So, tonight I finally resolved on what I hope will be a fun build, tailored for the Dawnguard DLC (I've had for months, it's about time...). Nord: Two-Handed, Archery, Restoration ; no armour in particular, just whatever feels right ; an artistic flair for smithing and minor enchanting, neither of which as 'major' skills, I have no desire to power-game with crafting skills (or with anything else).
A Witchhunter of a sort, a talent for smiting Undead to be specific; general combat is with bows (until Crossbows) and Warhammers, dual wielding restoration spells for anti necromancer / undead crowd control, defence, and eventually offence once I get those nice Sun spells from the Dawnguard... until the magicka runs out. Atronach stone for the most part.
All started very well, got to gaze lovingly at Hadvar for a while, hang out around Riverwood and observe the petty squabbles of the townsfolk. On my first night, after dispatching two bandits at a camp high above the town I cross past the road leading up to Helgen, when two crazed fiends come baying for my blood. With some judicious use of healing magic between, I set about emulsifying their heads in turn with my trusty Iron maul. A worthy effort, but futile in the end.
Well, not quite.
You see, I have since noticed a recurring, inexplicable lethargy, an anxiety that I just can't get rid of... and when some hours later I stepped out of Embershard mine covered in fresh bandit blood, into the newly broken dawn, I swear I felt my eyes burn just a little until they adjusted. I've heard of this before, my old master would make me read 'Immortal Blood' over and over, translations of Galur Rithari's journals. But nothing can compare to the feeling.
As you can imagine, this puts rather a different spin on matters. I could allow the change occur, seek out a cure, etc... the whole self-hating Vampire paradigm. Or, I could throw the baby out with the bath water, abandon my principals and find out if Cyrodiil blood really does taste like sweet-rolls.
I want to do the right thing, but, you know how it is...