Machinations

Jarl Korir's longhouse was modest compared to most other Jarls. There were 2 stories and quite a large hall, but the decorations were spartan. There were a few rooms throughout the longhouse which housed the Jarl's family and the staff. Still, it was a comfortable place to live.

Korir's wife, Thaena, had taken Assur and Eirid to one of the rooms to rest and recover. Thaena seemed dedicated not to let her son out of her sight. Rictus had given the boy some healing but using restoration magic to restore his hand was far beyond his capabilities. Regrowing limbs was a tricky business. It was much more difficult to use restoration magic for recovering lost limbs. Reattaching limbs was not quite so difficult but still required a master to do it properly.

Jarl Korir studied Rictus with a critical eye. Rictus was a little different than most mages Korir had encountered. While not the tallest man, Rictus was still as tall as most Nords. Instead of the build of a scholar, he was extremely muscular with very little fat on him. The way he easily carried the massive ax on his back was an indicator on his strength. Korir was also surprised at Rictus's nature. Many mages were arrogant about their power, while Rictus seemed quite normal. Korir was at a bit of a loss for what to do with the mage. Rictus had saved his son which immediately makes him grateful to the man, but he was still a mage and most likely here for the college. Instead of worrying about it, Korir just decided to ask.

"So why did you come to these parts? As a mage, I can only believe you decided to visit the damn college. Based on your recommendations though, it seems you hold no love for the place. What is it you want?"

Rictus seemed to think over the question. He really wasn't 100% sure what he wanted at the moment. He knew he wanted to learn more about magic and how it works, but was there anything else he really wanted to accomplish? While not a lore junky, Rictus still knew about some of the basic things about to happen to Skyrim, namely the dragons and civil war. Nothing was set in stone though about how things would play out, or even if things would still be the same. Him standing here was proof of how things can be different.

"…Honestly, all I had planned was to try and learn more about my magic and how it works. The college was the best place in Skyrim to do that. I do know of some troubling things to come which will require me to be as strong as possible if I want to survive. I guess as of now, I want to be able to have a comfortable life and do as I please. I don't really have any loyalty to anyone in Skyrim since I am not from here. I will admit to not being a fan of the Thalmor. They seem to want to ruin everything."

Korir couldn't help but laugh at that last part.

"Haha well I agree with your thoughts on those milk drinkers. They have no place here in Skyrim."

Rictus gave Korir a contemplating look. He decided not to over think it.

"Honestly, I do have a piece of interesting information regarding the Thalmor. I know you hate the college, but would you believe me if I told you, it was a Thalmor agent which caused this mess? That the college had found an ancient magical artifact, and the Thalmor decided to use it for his own gain?"

Korir was taken aback. How would Rictus know about this if he just got into town? It did make some sense though. Relations with the college had been getting better recently, and the attack had come out of nowhere. He had also heard from his guardsmen about a Thalmor being in the college and mages complaining about him. This whole stunt did sound exactly like something the Thalmor would try.

"If this is true, why did you not try and help the mages more? Your plan regarding my men leading the monsters to the mages seems like it would hurt the mages."

Rictus simply shrugged at this.

"Well even if the Thalmor did this, the mages still let it happen, so they are partially at fault here. I mean who would leave the artifact unguarded with a known Thalmor agent living there."

Korir nodded at this. He also felt the same way even after believing it was the fault of the Thalmor. Rictus wasn't quite done though.

"Also, you and your men were furious at the mages. It would not have been easy to dissuade you all in that setting. You all wanted blood, and I thought my suggestion would be a way to relieve tension without unnecessary bloodshed. Besides, it will do those mages good to get some more practical experience with their magic. Sitting around all day in the college is not good for them. They need to be out experiencing at least some of the world. Maybe it would even make some of the less arrogant."

Korir couldn't help but appreciate this logic. He felt a little bit of anger at being manipulated in such a way, but he could not fault the logic. If he had decided to attack the mages, it would have been a very bloody affair, especially with more of those creatures on the way. As much as he hated the mages, he cared for his people more. A war with the mages was not something that would end well. Korir couldn't help sighing at the situation.

"You are right. I don't like it, but you are right. Winterhold used to be the seat of power in Skyrim. Now, it is just a shell of its former self. None of the other Holds even pay us any attention, just the college. The only traders who come through here are to try and get enchanted items from the college."

