#thiasinfo

“I am always a little saddened, but I understand that it’s not a job for everyone. It can be hard on the mind as much as the body and for some it’s just... not worth it in the long run,” he admitted with a small frown. 

“I do try to find out why if possible, to make sure that they understand that they have someone to confide in or speak with if need be and that they would always be welcomed back depending on the circumstances,” he continued.

Freshly Baked Bread

key words: warm, inviting, kindness. you are the definition of cooking as a loved language and are at your strongest when creating something. others find you soothing to be around and feel at ease due to your genuine warmth and nurturing nature. you can be a mix of gentle and passionate, but it's that intensity that lives at the centre of your spirit that draws people to you most. 

“I know what you’re wanting me to say,” Thias replied evenly, though there was a hint of what might have been irritation in his tone. “You’re wanting me to say I would cut the vampire down where it stood, consider it a win for the Dawnguard regardless of the family that was lost. Or something to that effect.” He frowned, then, at the mage, and shook his head, taking a moment to breathe.

“The truth of the matter is I don’t know,” he admitted, and shrugged. “I would have to make a judgement call, based on the facts of the situation, and I would have to live with that call. Is the family mauled beyond recognition? Gutted? Dismembered? Throats ripped out and bled dry? Does the vampire look hungry? Frightened? Confused? Angry? Is the vampire covered in blood? Have I been sent to this farm via a tip or rumor or did I just happen upon the circumstance?” The Nord took a breath, and offered the mage another shrug.

“I wouldn’t say I enjoy it, no,” Thias replied, shaking his head and furrowing his brows. “Just because the person I’m killing is a vampire doesn’t make it any easier for me. They were, after all, mortal beings at one point or another in their lifetime.”

As the mage continued, the Nord quieted, taking in the words and going over them in his mind as he thought of a way to explain his choices.

“It becomes murder when you’re not hunting a monster,” he said plainly. “That word gets thrown around so easily these days it’s as if it has lost its true meaning. Just because someone is a vampire, or a werewolf, or a necromancer, or what-have-you doesn’t mean they are a monster. What they are physically does not define them. Their behavior, their choices, their decisions - that makes them a monster. A perfectly normal mortal can be a monster and there have been plenty of examples of that in the world’s lifetime.”

Thias let out a sigh, attempting to clear his head and gather his thoughts.

“I’ve found people tend to use the word ‘monster’ to bring about some sort of... rift between them and the offending ‘creature’ in question. It’s a simple ‘different than me’ term used to make someone feel better. It’s easier to accept that some terrible, awful event happened because of the behavior of a monster than it is to accept that it was just the decision of an otherwise average being.”

He knew he was starting to become long-winded, but he wanted to explain himself thoroughly to the mage.

“From my experience in the Dawnguard, we have not hunted down and killed a vampire that had not shown up in our sights somehow. Whether it be by kidnapping children to feed from, killing guards as a food source, or turning small farm families to strengthen their coven.”

The Agent’s expression became firmer, and he had to pause to let the darker memories of his time in the Dawnguard fade away.

“I am the one who tracks and observes the vampires I kill  and I have never killed a vampire that had not directly caused the death or harm of someone else. Nor have I ever had someone - of their own volition - beg me to spare a vampire’s life because they had done no harm, because they were innocent of whatever they had been accused of.

“I had... time on my hands,” Thias began, attempting to choose his words carefully. “My mother had passed and I hadn’t really found a place where I found myself comfortable enough to settle. Durak came to town and spoke of the Dawnguard and I had seen what vampires were capable of myself. Having been trained early in life in both weaponry and combat, it seemed a waste for me not to offer my experience and skill to people who were helping the common man by performing dangerous tasks.”

The Agent paused here, taking his time in choosing his words yet again.

“I... generally agree, aye,” he said finally, nodding his head. “I agree with the Dawnguard’s mission to protect the citizens of Skyrim. I agree with the Dawnguard’s mission to eradicate dangerous vampires. I understand that many view all vampires as dangerous, and that... less-than-humane means might have to be taken in order to protect those who would otherwise be unable to protect themselves.