Chapter 2: The College of Mages
22nd of Last Seed, 4E201
Master Sergius Turrianus had watched the gathered students follow after Master Tolfdir to the Saarthal excavation. Standing within the colonade, the old enchanter fiddled with his amulet as if doing so would increase its warmth against the stiff breeze off the Sea of Ghosts. Standing beside him was his colleague, Master Colette Marence, who wore a pensive expression as her eyes followed them down the road. Master Sergius, never for discretion, voiced the opinion that everyone else had mindfully sidestepped these past few weeks.
"It's good to have new blood in these hallways again. Hopefully, we can get things back to the way they were."
The Restorationist, always the prickly matron, responded, "The way they were? I for one am glad to have all that business behind us! Why would you even state such a thing?"
"Oh, calm down woman! I wasn't implying that the college was somehow better off before the Arch-mage's decision. I'm just pleased to see this place becoming more lively after the recent events, the deaths, loss of faculty, the division among..."
"Shush! Such talk is not for these walls!"
The Enchanter puckered his lips for a moment as he stared out of the central courtyard. "Well... I'll be glad to get back to doing what we do best. Learning the mysteries and teaching the young and hopefully making some money to boot. The last thing this college needs is another 'interruption' that will rile up the bog-washed, hairy natives. Though that certainly wouldn't be the worst thing that could happen."
Master Colette shook her head at Master Sergius' pessimism. "You're better off talking about these things with the Arch-mage at our next meeting."
Shuddering from the perpetual winter, the Restorationist turned to her colleague before stepping back inside. "Let's just hope that most of our troubles are behind us."
* * * *
Nephili found herself unable to escape Lydia's anger as she waited for the mage scholar, Arniel Gane, to give her an assignment. As soon as Master Tolfdir had indicated the classes destination in the Hall of Elements, the Nord became practically unbearable. The other students who had initially shown their friendliness had quickly backed away and had avoided them entirely during the short trek. Tolfdir had remained oblivious to the heated conversation behind him and had continued to extol the exciting potential of the excavation site as he lead the class to this most ancient city.
Entering into the mausoleum only fueled Lydia's invectives. "My Thane! The actions of this 'College' is nothing more than grave-robbing! You cannot possibly join in the desecration of a city founded by Ysgramor himself!"
Nephili could hardly contain her embarrassment during the past hour as she tried to convince the Nord of the virtues of study and research. The college and its residents were scholars and investigators, here to learn what mysteries the ancients could offer. The efforts of these men and women were going to benefit everyone including Nords. All her words fell on deaf ears.
Standing in dark chambers, the Breton girl found herself isolated from the others as the housecarl continued to vent her displeasure. She had sacrificied everything for this and to have her only companion judge them as thieves and grave-robbers was truly devastating. This was going to be her home; and now, because of the Nords vociferous indignations, whatever companions and friends she could have made seemed to her, unreachable.
Arniel, who had been forced to listen to their bickering, interjected, "Enough! I can't stand the either of you! You are seriously impeding my research! You! You want something to do? Why don't you go kick some dirt over there!" He pointed to the other end of a series of chambers, the furthest point visible to him.
Holding back tears, Nephili nodded at the scholar and walked away trying to find a secluded recess. If this was what the future held, their time together wasn't going to work. She had to set things right and have the housecarl leave her if that's what it took.
Finding a dark corner, the Breton turned to the Nord and began to pour her heart out. "Lydia, I can't do this. I can't be here..."
A great din interrupted her speech, the sound of collapsing stone and a girl yelling reaching into every chamber. The Breton stood for a moment, caught between her emotions and the threatening noises. Recovering herself, she looked to Lydia who was already working her way through the dim hallways and quickly followed.
"Well would you look at that. This appears to lead somewhere. Let's see where it goes."
Master Tolfdir was talking to Brelyna Maryon, one of the other students at the college. Catching sight of their approach, he turned to speak. "Ah, you're just in time. Nephili was it? Brelyna here found a warded amulet along with a passageway into an unknown part of the excavation. Why don't you come along with us? There might be something of interest inside that you could help find and catalog."
The Old Mage turned to follow the Dunmer student who had already disappeared into the darkness. Air long imprisoned spilled forth, calling out to its brethren.
Nephili turned to Lydia, certain to face her objections and the coming trauma. The Nord however, was studying the passageway with alarm, unease written on her face.
"My Thane. This place... it... it doesn't feel right."
Looking back at the ancient tunnel, she felt the housecarl's disquiet and waivered for a moment.
No... I can't stop here. Not after everything...
"Lydia, I... I have an opportunity here to make a good impression on a fellow student and a senior mage. We can still explore without disturbing the dead, right?"
"..."
"Please Lydia,... I need this."
Lydia looked to her Thane to oppose her decision but the young Breton wore an expression that made her hesitate.
You act in ways that a Nord could never understand but risk your life for your beliefs just the same... and you so plainly expose your weaknesses to me...
The Nord warrior exhaled once more then seemed to make a decision.
