Magicka

Bonus, any lore that shows that Magic that everyone has, is much more powerful than in the game is showing?

What's a welkynd stone and how do you use them? It's in the elderscrolls skyrim but it's not listed under items? I have multiple but not sure what to do with them

So, to be clear, I'm not talking about Elder Scrolls, I'm talking about those pieces of paper with a single spell in it you can cast without the knowledge of such spell or having the magicka for it.

For who are they?

Seeing as there are a lot of scrolls to be found in the games, 'writing' them (for lack of a better word, I will talk about this later on) seems like quite a common practice. But for who are they? In the games, the moment we pick up a scroll, we know what the scroll is for, and casting it will have the same animation as if you're casting a spell you know, except it doesn't cost you magicka.

Is this just game mechanics? Or is this lore? Can anyone use a scroll? Do you need to possess at least a little bit of knowledge of the Arcane Arts in order to know how to cast it? Otherwise? how do you know how to cast a spell you have never trained for your whole life?

How to use them?

There is also no 'reading' required in order to cast the spell, if we look at the game. In Morrowind, those scrolls do have some sort of standard texts in Daedric Script, like "Woe Upon (Y)ou". So is this also just mechanics? Does reading a scrolls give you the power, or is there another way someone can extract the power from the scroll? In Skyrim, there are spells which require two hands to cast, so it would be hard to read a scroll while you need your hands for the spell.

What I believe is, you do need to look at the script of the scroll and then you temporarily 'possess' the power to cast it whenever you like. However, while I think you don't need to understand what it says, I think it is important you know what spell is in the scroll and you either know already how to cast the spell on your own, or you need some assistance with someone else who knows the spell and tells you how to cast it.

How to create them?

So, if there are words on the scroll, someone must have put them there. But How? And how could you put a spell into a piece of paper? I like to think it is a form of enchantment, and instead of enchanting a sword, or a helmet, you put power into paper.

I know with the Atronach Forge in Skyrim you can create scrolls by mixing a few ingredients, but I don't think scrolls are commonly made like that. The Forge is of Daedric origin and magics of Oblivion are a whole different discussion, right?

So without the Forge, does someone only need the Enchanting skill (and most likely a soul gem) to create a scroll? Or do they need to have the knowledge of the spell they put on paper, as well? And what use do the words on the paper have? Do they appear automatically when the paper is enchanted? Or does the creater really need to write it down?

There a probably tons of more questions I could ask regarding the subject, but I think I have enough for now to start some fun discussion. So I'm curious: What do you think about scrolls?

Random question I thought up: when you level up in Skyrim/ESO/etc., how do you prioritize your points for health, stamina, and magicka, and do you compensate for the less leveled ones with armors, potions, and the like or just hoof it with stats unaltered?

Thought some about this (for me I prioritize stamina, then either magicka or health, then compensate the other) and wanted to see how others usually plan the three out

Do you guys have a way i can quickly level alteration or restoration?

This is one that I've had on my mind for a while. I'll give you a small synopsis.

In the labyrinthian you come across a wooden mask in a small room, nobody knows who built this room however there was an immensely powerful mage who existed in the first era by the name of shalidor. Shalidor at one point in his life decided to research the events that led to The Disappearance of the dragons in the myrithic era.

Editorial note: all this information is true in the Elder Scrolls lore.

I plan to explain that this little room with the wooden mask was one of shalidor's creations, except for the bust that holds the other dragon priest masks, and also plan on tying that into the overall story as it was a part of shalidor's plan into his research of the dragon's disappearance.

My story involves time travel into the fourth era with shalidor being directly involved helping the last Dragonborn.

Not all details for my story I have figured out, but I intend to make it quite the journey involving information from the current day and age and going back into the past before the heroes of sovngarde sent Alduin Through Time.

We know that in the game that's when we defeat Alduin that he doesn't necessarily die according to the greybeards and also because the last Dragonborn doesn't absorb any of his Souls or power for that matter.

