Archer and I went immediately to the Arcane University and quickly spotted a field of six feet tall flowers with purple petals and a black core. We went into the small field and looked around. Sure enough, I stubbed my toe on a trapdoor. I called to Archer, who was searching in another area, and I flipped the door open. It revealed a dark hole with a ladder into the unknown.
"It looks like we're going down." I said grimly. I decided to go down first, followed shortly by Archer. The climb down was long, and it turned pitch black fast. After a minute of climbing or so, we finally hit stone ground. My hand sparked with white flames that illuminated a dark hallway. Had I mentioned it was dark?
Archer and I slowly ventured down the hallway, my companion's sword drawn and my non-lamp hand read to cast a shock spell if needed. The hallway lead to a large, closed wooden door. I saw light coming from underneath it. My hand's flames died down and I looked to the white haired warrior, who nodded reassuringly. I slowly edged open the door and peeked my head out.
What I saw was disturbing. Zaron, Cassandra, Ionna, and Wheedle were standing in the center of a large chamber, not restrained or anything, but they seemed disoriented. I sensed brainwashing magic at work.
What's worse, a small red-robed Redguard man was holding the Tome of Saint Paladas, reciting something in an odd language. There were several robed cultists around the chamber. "Kath'e larsennos, eros c'f'er. Cinthe glesb Avaros no delir fa'don."
I nudged Archer. "I remember that chant!" I whispered. "They're trying to summon Avaros's spirit! Stop them! Go, now!" I finished and Archer and I ran out at the same time.
"Kath'e nison, kath'e ron!" The Redguard continued, but not for long. With a single swipe of his sword, Archer cut the man's head right off his shoulders. A grabbed the Tome and tried to shake off some of the blood on it. The other cultists sprang into action at this point. I put my hands together and shot a wall of flames out that hit at least three of them. They crumpled to the ground screaming in pain.
They were unarmed, so Archer made quick work of the rest.
Suddenly with a large boom Archer was knocked back to the far side of the wall and was knocked out. I looked to what had caused it. A dark-haired heavyset Imperial with a large, bushy moustache, and of course, draped in a red robe, stood at the other end of the chamber. He must have been the mage who brainwashed the others.
"Give in peacefully, my friend." The man commanded. "You will not feel pain."
I scoffed. "Fat chance at that." And I cast a bolt of fire at him. He countered it with a deadly looking purple ray and we were locked in a battle of magicka.