Immortal Blood Content . The moons and stars were hidden from sight , making that particular quiet night especially dark . The town guard had to carry torches to make their rounds ; but the man who came to call at my chapel carried no light with him . I came to learn that Movarth Piquine could see in the dark almost as well as the light - an excellent talent , considering his interests were exclusively nocturnal . One of my acolytes brought him to me , and from the look of him , I at first thought he was in need of healing . He was pale to the point of opalescence with a face that looked like it had once been very handsome before some unspeakable suffering . The dark circles under his eyes bespoke exhaustion , but the eyes themselves were alert , intense , almost insane . He quickly dismissed my notion that he himself was ill , though he did want to discuss a specific disease . " Vampirism , " he said , and then paused at my quizzical look . " I was told that you were someone I should seek out for help understanding it . " " Who told you that ? " I asked with a smile . " Tissina Gray . " I immediately remembered her . A brave , beautiful knight who had needed my assistance separating fact from fiction on the subject of the vampire . It had been two years , and I had never heard whether my advice had proved effective . " You ' ve spoken to her ? How is her ladyship ? " I asked . " Dead , " Movarth replied coldly , and then , responding to my shock , he added to perhaps soften the blow . " She said your advice was invaluable , at least for the one vampire . When last I talked to her , she was tracking another . It killed her . " " Then the advice I gave her was not enough , " I sighed . " Why do you think it would be enough for you ? " " I was a teacher once myself , years ago , " he said . " Not in a university . A trainer in the Fighters Guild . But I know that if a student doesn ' t ask the right questions , the teacher cannot be responsible for his failure . I intend to ask you the right questions . " And that he did . For hours , he asked questions and I answered what I could , but he never volunteered any information about himself . He never smiled . He only studied me with those intense eyes of his , committing every word I said to memory . Finally , I turned the questioning around . " You said you were a trainer at the Fighters Guild . Are you on an assignment for them ? " " No , " he said curtly , and finally I could detect some weariness in those feverish eyes of his . " I would like to continue this tomorrow night , if I could . I need to get some sleep and absorb this . " " You sleep during the day , " I smiled . To my surprise , he returned the smile , though it was more of a grimace . " When tracking your prey , you adapt their habits . " The next day , he did return with more questions , these ones very specific . He wanted to know about the vampires of eastern Skyrim . I told him about the most powerful tribe , the Volkihar Clan , paranoid and cruel , whose very breath could freeze their victims ' blood in the veins . I explained to him how they lived beneath the ice of remote and haunted lakes , never venturing into the world of men except to feed . Movarth Piquine listened carefully , and asked more questions into the night , until at last he was ready to leave . " I will not see you for a few days , " he said . " But I will return , and tell you how helpful your information has been . " True to his word , the man returned to my chapel shortly after midnight four days later . There was a fresh scar on his cheek , but he was smiling that grim but satisfied smile of his . " Your advice helped me very much , " he said . " But you should know that the Volkihar have an additional ability you didn ' t mention . They can reach through the ice of their lakes without breaking it . It was quite a nasty surprise , being grabbed from below without any warning . " " How remarkable , " I said with a laugh . " And terrifying . You ' re lucky you survived . " " I don ' t believe in luck . I believe in knowledge and training . Your information helped me , and my skill at melee combat sealed the bloodsucker ' s fate . I ' ve never believed in weaponry of any kind . Too many unknowns . Even the best swordsmith has created a flawed blade , but you know what your body is capable of . I know I can land a thousand blows without losing my balance , provided I get the first strike . " " The first strike ? " I murmured . " So you must never be surprised . " " That is why I came to you , " said Movarth . " You know more than anyone alive about these monsters , in all their cursed varieties across the land . Now you must tell me about the vampires of northern Valenwood . " I did as he asked , and once again , his questions taxed my knowledge . There were many tribes to cover . The Bonsamu who were indistinguishable from Bosmer except when seen by candlelight . The Keerilth who could disintegrate into mist . The Yekef who swallowed men whole . The dread Telboth who preyed on children , eventually taking their place in the family , waiting patiently for years before murdering them all in their unnatural hunger . Once again , he bade me farewell , promising to return in a few weeks , and once again , he returned as he said , just after midnight . This time , Movarth had no fresh scars , but he again had new information . " You were wrong about the Keerilth being unable to vaporize when pushed underwater , " he said , patting my shoulder fondly . " Fortunately , they cannot travel far in their mist form , and I was able to track it down . " " It must have surprised it fearfully . Your field knowledge is becoming impressive , " I said . " I should have had an acolyte like you decades ago . " " Now , tell me , " he said . " Of the vampires of Cyrodiil . " I told him what I could . There was but one tribe in Cyrodiil , a powerful clan who had ousted all other competitors , much like the Imperials themselves had done . Their true name was unknown , lost in history , but they were experts at concealment . If they kept themselves well - fed , they were indistinguishable from living persons . They were cultured , more civilized than the vampires of the provinces , preferring to feed on victims while they were asleep , unaware . " They will be difficult to surprise , " Movarth frowned . " But I will seek one out , and tell you what I learn . And then you will tell me of the vampires of High Rock , and Hammerfell , and Elsweyr , and Black Marsh , and Morrowind , and the Summerset Isles , yes ? " I nodded , knowing then that this was a man on an eternal quest . He wouldn ' t be satisfied with but the barest hint of how things were . He needed to know it all . He did not return for a month , and on the night that he did , I could see his frustration and despair , though there were no lights burning in my chapel . " I failed , " he said , as I lit a candle . " You were right . I could not find a single one . " I brought the light up to my face and smiled . He was surprised , even stunned by the pallor of my flesh , the dark hunger in my ageless eyes , and the teeth . Oh , yes , I think the teeth definitely surprised the man who could not afford to be surprised . " I haven ' t fed in seventy - two hours , " I explained , as I fell on him . He did not land the first blow or the last .