Like a Moth to a Flame

So far, no luck with our search. It has been quite a few days since we left Fort Dawnguard, and every single coachman or innkeeper we've asked know nothing of a Moth Priest. It seems like Moth Priests are very good at hiding themselves from plain sight. That, or they might not have even passed through Skyrim, and we'll have no one to decode the Scroll for us.

Recently, I have been talking to Lady Serana about Kiya. I have had no experiences with feelings of attraction for women. Kiya and I have come a long way that my heart now desires to be with her always. She does not know this, for I have not told her yet. I fear if I did, it might ruin our friendship and our effectiveness in combat. Serana certainly knows a lot about women and courting, having lived for hundreds of years now. She will be of great help to me these next several days.

We finally chanced upon a coachman in Riften who knows something about a Moth Priest. After much persuasion, he told us the priest wanted a ride to Dragon Bridge, but the coachman declined because it was not one of his stops. We thanked the coachman and traveled there by foot directly. Along the way, I noticed that Kiya was keeping to herself. I wondered what she was thinking of, and continued to talk to Serana about her.

So I'm guessing you won't take us there, too?

We reached the town of Dragon Bridge by morning, and we immediately asked some guards if they've seen something. If there's anyone who would have seen anything, it must be the guards. One of them told us that the Moth Priest traveled through the town and across the Bridge itself with an escort of soldiers, and that it was the last they saw of him. We sprinted through town to reach the bridge, hoping to get there in time.

Are Moth Priests that different from the other Priests?

...We did not. We found his escort of soldiers at the end of the bridge, their coach overturned, all of them dead. I am no Imperial, but this sight horrified me. These vampires are becoming more and more bold with their moves, killing not to eat this time. I wondered what all this killing accomplished for their cause, for we have the Scroll, and they will have no use for the Priest if they do not have it.

They even killed the horse! It can't even talk!

Fortunately (or not at all), we found a vampire among the dead, with a letter of orders from one named Malkus. Their hideout wasn't far from the bridge. Perfect. We still have a chance to save the Priest.

I thank you Malkus, for the lead you gave us.

We arrived at this Malkus's hideout, and it seems like they are still here. I told both Kiya and Serana that I will distract the other vampires while they go ahead and take care of Malkus upstairs. This is what makes Kiya and me deadly in combat: she shoots arrows from the shadows, killing those unaware of her. And since all of them are distracted by my head-on assault, she could make it easy for the both of us to take care of our enemies quite swiftly. It sounded crazy when I told Serana that it was one of the things that makes me fond of Kiya.

I better not distract her...

I arrived at the top of the hideout with Malkus dead. Serana told me he put up quite a fight, but succumbed to Kiya's poisoned arrows. Picking on the weak while being weak yourself, Malkus? Such a pity. I thought I'd arrive in time to take your head off alive.

I hope you stay dead.

In all the commotion, we did not notice that the Moth Priest was trapped in some kind of magical force field. I searched Malkus's body for something that might release the Priest, and I found a glowing stone emanating magic. This might be the one that activates the pedestal near the barrier. I hurriedly ran up and pushed the stone down. Lo and behold, it released the Priest. However, he did not look well.

I wonder if my hand gets pierced again this time around?

It was then he started attacking Serana. Is this Moth Priest on our enemies' side all along? I wondered. I had to defend her from the Priest. So I did. He was one swift one-handed swing from being decapitated when he told us he submits, that he was not the one we were fighting. He seemed to regain his consciousness (and fortunately at the right moment too, for we would have been one Moth Priest less than what we wanted). 

That ice spike's not melting, for some reason.

