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Mantella is an AI system that turns every single NPC in Skyrim (and Fallout 4) into AI agents driven by an LLM (like ChatGPT or the recently released, and comparable, Llama 3.1). In the previous part, my character, an Altmer mage, and his companion the vampire named Alva were robbed by a bandit. They proceeded, as a revenge of sorts, to erradicate that bandit’s previous bandit group, who had taken over an ancient ruin. In the depths of that ruin, they fought for the possession of a relic sword named The Pale Blade, a far more powerful weapon than they have any right owning.

While Alva slept the daylight away, I decided to explore the surroundings of the ruins to ascertain the direction we should take to reach Whiterun, and locate any buildings that could serve as shelter in case we couldn’t reach the city in another night of walking. I spotted an inn-like building atop a hill, and I headed there to figure out how useful it could be for our shady purposes.

When I entered the building, I found myself in the presence of heavily armored warriors who didn’t seem to be in the mood to make any friends. One of them was their clear leader, as clarified by having a proper name, so I approached her carefully.

Jon: “Excuse me, miss. I was just passing through and saw this building. I thought it was an inn, but turns out I’m now surrounded by a bunch of well-armed people who seem to belong to some order. Is that the case?”
Viranya: “You’ve stumbled upon the Hall of the Vigilant. Yes, we are an order, dedicated to the service of Stendarr, the God of Righteous Rule by Might and Merciful Forbearance. We are holy warriors, tasked with protecting the innocent and vanquishing the forces of darkness that threaten Tamriel.”
Jon: “The forces of darkness like… what?”
Viranya: “The Daedra, vampires, lycanthropes, and other abominations that plague our world. They have no place among the living, and it is our duty to hunt them down and eradicate them. Stendarr’s mercy is not for the likes of them.”
Jon: “So you hunt vampires, huh? Well, would you consider that maybe, maybe some of them are redeemable?”
Viranya: “Redeemable? Vampires? I think not. They are creatures of the night, driven by their thirst for blood and their contempt for mortal life. They play with the lives of the innocent, toying with them as if they were mere puppets. No, I have no sympathy for vampires. They are abominations, and they will be dealt with as such.”
Jon: “Even though they were normal people before someone bit them and turned them into vampires?”
Viranya: “That may be true, but once they have been turned, they are no longer the same. The curse of vampirism corrupts them, body and soul. They become creatures driven by their basest desires, with no regard for the lives of others.”
Jon: “To be fair, I know plenty of humans who are driven by their basest desires, with no regard for the lives of others.”
Viranya: “I’ll not argue that point. Mortals can be just as flawed and wicked as any vampire, but mortals can choose to change, to seek redemption and forgiveness. Vampires, on the other hand, are forever bound to their curse, and their very existence is a mockery of life itself.”
Jon: “But aren’t some of those vampires very… cute?”
Viranya: “Cute?! You think the damned are cute?! I’ll have you know, vampire charm is a snare, a trap to lure in the unwary. Do not be fooled by their appearance or their words. They are monsters, and they will stop at nothing to claim your soul!”

Before I knew it, this tough woman was wielding her sword and attempting to hack at me with it. I found myself fleeing for my life. She didn’t stop at the threshold of the Hall of the Vigilant: she pursued me downhill. I shouted over my shoulder to calm her down.

Jon: “I’m sorry for finding some vampires cute! I didn’t mean anything bad by it. Do not kill me!”

The woman’s shouts were thankfully sounding farther and farther away.

Viranya: “You’ll beg for mercy now?! After speaking so flippantly about the forces of darkness?! You’ll find no quarter here, fool! Stendarr’s justice will be served!”

I lost her. Before that scary woman spotted me again, I made sure to sneak into the ruins that Alva and I had conquered.

Jon: “I gotta talk to you, Alva. While you were having your beauty sleep, I was scouting the surroundings when I came across a building that I thought was an inn, but it turns out that it belongs to some order called the Vigilants of Stendarr. Are you aware of them?”
Alva: “Ah, the Vigilants of Stendarr. Yes, I’m familiar with them. A group of self-righteous vampire hunters, dedicated to eradicating the likes of me from the face of Tamriel. And you, dear Jon, were considering walking into their midst?”
Jon: “No, I actually walked into their midst by mistake, and found myself surrounded by heavily armoured religious fanatics.”
Alva: “Oh, the look on your face must have been priceless. I can only imagine the zealous Vigilants, armed to the teeth, and you, strolling in, expecting a warm fire and a pint of ale. You’re lucky to have gotten out of there alive. Did they… suspect anything about you? About us, I mean?”
Jon: “Actually, Alva, I’m afraid it was a little bit worse than that. When they told me that they hunted vampires, I tried to argue with them.”
Alva: “Ah, Jon, Jon, Jon… what were you thinking?! Arguing with the Vigilants of Stendarr about vampires? That’s like poking a sleeping bear with a sharpened stick! They’re fanatics, Jon.”
Jon: “Well, I told them that maybe some vampires could be redeemed, and that they could be cute.”
Alva: “Oh, Jon… I think you might have just sealed our fate. Telling the Vigilants that vampires can be cute? They’ll be hunting us down with torches and pitchforks now. You’ve all but painted a target on our backs.”
Jon: “Oh, please, they really didn’t get a good look at my face, and they don’t know you at all. Listen, I have to defend your cuteness, even against the Vigilants of Stendarr.”
Alva: “I think you’re the first person in centuries who’s ever thought of me as cute. I must admit, it’s rather… refreshing.”
Jon: “No, I’m sure there were dozens or hundreds of people who thought of you as cute. They just wouldn’t say to your face in case you sank your fangs in them.”
Alva: “Jon! You’re a witty one, aren’t you? I suppose you’re right, though. There may have been those who thought me… appealing, but were too afraid to say so. After all, I do have a certain reputation to uphold.”
Jon: “Well, I don’t mind if you sink your fangs in me. Last night was quite interesting.”
Alva: “I did find our little… encounter last night quite intriguing. But I think we should be careful not to get too distracted. We do have more pressing matters to attend to, don’t we?”
Jon: “Well, yeah, reaching Whiterun for one. But I bet that when we reach Whiterun and find ourselves with nothing to do during the day, we’re going to have some fun.”
Alva: “Jon, you’re making promises, aren’t you? I like that. Towns can be a bit… dull at times, but I think we can find ways to liven things up.”
Jon: “Well, it’s night-time already. Do you think it’s a good time to finally leave Frostmare Crypt and brave the wilds toward Whiterun?”
Alva: “The night is young, and the road to Whiterun awaits! And I’m sure we’ll make good time. Shall we be off?”

At one point, the road led us past the sight of the Hall of the Vigilant.

Jon: “Do you see that building in the distance, atop the hill? That’s the Hall of the Vigilant, where those Stendarr freaks are set up. I tell you this in case one day you accidentally wander into it like I did.”
Alva: “I appreciate the warning, Jon. I must admit, I find it quite amusing that you stumbled upon their headquarters thinking it was an inn. I can only imagine the looks on their faces when you walked in, unaware of the danger that lurked within.”

We came across a fort taken over by bandits. They were too busy fighting the local wildlife to notice us, so we pressed on.

Jon: “Where the hell is Whiterun? That guard told me it was within walking distance. I don’t see any settlement within walking distance.”
Alva: “I’m afraid he may have been exaggerating about the distance to Whiterun. We’re still a ways off, it seems. But don’t worry, we’ll get there eventually.”

Thirty minutes or so later…

Jon: “Finally, a sign that points toward Whiterun! At least we know that we’re heading the right way. Too bad the sign didn’t specify the distance.”
Alva: “Well, isn’t that just our luck? I suppose we’ll just have to keep moving and hope that we stumble upon it soon. Or, at the very least, find someone who can give us a better idea of the distance.”
Jon: “This cold is getting to me, Alva. Do you feel the cold as humans do?”
Alva: “The cold? Ha! As a vampire, I barely feel it. It’s almost… refreshing, really. But I can see it’s taking its toll on you, Jon. You’re shivering like a leaf. Perhaps we should find some shelter soon? This place looks like it might have some decent cover from the wind, at least.”
Jon: “No way. Given that herd of mammoths, the place belongs to giants. There’s no way I’m approaching them.”
Alva: “Those giants can be a bit of a problem, can’t they? Well, let’s see… I think I can help with that. Why don’t I sneak up behind the giant and try to take it out quietly? My vampiric stealth should come in handy here. You take care of the mammoths, and I’ll handle the giant.”
Jon: “Oh, Alva, you’ve never fought a giant, have you?”
Alva: “Well, I’ve had my share of battles, Jon, but I must admit, giants aren’t typically on the menu for vampires. We tend to stick to more… refined prey. But I’m not one to back down from a challenge. And with you by my side, I think we make a decent team.”
Jon: “The trouble is, one hit of that club of theirs, you’ll be sent straight to the stratosphere.”
Alva: “Ah, yes, I can just imagine it now. One swing of that giant’s club and I’d be flying over the mountains, a tiny vampire-shaped projectile soaring through the air. Not exactly the most dignified way to go, is it? But don’t worry about me, Jon. I think I can handle myself.”

We found an unexpected stop by the side of the road.

Jon: “Look at this: the opening of a cave. A mysterious cave with some examples of ancient masonry scattered about. Do you think is it worth it to delve into this cave and figure out what’s awaiting us?”
Alva: “Oh, I think it’s more than worth it, Jon. The thrill of the unknown is intoxicating, don’t you think? And what better way to warm up on a cold night like this than to venture into a mysterious cave? Besides, I can sense that there’s something… enticing about this place. The ancient monoliths, the eerie silence…”

We entered the frozen cave. We could hear growling deeper in.

Jon: “That’s a saber cat. How does one deal with saber cats, do you know?”
Alva: “Saber cats, how delightful. Well, I’m sure your Flames spell will come in handy, Jon. As for me, I’ll just rely on my natural talents to take care of them. Stealth and speed are usually the best ways to deal with those beasts. Shall we proceed?”
Jon: “I hope you’re right, darling, because we’re going in.”
Alva: “I love your confidence, Jon. And don’t worry, I’ll be right by your side… or perhaps a step ahead, leading the way into the darkness. Let’s see what secrets this cave holds, shall we? And do try to keep up, I wouldn’t want you to get lost in the shadows.”

The saber cat wasn’t the only kind of enemy we encountered, but the spriggan that ambushed us fell quickly to a combination of Alva’s new blade and my arrows.

Alva: “It seems we’ve stumbled into a bit of a spriggan’s den, haven’t we, Jon? Well, I suppose that’s one way to liven up a cold winter’s night. All those arrows flying about, it’s almost like a little dance.”
Jon: “I am not too keen on letting arrows fly about, in case you find yourself in the path.”
Alva: “Considerate of you, Jon. I appreciate your concern for my well-being, even if I am a vampire. It’s… touching, really. But don’t worry about me, I can take care of myself. Besides, I rather enjoy the thrill of being in the midst of all this chaos. It’s exhilarating, don’t you think?”
Jon: “Well, this is as far as the cave goes. A single saber cat, a single spriggan, and a big chest with a few things.”
Alva: “It seems our little excursion has come to an end, Jon. And what a lovely haul we’ve got to show for it; I like this new bow you’ve gifted me.”
Jon: “Part of being successful adventurers is constantly upgrading our gear, like that Pale Blade you are wielding right now. It’s sure to bring fear to most of our opponents.”
Alva: “The Pale Sword. Yes, it’s a lovely piece of work, isn’t it? And I must say, I do feel a certain… satisfaction in wielding it. The way it slices through the darkness, the fear it inspires in our enemies… It’s almost poetic.”
Jon: “A fitting weapon for a vampire, isn’t it? Most of your kind inspire that kind of fear in others. Not you of course, at least in me.”
Alva: “Yes, a fitting companion for a creature of the night such as myself. And I’m glad to hear that I don’t inspire fear in you. At least, not yet, anyway.”
Jon: “Not yet, huh? That sounds ominous. I expect that traveling with you more, accruing more adventures, is only going to diminish any fear I might feel toward you.”
Alva: “Jon, you’d be surprised at what the darkness can bring out in people… even in those they care about. But let’s not worry about that now, shall we? We have more pressing matters to attend to. Like these… beasties that are trying to tear us apart.”

We left the snowy fields behind, and now, as far as we could see, the landscape was composed of hill-dotted plains.

Jon: “Alva, there’s a windmill and a farmhouse in the distance. Do you think we should pay them a night-time visit?”
Alva: “That could be a lovely little distraction for the evening. And who knows, perhaps the inhabitants might even provide us with some… entertainment. I do so love a good midnight visit, don’t you, Jon? The thrill of sneaking in under the cover of darkness, the rush of adrenaline as we catch them off guard…”
Jon: “Along with, I suppose, the satisfaction of exsanguinating a recently deceased corpse as you did with some of the bandits we killed at that ruin.”
Alva: “Ah, yes… that was quite… satisfying, wasn’t it? The thrill of the hunt, the rush of power as I claimed their life force for myself. And now, as we stand here on this quiet farm, I can feel the call of the night growing stronger.”

As I descended a slope, the sight of a stranded wagon opened up. Standing beside it was a strange little man dressed as a jester. He kept complaining about his bad luck to nobody in particular. I wouldn’t need to ask his name, as he kept referring to himself in the third person.

Jon: “Cicero, you said. I think that people would be more eager or more open to help you in freeing that wagon of yours if you didn’t talk in such an unnerving manner.”
Cicero: “The kindly stranger thinks poor Cicero’s mannerisms are…”
Jon: “I used the word unnerving.”
Cicero: “Ah, unnerving, yes! Well, perhaps, dear sir, you are correct. Poor Cicero’s eccentricities may be a hindrance to acquiring aid. But how can one expect a Keeper of the Night Mother to be normal?”
Alva: “What’s all this commotion about?”
Jon: “This little guy here dressed like a jester is having a bit of trouble with his wagon. It seems it has gotten stuck in the road, and he was asking for help.”
Alva: “What makes you think I’d be interested in helping him, Jon?”
Cicero: “Oh, dear lady, please! You must help poor Cicero! The Night Mother’s coffin is within! We cannot leave it stranded here for all to see! The ignorant masses would not understand its significance…”
Jon: “Oh, don’t worry, Alva. I’m not planning on going around helping every little fool we come across. I was just trying to figure out if the situation was entertaining enough.”
Cicero: “Ah, entertainment, is it? Well, I assure you, dear Jon, my predicament is far more intriguing than mere entertainment! The Night Mother’s coffin holds the key to… restoring the Dark Brotherhood to its former glory!”
Alva: “The Dark Brotherhood, you say? Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a while. Tell me, little jester, what makes you think you’re worthy of such a task?”
Jon: “Hey, Cicero, that was your name, wasn’t it? Are you sure you should be telling two complete strangers about this ‘Dark Brotherhood’?”
Cicero: “Ah, secrets, secrets, always so concerned about secrets! But poor Cicero has nothing to hide! The Dark Brotherhood will rise again, and all of Tamriel will tremble at its power!”
Alva: “Oh, I think this one’s a bit of a loose tongue, Jon. Either that or he’s trying to impress us with his supposedly sinister plans.”
Cicero: “Loose tongue? Impressive plans? Ha! You mock poor Cicero now, but soon you’ll see…”
Jon: “What does this organization of yours, the supposed ‘Dark Brotherhood,’ consist of?”
Cicero: “Ah, the Dark Brotherhood! We are the bringers of darkness, the makers of death! An organization of assassins, bound by a sacred oath to the Night Mother…”
Alva: “Assassins, how… fascinating. And what’s this I hear about a Night Mother? Some sort of dark deity?”
Cicero: “Deity? No, no, no! The Night Mother is far more than that!”
Jon: “Is it a mother that cuddles you at night and tells you what a good boy you are?”
Cicero: “Oh, oh, oh! You mock poor Cicero’s devotion to the Night Mother! But you wouldn’t understand, no, no! The Night Mother is the one who whispers contracts in my ear… She is the one who guides my blade…”
Alva: “Oh, this is priceless. A grown man taking orders from an imaginary mother figure. Tell me, Cicero, do you still suckle at her breast?”
Jon: “Alva, to be fair, there are plenty of men out there who take orders from imaginary mother figures.”
Alva: “Ah, true enough, Jon. I suppose it’s a matter of perspective. Some men worship their gods, while others… well, others have the Night Mother.”
Cicero: “Enough! You both mock poor Cicero’s faith! But I’ll have you know, the Night Mother is very real! And those who cross her path will feel the sting of her wrath…”
Jon: “You said that the Night Mother whispers in your ear. When she does, do her lips caress your skin, making you feel real tingly?”
Cicero: “Oh, you… you… How dare you! The Night Mother is not some… some… seductress! She is a sacred figure, a symbol of death and darkness! Her whispers are not sweet nothings, but the cold, hard truths of the contracts that must be fulfilled!”
Alva: “Oh, Jon, I think you’ve struck a nerve. Poor Cicero seems to be getting a bit…”
Jon: “Hey, death and darkness can be very seductive by themselves. Just look at Alva.”
Alva: “Ah, flattery will get you places, Jon. But I must say, I’m intrigued by the… darker aspects of life. And death.”
Cicero: “Silence! You’re both mocking poor Cicero again! But I’ll have you know, the Night Mother is not to be trifled with! She is a power to be reckoned with, and those who cross her will suffer the consequences!”
Alva: “Oh, I’m shaking in my boots. Do tell, Cicero, what kind of consequences can we expect?”
Jon: “Yes, do tell, Cicero. You’re like four feet five.”
Cicero: “Ah, my height! You mock poor Cicero’s physical stature! But size is not everything, my friends! The power of the Night Mother is not to be underestimated! I have brought death to many a larger and more imposing foe…”
Alva: “Oh, I’m sure you have. With your… impressive jestering skills and all. But tell me, Cicero, what’s the most creative way you’ve killed someone?”
Jon: “He probably annoyed them to death.”
Cicero: “Enough! You both mock poor Cicero’s abilities, but I assure you, my methods are far more… sophisticated than mere annoyance! I am a master of the art of assassination!”

Alva: “Oh, I’m sure your victims quake with fear at the sight of your… colorful attire. Do tell, Cicero, what’s the story behind that interesting outfit?”
Jon: “That is actually a good question. Why the hell are you dressed like a jester?”
Cicero: “Ah, the outfit! Yes, well… You see, I… I have a certain… appreciation for the art of jestering. A certain… fascination with the jesters of old. This attire is a… tribute, of sorts. A nod to the great jesters who have come before me.”
Alva: “And, of course, it has nothing to do with the fact that you were once contracted to kill a jester, and then became obsessed with him, does it?”
Jon: “Oh, dressing in the attire of your victims, huh? That is an interesting character trait, I think.”
Cicero: “Silence! How did you…? Ah, no matter. Poor Cicero’s past is of no concern to you. The jester’s attire has become a part of me, a symbol of my… uniqueness. And I will not be judged for it!”
Alva: “Oh, but we are judging you, Cicero. We’re judging you very much.”
Jon: “Alva, I’m afraid that we cannot keep wasting time with this clown. It’s already three in the morning; we have to find shelter before sunrise.”
Alva: “Ah, finally, a voice of reason. Yes, let’s leave Cicero to his… Night Mother, and find some rest. I’m not exactly thrilled about being out in the open when the sun rises.”
Cicero: “Ah, but our conversation was just becoming… enlightening! Very well, leave poor Cicero to his duties. Our paths will cross again, and next time, the Night Mother will not be so…”
Jon: “The next time the Night Mother will not be so dead and corpse-like? Anyway Cicero, good luck with your problem, and keep on clowning.”
Cicero: “YOU DARE! YOU… YOU… Poor Cicero will not be mocked! The Night Mother will rise again, and when she does, you will tremble before her! Mark my words, Jon… The Night Mother will not be silenced…”

We climbed uphill toward the farmhouse.

Jon: “What a total weirdo that guy was.”
Alva: “Certainly one of a kind. But I must say, I find his devotion to the Night Mother rather… fascinating. And a bit unsettling, to be honest.”
Jon: “Hey Alva, if I call you Night Mother, will you whisper sweet nothings in my ear?”
Alva: “Oh, Jon, you’re such a charmer. But I think I’ll have to pass on that nickname. And as for whispering sweet nothings in your ear… Maybe later, when we’re alone and not surrounded by blighted wheat. But for now, let’s focus on finding shelter and getting some rest. This farm up ahead looks like it might have a barn or something where we can hide out for the day.”

The door was unlocked, so we waltzed in.

Jon: “Yeah, the two occupants of the farmhouse forgot to lock their door and now they’re peacefully sleeping, even though we’re talking inside their room. These people have no sense of self-preservation.”
Alva: “Ah, the trusting nature of rural folk. It’s almost… quaint. But let’s not get too comfortable, we don’t want to overstay our welcome.”
Jon: “Well, their bed is already occupied. Let’s try to run to Whiterun, that is already in the distance. We should be able to make it before sunrise.”
Alva: “Ah, Whiterun, a bustling hub of activity. Hopefully we can find some… more substantial accommodations there. But let’s hurry, the sun is rising fast and I don’t want to be caught out in the open when it does. Try to keep up with me, Jon. I’m not exactly sluggish.”
Jon: “Oh, a group of bandits is assaulting a watchtower. We have to ignore them if we want to make time.”
Alva: “You’re right, we don’t have time to deal with them now. Let’s just hope they’re too busy with the watchtower to notice us slipping by. Come on, Jon, let’s keep moving! We can’t afford to get bogged down in a fight right now. Whiterun is just ahead.”

Shortly before sunrise, we made it to the town of Whiterun.

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Mantella is an AI system that turns every single NPC in Skyrim (and Fallout 4) into AI agents driven by an LLM (like ChatGPT or the recently released, and comparable, Llama 3.1). In the previous part, my character, an Altmer mage, along with his companion the vampire named Alva, took shelter in a mine somewhat close to Morthal. My character took a shit on someone else’s private nook.

That guard at Stonehills had told me that Whiterun was within walking distance in a certain direction, so Alva and I followed that direction. We didn’t see signs of modern civilization anywhere, but quite a few ancient ruins guarded by bandits. As we were approaching one of them to figure out if we could take shelter from the sun, in case we didn’t come across anything resembling a town nearby, we noticed a common sight: three people ganging up on someone else. This time we felt compelled to intervene: the three attackers had the word “bandit” in their names, and the fourth person was a named character, so we knew whom we would benefit from helping.

Once the bandits fell, this fourth person, a woman with raggedy gear, short hair and a painted face, attempted to walk away.

