I awoke from my deep slumber to be met with utter darkness. The damp smell of earth was all around me. I could sense the movement of the creatures that lived in the ground all around me, above ground I knew that the sun was just setting and that it was time for me to rise.

What a site it would have been if anyone had seen me! I crawled and dug my way out of the ground, taking care to sense if anyone was around to witness my rising. It was not my choice place of resting but I had been caught unaware by the rising sun and needed cover fast. It was proving hard to be a creature of the night and I already longed for the warmth of the sun, though in time I guess I would soon forget what that felt like.

Brushing as much dirt from my body as I could, a strange feeling overcame me. I knew instantly what it was though I had tried my best since I first became a vampire to ignore it. The last few days however it was becoming unbearable, I would have to feed. I wished I had not killed the vampire that infected me so that I might learn how to deal with my transformation but in my rage and fear of being infected I had lashed out while he fed upon me. He had fallen back and landed upon a table, breaking it in half, a splinter resting in his heart. Truth be told I wanted to become a vampire and now that I was, I was alone.

I write these words not to justify my actions but so that some poor soul that happens upon them can see what it is like to be a dark creature, and perhaps then they would not wish it upon themselves to become a slave to the night.

Heading down the beaten path I saw distant lights which showed the signs of a town, Balmora. It would be risky going into a city but I could no longer resist the need to drink. I had thought that a city would provide me with a beggar or some unclean person like a thief. Someone which society wouldn’t miss, someone who would not attack my morals in later years. But I guess in time, like the warmth of the soon I would soon forget who my vitims were. Would I forget my morales?

In answer to my thoughts I caught the scent of someone huddled under the siltstrider platform. Creeping my way towards where they hid I knew at once that the person was a beggar. I managed to get beside them before they new what was happening, turning their head I saw that it was a young wood elf, she had worn eyes and bruised skin, upon her arm was a tattoo, she was a run away slave. Almost immediately she spoke in a loud and hurried voice. Crying out how she didn’t want to go back, failing to recognise who and what I was, she presumed me a slave hunter. Hushing my voice with soothing words I spun a tale of forgiveness and hope, telling her that the life she knew was behind her, she would never need to go back to it again. Looking into her eyes I told her that I was here to give her the release she wanted.

To my surprise she just sat there, no more wailing or shouting. No more crying. She just sat there. I put my hand upon her shoulder, she didn’t make a single move to pull away, and I saw that her eyes had become glossed over. Everything is going to okay, I repeated to her. “Everything is going to be ok” – she answered in a monotone voice.

Curiosity now replaced my hunger, my thirst. What was happening here? I could feel her mind just at the edge of my own; she was under my control though not completely. It’s as though my mind had masked her own. I knew instinctively that I could not command her against her will, but more of a strong suggestion which compelled her to do what I asked. My curiosity now feed, my eternal thirst returned, and their in that hidden place under the siltstrider, a dark cloud crossed over the moons as if the very heavens had turned their cheeck the other way, it was as though the gods were granting me permission to feed upon her. Snapping back her head, I lowered my own to the exposed neck and drank upon the sweet red life force.

The Bosmers blood had allowed me to regain my strength and the hunger ceased to be, for now. But in my feeding frenzy I had let my guard drop. It had not occurred to me that the slave hunters who were after the slave would be close by; I had only extended my sense to the city, afraid that guards would be patrolling near the entrance, so it was quite a shock to be caught off guard. I had learnt my first lesson as a Vampire - never let yourself be caught in the open.

I heard them first, shouting and cursing. Turning I saw that three slave hunters stood just in view of the hiding spot. One carried a crossbow and upon seeing me he let lose a bolt, hitting me in my forearm which caused me to let go of the lifeless girl. Taking the bolt from my arm I stood, towering over them, letting them see the glint of my fangs and the fresh blood upon my clothes. But the awesome might of a freshly fed Vampire did not detire them. Another blot whistled towards me, I turned and caught it in mid air, then rushed upon the Dunmer that fired it.