Kiya talked to the Moth Priest, explaining our need for him to read the Elder Scroll. She sounded cold and frank. She stared directly at him, not even returning Serana's and my glances. I again wondered what she was thinking of. I exchanged glances with Serana, who seemed to understand Kiya's odd behavior but had no chance to tell me yet. I needed to know. My musings were abruptly stopped when the Moth Priest told us he will just meet us at Fort Dawnguard. I would have told him we were ready to escort him there if he needed it, but Kiya was quick to agree with what he said. She told him to "go now, lest we may be in the company of more than one unwelcome visitor" as she stared coldly, directly at Serana. Something is up, and I need to know before we make any moves, as this might compromise our mission.

Came back to his senses when he saw pretty women. What a Priest he is.

New and Old Faces

It is done then, the recruiting of Sorine Jurard for the Dawnguard cause. Sure, she took quite a bit of convincing... or rather it took me some tracking to have the means to convince her. Having finished the quest Azura set me to, I finally got myself out near Markarth, where Isran told me she would be. It was quite a beautiful place, really. I would certainly loathe to leave it if I had been living there for so long, but Sorine's reasons are different.

I have to dig up some Dwemer gyros out of thin air?

It frustrated me at first. The distance from Markarth to Winterhold wasn't short, and to be rebuffed simply on the matter of Dwemer gyros was ridiculous. But a mission is a mission, and I have to placate Sorine with one or else she would stay put. Thankfully, Sorine was muttering earlier about Mudcrabs stealing her satchel. Combing the riverside nearby yielded her satchel and its hoard of gyros. Satisfied with what I brought, she finally agreed to get moving. I likewise set my course back to Fort Dawnguard, but not before selling the gyros Sorine wouldn't take. A few extra gold wouldn't hurt.

Either the Mudcrabs were really clever or Sorine wasn't looking hard enough.

Kousei and his recruit, Gunmar, had already reached Fort Dawnguard before Sorine and me. I was elated to see my good friend, of course, and I thought I detected a hint of a smile in his usually impassive face when we met again. His recent letters were very exciting. Ever since he told me that Meridia had dubbed him as her Champion, I wanted so much to have a glimpse of the Dawnbreaker. But the moment we were complete, Isran shone this bright light on us. To detect if we were Vampires, he explained. I know Kousei is far more used to the sun than I am, but even he quickly retreated to the shadows after passing the test. The afterimages persisted in eyes for some time.

After all that light, to be in the shadows is a welcome respite.

And no sooner was this done when Isran beckoned Kousei and me to follow him. We glanced at each other, but we obeyed this without further ado. We got up to the second floor, where Isran was waiting in a torture room with a familiar figure...

Oh, look who's here.

A jolt of alarm hit me the moment I saw Serana. I did not expect to see her so soon, and her presence wasn't something that gave me comfort, to be honest. I stole a discreet glance at Kousei, but his expression showed only the same surprise that I was feeling. I had to stop my mind from jumping to conclusions and let Serana explain herself. I am glad I did, because what Serana divulged was clearly going to occupy us for some time.

She warned us of her father, Lord Harkon, and how he became obsessed over a prophecy that would enable vampires to get rid of what may be their greatest liability: their fear of the sun. Serana and her mother refused to go along with Harkon, and it basically resulted in what we found in Dimhollow Crypt. The Elder Scroll she was carrying would help us understand this curious prophecy so we can thwart her father's plans. But then again, only Moth Priests can read it. Kousei looked at me pointedly the moment Moth Priests were mentioned, but I simply shrugged. Just because I hailed from Cyrodiil does not mean I am one, or have met one. I hate to disappoint him, but my old home wasn't even near the White Gold Tower. But back to the story, Isran suddenly spoke up, saying there was a Moth Priest currently visiting Skyrim. Talk about lucky, but I know we shouldn't rely too much on luck where Isran's temper was concerned.

'Seductive,' indeed.

Serana in Fort Dawnguard was aggravating Isran, and he made that point clear to her. Now, I am not too fond of Serana, but Isran addressing her by "it" was a little too much even for me. Kousei didn't like it either, and he went further to speak up against Isran's blatant disrespect of Serana. This resulted in a colorful argument between the two men. Neither of them wanted to back down. I guess they might have ended it in a true Redguard fashion (which was to say, not too pretty) if I had not stepped in and used the Voice of the Emperor to stop them from exchanging blows. Some aspects of their personalities are too similar to be in harmony.

