It was exciting at the very first, but several weeks out of sight of land, Hecto showed his true self. He and his other Imperial mates began to treat the rest of us - the Argonian crew - like slaves, lashings included. This didn't sit well with me or the others. Now we knew why he was short-handed. We got all the nasty chores, of course, while they lounged around the deck, playing games, when they weren't cursing and beating us. There were six of us, and five of them. We decided that was good enough odds. They had the weapons, but we had our lifetimes in the swamp. All Marsh-Friends will know of what I speak.

Soon enough, Hecto and his friends were overboard and we had ourselves a ship. It occured to us then, that none of us really knew how to sail it. Or what, exactly, to do with it, even if we did. Hecto's connections weren't likely to greet us the same as they would him.

A rough few days followed, ended by a large rock in the night. We are kept warm, even in cold waters, by The Hist in our blood. But a long swim in a dark, ice-cold sea is death for any. Except the things swimming below, of course, which aren't too choosy about their food. Three of us made it to shore. Which shore was unknown.

The next day arrived like a pale, grey corpse wandering into camp. We deduced, mostly by argument, that we were on Solstheim. Hecto had been heading to Skyrim to sell his "supplies" to the troops there. He had gotten us most of the way. We failed to make it the rest. It could have been worse. We were thankful enough that we didn't hit Morrowind proper. No welcome for us there, surely. We decided, for the health of our little group, that the blame for driving the ship into the rock lay on those who had perished in the night. We set out to find a port. Or town. Or something to eat. Anything.

What we found was an incredibly unpleasant place. What wasn't covered with snow was covered with ash. The hills were filled with hostile beasts. Even the men were beasts, as we found out to our loss. One of us was killed by those monsters. The two of us remaining ran. It was all we could do. They were too strong for us to fight. We ran for a day and a night. Then it was only myself. I don't know what became of my last friend. One moment I turned and he wasn't there. I don't know if he was taken, or if he simply fell. I heard no sound. I attempted to turn back and search for him, but the blowing snow and ash had covered our tracks. It was futile. So I stumbled on. And stumbled into a settlement.

A Dunmer settlement. Not the first people I would have liked to see. They didn't kill me, or throw me in a cell, so that's something. Now here I sit, in this smoky, strange tavern. The innkeeper is staring at me. I think he was amazed that I could write when I asked for pen and paper. The others are ignoring me aside from a few suspicious glances. There is a ship here and the Nord captain has said he can take me to Skyrim. He wants gold for the trip and I have none. Tomorrow I'll find a way to acquire some.

The Hist is so far. I can hardly feel the Connection and I fear losing it completely. Yet there is something closer. Something else that calls in a similar way. It is strange. It shouldn't be here. I shouldn't be here.

That is when I heard this roar. A sound that surely was further away than a mortal could travel within a day, likely coming from distant mountains. But what it came from, puzzled me. It sounded deeper, like it was from something....ancient.

I started to walk away, when I saw one holding a book. I picked it up and thumbed through it, reading the entries of what seemed to be a diary. The last entry was dated two days ago.

“Isran was of no help. As usual, he seems loathe to expand his efforts to rid Skyrim of Vampires. Even if he has resurrected the Dawnguard, few seem to join. No, matter. I have my own things to attend to. I've recently received word of two Vampires living in Solitude, perhaps three. We shall eliminate them, and then deal with the more pressing issue. Dimhollow Crypt, a cave northeast of Morthal, and Southwest of Dawnstar, located close to the peak of a mountain. The location worries me, as it is also close to our Hall We will investigate the activities in the cave, and hopefully, Isran will soon send some support. If not, and we are unable to deal with the Vampires inside, then may we find peace in Sovengarde.”

I had heard enough. I threw the book at one of the fallen torches, watching only briefly as it created a small pyre. I would go to this cave, and see what the Vampires wanted, and what these Vigilants wanted to stop.

What would I do with it? Perhaps use it to build myself a future. To exist day to day, a reason to continue.