He was unsettled by my sudden movement and was slow to react. Knocking the crossbow out of his arms I grabbed him by the throat and raised him off the ground. As I held him there, watching the life drain from his eyes I heard a sword draw behind me. Turning I threw the slave hunter into his companion, knocking them both to the ground. The third just stood there watching me, I glared back trying to use the glam ore ability I had just acquired but I was met with a sharp pain. He had blocked my attack.

“I know what you are” he whispered to me. “I am not as foolish as the slave girl or as ignorant as these two” He gestured towards the other two slave hunters as they stood up.

The heat of the surprise attack had died down and I took this time to consider the slave hunters. The two that attacked were young and in experienced. The other however was old, but he showed signs of experience and power.

“Speak my name then old man” I replied.

He smiled, “What is in a name? Am I supposed to cower before you like some mortal to a master? Your name does not frighten me……Vampire”

So he knows what I am, and he isn’t afraid. He glanced at the other two; they had gone white with fear. My eyes made contact with the larger of the two.

“I suggest you leave me to my own doings, I have no quarrel with you.” I said it directly to the slave hunter whose eyes were locked onto mine; I saw the same glazed look come across his face that the slave girl had moments ago. Such weaklings these humans, they have no willpower at all. Him on the other hand, my gaze flicking to the old man and back again, he could be a problem.

Suddenly there was a burning smell upon the air and an invisible force knocked me off my feet. Recovering quickly I searched for the source. The old man had used magic against me.

“Do not look into his eyes!” he shouted to his comrades “We must rid him of this world” He started chanting again, summoning up another spell. I was no match for him, in my human life I was a simple farmer, as a vampire I was a better warrior but I had no skill or knowledge of magic, I had to stop him. A piercing pain shot up my right side, the slave hunter was still under my glamour, but the other one had attacked me, digging his sword deep into me. I let out a howl, no, not a howl but more of a screech. A mixture of pain, anger and fear, but there was power behind it, a force that rang outward from my voice. It stunned my foes, the mage whoever he was could no longer cast his spells and the swordsmen that stabbed me was frozen on the spot, if it was fear or some hidden talent of being vampire I could not tell. I saw my chance and I took it, I fled.

I ran, as fast as I could. Heading away from the town; moving further up the river Oadi. It would not be long before what ever I had done to the slave hunters wore off, and I could not be sure that they wouldn’t follow.

I crossed the river at the rope bridge and considered destroying it to make it harder for them to follow. However I didn’t have the time, the events of the night had taken more time than I realised. The sky was already glowing with the morning rays in the distance; I needed to find cover and fast. I spied a cave up ahead and decided to take shelter in there rather than burying myself again.

Stepping into the entrance, I realised that it was an ebony mine. It dawned on me that as the day grew longer the miners might return, it was possible that there were already miners in here. But it was too late to search for another place, already the entrance to the cave was filled with sunlight forcing me to head deeper inside. Finding a secluded spot behind a large cluster of rocks, I sat in silence trying to sense if anyone else was in the cave. At first I couldn’t sense anything but after a while I felt a strange tingle; I was sensing something but it was different from sensing a man or mer, and there was another underlying sense as well, as though I was sensing two things but separate at once. Knowing that there were no humanoids around I decided to see what else I had detected.

The mine was large, huge in fact. There were many rail tracks leading into un-explored parts of the mine, and I was tempted to explore but first I had to know what I was sensing. I happened upon the first object I was sensing almost immediately. It was a short sword, a plain old short sword lying against a broken cart. Yet I could sense there was something else about it. Picking it up and examining it revealed it had some sort of enchantment upon it, what it was I couldn’t tell as my thoughts were else where – could I detect magical items? Was the other underlying sense another item? No, it was something else. My senses told me this one was moving around, it was alive.

Keeping hold of the short sword I continued on to whatever it was I could sense. Suddenly the passage way I had been walking down lit up as a large fireball headed my way. Darting to the side, I glanced down the passage and caught site of what appeared to be someone on fire. Standing up and ducking from another fireball I recognised what it was, a fire Daedra.This is what I had sensed, I was sure of it.

I had long heard tales of magic, wielded by powerful mages, that allowed a person to detect creatures via mystical means and here I was doing it first hand! The Daedra charged at me, I rasied the short sword in my hand and brought it down upon the Daedras’ chest. A rush of magic flowed through the blade and a frost formed on the ground around us. The Daedra staggared back, a magical wound upon its chest. The sword was indeed enchanted, by some sort of frost spell it seemed.

