28 Morning Star

The marsh lands of northern Hjaalmarch are treacherous at the best of times. All manner of foul and poisonus vermin skulk in the low reeds and boughs of that benighted place, and many dark tales have been told of the cruel fate met by the lone huntsman or villager who had strayed too far into it's murky depths. As I sit here at the Moorside Inn attempting to shake off the chill of the long road to Solitude, I hear the frightened townsfolk of Morthal speek in hushed tones of things darker still. It would seem that no less than five of their number has gone missing in recent weeks. One of whom being a young girl whose cold and bloodless corpse was found not a stone's throw from the edge of town. My business in Solitude will have to wait, for I will find the fiend responsible for this, and I will slay it.

29 Morning Star

This morning I was given audience with the Jarl. Not only did she confirm the tales told by the common folk are indeed true, she offered me no small amount of coin should I end the threat to the hold and bring her proof of the deed. Though her offer was most generous, I am no sellsword. My worth is to be measured in deeds, not gold. After telling her as much she wished me luck on my quest and suggested I speak to the resident wizard of Morthal, a man named Falion. Though I am ever loath to consort with the users of foul magic, the Jarl tells me this Falion has already conducted his own investigations into these bizarre happenings and that he is a trustworthy sort with the best interests of the hold in mind.

5 Sun's Dawn

A week has passed and I am no closer to my quarry. The Jarl's pet wizard Falion told me he believes the recent woes facing Morthal to be the work of vampires. He also told me that although he has no personal experience with such creatures the lore in his possesion suggests they are powerful beings known to have great cunning, superhuman strength, and are not to be underestimated. Falion believes their main weakness lies in an insatiable hunger for the blood of men and mer, often driving them to reckless acts that betray their presence. And so with sword and shield in hand I venture each day into the marsh. These monsters will grow hungry, they will smell my blood, and they will come; all they will taste is Herbane's cold steel.

7 Sun's Dawn

I return to Morthal this eve victorious, the heads of two of the foul creatures tied to my belt. To the wizard's credit, Falion was correct; the bloodsvcking fiends are cunning. Imagine my surprise when the first of the vampires broke through the very ice I stood upon with a gnarled hand full of filthy claws in an attempt to grab my ankle and pull me under. A lesser man would have succumbed to panic, but my nerve is not so easily shaken, and that very clawed hand would be but the first of the trophies I would take this day. Robbed of the quick and easy kill it expected, the rest of the monster broke through the ice with an ear-piercing scream of rage and hate the likes of which I have never heard. It might have been mistaken for any normal man, but the unhealthy palor of it's flesh, it's long pointed fangs, and the unholy fire in it's eyes marked it out as nothing short of an abomination. As I promptly removed the head from it's shoulders it's companion decided to strike. With strength akin to that of a giant it grabbed my shoulder from behind and spun me around to face it. The unholy thing lashed out with sorcery most foul, and I could feel my desire to do it harm begin to fade. But my will is as iron, and with a scream of my own I bashed it's hideous face with my shield before it too had it's head rolling upon the ice.
These vampires are a menace to all men, and it is with no small amount of satisfaction that I return to Morthal to show the people there they need fear these two no longer. After receiving the thanks of the Jarl and that of the townsfolk I travel ever onwards in search of a worthy foe, for I have yet to see what would make me tremble.