Well, we're not in Winterhold, but according to Valdimar we're pretty close. At least we're indoors.

  This morning was as quiet and awkward as last night, and we all got up early again. At least I managed to get some sleep, but Valdimar looked tired. Erandur whispered that Valdimar had been restless all night, to the point where he'd gotten up and come back into their room a few times.

  I hope he sleeps tonight.

  Anyway, we left the manor, and headed to Dawnstar.

  We ran into a Vigilant fighting off a pair of skeletons, but she was fine, so we kept going.

  The rest of the way was quiet, and we were soon warming up at the Windpeak Inn. We were just leaving town when Alesan ran past, carrying a basket of steaming, still-warm bread to the mines.

  I made a silent promise that he wouldn't have to do it for much longer.

  We hit the road, and decided to make our way overland towards Fort Fellhammer. Me being me, I turned too early in the driving snow and we ended up going towards the Lighthouse of Death.

  It wasn't a big deal, thankfully. We passed the lighthouse and headed for the ruins of Alftand. The way was quiet aside from some wolves, but as we got to the ruins we heard a horse neighing wildly. We got to the path and saw a dead man in the snow, and a horse fighting off two bandits.

  We killed the bandits but spooked the horse, and it ran off. That's just as well. It tried to trample Septim when he got too close to it.

  The dead man had a lot of different kinds of goods on him. He was probably a trader of some kind. We put him off to the side of the trail, and Erandur said a few words for him.

  I'm glad we're helping the Temple. Erandur needs to do more priestly stuff besides saying words over the dead.

  We went over the pass, and ran into more bandits on the other side attacking Talsgar, that bard we run into sometimes. Once they were dead, he thanked us and volunteered to sing, but I was too cold to want to hear it! He understood, and kept going up the pass while we headed for Nightgate Inn.

  We went inside, and I chatted a bit with Hadring while we downed some warm spiced mead. The orc wasn't there, but that drunk, Fultheim, was.

  I wonder where he lives.

  Anyway, we got back on the road once we'd warmed up and had a bite to eat. It was mid-afternoon by then, and Valdimar said we probably wouldn't make it to Winterhold.

  I was annoyed at that, but he said there were a few spots along the way that could give us decent shelter, including this place.

  Of course, he said even then he wasn't sure who was running it. Last he knew, it was being used by the Imperials as a prison, but who knows what happened to it since then.

  Well, we found out! The only excitement we came across on the road here was a frost troll and a thief who, after threatening me, decided that she would be better off leaving us alone.

  Smart lady.

  After that, the road wound between high cliff faces, and when they parted we saw Fort Kastav. There were spiked wooden barriers out front, and Valdimar said those weren't there before.

  We don't usually see those outside "friendly" forts, so we drew our weapons and carefully walked forward. The road went right by the gate, with a sheer cliff wall on the other side, so there was no sneaking past.

  A skeleton popped up and stared firing arrows at us, then a mage came up from behind a battlement and started throwing lightning bolts!

  Septim was off in an instant, barking and growling, while I ducked behind a little rock overhang so I could summon my bow and put some magicka poison on it.

  Erandur hung back with me and kept the mage occupied while I did, and Lydia and Valdimar ran into the fort.

  I managed to get off quite a few shots on the mage, but soon another one joined in and I had to keep switching between the two. Erandur took over the second one once I'd poisoned her enough, and then I concentrated on the first.

  There were only three skeletons out there for us to deal with, two archers and one with an axe, and Septim took care of the last archer before we even realized it was there. I looked up to see him running back from its little wooden tower, wagging his tail and carrying a bone in his mouth.

  He's gnawing on it right now. Normally I don't let him chew on human bones, but he's been a good boy, and I don't have anything else for him to chew on.

  Anyway, the courtyard has a stable, a little shed with an alchemy station, and two levels. The bottom level is the prison itself, and we went in there, first. It was really small, actually. We came in on an upper platform with a staircase leading down. There was a skeleton guard down below, but he fell apart as soon as Lydia touched him. The main floor area just had a bookcase with a few things on it, a potion, and I found a key to the rest of the prison.

  There were some big double doors on one side, and the other side had a little storage area with a ladder leading outside.

  We went through the doors, and found a necromancer and another skeleton waiting for us. The skeleton was easy enough, but that mage was hard to kill! He downed a few potions, and he was very good at using Spark magic.

  The fight itself wasn't hard, really, it was more that he just didn't want to go down!

