Action RPG

I’m playing Oblivion Remastered as a vampire, and I wouldn’t trade my new life for better sleep or a clean conscience

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In the troubling dreams that disrupt my sleep during The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, I find myself observing a stranger resting tranquilly. Is this a display of irony, or simply the karmic retribution I’ve earned?

Hidden under the covers, the unfamiliar figure remains motionless as a ghostly figure slips into the room. The mysterious figure bends low and, in a flash, reveals sharp teeth, staining the bedsheets with crimson. As droplets of blood trickle down the vampire’s jaw, a chill runs through me – for I realize that the blood is my own.

If Baurus hears me shouting, he never acknowledges it. In truth, the imperfect bodyguard of the Emperor seems intentionally oblivious. I have reason to believe that, driven by his own path towards redemption, he will endure almost any hardship that could aid in saving the Empire. On those days when my appearance becomes skeletal and others recoil in terror upon hearing me hiss, Baurus remains steadfastly focused: on Mehrunes Dagon, the Mythic Dawn, and the Amulet of Kings. His dedication to his main quest is unwavering, providing a constant in the chaos of my life.

Creatures of the night

The statement remains accurate even if we walk all the way down the mountain from Cloud Ruler Temple side by side. The Blades, who are the spies and fighters of the Emperor, live in a region that’s extremely cold and located far north in Cyrodiil – almost as distant as one could be from the Imperial City. So when Baurus proposes we venture into the city sewers, he’s essentially planning a journey covering roughly half of Bethesda’s vast open-world map. During this trip, there’s a chance that he might get knocked around by trolls along the way, and I may have to stand by while he recovers.

Despite our differences, Baurus shows more tolerance than I do. The hike stretches on so long that day turns to night, and with it comes my arch-nemesis. As the sun beats down, it highlights the Ayleid ruins beautifully, but also depletes my vitality. It’s a gradual loss, yet relentless, one that could easily claim my life multiple times before we reach the capital. Baurus remains calm as I search through my bag for the remaining healing potions. He doesn’t utter a word about the fact that I’m sweating profusely under the intense starlight.

In the end, we reach the damp, shadowy opening of the sewer cover, where I find solace in the shade. Couldn’t I have just teleported to meet Baurus there? Possibly. However, what I enjoy is experiencing the unique changes brought about by vampirism in Oblivion and the peculiar habits that come with having Porphyric Hemophilia.

Vampires often find themselves in a complex bond with the Wait button. While spending long hours can protect them from sunlight and enable them to roam freely in the moonlit streets of Cyrodiil without fear of burning or shriveling like an unneeded letter in a fireplace, it also hastens the progression of their affliction. This means that NPCs’ faces may twist with revulsion as they label you a “monster”, and quest-givers might turn their backs on you, halting your advancement until you can secretly enter someone’s bedroom and bite into their flesh to feed. Feeding temporarily alleviates the symptoms of vampirism but also makes nightmares more vivid reality.

Shopping these days feels like sneaking into a blacksmith’s workshop under cover of darkness, then hiding in the shadows till opening hours. Occasionally, when I’m particularly daring on mornings, I’ll bolt out Hammer and Tongs’ door and dash straight into Colovian Traders, just a few doors away, with only a faint melody echoing as I swiftly traverse the glistening cobblestones of Skingrad.

At times, the advantages of being a vampire exceed the drawbacks. Hidden within the underground Bloodworks of the city’s gladiatorial arena, I’ve spent days building my power, before stepping onto the battlefield with an unnatural strength and speed. The crowd cheers my name, although they might recall that I’ve never been part of a daytime contest. My performances happen only at night.

In essence, while I may seem to embrace vampirism, it’s not primarily for the power it offers. Instead, I find allure in the tales it provides, along with the intrigue of turning traditional role-playing rules on their head. It’s much like my fascination with playing a ghoul in Fallout 76 – defying the Brotherhood of Steel, and thriving in radiation as if it were a delicious beverage. Similarly, in Oblivion, I opted for the Atronach birthsign, not because of its conventional magic abilities, but due to its radical twist. This configuration restricts mana regeneration, yet allows me to harness the thrown spells of demons and necromancers.

In my case, the ordinary rules often don’t seem to hold true. Consequently, I encounter some peculiar constraints, which can be quite unsettling. However, the tales that unfold from navigating these challenges prove to be far more captivating than any disturbing nightmares they might induce.

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2025-07-15 20:40

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