29th of Evening Star

I went back to Mage's College to talk to Urag about these black books and to learn what I can about Mora. While I was there, I found that they've been "gifted" with a Thalmor "advisor". The real term for what he is a spy and a thief. He's here to learn what the College has and see what he can steal from them. He's also just this side of completely incompetent. He's stunningly oblivious to the fact that I'm the dragonborn, despite have ridden off on a dragon that was attacking the college. Some of the mages here were afraid of him, so I've played a very mean prank. I sent for Jenassa who snuck into his room and stole his clothing. I got one of the mages to spell his clothing so that he thinks he's dressed but the clothes are invisible to the rest of us. Jenassa snunk in again and put everything back. He can see them but none of the rest of us can, so the strutting, snobby peacock wanders around with all of his dangly bits on full display.

I've arranged for some visitors to come and observe the spectacle so that perhaps he'll be recalled. I've also discovered that Ice Form works strangely on him, rendering him unconscious until he thaws out and resumes his snobbish swagger. Anytime he starts in with me, I just freeze him and vacate the area. So far, it's been highly amusing and incredibly effective. When a mage from Psijic Order showed up asking for me, I made sure to freeze him again. I told him we had about ten minutes before he thawed out and regained consciousness. I think I got a glimmer of a smirk at that. I also told him not to be surprised if Ancano shows up seemingly naked since we spelled his clothes. I got a glare from Aren but the Psijic Monk stifled a laugh. We talked and when he left, I told Aren that he'd best not tell Ancano or we'd all be in trouble and him most of all for allowing us to do it. Aren wasn't happy but he saw the sense in my warning.

I think I make that man grind his teeth. I'm not much of a mage, outside of enchanting. Most of my magic is inborn and my shouts are the envy of all the destruction mages. They can't seem to figure out how my shouts work anymore than I understand their brand of magic. It frustrates all of them and him in particular. I'm not keen on having a Thalmor here, prowling around. The only trustworthy Thalmor is one that's no longer breathing. Erik and I spoke privately and we'll be sticking around for a while. I'm certain that this is going to go sideways and Ancano will be the reason why.

30th of Evening Star

There's a new class of mages starting and Tolfdir wants to take them to the Saarthal to help with the excavation. I mentioned that there are connections between Saarthal and the Companions so Tolfdir asked if we'd like to join them. I jumped at the chance to see it for myself. They're cataloging the various enchantments that they find on objects in the tomb. One of the mages asked if we'd mind searching around for enchanted objects. There are enchanted rings everywhere. It's hard not to step on them. I don't know what happened here but it is very odd. I spotted an amulet that seemed to be stuck to the wall. Once I was able to pry it lose, it locked us into the room but the wall suddenly went a bit transparent so I shouted at it and it broke, opening up a new area. I saw a pedestal and more coffins so I thought I'd best go make sure it's clear of draugr before these magelings have their careers cut short.

Erik and I went in ahead of everyone, so we had to clear out the draugr. That's my good deed for the day. Tolfdir strolls in once we're done, looks around and asks if we think we can make the rest of this new area safe for the mages. Erik shrugs and nods, so we head into this new part to see what's there and put down any draugr. It's good that we did. I ended up having to recharge Dawnbreaker twice before we were done. We ended up in a big chamber with a levitating spinning blue orb. It's beautiful but it also practically radiates power and danger. I doubt that they'll be able to resist it. For some reason, those that aren't war-gifted seem to lack the concept of leaving things be. They are compelled to go poke that sleeping cave bear. as surely as if I'd laid a geas on them. I don't understand why this but it seems to be a common reaction.

Tolfdir walked in an saw it before I could seal the room back up. The idiots were planning to move it to the college so they can study it, when Erik announced he was hungry. We're off the local inn for some dinner. Tolfdir says he doesn't recognize the script on it, that it's not Daedric, Akavari or Dunmer or Draconic. The hairs on the back of my neck were standing up because I do recognize it. It's Ehlnofey. Ysgramor sketched something similar in one of his journals. I've seen it in the margin. I've not said anything to Tolfdir but this has to be what Psijics didn't want to us to find. Gods help us all, it's back in the world again. Short of sealing the tomb and killing everyone in it, I can't stop them from moving this thing and even then, that would only be temporary at best. I have no way to move it somewhere safer. It looks like Erik and I are along for the ride.

31st of Evening Star

Urag's asked me to go get some books that were stolen from the library that might pertain this orb. One of the books covers the Night of Tears, the Elven invasion and slaughter that wiped out most of Ysgramor's family. Urag says that when a bunch of mages left the college, they stole the books. Aren never sent anyone after the books because no one needed them urgently. Bah! Aren hasn't had anyone capable to send. He wasn't going to send any of these magelings because he knew none of them would be back. If the student doesn't come back, the College isn't going to get tutition next term. Gods know that this place needs to collect all the tuition that it can so it can repair these buildings. Erik and I will go and get these books. Maybe something in them will be helpful. I'm going home first. It's the New Year and I want to celebrate with the girls. We'll go run Aren's little errand after the New Year celebrations. I also need to get the Merry Band and go prowl around the house to take care of any thing that might have wandered up recently. It's been a bit since we've done that. Every so often we get bandits, necromancers, wild animals and even the occasional giant. What is wrong with this land? There must be some ancient curse here. I'm certain that they sold me this spot on purpose.

