Lucy's Journal #20: Dovahkiin Goes to College

  • 9th of Frostfall, 4E 201.

    Ever since I started traveling, people have been telling me to check out the College of Winterhold to learn more about magic. I’ve never been particularly interested.  I figured I could learn on my own from books, build on what Ma had showed me, practice on random monsters… Who needs teachers?  So when the Graybeards told me to go to the College for information on the Elder Scrolls, it was just another job. 

    The half-ruined and half abandoned town of Winterhold itself did not inspire me to change my mind at all.  Nevertheless, when I was challenged at the gate, it seemed easiest to pretend, at least for a while, to be interested in studying. I demonstrated my Clear Skies Shout to the gatekeeper to convince her to let me in.  She led me across a long, crumbling bridge to the main courtyard, where she directed me to another woman named Mirabelle, who presented me with a set of novice robes and gave me a tour of the facilities.  First thing she showed me was the Hall of Countenance.  She showed me into a sleeping room with a lion skin on the wall, a full bed, a wardrobe, and a desk cluttered with soul gems, alchemical ingredients and several bottles of mead and wine.  “This will be your room,” she told me.

    In stunned silence, I looked around the room.  It was larger than my family’s home in the Warrens.  It was nicer than any room at any inn where I had spent the night.  Simply by joining the College, I had entered the ranks of the rich and comfortable.  I imagined what it would be like to stay here as a student and study magic full time.  I could be well fed and warm while I studied, and I would have private space to set my things down.  I could sleep in a full bed with nice blankets every night. 

    “What is expected of me here?” I asked Mirabelle.

    “There are no expectations,” she told me.  “You may study what interests you at your own pace.  We simply ask that you devote yourself to the study of magic and you openly share any knowledge you gain with the rest of us.”

    Free food, free lodgings, free clothing, and a free quest for knowledge--I felt like I had unwittingly stumbled into Paradise. I wondered whether a student could get decent mead down in town.

    The tour apparently over, I set out to explore on my own.  I took the stairs to the second floor and found myself in the library.  The librarian was an orc.  I got the impression that he’d been with the college since the Third Era.  So to all those bigots who’ve ever told me that orcs can’t do magic, take that!  Perhaps this was a place I could fit in.

    “Well?” he demanded gruffly, startling me out of my reverie.  “Do you want to look something up, or do you just like the smell of the books?”

    “Uh… Elder Scrolls,” I told him, because it was the first thing that popped into my head.  He had two books on the subject, which he was willing to loan me after telling me that he’d murder me if I harmed them in any way.  The first book detailed exactly how the Scrolls would drive a person insane and blind who read them.  The other book was clearly written by a half-blind madman.  I asked the librarian about it, and he told me that the author, despite his unfortunate condition, was the foremost expert on the Elder Scrolls, and that he lived out on the ice in the Sea of Ghosts north of the College.

    I realized with a start it was time for the lecture Mirabelle had told me about.  I tried the lecture hall, but they weren’t there.  Had I missed it?  I wandered around, peeking through doors, looking for a classroom or a hall that I had somehow missed on the tour. Perhaps Mirabelle had forgotten to show me?  I grew anxious as I realized I was going to walk in late.

    I finally found the professor standing outside on the bridge, three apprentices debating spiritedly (well, arguing) with him. As I walked up, he turned to me and said, “What do you think?”

    I froze like I’d been caught with my hand in someone’s pocket.  I had no idea what they’d been talking about.  I’d heard the words “caution” and “practical” and that was about it.  I stuttered out, “Ah… I think… safety is… important?”

    “Very wise!” he said, so apparently I had said the right thing.  “Before you learn anything else, you should learn your Ward.  Luciana, would you be willing to demonstrate your Ward?”

    “Word?” I thought. “What Word?”  Suddenly the bridge shook, and all three apprentices and the professor began throwing flames and sparks into the sky.  It took me a long moment to realize that the College was under attack by a dragon.  I joined the effort to bring it down, and the battle was fairly quick with so much power flowing.

    It made me realize though that I could not put off my mission.  There was no safe place where I could turn my back on the world.  My troubles would always find me until I dealt with them.  Reluctantly, I went back to my dorm room, picked up my pack, and with one last caress of the blankets, I set out to find the madman on the ice.

     

Comments

2 Comments
  • Piper Jo
    Piper Jo   ·  January 3, 2012
    Mitch,
    That is funny, but makes sense, as we've both been generally following the main quest line.  I suspect that will change pretty soon, as Lucy stumbles on her path.
  • Mitch Brendard
    Mitch Brendard   ·  January 3, 2012
    for about the last 4 entries you and me have been in the exact same spots and same progression through the game, its weired, ill do something in the game, scroll down the home page for this website and pretty much find a summary of what i just did lol.