  Once he was dead, we examined the rest of the room. We were on an upper level, and there were a few goodies up there like potions and alchemy ingredients, along with what we got off the necromancer.

  There were stairs going down to the prison area itself, and the only really interesting thing about it was that the tops of the cells weren't solid, but covered in bars. In fact, we could walk around on the top level and look down into them! There wasn't anything valuable in them, so we went back out the way we came and headed for the top level of the fort

  That's where we are now. We came in ready for a fight, but it turns out that this place is the quarters for the person who runs it. There wasn't anyone in here, though, and there's a ladder leading to the roof that we also checked, but that was clear, too. All we found up there was an altar with some ingredients and bloody bones on it.

  -/-/-/-/-/-

  Valdimar's gone back to bed. I hope he can actually get some rest.

  He couldn't sleep because he's worried about tomorrow, and it doesn't help that Erandur's been sleep-talking again. It's not weird for him to do that, but it was too much for Valdimar.

  I invited him to join me for a drink of warm mead, and he accepted. I used a Flame spell to heat up the bottle before pouring it into a mug for him. He commented that I'm getting better at controlling the flames, and I thanked him.

  I asked him what was wrong, and he said he didn't know what to expect. That was a big part of it. He's always tried to avoid thinking too much about Winterhold and what went on there. Jarl Idgrod never asked him about his time at the College, but she never once asked him to go to Winterhold.

  Figured. She just Knows things.

  Valdimar said he was afraid that he might have a Spirit Wound, too, but he was also a little afraid that he might not.

  Almost like if he didn't, that meant his friends didn't mean a lot to him.

  That got to me. Not in a "wanting to cry" way, but in an "I almost threw something" way.

  I asked him if I heard that right. He was hoping he had a Spirit Wound?

  He immediately realized what he did, and apologized. He rubbed his hands over his face and said he'd hardly been able to think straight since he got that letter.

  I'll say! I told him that I wouldn't wish a Spirit Wound on anyone except maybe the Thalmor, and I definitely wouldn't wish one on him. Mara's Tits, I'd take one in his place if I could!

  He thanked me, and I said that maybe he should try to concentrate on the happy memories, rather than the bad ones.

  We both looked at the sleeping mer nearby, mumbling and glaring in his sleep.

  Septim went over and set his head on Erandur, and he quieted.

  Valdimar said I was right. Carrying all that around isn't good for a person.

  I suggested that he think about funny stories that he could tell us on the way there. Did they pull pranks?What did they do when they weren't studying? Did he have a favorite place in the College?

  I asked him a bunch of questions like that and said he didn't need to answer them, but if he wanted to, maybe he could tell us about Winterhold tomorrow?

  He smiled and said he'd think about it. Then, he drained his mug and thanked me before going back to bed.

  He's not been restless like he was before, so maybe he's actually sleeping? I hope so.

  -/-/-/-/-/-

  Oh, something funny happened when we came back down the ladder and started looking through this place. There's a lower level, sort of like a cellar, with some food and a chest. I found a nice Ebony bow and some gold in it, so that was nice. The main level has a table and a bookcase, with a little weapons rack off to the side.

  The small top level, which is about shoulder height to me, has a dresser, a night stand, and a big bed. There's no other places to sleep in here, just the one bed.

  Lydia wondered where the other bed was, and Erandur and I just looked at each other before we burst out laughing. Valdimar tried to play innocent, but eventually he cracked.

  There'd been two women and one man in here. Where did she THINK they all slept?

  She actually blushed once she realized, then coughed a bit and said, "Well, good for them."

  So, we got ourselves settled and had dinner at the small table. There was only the one chair, so Valdimar grabbed some empty crates from the storage room below to sit on. We had a nice dinner, and got our sleeping spots arranged.

  We're not using the bed.

  I sat down to write while the others dozed off.

  It was good to hear Valdimar laugh for real earlier. He hasn't really done it since he got the letter.

  He even joked a bit with Erandur while they were getting the bedrolls out, but I didn't hear exactly what he said. I'm sure it was something that Erandur couldn't think of a good comeback for, judging by the sputtering and the shove I saw him give!

  Anyway, it's about time I get to bed myself. I'll see if Lydia wants some warm ale for her watch.

  We're in Winterhold, at the Frozen Hearth, waiting for Valdimar to get back from his meeting with the Arch-Mage.

  Today's been a bit of a whirlwind, even though it looks like we're going to be spending the rest of it sitting around.

  At least we were promised some entertainment later.