Rictus felt a little bad for the Jarl. Besides the college, there really was no reason to visit this place. Still, the college should make this place strong instead of taking away from it. Rictus was a little curious if he could help change Winterhold. He wasn't truly convinced, but it could be interesting to try and help Korir out a bit just to see where this goes.

"Hmm as much as you would hate to admit it, the college does make this Hold notable. I know you hate the thought of that, but it is the truth."

Korir appeared angered by Rictus's statement but did not interrupt Rictus.

"You may not recognize it, but you do hold power over the college. Think about it. There is a single bridge leading out of it. There is probably a hidden passageway leading out to the water, but I doubt it is un use. This means you control what comes in and out of the place, especially things like food."

Korir seemed to have calmed down and was listening to what Rictus had to say.

"Who ever controls the food, controls the people. Who ever controls the people, controls the land. Who ever controls the land, controls the food. This loop is what keeps you in control. The mages are not going to be growing their food. I bet they primarily rely on your fishermen and what food you can sell them. Winter is tough here, but your people are the ones who have adapted and learned to survive on the land. Without you and your people providing the bulk of their food, the mages would not survive here and would have to move somewhere else. I doubt they would take kindly to moving since most the other holds have more population and guards which would mean the college would be under a much closer watch."

Korir was nodding along at this point. What Rictus said made a lot of sense. While the college did trade some enchanted items, they mostly got money from their trades. The money was usually spent on more magical materials and ingredients. Winterhold did provide the majority of the food consumed at the college. Also, the guardsmen did not go into the college which left them to be very independent. Maybe Rictus was on to something. Could there be more he could get from the mages? Korir doubted he would ever like the college. He didn't like horses either but still used them.

Korir and Rictus were interrupted before they could talk further. A guard came in leading the Altmer woman from before. She was wearing traditional mages robes which looked a little worse for wear. There had been another 2 waves of magical anomalies while Rictus and Korir were talking. She spared Rictus a quick glance before turning back to the Jarl.

"Jarl Korir. I am here to inform you about what is going on here. A Thalmor named Ancano is the culprit behind this disaster. He has currently locked himself in the college with a powerful artifact. The other masters of the college are currently holding back the magic from expanding more. We have teams of mages in the town as well fighting off the magical anomalies produced by the artifact."

Korir couldn't help but glance over at Rictus as she was talking. She had confirmed everything Rictus had told him at the beginning. How Rictus already knew, Korir was not sure. It did make him trust the mage more though. The mages at the college had not given him any warning and were only just now coming to him after battles had been going on for some time.

Things were going to have to change. The things Rictus had been saying had Korir thinking. Maybe it was time to change how the town and the college interacted. Korir looked at Rictus wondering if he could work with the mage, or if he should even trust the mage at all.

After a brief moment of silence, Rictus was the first to speak up.

"So what are you going to do about the Thalmor? How much longer will this be going on?"

Korir nodded. He also wanted to know the answers.

The Altmer woman stared at the newcomer. She could feel he was a mage and wondered why he was here talking with the Jarl.

"I do not believe we have been properly introduced. I am Faralda, a Master of Destruction magic and Scholar of the College of Winterhold. Who might you be?"

Rictus gave her a smile.

"I'm Rictus."

The silence dragged on as Faralda seemed to be waiting for Rictus to say more, but he just continued standing there with a slight mocking smile on his face.

"We are currently trying to break down the barrier leading to Ancano right now. We have been working on it for a few days now, but progress is slow. Hopefully it won't be much longer. We also have a brilliant mage who should be back any day now who will be able to break past the barrier without a problem."

Korir and Rictus were both focused on what Faralda had just said, even if they were focused at different parts. Korir was focused on the few days part, while Rictus was focused on the brilliant mage. Korir was the first to speak. His voice almost trembling as he held his emotions in check.

"Are you telling me, that a Thalmor agent has been messing with a powerful magical artifact for a FEW DAYS and this is the first I am hearing about it?? It wouldn't happen to be the same thing which caused these creatures to appear in the first place would it? And how long is a Few days exactly?"

Faralda seemed to contemplate what all to tell the Jarl. She was not particularly intimidated by him nor did she really care all that much about his opinions. She was a mage of the College of Winterhold after all. They did not fall under his control.

