205 Chapter IX: Unrest

I leave the passed out Sorine in a bunkbed within the barracks of Fort Dawnguard. The woman was so damn enthusiastic about questioning me and grilling me for all I knew she straight up didn't stop until her body itself decided to shut down due to exhaustion.

Not that I really minded helping her out with the more basic designs she was trying out. It isn't like she could have kept me there if I wasn't at the very least amused by her behavior and also a tiny bit interested in what she would make.

Much to my disappointment it was just crossbows and different more potent variations of said weapon, which made sense considering the perceived urgency of the whole vampire apocalypse thing but I was still not overly enthused by the lack of creativity. At one point I grew bored with her simply talking about adding more power to the draw and bolts so I gave her the idea for a repeater cartridge and left it at that.

I found Isran in one of the chambers higher up the fort's central keep, the man either did not sleep or was an early riser and yet he somehow looked to be fully rested.

"You sure you aren't the vampire here?" I ask jokingly.

The large Redguard looks up from his map and stack of ledgers, offers me his customary glare, and asks "How did you enjoy working with Sorine?"

"She has potential." I shrug, and inwardly chuckle at his obvious disappointment at my lack of reaction "She is but a novice when it comes to more complex engineering but if you need potent crossbows to stake vampires she is more than qualified."

He nods, fully expecting my opinion "And can you be persuaded to teach her how to build automatons?"

I shake my head "Not that I am all that unwilling, the college already has the basic schematics after all, but she would need to have a skilled group of smiths and a talented enchanter on hand to make any kind of production viable." I frown and also quickly add "Not to mention that production costs and time scale up exponentially for the more potent models, and you really shouldn't expect the basic ones to stand against a vampire even in numbers."

Isran offers a grunt in response though it easily reads something along the lines of 'I shouldn't have expected things to ever be easy' after a short pause he asks "You have come here for a reason, did you find anything in the caves?"

"A fair bit actually." I say leadingly "Though I should inform you that both the Vigilants that decided it was a wise idea to charge into a nest of vampires on their own have been given their just reward for their lack of wisdom."

He takes a deep breath, holds it for a moment, and then visibly deflates "What did you find?" The question is filled with the hollow hope of his old comrades dying for some cause instead of foolish pride.

"The general outline of the vampires' plan and an unexpected ally." I offer a smooth half truth "They seek a specific set of Elder Scrolls in an attempt to defeat the 'tyranny of the sun' I feel that I do not need to explain how unfortunate that would be."

"I see." He mutters "And what of your ally?"

"Oh, just a Daughter of Coldharbour to whom one of the Elder Scrolls belongs." I answer cheerfully.

The vampire hunter nearly jumps from his seat as he fixes me with a glare "You are working with one of them?" He hisses.

I roll my eyes "I have seen her and deemed that she is not dangerous nor malicious, besides her aid would be a very powerful asset in wh-"

"I see." He states loudly and grasps his warhammer "You have been bewitched by the monster." It isn't a question but a statement of fact, his eyes suddenly become determined as he prepares his pitiful attempt to subdue me.

Naturally, I will be having none of that "Isran" My voice is quiet but it slams into him like a hammer "I have stood before the Princes of the Daedra and spat into their faces, do not presume to hold me to the same lowly standard as the rest of your little soldiers."

He starts sweating as the world itself seemingly grows angry at his actions.

"Besides." I mutter as I approach him and stare into his eyes "Do you really think you or your toy vampire hunters would survive facing me?"

The question hangs for what must have felt like an eternity to the poor man, yet the moment I decide to stop slamming him with my fear aura he gasps and steadies himself on the table, his eyes now carrying a great deal more wariness than before.

An entire minute later he finally speaks "Are you certain that this... creature is not a danger?" He looks almost constipated at having to force himself to compromise.

"That is the funny thing about Daughters of Coldharbour." I speak with my usual cheer, completely ignoring the previous situation "Even if they are the most powerful form of vampire they are at the same time under the least amount of influence from their Daedric patron so those among their number that do not utterly shatter upon inception can be downright reasonable."

My words only serve to grow the discomfort on his face but he knows that he cannot really do anything about it at this point so he merely sighs in defeat "I trust you will make sure that it doesn't go on a rampage?"

I roll my eyes "She is a person, not an 'it'... But I guess I will take what I can get from you." His frown deepens but I keep going "And yes before you decide to ask me for the second time, I will make sure she is not going around butchering the innocent. I might seem careless to you but I know what I am doing, and I value this land too much to let it fall under vampiric control."

He grabs a tankard from nearby and takes a deep gulp of mead "Is there anything else?"

I tilt my head for a moment before nodding "I plan on using the lack of scroll to delay the vampires as much as possible as they scramble across the ancient ruins of Skyrim in an attempt to find it, I trust you will make sure to bolster your forces in the meantime?"

He nods without any hesitation "Of course, I have already sent patrols out to hunt around Solitude."

"Good." I hum "I will leave you to your drink now, there is some trouble brewing in Winterhold and I feel like it won't take much before it boils over."

