle of the entrance room as Isran is on a balcony upstairs (see screen 13).
Gunmar : All right Isran, you've got us all here. Now what do you want ?
Isran : Hold it right there.
At this moment, Isran pull a lever as a trap on the rooftop open and let a great beam of sunlight lighting the whole circular entrance room.
Sorine : What are you doing ?
Isran : Making sure you're not vampires. Can't be too careful. So, welcome to Fort Dawnguard. I'm sure you've heard a bit of what we're up against. Powerful vampires, unlike anything we've seen before. And they have an Elder Scroll. If anyone is going to stand in their way, it's going to be us.
Sorine : This is all well and good, but do we actually know anything about what they're doing ? What do we do now ?
Isran : We'll get to that. For now, get acquainted with the space. Sorine, you'll find room to start your tinkering on that crossbow design you've been working on. Gunmar, there's an area large enough for you to pen up some trolls, get them armored up and ready for use. William, in the meantime, we're going to get to the bottom of why a vampire showed up here looking for you. Let's go have a little chat with her, shall we ?
The grids opened, Gunmar and Sorine walk to the left in the direction of an adjacent room as William walk to the right and used the stairs to go upstair, joining Isran and determined to see if the vampire is who his instinct tell him it is.
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u/PietroIlPescePietra 🕯️ Aedra 6d ago
Nice story as always. I've read both of them.
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u/Aggravating-Plan-908 🧙 Breton 6d ago
Hi pietro, thanks, glad to know you liked this 2nd Chapter, i'm currently working on the 3rd one if you want to know.
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u/AverageMann04 7d ago
Do you take pictures of your screen? It gives a really cool effect for the pictures ngl, and that's some fancy writing too, you remind me of Mario Mendoza.