Also, can vampires live in a non-damaging way, or is their very presence inimical to other living things?

I'd be rather interested in talking with Arkay and seeing if there's a logical reason behind this, or if he's just annoyed about alleged poaching of his domain.

Unless your bound to prophecy, yeah, they'll likely hate you, Arkay in particular.

It really is that. Vampires are the greatest insult to Arkay and his rule of life and death. It's the sole reason Molag Bal did it. Just to piss Arkay off.

What would be worse, vampires or draugr? If vampires are worse, why?

Because Arkay can protect against certain types of necromancy. Draugr being an obvious exclusion due to the Draconic magic used on them. Vampires on the other hand not only defy Arkay to the fullest, but it's also a creation of Molag Bal.

This book should give some valuable insight: http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Opusculus_Lamae_Bal

I think my own PC is very badly torn between wanting to not dishonor the gods too much, and being able to conquer death, not only for herself, but for any loved ones involved.

Conquer death through the use of awesome magics (the psijics and high ranking wizards of the Telvanni are known to live well past 400), or becoming a god. If you're a mer, definitely study and use magic, as it really ends up prolonging your life for a very long time. Neloth has to be ~800 years old in Dragonborn.

EDIT: However, if you're a human, beast, or orc, somewhere in the 100s.

The Divines aren't black and white either. Especially if your bound to prophecy.

But again, look at what happened to Vyrthur... He had Auri-El's constant attention. The minute he converted, Auri-El never spoke to him again, and drove him mad with revenge.

Right, but you can't spread that kind of thing around so easily. In any case, I'm an Altmer, living past 500 is a concept I'm used to.

Possibly... though his quote can also be interpreted as his being enraged that Auriel failed to protect him from being turned, and that that was the abandonment he mentioned.

Ah, then if you're an altmer, I highly suggest you follow in the footsteps of Phynmaster, the cultural hero god who taught the altmer the proper way to walk in order to extend one's life.

Going vampire...I wouldn't suggest it. btw, may you explain why you want to live for a very very very long time? Some background info may be useful.

I just don't want to die, and don't particularly want my wife or children to die either. Especially if our fates might not be shared.

I'm pretty sure it goes both ways. It's Serena who asks why Auriel didn't protect him. In any event, it's clear he was abandoned. He was pretty much the highest ranking religious figure for the Falmer.

If he was abandoned for that, it reminds me of nothing so much as Medusa being turned into a monster by Athena for the crime of being [censored] by Poseidon... and making me seriously question if Auriel is even worthy of worship. I won't even gainsay the idea of Vyrthur's revenge in and of itself, it's just that he'd harm too many other people with his plan.

Eh, then vampirism is really the easiest way. Otherwise, there's the harder lichdom, and then there's becoming divines.

I'm the type of person who feels that no one should feel that they owe anything to some divine, so if you want to be a vampire, I don't see anything wrong with it. Other than being considered a monster by mortals that is. Why try and please the divines anyway? The Daedra are far more helpful and more powerful . Plus, there's more than just one type of vampire: there's thehttp://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120904210539/wikiseriesjaponesas/es/images/f/fb/00000000seras_victoria1.jpg, http://fullhdwallpapers.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/alucard-hellsing-15786-1920x1080.jpg, orhttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HIFtv7d8FJc/TExhqK500OI/AAAAAAAAAUA/RIWGd2EeCyU/s1600/edward-cullen-demotivational-poster-1228936688.jpg.

Vampirism doesn't deny death it only delays it, but it's our best shot at immortality.

Death is inexorable and cannot be denied, for the wheel must turn.

If it wasn't denial of death, Arkay wouldn't care about it.

I would say no, for the reasons stated above. Also because vampires have always been considered unholy and a desecration of the dead by many priests throughout fiction (and maybe non-fiction).

Also, wouldn't Mara/Dibella be a little bit mad at Molag Bal for how he went about making the first vampire?

Arkay gets upset becausr he loses control of it. But vampires still die, although not by age or disease, but by a violent death.

Oh, there's hardly anything wrong with being mad at Molag Bal. But that shouldn't extend to all of his progeny.

If they're weak or careless that is.