"The civil war?" He asks.

"Unfortunately." I sigh "Only something as ridiculous as the Thalmor Concordat would allow a cunt like Ulfric to get any real power, but I guess that is the world we live in."

"Isee." He mutters "Good luck."

"You as well." I nod and snap my fingers, once more getting to experience the glorious feeling of magic spaghettification.

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I appear back inside my manor standing face to face with my maid who seems to be hiding out with a bunch of other workers, their eyes snap to me and all of them let out a sigh of relief upon seeing me.

It takes me but a moment to realize what is going on and even less for cold rage to start boiling in my veins. "Remain here while I deal with the trash." I order coldly and walk out, my glaive appearing within my hand with barely any input.

Fuckers wanted to touch my people eh?

I guess it was time to take off the kiddie gloves.

(General POV)

A large crowd of Nords was attempting to relentlessly push into the fenced off section of the city that housed the population of Dunmer refugees. The reason was evident after but a glance for the Nords were clad in clothing of poor quality while the small quarter housing the Dunmer was far more prosperous than most of the local humans would like.

An elderly Nord pushed against the wall of armored halberdiers guarding the entrance with all of his meek strength, only to get shoved back by one of the guardsmen and fall onto the cobbled street with a loud snap.

The crowd stilled as they all looked at the now broken arm of the old man and the situation seemed just about ready to erupt... And it would have if not for the sudden feeling of dread felt by the protesters.

The ranks of masked Dunmeri guards split at the center as the imposing figure of their lord stepped out in full combat gear.

If the crowd turned silent when the old man fell now they were doing their best to not even breathe too loudly.

"I have been busy hunting a cabal of vampires for the past few days..." The deep voice of the legendary Court Mage sent shivers down the spine of the hundred or so people in the crowd "Imagine my disgust when the first thing I saw upon my return was the cowering forms of my terrified staff."

"Tell me, fools." His words were accentuated both by the thu'um and his staff crackling with crimson lightning "Why should I not kill you all for the attempt?"

No one dared to offer a response.

"Maren." The Dunmer lord voiced.

One of the guards in slightly more ornate armor and a triangular purple banner hanging off his halberd stepped out from within the formation "Yes, my lord?"

"The city is currently under revolt by seditious elements, ensure that these fools do not leave and cause more harm." He snapped his fingers and two dozen spheres of blackened steel appeared below him, and to the horror of the protesters they all immediately transformed into crossbow wielding automata "You have command of the automatons and ten guards, the rest follow me."

The Nords could only look on dazed as the terrible mage moved on without paying them any further mind, most of the Dunmeri following after him.

"Aim." Their attention was drawn back to the guard left to watch over them as all of the metal monstrosities pointed their crossbows at them. The guard stared at them through his eerie mask for an uncomfortable amount of time before speaking "So here is how we are going to do this, you lot will stand there, perfectly still, and I will not have my lord's creations turn you into pincushions. Questions?"

One of the braver young men among the crowd managed to stammer out "May we at least help him?" He asked while pointing at the old man.

Even through the mask they could see the elf roll his eyes as he pulled out an ornate glass bottle and tossed it to the young man "Have him drink this and make sure to return the bottle, it is probably worth more than you are."

There was some frustrated grumbling from the Nords but no one was stupid enough to try anything. It would seem that the crowd was rather lucky as no Stormcloak agitators were placed among them.

Very lucky.

(Reyvin's POV)

As I walked down the streets of Winterhold I observed the situation in the entire city and oh boy was I growing more pissed by the minute. 

Almost all of the guards were currently busy holding back a lynch mob while some cunt of a Talos priest was riling up more of the poor idiots while bribing them with either food or promises of glory. At least some of the wizards from the college decided to aid with keeping order with some harmless magic, while the Masters looked on from their towers making sure there was no greater attempt at sabotage.

But I only saw one of the chief agitators in the city itself and the reason why made itself rather clear quickly after that. The rebellious guards were currently assaulting the Jarl's keep and many were already in the throne room and fighting the young man's housecarls.

I started walking toward the keep without a word, my warriors forming an orderly formation behind me and scaring off any curious observer.

Using my sight I found my way toward a side entrance to the keep outside of any open street, we rushed inside and after a couple of incinerated doors stepped out into the throne room.

The scene that greeted me was straight out of a theatre drama.

Captain Hjolmir fighting a man in Stormcloak colors to a standstill while the outnumbered housecarls held off the rebellious guards.

Thorgrim, the bitter old leader of said guards was currently bleeding from multiple cuts as he glared at a very furious Torfinn who stood in front of the heavily wounded Jarl.

"Well, this sure is a nice party." I say in my 'scary man' voice "Why was I not invited?"

Everyone stopped fighting for a moment as all eyes snapped to me.

I lazily flicked my sword in my left hand while my staff crackled with electricity, a collective shudder passing through both friend and foe.

And it was at this moment that the insurgents knew... they fucked up.

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