  Anyway, this morning was surprisingly hard. Getting up and out of Fort Kastav wasn't bad at all, and the distance from there to here isn't too long, but we could hardly go from one turn to the next without running into a sabercat or frost troll or something!

  And that's saying nothing about the weather. It's brutally cold here. Erandur and I almost froze to death!

  Still, we got to Winterhold, and came in here to warm up. When we walked in, Dagur, the barkeep, was talking with Nelacar, an Altmer mage who lives here at the inn.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  They both recognized Valdimar immediately, and ran up to give him hugs. Valdimar looked just as happy to see them, and it was nice to see him smile so much after the past few days. Nelacar asked what he'd been up to for the past decade, and Valdimar corrected him.

  It's been fifteen years since he left.

  After the three of them traded words about about how time flies and such, Valdimar took a minute to introduce us. I saw his old friends give each other looks when they met Erandur.

  Nelacar asked if Valdimar told us how he got into the college, and Valdimar said that we were really only here to warm up. Savos had summoned him, personally.

  Nelacar looked miffed, but said that we shouldn't keep the "old man" waiting.

  While we warmed up, Nelacar said that Valdimar's arrival to Winterhold was quite the story!

  Valdimar gave him A Look and said that he wasn't even there, and Dagur laughed from his place behind the bar. He described the story as "legendary", and said that everyone in town knows it.

  Valdimar blushed and looked bashful. He said he wouldn't call what he did "legendary", but it did make for a good story!

  Erandur pointed out that we were going to hear it sooner or later, and Valdimar laughed. He said he was curious to see how they told it, and that he didn't mind if we heard it from them.

  We were ready to go by then, so I paid for some rooms and said we'd be back in a bit.

  Winterhold itself is tiny, with only a handful of buildings, and half of them are ruins. The road ends at a ramp going up to a tall, graceful stone tower. That's the start of the College's territory, I guess, and there's a long, skinny bridge that's falling apart in sections winding over the sea to the main part. The College itself sits on a pillar of stone over the sea, sort of like the Blue Palace in Solitude. Erandur pointed out how the building style is Atmoran, like High Hrothgar.

  I don't know what that means, but he likes architecture, so he's probably right.

  Anyway, there was an Altmer woman standing in the archway, and she was halfway through some speech about not allowing visitors when she recognized Valdimar.

  Her name is Faralda, and according to Valdimar she's one of the best Destruction mages in Skyrim. He explained that the Arch-Mage had summoned him, and she said that College Members were always welcome. He needn't wait for a summons to visit!

  She turned to Erandur next, and asked who he was. He introduced himself, and since he was a priest and clearly a mage, he was also allowed in.

  And then she looked at me. She said admittance to the College was strictly for those with the ability to use magic, and she gave Valdimar A Look.

  Valdimar just laughed, and she shook her head, smiling. She had me summon a Flame Atronach for her, then let me pass with Septim.

  She stood in Lydia's way, clearly not intimidated at all, and said that she'd have to wait there or go back to town.

  Valdimar said that I was a Thane, but Faralda explained that the War had made it so that even attendants weren't permitted, unless they had permission from the Arch-Mage.

  Faralda apologized, and Lydia just sighed, then took off her helmet.

  What happened next was funny, and it took every ounce of self-control I had not to start laughing, but it bothered me, too.

  Lydia squared her shoulders and said, "I am Lady Lydia Clawthane. I believe you know my brother, Master Onfin?"

  Faralda blinked, then stepped aside and bowed. "Apologies, my Lady," she said, "The College is always open to the Clawthanes."

  You see? Everyone else got in because they were already "part of the club" but I still had to prove that I belonged. I mean, I suppose I could've just said I was the Dragonborn, but I'd probably still have to prove it.

  I hate shit like that.

  Anyway, Lydia thanked her, then put her helm back on and walked past. Faralda followed for a bit, and told Valdimar to make sure I saw Mirabelle when we got in.

  We went though a big metal gate with an eye on it, and into the main courtyard. In the middle is a huge statue of a mage standing in front of a round… Pool, I guess, of magical energy. I don't know what it is or how it works, but it glows blue and it's warm like a fire, but doesn't burn.

  We followed Valdimar, and found Mirabelle on the other side of the statue, talking with a Thalmor Agent!

  I didn't catch much, but from what I can tell she's not happy to have him around.