Suddenly I felt more at ease, more confident. It was creature against creature, magic against magic, Vampire against Daedra. I ducked and dived, dodging its attacks, pushing my vampire powers to a limit I had not done since receiving them. Adrenaline pumping through my veins I struck the finale blow on the Daedra, and watched as it fell to the floor its flame extinguished.

Since the day I had been turned, I felt truly alive for the first time.

I had committed a crime against life, against myself and against those who I had loved in life. But it did not matter now. I was reborn, blessed to live a life outside of a normal reality. Though I had first thought it a curse rather than a blessing but I grew to accept it. From it I have changed into creature far better than the Dunmer I once was in life. Mortals mutter my existence in whispers and fear. They call me the night stalker, the shadow walker, the death bringer.And they are right to do so! I have no rivals, no man can be my equal. I am vampire. The blood of the old ones runs through my veins, their power is mine to control. I am immortal, powerful, and strong. Yet I write these words as I flee from all that is living.

If you’re reading this, then you may know of me already. I leave my notes where I must so that those who hunt me, or wish to be like me can understand the conflicts and terror a being like me suffers. These are my revelations.

I stared down at the Daedra I had just slain, the excitement having worn off. I could have been killed, this life, this cursed life, would have ended. I was not a fighter in life and yet in death I seem to have become something more. I could for the first time since becoming a Vampire feel the strength and power that flowed in my veins, no doubt the result of feeding upon the Bosmer. It would seem starving myself had been a bad decision but could I continue to prey upon the innocent?

My thoughts turned back to the Daedra. If I hadn’t have found that sword I would have been outmatched. Raising the sword before me, I turned it over to examine the flat of the blade. The metal glowed with a faint blue hue and the blade itself seemed like liquid. I could sense the magic within it and it whispered to me. “Sayrael” It said. “Sayrael” It called out again, not so much in words or spoken voice but in the magic of the handle. The sword was called Sayrael.

I hung Sayrael from my belt, securing it with a strap of worked leather from a sack I found within the mine. Closing my eyes I reached out with my mind searching with my senses for anything else close by, but there was nothing. Opening my eyes I moved deeper within the mine and found a suitable place to rest. I felt tired, I knew the sun was high in the sky now, I needed to rest.

I awoke suddenly from a strange dream. I couldn’t recall the details but I remember there being a lot of blood and screaming. There were no footsteps though. Why could I hear footsteps now? I laid still for a moment, listening in the darkness. Someone was coming, creeping through the caves. I could barely see anything; the sun I could sense had set and no longer was it[s light penetrating the cave. There it was again. This time it was louder and I could hear voices. There were men in the cave! I strained to see in the dark and found to my delight that I could see. Everything had a strange green hue but I could see clear enough! I had relied so far on moon and star light, having also used a lantern but never had I known I possesed such an ability!

Focusing my vision I could see better than I could in daylight. At the far left of the cave entrance were stood two men, I recognised them both. They were the slave hunters I had encountered earlier. Panic started to rise within, how did they find me? More to point where was the mage. Drawing Sayrael I silently crept out of my hiding spot to get a better view of the cave.

I awoke from my deep slumber to be met with utter darkness. The damp smell of earth was all around me. I could sense the movement of the creatures that lived in the ground all around me, above ground I knew that the sun was just setting and that it was time for me to rise.

What a site it would have been if anyone had seen me! I crawled and dug my way out of the ground, taking care to sense if anyone was around to witness my rising. It was not my choice place of resting but I had been caught unaware by the rising sun and needed cover fast. It was proving hard to be a creature of the night and I already longed for the warmth of the sun, though in time I guess I would soon forget what that felt like.

Brushing as much dirt from my body as I could, a strange feeling overcame me. I knew instantly what it was though I had tried my best since I first became a vampire to ignore it. The last few days however it was becoming unbearable, I would have to feed. I wished I had not killed the vampire that infected me so that I might learn how to deal with my transformation but in my rage and fear of being infected I had lashed out while he fed upon me. He had fallen back and landed upon a table, breaking it in half, a splinter resting in his heart. Truth be told I wanted to become a vampire and now that I was, I was alone.

I write these words not to justify my actions but so that some poor soul that happens upon them can see what it is like to be a dark creature, and perhaps then they would not wish it upon themselves to become a slave to the night.

Heading down the beaten path I saw distant lights which showed the signs of a town, Balmora. It would be risky going into a city but I could no longer resist the need to drink. I had thought that a city would provide me with a beggar or some unclean person like a thief. Someone which society wouldn’t miss, someone who would not attack my morals in later years. But I guess in time, like the warmth of the soon I would soon forget who my vitims were. Would I forget my morales?

In answer to my thoughts I caught the scent of someone huddled under the siltstrider platform. Creeping my way towards where they hid I knew at once that the person was a beggar. I managed to get beside them before they new what was happening, turning their head I saw that it was a young wood elf, she had worn eyes and bruised skin, upon her arm was a tattoo, she was a run away slave. Almost immediately she spoke in a loud and hurried voice. Crying out how she didn’t want to go back, failing to recognise who and what I was, she presumed me a slave hunter. Hushing my voice with soothing words I spun a tale of forgiveness and hope, telling her that the life she knew was behind her, she would never need to go back to it again. Looking into her eyes I told her that I was here to give her the release she wanted.

To my surprise she just sat there, no more wailing or shouting. No more crying. She just sat there. I put my hand upon her shoulder, she didn’t make a single move to pull away, and I saw that her eyes had become glossed over. Everything is going to okay, I repeated to her. “Everything is going to be ok” – she answered in a monotone voice.

Curiosity now replaced my hunger, my thirst. What was happening here? I could feel her mind just at the edge of my own; she was under my control though not completely. It’s as though my mind had masked her own. I knew instinctively that I could not command her against her will, but more of a strong suggestion which compelled her to do what I asked. My curiosity now feed, my eternal thirst returned, and their in that hidden place under the siltstrider, a dark cloud crossed over the moons as if the very heavens had turned their cheeck the other way, it was as though the gods were granting me permission to feed upon her. Snapping back her head, I lowered my own to the exposed neck and drank upon the sweet red life force.

The Bosmers blood had allowed me to regain my strength and the hunger ceased to be, for now. But in my feeding frenzy I had let my guard drop. It had not occurred to me that the slave hunters who were after the slave would be close by; I had only extended my sense to the city, afraid that guards would be patrolling near the entrance, so it was quite a shock to be caught off guard. I had learnt my first lesson as a Vampire - never let yourself be caught in the open.

I heard them first, shouting and cursing. Turning I saw that three slave hunters stood just in view of the hiding spot. One carried a crossbow and upon seeing me he let lose a bolt, hitting me in my forearm which caused me to let go of the lifeless girl. Taking the bolt from my arm I stood, towering over them, letting them see the glint of my fangs and the fresh blood upon my clothes. But the awesome might of a freshly fed Vampire did not detire them. Another blot whistled towards me, I turned and caught it in mid air, then rushed upon the Dunmer that fired it.

He was unsettled by my sudden movement and was slow to react. Knocking the crossbow out of his arms I grabbed him by the throat and raised him off the ground. As I held him there, watching the life drain from his eyes I heard a sword draw behind me. Turning I threw the slave hunter into his companion, knocking them both to the ground. The third just stood there watching me, I glared back trying to use the glam ore ability I had just acquired but I was met with a sharp pain. He had blocked my attack.

“I know what you are” he whispered to me. “I am not as foolish as the slave girl or as ignorant as these two” He gestured towards the other two slave hunters as they stood up.

The heat of the surprise attack had died down and I took this time to consider the slave hunters. The two that attacked were young and in experienced. The other however was old, but he showed signs of experience and power.

“Speak my name then old man” I replied.

He smiled, “What is in a name? Am I supposed to cower before you like some mortal to a master? Your name does not frighten me……Vampire”

So he knows what I am, and he isn’t afraid. He glanced at the other two; they had gone white with fear. My eyes made contact with the larger of the two.