"I... ...will follow my Thane."
The sudden look of relief practically radiated off the Breton. She smiled gratefully and quickly turned to follow the collegiates into the gloom. Making their way through the dark tunnels, they found themselves standing in a circular room, literally a vertical shaft, with only a narrow bridge to cross the distance. Above and below the slender arch, the chasm reached into the darkness to a distance that the eyes could not see. Adjusting to the dim light, they realized the walls were covered in rough hewn recesses, each one occupied by a coffin. The room smelled of ancient death by the thousands. They moved quickly to leave the grim spectacle behind.
Beyond this lay another series of crumbling tunnels which eventually lead to a heavy set of doors, already opened. As the Nord and the Breton approached, sounds of a raging battle rushed at them. They ran through the entryway and found themselves standing on a rotting balcony with stairs down either side. The space before them was large, triple in height, twice as deep as it was wide. In the rear stood four massive pillars. In between, a glowing orb of blue nearly twice the height of a man spun slowly, humming with incredible energy. Looking almost straight down, they saw a stone chair, a stone table and a powerful undead creature cackling into the void. Welding an ancient axe, the desiccated corpse was pressing the two college mages with mad swings of his weapon.
Master Tolfdir was retaliating with a powerful protection aura and Flames while Brelyna tried her best to support him with her own magics. Realizing the spells were not working, he spoke to the Adept, "That orb is getting in the way. Keep the draugr busy while I try and figure this out."
"I'll try! Julianos help me!" She shot more powerful magics at the back of the creature, momentarily distracting it.
The undead monster, sensing her weakness, turned around and bounded in with furious attack. The apprentice mage backed away, desperately trying to stay outside his reach and stumbled for the effort. She scrambled backwards, trying to get up.
"Lydia!"
"I know!" The Nord shot arrows into the draugr as she made her way down the right hand stairs.
Turning towards the Nord warrior, the creature first tried to wave the arrows away. Angered by this new attacker, it extended his arm and blasted her with a stream of magical Cold. The Nord grunted in pain but continued to aim and fire.
Running to the left hand stairs, Nephili aimed with her hands, trying to get close enough to attack with her own magics. Her thoughts suddenly wandered into the presence of a powerful artifact.
"Brelyna! The staff on the table!"
Master Tolfdir yelled out from the rear. "I got it! He should be more vulnerable now!"
The Dunmer apprentice had managed to scramble back onto her feet and ran over to the staff. The powerful draugr, sensing a greater threat, refocused on the young Adept, entirely unperturbed by Nephili's Flames or Lydia's arrows. He calmly ambled towards the Dunmer, axe held high, ready with killing blow. Nephili watched the scene with growing panic, horrifed by the power this monster exhibited. This was a thing much worse than any sabrecat.
With staff in hand, Breylina turned towards her pursuer and pointed the weapon. A brilliant purple light momentarily flashed into existence, an after-image of a lethal power, followed by a high pitched bark. The draugr burst into flight, hitting the wall just below Nephili's advance and fell to its final resting place. The smell of burning rot and lightning singed the room.
A moment passed before the three could hear again. The Dunmer eased out of her crouch and turned to the new student. "Thanks for that. How did you know the staff would help?"
Nephili held tightly onto her beating heart and stepped gingerly around the corpse to stand before the Dunmer. "I really didn't. It's just that the staff... seemed to radiate power."
The young Adept gazed at the Breton quizzically then smiled. “That’s a rather unique talent you have but I’m glad for it. Ma...”
Master Tolfdir drew the Dunmer’s attention as he stood examining the blue orb. "Absolutely amazing. The Arch-Mage needs to see this for himself. I don't dare leave this unattended. Brelyna, can you return to the College and inform Savos Aren of this discovery? Please, hurry."
Brelyna turned back to her benefactors. "Thank you both. If it wasn't for you two, I'd probably be dead. I have to go but we'll talk later all right?" She ran off to inform the Arch-mage, staff in hand.
Lydia had sheathed her bow and walked over to the stone table. Upon it lay another draugr. This one, thankfully, did not move. Scattered about were rusted tools once used to embalm the dead along with scrolls and parchments. A Writ of Sealing lay before the stone chair.
"Jyrik Gauldurson... it had a Nords name..."
"...I had heard stories. To turn into such a thing, to become undead... may his soul find peace in Sovngarde."
Listening to the housecarls words, Nephili looked upon the very draugr, drawn in by the sad horror. Studying the undead creature, her mind stood before a soft power, radiating eloquent tendrils of magic. Reaching down, she cautiously touched the rotted cuirass, and discovered an amulet lay underneath.
The Nord looked up from the table. "My Thane, if it is all the same to you... I think it would be best for us to leave. This place... is not fit for men."
Sensing the housecarls unease, the young mage simply nodded as the Nord began walking up the steps. Glanced at Lydia’s back, Nephili quickly removed the amulet off the corpse.
She followed the proud warrior out of Saarthal.
* * * *
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