College of Winterhold (Skyrim)

"If you have the aptitude, you should join the Mage's College in Winterhold."

- Farenger Secret-Fire

The College of Winterhold is a faction and location that appears in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. It is a guild of Magic users, similar to the Mages Guild of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Savos Aren is the guild's Arch-Mage, with Mirabelle Ervine serving under him as Master-Wizard. The College is located in the northern section of the city of Winterhold.

Joining
Before entering the college, the gatekeeper Faralda wants to see a demonstration of magical powers. She requests to see a spell appropriate for the Dragonborn's level before gaining passage. Some of these spells could be:
 * Firebolt
 * Fear
 * Magelight (Level 2)
 * Healing Hands
 * Conjure Flame Atronach

A persuasion check bypasses this test. If the player has not learned that spell, she offers to sell it to the player for 30. You can also reveal that you are the Dragonborn instead, demonstrating a Dragon shout. Once completed, the college can be accessed at all times. However, the "Visit the College of Winterhold" miscellaneous quest (radiant quest - can be obtained from Court Wizards, Innkeepers, even Guardsmen - all across Skyrim) is bugged and as of patch 1.3, will not complete if the persuasion or Dragonborn dialogue options are used. PC users can fix this using a console command (setstage MG01Pointer 200).

Architectural Design
The College of Winterhold is located north of Winterhold on a mountains cliff. A narrow bridge in a state of disrepair connects the city to the college. The college consists of a round courtyard with doors that branch off to the other sections of the college. Hall of Attainment, the living quarters for mage apprentices, is off to the left, while the Hall of Countenance, the living quarters for more advanced mages, is off to the right. Straight ahead lies the Hall of the Elements, the lecture hall of the college. From the Hall of the Elements, the Arch-Mages Quarters branches off on the left, while The Arcanaeum, the college's library, branches off on the right.

The Midden, a prison or storage area beneath the college, houses an Atronach Forge, Augur of Dunlain and the Daedric Relic. Ice Wraiths and Draugr inhabit the halls of The Midden. A tunnel here leads to the world map.

History and Origin
Papers kept in the College's library date back to Tamriel's second age, proving the institution is at least 700 years old. Much of the College's history was lost during the Great Collapse, a geographic phenomenon (possibly brought about by the eruption of a dormant volcano named Red Mountain).

As the College is independant from the Mage's Guild, Necromancy was never made illegal by the College, unlike the Arcane University in Cyrodiil. The practice is generally regarded as a tool, not a weapon, although practicing it outside of the College is frowned upon. Like Cyrodiil, there are still wandering groups of Necromancers that do not function alongside the College.

Because the College is independent of the jurisdiction of the Mages Guild, it was unaffected by the battle between the Mages Guild and Mannimarco.

Distrust
The college is often blamed for the Great Collapse and is therefore widely distrusted. It is often believed that it was the students at the college that caused the disaster and that the proof of this is that only the college remained untouched. The college has since been cautious as to avoid provoking the population of Skyrim. Many nationalistic Nords also do not trust the College because of the fact that the immigrant Dunmer make up the vast majority of the members within the faction. Additionally, most Nords view magic and its practicioners as spineless and weak, as stated quite humorously by a feuding couple upon entering Winterhold.

Characteristics
Winterhold, Solitude's ancient rival, has also experienced a renaissance in power and influence. Refugees from Morrowind, far from burdening the eastern city, have brought with them new ideas, enriching its culture, and stimulating its old mercantile spirit. Scholars from all over Tamriel have descended upon the county since it became home to the Ysmir Collective, a library rescued from destruction in the east, and the cornerstone of academic life at the College.

Quests

 * First Lessons
 * Under Saarthal
 * Hitting The Books
 * Good Intentions
 * Revealing the Unseen
 * Containment
 * Staff of Magnus
 * The Eye of Magnus
 * Arniel's Endevor
 * Daedric Relic
 * Aftershock

Appearances

 * The Elder Scrolls: Arena
 * The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim