I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning. - J. B. Priestley
4th of First Seed, 4E 203
There was nothing but white, everywhere. As far as he could see. And he was slowly starting to hate it. People said that this winter was one of the cruelest there had been in Skyrim in the last decade and he could tell stories about that first hand. Of all the bloody places I could head to, I picked the one where it’s winter the whole year. Lovely.
Grulmar sneered at the snow all around as he trudged through the snowdrift, with the road being somewhere under all that frozen water. There was spring everywhere to the south. Everywhere but here. He was about to spit but just that reminded him of something and he decided not to. Memories were already bad as they were, he didn't need more things to remind him.
In front him walked a fellow Orc, only much bigger - frankly, almost every Orc was bigger than Grulmar - clearing the path in the snow. He was pushing forward with stubborn determination and if Grulmar had to guess, he was brooding, completely oblivious to the white hell around them. There was a a heavy cloak around his shoulders made from white bear's fur covering the robes of a master wizard under it.
And right behind Grulmar walked a Dunmer, the same size as him, but his wolf armor and cloak made of wolf fur certainly made him look more bulky. His red eyes looked up from under the hood at Grulmar and his mouth twisted into crooked smile inbetween his ginger beard. “Already tired of the grumpy Orc's back?” Athis chuckled.
Grulmar grimaced and looked around, catching his breath. It certainly wasn't easy to get through all that snow. “His back is certainly better then this tuskin' scenery. Here I was hopin' I can say goodbye to that freakin' winter. And here I am, changin' one frozen shithole for another.”
“Save your breath and keep walking, runt,” growled Urag from the front.
The smaller Orc breathed into his hands and then put them again under his fur cloak, feeling how cold his leather vest was. He sighed. “I hate when someone calls me that,” he murmured. “Brings back bad memories.”
“That's too bad, runt. You'll have to get used to it if you want look into my library,” replied Urag.
Grulmar snorted. “As ya say, Broody.” To that Urag just growled and Grulmar chuckled. “Now we're even.”
“I'm not brooding.”
Athis from behind laughed out loud, but then Urag quickly turned around and frowned at Athis. The Dunmer stopped laughing under that stare, but he still managed to murmur: “You're rarely doing anything beside brooding. And being grumpy, just like now.”
What a company, Grulmar thought as Urag growled again and continued pushing his way through the snow. They were all eager to finally reach their destination. It's so...different, in comparison to my previous company. Ginger. Uncle. He clenched his jaw. What a stupid idea. Tuskin' Shiny. Tuskin' Uncle. I don't understand how could I let them talk me into this? He sighed and kicked the snow in front of him in frustration. Too late to turn back now.
Something's coming.
Something's on its way.
Mountains are crumbling.
Like statues of clay.
Grulmar shook his head. Stupid song. Just can't get it out of my head. Too many memories. Too many nightmares. And that frozen wasteland around him wasn't helping. That scenery was literally screaming nostalgia! He just needed to stop thinking, to completely shut off his thoughts.
They passed the Whistling Mine an hour ago and he could see buildings in the distance. Winterhold. What a frozen shithole in middle of nowhere. Literally at the end of the world. There is nothing but the Sea of Ghosts in the north, and some people say that if you'd sail north long enough, you could reach old Atmora. If some place like that even exists.
He'd been in Winterhold several times before but it never ceased to impress him how someone could actually live there. There were literally just a few buildings in there - basicaly huts - at the edge of a cliff with the College hanging on one tiny column of solid rock hanging over the edge. Since the Collapse - and that was another interesting story - only a few people were willing to remain there. Those who have remained lived mostly on horker meat the whole year, climbing down the cliff on ropes and pulling the meat back up again. It was...impressive.
He heard Stormcloaks boasting about being true Nords and the rest were just milkdrinkers, but everytime he visited Winterhold...he knew who the true Nords were. Simple folk living in a frozen wasteland, with barely any wood around, living on just what they could hunt and scavenge. And all that in the shadow of the College, which was throwing a rather big shadow.
War is coming.
War is crying out.
The world is shaking.
The sky is falling down.