You sound as obsessed as Harkon, Isran.

Thankfully, Isran allowed Serana to stay in the Fort, provided that she does not spread her condition to anyone. On top of it, he warned her that her friends will have to pay the price should she renege on this agreement. Isran may have meant Kousei and me, but he was glaring at his fellow Redguard as he spoke. It was clear in his eyes that he wanted to use his warhammer to knock Kousei into Oblivion given the opportunity. I heaved a little sigh. I should watch out for those two whenever they're in the same room.

It was a relief when Isran took leave of us. Serana then offered to accompany Kousei for this new task of finding the Moth Priest. If she did this out of gratitude for his support earlier, I don't know. It certainly irked me, though. Serana must have noticed my change of attitude, because she quickly attempted to remedy the situation. She didn't mean to sound like she was excluding me, she said. It was just that she was not too comfortable with having other companions aside from Kousei and me. I sent Lydia and my canine follower back home immediately. No way am I allowing her to travel with Kousei alone. Not even if the Divines mandate it.

I am not even sure why I am feeling so antagonistic to Serana. I know she will not even think of harming Kousei, so why should I act like I should protect him? I don't know why I keep looking back at that time when Serana whispered to me that Kousei was quite handsome, the first time she saw his face without the helmet in Solitude. And now, I keep going over the image of Kousei standing up for Serana against Isran. Gods, what is wrong with me? Hopefully time will help clear my thoughts.

- Kiya

One Daedric Artifact Meets Another

Dear Kousei,

I'll have to say, the Dawnbreaker is quite a wondrous piece of weaponry that Meridia bestowed upon you for your troubles. It is certainly fitting for a skilled swordsman who was chosen to be her Champion. I am looking forward to fighting alongside you again, as you wield the Dawnbreaker to smite our undead foes. Just in case you are wondering if I am finally ready to get back to Dawnguard business, I assure you that I am already on my way to recruit Sorine Jurard near Markarth. However, I am writing this letter to you so you will know precisely how my own quest for Azura concluded.

Time to speak to the big boss now, huh?

I had to go back to Azura's Shrine near Winterhold to return the Artifact to Aranea Ienith. She was as surprised as you to see me holding the Star, even in its broken state. Clearly, Azura didn't tell her in advance about what I have been doing, despite being her priestess. Nonetheless, Aranea wasted no time communing with the Daedric Princess to establish what was to be done about the Star. Surely, she will be able to reverse Malyn Varen's tampering of it. Alas, I knew that something was still amiss when Aranea told me that Azura wished to speak to me.

Basically, you're Soul Trapping me, right?

If Meridia appeared to you as a sphere of light in the heavens, all that I encountered of Azura was her voice when I laid my hands on her shrine altar. She told me a little of the Star's workings, and how it will return to her realm in Oblivion in about a hundred years' time. Not that I will be around to witness that happen, she pointed out. Azura went on to explain that Malyn Varen's soul will have to be purged from her Artifact before I can use it as I wish. There was no other choice, but even if there was, I wouldn't have passed the opportunity to settle the score with Malyn once and for all.

No offense to you, Malyn, but this place doesn't look too cozy to spend eternity on.

The inside of Azura's Star was quite blinding due to the glow of the crystals. But there was a lone dark figure marring the brightness -- none other than Malyn Varen himself. He was expecting another soul to be devoured, his manner eerily reminding me of Lord Harkon's court. But I did not enter the Star to be eaten by a madman, and I made that clear to Malyn from the start. He did not believe I was capable of dealing with him, bragging that he had humbled Azura herself. Well, we'll see who has the last laugh here!

One of these Dremora is not like the others.