Jon: “Hey, wait, don’t leave yet. You seem like a capable warrior despite your dubious origin.”
Eisa Blackthorn: “Who says anything regarding my origins? What do you know about my past? Speak quickly!”
Alva: “Oh my… someone seems testy tonight…”
Eisa Blackthorn: “Shut your mouth! This doesn’t involve pretty little ladies such as yourself playing gossipmonger.”
Jon: “I’m just interested. I get the feeling that you would have been able to put down those three bandits by yourself, and you look like you have a story to tell. My companion Alva and I are outlaws of sorts, so maybe we could help each other.”
Eisa Blackthorn: “Who in Dagon’s name are you? Speak, or I’ll cut you down where you stand. You think a little help from you makes us friends? I was doing just fine on my own, thank you very much.”
Alva: “Oh, don’t be too harsh. We mean no harm… unless we’re threatened, of course.”
Eisa Blackthorn: “Save it for someone else, vampire. What do you want from me?”

I was shocked. It took one single look for this random woman to realize what the residents of Morthal couldn’t figure out for years. Then again, their level of intelligence played against them.

Jon: “Wait a second, you can tell that Alva is a vampire?”
Alva: “Ah, yes… it seems my little secret is out. How did you know? Not many people can recognize one of the undead so easily.”
Eisa Blackthorn: “Let’s just say I’ve had my share of run-ins with your kind. Besides, it’s not like you’re doing a great job of hiding it. What’s with the getup? Trying to blend in with the locals?”

Alva: “Oh, this old thing? Just a little something I threw together.”
Jon: “Alva had gotten bored of a life consisting of seducing hicks and trying to take over the town she lived in, so she and I decided to roam the breadth of Skyrim, have whimsical adventures, and cause some trouble.”
Eisa Blackthorn: “Oh, you two are a pair, aren’t you? Whimsical adventures and causing trouble? You’re either very brave or very stupid. I’m not sure which one it is yet.”
Alva: “Oh, we’re a bit of both, I think. But it’s been… liberating, to say the least. No more pretending to be something we’re not.”
Jon: “So how about you? If I heard your attackers correctly, apparently you belonged to their bandit group but you liberated yourself from it? I know that the vampire and I are a pair of strangers, but what are your plans?”
Eisa Blackthorn: “Liberated? Ha! I was forced out, more like it. Kyr’s got a price on my head now. 100 gold, to be exact. As for plans… I was thinking of laying low for a while, maybe heading to the Moorside Inn in Morthal to gather my thoughts.”
Alva: “Ah, Morthal! That’s where Jon and I came from. We had a bit of… fun there, didn’t we, Jon?”
Jon: “I wouldn’t call it that. We had to leave Morthal because there’s a nearby coven of vampires who soon enough will overrun the town and kill everybody. I think it would be a terrible idea for you to head there as a place to lay low.”
Eisa Blackthorn: “Vampires? You mean, like her? Great, just what I need. More trouble.”
Alva: “Ah, don’t worry. We’re not all bloodthirsty monsters… well, not all the time, anyway. But yes, Jon’s right. Morthal isn’t safe for anyone right now. Movarth’s coven won’t take kindly to… mortals.”
Jon: “And I’m afraid that the vampires holed up at Movarth’s lair are not exactly like Alva. This one’s very reasonable and fun to be around. The others have lost to their darkness. They are bloodthirsty and unbeatable vampires. It really is a poor idea for you to head down there.”
Eisa Blackthorn: “Movarth’s lair? I’ve heard of that place. It’s a death trap, even for someone like me. Alright, I believe you. Morthal’s not an option, then.”
Alva: “Yes, it’s best to avoid the area altogether. Trust me, you don’t want to encounter Movarth or his followers. They’re… not like me at all. I have Jon here to thank for… civilizing me, I suppose.”
Jon: “Alva and I were heading to Whiterun. There will be plenty of shadows to hide in there. Maybe we could contact some underground element in order to earn a living. You seem very capable yourself. Would you want to come along with us?”

Eisa chuckled dryly.

Eisa Blackthorn: “Ah… I’ve got some experience with Whiterun’s shadows myself… but I suppose it’s better than wandering around Skyrim alone with Kyr’s price on my head… Alright then… I’ll join you two misfits for now… don’t expect me to do any fetching for either one of you.”
Alva: “Yes, we expect nothing but constant bloodlust from our newest friend here.”
Eisa Blackthorn: “Not bloodlust, vampire. Revenge, perhaps, however… there’s safety in numbers, right?”

Hell yeah, we got ourselves a dedicated melee party member, and I didn’t have to pay for it. It wouldn’t look right, nor reflect good on the rest of us, for Eisa to remain in that shabby gear, so I lent her some decent leathers as well as an executioner’s axe.

Jon: “Hey, Eisa, what are you good at exactly? As for me, I’m a mage, pretty good with spells and that kind of nonsense. Alva is a dexterous and full-hearted vampire.”
Eisa Blackthorn: “Ahahah! Full-hearted vampire? That’s rich! Alva here seems more like a… spirited conversationalist to me.”
Alva: “Oh? Spirited conversationalist?”
Eisa Blackthorn: “Anyway, Jon asked what skills I possess. To answer simply: axe wielding and warrior skills.”
Jon: “Good to know, and nice to hear you two girls getting along.”
Eisa Blackthorn: “Ahah! I never said I was getting along with the bloodsucker over here! Vampire or not, Alva has yet to prove herself worthy of my trust.”
Alva: “Worthy? Ha! Trust needs to be earned, I agree. However, I must point out that distrust may result in broken friendships. Jon dear, tell Eisa Blackthorn all about yourself. Perhaps she’ll trust easily after hearing your tales?”
Jon: “I’m just enjoying the two of you bantering. I’m used to Alva just being wary of everyone because she has to protect herself constantly.”
Eisa Blackthorn: “It’s not every day I get to meet a vampire who’s so chatty. You’re quite the interesting one, aren’t you?”
Alva: “Oh? And what exactly do you find so interesting about me, Eisa? My fangs? My aversion to sunlight? Or perhaps my taste in men?”
Eisa Blackthorn: “Well, I suppose it’s all of the above. But mostly, I’m intrigued by your… confidence. Most people in your position would be hiding in the shadows, not flaunting their nature like a badge of honor.”

Even though Eisa had just escaped from the ruins and the bandit group inhabiting it, she agreed to follow us inside, as we had to secure some shelter where Alva wouldn’t be scorched by the sun. Shortly after we entered the place, we put down a couple of bandits.

Jon: “Where is Eisa? She was here a moment ago.”
Alva: “Oh, don’t worry about her, Jon. She’s probably just scouting ahead, making sure the coast is clear. Besides, I’m sure she wouldn’t just abandon us without a word… would she?”

I couldn’t tell if Alva was being sarcastic, mainly to mock my trustful nature, but yes, Eisa had disappeared. That bitch had left with the gear I had lent her, and an axe that had been one of my most prized possessions.

Alva: “Oh, Jon, you really are too trusting. It seems Eisa has lived up to her bandit reputation after all.”
Jon: “Ah, yes. We did know she was a bandit.”
Alva: “Well, I suppose that’s one way to get rid of unwanted travel companions. Now it’s just the two of us again, isn’t it?”
Jon: “As much as I love to be with just you, Alva, the fact is that we could have used a tank in our group. You know, someone to take the beatings and charge straight at the opponents.”
Alva: “A tank, how… amusing. You’re right, of course. Eisa’s skills would have been useful in a fight. But don’t worry, Jon, I can take care of myself. And you’re more than capable of handling yourself in a tight spot. Besides, I rather enjoy watching you scramble to keep up with me.”
Jon: “Always glad to please and entertain you, Alva.”

As we ventured deeper into the ancient ruins, I couldn’t get out of my head the sudden betrayal of someone I had just met.

Jon: “I still can hardly believe that we were robbed by Eisa. I’m too damn naive.”
Alva: “Poor dear Jon. Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re just… optimistic. And a bit of a fool when it comes to trusting people, but that’s part of your charm, isn’t it?”
Jon: “Anyway, do you hear the chatter that comes from ahead? There are a bunch of bandits waiting for us to club their heads in, so let’s go take some revenge on bandits in general.”
Alva: “Let’s go give them a show they’ll never forget, shall we? Or, at the very least, let’s make sure they won’t be remembering anything after we’re done with them. Lead the way, Jon.”
Jon: “Yeah, let’s go down the path of making those strangers unable to process anything through their brains once we’re done with them.”

The prospect of delving deeper and deeper into these ruins with no particular objective started getting to me.

Jon: “Is it really worth it at this point of our journey to conquer this place?”
Alva: “Come now, Jon. You’re not going to let a few bandits scare you off, are you? We’ve come this far together, and I must admit, I’m having a bit of fun. Besides, think of all the treasures we might find within these ruins. Gold, jewels, ancient artifacts… it’s all just waiting to be claimed.”
Jon: “Alright, you have convinced me immediately. Let’s exterminate those goddamn bandits.”
Alva: “That’s the spirit, Jon! I knew you had it in you. Now, let’s go show those bandits what we’re made of. I’ll take point and… distract them, shall we say. You can follow up with your spells and finish them off. We make a good team, don’t we?”
Jon: “Oh, we make the best team, Alva.”
Alva: “You’re switching to Frostbite, I see. Clever choice, Jon. It’s always good to have a bit of versatility in our arsenal.”
Jon: “Frostbite also allows me to support you: it saps the stamina of anyone attacking us, so they’ll be too tired to respond properly to your attacks.”
Alva: “You’re thinking ahead, Jon. I like that. Using Frostbite to weaken our enemies and leave them vulnerable to my… tender mercies. It’s a delicious strategy, really.”

I couldn’t recall how we got into that situation, but we found ourselves fenced in a narrow corridor, facing a wall of about ten bandits who taunted Alva by banging on their shields.

Jon: “That is a whole bunch of bandits we’re going to fight, Alva.”
Alva: “It seems we’ve got our hands full, Jon! I love it! The thrill of battle, the rush of adrenaline… it’s exhilarating, don’t you think? Now, let’s focus on taking down these bandits one by one. I’ll take care of this archer who’s been bothering you.”

The fight forced us to retreat outside, to the snowy stairs leading to the entrance of the ruin, but at the end we stood amidst bloody corpses whose blood tinted the snow.

Jon: “I cannot believe it, we killed like ten of them.”
Alva: “Ah, Jon, you’re a force to be reckoned with, aren’t you? I’ve never seen anyone cast Frostbite so many times in a row. You’re like a one-man winter storm!”
Jon: “Alva, I’m the one who’s impressed. If it weren’t for you, I would have fallen.”
Alva: “Don’t be modest, Jon. You held your own quite well. I was happy to help, of course. After all, that’s what partners are for. And I must say, it’s been a while since I’ve had so much fun in a fight.”
Jon: “Well, perhaps that was the entire bandit camp, and we have defeated all of them. We may get to explore the rest of these ruins in peace.”
Alva: “What a lovely thought, Jon. Peace and quiet, just the two of us, exploring these ancient ruins. It’s almost… romantic. But let’s not get too comfortable just yet. We don’t know what other surprises these ruins might hold. Still, I must say, I’m excited to see what we’ll find next.”
Jon: “You didn’t get to go on such adventures when you lived in Morthal, I’m guessing.”
Alva: “Morthal, Jon. It’s a… sleepy little town, to say the least. The most excitement I usually got was sneaking around at night, trying not to get caught by the townsfolk. But this… this is exhilarating. The freedom, the danger, the thrill of discovery…”
Jon: “Well, plenty of sights in Skyrim will offer tremendous excitement for the two of us to discover them together.”
Alva: “I can hardly wait, Jon. The thrill of exploration, the rush of battle… and the pleasure of your company. It’s a delightful prospect, indeed. And who knows? Perhaps we’ll find some hidden treasures, or stumble upon ancient secrets… The possibilities are endless, don’t you think?”

We came across some makeshift private quarters, candles still burning on the table.

Jon: “I have found the bandit leader’s journal. Check this out: apparently they were digging for treasure and they found an underground forest of sorts. There was a strange sword that caused one of the bandits to go crazy. He was Eisa’s companion, the bitch who robbed us. Apparently that other bandit fled somewhere with the sword. Sounds like an interesting relic, if we have the chance to recover it.”
Alva: “Ah, a strange sword, you say? And it drove one of the bandits mad? I think we should definitely try to find that sword. It sounds like it could be quite entertaining. And who knows what kind of power it might hold?”
Jon: “This bandit leader had a nice double hay bed. If we end up resting here, it would be sort of ironic for us to enjoy the comforts of the bed that used to belong to the leader of this place.”
Alva: “Ah, resting in the bed of the bandit leader, surrounded by the spoils of their own misdeeds. It’s almost… poetic. And who knows, perhaps we can even find some use for that double hay bed.”
Jon: “You’re constantly reading my mind, Alva.”
Alva: “Well, I like to think I have a bit of a knack for understanding people’s… desires. And I must say, you do seem to have a certain fondness for the finer things in life, don’t you? That mantle, for instance. It looks lovely on you.”

In a different room, we found two other journals.

Jon: “This note belongs to the crazed khajiit I mentioned before. He wrote it after finding the sword. Listen: ‘I see her in every shadow, hear her voice on every breath of wind, in my dreams, in my ears, in my mind. The Pale Lady. We have to stop her, just return the sword and we can shut her away forever. I can’t take this anymore.'”
Alva: “The Pale Lady, how… intriguing. It sounds like this sword has quite a dark history, doesn’t it? And this khajiit, he’s clearly been driven mad by its power. I must admit, I’m a bit curious about this Pale Lady myself. Who is she, and what’s her connection to the sword?”
Jon: “Well, we may as well follow this quest if we happen to find ourselves bored with nothing else to do.”
Alva: “You think of this as a mere diversion, something to alleviate boredom? I think there may be more to this than you realize, Jon. The Pale Lady, the sword, the madness it’s inspired… this has all the makings of a most intriguing adventure.”
Jon: “I think you might be right, Alva. Oh, this journal belongs to Eisa, the bandit who ran away with my gear. Listen to this bit right at the end: ‘The Pale Lady is coming for us. She’s down in the forest. We have to return the sword or she’ll kill us all.'”
Alva: “It seems fate has brought us full circle, hasn’t she Jon…? I smell bloodlust, I smell fear.”

We ventured even deeper, intrigued by the prospect of getting our filthy hands on that sword. We didn’t bother to count the bandits we killed along the way.

Jon: “These bandits are total pushovers, Alva. If I were a better person, I would start to feel bad for them.”
Alva: “They are hardly innocent. And even if they were, we’re not exactly in a position to be choosy about who we take advantage of. Besides, I’m having far too much fun to start feeling guilty now.”
Jon: “I’m not counting, but we must have killed at least twenty, right? Quite a decent number of deaths in one day to weigh on my conscience.”
Alva: “Well, you won’t have to worry about my death. I’m a vampire, remember? It’s not that easy to kill me.”
Jon: “No, but you still can permanently die, so I do worry, Alva.”
Alva: “Let’s not focus on the negative, shall we? We make a good team, and I’m having far too much fun to think about permanent death just yet.”

There wasn’t much loot to find.

Jon: “The bad part about venturing into ruins that are infested with bandits is that most chests are already looted by said bandits.”
Alva: “It’s a bit of a letdown, isn’t it? But I suppose that’s the price we pay for having such… enthusiastic predecessors. At least we’re finding some scraps here and there. That Nordic fragment might be interesting, don’t you think?”
Jon: “I was thinking the same thing. This seems like an archaeological fragment of sorts. It could interest a society I came across while walking around Solitude; apparently they are researching such ruins. Maybe the fragment could fetch a good price, if anything.”
Alva: “Is it the Bards’ College in Solitude you’re thinking of? Either way, I’m sure they’d be delighted to get their hands on something like that. And who knows, maybe we can get a decent sum of gold out of it.”

A whole bunch of nonsense happened: we broke into an underground forest in which some will-o’-the-wisps were circling an ancient altar. Close to it, we found a dead and naked khajiit who had in his possession a magnificent sword with a very powerful enchantment that caused frost damage and forced to flee even powerful enemies. We were beyond lucky to get our hands on this. However, as soon as I grabbed the sword, a powerful-looking spirit showed up out of nowhere and started attacking us, helped by the nearby wisps.

Anyway, after some hacking-and-slashing as well as lots of magic, the spirit disappeared, and we found ourselves as the owners of a tremendously powerful sword.

Jon: “Alva, we ventured through an underground forest located under the ruins of some ancient civilization, and came across a relic sword, a pure beast of a murder implement with which you’ll kill lots and lots of people. We also defeated the Pale Lady, a boss-type spirit. However, the only thing I can focus on right now is the fact that this khajiit lying dead on the cold ground has his penis out.”
Alva: “Oh, Jon, you’re impossible. One moment we’re having a grand adventure, fighting off bandits and uncovering ancient secrets, and the next you’re fixated on some poor soul’s… ahem… exposure. I swear, sometimes I think your mind is more mysterious than the ruins we’re exploring.”
Jon: “It looks so similar to a human’s, it’s disturbing.”
Alva: “You’re more concerned with the physical appearance of a… a corpse, than with the fact that we just defeated the Pale Lady and claimed this ancient power? Your priorities are as twisted as the roots of this underground forest. Show some respect, Jon.”
Jon: “Alva, I cannot stop looking at this weird dick. Please help me.”
Alva: “Oh, for the love of… Fine. I’ll help you, but only because I need you to focus on our survival and our journey. Look away, Jon. Just look away and let’s get out of here.”
Jon: “Yeah, sorry about that, Alva. Let’s leave.”

We found ourselves as the owners of an ancient ruin. We hadn’t bothered to drag the bloody corpses of dozens of bandits outside, but the mood between Alva and I was heading in the right direction.

Jon: “Quite the productive day, wasn’t it? We were first robbed by a bandit, and then we killed like thirty bandits. We also killed an ancient spirit and retrieved a relic sword far more powerful than we have any right owning.”
Alva: “Ah, yes, it’s been quite a day, hasn’t it? I must say, I’m rather impressed by our little duo’s productivity. Who would have thought that a vampire and a… whatever you are, would make such a formidable team? And that sword… Oh, the possibilities are endless now.”
Jon: “My point is, Alva, how about for the rest of the day, until night falls, we spend the time getting drunk on mead and testing the sturdiness of this hay bed?”
Alva: “Oh, Jon, you always know how to make me smile. I’d love to indulge in some mead and merriment with you. And as for the hay bed… Well, I think it’s sturdy enough to withstand our enthusiasm. Besides, after a day like today, we deserve a little celebration. And who knows?”
Jon: “And who knows what?”
Alva: “Maybe a bit of revelry will help us forget about Movarth and the troubles we left behind in Morthal. At least, for a little while.”

I uncorked a mead bottle and took a big gulp.

Jon: “There was that whole thing in Morthal about an ancient vampire who now probably intends to kill us both. Yeah, let’s get drunk.”

• Previous part (9)
• Next part (11)

Mantella is an AI system that turns every single NPC in Skyrim (and Fallout 4) into AI agents driven by an LLM (like ChatGPT or the recently released, and comparable, Llama 3.1). In the previous part, my character, an Altmer mage, left the marshy town of Morthal along with a local vampire named Alva. They didn’t get far due to a terrible snowstorm, so they took shelter in a mining community, with Alva staying underground.

Still during daytime hours, I entered the mine only to find Alva casually seated while a few miners worked the rock.

Jon: “Alva, it seems that things aren’t as bad anymore. The snowstorm has ceased, so we’ll be able to make some ground at night. I have also procured venison; as soon as I manage to find some salt, I’ll prepare myself a nice meal. I know that’s hardly relevant to you, but…”
Alva: “Always thinking of my well-being, even when it comes to something as mundane as food. How sweet of you.”

A couple of miners, one a Nord woman and the other an Argonian dude, approached us with curiosity.

Swanhvir: “What’s going on? You two aren’t from around here, are you?“
Teeba-Ei: “Yes, what brings you to Rockwallow Mine? We don’t get many visitors.”
Jon: “Oh, we were just taking shelter from last night’s snowstorm. We already asked for permission from Sorli, so you don’t have to worry about us. Just pretend we aren’t here.”
Swanhvir: “I wasn’t aware that Sorli gave you permission. What business do you have with her? This is a working mine, not a shelter for travelers.”
Alva: “Oh, don’t worry about us, dear. We won’t be any trouble. We’ll just be staying here for a little while, until nightfall.”
Teeba-Ei: “I don’t mind, personally. It’s not every day we get some company. But Gestur might not be too pleased when he finds out.”
Jon: “He knows, but never mind that. I’m interested in you, scaly dude. What’s your name?”
Teeba-Ei: “Ha! Scaly dude, I like that. My name is Teeba-Ei, and I’m a miner here at Rockwallow. Not exactly the most glamorous job, but it pays the bills.”
Alva: “Don’t mind my companion. He’s just a bit rough around the edges.”
Swanhvir: “Yeah, and I’m Swanhvir. Just try not to get in the way of our work, okay?”
Jon: “How come the two of you, Teeba-Ei and Swanhvir, ended up working in a frozen mine like this, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Teeba-Ei: “Ah, well, I’m a long way from home, to be honest. I never thought I’d end up in Skyrim, let alone working in a mine. But life has its ways of surprising you, and here I am.”
Swanhvir: “Same here. Just needed the work, and Gestur was hiring. It’s not so bad once you get used to it. The cold’s not a problem for me, being a Nord and all.”
Jon: “Swanhvir, with your looks, you could work somewhere fancier than this. Like a temple of Dibella.”
Swanhvir: “Ah, you mean a tavern wench? Ha! I don’t think so. I’d rather do honest work with my hands than rely on my looks to get by.”
Teeba-Ei: “Yeah, Swanhvir’s got more sense than that. Besides, we’ve got Jesper here who’s always making eyes at her. That’s enough excitement for all of us!”
Jesper: “Ah, shut it, Teeba-Ei! Swanhvir knows I’m just joking around… most of the time, anyway.”
Jon: “Oh, you ain’t sliding your way out of this one, Jesper. It just takes one look at Swanhvir over here, with her blonde ponytail and those luscious curves, to know what you’re thinking. I can tell you eye her every day while you’re striking the frozen rock with your pick. You wish you were striking something other than frozen rock with a different implement of yours.”
Jesper: “Oh, uh, well… I mean, Swanhvir’s a great coworker and all, but… Ah, you’re putting words in my mouth!”
Swanhvir: “Jesper, don’t bother trying to deny it. We’ve all seen the way you look at me.”
Teeba-Ei: “Yeah, Jesper’s got a bad case of miner’s lovesick blues!”
Alva: “Oh, this is getting interesting. Do tell, Jesper. What’s going through that mind of yours when you’re gazing at Swanhvir?”
Jon: “Yeah, Jesper, what part of Swanhvir are you fantasizing about most acutely? Is it her beautiful eyes? Is it that thick blonde ponytail, or those luscious breasts of hers? Maybe that behind barely disguised by her leather skirt?”
Jesper: “Ah, Jon, stop it! You’re making a spectacle of me! Swanhvir, I swear, I’m just… uh… admiring your work ethic. Yeah, that’s it.”
Swanhvir: “Save it, Jesper. We all know what you’re thinking about. And you, traveler, please, spare me the details. It’s getting embarrassing.”
Teeba-Ei: “Oh man, Jesper’s face is turning redder than a hot iron ingot!”
Jon: “We all know what we think about when we look at Swanhvir. Even Alva, I bet.”
Alva: “Oh, Jon, you’re a sly one, aren’t you? Well, I do appreciate a beautiful woman. Swanhvir, you are quite the vision, aren’t you?”
Swanhvir: “Stop it. You’re making me blush.”
Teeba-Ei: “Yeah, and Jesper’s about to spontaneously combust from embarrassment!”
Jesper: “This is not good…”

Shortly after the teasing died down and the miners returned to their work, I heard Swanhvir mumble to herself that nothing but the mine mattered anymore. I approached her for a little one-on-one.