3rd of Morning Star

We found the keep and Urag was right - again. The idiots attacked on sight so we mowed through them. Erik had a lot to say about it. "They teach these mages really powerful magic - conjuration, illusion, destruction and totally neglect to teach them basic ethics." Sadly, there's a lot of truth in that. They think that a few spells entitles them to end other people's lives just so that they can have an undead pack mule and servant. Enchanted armor, enchanted weapons, a few potions or scrolls, an iron will and good blade is all takes to end these mages. Most of the time with hardly a scratch to us. I found the erstwhile student locked in a cell in the dungeon by his former friends. I suggested that he be smarter about picking his friends and sent him packing. Erik and I went in search of this Caller. If the dead in this place are any indication, they've been experimenting on live subjects. I don't plan to leave any of them still breathing when Erik and I walk out of here. We finally found the Caller and had to endure a big speech about how we've disrupted her research. Oh yes, I saw your research. Filthy necromancers. I have the books and the Caller is off to whatever plane of Oblivion she traded her soul for.

5th of Morning Star

I'm back at the college and Urag's not sure that the books are helpful. They're pertinent but lacking details. I'm not sure what we're going to do but that thing, beautiful as it is, sets my nerves on edge. Ancano isn't helping either. The students, bless them, hate him and they've not told him that I'm dragonborn. They've only told him that I'm another student. That prank with the clothes is having unexpected dividends. I'm one of them now instead of the odd ball outsider. I still grin when I see Ancano strutting around with his chest puffed out and naked as a newborn. The Psijics showed up again and told me to consult with the Augur of Dunlein. Apparently, tinkering with magic can go horribly wrong and leave you fused to the energy flows that caused the College to be built here in the first place. I'm off to go prowl through the midden until I can find him. Apparently, he's closer to the source of the energies there.

We found him. I pity him. Gods what a fate. Despite or perhaps because of his loss of humanity, he's been helpful. He'd told me that I have to find the Staff of Magus since its the only thing that might be able to control the sphere. Mirabelle says that the Synod mages that were here went to Mzulft looking for a way to locate the staff so we're off to go romp through an another Dwermer ruin. We've geared up for fighting the machines and the falmer. At least I can use the soul gems I get from the machines to keep my blades fully functional. This one shouldn't be as bad as Blackreach but we're prepared in case it is. I packed more food this time.

8th of Morning Star

There was a mage that was dying right inside the door when we got there. He was gone before I could get a potion into him. Damn and blast. We slaughtered falmer to reach the device and there was only one Synod mage left alive when we finally reached it. He's mad as a hatter. He's clearly been here alone far too long and loosing his good sense. He's two matchsticks away from that nutter out on the ice pack. He needs to get back above ground and the path behind us is safe enough if he wants to leave. It took some convincing, but I was finally able to get him to help me. He kept rambling about how nothing will work with out some crystal. It took a few minutes before I realized I'd found it. I had thought it was a gem of some kind when I picked it up off a falmer. The mighty Synod mage had no idea how to operate the device. I wanted to ask why he'd bothered coming here all the way from Cyrodiil if he couldn't figure out how to push some buttons and manipulate a Dwermer contraption. Maybe I'm better at this mage stuff than I thought.

I managed to get the crystal seated properly but it wouldn't focus properly. I had to shout at the crystal a few times to get it to focus properly and then fiddle with the dwermer contraption but it finally worked. It seems that the Staff is in Labyrinthian. I told the mage he should leave by the path I've cleared while it remains clear enough for him to get out in one piece. The look on his face when I told him that I'm not even an apprentice at the College and I managed save his hide and his pet project. Almost as good as Ancano strutting around shaking his dangly bits at everyone.

We went back to the College to tell them where we're going only to find that Ancano has gone full-on psychopath nutter. He's thrown up some kind of a ward or barrier and is mucking around with that sphere. I knew one of these mages wasn't going to be able to resist poking the cave bear. Right in the eye, this time. I shout at the barrier while Aren casts a spell and Mirabelle tries to dispel it. It gave but it blew out in huge explosion. I'm wearing armor so I get hammered pretty good. I'm out for a few seconds but that's all. I come to and see Erik's face leaning in and smiling in relief when my eyes open. A quick pat to his cheek tells him I'm alright and then he helped me up. I'm wobbly but on my feet. I made my way over to Mirabelle. Mirabelle is half-dead but I managed to get a potion into Mirabelle before she got any worse. She sends me looking for Aren and Aren is all the way dead. Damn that Ancano. It's too late for Aren. He's gone. I'm going to have to go get that blasted staff. I tell Mirabelle that we're headed to Labyrinthian. When I said it was Labyrinthian, Mirabelle gave me something. It looks almost like a torc but it's too big and too heavy for someone's neck. She seemed to think I'd need it since Aren left it for me. Maybe what it's for will become clear when I get there.