“I suggest you leave me to my own doings, I have no quarrel with you.” I said it directly to the slave hunter whose eyes were locked onto mine; I saw the same glazed look come across his face that the slave girl had moments ago. Such weaklings these humans, they have no willpower at all. Him on the other hand, my gaze flicking to the old man and back again, he could be a problem.

Suddenly there was a burning smell upon the air and an invisible force knocked me off my feet. Recovering quickly I searched for the source. The old man had used magic against me.

“Do not look into his eyes!” he shouted to his comrades “We must rid him of this world” He started chanting again, summoning up another spell. I was no match for him, in my human life I was a simple farmer, as a vampire I was a better warrior but I had no skill or knowledge of magic, I had to stop him. A piercing pain shot up my right side, the slave hunter was still under my glamour, but the other one had attacked me, digging his sword deep into me. I let out a howl, no, not a howl but more of a screech. A mixture of pain, anger and fear, but there was power behind it, a force that rang outward from my voice. It stunned my foes, the mage whoever he was could no longer cast his spells and the swordsmen that stabbed me was frozen on the spot, if it was fear or some hidden talent of being vampire I could not tell. I saw my chance and I took it, I fled.

I ran, as fast as I could. Heading away from the town; moving further up the river Oadi. It would not be long before what ever I had done to the slave hunters wore off, and I could not be sure that they wouldn’t follow.

I crossed the river at the rope bridge and considered destroying it to make it harder for them to follow. However I didn’t have the time, the events of the night had taken more time than I realised. The sky was already glowing with the morning rays in the distance; I needed to find cover and fast. I spied a cave up ahead and decided to take shelter in there rather than burying myself again.

Stepping into the entrance, I realised that it was an ebony mine. It dawned on me that as the day grew longer the miners might return, it was possible that there were already miners in here. But it was too late to search for another place, already the entrance to the cave was filled with sunlight forcing me to head deeper inside. Finding a secluded spot behind a large cluster of rocks, I sat in silence trying to sense if anyone else was in the cave. At first I couldn’t sense anything but after a while I felt a strange tingle; I was sensing something but it was different from sensing a man or mer, and there was another underlying sense as well, as though I was sensing two things but separate at once. Knowing that there were no humanoids around I decided to see what else I had detected.

The mine was large, huge in fact. There were many rail tracks leading into un-explored parts of the mine, and I was tempted to explore but first I had to know what I was sensing. I happened upon the first object I was sensing almost immediately. It was a short sword, a plain old short sword lying against a broken cart. Yet I could sense there was something else about it. Picking it up and examining it revealed it had some sort of enchantment upon it, what it was I couldn’t tell as my thoughts were else where – could I detect magical items? Was the other underlying sense another item? No, it was something else. My senses told me this one was moving around, it was alive.

Keeping hold of the short sword I continued on to whatever it was I could sense. Suddenly the passage way I had been walking down lit up as a large fireball headed my way. Darting to the side, I glanced down the passage and caught site of what appeared to be someone on fire. Standing up and ducking from another fireball I recognised what it was, a fire Daedra.This is what I had sensed, I was sure of it.

I had long heard tales of magic, wielded by powerful mages, that allowed a person to detect creatures via mystical means and here I was doing it first hand! The Daedra charged at me, I rasied the short sword in my hand and brought it down upon the Daedras’ chest. A rush of magic flowed through the blade and a frost formed on the ground around us. The Daedra staggared back, a magical wound upon its chest. The sword was indeed enchanted, by some sort of frost spell it seemed.

Suddenly I felt more at ease, more confident. It was creature against creature, magic against magic, Vampire against Daedra. I ducked and dived, dodging its attacks, pushing my vampire powers to a limit I had not done since receiving them. Adrenaline pumping through my veins I struck the finale blow on the Daedra, and watched as it fell to the floor its flame extinguished.

Since the day I had been turned, I felt truly alive for the first time.

I had committed a crime against life, against myself and against those who I had loved in life. But it did not matter now. I was reborn, blessed to live a life outside of a normal reality. Though I had first thought it a curse rather than a blessing but I grew to accept it. From it I have changed into creature far better than the Dunmer I once was in life. Mortals mutter my existence in whispers and fear. They call me the night stalker, the shadow walker, the death bringer.And they are right to do so! I have no rivals, no man can be my equal. I am vampire. The blood of the old ones runs through my veins, their power is mine to control. I am immortal, powerful, and strong. Yet I write these words as I flee from all that is living.