  Valdimar waited until they were done talking, and the Thalmor went inside the main building. Mirabelle looked annoyed, but when she saw Valdimar she ran up and gave him a big hug! She didn't think she'd ever see him again, "especially not after what happened."

  It got awkward after that, which Valdimar broke by introducing us. Mirabelle is a Breton, and the Master Wizard here at the College. Valdimar said that she takes care of the day-to-day tasks of running the College, which includes helping out new students.

  He said he had business with Savos, and promised to talk with her later. She said she'd hold him to it, then turned her attention to me. She had us follow her to the student quarters, and showed me my room?!

  Apparently, by demonstrating that I could do magic, I gained admittance to the College?! I thought "admittance" meant "getting inside", not "signing up"!

  I tried to explain that I didn't come here to join, but she just laughed and said not to worry. It happens quite a bit! I could just leave if I wanted to, but I figured why the hells not? I have nothing to lose by it.

  Mirabelle said that I didn't have to stay here or wear college robes. The College is for studying magic, and how serious I was about it was my business. I could attend classes as I saw fit, and run almost any experiment, so long as I didn't hurt anyone on purpose. She then led us back to the main building, and told us what was in it.

  The first floor is the Hall of the Elements, where classes are held, the second floor is the Arcanaeum (fancy word for a library), and the top floor is the Arch-Mage's quarters. We went inside, and there were a handful of mages in student robes standing at the far end, looking at an old man giving a lecture. Mirabelle whispered that I was just in time for my first class, and suggested that I join in.

  Erandur smiled and told me to enjoy my lessons while he went to the library. Mirabelle offered to show him there, and they left. Lydia followed me, and held on to Septim's harness while I attended my first real school class ever!

  The teacher, Tolfdir, is a sweet old man who reminds me a lot of Admiral Maleel. He taught us how Wards worked.

  I had no idea they needed time to charge. No wonder I have so much trouble using them!

  If I learned one thing here, it's that I should be using Wards. We fight enough mages; even if I only use them half the time, it'll be worth it.

  We spent a bit of time practicing Wards with each other, then Tolfdir said we had a great place to practice them.

  The College's excavation site in Saarthal!

  Tolfdir said he wanted us to meet him there, and gestured for us to follow him. Lydia and I just looked at each other. Valdimar wasn't done with his meeting, and Erandur was in the library.

  What was I supposed to do?

  Thankfully, the Divines were on our side.

  I followed the others out to the courtyard, and immediately put my hands up as a blast of wind tore through the open arches. My new classmates shielded their faces, and Tolfdir shouted, over the howling wind, that maybe we'd better set out in the morning.

  The others hustled for their quarters, and I went back into the Hall to talk with Lydia in private.

  She said we should go find Erandur in the library, when a Bosmer man, who'd been sitting there with a book, wandered up and asked, "Looking for something, ladies?"

  I know that tone. That's the voice of a man who knows how to get things, and I said as much. Lydia rolled her eyes (at least, I'm sure she was under that visor) and said we had things to do. He just laughed.

  Not until tomorrow, I reminded her, and asked him what sort of things he had to offer.

  Figures. Of course the first person I have a real conversation with is the shadiest bastard in the building!

  He introduced himself - his name is Enthir - and he said it would be better to do business in his quarters, where it's more private.

  I agreed, and asked Lydia to get Erandur and meet me in the courtyard in a bit.

  Lydia grumbled and hissed at Enthir that he'd better watch his hands, or he wouldn't have any! He was clearly offended, and said that he would never!

  "That sort of thing's bad for business."

  I had to laugh at that, and reassured her that I would be fine. Besides, I had Septim with me!

  She grumbled and told me to be quick about it, then stalked towards the stairs.

  I just know she was pouting.

  Anyway, I followed Enthir to his room on the second floor of the students' quarters. He has a nice array of goods, but since we're trying to save money, I just bought a few soul gems and upgraded my hood.

  We chatted while I packed up my purchases and he stashed his wares. He asked what brought me to the College. He nodded when I mentioned that I didn't mean to join, but perked up when I said that I was just tagging along with my friend Valdimar because the Arch-Mage called him.

  "Valdimar?" he asked, "Real big guy, mustache, long blonde hair?"

  I said that Valdimar shaves his head, and Enthir got quiet. He said that he didn't think he'd still be shaving it, and I asked him why that was important.

  I was confused then, and I'm confused now! Especially at how he reacted!

  His eyes got huge, and he asked me if Valdimar told me why he left.