Enough! he cried out in his mind. Just think about somethin' else. There was a tractate on the Great Collapse. No, wait! It was a letter, by Arch-Mage Deneth. He remembered something from it, mostly dealing with the relationship between the College and Winterhold.
The distrust of mages began around the time of the Oblivion Crisis, when information leaked that some Daedric cult nearly managed to destroy the whole of Tamriel, but that wasn't enough to destroy the friendly relationship of the College and city built around it - and apparently it really was a mutually beneficial friendship because both sides gained much from each other. Then came the Red Year and many Dunmer moved to Winterhold as well as joining the College.
Solstheim was given to Dunmer shortly after that yet people of Winterhold didn't find much happiness in that because very few of the refugees decided to move to Solstheim, remaining in Winterhold instead.
Of course, no one knows these days what precisely caused the Collapse, but according to Arch-Mage Deneth's letter, the Winterhold coast was wracked by powerful storms for almost a year and that caused the Great Collapse. It actually kind of makes sense. If that big volcano farts and doesn't stop, it must have some consequances. Like tidal waves and storms. But why one hundred years later?
So, the College remained, most likely protected by its powerful magicks, but most of the city just fell into the sea. Which makes me even more impressed that few people remained in the ruins. In the shadow of the College...let's just say that Winterhold and the College don't get along very well these days.
He was completely lost in his thoughts about the Great Collapse that he only realized they reached Winterhold when Athis poked him. He looked up from under his hood and observed the few remaining buildings of once proud city. He looked at Jarl's house and sneered. I certainly wouldn't like to rule this dumphole.
“Urag,” Athis said with uncertainty in his voice. It pulled Grulmar’s wandering mind back to reality and he looked at Athis who was frowning in confusion. “Do you feel it?”
Urag growled. “Those idiots. I told them not to and they still brough it here.”
“What are ya-” Grulmar started but then he felt it too. Hair on his neck were standing and there was a cold shiver going down his spine. There is something in the College. Something unnatural, alien. He didn’t know how, but he knew it.
Urag increased his pace towards the bridge leading to College. That certainly doesn’t look good. Angry Urag? Heads are goin’ to roll. Saw it firsthand at Fellglow Keep. Which actually wasn't one of Grulmar happy memories. Not by a long shot. Getting to know the magic firsthand thanks to conjuring megalomaniacs certainly wasn't his vision of a good day and having fun. But Urag got his books and Grulmar was now heading to College, to learn how to be a conjuring megalomaniac. Well, don't exaggerate. You might become just a conjuring maniac.
They reached the the place where the bridge was broken and not really wide and Grulmar instinctivily slowed down. I tuskin’ hate heights. His vision narrowed when he looked down and the bridge suddenly seemed much smaller. He gulped and took a step forward. Step by step he got to the other way and sighed. He noticed Athis looking at him with grin on his face. Grulmar made a rude gesture in his way which made Athis laugh out loud.
The Orc librarian just reached the gate that opened before him on its own volition - rather hastily, almost like if it knew Urag was angry. Grulmar and Athis quickly followed him to the courtyard, where stood huge statue of mage who's cloak seemed like if it was waving in the wind. In front of the door to the main building - the Hall of Elements - stood Mirabelle Ervine and when she saw Urag she took a step back. At first. Then she put on her “Boss face” and raised her hand. “Urag! There was nothing we could do! They convinced Savos-”
The Orc kicked the door open and walked in, with Grulmar just shrugging in Mirabelle's direction as he and Athis walked inside. As soon as he entered, he froze. In the middle of Hall of Elements was levitating...something. An orb with it's parts slowly spinning around, strange runes flashing on it's surface.
Zeroonezerozeroonezerozerozero-
What? What the tusk-?
Then Grulmar noticed tall figures in black robes walking around the object, with two other in moonstone armors standing in front of the gate leading inside the Hall. They stopped Urag with swords escaping their sheaths and Grulmar's neck hair stood up when he felt as Urag was gathering Magicka around his fingertips.
Zerooneonezerozeroonezeroone-
“Alright, I'm out of here,” murmured Grulmar and he turned on his heels. No, this certainly isn't what I signed to. No tuskin' Thalmor and no tuskin' levitatin' balls speakin' in numbers. No, sir, thank ya, sir. He was just about to open the door when Athis grabbed him by his collar and pulled him back.
