The party looked to J'zargo, curious. Quill-Finder was the first to respond. "What is it that you need?"
"J'zargo has seen that Tolfdir likes you." the khajiit nodded, "You must be very skilled in magic, yes?"
"No matter." J'zargo began rummaging through his bag. "J'zargo is working hard, but cannot do it alone. can you help with this?"
"Depends." Lydia interjected, her arms crossed "What is it that you're asking for?"
the Khajiit nodded. "J'zargo has worked hard on learning new spells, trying new things. this makes J'zargo stand out as a mage. but J'zargo works so hard, there is no time to test these new spells..."
he produced a number of scrolls, holding them out to Quill-Finder. "If you help with testing, this will make learning easier."
J'zargo further explained that the scrolls were a new flame cloak spell that he designed with the intent of making them incredibly potent against the undead.
With a gentle nod, Quill-Finder accepted the scrolls. as she studied them, she noticed something. the weave of magic seemed slightly off, but she assumed it was simply a side-effect of tampering with the spell. she offers a confirming nod, taking hold of the scrolls.
"Now that we've agreed to help you," Lydia stepped in. "Maybe you could help us."
"Of course!" J'zargo nodded. "It is only fair."
Illia responded. "We're looking for someone called the "Augur of Dunlain?"
J'zargo blinked. "The what of what? No, J'zargo doesn't know." there was a pause while he thought. "If it is important, maybe Tolfdir knows... he seems to know a lot."
Taking J'zargo's advice, Quill-Finder decided to ask Tolfdir abut the Augur of Dunlain.
"Well now." he responded, "That's a name I haven't heard of in some time. My goodness, it's been years since I've spoken to him."
Tolfdir thought for a moment. "I suppose he's sill down in the Midden. Though I haven't checked." He smiled. "Are you going to see him? do tell him 'hello' for me, would you?"
Quill-Finder nodded. "where's the Midden?"
"Oh, underneath the College." Tolfdir stated. "It's not the nicest place, so if you're going down there, do be careful."
"Great, thank you!" Quill-Finder smiled, turning to rejoin her companions.
"Of course, it was my pleasure." Tolfdir smiled, returning to his studies once more.
as Quill-Finder rejoined with her friends, she smiled. "We have a direction."
"Under the college?" Illia asked
"Mmhm!" Quill-Finder nodded, as she fiddled with the locks of the doors leading deeper below. "Apparently, he was a student that got greedy with power, and he had an accident. now he's fused with the magic of the college."
"Quill, nothing against mages, why is it that they're always getting themselves into trouble?"
Quill-Finder shrugged. "Pursuit of knowledge often means taking risks, I guess."
Illia shrugged in agreement, thinking back to the hag ravens.
Lydia simply grumbled. "At least a sword won't vaporize you by mistake."
there was a silence. before finally an audible 'click' "Ah-ha!" Quill-Finder pushed the doors open, smiling. "And we're in!"
The Midden was dark. it was wet. some might even say slimy. and though it didn't immediately speak of the dangers down the, Quill-Finder did not have to walk far to find out. The Midden was laden with skeletal remains of years past. some chained to walls, while others were laid out on the floor. the surroundings betraying the gruesome reality of the college's underbelly.
Long since dried blood coated cages. furniture. walls. For all of the pristine image of students learning from books, this was the horrifying reality of magic. and more importantly, how it was learned.
she hoped that this was a long-forgotten part of the College's history, but the disgust remained.
"Quill...?" Lydia asked. she could see the repulsion on Quill-Finder's face.
the lizard's mind replayed the the scenes of Fellglow keep over and over. students learning magic, no repercussions or barriers. Necromancy, destruction, summoning. all tested on live subjects. people. Sure, the subjects at the keep were vampires, but it still felt inhumane in every sense.
The sheer thought of the College once engaging in similar behavior made her stomach churn.
"Let's make this quick..." Quill-Finder responded.
As they pushed deeper in the Midden, it grew colder with every passing moment. a voice echoed, a man's. "There is no help for you here."
The group stopped there was a look of concern on everyone's faces until Quill-Finder spoke. "I guess we're on the right track...?"
Lydia simply gave a nervous chuckle before the party pushed forward
As they pushed deeper, Illia stopped. "hey," she whispered. "Do you hear that?"
the other two stopped and listened. at first, they didn't hear anything. but soon, there it was. the creaking of bone. the unmistakable sound of an animated skeleton.
Quill-Finder pulled out one of J'Zargo's scrolls, exchanging a look with her two companions.
Illia shrugged, while Lydia gestured forward.
with a smile, Quill-Finder stepped a couple inches away from the party and activated the scroll. it crumbled away in her hands, and she could feel herself imbued with the scroll's energy. Within seconds, she was surrounded with magical flame, coating every aspect of her form. and with a renewed determination, she charged in.
The Skeleton locked its vacuous sight on the argonian, its jaw chattering as it readied its weapon and moved to engage.
the detonation threw the argonian against the wall as she was rained upon with the shrapnel of the skeleton's remains. all Quill-Finder could do was stare at where the Skeleton once stood. the charcoal dusting as the only clue that it was there.
Lydia and Illia rushed in, weapons drawn, until their sight landed on a stunned, but still breathing, Quill-Finder.
"What the hell happened?" Lydia asked, surveying the room.
Quill-Finder could barely tear her eyes away from the floor blackened from the fire. "... It exploded."
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