  I said he told us that his best friend died, and Enthir drew in a long breath before he let it out slowly. He was trying hard to not look at me, and was clearly nervous.

  I asked him if something else happened, and he said that no, that's pretty much it. He said that "Veddy's" death hit everyone hard, and Valdimar worst of all.

  When I asked, "His name was Veddy?" Enthir looked panicked! He put his hands up and said that he'd already said too much!

  I asked him to just tell me the guy's name, but he said he didn't dare. He said he could tell I was more dangerous than I looked, but he knew for a fact that (and I quote) "Valdimar only needs one hand to fold my robes with me still in them, and he doesn't need magic to do it!"

  It was obvious he wasn't going to talk any more than he already had, so I said that if he wanted to catch up with Valdimar -

  -/-/-/-/-/-

  Nelacar just poked his head out of his room and said that he's almost finished with his experiment. He'll be out to tell us the story soon!

  -/-/-/-/-/-

  Anyway, I told Enthir we were staying here. He thanked me for the heads-up, and I heard him lock his bedroom door behind me when I left.

  I met up with Lydia and Erandur, then we came back here, through the storm.

  It was so bad that I couldn't even see Winterhold from the college, and it's not very far! It sounds like it's quieted down a little, though.

  Erandur's been reading a book he borrowed, Lydia's sharpening my daggers for me, and I've been writing while we wait for Nelacar. He and Dagur want to tell us the story together.

  I just hope Valdimar's okay. It's almost time for dinner and he's not back yet.

  -/-/-/-/-/-

  I can't believe what I just heard! I mean, I can, actually. Absolutely, but…

  Valdimar's INSANE!

  He's also a genius, but that doesn't make him any less crazy.

  Damn! I don't think I'll ever look at him the same way again! I knew he was smart, but…

  All right, so, to start, Nelacar explained that anyone can join the College so long as they prove they can do magic.

  That's it.

  I asked if people tended to join by accident, and he just laughed and asked if they got me, too?

  It's a Thing, I guess.

  Anyway, that's how it's been for centuries, and then one day, this big Nord with a steel mace on his hip came into the bar. Nelacar had only just started living here, and Dagur hadn't taken over running the place, yet.

  Valdimar, being Valdimar, struck up a conversation while he had lunch and said he was there to join the College.

  He doesn't look like a mage now, and he looked like even less like one then, apparently.

  I did notice Erandur's eyebrow twitch when Dagur said that Valdimar used to have long hair.

  Nelacar asked what spells he knew, and Valdimar said that he only knew one: Ice Spike.

  Figured! It's his favorite.

  But he said that even though he knew the spell, he couldn't do it.

  He didn't have the Magicka!

  We had to stop them there, because Valdimar has an INCREDIBLE amount of Magicka. Nelacar said he knew, but that wasn't always the case.

  They told him that he wouldn't be allowed in, but he just laughed and asked, "Wanna bet?"

  They wagered twenty septims each that he wouldn't get in, and he bet forty that he would.

  Then he left, and came back that evening to collect, dressed in College robes, with a bunch of his new classmates.

  Dagur said the students told them what happened. Valdimar marched right through the main gate, into the courtyard, and started to very loudly insult the College AND the Arch-Mage!

  According to them, he was saying things like how the whole place was a racket! How could they call themselves a school if they only taught magic to people who knew how to do it? What use were they? Nothing but smoke and mirrors!

  He called it an outright scam, and by that time the courtyard was full of mages. The Arch-Mage himself came down from his quarters, and he was furious!

  He demanded to know what was going on, and Valdimar said that he knew Ice Spike, but couldn't cast it. You'd think the wise and powerful mages of the College of Winterhold would be able to teach him how to do it, but no. They were too scared to even try.

  When he started going on about how he'd always heard that mages were cowards and fools, Savos had had enough.

  The Arch-Mage said that if Valdimar wanted to understand Ice Spike so badly, he'd have to get hit with them. The Arch-Mage said that five hits should be enough. Either he'd learn it and cast it, or die.

  If he survived, he'd have to apologize, and admit that he was the fool.

  I didn't know this, but if you're having trouble doing a Destruction spell, you can learn it "The Hard Way", which is exactly what the Arch-Mage proposed. Lydia said it was the same for fighting. Sometimes, to really get how to do a strike, you just had to take a hit.

  Nelacar's convinced that the Arch-Mage fully intended to kill Valdimar, and from the sounds of it, I think he's right.

  Well, Valdimar had to take a knee after four hits, but before the Arch-Mage could finish him off, he threw an Ice Spike right back at his face!

