Skyrim Mod:A Tale of Blood and Snow/Savior of the Quarra

Book Compilation
Note
This is a compilation of books assembled for easier reading.

Savior of the Quarra

---

Volume I

A Note From the Editor
Throughout my many years of study, I have been fortunate enough to be granted interviews with representatives of dozens of Skyrim's vampire clans - and to emerge alive from said interviews to publish my research!
Generally, the vampires I interview are cautious and unwilling to share much information, an understandable concern with the increase in vampire hunters since the Oblivion Crisis. In this situation, however, the subject of my interview was gracious enough to share the story presented in the following pages. I have done my best to transcribe the story as accurately as possible, with no embellishments on my part.
- Thetrard Bierles

---

When Druscashti fell, we thought it was the end. Clanmother Volrina, founder of the Quarra, was dead. Dozens of our finest warriors, embodiments of the famous might of the Quarra Clan, had fallen to the Aundae and Berne. We found ourselves, who had once thought ourselves the rulers of all Morrowind's vampires, forced to hide in the depths of the Druscashti ruins, fending off endless attacks from our rivals.

Surrender was never discussed. Without any conversation, we had all agreed in our hearts that we would die like Quarra. We would die in battle, taking as many foes with us as we could. But die we would - we could see no route to victory. The new leader of the Berne, Restita, was determined to see us annihilated. Eventually, her forces broke through our defenses and into Druscashti itself. The greatest relics of our clan were stolen, and we few survivors found ourselves forced into the greatest humiliation a Quarra can experience: retreat.

---

The eruption of Red Mountain was, in a way, our salvation. In the chaos, Restita's forces scattered, granting us some small measure of breathing room. In a great irony, the loss of Druscashti meant that we were already prepared to flee from disaster, while the Berne, clustered together in their lair at Galom Daeus, suffered heavy losses when the surging lava swallowed the ruin.

But our own survival was in doubt as well. We were down to but a small fraction of our original strength. Our clan relics were lost to us. We had no home. Nowhere to shelter from the sun. And the Red Year would swallow us up as readily as it had our rivals. Instead of dying in battle, we seemed condemned to death by Tamriel itself.

Then, the messenger arrived.

Volume II

When our situation seemed at its most hopeless, a messenger arrived. They hid their face, but their robes bore the symbol of Clan Volkihar. The messenger presented us with an offer. Lord Harkon desired an artifact said to be hidden within the Dwemer ruins of Bthar-Zel and knew of our reputation as masters of Dwemer technology. In return for our assistance in recovering the artifact, he offered us our pick of any Dwemer ruin in Skyrim to make our new lair.

We are not fools, nor would we allow desperation to sway our judgment. We made it clear to the messenger that the Quarra serve no one - but the messenger assured us that no servitude was expected. Centuries ago, the messenger told us, Clanmother Volrina had done Lord Harkon a great service, and though she had demanded nothing in return, a Volkihar never forgets a debt. In other words, Harkon's offer was a way of returning Volrina's favor while allowing Harkon to retain his own dignity by requesting the artifact in return.

In truth, I suspect an additional matter had given Harkon cause for concern. In the years since the Oblivion Crisis, the vampires of Cyrodiil - that nameless clan nicknamed the Vampyrum Order - had been probing the borders of neighboring provinces. It is my belief that Harkon saw the Quarra, with our infamous brutality and martial skill, as a potential guard against further encroachments by the Order. Of course, I would never be so rude as to ask - and Harkon would never answer if I did.

When we arrived at Bthar-Zel, we were greeted by a single vampire: Fura Bloodmouth, foremost among Harkon's warriors. Her instructions were simple - we were to handle the Dwemer mechanisms, and she would deal with any threats within. She made it clear that we were not her escort, for she required no protection.

I can still see it when I close my eyes - a glorious whirlwind of death and blood. The lower regions of the ruin had been infested by Falmer, and Fura Bloodmouth fell upon them with a fury I had only ever seen from Volrina herself. Though each and every Quarra present slew dozens of Falmer, Fura killed as many herself as we did together. I knew then, as Volrina must have ages earlier, that the Volkihar were a clan worthy of respect. They did not hide in the darkness like the Berne or our modern rivals, the Cronvangr. They took what they wanted and slaughtered all who stood in their way.

Few words were exchanged when the battle ended. Fura claimed the relic and told us the Volkihar would honor their bargain. Any ruin in Skyrim we saw fit to claim would become our new lair, and we would have free rein to hunt wherever in Skyrim we pleased, with no interference from the Volkihar.

The Quarra owe the Volkihar no debt. Our balance was paid when we fought alongside Fura Bloodmouth. We have no formal alliance, for the Volkihar have their own ambitions. But, even so, the relationship between our clans is one of mutual respect. In some ways, I must confess... Harkon was our savior.