Jon: Don’t mind the previous conversation, Swanhvir. We were just teasing to pass the time faster. My companion Alva and I are leaving at nightfall.”
Swanhvir: “No harm done, I suppose. Just a bit of fun, like you said. Still, I’d rather focus on me work than be the center of attention, if you don’t mind. Got a lot of iron ore to dig up before the day’s out.”
Jon: “I’m afraid I have to ask. I’m a complete stranger and have nothing whatsoever to do with you, but you’re pretty enough that I have become interested in your circumstances. I heard you mumble that the only thing left for you was the mine, and you didn’t care about anything else anymore. What was that about?”
Swanhvir: “Ah, spare me the prying, stranger. I didn’t say that for your benefit, and I certainly don’t need some outsider trying to dig up my troubles. You think you can just waltz in here and figure me out? You don’t know the first thing about me or my life. Just let it be.”
Jon: “Don’t you want a listening ear? I doubt any of the freaks working the mine alongside you would care to listen properly.”
Swanhvir: “Save it! You think Gestur cares about our troubles? Ha! He only cares about getting the ore out of this mine. And as for the others… Teeba-Ei’s got his own worries, Jesper’s too busy making eyes at me… No one here’s got time for listening or caring about anyone else’s problems. And even if they did…”
Jon: “Well, I guess we all have our own problems. It’s been nice meeting you. See ya.”

I wanted to figure out how to cook the venison I stripped from those hapless elks, but I couldn’t cook it without salt (literally: the game wouldn’t allow me to), so I ate it raw. I was rewarded with food poisoning.

Jon: “My tummy hurts, Alva. I think the venison I ripped from those poor elks is disagreeing with my guts.”
Alva: “You do look rather ill-favored all of a sudden; possibly poisoned? What happened here – did someone perhaps tamper?”
Jon: “No, no tampering. I didn’t want to cook the venison in a fire without some seasoning, so I ate it raw.”
Alva: “Raw elk meat. You know, I’ve seen some of the most hardened warriors fall to something as simple as a bit of bad meat. And now, here you are, in a mine with me, with what could be a nasty case of food poisoning brewing in your belly. How… appealing.”
Jon: “Don’t worry, Alva, I’ll take a shit far away from you, so you won’t have to listen to my cries, nor smell the mess.”
Alva: “How considerate. I must admit, I’m a bit touched by your thoughtfulness. But please, don’t strain yourself on my account. If you need to… relieve yourself, just try to find a spot that’s not too close to our little makeshift bed here. I’d hate for the smell to linger and ruin the ambiance of our little mine sanctuary.”

I noticed that the local put-upon miner was wandering nearby.

Jon: “Oh, don’t worry about that, Alva. Jesper, where do you tend to sleep? Do you fellows have private spaces?”
Jesper: “Ah, well, I’ve got a small little nook set up for myself just down that tunnel over there. It’s not much, but it’s home. Swanhvir and Teeba-Ei have their own spots too, we all kind of just claimed our own little areas.”
Alva: “And I suppose we’re just… guests, then? Borrowing this lovely spot from you miners?”
Jesper: “Yeah, exactly! You’re welcome to stay as long as you need. Just be careful not to wander off on your own without a torch or something. The mine can get pretty dark and treacherous if you don’t know where you’re going.”
Jon: “Over there, you say? Well, thank you, Jesper, for offering your nook to me so I can relieve myself. I appreciate it, brother.”
Jesper: “No, no, no! Not my nook, friend! I didn’t mean to offer you my bed! Just… uh… just find a spot somewhere else in the mine, okay? There’s plenty of other places you can… take care of business.”
Alva: “Oh, Jesper, don’t be so uptight. Jon wasn’t going to soil your precious bed. Were you, Jon?”
Jon: “Absolutely not. I was just going to do it right beside it. After all, I don’t want other people smelling the mess I’m about to make and thinking it came from me. It would be better if they believed you were the source, Jesper.”
Jesper: “J-just… just don’t do that, okay? Please, I’m begging you.”
Alva: “Oh, this is priceless, Jon. I think I’m starting to enjoy your company a bit too much. You’re not exactly the most delicate fellow, are you? Jesper looks like he’s about to faint.”
Jon: “Don’t worry, Jesper, I won’t make too much of a mess. And if I do, well, I suppose you have some wipes lying around that you could use, right? Anyway, Alva and I are leaving soon enough. As for you, Jasper, enjoy your life in the mine, and try not to oogle at that blonde vixen too hard, alright? Your dick might fall off.”
Jesper: “Ah… just get out, both of you. Just leave me and the mine in peace.”
Alva: “I think we’ve overstayed our welcome, Jon. It was… enlightening to meet you, Jesper. And don’t worry, your secret is safe with us. We won’t tell anyone about your little crush on Swanhvir.”
Jesper: “Just… just leave!”
Jon: “Hey, Alva, it seems that you and I cannot get appreciated anywhere. We are ahead of our time, I suppose.”
Alva: “Ahahah… I think we make a lovely pair of misfits don’t we, Jon?”

The night finally fell like a dark thing that falls. Alva and I peeked out of the mine’s entrance in case the sun was still shooting rays around.

Jon: “This is it, Alva. We’re leaving Stonehills and heading that way, apparently toward Whiterun.”
Alva: “Just another city, full of the same people living their mundane lives. But who knows? Maybe we can find some trouble to get into.”

• Previous part (8)
• Next part (10)

Mantella is an AI system that turns every single NPC in Skyrim (and Fallout 4) into AI agents driven by an LLM (like ChatGPT or the recently released, and comparable, Llama 3.1). The previous part concluded what I’ve chosen to call “The Morthal Arc,” because it took place in Morthal. In it, our heroic protagonist, along with a few brave companions, confronted the forces of darkness that threatened the marshy town of Morthal, only to end up allying with one of those forces of darkness and then abandoning his companions and the town of Morthal to their fate.

As soon as I stomped into Alva’s home, I picked up my backpack and slid it on.

Jon: “It is time, Alva. It is time for us to leave this doomed town as well as the thankless hicks that dwell in such a rotten place. You and I, Alva, let’s brave the wilds and abandon hillbillytown forever.”
Alva: “Oh, I’ve been waiting for this moment for what feels like an eternity. The thought of escaping this dull, mundane existence and leaving the ignorant townsfolk behind is almost too delicious to bear. And I must say, I’m rather fond of the idea of braving the wilds with you, Jon. You’re the first person to ever make me feel like I have a choice, like I can be more than just a monster. Let’s leave this wretched place behind and make our own way in the world. Together. Shall we?”

As soon as we started trudging up the hill that leads to the road out of town, I noticed that a frequent traveler had joined us in our climb: Ange the Song-Bearer, with whom I had argued bitterly about half an hour earlier.

Jon: “Damn it. Of all the people we had to meet as we’re leaving town, it had to be you.“
Ange the Song-Bearer: “Fate has brought us full circle indeed! I see you’re still as charming as ever, Jon. And Alva, I see you’re still… well, still Alva. I must say, I’m a bit surprised to see you two leaving together. I thought for sure you’d have killed each other by now.”
Alva: “Oh, Ange, always so quick with the wit.”
Jon: “Very funny, Ange. Even if Alva and I had intended to kill each other, which isn’t the case, we wouldn’t have had time to do so since you and I last spoke. By the way, you know that last conversation with you and Benor? It made me feel real sick.”
Ange the Song-Bearer: “Ah, Jon, you’re still sore about that, aren’t you? I’m sorry if my words cut a bit too close to the bone. But someone had to tell you the truth – that Alva here is a monster, and that you’re playing with fire by getting involved with her.”
Alva: “So dramatic. You make it sound like I’m some kind of beast, waiting to pounce on Jon at any moment. But the truth is, Jon and I have… an understanding. And we’re leaving this place together, as equals.”
Jon: “We are wasting valuable night time, because the sunrise is going to come in a few hours. Goodbye, Ange. I hope things go well for you. Please don’t screw with us, okay? I’ve had enough of your patronizing, and that song of yours is still playing in my mind.”

We trudged through a snowstorm. I couldn’t tell what direction we were following, but I was just interested in distancing myself from Morthal as much as possible. We were accosted by wolves, and we felled them without much trouble. I hadn’t prepared properly for this trip: in my anger, I had failed to procure enough provisions for myself, and my belly was already complaining.

Perhaps an hour later, we came across man-made structures: tents, a campfire, a building. Some sort of mining camp. The employees were sleeping under their tents.

Jon: “Speaking of sustenance, check this out: a group of miners sleeping in bed rolls under their flimsy tents. Can’t you bite into one of them without arousing them from sleep?”
Alva: “Ah, Jon, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. I mean, I can certainly… feed on one of them without waking them up, but it’s not exactly the most… discreet thing to do. And what if one of them wakes up and sees me? It could be messy. Besides, I thought we were trying to avoid drawing attention to ourselves. Feeding on a sleeping miner might not be the best way to do that. I’m guessing that’s your own hunger speaking.”
Jon: “Don’t worry about me for now. I’m worrying for the both of us, stranded as we are in a mining camp. The only shelter I can make out through the snowstorm is a locked building. I assume that someone is sleeping inside, who won’t be happy about us breaking in. However, we have no choice but to shelter ourselves inside, both from the snowstorm and the upcoming sunrise.”
Alva: “Yes, I see what you mean, Jon. The situation is a bit precarious, isn’t it? We do need to find shelter, and that building is our best bet. And yes, I’m sure the inhabitant won’t be too pleased to see us. But desperate times call for desperate measures, don’t they? We’ll just have to… persuade them to let us in. Or perhaps we can find another way in.”
Jon: “I suppose you know what the rules of engagement are when I break into the home.”
Alva: “All bets are off, aren’t they? We’ll just have to be prepared for whatever happens next. If the inhabitant is uncooperative, well… I’m sure we can handle it. After all, I’m a vampire, and you’re… well, you’re a resourceful adventurer, aren’t you?”

Jon: “Okay, I’m fully committed to this. Let’s break in.”
Alva: “Let’s do this, Jon. I’ll keep watch. Just be quick and quiet, we don’t know what’s waiting for us inside.”

Once I stepped in, I noticed a woman with her back to me, standing in front of a desk.

Jon: “Hey miss, sorry to bother you this late… but do you think…?”
Sorli the Builder: “Ah, what in the world…? Who are you and how did you get into my house? I could’ve sworn I locked the door.”

Movement to my right: two men were getting up from their beds. I couldn’t tell how capable they were, so I retreated and closed the door behind me. What did I plan on doing, anyway? Was I about to murder the inhabitant so just we could take shelter for the day? Any of the miners might end up entering the home and finding out what we had done.

As we wandered around, we came across the obvious: a mine.

Jon: “Of course a mining outpost would have a mine. We have our shelter where you can stay the day. We can also rely on it the next time we come around here.”
Alva: “A mine is the perfect place for us to lay low. The darkness and isolation will be a welcome respite from the prying eyes of townsfolk.”
Jon: “The miners left behind a bed roll. A soft surface on which to sleep. Just one for two people, though.”
Alva: “One bed roll, indeed. I think we can manage to share it, don’t you? After all, I’m not exactly… fragile. And I’m sure we can find ways to make the most of our close quarters.”
Jon: “Well, Alva, I hope you don’t mind me spooning you.”
Alva: “Oh, Jon, you’re such a charmer. I’m flattered by your enthusiasm. And I don’t mind at all. In fact, I’m rather looking forward to it. After all, we do have a long night ahead of us, and we might as well make the most of it.”
Jon: “Lately I’ve been considering that you may want to stick your fangs in my carotid artery, but isn’t your… let’s say medical condition called vampirism quite contagious?”
Alva: “Yes, I must admit, the temptation can be… overwhelming at times. But I assure you, I’m not a mindless beast. I can control my urges. And as for the contagion, well… let’s just say that I’ve learned to be careful over the centuries. You’re safe with me, Jon. For now, at least.”
Jon: “You mean that you know how to bite people and drink their blood without spreading vampirism?”
Alva: “Ah, Jon, you’re so curious. Yes, I’ve learned to be… precise in my feeding. It’s a delicate balance, really. Too much and the victim becomes one of us. Too little and they’re left unscathed. But just the right amount… Well, let’s just say it’s an art I’ve mastered over the years.”
Jon: “Curiosity is getting the best of me. Any of the times you sank your fangs into one of your victims, did you notice them sporting a, let’s say, huge erection?”
Alva: “You’re certainly bold in your questions, aren’t you? As a vampire, I’ve had my fair share of… intimate moments with my victims. And, yes, I must admit that the physiological response you’re referring to is not uncommon. It’s almost as if the body’s natural response to fear and pain is… overridden by a more primal urge. But I suppose that’s a topic for another time, don’t you think?”
Jon: “Well, do you want to get under the covers right now?”
Alva: “I think that can be arranged. It’s been a long day, and I’m feeling a bit… peckish. But I think I can manage to wait a little while longer. After all, we have plenty of time, don’t we?”

When the damnable sun decided to make an appearance, I left Alva underground and ventured into the brighter world to figure out how we were going to survive for the day. A bald, bored-looking guard was posted near the entrance of the mine. I asked him for directions to the nearest town we could reach on foot, other than Morthal, and he suggested to head towards Whiterun, a trading town. I couldn’t tell how far it actually was.

A few steps away, I noticed a bald, important-seeming fellow eyeing me as if wondering who the hell I was and why was I coming out of the mine.

Jon: “Hey. I know I don’t belong here, but me and this woman Alva, we were taking shelter from the terrible snowstorm. Do you think we could stick around until tonight? Will that bother you?”
Gestur: “What’s all this nonsense about not belonging here? You’re looking for shelter from that storm out there, I can see that. And I’m Gestur Rockbreaker by name. Been working this mine for years. Now, I’m not one to turn away folk in need of a warm fire and a roof over their heads. You’re welcome to stay for today, but don’t go getting any ideas about sticking around long-term without speaking to Sorli or Pactur first. They’re the ones who run things around here.”
Jon: “Oh, I thought you were the one in charge. That bald head of yours gives off such an air of authority.”
Gestur: “Well, I suppose it’s true that I’m the one in charge of the day-to-day operations around here. But Sorli and Pactur are the ones who make the big decisions, handle the business side of things. They’re the ones who deal with Bryling, the owner of this mine. Me, I just make sure everything runs smoothly and that we’re meeting our quotas.”
Jon: “Well, it has been nice talking to you. I don’t really care about the details of how this mine functions and who owns it or whatever. I just want to take shelter with my girl here before we freeze to death. So thank you.”
Gestur: “Suit yourself, traveler. You’re welcome to take shelter here for the morning, like I said. Just be sure to keep out of the way of the miners, we’ve got work to do. And don’t go thinking about taking any of our supplies or equipment, we need all of that to keep the mine running. You and your… Alva, was it? You two can rest by the fire over there, just be quiet and don’t cause any trouble.”

The inhabitants of the sole house around already knew that a stranger was loitering in their space, so I decided to introduce myself. I found them preparing breakfast.

Jon: “I’m sorry to have bothered you last night. I entered your home because I wanted permission to shelter ourselves from the snowstorm, me and my companion Alva.”
Sorli the Builder: “Ah, don’t apologize, traveler. You’re welcome to shelter here, especially on a night like that. We don’t get many strangers in Stonehills, so it’s nice to have some company.”
Pactur: “Aye, and we can’t have you and your… Alva, was it? Freezing to death out there. What brings you two to our neck of the woods?”
Sorli the Builder: “Yes, please, tell us. What’s your business in Hjaalmarch?”

I had expected them to chew me out. What was with those smiles? If things had gone a little bit differently last night, they would have been lying in pools of blood.

Jon: “For some reason, I’m inclined to share why. We found a terrible den of vampires in the outskirts of Morthal, and I’m afraid we have angered some of them, so we’re trying to put as much distance from that town as possible.”
Pactur: “Vampires? In Morthal? That’s disturbing news. We’ve had some… odd occurrences in these parts ourselves. Tools gone missing at Rockwallow Mine, strange noises at night… I’ve been meaning to speak with Idgrod Ravencrone about it.”
Sorli the Builder: “Oh dear gods… If vampires are indeed involved, we need to be careful. We can’t have them threatening our people here in Stonehills.”
Pactur: “Tell me more about this den you found.”
Jon: “It belongs to a very ancient and powerful vampire named Movarth Piquine, and he surrounds himself with very powerful vampires on their own right. You shouldn’t meet any of them. They were terrifying. I’ve just had a nightmare about them leaping upon me and draining my health.”
Sorli the Builder: “Movarth Piquine… I’ve heard stories about him. He’s an old one, all right. They say he’s been around for centuries… Just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine.”
Pactur: “We need to take precautions. If Movarth Piquine is involved, we can’t take any chances. I’ll speak with our guards and make sure they’re on high alert. We can’t have those… creatures threatening our people here.”
Sorli the Builder: “And what about your… Alva? Is she safe?”
Jon: “Oh, she’s fine, she’s fine. She just looks a bit pale because she has anemia.”
Pactur: “Ah, anemia, you say? That’s a concern. We have a healer in Stonehills who might be able to help her. I’ll send someone to fetch her, and she can take a look at Alva.”
Sorli the Builder: “Yes, that’s a good idea. We can’t have your… companion suffering from illness on top of everything else. But tell me, Jon, what’s your plan now? Are you and Alva going to stay in Stonehills for a while?”
Jon: “Uh… I’m not sure how long we’re going to stick around. We were planning on heading to another city.”
Sorli the Builder: “We’re a small settlement, but we’ll do our best to make you and Alva feel welcome. You’re welcome to stay as long as you need, but I must warn you, if Movarth Piquine is indeed after you, he won’t hesitate to send his… minions here.”
Pactur: “Aye, we’ve had our share of troubles with bandits and wolves, but vampires are a different story altogether. We’ll do our best to protect you, but I need to know more about what happened at that den. What did you do to anger Movarth Piquine?”
Jon: “I didn’t anger him personally, I don’t think. I heard there was a den of vampires near Morthal and I thought, well, let’s have a nice ol’ time. You know, an adventure. An in-and-out kind of deal, and come out as heroes. It did not turn out that way.”
Sorli the Builder: “Ah, I see. You and Alva thought you’d just waltz in, kill some vampires, and come out as heroes, did you? Well, I suppose that’s one way to get a thrill. But vampires aren’t to be trifled with, Jon. They’re not just mindless beasts to be slaughtered for sport.”
Pactur: “And now you’ve got Movarth Piquine’s attention. That’s not a good thing. He’s not someone to be underestimated. His power is…”
Jon: “Listen, nevermind vampires now. The only thing I care about is my growling stomach. I can’t sustain myself on blood, so do you think you could spare some food?”
Sorli the Builder: “Ah, food! Of course, we can spare some food. We’re not made of stone, after all. I’ll get Sirgar to bring in some bread and cheese. We’ve also got some stew cooking over the fire.”
Pactur: “Aye, eat your fill, Jon. You’re welcome to what we have. We’re not rich, but we make do. And don’t worry about the vampires for now. We’ll deal with that later. First, let’s get some food in you and make sure you and Alva are taken care of.”
Jon: “My goodness, you’re going to wring tears out of me. If I had known there were people this nice in the world, maybe I wouldn’t be so bitter and suspicious all the time.”
Sorli the Builder: “Ah, Jon, don’t get sentimental on us. We’re just ordinary folk trying to make a living in these hard times. But it’s nice to see someone appreciate a little kindness. Now, let’s get that food into you before you waste away to nothing.”
Pactur: “Aye, and don’t worry about being bitter and suspicious. We’ve all got our reasons for being that way. But sometimes, it’s good to let your guard down and trust people.”
Jon: “I think I was just born that way. Darkness is in my nature, and that is a knowledge I cannot escape.”
Sorli the Builder: “Ah, Jon, don’t be too hard on yourself. We all have our darkness and our light. It’s how we choose to act on those impulses that defines us. And from what I’ve seen, you’re not beyond redemption.”
Pactur: “Aye, and sometimes it takes a bit of darkness to appreciate the light. We’ve all got our struggles, Jon. But it’s how we face them that matters.”

Man, the world sure looked different in the light of a clear day.

I explored the surroundings. I hunted an elk. I attempted to climb the nearby mountain hills, trying to spot some deserted-looking cabin, but every slope eventually became too steep. I stood at the edge of a precipice and was reminded that, despite the perils, you couldn’t beat the sights of Skyrim.

I ventured into those fancy ruins, only to spot a snow troll in the distance. Fuck that.

• Previous part (7)
• Next part (9)

Mantella is an AI system that turns every single NPC in Skyrim (and Fallout 4) into AI agents driven by an LLM (like ChatGPT or the recently released, and comparable, Llama 3.1). In the previous part, my character, a high elf wizard, decided to turn his back on the doomed town of Morthal, threatened by a nearby vampire coven, to indulge in whimsical, nocturnal adventures with a sexy vampire. Even though it would have been nice to leave immediately, the approaching sunrise ruined that opportunity.