To further spite Azura perhaps, Malyn summoned three Dremora to cover his retreat while I sought to take him down. So, he wants Dremora against Dremora? Then so be it! I guess you can imply what I did next, Kousei. I relied on the aid of another Daedric Prince to help fulfill my mission for Azura. Sure, the single warrior Dremora I could summon out of the Sanguine Rose took quite a huge beating from Malyn's hench-Dremora mages, but we took them all down eventually. I wonder if Sanguine and Azura were having a nice chat over bottles of wine as the battle was going on.

Wait, wait, can't you let me loot his corpse?

And Malyn Varen? I guess he missed a crucial lesson during his training days about not losing sight of his enemies. Or maybe he was a little too confident about the abilities of his three Dremora to take care of all opposition. Whatever his reasons were, he just casually walked away from the scene of battle without so much a look back, and one sneak shot of a poisoned arrow was all it took to bring him down. Malyn, Malyn, I'm sure you could do better than that. But I will never know for sure, because Azura warped me out of the Star as soon as he was gone for good.

So many arms, but still only supports one Soul at a time.

And so Azura's Star, purified and complete, was finally mine to wield. But there is a sad note at the end of this story. Aranea Ienith told me that Azura will no longer grant her visions once I have succeeded against Malyn Varen, and for the first time in her life, she felt quite lonely. She gave me her word that should I need her abilities in battle, she will be there to aid me. I thanked her, but the most that I could promise was that I would visit her and Azura's Shrine every now and then. I feel pity for Aranea, but there is a sense of respect, too. It was not her fault that she had lost her link to Azura, but she still remained steadfast in her duty to the Shrine. It is not everyday that one meets a person like her in Skyrim. Quite like you, Kousei.

Your good friend,

Kiya

When Dawn Breaks (Part II)

Dear Kiya,

Is that... Azura's Star? By the gods, I did not think it would be possible for anyone to retrieve a legendary artifact such as that, but as I think about it more, a lot of things that would otherwise be impossible have happened in our presence. (Not in my life would I think it possible for me to be beheaded in a chopping block!) I know you'll be careful with it, as it will be one of the things that will help us along the way to defeating the vampire threat. 

After writing my previous letter, I immediately delved inside Meridia's temple, not wanting the Daedra to wait. I felt a strange presence, one so dark, fearsome, and strong that the whole temple was emanating with it. Other adventurers died with just the first step inside, instantaneously defiling their bodies with the dark taint. Thankfully, I am not affected by this taint, and it is my duty to remove it from this holy place.

Who expels this much noxious gas?

I came upon a room with a spherical orb of light in the middle. I crept slowly towards it, fearing it might be something that could kill me in an instant, and I saw it was... connected to other orbs like it. It must be some kind of path for me to follow set by Meridia to lead me towards Malkoran. Once every few rooms, after fighting corrupted shades and draugr, I had to activate those orbs of light myself.

Follow the light.

This Malkoran must be one master of the arcane, as I do not know of any spell that can summon these Corrupted Shades. By the looks of it, his evil might have corrupted his summoned creatures and turned them into these vile shadow-warriors. I just had to get to him at once. This kind of evil, along with the vampires, must be defeated by all means. We cannot let them take over Skyrim, let alone one sacred temple. Thus, I am glad you will not be bringing it to Nelacar, as this will only bring more suffering. 

Mage expels noxious gas, turns them to shades... I am afraid of getting near them.

After several rooms filled with shades and walking dead, Meridia's light led me to this door, outside the temple. This must be where Malkoran is hiding, guarded by his shades and corrupting everything near him. His evil had reached the entrance to the temple from this far place. Such is his power. I felt afraid for a moment, fearing that his magic will be enough to kill me. I opened the door and found Malkoran at the center of the room, with his numerous shades.

Looks like a gathering of the dead. And will-be-dead.

