Headcanon

Maintenance

“You have come here for a reason, though you may not know what it is.”

This article or section contains ‘musings’ - developmental notes, not yet codified.

Motivation

Mages Guild is mainly here to study the interesting feature of this archipelago that the barriers seem to be relatively loose between it and Oblivion (the 6th barrier). However, each Magister has their own personal interest in research opportunities here.

Scope

Player receives quests from 5 Magisters; each having approximately 4 quests themed after their area of expertise.

Combat oriented players can choose to join the Order of the Lamp instead which offers parallel quests to those offered by the Magisters.

Quests

Magister Crim

As the Master of Initiates, the player is directed to Magister Crim as their first quest giver. The other Magisters will not offer quests until the player advances sufficiently under Crim.

1 - Affinity test

Mage

Magister Crim asks the player a series of questions to determine their magical affinity and place them into a particular school. This is similar to the Census and Excise vocational test. If the player protests (high skill), they’ll be told that there is always more to learn. After being placed, Crim will tell the player who their lab partner is among the other students and tell them to introduce themselves.

Order

Palatinus Medius has a behavioral test for the player to take in order to determine whether they have the necessary qualities to serve as a Tender of the Lamp. This is similar to the Census and Excise vocational test. The player cannot fail this test, but they may be accepted on a probationary basis. This may come into play in a later quest.

2 - Clean the lab

Mage

Have the player clean up alchemy spills in the alchemy lab. Maybe each spill requires special handling to avoid adverse reactions. The player must use the handbook that Crim provides. If they trigger all of the spills, they will still complete the mission (if they survive), but they receive a reward from Crim commensurate with their performance.

Order

A student has triggered a teleportation effect on themselves while cleaning up the lab. You’ve been tasked by Magister Crim to find them. Based on last week’s class on the recall effect, Crim believes they’ll be somewhere near the Jermora Resort. They’re found on the beach and are reluctant to return.

3 - TBD

4 - TBD

Magister Reeh-Fen

Magisters Reeh-Fen and Jusenna offer their quests simultaneously.

1 - TBD

2 - TBD

3 - TBD

4 - Starwell

Magister Jusenna and Magister Reeh-Fen are interested in the Shrine of the 9th Barrier. The shrine is known as the Starwell on Starmount, where the player can gather creatia.

Magister Jusenna

Magisters Reeh-Fen and Jusenna offer their quests simultaneously.

1 - TBD

2 - TBD

3 - TBD

4 - Bow of Twilight

Magister Jusenna is the guild’s expert on Oblivion. She wants the player to locate the Bow of Twilight. Which is an artifact of Azura which is said to be able to penetrate the liminal boundaries (fueled by Azura’s First Secret power). She says that the bow was last seen in the daedric ruins of Julairan according to her sources.

Magister Jemusette Loche

Magisters Jemusette Loche and Laarie offer their quests simultaneously.

1 - TBD

2 - TBD

3 - TBD

4 - TBD

Magister Laarie

Magisters Jemusette Loche and Laarie offer their quests simultaneously.

1 - TBD

2 - TBD

3 - TBD

4 - TBD

Quest givers

Why are the MG here?

• They are drawn by the weak boundaries between the mortal realm and the spirit realm here.

What activities will they participate in now that they’re here?

• Searching for locations where the boundaries are weakest
• Testing spells in these places and taking samples
  • Is conjuring daedra easier? Summoning the undead?
  • Are teleport anchors affected when caught between Oblivion and Mundus?
• Studying creatures which have been affected by the weak boundaries
• Attempting travel to Oblivion and/or the Outer Realms

What things could happen as a result of these activities?

• Find dangerous locations where people go missing or terrible spirits are unleashed
• Discover new spell techniques which unlock hidden potential of unique creatures, artifacts, or locations

How would the MG’s work be viewed by House Azura (HA)?

• MG has permission to conduct research within the bounds of Dor Dalla. They have to acquire permission to conduct it elsewhere in the isles. They may pursue both officially sanctioned research as well as unofficial…
  • MG might get into trouble and need to smooth things over with HA.

Wouldn’t the HA already know about areas where the boundary is weakest?

• HA has built shrines at the most well known locations. Including the peak of Starmount (Shrine of the Ninth Barrier), the Isles of Dawn, Isles of Dusk, and Azularrabel.
• MG is generally not granted permission to research these holy locations. So most of their research has to be at less prominent locations.

How does the HA keep tabs on what the MG is up to?

• HA requires monthly reports and will occasionally send an auditor to Dor Dalla.
• HA guards also patrol Lyithdonea

How might someone exploit the liminal barrier being weak in Lyithdonea?

• A powerful entity could attempt to cross over.
• Profit off of a unique alchemical ingredient which can be found there
• Shortcut to get purer creatia/magicka which hasn’t been filtered through the lunar lattice / liminal barrier
• Create a “soul loop” form of immortality by keeping one’s soul trapped in a location which is perfectly between the mortal and spirit world.

If the boundaries are weak here, what’s kept daedra from invading?

• Moonshadow is effectively “plugging the hole” through Azura’s active manifestation in the Rosery Temple which metaphysically draws Moonshadow and Lyithdonea together. There are other weaker connections to Oblivion to be found, but most portals lead to Moonshadow.

How would the fact that most of these connections are with Moonshadow affect their nature?

• Visually, they may evoke descriptions of Moonshadow itself: rain, running water, blur of color/shapes, flowers, silver architecture.
• Since Moonshadow is an extention of Azura, it may reflect the nature of her spheres as well.
  • Twilight (aka Dawn/Dusk) is a “magical in-between realm” which could be connected to how (connected with her knowledge of the First Secret) Azura has managed to pierce the mortal boundary in this particular location.
    • These locations may only be visible at Twilight, and/or perhaps only transport visitors at those times.
  • Azura is related to fate and prophecy. being in these locations could affect the use of divination, the unraveling of fate itself, or allowing “self-fulfilling prophecies”