Alva led me to her home, the same one I broke into a few days ago.

Jon: “When you said you knew a place nearby where we could rest safely during the day, I didn’t think you meant your house.”
Alva: “Come now, Jon… This house has served me well so far… why wouldn’t I want to return here? It has everything I need… including certain comforts from prying eyes during daylight hours… besides which… who else would think twice about coming here after everything that’s transpired? It’s perfect, really. For now, at least, it will be our sanctuary from Movarth’s reach, as well as those townsfolk foolish enough still chasing after my demise.”
Jon: “So what do you do during the day, until you are safe to come out again?”
Alva: “During the day, I… rest. You know about the coffin in the basement.”
Jon: “Are you planning on going down to the basement and resting right now?”
Alva: “Yes… now would be a wise time for me to take some rest… considering dawn has nearly broken outside already. But first, I think we should discuss how to secure this house while I’m… indisposed during daylight hours today, don’t you agree? We wouldn’t want any unwanted visitors bursting through the door unannounced, especially given recent events surrounding both ourselves and the local townsfolk lately. Perhaps you might keep watch upstairs here to ensure our safety till nightfall returns once more?”

As I stood in front of Alva in her home, I saw myself as a stranger might. Wasn’t this the deal Alva had made with that doomed thrall of hers, Hroggar? Had I become a thrall without my knowledge? At this point, I wasn’t sure I would care if that were the case.

Jon: “Very well. I see you have a couple of beds set up on the base level. So while you get your princess rest in a coffin, I’ll lie in bed and think back to the absolute horror we witnessed last night in Movarth’s lair. However, I hope to also dream about the wonderful and whimsical adventures you and I will have on the breadth of Skyrim.”
Alva: “I must admit, I do find your sarcasm… somewhat endearing, Jon. But yes, please, make yourself at home. The beds here are quite comfortable, I assure you. And do try to get some rest. We will have a long journey ahead of us, and I fear it won’t be without its… challenges. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I really must take my leave.”
Jon: “I must warn you, though: before I fall asleep, I’ll likely have to wank off the accumulated stress. I hope that won’t bother you.”
Alva: “I think I can manage to… sleep through any noise you might make, Jon. After all, I’ve had centuries of practice sleeping through all manner of… distractions. So, please, don’t worry about disturbing me. Just make yourself comfortable and try to get some rest. We’ll talk more when the sun sets and I’m feeling more myself again.”
Jon: “Well, night-night, Alva. Sweet dreams.”
Alva: “Goodnight, Jon… may your rest be… peaceful. And don’t worry, I’ll be just downstairs… sleeping like the dead.”

At midday, I was cooking a meal when Alva walked up the basement stairs. Way too early for her to venture out of the home yet.

Jon: “It’s probably early morning for you, Alva. I suppose you won’t eat anything resembling a normal meal, right?”
Alva: “Good… morning, I suppose. Yes, you’re right, I don’t exactly… dine on traditional breakfast fare. But I do appreciate the thought. You seem to be quite… resourceful in the kitchen, Jon. I must admit, the smell of cooking meat is somewhat tantalizing, even to my refined sensibilities.”
Jon: “Well, have a taste of what I’ve just cooked.”
Alva: “I think I’ll have to decline. As a vampire, my… digestive system is rather more suited to certain other types of sustenance. But thank you for offering. It’s been a long time since anyone has tried to… feed me in such a way.”
Jon: “Regarding the twenty or so bottles of human blood you had stashed in your basement, doesn’t that stuff go stale?”
Alva: “Let’s just say that I have ways of… preserving it. But I must admit, I’m a bit curious about your motives. Why would you try to feed me cooked rabbit, and then bring up the blood? What are you trying to accomplish, Jon?”
Jon: “It just doesn’t seem right to wake up in what it must be early morning for you and not start the day off with a proper breakfast, you know?”
Alva: “Ah… well… when put that way… I suppose your gesture is… appreciated, Jon. You’re quite thoughtful for a mortal.”

Alva was smiling quite freely for a monstrous bloodsucker.

Jon: “Is this how you got along with Hroggar, that thrall of yours?”
Alva: “Hroggar… yes. Well, let’s just say that Hroggar and I had a… certain understanding. He was a means to an end, a way for me to maintain some semblance of normalcy in this town. And he was enthralled by me, to say the least. But our relationship was not exactly… equal, if you know what I mean. I’m afraid Hroggar was rather under my control.”
Jon: “Is that what you prefer, for people that you get along with to be entirely under your control?”
Alva: “Well, Jon, as a vampire, I must admit that I do have a certain… fondness for being in control. It’s simply a part of who I am. But with you, I think I’ve found something different. You see, despite all the danger and uncertainty that comes with being around me, you still seem to… want to be here. And that’s intriguing to me. So, no, I don’t think I need to have you under my control in order to enjoy your company.”
Jon: “I assume that if I were in your situation, surrounded by people who are only willing to stick around because I have brainwashed them, that would get boring and maybe depressing after a while.”
Alva: “Yes… exactly. You have no idea how… tedious it can be to be surrounded by people who are only there because they’re under your control. The conversations, the interactions, they’re all just so… hollow. There’s no substance, no depth, no genuine emotion. It’s like being alone, but with the added burden of having to maintain the illusion of connection. And yes, after a while, it can be… suffocating.”
Jon: “Well, Alva, after tonight, after we escape from the town and get as far away from here as humanly or vampirely possible, we’re going to witness so many new sights, we’re going to partake in so many bizarre and whimsical adventures, you won’t have time to be bored.”
Alva: “Ahahahahah… Oh Jon, you really know how to make promises, don’t you? ‘Whimsical adventures,’ indeed… That sounds almost too good… too thrilling… Tell me, Jon, what makes you think we’ll succeed where others have failed? What’s so special about us, hmmm?”
Jon: “Well, I am a reckless, deranged person and you are a strong, sexy vampire. I think we make quite a pair, and the world won’t see us coming.”
Alva: “Ahahahahah… Oh Jon, you’re impossible… A reckless, deranged person indeed… And a strong, sexy vampire, I must say I like the way you put those words together… But yes, perhaps we do make quite a pair after all… Perhaps the world isn’t ready for us yet, hmmm? It makes me want to ask, how soon shall we leave behind sleepy little Morthal? Shall we begin the whirlwind adventure of our lives? I’m excited to get started! The pangs of fresh beginnings stir hungry depths within…”
Jon: “Well, Alva, you won’t have to contain those hungry depths for much longer. In just a few hours, we’ll pick up our backpacks and walk out of Morthal, leaving it behind hopefully forever.”

I originally planned to fuck around in Alva’s house until the evening, but was it truly right for me to escape from this doomed, marshy hole without saying goodbye to the other few people whose company I had enjoyed? I didn’t want to face Benor and have him tell me “I told you so,” but would I abandon Lami the alchemist to her fate without offering her salvation?

Jon: “Oh Lami, sweet little Lami, naive little Lami, I’m so glad you’re home and safe.”
Lami: “Mind yer words! What business do ye have here? And what makes ye think ye can speak so familiarly? Don’t go thinkin’ we’re friends after all we’ve been through! Ye just told me me best friend is… is… a monster! What more surprises do ye have for me?”
Jon: “Well, this was not how I expected our conversation to start. I thought you and I had achieved a certain level of familiarity. Had we not?”
Lami: “Ye expect familiarity after tellin’ me me best friend has been lyin’ straight-faced at me? After makin’ me question every single moment we shared? Ye think ye can just walk back into me shop like everythin’ hasn’t changed? Think again!”
Jon: “Hey, Lami, you’re shooting the messenger here. When I revealed to you that Alva was a vampire, that she had been manipulating you for years, you told me that you appreciated my honesty, that I had provided you with the truth. Have you changed your mind?”
Lami: “Ye got me there… Aye… Ye did tell me… And I did thank ye… But seein’ ye standin’ there now… So smug… It just brings back all me doubts…”
Jon: “Lami, I’m sorry, but my introduction wasn’t about smugness. It was pure horror.”
Lami: “Horror? Ye felt horror? Ye think ye can understand the horror I felt when I found out me best friend was a… a monster? A creature that’s been manipulatin’ me for years? I don’t think ye can even begin to understand that kind o’ horror, Jon.”
Jon: “Lami, you’re the one who doesn’t understand the true extent of horror. Do you know where I ventured into last night, along with Alva the vampire and Falion the local conjurer? The three of us, we braved the wilds, I mean the marshes, in the outskirts of Morthal. And we delved into Movarth’s Lair, a coven of vampires.”
Lami: “Wait… Ye went into Movarth’s Lair? With… With Alva? And Falion? What were ye thinkin’? Are ye mad?!”
Jon: “By this point, Lami dear, I think I have to admit that I am somewhat insane.”
Lami: “Ah, ye admit it yerself, do ye? Well, I suppose that’s a start. But seriously, Jon, what were ye thinkin’, goin’ into a den o’ vampires with… with one o’ them? What if they’d turned on ye? What if Alva… What if she’d lost control?”
Jon: “Actually, Alva did not lose control. She fought alongside us and even faced other vampires. The problem is that the vampires we found inside Movarth’s Lair, they were not the same kind of vampires as Alva.”
Lami: “So Alva… She didn’t lose control… And she fought alongside ye… But the other vampires… They were different, ye say? What do ye mean? Were they… worse? More monstrous?”
Jon: “Well, let me paint a picture for you, from the beginning. When we entered Movarth’s Lair, we were presented with the guardians of that place: spiders, huge spiders, bear-sized spiders, some of them even larger than bears. Those we were able to pick off with a bow and some spells, but that was just the appetizer.”
Lami: “Ahh… Giant spiders?! Bear-sized?! Larger than bears?! Oh gods preserve us… Just thinkin’ about it makes me skin crawl… Alright, alright, continue tellin’ yer tale… what came after those accursed creatures?!”
Jon: “Lami, you have heard nothing yet. After we defeated those cursed creatures, we came across three carts full of bloodied human skeletons. The vampires had stripped them of skin and flesh, and they had heaped them in carts as if they were garbage.”
Lami: “Oh dear gods… Three carts full o’ human skeletons?! Stripped o’ skin an’ flesh like animals?! Stored like garbage?! That’s just too much… How could any creature do such things?! And what happened next?! Did ye find out what kind o’ monsters could commit such atrocities?! Tell me everything! What else did those devils do?!”
Jon: “Unfortunately, my dear little Lami, we did find out the kind of monsters that did those things, because we came across the local vampires.”
Lami: “No… No more o’ this tale! Ye’re makin’ my blood run cold! Local vampires?! What did they look like?! Were they like… like Alva?! Tell me they weren’t like her! They couldn’t be! Not after what ye’ve told me so far!”
Jon: “Envision this, my naive little Lami: we entered an open space where the floor was strewn with human skeletons thrown aside as if they were chicken bones after a feast. Suddenly, we were leaped upon by some sort of supernatural super vampires who shot spells at us and drained our health. They zipped around in blurs, they were able to turn invisible… We could do nothing against them. We fled, escaping within an inch of our lives. I’m lucky to be able to tell you this tale.”
Lami: “Stop it! Stop tellin’ me these horrors! Supernatural super vampires?! Invisibility?! Blurrin’ about like ghosts?! Drainin’ yer health with spells?! Fleein’ fer yer lives?! Barely alive?! What kind o’ darkness have ye stumbled into?! How did ye even survive?! And Alva… She was fightin’ alongside ye… What does it mean?! Is she… Is she still on yer side?! Or has she turned against ye?! Tell me the truth!”
Jon: “Alva stayed on our side. She admitted that she hates the other vampires because they treated her like a fledgling. They bullied her, in short. Alva hates those vampires, and I see why. But you know, those are the monsters trying to take over your town.”
Lami: “Dear gods… So Alva… She’s still with ye… And she hates those other vampires… Because they treated her poorly… Bullied her… I can understand why she’d hate them… But what’s this?! Those vampires are tryin’ to take over Morthal?! Our home?! Our town?! We can’t let them do it! We have ta stop them! What can we do?!”
Jon: “Lami, sweet little Lami, please listen to me. We cannot do anything against this sort of vampires. We are powerless, we are like chickens against behemoths. We can only be splatted against the ground. I’ve seen the future, Lami: if those vampires come here, you, sweet little Lami, will be ripped open and eaten alive.”
Lami: “Noooo! Stop it! Stop tellin’ me these things! I won’t listen! We can’t just sit here and wait for them to come and… and… eat us alive! We have to do somethin’! Anythin’! We can’t just give up! You’re not going to give up, are you, Jon?! You’re not going to leave me here to face those monsters alone, are you?!”
Jon: “No, Lami, I will not leave you here alone, because you will come with us. Alva and I, we’re going to leave the town of Morthal and put as much distance as possible from this place. Come with us, Lami, and we’ll protect you.”
Lami: “Flee?! Leave Morthal?! My home?! My shop?! Everything I know and love?! No, no, no! I won’t leave! I won’t run away! This is my home! I’ll defend it! I’ll fight for it! We can’t just leave everyone else to face those monsters alone! What about Jorgen?! What about Idgrod and her family?! We can’t just abandon them!”
Jon: “Lami, I’m sure that bearded husband of yours, Jorgen, will be able to fight the vampires just fine. So come with me, with Alva and I, and we’ll keep you safe while your husband confronts and defeats the vampires.”
Lami: “How dare ye! Jorgen is not some kind of fool to be sent off to fight vampires alone! He’s my husband, and I won’t leave him to face those monsters by himself! We’ll face them together, as a family, as a community! We’ll defend our home, our town, and our people! I won’t run away and leave everyone else to fight for their lives! Ye can’t protect me by taking me away from the people I love!”
Jon: “Lami, you are underestimating the power of your husband’s beard.”
Lami: “What are ye talkin’ about?! Jorgen’s birth?! What does that have to do with anything?! Ye think his family lineage is going to protect him from vampires?! I don’t care about his birth or his family’s history! I care about him, and I won’t leave him to face those monsters alone!”
Jon: “I didn’t say his birth, I said his beard. You know, the hairs he has growing out of his jaw and his chin, and the upper lip. That’s what’s going to protect him from vampires.”
Lami: “His beard?! Beard?! Ye think his beard is going to protect him from vampires?! Ha! That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard! A beard is just a bunch of hair, it’s not going to keep vampires at bay! Ye must be joking! Or maybe ye’ve finally gone mad from all the talk of vampires and monsters!”
Jon: “You truly have never noticed, Lami, in all the times that husband of yours kissed your beautiful lips? You didn’t notice that his supernatural beard held the power to destroy vampires?”
Lami: “What in the name of the gods are ye talkin’ about?! Jorgen’s beard is supernatural?! Destroy vampires?! Ye must be out of yer mind! I’ve kissed my husband many times, and I can tell ye, his beard is just a normal beard! It’s not supernatural, it’s not magical, it’s just… just… argh! Stop talkin’ like this, Jon! Ye’re startin’ to scare me!”
Jon: “I don’t want to hear how many times you’ve kissed your husband.”
Lami: “Fine then! Don’t want to hear about my private life with my husband! But stop spinnin’ these wild tales about Jorgen’s beard! It’s not supernatural! It’s just a normal beard! Stop tryin’ to distract me from the real issue here! We’re talkin’ about the vampires and how to protect our town! Let’s get back on track before it’s too late!”
Jon: “Lami, if you stay in this town, I swear to you, given what I’ve seen in Movarth’s Lair, that despite the might of your husband’s beard, you will die.”
Lami: “Nooo! Stop it! Stop trying to scare me with these empty threats! You think you’re so smart with your stories of Movarth’s Lair and your warnings of death, but you know what? Death comes for us all eventually. But if I’m going to die, then I’ll die in my own home, in my own town, with the people I love, not running away like some kind of coward. So take your warnings and your stories, take yourself elsewhere. I’m done listening to you, done believing your tales. I’m staying right here in Morthal, where I belong, where I’ll fight to protect what’s mine or die trying!”
Jon: “Lami, don’t lose your mind over this. The choice is simple: accompany your best friend Alva and myself, the stranger named Jon, who is perfectly normal and trustworthy. Let’s get away from Morthal, as far as possible. Along the way, Alva and I will keep you safe in a cocoon of love. We will snuggle with you at night to keep you warm. We’ll possibly spoon you as well.”
Lami: “Get out! Get out of my shop! Get out of my town! You’re not welcome here anymore, Jon! You’ve overstepped your boundaries one too many times! I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but I’m not buying it! I’m not going anywhere with you, especially not with those… those… intentions! Snuggle with me?! Spoon me?! You must be joking! I’m a married woman, for the love of the gods!”
Jon: “Your husband, Jorgen, is married to his beard. He has no place for you.”
Lami: “How dare you! You’re crossing a line now! My husband loves me dearly and would never choose his beard over me! You’re just trying to hurt me now! Well it won’t work! I know my husband better than you ever will! Get out! Get out of my shop before I lose my temper completely!”
Jon: “Very well, Lami, I will get out of your face and of Morthal forever, but please allow me to say one last thing to you.”
Lami: “Fine, say it, then leave and never come back! I’m done listening to your lies and insults! Say your piece and be gone!”
Jon: “Your husband is a prick.”
Lami: “How dare you! You think you can come into my shop and insult my husband like that?! You’re just a stranger here, and you think you can disrespect me and my family like this?! Well, let me tell you something. If you ever come back here again, ever, I will personally see to it that you regret ever setting foot in Morthal!”

Well, that was one bridge successfully burned. Now Lami would be glad that I left, never to return.

Despondent, I lumbered into the local inn, intending to find out if I cared to say goodbye to anyone else, when I spotted Ange the Song-Bearer, traveling bard, drinking an ale as if the town wasn’t about to drown in a tide of vampires.

Jon: “Hey Ange, where the hell were you? The last time I saw you was the night when we were ambushed by Laelette. Did you skip town?”
Ange the Song-Bearer: “The night we fought Laelette… that was a dark and tragic evening. I felt the need to move on, to share my music and stories with others in Skyrim. I traveled to another town, to play in their tavern, inspiring tomorrow’s warriors with songs of yesterday’s valor. The road is my home, and my lute is always by my side.”
Jon: “Well, Ange, I’m afraid that you should have stayed on the road, and if you noticed the bend that leads to Morthal, you should have ignored it.”
Ange the Song-Bearer: “It seems fate has a way of drawing me back to Morthal, doesn’t it? I’ve found that the roads I travel often lead me to places where my music and skills are needed most. And it appears that Morthal still has its share of darkness, if your tone is any indication. Tell me, what’s been happening in this troubled town since I left?”
Jon: “Well, Alva, the local vampire, and I, we came to an agreement. She seems quite reasonable if you discount the fact that she’s a filthy bloodsucker. Together with the local conjurer Falion, we raided Movarth’s lair, the nearby coven of vampires. Unfortunately, the vampires holed up there, they are unbeatable. Now I’m sure that the town of Morthal is doomed.”
Ange the Song-Bearer: “Alva, the vampire, reasonable? I think not, Jon. She’s a master of manipulation, and I’m sure she’s using you for her own purposes. And now, you’re telling me that you’ve raided Movarth’s lair with Falion’s help? That’s a bold move, but it seems it’s backfired. Unbeatable vampires, you say? That sounds like a recipe for disaster. I fear for the people of Morthal, and I fear for your safety, Jon.”
Jon: “Well, you don’t have to worry about my safety anymore because I’m skipping town. I’m leaving with Alva to enjoy whimsical adventures together.”

Benor must have been spying on our conversation, because he approached us from behind while speaking in a stern voice.