I immediately used my potions to ready myself and my weapon for my attack. I charged towards him while his back was turned for a surprise strike. Just right after he was able to use a stone-skin and a ward to protect himself, I slashed him down, the ward protected him from further harm. He got paralyzed from my poison, and it only took a few more hacks at the stone-skin to get to his defenseless body and kill him. It was done.

Sorry Malkoran, you should have defiled some other temple.

Meridia spoke again, beckoning me to take the Dawnbreaker. As I did, I was lifted up to the air and came face-to-face with Meridia again. She was pleased, and asked me to fight the undead in her name. I readily accepted my fate as her champion, and she brought me down to the ground again.

She could have just shown me the way, being an orb of light herself.

And here is the majestic Dawnbreaker. I vow to use this to aid you in our fight against the vampires. I believe they are undead too, and thus this sword will prove useful. As will your Star.

Perfect when you need to be sneaky.

Safe travels, 

Kousei

A Skeleton Dance

Dear Kousei,

Thank you for the last letter. I'm so glad that you didn't think ill of me for having diverted my energies to Azura's enigmatic purposes instead of the Dawnguard. I couldn't help but smile at the thought that we're simultaneously dabbling in the affairs of two different Daedric Lords, but thankfully both Meridia and Azura don't appear to be as inherently evil as the others of their pantheon. May she who is in charge of the living energies keep you safe as you do her bidding.

Anyhow, I have progressed on my quest for the Queen of the Night Sky, but I won't say I am through with it. I sought out Ilinalta's Deep, as Nelacar told me to. Getting there was quite easy, but the moment I beheld the half-sunken remains of the Imperial fort, something primal in my heart spoke a warning. What magic could have caused a structure like then-Fort Ilinalta to be almost consumed by the lake?

I guess I should ready myself for a swim or two?

And Malyn Varen and his lackeys certainly made their purposes clear to whoever tried to enter their watery abode. A poor fisherman who accidentally entered their territory in search of a good fishing spot had the unfortunate honor of being made an example, as you can see in the illumination below. May his soul rest in peace in Sovngarde.

The Ilinalta's Deep necromancers bid you a warm welcome.

He wasn't the first skeleton I encountered throughout my tour of Ilinalta's Deep, and I'll have to say, most of them weren't as keen to stay dead as he was.

He used to be an archer like me, but then he took an arrow in the behind.

But of course, I was pushing my luck too far with hoping that only the undead inhabited the cursed place. If the skeletons dance, then nearby can be found their puppeteers -- or Necromancers, to use the fancy term they like to apply to themselves. I preferred to bring them down one by one from the shadows, as you know was my usual method of battling -- if Lydia did not blow my cover first, that is. I don't blame her, though, for wanting to send the Necromancers to their watery grave. From what we've heard of their conversations, it appears their twisted master had a flaw in his bright plan. He could not maintain his wretched half-life existence without being fed a gruesome diet of living souls, which his apprentices have been obtaining for him. Well, by the time I leave Ilinalta's Deep, he won't have any apprentices left to do his bidding.

Time for you to join the company of your skeletons.

As for Malyn Varen himself, I was more than ready to exchange spells with him (and maybe even an arrow or two) when I stormed the final room of the fort. Well, I was quite disappointed. There was Malyn Varen, indeed, and sitting on a throne-like chair no less. But he had withered to nothing but a skeleton, and he wouldn't dance no matter what poke and prod you give his moldy remains. Such a shame. He looked like he was taunting me. But this may not be the last I'll encounter of him. We'll see.

You'll turn into a skeleton if you sit on a throne long enough.

I then focused my gaze on his feet, and that was when I saw it: Azura's Star. Or the broken version of it, at least. Sections of its body still glowed the gentle blue-green of normal Soul Gems, but most of it has been swallowed by the purple-black that characterized Black Soul Gems. Poor Azura, I thought, to have her Artifact defiled as such. Hopefully Aranea Ienith would know what to do about it. I could not for the life of me take it back to Nelacar now. He has echoes of his old master in him.

