WG - Black Rock Caverns, Options

[King Coin]

It was just after midday when the vampire’s lair came into view. Aravi stopped walking and slowly crouched in case they had someone watching the entrance for intruders. The long grass came up to her breast. Her helm was stowed in her pack still; she will put it on before entering the ruin. She waved at Vera and Kayla, letting them know she could see their destination.

The vampires could have chosen a worse spot to hide. A beautiful waterfall splashed over the mouth of their cave, partially concealing it from view. A small, but deep pool of water formed in front of it. I would be tempted to swim if I didn’t think there were vampires just inside.

The vampires could have also chosen a better place to hide. They were too close to the city of Chorrol, and it wouldn’t take long for their activity to be noticed. Then the countess would dispatch mercenaries or professional hunters and this place would be one of the first to be checked.

Aravi flicked her ears in an effort to clear the bugs buzzing around her head. She was hot in her armor, her fur was sticky. There were many things she missed about Cyrodiil while she lived in Skyrim, but right now she longed for the cool mountain air. The bugs weren’t nearly as thick either. She flicked her ears again and tried to listen for anything while her companions approached.

[Darkness Eternal]

Vera felt the small tap on her shoulder and looked at Kayla as she pointed out three vampires near by. Vera’s eyes adjusted to the darkness quite perfectly, and she was able to see the shadows and gloom brighten as day. Vera kept her head in the direction away from Kayla, lest the glow of any nearby torch reflect off her own eyes and glow in the cavern’s darkness. Last thing on her mind was a vampire hunter wanting to put a sword down the back of her neck for being a Lycanthrope, and she had the feeling she got on Kayla’s nerves already.

The smell of the cave was foul, and it had a stench of rotting flesh. It didn’t bother Vera as much as it would have in her younger years. While she seldom familiarized the stench with caverns, she was quite use to the smell of dead bodies when working in the Fighter’s Guild and waking up without any clothes in the morning next to a half-eaten deer.

Aravi was quick to react, and managed to fell one of the vampires and as she prepared to strike a blow to the other two, Vera walked forth with her crossbow in hand. She could find a way to kill both of them, but it wouldn’t be as covert. Vera shot a glance at Kayla and motioned for the high elf to prepare her weapon.

She let out a long, swift whistle that caught the attention of the vampires. Both of them turned from their distraction, and the moment they did Vera fired. The bolt swirled through the air and struck the vampire at the bottom of his throat. The creature yelped in pain a fraction of a second before he crumbled to dust in an instant, and his clothes fell to the floor beside his blackened remains. The other had her attention to Vera and Kayla, and Vera waited for Kayla to fire . . . lest the vampire make it known that there are intruders in the cavern.

Either way . . . the hunt was the hunt and Vera would have to change tactics.