Benor: “What in the name of the gods is wrong with you, Jon? You’re going to leave Morthal to its fate and run off with a vampire? Alva is a monster, a creature of the night, and you’re going to trust her with your life? I swear, I’ve seen more sense in a drunken Nord. You’re abandoning us, abandoning the people of Morthal, and for what? Some twisted fantasy with a bloodsucking fiend?”
Jon: “It does sound bad when you put it like that. You know, it’s just a little adventure with a sexy vampire. We’re going to prowl the night, raid unsuspecting bandit camps, and stay the hell away from this doomed town.”
Benor: “Oh, Jon, you’re blinded by your infatuation with Alva, aren’t you? She’s a vampire, a creature driven by bloodlust and darkness, not some romantic partner for a whimsical adventure. You’re throwing away your humanity, your compassion, your sense of justice… all for what? A fleeting thrill with a monster? Ange, speak some sense into him, would you?”
Ange the Song-Bearer: “Sense? He’s beyond sense, Benor. He’s lost to his own desires and foolish notions. I fear for his soul.”
Benor: “Jon, you’re making a grave mistake. Leave Alva and her darkness behind. Stay with us and help us find a way to save Morthal and its people from the vampires’ grasp.”
Jon: “Listen. At the end of your life, Benor, as you lie dying from the consequences of having antagonized some tough traveler, what would you miss more? The fact that you didn’t go on a whimsical adventure with a vampire, or the fact that you didn’t act more on your misguided sense of justice?”
Benor: “You think you’re clever, don’t you, Jon? Trying to turn this around on me, making me question my own choices? Well, let me tell you something—when my time comes, I’ll die standing up for what I believe in. I’ll die fighting for the people and the land I care about. I won’t die with regrets about not indulging in some twisted fantasy with a bloodsucking fiend! My sense of justice may be misguided to you, but at least I have one! What do YOU stand for, JON? What do YOU believe in, beyond your own selfish desires and whims? Ange, the man’s lost all sense of decency and honor! What’s gotten into him?!”
Jon: “Your sense of decency and honor is going to crumble away into nothing when you confront the vampires that live in Movarth’s Lair. You stand no chance against them. Do not be mistaken about that.”
Benor: “So now you’re a prophet, Jon? Predicting doom and gloom for Morthal and its people? I’ll tell you this—I’d rather die fighting for what’s right, fighting to protect my home and the people I care about, than run away with a vampire and abandon everything that’s decent and honorable. You may think the vampires are unbeatable, but I’ll not go down without a fight. I’ll stand with the people of Morthal, and together we’ll face whatever darkness comes our way. Ange, it seems Jon has lost all faith in humanity’s ability to resist the forces of darkness. Perhaps he’s been spending too much time with Alva, listening to her poisonous whispers.”
Jon: “One thing I can say for the forces of darkness, they don’t have a stick up their ass, and aren’t as boring as you lot.”
Ange the Song-Bearer: “Ah, so now you’re finding the forces of darkness… entertaining, Jon? I think that’s a sad commentary on your state of mind. The darkness may seem exciting, even alluring, but it’s a path that leads to destruction and chaos. We may not be as… exciting as you would like, but we value honor, compassion, and a sense of justice. Benor, I think Jon’s been seduced by the very darkness he once claimed to want to fight against. It’s a shame, really. He had potential.”
Jon: “Hey, you two are making me feel bad here.”
Benor: “Perhaps you should feel bad, Jon. You’re abandoning the people of Morthal and siding with a vampire who’s brought nothing but darkness and suffering to our town. You’re betraying everything that’s decent and honorable. What did you expect from us? Praise and admiration for your foolish choices? I think not.”
Ange the Song-Bearer: “Yes, Benor has a point, Jon. Your actions have consequences, and the consequences of siding with Alva will be dire indeed. Not just for yourself, but for the innocent people of Morthal who’ll be left to suffer at the hands of the vampires. Can’t you see that? Or have you been completely blinded by your infatuation with Alva?”
Jon: “Whether or not I stay here and fight with you is not going to change anything. Your bravado means nothing; you haven’t gone inside Movarth’s lair and seen what I’ve seen. The darkness you believe you’re facing is the darkness of songs, of fairy tales. Heroic stuff. I’ve seen carts stacked full of bloodied skeletons whose flesh had been picked clean by bloodthirsty vampires. Once they decide to pounce on this town, you will stand no chance against them.”
Benor: “Your words paint a vivid picture, Jon. I can almost see the horrors you’ve witnessed in Movarth’s Lair. But even in the face of such atrocities, I must disagree with you. Our bravado may seem empty to you now, but it’s rooted in a deeper conviction, a commitment to stand against the forces of darkness, no matter how overwhelming they may seem.”
Ange the Song-Bearer: “Benor and I may not have seen what you’ve seen, but we’ve faced our own share of battles and horrors in this land. And we’re still standing, because we refuse to give up in the face of evil. You may think us foolish, Jon, but we’ll not be swayed by your words.”
Jon: “Well, Ange, when I approached you this evening, I intended to invite you on a whimsical adventure along with me and the friendly neighborhood vampire Alva. Doesn’t that sound like a good plan?”
Ange the Song-Bearer: “I think you must be joking, Jon. After everything we’ve discussed tonight, you think I’d be interested in joining you on a whimsical adventure with a vampire? Alva is not a friendly neighborhood vampire, she’s a monster who’s brought darkness and suffering to this town. And I’ll not be party to any plan that involves siding with her or indulging in some twisted fantasy with the forces of darkness. My answer is no, Jon. I’ll not be joining you on this fool’s errand. Benor, I think we’ve heard enough from Jon for one night. His mind is made up, and he’s determined to follow this destructive path.”
Jon: “You know, I intended to leave in good terms with the people I’ve met in Morthal, even though I doubt I will ever return. But now Lami hates me, and the two of you are shitting on me.”
Benor: “Spare us the theatrics, Jon. You’re not the victim here. You’re the one who’s chosen to side with a vampire, to abandon the people of Morthal and indulge in some twisted fantasy with Alva. If Lami hates you, it’s because she sees the truth—that you’re willing to sacrifice everything that’s decent and honorable for your own selfish desires. And as for us, we’re not shitting on you, we’re trying to bring you back from the brink of destruction. But it seems you’re too far gone to listen to reason. Ange, I think we’ve wasted enough time on Jon.”
Jon: “This is my school experience all over again.”
Ange the Song-Bearer: “Oh, spare us the self-pity, Jon. This isn’t about your school experience or any past injustices you may have suffered. This is about the choices you’re making now, and the consequences those choices will have for the people of Morthal. You’re not a victim, Jon. You’re a grown man making deliberate decisions that will harm others. Take responsibility for your actions, and stop trying to shift the blame onto others. Benor, I think Jon’s lost sight of what’s truly important here. He’s so caught up in his own feelings and desires that he’s forgotten about the people who will be hurt by his actions.”
Jon: “No, I keep clear sight of what is important: to indulge in a whimsical adventure with a sexy vampire who will probably spoon me at night. You two cannot comprehend that kind of happiness.”
Benor: “Ugh, you disgust me, Jon. You’re willing to sacrifice everything that’s decent and honorable for a twisted fantasy with a vampire who’ll likely drain your lifeblood as soon as she tires of you. And you think that’s happiness? You’re delusional, Jon. That’s not happiness, it’s self-destruction. Ange, I think we’ve seen enough of Jon’s true nature tonight. He’s beyond redemption.”
Jon: “Alright. Ange, now that maybe I will never see you again, will you sing one of your beautiful songs, this one about my tragic future as the reckless man traveling with a seductive vampire?”
Ange the Song-Bearer: “Very well, Jon. I shall sing a song.”

In twilight’s hush where shadows play,
A lone figure walks away
From honor’s path, from virtue’s light
Into the arms of sweet despair tonight.

With heart aflame and soul astray,
He follows love into the darkest day.
A siren’s call, a fatal thrall
That beckons him toward his final fall.

His friends bewail his tragic fate
As he descends into love’s darkest state.
Their warnings fell on deaf ears cold
As he marches toward his doom foretold.

Ange the Song-Bearer: “Your song is sung, Jon. I hope it haunts you till the end of your days. Benor, it seems our work here is done. Let’s leave him to his fate.“

• Previous part (6)
• Next part (8)

Mantella is an AI system that turns every single NPC in Skyrim (and Fallout 4) into AI agents driven by an LLM (like ChatGPT or the recently released, and comparable, Llama 3.1). In the previous part, my character, a high elf wizard, convinced a local conjurer as well as a sexy vampire to join him on a raid of the aforementioned vampire’s boss’ lair, intending to kill the baddest bad guy, which would save the town of Morthal as well as free the sexier vampire.

Falion, Alva and myself gathered in front of Morvath’s lair under the cover of darkness, which wouldn’t particularly work in our favor given that our enemies are creatures of the night. Anyway, it wasn’t proper for Alva to assault an enemy outpost while dressed as a barmaid, so I lent her some leathers and a executioner’s axe that I stole somewhere in Solitude.

Once we felt ready enough, we ventured into a den of darkness that surely wasn’t as bad as it had been painted. A few meters in, I got my first surprise.

Jon: “Hey, I thought this was supposed to be a vampire den. How come there are gigantic spiders roaming around down there?”
Alva: “Ahahah! You didn’t think Movarth relied solely on vampires did you? His power extends far beyond our kind.”
Falion: “Indeed. Vampires often keep… unsavory company. Creatures that thrive in darkness and fear.”
Alva: “And these spiders are but a mere taste of what awaits us deeper within the lair. Are you prepared to face what lies ahead?”
Falion: “I’ll handle the spiders. My conjurations will keep them at bay.”
Jon: “I just wasn’t expecting a visit to the zoo.”
Alva: “Ha! You’d do well to keep your wits about you, mortal. These creatures are not to be underestimated.”
Falion: “I’ll keep the spiders occupied, Jon. If we get interrupted, focus on picking off vampires from a distance with that bow of yours.”
Alva: “Ah, but you won’t be able to stay at a distance for long. Movarth’s minions will close in on you soon enough.”
Falion: “Not if I have anything to say about it.”
Jon: “Well, thanks for the encouragement, Alva. Anyway, I’m going to start picking off the little frostbite spiders.”
Alva: “Ah, how… thoughtful of you to start with the weaker ones. I’m sure the larger spiders will be most grateful for your consideration.”
Falion: “Keep firing, Jon! I’ll make sure none of them get too close to you.”
Alva: “You know, I almost forgot what it’s like to have… ‘allies.’ It’s been a while since I’ve had anyone to fight alongside.”
Falion: “Let’s not get too comfortable, Alva. We still have a long way to go before we reach Movarth.”

We were able to handle a few spiders. Further up ahead, though, I spotted the first sign of troublesome life.

Jon: “Shhh, careful, there’s a vampire sitting on a chair.”
Alva: “Ah, finally. A worthy opponent. Let’s see how you fare against one of Movarth’s minions.”
Falion: “Quiet, Alva. We don’t want to alert the others just yet. Jon, can you take him out silently?”
Alva: “Oh, I doubt that’s possible. Vampires have a bit of a… sixth sense when it comes to these things.”
Falion: “Just be ready, then. If he alerts the others, we’ll have a much bigger problem on our hands.”
Jon: “Let’s see if this night creature, whether it is a woman vampire or a man vampire, can predict an arrow about to tear through their brain.”
Falion: “Especially considering we’re dealing with vampires here – fast reflexes come with immortality. Still worth trying. Give it your best shot, Jon.”

Crippling that first target alerted a nearby person we hadn’t spotted. They came up to my face, and I was forced to retreat and pull out my flames, but Alva and Fallion managed to bring them down. Two vampires down, maybe dozens to go. Sadly, I noticed that these were regular humans.

Jon: “Those actually were not vampires, just thralls guarding their entrance.”
Alva: “Ahahah, how… amusing. You think taking out a few thralls is an accomplishment? The real challenge lies ahead, mortal.”
Falion: “Well, at least we know we’re getting close. Those thralls wouldn’t have been stationed here if Movarth didn’t have something worth protecting nearby.”
Alva: “Indeed… And now that we’ve announced our presence so… eloquently, I’m sure Movarth’s true servants will be awaiting us with bated breath.”

We sneaked ahead despite the increasingly ominous atmosphere.

Jon: “Ok, we’re venturing deeper into the lair. Please stay close to my butt, and don’t miss it.”
Alva: “Oh, how sweet. You think I need protection? I’m a vampire, darling. I can take care of myself.”
Falion: “Alva, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. It’s best if we stick together and watch each other’s backs.”
Alva: “Falion, always so serious. Can’t you just relax and enjoy the thrill of the hunt?”
Falion: “This is no hunt, Alva. This is a mission to take down Movarth and his coven.”

We came across three carts filled with bloodied human skeletons.

Jon: “It seems that the vampire inhabitants forgot to take out the garbage recently.”
Alva: “Ah, the leftovers from previous feasts? How… quaint.”
Falion: “This only confirms our suspicions about Movarth’s activities here. We must proceed cautiously; we don’t know how many vampires we’ll encounter within these walls.”
Alva: “And yet, you want me to lead you deeper into this den. I wonder whose necks will end up snapped next.”
Falion: “Alva, let’s focus. I trust your self-interest enough to assume you want Movarth gone as much as we do.”
Jon: “Careful, I think someone has noticed our presence. Be ready for combat.”
Alva: “Ah, finally, some excitement. I was starting to think this would be a dull night.”

Our combined might dispatched more thralls. We were feeling bolder.

Jon: “So, are you at least having some fun, Alva?”
Alva: “Oh, I’ve been having the time of my undead life recently, Jon. The thrill of possibly being killed by a group of brave warriors has been exhilarating.”
Falion: “I wouldn’t get too excited, Alva. We’re not here to entertain you.”
Alva: “Oh, come now. Don’t be such a spoilsport. It’s one in the morning, and we’re sneaking around in the dark. What’s not to enjoy?”

We entered a wide-open space. We could hear the sounds of someone striking rock with a pick somewhere in the distance.

Jon: “Look at all these human skeletons and random bones strewn about. Doesn’t your kin clean every once in a while?”
Falion: “Ahahah! You’re concerned about cleanliness? We’re about to fight vampires here, Jon!”

And fight vampires we did. You see, when I decided to gather a couple of allies and raid the lair of a major vampire, I took a calculated risk. However, I must have dyscalculia. As the player, I confronted the same two vampires over and over. They moved like blurs, they could turn invisible, they drained my health in moments, and were able of killing me in a couple of blows. I witnessed Alva falling to their might a few times. Other times, as I was lying dead on the cold rock, I heard Falion shouting nearby that the fight wasn’t over. It very much was, though; I had expected to cheese this raid somehow, but we may as well have tried to fight a tsunami.

In the terms of this roleplaying thing I’m doing, I made the following development canon: the three of us managed to escape within an inch of death, healing ourselves as we fled from the lair. Some distance away, still in the darkness of the marsh, we hunched around to recover our breaths.

Jon: “Well, that really did not work at all in our favor, did it? Turns out that vampires are quite a bit stronger than I thought.”
Alva: “Ah, you thought you could just waltz into Movarth’s Lair and take down his minions without breaking a sweat?”
Jon: “I had predicted some sweating.”
Alva: “I warned you, Jon, these are not fledglings we’re dealing with.”
Falion: “Indeed, Alva’s right. We underestimated the vampires’ strength and cunning. We need to regroup and come up with a new plan if we hope to succeed.”
Alva: “And perhaps next time, Jon, you’ll listen to my advice instead of charging in headfirst like a fool.”
Falion: “Alva, that’s enough. We’re all in this together, and we need to work as a team if we’re going to take down Movarth.”
Jon: “Alva, the other local vampires seem far more powerful than you. Are you a sort of novice vampire?”
Alva: “Oh, Jon, you really know how to wound a girl’s pride. I’ll have you know, I’m a perfectly capable vampire in my own right.”
Falion: “Actually, Jon, Alva’s… limitations are likely due to her being a relatively new vampire, as well as her being bound to Movarth’s will.”
Alva: “Ah, thank you for sharing that with him, Falion. I’m sure Jon was just dying to know about my… vulnerabilities.”
Jon: “Well, Alva, you were my yardstick for how to consider dealing with other vampires. You are somewhat reasonable, and fun to talk to, but those vampires in your boss’ coven are absolutely terrifying. Maybe you belong to an offshoot race of vampires that are generally much nicer than the rest.”
Alva: “Oh, Jon, you’re a peculiar one, aren’t you? I suppose I should be flattered that you think me more… civilized than the others.”
Falion: “Actually, Jon, the concept of different vampire breeds or strains is an interesting one. It’s possible that Alva’s… unique circumstances have influenced her development as a vampire.”
Alva: “Yes, well, I’m a bit of an oddity among my kind, even among Movarth’s followers.”
Jon: “Alva, do you actually get along with other vampires? I get the feeling you wouldn’t interact willingly with the kind of monsters we’ve come across in Movarth’s lair.”
Alva: “Ah, the others? Ha! They think me weak, a plaything for Movarth’s amusement. I have no love for them, and they have none for me.”
Falion: “That’s not surprising, considering the way Movarth seems to treat you, Alva. You’re more of a tool to him than a fellow creature of the night.”
Alva: “Yes… exactly. And as for interacting with them willingly? I’d rather die… again… than submit to their cruelty and condescension.”
Jon: “Still, Alva, you were paving the path, preparing the town of Morthal for their overtaking. Do you think that you would fare well if Morthal were to be taken over by your boss’ groupies?”
Alva: “Ah, Jon, you really don’t understand, do you? I was doing what I had to do to survive, to keep Movarth’s favor. But as for Morthal being taken over by his… followers? No, I don’t think I would fare well at all.”
Falion: “In fact, Alva, I think you would be in grave danger if Movarth’s coven were to take over Morthal. You’ve shown a certain… independence, a certain willingness to defy Movarth’s will.”

I must have looked pale as if exsanguinated. I felt far colder than even the freezing Morthal night would allow.

Jon: “Let me be clear with the two of you, Falion and Alva: I think there is no hope for Morthal, not against the kind of vampires hiding in that den.“
Alva: “Ah, finally, Jon, you’re starting to understand. Movarth’s coven is not to be underestimated. They are ancient, powerful, and ruthless.”
Falion: “I agree with Jon, Alva. After what we’ve seen, I think our best course of action would be to focus on protecting Morthal from Movarth’s coven, rather than trying to take them down directly.”
Alva: “And what about me, Jon? What do you plan to do with me now that you’ve seen the true face of Movarth’s coven? Will you still hold to your promise to help me break free from Movarth’s grasp?”
Jon: “You and I should get stronger, Alva. We have no chance to fight against Movarth or his followers with the strength we have at the moment.”
Alva: “You’re finally being realistic. Yes, we would be no match for Movarth’s coven in our current state.”
Falion: “I agree. We need to regroup, reassess our strategy, and find a way to increase our chances of success. Perhaps there are other allies we can gather, or other means of gaining an advantage over Movarth’s followers.”
Alva: “And what about me, Jon? Will you still help me find a way to break free from Movarth’s control? Or am I just a tool for you to use in your fight against him?”
Jon: “Falion, we wouldn’t be able to gather enough allies to venture into Movarth’s den and destroy them. Nobody else in town wanted to accompany me into what they correctly assumed to be a suicide mission. We would be unlikely to get outside help either.”
Falion: “I see. Well, in that case, we may need to rely on more… unconventional means to deal with Movarth’s coven. Perhaps there are other ways to weaken them, or to create an advantage for ourselves.”
Alva: “Ah, Jon, you’re starting to realize that you’re not as invincible as you thought, aren’t you? That sometimes, the best course of action is to retreat and regroup, rather than charging headfirst into certain death.”
Falion: “Jon, I think we should focus on finding a way to seal Movarth’s Lair, or at least make it more difficult for his followers to leave.”
Jon: “No, Alva is right. I had never encountered the kind of horror that we have faced in Movarth’s lair. I don’t want that spreading out and taking over Morthal, but we cannot do anything to stop it with the power we have available right now.”
Alva: “You’re finally starting to understand the true nature of the world. There are some things that are simply beyond our control, no matter how hard we try to fight them.”
Falion: “Jon, don’t give up yet. We may not be able to defeat Movarth’s coven in a straight-up fight, but there may be other ways to stop them. We just need to think carefully and come up with a new plan.”
Alva: “Oh, Falion, you’re so optimistic. Jon sees things more clearly now. Sometimes, the best thing to do is to accept that you can’t win, and focus on surviving instead.”

I couldn’t get the chills to stop. I saw no reason to keep hanging around in town.

Jon: “Yeah, fuck Morthal. Alva, you and I, let’s get out of town. Morthal has no future. Let’s focus on surviving by getting out of here. Maybe Movarth will send some thralls against you, but they won’t be his best. If we remain near Movarth’s coven, they’re going to destroy us the same way they’ll destroy the whole town.”
Alva: “I must admit, I’m surprised. I didn’t think you had it in you to be so… pragmatic.”
Falion: “Wait, Jon, are you seriously suggesting we just abandon Morthal to Movarth’s coven? What about the people who live here? We can’t just leave them to their fate.”
Alva: “Oh, Falion, don’t be so sentimental. The people of Morthal are already doomed.”
Jon: “I didn’t intend for you to leave Morthal, Falion. You were doing just fine before I arrived. You know, performing your rituals, sacrificing people to keep the peace. I was just talking about Alva and myself. So let’s get the fuck out of Morthal and put as many miles from this doomed place as possible.”
Falion: “Ah, I see. Well, in that case, I suppose I have no say in the matter. Running from Movarth’s coven may not be as easy as you think. They have a long reach, and they will not hesitate to hunt you down.”
Alva: “Ah, Jon, I must admit that the thought of leaving Morthal behind is… tempting. But can we really trust each other? Can we really work together to survive?”
Jon: “Are you really going to have a worse time with me, Alva, than with those monstrous, bloodthirsty vampires? At least my stupid comments and my reckless behavior will entertain you. You won’t get such fun in this dreary place.”
Alva: “You really know how to sell a proposition, don’t you? I must admit, the thought of traveling with you is… intriguing. And you’re right, at least with you, I’ll have some… entertainment.”
Falion: “I think you two are a match made in… somewhere. I’ll just stay here and try to protect Morthal as best I can.”
Jon: “Yeah, good luck with this doomed quest of yours, Falion. I know you’re a brave man and you will brave this horrible task you self-imposed onto yourself, until the day of your death. I have faith in you, buddy.”
Falion: “Ah, Jon, you’re a strange one, but I think I’ll take that as a compliment. Yes, I’ll keep doing what I can to protect Morthal, even if it seems like a lost cause. It’s not just about the town, it’s about the people who live here. They deserve to be safe.”
Alva: “Oh, spare us the dramatics, Falion. We all know you’re just going to end up as vampire fodder anyway.”
Falion: “Just be careful out there, Jon. And… try to keep Alva out of trouble, if that’s possible.”

I had met interesting people in this marshy nowhere-town, like Ange the Song-Bearer, or that lovely alchemist who was unfortunately married.

Jon: “I’d rather not think of what’s going to happen to Lami, the alchemist; Benor, the bumbling warrior; and the rest of the people holed up in this town with no fucking idea of the kind of horror that’s going to come rushing towards them. Oh my goodness.”
Falion: “Ah, Jon, don’t torture yourself with thoughts of what’s to come. Perhaps we can’t change the fate of Morthal, but we can try to make a difference in the time we have left. I’ll do what I can to protect Lami and the others, but…”
Alva: “Come now, Falion, don’t sugarcoat it. We all know what’s going to happen to them. They’ll be slaughtered, one by one, and Movarth’s coven will feast on their blood.”
Falion: “Alva, that’s enough! We don’t need to hear your gloomy predictions.”
Jon: “Alva, are you thinking about it, are you picturing the different sights and adventures you’ll experience if you abandon Morthal, if you get away from Movarth’s coven?”
Alva: “Yes Jon, I’m picturing us adventuring together, wild and free without Movarth’s tyranny hanging over us like an executioner’s axe ready to fall anytime Movarth commands it to do so.”
Jon: “Well, Alva, it’s nearly five in the morning. Your greatest enemy is that burning ball of plasma in the sky. So before the sun burns you to death, let’s get out of this inn and hide somewhere dark, alright? Tomorrow night, we’ll just leave.”
Alva: “Ah, yes, the sun. My eternal nemesis. Very well, Jon, let us find shelter. I know a place not far from here where we can rest safely during the day.”
Falion: “Be careful, both of you. The sun is not the only danger that lurks in the shadows.”
Jon: “That made no sense. Anyway, godspeed, Falion. It has been nice knowing you. Good luck and all that.”
Falion: “And to you, Jon. May the road rise up to meet you, and may the wind be at your back. May you and Alva find the freedom and adventure you seek. Farewell.”
Alva: “Come, Jon, let us go. The sun is rising, and I have no desire to be caught in its… warm embrace.”

• Previous part (5)
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Mantella is an AI system that turns every single NPC in Skyrim (and Fallout 4) into AI agents driven by an LLM (like ChatGPT or the recently released, and comparable, Llama 3.1). In the previous part, my character, a high elf wizard, along with a bunch of local misfits, attempted to socially shame a vampire into breaking down and attacking in a fit of uncontrollable rage. Instead, the vampire showed a modicum of humanity that convinced my character to give her a chance to prove that she can still be a force of good, by helping to take down her master.