What a sorry state for a supposedly indestructible Daedric Artifact.

I am now going back to the Shrine of Azura to return the Artifact to Aranea Ienith. May she provide closure to this quest when I get to her. And yes, do write to me about how your mission against Meridia's nemesis concludes. These Necromancers are no doubt giving even Deadric Princes a headache, aren't they?

Wishing for your safety,
Kiya

When Dawn Breaks (Part I)

Dear Kiya,

I think it would have been much less of a hassle for you if you had asked me for Frost Resist potions, as I have plenty, but we have been apart since we reached Fort Dawnguard and decided we split ways in order to speed up our recruitment for Isran. Fear not, my Lady, for I have found Gunmar, and much more. You do not have to worry about getting delayed by your involvement with Azura--it is for a worthy cause, I am sure--because I am also knee-deep in the affairs of the Daedra. This I tell you because I think it will help our cause in fighting the vampires.

I found Gunmar outside Clearspring Cave, a few miles northwest of Riften. I traveled there non-stop from Fort Dawnguard, as I know you would do so yourself at the task you were given. He was outside the entrance to the cave, hunting with two others. It was a cold, rainy night, and hunters take a liking to this weather, as their footsteps won't be heard as much by their game. However, what I was about to encounter was no small game.

I sank my boots in the lake I didn't see in the darkness.

Gunmar told me Isran had been too late to ask for help from him, as he had other business to attend to. I coolly told him that it was vampires we were up to, not just any draugrs or other creatures of the night. He changed his mind there and then, only to tell me he needed my help in dealing with some creatures he's been tracking since morning. If that was the only way to get him to come to Fort Dawnguard with me, so be it.

"Business" is the right word for hunting game.

We entered the cave, him trailing behind me. I turned the corner from the entrance of the cave, and out sprang a bear and a troll. Gunmar immediately distracted the bear, so I would take care of the troll. He thought I was just a messenger for Isran that I could not handle both the bear and the troll simultaneously. Needless to say we dispatched of them quite quickly.

Not seen: A troll.

At the end of the cave, there was a treasure chest, and as with all wooden boxes and crates I encounter in my travels (if no one appears to own them), I take a look at what's inside. So I did. Lo and behold, it was a white, glowing crystal orb. It was cool to the touch, and seemed to have had light inside but is slowly fading. All of a sudden, a voice spoke to me. It introduced itself as Meridia, the Daedric Prince of Life and Energy. She implored me to return her beacon to its rightful temple and cleanse it of any evil and undead. When the voice was gone, all I could hear was Gunmar calling out my name from outside the cave, telling me he would just meet me at the Fort. He was gone by the time I collected myself and went outside. 

I knew of the temple: During our visit to Solitude, there was a man who told me of Meridia's temple right outside the city. From Clearspring Cave, I again, without rest, traveled nonstop to the temple. Forgive me for my own delay, but I think it is a great advantage to have Meridia's favor on our side, for I know she does not approve of Vampires. 

How glorious she looks, even during the night.

I reach the temple and placed her crystal orb--her beacon--at the foot of her statue, and I was lifted up to the sky. I could see all of Skyrim from there, I swear it. Once again the voice of Meridia spoke to me, and told me that a necromancer has defiled her temple below the shrine, and I am to purge it of all evil. She thrust me back to the ground from the sky, and here I write to you this letter before I do anything else.

I am talking to a glowing orb of light a few thousand feet up in the sky. I must be mad.

Knowing that our enemy, the vampires, are Undead, I did not have one doubt about cleansing Meridia's temple, and I know that you would not, either. And so I tell you not to worry about obtaining Azura's Star, for I know it is for a great purpose in our fight against the vampires, as will my upcoming endeavor. I also implore you to stay safe, and I will write again as soon as I behead this vile necromage.

Stay safe,

Kousei