  What happened next - Divines, it was BRILLIANT - I wish I could've seen it!

  Valdimar stood up, apologized, and admitted that he was the fool. The Arch-Mage won.

  And then - I still can't believe it, but it's SO HIM - Valdimar went up to the Arch-Mage, bowed, and said (a real quote, according to Dagur), "Now that I've demonstrated a spell for you, I, a lowly fool, humbly request admission into the College of Winterhold."

  We must have had some incredible looks on our faces, because the two of them started laughing so hard they had to take a minute to breathe!

  THAT WAS HIS PLAN ALL ALONG!

  Luckily, the Arch-Mage was amused rather than angry, and let him in. After all, he'd pas-

  -/-/-/-/-/-

  Okay, it's late, so I'll try to make it quick. We'll need our rest before we go to Saarthal in the morning. If we're lucky, we'll get there before everyone else.

  I'm doomed.

  Well, maybe, but hopefully not.

  Anyway, Valdimar came back, and even though he was smiling, he still seems… Sad. But a different kind of sad? Before it felt heavy, and now it feels…

  Dammit, I can't think of the right word. It's like when Erandur talks about his childhood before he joined the Cult, or when he points out something that's changed in the past century. It's not nostalgia. It's sort of the opposite.

  It's like he's… Relieved? I don't know, but it's not the same. I think it's better.

  I hope it's better.

  Well, after we told him he was a madman, we asked him what the Arch-Mage wanted.

  He said the Arch-Mage just had a few things for him, but they mostly talked.

  About me.

  The Arch-Mage was apparently VERY surprised to learn that I'm the Dragonborn. He was expecting the Dragonborn to be some big Nord warrior; not some short, city-girl mage from the Capital.

  But he's happy to know that I'm now a member of the College.

  Even if it was on accident, but whatever.

  We moved to a table, and ordered dinner. I told Valdimar that the College had started an excavation in Saarthal, and he got a bit sad again, and said that he knew. The Arch-Mage told him about it, and from what he could gather, they haven't found the last piece of the Gauldur Amulet.

  That was good news, but we have to find it, and fast. Valdimar asked the Arch-Mage about that Thalmor agent we saw earlier. His name is Ancano, and while he's officially there to "strengthen relations" between the College and the Thalmor, and to "advise" - on what, the Arch-Mage can't imagine - all he really does is lurk around and stick his nose in everyone's business. The Arch-Mage doesn't think he's a spy, but that sounds like spy behavior to me!

  Valdimar just shrugged and explained that unless it involves magic, the Arch-Mage doesn't really care about what goes on outside the College walls. To him, Ancano's just an annoying outsider who interrupts his studies.

  If the College finds the Gauldur Amulet, we just know Ancano will claim it for the Thalmor, and then it's only a matter of time before they go looking for the other pieces.

  You know, the ones I have in my pack, right now.

  See? Unless we get it first, we're doomed.

  Anyway, we all agreed that going to Saarthal was our next move, and finished up our dinner. Nelacar and Dagur wanted to talk with Valdimar, but he said we'd all had a long day, and promised to catch up with them tomorrow night.

  I've gotten into the unconscious habit of counting beds when I go into forts and such, and they're usually pretty close to equal the number of combatants. Except when they're not, but this is the first time I've noticed there were three people and only one bed. Mages can get it, I guess?

  As for Winterhold - Was I the only one who didn't realize that I was actually joining the College?! The first time I played the game I had no clue that's what happened, so I decided to replicate it here.We're getting glimpses into Valdimar's past! ^_^ It's not super-fun for him and everyone's walking on eggshells for his sake, but at least he's surrounded by friends.I have to give my wife BIG thanks for coming up with the idea that Valdimar tricked his way into the College! I was initially going to have it be a wager of some kind, and she liked that idea, but she told me to skip the training arc and just go for Immediate Peril. This makes good sense, lore-wise, becasue if you look at the dates and do the math, Savos hadn't been Arch-Mage for very long when Valdimar showed up. His insults were probably the first real challenge to Savos' authority, and I can see the mer wanting to make it crystal clear that he shouldn't be fucked with.

  And yes, I DO have a side fic of the events already mostly-written that I'm working on finishing so I can post it. I have quite a few of them cooking in the background - I just need to figure out how I want to organize them once theyr'e done. One giant one of side-fics? Separated by character? Maybe pre-game vs. in-game? Choices, choices.