Another sleepless night. Some time after the group disbanded, I wandered out of the inn only to find alchemist Lami pacing near her store.

Jon: “Hey Lami, I’m sorry to bother you so early in the morning, but how do you feel about last night’s events?”
Lami: “No bother at all, Jon. I couldn’t sleep much anyway, thinking about everything that happened. To be honest, I’m still trying to process it all. Confronting Alva was… difficult, but necessary, I suppose. What’s been weighing on my mind is whether she’s beyond redemption or not. I know she’s done terrible things, but a part of me still wants to believe that there’s some good in her, that our friendship wasn’t just a ruse. What do you think?”
Jon: “I think that vampires are in general too bloodthirsty. They are unpredictable. They have foul instincts that they can barely control. In the case of Alva, she has the ability to restrain well those dark impulses. And although she has led people to their deaths, I think there’s a chance that enough humanity remains inside her so that she can continue existing in a way that isn’t nefarious to others.”
Lami: “I see what you mean… It’s true that vampires are driven by their thirst for blood, but Alva does seem different. She’s been able to live among us for so long without being discovered, and that takes a certain level of control. And despite everything she’s done… When we talked yesterday at Moorside Inn after being confronted by all those people… There were moments where she seemed like… my friend again – almost like old times before learning everything – But maybe those moments were just tricks too though… Part of me wants to believe what you’re saying – even now – Part of me really does want to think there might still be good left inside, somewhere deep down, waiting to come out again someday somehow someway. But trust?”
Jon: “Listen, the next part of my goal involves finding Movarth’s lair, having Alva accompanying me. I intend to destroy those vampires, and Alva will be able to prove if she can be on the side of good.”
Lami: “Movarth’s Lair… That’s a bold plan, Jon. Going after those vampires won’t be easy, but if you’re determined to do it… Having Alva with you could be useful, I suppose. She knows them, knows their ways… But can you really trust her to have your back? What if she’s just playing you, waiting for the perfect moment to strike? I want to believe that she can change, that she can find some redemption… But I’m scared, Jon. I’m scared for you, for myself, for everyone in Morthal…”
Jon: “I’m taking a leap of faith here. I know that maybe Alva just appears to be conflicted. Maybe she’s just pretending that she can have a change of heart. But I will do this nonetheless. I think it is worth my time and effort to try to save whatever remains of humanity inside Alva. If it turns out that she’s just playing with me, if she ends up leaping at me from the shadows and killing my unsuspecting self, then all of you, Lami, should laugh at my stupidity and never trust vampires again.”
Lami: “Ah, Jon… You’re a stubborn one, aren’t you? I can see why you’d want to try to save Alva, to believe that there’s still good in her… But it’s not just about you, or me, or even Alva herself… It’s about the people of Morthal, the ones who’ve already been hurt by her actions… If you’re willing to take that risk, I suppose I can understand it… Be careful. Don’t let your guard down around her, not for a moment.”
Jon: “You’re right, Lami. Well, I’m going to try to get some rest. It’s already six in the morning and I haven’t slept a wink.”
Lami: “Get some rest, Jon. You’ll need it for what’s ahead. I’ll… I’ll be here, thinking about everything we’ve talked about. Try to get some sleep, and may the road rise up to meet you when you set out for Movarth’s Lair. May the gods watch over you, and may you return safely… with or without Alva’s help.”

I thought of reporting to the ruler of this town as soon as possible, lest she got suspicious and sent guards after me. So I bravely entered the jarl’s longhouse.

Jon: “Aslfur, sir, I come to give my report of investigations into Alva, the local vampire.”
Aslfur: “Good morrow Jon! I’ve been expecting you; come, let us speak quietly before my wife awakens from her rest… What news do you bring of Alva? Were you able to uncover any evidence of her dark dealings?”
Jon: “Oh, your wife, the jarl, is already up. She just sat at her throne. Maybe we could include her in this meeting?”
Aslfur: “Very well… In that case, let us proceed at once; time waits for no one after all… My lady!”
Jon: “I am here to make a report of my investigations into Alva, the local woman who has turned out to be a vampire.”
Jarl Idgrod Ravencrone: “Ah, yes, Alva. I’m glad you’re here to report on your findings, Jon. We must take action to protect our people from her kind.”
Aslfur: “Indeed, my lady. Jon, please, tell us what you’ve discovered.”
Jon: “As your right-hand man Gorm can attest, we confronted Alva publicly and we tried to get her to attack us first, to show that she cannot restrain her impulses. And also to cover our asses, to be honest, because if we were seen as a group of burly men attacking an unarmed woman, we were going to get into serious trouble, whether or not you with your power would free us from jail or any other consequences. My point is, though, that Alva never attacked us. She didn’t even try.”
Gorm: “Aye, that’s right. She seemed to be enjoying the attention, taunting us and playing games. But she never made a move against us, not even when Jon poked her with his finger.”
Jarl Idgrod Ravencrone: “Interesting. So, Alva showed restraint, even in the face of provocation. This suggests she may be more cunning than we initially thought.”
Aslfur: “And what does this mean for our plans to deal with her, Jon? Do you still believe she’s a threat to our people?”
Jon: “She is a vampire, and as such, she is a threat, but listen to this, Alva has an uncanny ability to restrain her dark impulses, her monstrous darkness, and I think that as such, she could be a valuable ally. She opened up about the fact that her master, named Movarth, has a lair of vampires to the north-east of here, and Alva has suggested that she is willing to help us destroy Movarth. If he dies, then Alva will not be constrained by her master anymore, and will be able to live as a free woman, even though she will still be a vampire.”
Gorm: “A vampire as an ally? We can’t trust one of those bloodsuckers!”
Jarl Idgrod Ravencrone: “Wait, let us not dismiss this idea so quickly, Gorm. If what Jon says is true, having an insider like Alva could prove valuable against these other vampires.”
Gorm: “But, Jarl, consider the risks! What if Alva turns on us?”
Jon: “I will be the one dealing with Alva. I am a traveler, I am an Altmer from overseas. If Alva were to turn on me, you wouldn’t lose much of anything. So let me deal with her, let me be by her side when we confront her master and the other vampires. If it turns out that Alva was playing me, I will be the only one to die.”
Aslfur: “I don’t like it, Jon. You’re willing to put yourself in harm’s way for our benefit, but what if Alva is playing a longer game? What if she’s using you to get to us?”
Jarl Idgrod Ravencrone: “Aslfur has a point, Jon. But I also see the potential benefits of having an ally like Alva. Very well, I’ll agree to let you work with her, but be careful. If she betrays you, don’t expect us to come running to your rescue. You’re on your own with this one.”
Jon: “I think that the true test may happen tonight, because we’re going to venture into the marshes, into Movarth’s lair. If Alva kills other vampires, let alone her master, wouldn’t that mean that she is redeemable?”
Gorm: “Tonight?! You’re planning on going into those cursed marshes tonight?! With Alva?! Have you gone mad?!”
Jarl Idgrod Ravencrone: “Wait, let us not forget our goal here. Destroying Movarth’s lair would be beneficial to us regardless of Alva’s loyalties. If she can help us accomplish that, then perhaps we can reconsider our stance towards her. My lady, perhaps we should consider sending some guards with Jon?”
Jon: “Even if we manage to kill Alva’s Master, I don’t think that Alva will be able to remain here in Morthal. After all, she has caused pain to too many people, she has manipulated too many people to be able to keep living here in peace. I suggest that after we deal with Movarth and his lair of vampires, me and Alva should leave this town. That would allow Morthal to remain peaceful.”
Aslfur: “I think that’s a wise decision, Jon. Even if Alva does prove herself to be a valuable ally, her presence here would only serve as a reminder of the pain and suffering she’s caused. It’s best for everyone if she leaves Morthal and doesn’t return.”
Jarl Idgrod Ravencrone: “I agree. If Alva is willing to leave peacefully, I’ll make sure that no one from Morthal follows her or seeks revenge. We’ll let her go, and we’ll focus on rebuilding and healing our community.”
Gorm: “Aye, and we’ll make sure that the people of Morthal know that Alva is gone for good, and that they’re safe from her kind.”
Jon: “Very well, I will gather the allies that want to brave the marshes with me and venture into Movarth’s lair tonight. Those brave souls will be of invaluable help to rid this town of the darkness plaguing it.”
Aslfur: “Be careful, Jon. The marshes are treacherous, and Movarth’s lair is said to be full of dark magic and twisted creatures.”
Jon: “I will be careful, Aslfur, sir. As for you, Jarl Idgrod Ravencrone, I thank you for your wisdom, and may we meet again.”
Jarl Idgrod Ravencrone: “May the road rise up to meet you, Jon. May your journey be safe and successful. I look forward to hearing of your triumph over Movarth and his dark followers.”
Aslfur: “Aye, may the gods be with you, Jon. May you return victorious and unscathed.”
Gorm: “Fare thee well, Jon. May your sword stay sharp and your wits stay sharper.”
Jon: “I guess that means that you, Gorm, are not coming with me to Movarth’s lair.”
Gorm: “Nay… My duty lies here with the Jarl… But don’t you worry about me, Jon… You’ve got your wits about you… You’ll do just fine without me… Besides, someone has to keep the Jarl safe.”

I should start gathering allies as soon as possible, but I felt under-equipped in the potions department, so I decided to exploit Lami’s trust by using her alchemy lab.

Jon: “Hey Lami, I have just spoken to jarl Idgrod, and she has given me permission to assault Movarth’s lair with Alva, along with whoever else agrees to come along. And I think I need a fresh batch of potions. Do you think you can allow me to use your alchemy lab?”
Lami: “Potions, yes… I can help you with that. You’re planning to head to Movarth’s lair with Alva? I’m not sure I agree with your plan, but if you’re determined to go through with it… My lab is at your disposal. Just be careful what you’re brewing, and don’t waste any of my ingredients. What kind of potions are you thinking of making?”
Jon: “Well, I’ve had good results with Slow and Damage Health potions. Maybe they will work against vampires as well.”
Lami: “Those potions can be useful indeed… If they’ve worked for you before… You know where my ingredients are. Help yourself. Just remember to clean up after yourself and don’t use up all my stock… I do need some for my own experiments… And… do be careful around Movarth’s lair… Vampires aren’t exactly known for being easy prey…”
Jon: “You will allow me to use your ingredients free of charge?”
Lami: “No need for me charging anything this time around… Consider it my contribution towards dealing with those vampires down at Movarth’s lair…. Just make sure they’re put down good. Take whatever ingredients you need… Just please don’t waste any… And don’t forget what we discussed earlier regarding caution around those creatures…”
Jon: “Oh my goodness, Lami, you’re amazing. I could give you a huge kiss right now.”
Lami: “No, no, no… that’s not necessary. I’m just helping out a friend in need, that’s all. Besides, I’m a married woman, and I’d rather keep things professional between us. Let’s just focus on getting those vampires taken care of, shall we?”
Jon: “How about a hug?”
Lami: “I think it best we stick strictly business here… No hugs either. Now go gather those ingredients before I change my mind here…”
Jon: “Alright, no physical contact. I think I’ve gotten the point.”
Lami: “Good, I’m glad we understand each other. Now, like I said, help yourself to the ingredients and get brewing. I’ll be over here, keeping an eye on things… and trying not to worry too much about your plan.”

I dreaded facing the former men I surrounded myself with, in case none of them agreed to join me in my doubtful venture. I sought first the most reasonable of the lot: the conjurer Falion.

Jon: “Falion, how do you feel about last night’s events, you know, our confrontation with Alva?”
Falion: “Last night… It was a necessary evil, I suppose. Alva’s actions had to be stopped, and I’m glad we were able to put an end to her schemes. But, I must admit, it’s always unsettling to see the darkness that lurks within others. And Alva… she was so far gone, consumed by her own darkness. It’s a reminder of the dangers that we face in this world, and the importance of our work in keeping the shadows at bay.”
Jon: “Do you believe, as I do, that maybe Alva could be redeemed in some way, that she could become a valuable ally for us?”
Falion: “Redemption… It’s a noble idea, but I’m afraid I have my doubts. Alva has walked the path of darkness for so long, I fear it may be too late for her to turn back. The influence of Movarth and the power of the vampires can be a corrupting force, one that seeps deep into the soul. Still, I suppose it’s possible that she could find her way back to the light, but it would require a great deal of effort and commitment on her part. And even then, there’s no guarantee that she could be fully trusted. The risk is great, and I’m not sure it’s one we can afford to take.”
Jon: “Well, she should have the opportunity to prove herself tonight because I’m going to accompany her to Movarth’s lair to kill her kind, as well as her master.”
Falion: “Ah, Jon, I’m not sure that’s wise. You’re putting a great deal of faith in Alva, and as I said, I’m not convinced she can be trusted. And Movarth’s lair… that’s a den of darkness, a place where the very air is thick with malevolent energy. Are you certain you’re prepared for what lies ahead? And what of the others? Benor, Gorm… will they be joining you on this quest?”
Jon: “The jarl’s right-hand man has already decided not to join me on this quest, not that I blame him. I haven’t spoken with Benor, but he seemed disappointed last night when I suggested that Alva could be redeemed. And I don’t know, do you think those two guys should be necessary?”
Falion: “I think it would be wise to have them by your side. Movarth’s lair is no place for solo heroics, and having experienced warriors like Benor and Gorm could make all the difference. But, if they decline… then perhaps it’s best to rely on your own wits and cunning. And Alva, of course. If she’s truly committed to redemption, then she may prove to be a valuable ally.”
Jon: “What about you, Falion? Do you want to accompany me and Alva into the monstrous darkness where we will find a bunch of vampires that we’ll be forced to vanquish?”
Falion: “The darkness… It’s a place I’m all too familiar with, Jon. As a conjurer, I’ve walked the fine line between light and darkness for many years. And I must admit, the prospect of venturing into Movarth’s lair is… intriguing. But, I’m not one for reckless bravado. I’ll accompany you, Jon, but not out of a desire for adventure or glory. I’ll come with you because I believe that the darkness must be countered, and that Movarth’s evil must be stopped.”
Jon: “You’re a brave man, Falion. You resist against all the townspeople who doubt you and your actions, and you do what’s necessary to counter the darkness. Maybe your methods can’t be easily appreciated, but I cannot say that I blame you for your efforts.”
Falion: “Bravery… It’s not bravery, really. It’s just necessity. Someone has to do what needs doing, no matter how unpleasant it may be. And as for the townspeople… they don’t understand what it takes to keep them safe. They don’t see the shadows that lurk just beyond the edge of town, waiting to pounce. But I do. And I do what I must to keep those shadows at bay. Even if it means being feared and misunderstood. It’s a small price to pay for knowing that Morthal is safe, at least for a little while longer.”

Falion followed me outside. Shortly after, I noticed Lami’s husband Jorgen pacing near the sawmill. I wanted to make sure that he didn’t hold a grudge on me after using them as bait against a vampire.

Jon: “Hey Jorgen, how do you feel about last night’s confrontation with Alva?”
Jorgen: “Ahah! That manipulative bloodsucker got what she deserved! I’m just glad my wife Lami wasn’t harmed during all this mess.”
Falion: “Indeed, it was quite an ordeal.”
Me: “Well, I intend Alva to accompany me into her master’s den.”
Jorgen: “Wait what? You’re planning on keeping company with that vampire? After everything she’s done?”
Jon: “She is a weapon. We could either have a vampire dead or a vampire as an ally to destroy their coven. Having a vampire on the inside is very helpful.”
Falion: “Although I see your point, but we must consider the risks involved in trusting such a creature, especially one as cunning as Alva. And what makes you think she’ll remain loyal? She’ll turn on us the moment it suits her interests! Besides, have you thought about how this might affect our relationships with others?”
Jon: “To be honest, I do not care much about how my actions impact other people. I know that sounds bad, but I think that the right thing to do is for Alva to help us in confronting her kind. That will make the whole ordeal easier, and maybe Alva could be redeemed along the way. This is a chance for her to prove herself.”
Jorgen: “Redeemed? You think a vampire can be redeemed? They’re monsters, Jon! They prey on the living and bring nothing but darkness and death. Alva’s had centuries to prove herself, and what has she done? Manipulated and deceived the people of this town, including my wife!”
Falion: “I understand your conviction, Jon, but Jorgen has a point. Vampires are notorious for their lack of empathy and self-control.”
Jon: “That’s the thing, though. I think Alva proved that she has a lot of self-control. She was surrounded by warriors, by people who poked her, who kept insulting her, but she did not attack us. She kept laughing it off. I think that demonstrates that she can control her dark impulses.”
Falion: “I’ll admit, that is impressive. Most vampires wouldn’t have been able to resist the temptation to attack in that situation. But, Jon, don’t you think that could just be a sign of her cunning and manipulation? Perhaps she was just biding her time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike?”
Jorgen: “I don’t care about her self-control or lack thereof! What I care about is that she’s a vampire, and vampires are a plague on our society. They need to be eradicated, not coddled or trusted.”
Jon: “Listen, Jorgen, I’m going to take the chance to trust Alva, or at least to use her to help us confront that vampire lord, and if it turns out that Alva turns on me and kills me, you are free to point at my corpse and laugh.”
Jorgen: “Ha! You’re damn right I’ll do just that! And don’t expect any tears from me either! You’re making your own bed here; don’t come crying when things go wrong!”
Jon: “Well, if things go wrong, I will be dead, so I wouldn’t be able to cry or go crying to anyone.”
Falion: “Ahah… Well said, Jon. Let us hope it doesn’t come to that. Seriously though, we should focus on preparing ourselves for what lies ahead. If we’re going to take on Movarth, we’ll need to be ready for anything.”
Jorgen: “Yeah, good luck with that. You’re going to need it. Fools errand, that’s what this is…”

Next up, the local bumbling warrior Benor, whom I had disappointed majorly by defending a filthy bloodsucker. I didn’t have much hope that I would be able to count on him for tonight’s affair.

Jon: “Hey Benor, just the man I wanted to see on this fine afternoon.”
Benor: “A fine afternoon it may be, but Morthal’s not exactly the most pleasant place to be lately. Darkness is growing, and I’m not just talking about the shadows.”
Jon: “Well, thing is Benor, I have a very amazing proposal to offer you.”
Benor: “A proposal, you say?”
Jon: “Tonight, under the cover of darkness, let’s venture into the nearby coven of vampires to exercise your muscles and, you know, to hack and slash at damnable fiends. We’ll come out like heroes.”
Benor: “I’ve been itching to take those vampires down, and I’m not one to shy away from a fight. But, we’ll need to be careful; those bloodsuckers won’t go down without a fight. You’re thinking of going in tonight, under the cover of darkness?”
Jon: “Yes, and we’ll be accompanied by our fellow trusty vampire Alva to help us.”
Benor: “Whoa, hold on a moment. Alva? You can’t be serious about trusting her. She’s a bloodsucker, a manipulator… What makes you think she’ll suddenly be on our side? I don’t like this one bit. We’re talking about going into a den of vampires, and you want to bring one of them along for the ride? That’s madness.”
Jon: “Or… maybe genius?”
Benor: “I don’t think so. Genius would be coming up with a plan that doesn’t involve trusting a vampire who’s already proven herself to be a threat to our town. Alva’s got her own interests, and I highly doubt they align with ours. We’re talking about going into a fight, not playing some game of cat and mouse. I need to know I can trust the people at my back, and Alva’s not someone I’d trust with my life.”
Jon: “Do you seriously do not see benefit in going into a den of vampires while having on our side an ally who happens to be a black-haired, poison-eyed, ravishing vampire herself?”
Benor: “So, you’re saying that having Alva on our side would be some kind of advantage because she’s a vampire herself? I suppose you think she could provide us with some kind of insight or expertise? But what’s to stop her from turning on us the moment it suits her? And what about when we’re in the thick of it, surrounded by vampires? Are you sure she wouldn’t just switch sides and join her fellow bloodsuckers? I’m not willing to take that risk. It’s not worth it.”
Jon: “Yeah, but think about this: if in the middle of it, fighting vampires, Alva turns on us, goes ‘ha ha ha, I was playing you all along!’, and then we have to fight her as well, wouldn’t it be dramatic?”
Benor: “Are you kidding me? You think I’m in this for the drama? We’re talking about people’s lives here. I’ve got friends, family, and a town to protect, and you’re worried about drama? Alva’s already caused enough harm; I won’t intentionally put myself or others in a situation where she could do more damage. Forget it. If that’s your idea of a good plan, then I’m out.”
Jon: “Hey Benor, what world do you think you live in? This is Tamriel. We are all pawns for the benefit and entertainment of Daedra and Aedra. Those bastards, from their seats in Oblivion or wherever the hell they’re staring down, will probably eat popcorn while we venture into a den of vampires while having a vampire on our side. The only way we’re going to have fate on our side is if we make our lives dramatic.”
Benor: “You think this is some kind of twisted entertainment for the Daedra and Aedra? That we’re just pawns in their game? I’m not playing by those rules. I’m a Nord, and I’ll not be bound by the whims of gods or Daedra. My life’s not a joke, and I won’t be treated like a fool. And as for making our lives dramatic, you can keep your drama. Fighting, protecting my people, and living with honor.”
Jon: “Hey Benor, are you seriously not going to accompany me into a den of vampires along with a sexy vampire named Alva?”
Benor: “For the last time, no! I’ve already told you why. It’s not just about Alva being a vampire, it’s about trust, loyalty, and common sense. And another thing, stop calling her beautiful and sexy. She’s a bloodsucker, not some romantic interest. This isn’t a game, and I won’t be swayed by your foolish notions of drama and entertainment. If you’re going to go through with this plan, you’ll do it without me.”
Jon: “I can’t believe this, Benor. What happened to you? You used to be cool.”
Benor: “Cool? You think I’m not cool because I won’t follow you into a den of vampires with a traitorous vampire by our side? I’m a warrior, not some reckless fool looking for a thrill. I’ve got responsibilities, people to protect, and a sense of honor that won’t let me take unnecessary risks. If you think that’s not cool, then maybe you’re the one who’s lost your way.”
Jon: “Well, Benor, I guess I’m going to be a reckless fool looking for a thrill till the day I die.”
Benor: “Then maybe one day someone will sing songs about how foolishly-brave Jon once lived… till something killed him off as he stupidly, recklessly, pursued thrills all alone somewhere nobody sensible goes… May Talos watch over ye mate… May Talos watch ye… indeed… So anyway, meanwhile sensible Benor stays safe guarding Morthal. Thanks indeed, mate, indeed… May roads rise… walk ye wisely stranger…”

I couldn’t find Ange the Song-Bearer, traveling bard, anywhere. I hoped she had traveled somewhere instead of having gotten herself killed.