If you’re reading this, then you may know of me already. I leave my notes where I must so that those who hunt me, or wish to be like me can understand the conflicts and terror a being like me suffers. These are my revelations.

I stared down at the Daedra I had just slain, the excitement having worn off. I could have been killed, this life, this cursed life, would have ended. I was not a fighter in life and yet in death I seem to have become something more. I could for the first time since becoming a Vampire feel the strength and power that flowed in my veins, no doubt the result of feeding upon the Bosmer. It would seem starving myself had been a bad decision but could I continue to prey upon the innocent?

My thoughts turned back to the Daedra. If I hadn’t have found that sword I would have been outmatched. Raising the sword before me, I turned it over to examine the flat of the blade. The metal glowed with a faint blue hue and the blade itself seemed like liquid. I could sense the magic within it and it whispered to me. “Sayrael” It said. “Sayrael” It called out again, not so much in words or spoken voice but in the magic of the handle. The sword was called Sayrael.

I hung Sayrael from my belt, securing it with a strap of worked leather from a sack I found within the mine. Closing my eyes I search with my sense for anything else within the mine, but there was nothing. Opening my eyes I moved deeper within the mine and found a suitable place to rest. I felt tired, I knew the sun was high in the sky now, I needed to rest.

I awoke suddenly from a strange dream. I couldn’t recall the details but I remember there being a lot of blood and screaming. There were no footsteps though. Why could I hear footsteps now? Someone was coming, creeping through the caves. I could barely see anything; the sun I could sense had set and no longer was its light penetrating the cave. There it was again. This time it was louder and I could hear voices. There were men in the cave! I strained to see in the dark and found to my delight that I could see. Everything had a strange green hue but I could see clear enough. At the far left of the cave entrance were stood two men, I recognised them both. They were the slave hunters I had encountered earlier. Panic started to rise within, how did they find me? More to point where was the mage. Drawing Sayrael I silently crept out of my hiding spot to get a better view of the cave.

I stared down at the Daedra I had just slain, the excitement having worn off. I could have been killed, this life, this cursed life, would have ended. I was not a fighter in life and yet in death I seem to have become something more. I could for the first time since becoming a Vampire feel the strength and power that flowed in my veins, no doubt the result of feeding upon the Bosmer. It would seem starving myself had been a bad decision but could I continue to prey upon the innocent?

My thoughts turned back to the Daedra. If I hadn’t have found that sword I would have been outmatched. Raising the sword before me, I turned it over to examine the flat of the blade. The metal glowed with a faint blue hue and the blade itself seemed like liquid. I could sense the magic within it and it whispered to me. “Sayrael” It said. “Sayrael” It called out again, not so much in words or spoken voice but in the magic of the handle. The sword was called Sayrael.

I hung Sayrael from my belt, securing it with a strap of worked leather from a sack I found within the mine. Closing my eyes I reached out with my mind searching with my senses for anything else close by, but there was nothing. Opening my eyes I moved deeper within the mine and found a suitable place to rest. I felt tired, I knew the sun was high in the sky now, I needed to rest.

I awoke suddenly from a strange dream. I couldn’t recall the details but I remember there being a lot of blood and screaming. There were no footsteps though. Why could I hear footsteps now? I laid still for a moment, listening in the darkness. Someone was coming, creeping through the caves. I could barely see anything; the sun I could sense had set and no longer was it[s light penetrating the cave. There it was again. This time it was louder and I could hear voices. There were men in the cave! I strained to see in the dark and found to my delight that I could see. Everything had a strange green hue but I could see clear enough! I had relied so far on moon and star light, having also used a lantern but never had I known I possesed such an ability!

Focusing my vision I could see better than I could in daylight. At the far left of the cave entrance were stood two men, I recognised them both. They were the slave hunters I had encountered earlier. Panic started to rise within, how did they find me? More to point where was the mage. Drawing Sayrael I silently crept out of my hiding spot to get a better view of the cave.