Zeroonezerozeroonezerozeroone zerooneoneonezerozerooneone-
“Stop being a chicken, Greenskin,” he growled. “Urag! Stop being an idiot! Want to fight whole the contigent of Thalmor when the Arch-Mage invited them in as guests?”
Urag's shoulders lowered as he made all the magic disappear from where it came from and sighed. “Fine. But they stay out of my library.”
“It's College's library, Urag. Not your personal plane of Oblivion where you can get trespassers torn by angry Atronachs,” reminded him Mirabelle with her bossy voice.
“Whatever,” Urag growled and headed towards Arcaneum. When he opened the door, he stopped and looked at Mirabelle. “Just take care of the new student, Mirabelle.” And then he left.
“New student?” asked Mirabelle and looked around. “Who-?” she started and stopped when her eyes fell on Grulmar who nervously smiled and waved at her.
“Hey, Boss.”
“You?” she shook her head and looked at Athis. “Him?” And the Dunmer nodded.
“Urag has the money and all necessary papers. The Harbinger’s request,” Athis smiled and chuckled when Mirabelle sighed and rubbed her forehead. “It’s not the first student he’s recommended.” Athis added, shrugging his shoulders.
“Your Harbinger seems to have a knack for finding casters in the most unusual places.” She quipped. “First that thing, then Thalmor and now him,” she sighed again. Then she straightened and turned to Grulmar. “Alright, Stendar have mercy on us. Welcome to the College of Winterhold, student,” she said formally.
I wonder why she sounds like she doesn't want me here. Ah, yes. I remember. I stole her clothes and towels when she was taking a bath. She had to run all the way from Subterrarium through the greenhouse into Hall of Countenace naked. What a fun it was. Really, I will miss my visits here, when it was just business and fun. Now I'm stuck here.
“Thanks,” he murmured. “I guess.”
“If you follow me, I'll show you your room,” she gestured to the door. Grulmar looked at the frowning Thalmor soldiers and wondered where His Royal Majesty was. Snobbish Old Mary, as Decimus would say. Well, he never met Ancano. That one is certainly somethin' else. He looked back at Mirabelle and shook his head.
“No need, I know my way around, remember? Which room's empty now? Don't tell me that I have to share my room with Scorch.”
“Scorch?” She looked puzzled and then big grin showed up on her face. “Ah, J'zargo. Yes, you'll be sharing a room with him. I'll bring you your college things there very soon.”
Grulmar put on a hurt face and watched Mirabelle's grin widen. Hehe, ya think ya won, Boss, but Scorch is actually much more fun than others. He too “finds misplaced” items from time to time, just as me. “If I have to,” he murmured. “See ya around, Boss. Ya too, Ash,” he added towards Athis who just mumbled something and Grulmar shrugged. He stepped outside into the cold again and sighed. Thalmor. What are they doing here? He shook his head and chuckled. Ah, why do ya care, Grulmar? None of yer business. Ya are here to study, so study and ignore those tuskers.
He headed towards the Hall of Attainment and entered inside. No one was around so he entered the first room on the right only to meet J'zargo playing with fire on his fingertips. He jumped on his feet when he saw Grulmar and then he hissed: “Lorkhaj take you, Grulmar. You scared J'zargo.”
The Orc threw his bag on J'zargo's bed and hanged his cloak over a chair. “Then tell J'zargo I'm sorry,” Grulmar laughed and shook his head. Khajiit and their way of talkin'. “Playin' with fire again, Scorch? Ya know ya should practice outside of yer room, right?” He then jumped on the bed right next to his bag and put his hands under his head.
“J'zargo doesn't want others to know what's he working at - and why are you lying in Jzargo's bed?”
“Why? I'm yer new roommate.”
There was a confusion on J'zargo's face and then a shock. “You? A student?”
“Yup. We'll have lots of fun, friend.” Hopefully.
Sources used in this lesson: On the Great Collapse
Comments
As for the Eye...well, there is a theory that Eye of the Magnus is an AI from 9th Era or something, so I thought I just go and make a fun out of it