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.

[King Coin]

Aravi nodded at Vera. She decided to search for the tripwire, taking a little extra time to disable the trap quietly would be worth the extra time spent in this awful stench. She kneeled down, setting her bow aside, and started to carefully feel forward with her hands.

Plenty of blood had been spilled on this straw, she imaged that it had been moved from somewhere deeper in the cave. And here she was, kneeling and digging in it. Not only was it dirty and disgusting, but she was sure biting parasites were crawling onto her every moment.

It was slow going as she methodically searched, placing her hands onto the straw and slowly pressing down. Any hint of resistance was carefully dug out to be sure it wasn’t the trigger. She was getting hotter in her armor too. It wasn’t intense work, but it was strenuous enough to make her uncomfortable. She already began to itch where the pests bit her.

She stopped for a moment’s rest, and scratched where her neck met her armor. She itched in other places as well, but those weren’t reachable under her armor, nor would it be polite even if it was more accessible. Her ears must have been flat in her irritation. I better not hear any flea jokes.

“Don’t help all at once,” she said to the other women. She placed her hand on the ground next to her and the straw didn’t give.

“Wait… I think I found it.” She carefully brushed the straw aside and saw the thin wire, not three finger’s breadth from the floor. It would have been easy to miss and step on, or kick forward. Had that happened, the nail would be pulled out and the trap sprung. With two of her claws, she pinched the string and the trap was defeated. “It’s done,” she said. She stood up and stretched her achy legs. “Where’s my bow?”