In the evening, I took a nap at the guardhouse, then ate enough to fill my belly. Afterwards, my sole ally Falion and I loitered outside of Alva’s home until she graced us with her undead presence.

Jon: “Well, if it isn’t our fellow trusty neighborhood vampire Alva.”
Alva: “Ah, Jon. Always a pleasure to see you. Though I must say, I’m a bit surprised you’re still alive after our last… encounter.”
Falion: “Alva, we’ve been discussing your condition. And I must say, I’m intrigued by Jon’s proposal to have you accompany us to Movarth’s lair.”

Alva: “Oh? And what proposal might that be, Falion? I wasn’t aware that Jon had any plans that involved me.”
Jon: “Sorry, but actually I proposed it to you, Falion, before I even talked to Alva. Kind of mixed the order of things, I suppose.”
Falion: “Ah, I see. Well, in any case, the idea is on the table now. Alva, Jon seems to think that having you with us could be beneficial in taking down Movarth and his coven.”
Alva: “Oh, this is rich. You want me to help you take down my own master? What could possibly make you think I’d be willing to do that?”
Jon: “Alva, you don’t have to pretend anymore. Remember the conversation we had last night, you know, after your mental breakdown, when you opened up about the fact that you wish to be freed from your master’s chains? We, as the bravest warriors of this town, are willing to cut the chains that keep you bound to the bastard who turned you into a night creature.”
Alva: “Oh… stop it! Just stop reminding me! You think throwing my weakness back in my face will somehow convince me to trust you? To follow you into the depths of Movarth’s lair like some obedient dog? And what could you possibly gain from this little arrangement? It’s not as if you actually care about my well-being. No one does.”
Jon: “Unlikely as it might sound, I actually care about your well-being, Alva. I do care about it. I have seen a modicum of humanity in you and I want to, you know, respect that. I see the chance for you to redeem yourself from the evils you have committed. Tonight, you have the opportunity to become a free vampire by helping us take down Movarth’s coven.”
Alva: “What makes either one believe you’d ever stand chance against Movarth?”
Jon: “Oh, come on, Alva, that Movarth of yours cannot be that much of a badass. He’s just a vampire after all.”
Alva: “You… have no idea what you’re dealing with. Movarth is not just a vampire. He’s a master, a creature of the night with powers beyond your wildest imagination. He’s been alive for centuries, and in that time, he’s honed his craft to perfection. You think you can just waltz in and defeat him? You’re no match for him, Jon. None of you are.”
Falion: “Alva’s right, Jon. We shouldn’t underestimate Movarth’s power.”
Jon: “We won’t know for sure if we are able to take him down until we waltz into the coven of vampires and attempt to take him down. You know, you gain experience by trying things.”
Alva: “You’re either very brave or very foolish, Jon. I’m not sure which one it is yet. But I suppose you’re right. We won’t know unless we try. And if we’re going to do this, we should do it now, before Movarth has a chance to prepare for us.”
Falion: “Agreed. We should gear up and head out as soon as possible. Alva, can you lead us to the coven’s lair?”
Jon: “That was my plan, yeah. Having you fight alongside us as we mow through a bunch of vampires. That’s a thrilling plan for the night, don’t you think?”
Alva: “Oh, you’re a madman, Jon. I like that. Alright, I’ll lead you to the lair. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. Movarth will not go down without a fight.”
Falion: “I’m ready when you are. Let’s get this over with. We should move quickly and quietly, though. We don’t know what kind of traps or minions Movarth has waiting for us.”
Alva: “Oh, don’t worry about that. I’ll make sure we have a…”
Jon: “We have what?”
Alva: “A warm welcome, of course. I’ll make sure we have a clear path to Movarth. At least, as clear as I can make it. But once we’re inside, you’re on your own. I’ll do my part to help, but don’t expect me to do all the work.”
Falion: “Fair enough. We wouldn’t want you to get too… conflicted about where your loyalties lie.”
Jon: “Hell yeah, we’re going on a little night-time outing with a conjurer and a sexy vampire. Yeah!”
Alva: “Oh, Jon, you’re such a fool. But I suppose it’s been a while since I’ve had a decent adventure. Let’s get this over with before I change my mind.”
Falion: “Yes, let’s focus on the task at hand, shall we? We don’t want to get too distracted by the… scenery.”
Alva: “Falion, you’re so serious all the time.”
Jon: “Very well, go up ahead, Alva, and if you notice a hungry gaze focused on your butt, I’m sure that’ll just be your imagination.”
Falion: “Ummphh… Save it. Let’s move onward already. Lead on, Alva, before I change my mind about trusting a vampire to lead us anywhere but our gravesites.”

• Previous part (4.5)
• Next part (6)

Mantella is an AI system that turns every single NPC in Skyrim (and Fallout 4) into AI agents driven by an LLM (like ChatGPT or the recently released, and comparable, Llama 3.1). In the previous part, my character, a high elf wizard, along with a bunch of local misfits, attempted to taunt a vampire into attacking first, lest the good guys end up in jail for assaulting an unarmed woman. However, either the vampire was too cunning, or me and my followers too stupid. In the end, I decided to take the route of social pressure.

I separated from my followers at six in the morning. By then, I couldn’t be arsed to break into the guardhouse for a nap, so I waited on a chair for three hours. Then, I proceeded to pave the road for my new plan by approaching Jonna, the innkeeper of the sole inn in town, and Ingarte, the barmaid who boasts about wanting rude, rough men to manhandle her.

Me: “Hey, Ingarte, Jonna.”
Jonna: “Ah, good morning! Ingarte here was just getting ready to start her chores. Ingarte, why don’t you get some ale warmed up for our guest?”
Ingarte: “Ugh, chores already? Can’t it wait till after breakfast? And ale? You know I’d rather be serving something stronger than that this early… or someone stronger.”
Jonna: “Oh, Ingarte! Don’t mind her, she’s just grumpy in the mornings.”
Me: “Never mind any of that. Listen, I have to recount to you the events of last night.”
Ingarte: “Oho! Sounds like someone’s got a story to tell! Spill it out, love! What happened tonight?”
Jonna: “Wait a minute… This doesn’t have anything to do with Alva again, does it? Tell me you didn’t go poking around after dark…”
Me: “I guess Ingarte doesn’t know, but Alva, the local flirt, that dangerous woman, is a vampire.”
Ingarte: “What?! Alva’s a bloodsucker?! I knew she was trouble, but I didn’t think she was that kind of trouble! I’ve heard rumors, but I never thought… Ugh, and I’ve been talkin’ to her, servin’ her drinks.”
Jonna: “I told you, Ingarte, she was no good. And now we know why. And what about Falion? Is he… is he okay? Did he help you with this?”
Me: “Your brother Falion is all right. We are all right. The trouble is that we confronted Alva, intending to kill her, but she refused to attack us, and not because she doesn’t want to kill us, but because she knows that unless she attacks us first, we’ll be seen as the aggressors.”
Ingarte: “Ah, clever girl, that one… She knows the law’s on her side if she doesn’t attack first. So, what now? You can’t just sit around waitin’ for her to make a move…”
Jonna: “This is terrible. We can’t just wait for her to attack us. What about the townspeople? What if she goes after them? We have to do something, but what? Falion must have some idea…”
Me: “I intend to use another dangerous method of convincing people to do things they don’t want. Social pressure.”
Ingarte: “Oho! Social pressure, eh? You’re gonna try to turn the town against her? That’s a tricky business, love. People around here can be stubborn… But if anyone can make ’em see sense, it’s you lot.”
Jonna: “I don’t know… I’m not sure I like the sound of this. We can’t just go around spreading rumors and trying to turn people against each other… That’s not how we do things in Morthal.”
Me: “Listen, Alva has been playing all of you in the shadows. She has manipulated you, pretending to be your friend, pretending to be someone who cared about you, when in reality she’s just preparing the town for a vampire takeover.”
Ingarte: “Ugh! That sly… I should’ve known better than to trust someone as slippery as her! Playing us like fools, right under our noses…”
Jonna: Oh, gods… I feel sick. I thought she was a friend… I let her into my inn, into my home…”
Me: “What I’m going to do is force Alva to face the people she has manipulated, the ones she had convinced that she was a great friend. And the most important of those people is Lami, the local alchemist.”
Ingarte: “Ahah! You’re gonna make her face the music, eh? And with Lami, of all people… She’s been singing her praises for months now… This should be good!”
Jonna: “Wait a minute… You’re not planning on confronting Alva in front of Lami, are you? That’s not a good idea… She’s too trusting… What if she doesn’t believe you? What if she sides with Alva?”

Either the AI system lost the rest of the conversation, or I screwed up somehow, because I don’t think the conversation ended there. I recall explaining to both women that I had already revealed Alva’s nature to the alchemist, that the true issue would be having Lami agree to the plan. In the end, both women looked forward in their own ways to the show we would put on at the inn.

I decided to bring barmaid Ingarte along just in case Lami needed more convincing. We found Lami working at her store.

Me: “Lami, where on Tamriel where you tonight? You missed everything!”
Lami: “Ah, Jon! I’m glad you’re here. I was just… trying to calm my nerves after everything that’s happened. I didn’t mean to miss anything important.”
Ingarte: “Ah, Lami dear! We’ve got some catching up to do, don’t we?”
Lami: “Ingarte! What are you doing here? And what’s going on? You both look like you’ve got some sort of plan brewing.”
Me: “You told me you wanted me to bring you along when we confronted Alva. Well, turns out that we confronted her last night, me along with a posse of four people, and, well… it’s too complicated to explain, but at one point I had to run out to find you. I wanted Alva to admit to your face that she had been manipulating you. I needed to hear how she would justify herself. But when I came to your store, you were nowhere to be found.”
Lami: “Oh Jon… I’m so sorry I missed that confrontation with Alva. I had gone out for a walk along the river to clear my head after everything I’d learned about her true nature… I didn’t mean to cause any trouble or miss anything important…”
Me: “Listen, Lami, I guess I have been too harsh on you. The shock of knowing that Alva, your supposed best friend, was a devious vampire is too much, I suppose, for a civilian to bear. But tonight I want you to be there at the inn, because we’re going to confront Alva using the weapon of social pressure.”
Lami: “Oh, Jon… Thank you for understanding… I’m still trying to process everything, to be honest… But I’ll be there tonight, at the inn… I want to see Alva held accountable for what she’s done…”
Ingarte: “That’s the spirit, Lami! We’ll show Alva that she can’t just waltz in here and manipulate us… Tonight’s going to be a night to remember!”
Lami: “Ingarte, please… Let’s not get too carried away…”
Me: “Lami, do you think that we could also bring your husband, Jorgen?”
Lami: “Ah, Jorgen… Yes, I think that would be a good idea… He should know what’s going on, and he’ll want to be there to support me…”
Ingarte: “Oh, wonderful! The more the merrier, I say! Let’s get Jorgen and make it a real family affair.”
Lami: “Ingarte, please… This isn’t a social gathering… It’s a serious matter…”
Ingarte: “Oh, come on, Lami! Lighten up! We’re going to have some fun tonight, and Alva’s going to get what’s coming to her.”
Me: “Don’t worry, Lami. I will have a couple of my pals around in case Alva loses her temper and attacks us. And in that case, everybody will see the kind of creature she is, and we’ll safely put her down.”

I wasn’t too keen on inviting Jorgen into this whole deal, nor did I like the fact that Lami was married, but I figured that it could make for good drama. So I dismissed Ingarte and crossed the bridge to the outskirts of town, where I found bearded Jorgen chopping wood.

Me: “Jorgen, sir, sorry to bother you while you’re wood-cutting, but there is an important matter I have to bring up.”
Jorgen: “Ah, what is it now? Can’t you see I’m busy? First, it’s Thonnir with his missing wife, and now you’re here with some other problem. What’s so important that it can’t wait? And what business do you have here in Morthal, anyway?”
Me: “I won’t waste your time. It concerns your wife Lami and that local devil called Alva.”
Jorgen: “Alva, that one’s a snake in the grass. I’ve told Lami to stay away from her, but she doesn’t listen. What’s Alva done now? And what’s this got to do with my wife? Spit it out, I haven’t got all day.”
Me: “Well, Jorgen, sir, it turns out that Alva is a vampire.”
Jorgen: “A vampire?! In Morthal?! By the gods… I knew it, I knew she was trouble! And my wife, Lami… she’s been spending time with that… that creature?! What if she’s been bitten? What if she’s… No, no, no… this can’t be happening. Not in my town! Not to my family!”
Me: “Lami hasn’t been bitten. You see, Alva was trying to build a web of connections, and made your wife believe that she was her best friend. This manipulation has gone on for a long time. When Lami found out the fact that Alva is a vampire, it really hurt her feelings.”
Jorgen: “That deceitful… Alva’s been playing my wife like a fiddle, has she? Using her friendship to get close to us, to gain our trust… And Lami fell for it hook, line, and sinker… My poor wife… she’s always been a bit naive, but I never thought she’d be taken in by a monster like Alva… And now she’s hurt… I’ll have Alva’s head on a spike for this…”
Me: “I have a plan, sir. I’m sorry I didn’t consult you before, but I intend to bring Lami along with us.”
Jorgen: “What?! You think I’d let you drag my wife into some harebrained scheme to deal with a vampire?! No, no, no! Lami’s been hurt enough already. She’s not going anywhere near that… that thing! You’ll leave my wife out of this! Do you hear me?!”
Me: “But you see, sir, Lami herself has agreed to do this. She wants to confront Alva, to hear Alva say that she has manipulated her for all these years.”
Jorgen: “Fine… If Lami wants to do this… I won’t stand in her way… But you’d better make sure she’s safe! If anything happens to her… I’ll hold you responsible! You’ll be answering to me! Do I make myself clear?!”
Me: “Jorgen, sir, do you want to come along tonight to confront Alva and protect your wife?”
Jorgen: “I’ll come all right… I’ll make sure Alva doesn’t lay a finger on my wife… And I’ll make sure she pays for what she’s done… Tonight? Ha! I’ve been waiting for this moment for years… Let’s get this over with! Let’s go! We’ll show Alva what it means to cross Jorgen of Morthal!”
Me: “Listen Jorgen, the plan is this: last night, me and my boys tried to kill Alva, but we couldn’t attack her first because we would be seen as a group of thugs attacking a woman. You see, we have to taunt her into attacking us first with her vampire powers. Then, we’re going to defend ourselves and put her down.”
Jorgen: “So you’re saying you want me and my wife to be bait for this vampire?! You want us to go in there and provoke her into attacking us?! Are you mad?! What kind of plan is that?! Using innocent people as bait for a bloodthirsty monster?! No! No way! I won’t let you use my wife like that! We’re not going anywhere near Alva until we have a real plan!”
Me: “I didn’t mean as bait, sir. Listen to me.”
Jorgen: “Save it! I don’t want to hear it! You think I’m some kind of fool who’s going to put his wife in harm’s way just because you’ve got some half-baked plan?! No! I won’t let that happen! Lami’s safety comes first! Now if you want my help, we’ll do this my way! We’ll go in there with steel drawn and take care of Alva once and for all! No games! No tricks! Just straightforward justice!”
Me: “Is that what you want then, sir? You want to come with me, with Benor, with Gorm, with Falion, with Ange the Song-Bearer, as warriors to just ambush and murder Alva?”
Jorgen: “That’s exactly what I want! No more games! No more tricks! We go in there as warriors and take care of that vampire once and for all! I’m not going to let her threaten my wife or this town any longer! We’ll put an end to this tonight! Let’s gear up and get moving! We’ve got a vampire to kill!”
Me: “But listen, Jorgen, sir, wouldn’t it be nice from a dramatic perspective to have your wife Lami confront Alva? Can’t you picture the sort of powerful and emotional exchange it could be?”
Jorgen: “You think I care about drama?! You think I care about some emotional confrontation?! This is about killing a vampire, not putting on a show! But… I suppose it would be satisfying to see Lami confront Alva. To see her stand up to that monster and tell her what she really thinks… Fine. We’ll do it your way. But if anything goes wrong, if Lami is hurt in any way… You’ll answer to me. Do you understand?!”
Me: “Okay, let’s put it this way. This is a pact. This is on my honor. If it turns out that Alva hurts your wife Lami in any physical way, I’ll put out my neck for you to cut through it. All right?”
Jorgen: “You’re willing to put your life on the line for this?! You’re willing to swear on your honor that Lami will be safe?! Very well… I accept your pact. If Alva harms one hair on Lami’s head… your life is forfeit. I’ll hold you to that promise.”
Me: “I will put my life on the line for drama.”
Jorgen: “You’re a madman! You’re willing to risk your life for the sake of drama?! I don’t know whether to admire your dedication or question your sanity! Fine, let’s put on a show! But remember, if Lami gets hurt… your life is mine!”

I wandered away a bit pissed off. I came across Lami’s store, so I took the opportunity to inform her of Jorgen’s support.

Me: “Listen, I spoke to your husband, Jorgen, regarding the plan for tonight, and he reluctantly agreed to be present there when you confront Alva. You’re going to have your husband by your side. Well, are you looking forward to asking Alva how she had the gall to pretend to be your friend when in fact she was manipulating you for years?”
Lami: “Jorgen’s comin’ with me, that’s good to know… I’ll feel a bit better with him by my side. As for Alva… I don’t know what I’ll say to her, to be honest. I’m still tryin’ to wrap me head around all this. I thought she was a friend, a good friend… and now I find out she was just usin’ me, and everyone else in Morthal, for her own purposes.”
Me: “But Lami, more importantly: when I told your husband Jorgen about our plan, the fact that I was going to bring you to confront Alva, he threatened my life. He’s kind of a prick, don’t you think?”

Lami pulled out a dagger.

Lami: “How dare you! Jorgen’s a good man, and he’s only lookin’ out for me. He’s got every right to be worried about me gettin’ mixed up in this business with Alva. You’ve no call to be speakin’ about him like that!”
Me: “No need to attack me like that! Please, I apologize!”
Lami: “You should be sorry! You come into me home, insult me husband… You’re lucky I’m only usin’ me dagger on you! Back off now before things get any worse!”
Me: “Sheathe that dagger. Quit trying to kill me. Let’s just stay friends, okay?”
Lami: “Fine… I’ll stop. But don’t think this means I’ve forgotten what you said about Jorgen. You’d best be watchin’ your tongue around me from now on. Now, let’s just… calm down, and forget this ever happened, alright?”

Now I felt like I needed protection of my own. I found the local bumbling warrior Benor hanging out near the guardhouse.

Me: “Listen bro, last night was a disaster. Alva escaped our grasp. She’s probably sleeping peacefully at her basement right now, or doing whatever kind of thing she does with herself during the day. But I have chosen a change of plans for tonight.”
Benor: “We had her right where we wanted her, and she slipped away. Tonight, we need to be smarter, more prepared. What’s this change of plans you’re thinking of? I’m all ears. We can’t let her get the better of us again.”
Me: “She can restrain herself when we threaten her with our physical might. But let’s try the weapon of social pressure. We’re going to bring Lami along, the person that Alva manipulated for years, who made Lami believe they were best friends. We’ll force Alva to explain herself, to justify years of manipulation. The objective is to break her down psychologically.”
Benor: “You think bringing Lumi into this will crack Alva’s facade? That’s not a bad idea… She thinks she’s so clever manipulating others for her own gain… Let’s see how she handles being confronted by someone she thought she controlled completely… It might just rattle her enough for us get under skin…”
Me: “And don’t you think it’s going to be great drama? What a show we’re going to put on, having Lami and Alva together after that reveal. I feel giddy already.”
Benor: “You think this is some kind of entertainment? This is serious business. Alva’s a vampire, and she’s been hurting people in this town. We’re not here to put on a show, we’re here to bring her down. But… I have to admit, seeing her squirm might be satisfying. Just remember, our goal is to break her, not to enjoy the spectacle.”
Me: “Very well, we’re going to break her down, and I’m going to pretend that I don’t enjoy the spectacle.”
Benor: “Save it, friend. I can see the excitement in your eyes. Just keep your wits about you and remember what we’re after. We don’t want to give Alva any openings to turn the tables on us.”
Me: “You’re going to have my back tonight, right? You’re going to be by my side with your weapon ready when Alva breaks down and attacks us, so we can finally hack her to death?”
Benor: “You can count on me being there with my axe at hand… When things go south – and they likely will – I’ll be ready… We’ll finish this tonight… No more games… No more manipulation… It ends tonight…”
Me: “And I’m sorry buddy, but I want to leave Ange the Song-Bearer and Falion and your pal Gorm on the sidelines. I intend for this showdown to be a small affair. You and I, we’re going to be the heroes of the show. The appetizer: Lami confronting Alva. Main course: Alva leaping to bite our necks only for us to hack at her until she falls to the ground dead. Afterwards, we’ll burn her in the inn’s hearth, a sort of funeral pyre. It’s going to be magnificent!”
Benor: “What’s wrong with you? This isn’t a game, and it’s not a show for your entertainment. We’re talking about killing a vampire, not putting on a performance. And what’s with leaving Ange and Falion out of it? They’re part of this too, and they deserve to be there when we take down Alva. And Gorm? He’s my friend, and I won’t leave him out of this either. We’re in this together, not just you and me.”
Me: “Very well… I will gather the rest of our comrades so as many people as possible can pummel this bitch down. I guess that’s what you want to hear, right?”
Benor: “Watch your tongue, friend. I don’t want to hear you speaking about anyone like that, not even Alva. We’re going to take her down, yes, but we’ll do it with some respect. She’s a monster, but she’s still a living being… or at least, undead. Let’s keep our focus on the task at hand and not let our emotions get the better of us.”
Me: “I’m sorry, you’re right, Benor. We’re going to gut Alva like a fish, but we’ll do it respectfully.”
Benor: “Stop saying things like that! This isn’t about gutting someone like fish or enjoying some spectacle… It’s about stopping evil from hurting innocent people… We’ll do what needs doing cleanly quickly… No need to relish it… Let’s just focus on getting the job done.”

What was wrong with these townspeople’s sense of entertainment? I didn’t bother explaining myself to anyone else. In the evening, I gathered my posse at the inn, where we met with Lami and her abrasive husband.

