Sillyman59
Carantathraiel
AlteredTundra
ayzrules
Shu
Spoopy Scary
MacabreFox
Shin Ghost Note
Vesnic
CaliforniaState
Inside the college...
Farid whipped around, dagger clutched tightly in hand. There was a good distance between him, and fate would have it, a Nord. A smiling face appeared in sight. A bit starved and unclean, yes, but still a man cracking grins around his pipe. Farid slowly walked sideways, narrowing his eyes to size up the latest mage. Sebastian seemed friendly enough, and as Farid lowered his guard after several seconds, the first Breton he spotted was no longer there.
Of course, Farid's comrades wouldn't have the slightest clue about that Breton. Perhaps Farid was seeing things, or maybe it was an illusion conjured up by someone like Keegan. As the rest did their meet-and-greet, Farid shuffled around looking for the mystery mage. Maybe he lost the mage, or the mage lost Farid. Either way, no one was in the place he saw earlier.
Ariane and S'riracha were the last two up. Ariane went and introduced herself to Sebastian, but S'riracha stood coyly behind everyone. The others did most of the talking, which meant all that was left was walking towards the Hall of Elements.
“Listen,” Farid rounded up the rear and said to Ariane, “I think I saw someone shady over there.” The Redguard's head darted around anxiously. “I'll wait out here. Do that detection spell and watch out.” He sighed in resignation of bring stuck in the blizzard and not able to tease Sagax.
Ariane lit up her detect life once more, and the feedback was a cluster of lifeforms behind the stone walls. These were the bulk of the signatures seen from underground. Some of them bore strong arcane auras, while another bunch barely had any life at all. However, there was also an uneasy feeling when casting her spell. As if her veins suddenly tightened , the flow of magicka felt stunted. The interferences came from somewhere in the college, the sky and the harrowing ocean all around. A smaller being in this location was responsible for the quick and frequent stutters, while the wounded landscape felt like capping Ariane's potential as a whole.
“I don't like this place.” Ariane told S'riracha. Underneath her parka and robe, something hot suddenly came to life. It was the strange, skull shaped necklace she received from the shopkeeper in Windhelm. According to Ander, it was supposedly the Necromancer's Amulet stolen from the court mage.
“Hush.” Ariane took off the amulet and muzzled it with a silence spell. It had remain dormant, and forgotten since the company's escape. She wore it without incident until now. The amulet was bolstering her magicka against the barriers all around, but at the same time, felt extremely tiring just around her neck. So when the silence spell finally tamed the glow, Ariane decided to stash it away in her parka pocket instead.
“What a curious trinket.” S'riracha commented. His eyes were transfixed while the Amulet glowed.
“Just a little enchantment.” Ariane dismissed. “Let's keep moving.” She paced ahead to join Roze and Sebastian.
“I am not seeing any more of those, “magic ball” things.” S'riracha injected himself between Sagax and Solveig.
“You don't trust these people too, yes?” In his strange accent, S'riracha said to the red-headed Nord. “I'd say at least one of them is dishonest, and if we find that someone, we should end them.”
Then the great doors leading to the Hall of Elements threw open, revealing a cadre of mages. Taking the lead was a short Breton woman dressed in a restorationist's robes; blood stains dotted the robe.
“Sebastian Vorell!” The petite healer barked. “I told you to apply the healing scrolls; they are a perfectly valid school of magic!” She looked like she was going to yell at Sebastian some more, but her face turned from annoyance to fright when the group of rescuers appeared.
“Who are they?” The Breton raised an eyebrow. At her flank, other mages went to ignite spells or pulling out weapons.
“I am Ariane Fontaine, mystic of the College of Whispers.” Ariane stepped up with her hands raised. “Uh, former mystic. Anyways, these people with me are here to help, to evacuate you onto ships below.” She added. “And can you please lower the weapons, milady? It's rather rude to greet someone like that.”
“You are?” An Altmer sorceress spoke up. She was the first to extinguish her fire spell, and with a nod, others immediately followed suit. “Well, come inside and see what you can do. And Colette, stay with your patients, please.”
