Chapter 19 - Interlude

Eric Peterson woke up damp, cold, and confused. What the hell had he drunk last night…?

Then the memories poured back in.

The crypt, the fight with the Thalmor and the Vampires, meeting Thalin again, rescuing Serana, and then Thalin stealing the Elder Scroll.

Right. Thalin had drugged them all and walked off with a quest item that shouldn’t have left Serana’s possession until he got her back to the castle.

Being isekai’d into Skyrim was still awesome but the way the ‘real world’ suddenly reminded him he was no longer playing the game still sucked. People didn’t have convenient dialogue trees letting him know what to say, he actually had to know how to haggle to get a discount at shops, and fast travel didn’t exist. Thank god the leveling system and skill trees were still a thing, he never would have managed to survive in this world if they weren’t. It wasn’t all bad though. Most things played out the same as the vanilla game and the official DLC’s, but he had noticed a few mods he had finally decided to try out seemed to be active too.

Thalin was the biggest hint about that. She was part of a massive follower mod that allowed new experiences in the main game, but he had only interacted with the game-her in an older save that he had mostly completed so he didn’t know how she would interact with the other questlines. He had been planning to start a new game to see her early game content when he woke up here.

Speaking of followers, he probably should have listened to Lydia when she warned him to not rush off on his own, but his Nordic housecarl was still back in Whiterun overseeing the redecoration of his new house.

He couldn’t just pick an option from a menu and have a room instantly change anymore. Now he had to hire movers to clear out the room, order the new stuff, and wait for it to be delivered. Or have someone else do it at least.

Shit, and Lydia made him promise to be careful while she wasn’t around. She must never know about this…

Another groan startled Eric out of his own thoughts and he looked over to see Serana pulling herself up into a sitting position.

“Ugh, damn that elf.”

Right, Serana. He couldn’t believe how much the Dawnguard plotline had gone off the rails already. Was this because he failed to recruit Thalin as a follower or was it part of her quest? Eric had no idea if returning Serana to her father was safe anymore without the Scroll and he needed her to get the Vampire Lord skill tree unlocked without going all super-Edgelord. And he wanted to make sure she was okay. Should probably do that first.

“You okay?”

The Vampire jumped a bit at the sound of his voice before turning to him with a glare.

“Left you behind, I see?” She spat. “What did she rob you of?”

Eric - no, he had left that name behind when he figured out he was in a new world - Thor tried to give her a charming smile (much easier to do when you don’t have crooked teeth) and shrugged. “I think she just took the scroll. Do you know what she meant by your father looking to end the Tyranny of the Sun? She seemed pretty serious about that.”

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Serana paused. “I…I’m not sure. I know it had something to do with the Scroll but I didn’t know the details. That doesn’t matter though. I need to get it back.” She glanced at Thor. “Why did the others leave you behind?”

“Ah, I’m not actually part of their group. We were just working together in the crypt when we found you. I mean I know Thalin from when she helped me escape from a dragon but we aren’t that close or anything.”

The Vampire raised an eyebrow. “A dragon? Those were extinct even before I was sealed away.”

“They’re kinda coming back…”

“...okay, it seems like there is a lot in the world that has changed. Tell me everything.” She demanded.

Talking to a hot girl for hours about one of his favorite games? Thor had to hold back a smile, even with the stupid scripted ‘fade to black’ moments this was sooo worth it.

-o-

“Was drugging us necessary?” Erikur asked Thalin once they had woken up again.

Jordis thought it was a little petty to do so when the Elf was currently hunched over the side of the road, spewing everything in her stomach. But she was also a bit upset with their companion and a true warrior knows when to take advantage of a weakness so she said nothing against it.

“Y-yeah. Needed to -urp- needed to get the Scroll away from the Vampire before we left.” Thalin heaved. “It was the best way to do it without fighting.”

“Why?” Jordis asked. They weren’t stupid. Thalin didn’t seem to want much for riches considering her gear and she hadn’t bothered looting the crypt even though there were probably a decent amount of priceless tomes there as well. So there must be a solid reason for the Elf to act in such a way because of the Vampire.

“The vampire we rescued is the daughter of Harkon Volkihar. The short of it is he wants to extinguish the sun using the prophecy written in that,” she waved a hand towards the Elder Scroll, “so vampires can feed whenever they want. I wasn’t going to let him get anywhere close to that Scroll. Couldn’t exactly talk about it beforehand either. I don’t like gambling on the fate of the world if I can help it.

That seemed odd.

“You seem to be avoiding the Dragonborn quite a bit despite that.” It seemed Erikur shared her doubts. Of course he would, he had become a great Thane of the land and had assisted the guard multiple times. Now if only he would-

“Because getting mixed up with the Dragonborn means getting attention from gods.” Thalin interrupted Jordis’s thoughts. “And the last thing I need is one of the Daedric Princes thinking my soul would make a good trinket to collect. Being ageless means they have all the time in the world to try for it too.”

Jordis felt that Thalin’s reason was…weird.

Every Nord wanted their names to echo through history. To be remembered in the same breath as Jurgen Windcaller or Ysgramor. Then again, how many other tales were there about poor fools that had fallen to the schemes of the Deadra and suffered for it.

It made sense then the Elf would focus on not drawing attention to herself.

“So what now?”

“There’s still two more Elder Scrolls with the prophecy, but I don’t think there is a chance Harkon will be able to find them in their current locations. Which means we need to hide this one somewhere he can’t find it. And I think I know just the place.” Thalin grinned sharply.

Jordis felt rather excited. This was shaping up to be like the start of a grand quest.

A Thane of Skyrim thwarting the plans of a thousands years old vampire with the help of his trusty companions. And at the end of it, the Thane will finally overcome the challenge his beloved set before him, claiming both her and her heart as rewards for saving the lands and accepting her by his side for their next advent-

“...the two of us are the best pair in Skyrim. Right, Jordis?” Erikur tapped her shoulder, breaking her out of her daydream

“Hm? I suppose.”

Erikur’s shoulders slumped slightly for some reason and Thalin’s mouth was twitching. Jordis was about to demand the Elf explain what was so funny before she spun back around and vomited all over her boots.

The Nord decided she was suffering enough and if whatever was said was that important Erikur could tell her later.

-o-

In Solitude deep within ancient catacombs ribbons of ghostly energy streamed together to form a humanoid figure.

Even in death it was clear the figure had been a woman of great beauty. Though it was also clear from the look in her eyes this woman was no stranger to cruel and merciless deeds.

’Finally, I am free to act once more…’ the figure mused. ’Those cretins thought to bind me to their control but with the ritual disrupted I remain in this realm.’ it looked down at it’s spectral body. ’This form is displeasing, though. And it will take time for me to return to a physical form.

I will need an army, and how fortunate for me I have the beginnings of one right here…’

The ghost drifted to the dried remains of one of the other residents of the catacombs. It raised a hand and cast a spell. Magika surrounded and infused the corpse causing it to twitch and spasm, before it’s eyes lit up with an arcane glow.

The newly created draugr rose and bowed before it’s new master. Something that pleased the ghost greatly.

’Far too weak for my liking, but there is no need to rush. Go,’ it commanded, ’bring me more corpses to grow my power.’ the draugr shuffled off into the tombs to obey its order.

’I will recover my strength for now and when I am ready…

…then the entire world will know I have returned…

…and all will serve Potema, the Wolf Queen!’