White Lies

In the end, there were only two 'permanent' casualties on the College's side. With everyone sitting behind Atronachs and throwing spells at random, only the truly unlucky were actually injured. One guy had his hand crippled by a berserk Apprentice's shock spell, and another lost three fingers to frostbite... He hadn't been hit by any spells, he'd just forgotten to wear proper clothing...

Of course, Michael took the responsibility of investigating Malyn's cave... Also taking the responsibility of 'recovering' the many resources that'd been left behind there. Now in his inventory, he had enough shit to make a hundred or so Atronachs, not to mention the many, many alchemy materials he'd gift to the girls once they got back.

He did hand the other Apprentice Malyn's research papers so that they could show it to the Arch-Mage as evidence. Which was good enough recompense considering that Michael had also stolen all the enchanting tables that Malyn had.

All in all, it was a good haul. Plus, no one had died, so that's something... Michael did wonder what happened to Nelacar, he'd left the College with Malyn, but hadn't been here. He reckoned that the guy had been sacrificed or something

The one thing that did bother him was the response that Illococoo had gotten when she'd revealed her Thu'um... The Nords had started calling her 'Dragon Tongue', while some of the other races had named her 'The Noisy One'. Hopefully, no one would stumble onto the truth... He had no doubt that the mages in the College would break whatever rules they could to dissect the 'last living dragon'.

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Name : Michael Tahlin

Rank : Hero

Stats :

Strength : 28 > 29

Agility : 47.2 > 49.6

Intelligence : 35 > 37

Birthsign : The Mage

Abilities :

[The Mage] : Enables user to learn all magic-based skills 20% faster.

[Gandalfr] : Enables user to utilise any weapon at two ranks above their current proficiency while granting them the knowledge necessary to use them. While wielding a weapon, temporarily gain +100% in all stats.

[Language Comprehension] : Enables user to understand all spoken tongues, and increase the rate of which they learn reading and writing.

[Basic Mana Manipulation] > [Novice Mana Manipulation] : Allows user more control over his magic, spells, and some abilities. Mana efficiency and control of power is increased.

[Pain Tolerence] : Allows user to endure great amounts of pain with little to no negative effects as a result.

[Apprentice basic Swordsmanship(Two handed swords/One handed swords)] : Determines how skilful the user is when handling swords.

[Apprentice basic Dagger techniques(Single edge, curved, straight, double edge.)] : Determines how skilful the user is when handling daggers.

Affinities :

[Lesser Water Affinity], [Fire Affinity], [Lesser Lightning Afffinity], [Lesser Darkness Affinity]

Spirits :

Commoner Tier :

Shadow Shaman : MAX

Slark : Lvl MAX

Riki : Lvl MAX

Hero Tier :

Anti-Mage : MAX

Lina : Lvl 10 > 14

Magic :

Tamrielic

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Spirit : Lina

Level : 10 > 14

Abilities :

Convection (Rank 1) : Allows user to float half a meter in the air by channelling a small continuous amount of mana. The height the user can levitate can be increased by using a substantially higher amount of mana. The highest speed the user can reach while using this is half of their regular movement speed.

Dragon Slave (Rank 4) : User fires a wave of scorching flames that mimic the shape of a dragon.

Light Strike Array (Rank 3) : User channels the sun's energies into a focal point that blasts an area with solar fire. Stuns, damages, and blinds enemies caught in it, vampires also take double damage. Cannot be used without sunlight or another energy source.

Fiery Soul (Rank 4) : Flames enhance user after every spell cast, granting them extra movement speed and attack speed. This bonus stacks with every spell cast, once enough stacks have been gathered, enemies in an area around user will take continuous fire damage. Can be turned off.

Laguna Blade (Rank 2) : User fires a powerful bolt of lightning at a single enemy. No cooldown but expends a large amount of mana.

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The exp he'd gained wasn't bad either, especially considering that Charlotte had been the one to kill Malyn. The worth of an Atronach was suspect though, a Frost Atronach would be akin to a young elephant in strength... Did the person who originally summoned it determine how much exp it granted? Was it how many resources were used to construct its body in this plane? Or was it down to the strength of its soul that'd been pulled over from Oblivion?

Most importantly, could he gain exp from his own summons? Yeah, he'd have to try it once he was able to Conjure some creatures.

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If the Apprentices thought that they'd be welcomed back like heroes from war, they were sadly mistaken. No one came to greet them as they returned to Winterhold, no one aside from the Jarl who looked just as angry as he did when he confronted the Arch-Mage...

"Well!? You sorry lot better have word, or I'll-"

"Respectfully, you'll do what, Jarl? The Arch-Mage is our only considered authority." Michael interjects, having been pushed to the front of the group by the other Apprentices, hoping to see him get chewed out by the Jarl at their expense. "We may have accepted the task you commissioned, but you hold nothing over us. You are just the ruler of something that couldn't even be called a village. If not for the College, you'd be on the streets of Riften, homeless." he states, causing a silence was over the area...

The Jarl stares at Michael for a bit, his previously angry expression calming and moving into 'mild irritation', "So, some mages do have spines. I'd expected you to shit yourself and beg for forgiveness at failing the task." he says with crossed arms... Was this a Nord thing? Facing off and playing chicken to see who'd break first?

Michael ignores all this for now and instead tilts his head, "Failed the task? Where'd you hear that? We found the dead and killed the mage who raised them. That's what you asked for, right?"

"Yes, and no. I wanted the bodies recovered so they could be laid to rest again." the Jarl retorts.

Michael shrugs, "Well, have someone go wheel the dead back here then. You'll find them on the other side of the mountain fifteen miles from here. Er, some of the corpses may not be... In a recoverable state."

"Recoverable state?" the Jarl parrots, clearly not understanding what he meant.

"Like, blown to pieces... Or burned, or squashed, or frozen... That sort of thing." Michael explains, inwardly grimacing at the steadily growing anger on the Jarl's face. Seems he was on a hair-trigger or something, quick to calm and anger...

"Y-you desecrated the dead!?"

"My Jarl, surely you didn't expect us to bring back the undead unharmed? We'd have been torn apart if we tried!" Borvir says.

The Jarl shakes his head, "I expected them to be cut down! Not blown into unrecognisable chunks! My ancestors are among those bodies!"

Michael gives another uncaring shrug, "Don't hire bomb makers to clean a house if you want a house to return to. Most of us are mages, I.E, people who specialize in explosions. Now, if you don't mind we need to report to the Arch-Mage." he says, giving a nod and walking past, followed by the other Apprentices.

Once they reach the bridge that leads to the College, Michael looks over his shoulder at the group, "No one tell the Jarl that it was one of ours that stole the bodies..."

Borvir laughs, "Yeah, he'd probably bring a pickaxe to take down the College himself..." he says, causing a few to laugh at the thought.