“Alright, alright.” Colette answered. “See Drevis,” she smiled to a Dunmer, “I told you they would come.”
“Urgh.” Grumbled Drevis.
“Please forgive Colette Marence, she's been rather, encouraged, at the use of her abilities.” The Altmer sorceress led everyone into the great hall. “Name is Faralda, interim head of the college.”
The Hall of Elements was a circular room, supported by tall stone columns and punctuated with an energy well in the center. The granite floor would normally be aged, but well polished, now sullen with litter, dirt and blood. Tall and slim windows separated the outside from inside, though a select few were broken, adding glass shards to an already busy floor. Beyond the energy well's glow, light seeped of magical orbs seated on pedestals. Shadows filled the room, and with the calamity out and under, this was a gloomy place indeed.
Colette knelt with her apprentices and the most gravely wounded. They were set between cots and crates opposite of the doorway. On the right side, several mages attempted to nail a piece of wood over a shattered window. They were combining traditional tools with alteration techniques, but in spite of all their efforts, nothing held off the winds. Barrels and sleeping rolls dominated the left side, it was there several fires were lit. The majority of the occupants gathered there as well, some slept and some passed time with simple tasks; not many panicked. Lastly, series of tables and chairs scattered around the well. The few occupants center-stage all wore more elaborate outfits, likely denoting their higher ranks. Alchemical and arcane equipment could be found there, accompanied by stacked pages.
“Lots of survivors here.” Ariane noted. Indeed, the number of mages dwarfed the rescuers at a first glance. It was difficult to estimate how many were here, but it was certain the trip back was going to be a crowded one.
“What happened exactly.” Ariane asked.
Faralda would talk about Archmage Ykaron leaving two weeks ago, and in the course of one week, a fleet of ships would bend weather to their will. No, not Kamal ironclads, Faralda explained. One student was testing enchanted telescopes that day, and according to him, a dozen ships of rectangular shapes, ruffle-like sails were definitely wooden on the exterior. The ships carried mages, and those mages would pour energies stored on outlandish devices into the sea and sky, causing the landslide and many thunderbolts that were responsible for the college's damage. The college remained standing, and perhaps it was the same reason it withstood the first disaster. The structures were solid, maybe so as Shalidor blessed this very place with his essence. The greatest damage came not from beyond, but rather within. As one lightning struck the upper floor of the students' quarters, it found stashes of arcane charge someone hid to smuggle away. In short, too many deaths could be blamed on one greedy individual.
“We buried the dead in the courtyard, and burned the rest.” Faralda concluded. “Too many of us sleep cold, on empty stomachs.” She sighed, waving across the hall. “Despite our difference with the town, we did rely on them for essentials.”
“Well, we will try to evacuate as many as possible.” Ariane said, for once, she seemed genuinely saddened by what she saw. “But I do not think we have the room for everyone, at least not possible sailing this kind of weather. We did bring supplies though, so that might alleviate your problems.” She beckoned a bag-carrying sailor.
“I understand.” Faralda nodded solemnly. “Most of us, the faculties, are unhurt. The apprentices took the brunt of it when their hall exploded; take them to safety first.” The sorceress walked to the a table in the center, grabbing several sheets that looked like attendance papers. “Plus, I don't think old Urag is leaving without his books.”
“Tell your subordinates to mingle with us. You should evacuate those Colette cared, and whoever else you think is necessary. There is a few more upstairs, in the library. Give them the supplies and be gentle, we have not seen anything like this since the death of Archmage Aren.” Faralda plopped down on the closest chair, rubbing her jaw and throwing the papers aside. “Pardon me, this is just, too much. I'm a sorceress, for Magnus' sake, not some steward or 'refugee coordinator'.”
Ariane stood there blank-faced, not certain what to say. Soon enough, she relayed the word to mercenaries and sailors, sending them on their way. Faralda was still in the same chair, leaning back with a tired expression showing how overwhelmed she was. Eventually, Ariane pulled up another chair and sat beside the Altmer. She placed a gentle hand on Faralda's shoulder, causing the latter to let out a weary breath.
“I'm sorry for your losses.”