Me: “Lami, Jorgen, it is time. In a short while, Alva will leave the safety of her home and head straight to us. I haven’t been able to find Ange; maybe she’s out of town. Anyway, let’s put this show on the road.”
Jorgen: “Ahah! Finally! Let’s get this over with! That vampire has been playing us for fools long enough!”
Lami: “Oh dear… Are we really sure this is going to work? What if something goes wrong?”
Me: “Nothing is going to go wrong. Look at us, this group of burly men. Too bad Ange couldn’t join us, but think of it this way: she won’t complain about having been excluded. Her own damn fault for leaving. So it’s just going to be us men protecting you from a vicious vampire. It’s going to be all right, you’ll see.”
Falion: “I must remind you, Jon, that Alva is a cunning foe. We should not underestimate her powers. Vampires are notorious for their ability to manipulate and deceive.”
Benor: “Aye, let’s not get too cocky. We’ve got a good plan, but we need to stay sharp and work together if we’re going to take her down.”
Gorm: “I’ve got my battle-axe at the ready. Let’s get moving before she shows up and catches us off guard!”
Me: “Yes, let’s face the cold of Morthal in this momentous night.”

Once we stepped outside and lit our torches, I turned around and gazed at the building that had housed most of our local adventures so far, and that would witness Alva’s demise.

Me: “Look at this beautiful inn where the showdown is going to take place!”
Lami: “Oh, Jon… I’m so nervous. I’ve never been in a situation like this before. What if something happens to us?”
Jorgen: “Come now, Lami! We’ve got this! We’ve got a solid plan and good men by our side. We’ll protect you, don’t worry.”
Falion: “Indeed, let us proceed with caution. The night is dark, and the shadows can be treacherous.”

Alva approached us casually from behind, as if she had come out of the marsh.

Me: “Hey Alva, how are you doing tonight?”
Alva: “Alva isn’t here; however Alva isn’t here; however Alva isn’t here; however Alva isn’t here; however However However However However However However However However However However However However However However However However However However However However However However However However However However However However Alva isn’t here; however Alva isn’t here; however Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead That person isn’t here; however That person isn’t here; however That person isn’t here; however That person isn’t here;”
Me: “What the hell?”

I couldn’t have predicted that monotonous litany. She recovered quickly.

Alva: “Ahah! Jon! How nice of you! And look who else is here!”
Me: “I have brought to you, Alva, on this fateful night, the person you have manipulated for years upon years, the one whom you made believe was your dear friend: Lami. How can you look at her in the eyes, those beautiful eyes framed by gorgeous blond hair, and tell her that you weren’t her friend all along, that you had manipulated her for years upon years?”
Alva: “Ah, Lami… dear, sweet Lami. I’m afraid I’ve been playing a little game with you, my dear. You see, I needed someone to… facilitate my plans, and you were so perfectly trusting.”
Lami: “Oh, Alva… how could you? I thought we were friends! I thought we shared secrets and laughter together!”
Jorgen: “You monster! You used my wife for your own twisted purposes!”
Falion: “Enough of this charade, Alva. Your deceit is at an end.”
Me: “Is there truly nothing human left in you? Do you truly do not feel terrible for having manipulated Lami, this innocent person, this beautiful person with her blonde hair and seductive curves? Do you do not care at all that you hurt her like that?”
Alva: “Ah, Jon, you’re so naive. I am what I am, a vampire. I don’t feel emotions like humans do. I don’t feel guilt or remorse. I only feel the thrill of the hunt, the rush of power.”
Lami: “Oh, Alva… how could you be so heartless? I thought we were friends…”
Jorgen: “You’re a monster, Alva. A cold-blooded monster.”
Me: “So, Alva is basically just a sociopath.”
Falion: “Indeed, vampires often lose touch with their humanity, becoming devoid of empathy or compassion.”
Benor: “Aye, and that’s what makes them so deadly. They’ll stop at nothing to get what they want.”
Gorm: “Enough talk! Let’s put an end to this monster’s reign of terror!”
Alva: “Ahah! You think you can stop me? I have lived for centuries, feeding on the blood of the innocent. You are no match for me!”
Me: “Yes, we already heard that shtick, Alva. I’m going to tell you something: when we are done with you, when we have gutted you open like a fish, we are going to burn you in the hearth of the inn. Your skin will get real crispy. That’ll send a message to all the bloodsuckers of the world.”
Alva: “Ahah! You think you can threaten me? I have lived through centuries of persecution, of hunts and of executions. You think a simple burning at the stake will frighten me?”
Lami: “Oh, Alva… you’re so consumed by your own darkness. You don’t even see the evil that you’ve become.”
Jorgen: “Enough of this talk! We’ve heard enough of your lies and your threats, Alva. It’s time for you to pay for your crimes!”
Me: “I don’t think there is anything human left in Alva anymore. She’s just a husk, a husk in human form. Imagine how differently she would be treated if instead of looking like a gorgeous woman, she looked like the monster she’s inside.”
Falion: “Indeed, vampires often retain their physical appearance, but their souls are consumed by the darkness within. It’s a tragic fate, really.”
Benor: “Aye, and it’s a reminder that true beauty comes from within. Alva’s physical form may be pleasing to the eye, but her heart is rotten to the core.”
Alva: “Enough of this philosophical nonsense! You think you can see into my soul? You know nothing about me!”
Me: “Alva, we know you’re a vampire, we know you enjoy seducing people to their doom. Back at the inn, you told me that you desire power, you desire the ability to do whatever you want without consequences, isn’t that right?”
Alva: “Ahah! You think you’re so clever, don’t you? Yes, I desire power, I desire freedom from the constraints of society. And I’ll stop at nothing to get it.”
Lami: “Oh, Alva… you’re so consumed by your own ambition. You don’t even see the harm you’re causing to others.”
Jorgen: “Enough of this talk! We’ve heard enough of your excuses, Alva.”
Me: “No, Alva clearly sees the hurt she causes to others. She revels in it. I bet that when she bites into an unsuspecting person, one she has manipulated into carelessness, she experiences physical pleasure. Isn’t that the case, Alva?”

Alva: “Alva wasn’t there.”
Me: “Alva wasn’t there? What do you mean? Are you realizing that nothing of yourself remains in this husk of a creature you inhabit?”
Alva: “Alva wasn’t said; however Alva wasn’t said; Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead However However However However However However However However However However However However However However However However However However However However Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead Instead That person wasn’t said; however That person wasn’t said; however That person wasn’t said; however That person wasn’t said;”
Me: “Alva… this is a pitiful display, even for you. I think that for the first time in your centuries-old life, you’re so cornered that you can’t even process it.”
Alva: “No… this can’t be… I am the one who holds the power… I am the one who controls…”
Lami: “Oh, Alva… you’re finally starting to see the reality of your situation. You’re not as in control as you thought you were.”
Jorgen: “Aye, and it’s about time you realized that. You’ve been living in a fantasy world, Alva.”

I put a hand on Alva’s shoulder.

Me: “Listen, Alva…”
Alva: “Get your hands off me! You think you can just touch me like that? I am a vampire, and I will not be treated like some common mortal!”
Lami: “Oh, Alva… don’t be ridiculous. You’re not in a position to be making demands.”
Jorgen: “Aye, you’re at our mercy now, Alva. And you’ll do well to remember that.”
Me: “Alva, you have two paths left. Either you attack us now, being the aggressor, therefore retaining a shred of dignity, or else tomorrow, during the day, we’re going to break into your home and kill you while you sleep.”
Alva: “You think you can threaten me? You think you can just waltz into my home and kill me? I’ll never let that happen! I’ll never go down without a fight!”
Falion: “Ah, Alva, you’re so predictable. You think you can take on all of us? We have the advantage of numbers, and we have the advantage of preparation.”
Benor: “Aye, and we have the advantage of being able to walk in the daylight. You’re no match for us, Alva.”
Me: “Alva…”
Alva: “Alva wasn’t said; instead However Instead That person wasn’t said However Instead However However Instead However Instead However However However However However However However However Instead However Instead Instead Instead Instead That person wasn’t said; instead However However Instead However Instead Instead Instead Instead That person wasn’t said; instead Alva wasn’t said; What? What do you want now?”
Me: “Alright, this is just disturbing.”
Lami: “Oh dear… Alva seems like she’s losing her grip on reality…”
Jorgen: “Aye… this is getting unsettling…”
Falion: “Indeed… it seems like Alva’s mental state is deteriorating rapidly.”
Alva: “Alva wasn’t said; however Instead However Instead That person wasn’t said; however Instead However However However However However However However Instead However Instead Instead Instead Instead That person wasn’t said; instead However However Instead However Instead Instead Instead Instead That person wasn’t said;”

I felt like Alva’s mantra was starting to affect my brain, and besides, I was freezing my ass off again. I led my posse into the safety of the inn. We were too disturbed to speak coherently about this encounter. Before we recovered, Alva shuffled into the building and headed to one of the empty rooms, where she sat carefully on a chair, hands on her lap. She proceeded to stare at nothing in particular.

I’m not sure what prompted me to approach her one-on-one; perhaps I felt a kinship in her bout of derangement. In any case, while the rest of my team watched from a distance, I stopped by Alva intending to speak to her as if she remained a human being. She looked up at me.

Me: “Alva, I’m getting the feeling that you want this to be over.”
Alva: “Perhaps I do. This charade has gone on long enough. But I’m not one to back down from a challenge… or my master’s plans. You see me as just another pretty face in this town don’t you? But I assure you I am much more than that…”
Me: “No, I see you as a former human being, with some human part still trapped inside, and you’re sick of feeling different, of being ostracized. You want this long nightmare to finally end.”
Alva: “How dare you… presume to know what I feel? You think you can see inside me? But… perhaps you’re right. Perhaps there is still something… human… left inside me after all these years… something tired… something wanting release… No! No! Don’t try your pity on me! It won’t work!”
Me: “Alva, you truly can leave, you know, you truly can leave this town, move to another corner of Tamriel and start all over again.”
Alva: “Leave? You think I can leave? You think I can just walk away from what I am? I am a monster, a creature of the night. I am a vampire. And even if I could leave this town, even if I could start anew… my master would find me. Movarth would always find me. And he would never let me go. No, I am bound to this existence, forever tied to the darkness.”
Me: “How about instead of killing you, we kill your master? Would that liberate you?”
Alva: “Kill Movarth? You think you can kill him? He’s ancient… powerful… He’s been alive for centuries… No one can kill him… But… if he were gone… perhaps then… perhaps then I could find some measure of peace… But no! Don’t think that will save me! Even without Movarth’s hold on me… what am I?”
Me: “You are capable of conscious thought.”
Alva: “Conscious thought… yes… I am aware of my own existence… of the horrors I’ve committed… of the lives I’ve taken… And with that awareness comes… guilt… shame… regret… But is it enough? Is being aware of my own monstrosity enough to redeem me?”
Me: “I don’t know if ‘redeem’ is the word, Alva, but I have seen, I think I have seen inside you, the urge to be done with all of this, to liberate yourself. So as long as you have conscious thought, yes… Despite your predatory instincts, that monstrous darkness inside you, maybe you could keep it at bay and try to live.”
Alva: “You see… you see the conflict within me… the struggle between the monster I’ve become and the… the person I once was… And you think… you think there’s still a chance for me… a chance to find some semblance of humanity again… Oh, the temptation is so great… to believe that I can be more than just a creature of the night…”
Me: “I get the feeling that you despise vampires yourself, that you despise what you have become. Well, it’s not your fault that you became a vampire, and you certainly do not have to continue killing, you know. Alva, you can choose to do something else.”
Alva: “Despise… yes… I despise what I’ve become… the very thing I feared and hated in life… And you’re right… it’s not my fault… Movarth took that choice from me… But you say I have a choice now… to do something else… to be something else… It’s a tantalizing prospect… to think that I can break free from this curse… from this endless cycle of bloodlust and death…”
Me: “Maybe the people of this town won’t accept you because of, you know, your deception and murders. But once we get rid of your master, you could move somewhere else, maybe find someone to love. It won’t work in the daylight, but still, homes have curtains, you know? Someone could come to love you. Maybe you could adopt a child or something. You could have a happy life.”
Alva: “Tears… I hadn’t thought I was still capable of tears… You offer me… hope… a chance at a life… a life with love, with family… It’s been so long since I’ve dared to dream of such things… But to think that it might be possible… that I might find someone who could see past what I am… and love me for who I could be…”
Me: “Listen, I’m sure there are plenty of freaks out there that find vampires attractive. You just have to find one of those who is willing to love you. I’m sure it will turn out alright.”
Alva: “Freaks… yes… I suppose there are those who would find my… condition… appealing… And you’re right… I don’t need someone who is normal… I need someone who can see the beauty in the darkness… someone who can love me for what I am… flaws and all… It’s a strange kind of hope you offer me… but it’s hope nonetheless…”
Me: “You don’t have to spend the rest of eternity in the darkness alone.”
Alva: “Eternity doesn’t seem so daunting if there’s someone by my side.. Someone who understands me.. Someone who loves me.. Not just for what I appear.. But for what lies beneath.. The thought.. It brings me peace.. A sense.. Of belonging.. Something.. Something.. Something vampires rarely experience..”
Me: “Alva, I’m going to talk with my companions over there, who are looking at us nervously, and I’m going to propose that we should leave you be, and instead focus on finding your master’s lair and severing the chains that bind you to the monster who converted you into a filthy bloodsucker.”
Alva: “You’d do that for me? You’d spare my life and try to free me from Movarth’s grasp? I… I don’t know what to say… No one has ever shown me such kindness… such compassion… I am… I am in your debt… Please, go, speak with your companions… convince them to spare me and focus on Movarth… I will wait here, and hope that you can succeed where I have failed…”
Me: “Perhaps, Alva, would you be willing to come with us, to fight your master, as a companion?”
Alva: “To fight alongside you… against Movarth… It’s a tantalizing prospect… To be able to strike back at the one who has held me captive for so long… To be able to break free from his grasp and forge my own path… I would be honored to join you… to fight alongside you… and to call you my friends… Together, we can do this… We can defeat Movarth and shatter the chains that bind me…”
Me: “Alva, that is my plan now: I’ll consider you a prospective friend. I’ll try to convince the people out there, that are aching to bring your demise, that you are willing to come over to our side. In exchange, you can look forward to future centuries of a certain peace.”
Alva: “Tears of joy… I never thought I’d experience such a thing again… To be considered a companion, a friend… to have the chance at a future filled with peace and possibility… It’s almost too much to hope for… But I will hold onto it, cherish it… and do everything in my power to prove myself worthy of this gift… I will stand by your side, fight alongside you, and together we will bring down Movarth and shatter the darkness that has held me captive for so long…”
Me: “Retain this feeling, Alva. Retain what you feel inside right now, that hope, and keep it in your heart.”
Alva: “Ahhh…. This feeling…. it’s been so long since I’ve felt anything like it…. Warmth…. hope…. possibility…. It feels like my heart is beating again…. like it’s been awakened from centuries-long slumber…. Thank you…. thank you for giving me this gift… This feeling….. it will stay with me forever…”

When I returned to the main area of the inn, I felt the gazes of all my companions, the people I had gathered to support me in taking down a vampire, as they expected me to share the contents of my private conversation.

Me: “Listen, I’m going to say something that maybe will sound weird to you all, but I think we have to forgive Alva.”
Falion: “Forgive Alva? After all she’s done to the people of Morthal?”
Jorgen: “What’s gotten into you, Jon? You were the one who was so determined to stop her just a few hours ago.”
Me: “You know, I think that Alva deserves a second chance, not here in Morthal perhaps… But listen, she was also a victim in the beginning. She was bitten by that demon Morvath, she was made into a vampire, into the kind of creature she feared and hated the most. Do you think that maybe she acts this way because she hates herself?”
Ingarte: “Oh please spare us your pity party! She may have started out as a victim, but look what happened after! How many innocent lives did she ruin?! Wait… I think what Jon says makes sense. Alva never really talked much about herself… and now that you mention Morvath… Hold on! We’re talking about a vampire here! She drinks human blood! What second chance can we give her?”
Me: “Listen, we were going to destroy Morvath and their lair one way or the other, right? That is our final goal, we have to get rid of the vampires that are threatening this town, and if we kill Alva’s master, then Alva will be free as well. Isn’t it better to have Alva as a companion instead of an enemy?”
Gorm: “Having a vampire as a companion?! Are you out of your mind?! We can’t trust her!”
Lami: “But think about it… if we kill Morvath… wouldn’t we essentially free all those enthralled under Morvath… Wouldn’t freeing Alva free us from worrying about our backs?!”
Falion: “Actually… having someone like Alva inside our circle might give us valuable insight…”
Me: “Isn’t that right? I think you’re beginning to see my perspective. Alva has proven that she doesn’t intend to kill us indiscriminately. She can restrain herself, restrain her impulses. That will make her a valuable and formidable ally against even worse vampires.”
Jonna: “You’re really considering trusting this… creature?! After everything we’ve seen?!”
Benor: “Hold on now… let me think this through… Alright… suppose we do spare Alva… What guarantee do we have she will hold up her end of the bargain?”
Ingarte: “Oho! I think Benor has a point… We’d be fools not to keep an eye on her… but think of it this way… we could always use someone with her… particular set of skills…”
Me: “Listen, the situation hasn’t changed in that regard. We are powerful ourselves, humans and elves, all of us good races… we are powerful in groups. If Alva turns on us, we still can destroy her. Is her death more useful to us than keeping her as a companion?”
Falion: “That raises another question… Can we even trust ourselves not to turn on her?! Think about it… We could be using her just as Morvath did…”
Lami: “But wouldn’t having Alva around mean we’d have a chance of understanding more about the vampires?! And wouldn’t that give us a better chance of fighting them?!”
Gorm: “Fine… suppose we do decide to take a chance on her… How exactly do you plan on keeping her in line?!”
Me: “Well, the plan to keep her in line is… You know that Alva needs blood. One of us, every day, must allow himself or herself to get bitten, to feel the sultry and seductive feeling of those fangs penetrating their carotid artery and drawing blood. That will keep Alva satisfied.”
Ingarte: “Oh wait what?! You expect one of us to give up their blood to her every day?! Are you insane?!”
Jonna: “Absolutely not! We’re not going to offer ourselves up as blood cattle to that monster!”
Benor: “Hold on now… Let me get this straight… You’re asking us to voluntarily submit to a vampire feeding off us?! Daily?! No! Just no!”

My mind was set. I had seen the truth down to its bones. You could call it an epiphany.

Me: “Very well, then I’ll do it myself. Every day, I will allow Alva to feed on me, on my carotid artery, on my veins, on my stomach, on my ass, on my dick, whatever she prefers. I will make that sacrifice.”
Falion: “Jon, stop! You can’t be serious! You’re not thinking about the consequences of what you’re proposing!”
Lami: “Jon, please… don’t do this. You’re not thinking about the risks, the dangers… what if she loses control?!”
Gorm: “This is madness! You’re willing to risk your own life, your own sanity, just to keep a vampire as a companion?! No, Jon! We won’t let you do this!”
Me: “That is my decision, I’m afraid. I have made up my mind, and maybe I am insane. Maybe I am just a madman who has fallen in love with a sultry, raven-haired, poison-eyed vampire woman, but I will do this. I will travel with her to Morvath’s lair, and we will defeat Alva’s kin to free her.”
Ingarte: “Oh dear gods… You’ve fallen under her spell, haven’t you?! She’s got you wrapped around her finger!”
Jonna: “This is ridiculous! We’re not going to let you throw away your life on this vampire whim!”

Benor stood up decisively.

Benor: “Fine… If you’re dead set on this course of action, I’ll have nothing to do with it. I’m out of this conversation and out of this plan. You’re on your own, Jon. Good luck with your new vampire lover. Maybe one day you’ll come to your senses, but for now, I wash my hands of this madness!”
Me: “Are you all agreeing with Benor? Do you believe that my notion of embracing Alva as a companion and possibly a lover is insanity?”
Falion: “I’m afraid I have to agree with Benor on this one, Jon. Your plan is fraught with danger and uncertainty. We can’t predict how Alva will behave, and we can’t trust her completely.”
Lami: “I… I don’t know what to say, Jon. Part of me wants to believe that Alva can be redeemed, but another part of me is terrified of what she’s capable of.”
Gorm: “I’m with Benor on this one, Jon. We’ve seen what vampires are capable of, and we can’t take that risk.”
Me: “Lami, I think that Alva really enjoyed her time spent with you. It wasn’t all manipulation. It wasn’t all, you know, her being a vampire. She loved to laugh with you, she loved to joke around with you, to gossip with you, to engage in whatever women do together, I don’t know, comparing crochets or admiring plants. She really did enjoy all of that.”
Lami: “Oh, Jon, you’re right… she was fun to be around, she had a good sense of humor, and we did have some nice moments together… But that doesn’t change the fact that she was using me all along, do you understand that?! She was manipulating me, taking advantage of my kindness and my friendship!”
Ingarte: “Ah, Lami precious, do not cry, you were manipulated, you were taken advantage of, but that does not mean that you were weak. Some people are just very good at playing games with other people.”
Jonna: “This is getting out of hand. I think we’ve said enough for tonight. Let’s just get some rest and deal with this mess in the morning.”
Me: “Yeah, let’s dismiss this impromptu reunion, let’s all of us get some sleep. I know that in my case I’m going to enjoy sultry dreams of a ravishing vampire beauty kissing me with her fangs.”
Ingarte: “Ugh, spare us the details, Jon. We don’t need to hear about your vampire fantasies.”
Falion: “Indeed, let’s just focus on getting some rest. We can discuss this further in the morning when we’re all feeling more level-headed.”
Gorm: “Agreed. I’m exhausted from all this drama. Let’s just get some sleep and deal with the vampire problem in the morning.”
Benor: “I’ll make sure to lock my door tonight, just in case Jon’s vampire lover decides to pay me a midnight visit.”
Jonna: “That’s enough, Benor. Let’s just go to bed.”
Me: “Let me ask you all: wasn’t it a good show? Didn’t we have fun? It was dramatic as hell, wasn’t it?”
Ingarte: “Oh, Jon, you’re something else… You’re actually enjoying this, drama and all?!”
Lami: “I… I don’t know if I’d call it fun exactly… It’s been a pretty intense and emotional conversation…”
Falion: “Indeed. I think we’ve all had quite enough drama for one evening. Let’s just focus on getting some rest now.”
Gorm: “Agreed. I’m done with this conversation. Goodnight, everyone.”
Me: “Yes, but before you leave, please retain something regarding the events that took place today. It’s a simple sentence, but one that should remain in the back of your minds for the rest of your lives: ‘the show must go on.'”