She was wary of the man named Rictus. She knew he was a mage, and a powerful one at that since she could feel some of his magic. The mask sitting on his hip also gave off strong magical impressions and seemed faintly familiar to her for some reason. In the end, Faralda just decided to be honest.

"We did not feel it was necessary to inform you at the time. Everything was restricted to the College. The magical anomalies are the same as those which attacked the town before… The barrier has been up for almost 2 weeks."

Korir and Rictus were shocked. 2 weeks. The college had a crazy Thalmor wizard using some strange artifact for 2 weeks, and they did not warn the Jarl of the city they lived in. Korir was furious to say the least.

"Are you telling me, that no one could be bothered to warn me about this?"

Faralda was quick to answer.

"We were busy containing the magic. Besides, there was nothing you could have done about it anyways."

These words just seemed to make the Jarl even angrier.

"So the same artifact which caused those creatures to appear and attack my town was still being used all this time? Those creatures KILLED my people! You didn't think to warn us that it could happen again?? We could have done something to prepare for them. We could have at least been on alert for another attack! More of my people are dead because none of you could be bothered to take 5 MINUTES and warn us?"

Korir was out of his seat and screaming by the end of this speech. Rictus couldn't blame the man. He would have been pissed had someone kept information which could have saved his people as well. Faralda flinched back with every accusation thrown at her. She really did not know why no one had warned the Jarl about what was going on. Maybe their pride and arrogance were getting the better of them.

Seeing Faralda had no rebuttal to that, Korir commanded her to leave. She seemed to hesitate at the door almost as if she wanted to say something or apologize. She just gave them a nod as she quickly left the longhouse instead.

Korir was beyond furious at this point as he stalked behind his throne. He was almost fooled into thinking the mages were not at fault for this. A look at Rictus showed he was equally shocked at the fact they had hidden this for almost 2 weeks now. The more he thought about it all, the angrier he got at the entire situation.

His people had fought these magical anomalies multiple times now. They were the ones who had suffered the most while the mages were hidden away in the college. Korir did not fail to notice how Faralda did not mention they had been battling the anomalies the entire time. It seemed the anomalies mostly appeared in the town for some reason. His own son had almost died this time.

Something was going to have to change. Korir was no longer content to let the mages walk all over them. He was not exactly sure what to do just yet, but he had an idea of someone he could get to try and help him. Korir noticed even the Master of Destruction Magic seemed weary of the man for some reason. All the more reason to try and get his help.

"Rictus…I know you don't owe me anything, and we have only just met. If anything, I owe you a large debt for saving my son. I don't know what will happen just yet or what I shall do…but will you help me? Something must change. I do not want to be powerless anymore. I am tired of the college coming to us after a disaster and saying it is not their fault. I am tired of being the laughingstock of all the other Jarls. I do not know what I will be able to change, but something must change. For the safety and prosperity of my people, my family, I will do whatever I must."

Korir held out his hand toward Rictus. His stare imploring him for aid. Korir did not think he could do it alone. Even though they had just met, some of the things Rictus told him resonated with Korir. If not for himself, then for his son's future.

Rictus simply looked back at the man for a couple moments. He then smiled a large grin as he grasped the Jarl's hand.

"This should be entertaining."

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A woman crested the final hill with her companions following behind her. They were almost back finally. The journey had been a long one filled with perils. They had fought enemies which usually only heard of in myths and horror stories. Now, they were almost at the end of this quest. Just one more problem had to be taken care of before they could rest.

The woman looked down at her hands. In one of them, an ornate staff was pulsating with barely contained power. In the other, a mask of refined moonstone shone from ancient enchantments still as strong as the day it was crafted.

"Come along now. Soon this will be over. There is only more insect in our way before we can rest and enjoy the fruits of our labors."

Her followers seemed to perk up at the thought of it being almost over.

At the bottom of the hill and highlighted by the setting sun, they could make out the College of Winterhold covered in a veil of magical energies.

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[A/N]: Hope you are all liking the story so far. Let me know what you think, even if it is telling me the story is a piece of garbage. I'll only cry a little I promise.

Also, I may be persuaded to release another chapter tomorrow if you say the magic word. ;)