I have more to add, but I'm purposefully leaving out some parts of the story. Let me know what you guys think about it, and whether I should continue on this path to write this story.

One by one, the footsteps stomped on the floor. One minute, it was soft and rapid. Next, it was loud, heavy and steady, which lasted longer than the prior steps, before going softer again. The unevenness repeated itself again, and again, as if trying desperately to do something.

Cyrenar felt the rough stone floor he was on, the wall behind his back and the cold metal enclosed around his wrists, which were on top of each other. He tried to separate them to get himself into a comfortable position, but was stopped by a sudden restrain preventing them from getting too far apart.

What is this?

He allowed his sight through a narrow gap between his eyelids, and looked at his wrists. A chain was connecting them.

What? Where—

He forced his eyes open. The iron bars stood in front of him, arranged a few inches apart from each other. A sky-blue translucent barrier, vibrating endlessly, was set up around them. He sat up and looked around, only to see a somewhat familiar sight.

The Skingrad prison? He recalled the last thing he remembered — delaying the Dominion soldiers for the others to escape. And Servatius.

The footsteps got louder again, which stopped suddenly as a Khajiit in golden Elven armor appeared beyond the barrier and the bars.

“You’re finally awake.”

“Ku…Kunerr-jo? I…I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to apologize. He knew you would do what you did. You never wanted anyone close to you to suffer. In fact, he is the one to apologize instead.”

“I…I…thank you. But why?”

“He woke you up. He was told to get General Highus here once you are awake. And the lazy Kunerr-jo woke you up by his footsteps to save himself some time instead of waiting. He has to go now,” he said as the door creaked and shut.

Cyrenar was surprised that he managed to smile at the Khajiit’s actions, despite going through all of that.

The smile faded, I hope they’re not attacked on the way to the Imperial City. The soldiers…have they caught up with them? Maybe that’s why I wasn’t killed, because I’m no longer a threat? No, this can’t be it...

The door opened after a few minutes.

“Greetings, Cyrenar.” General Highus entered, followed by Kunerr-jo, Siloril, Gwinhroth and a couple of Dominion guards. “How’s your sleep?” With a wave of his hand, the barrier and the bars dissolved.

Cyrenar decided not to speak. The two guards made him stand, with his hands tied behind his back.

“Well then, I guess you’re not going to answer any of my questions in this state. For that I’ll require your assistance, Siloril.”

Siloril eyed Cyrenar, then back to Highus. “What do you need me to do, sir?"

“I don't think I have to answer that question. You’ve always done that to the prisoners, haven’t you?”

“Si—y-yes sir.” She doubtfully advanced ahead of the group. She stopped in front of her partner. The confidence in her eyes gazed into his, with only the slightest hint of her true self: sorrow and sympathy.

Don’t show your feelings, Sil. Bear with me. His eyes spoke.

Her hands readied with crimson magicka, already draining and absorbing the energy around her palms.

Do it.

Cyrenar closed his eyes as the pain ran all over his body. But it was only a few seconds before it stopped building up.

“What is it, Siloril?”

“Sir…I can’t do it.”

“Why?”

“I…You know the reason, sir.”

“What have you been taught in all these years? Don’t let your emotions control your actions.”

“Forgive me, sir.”

“You’ll not get a second chance. Let me show you how a commander is supposed to act.”

She moved aside, wordless.

Highus stood before Cyrenar, scanning him for a few moments before speaking.

“Who were they?”

“I’ll answer you if you answer my question first.”

“A lie? Not a good one either. But it doesn’t matter anyway. You can know whatever you want.”

“A…Are they safe?”

“Safe, you ask me? That’s a complicated question. How would I know what they’re doing in their afterlives?”

Cyrenar dropped to his knees. The guards followed his movement.

Siloril moved slightly, trying to speak.

“Afterlives…”

“Now it’s your turn to answer me.”

You…you’re dead. He looked up, and let out a cry. He broke the chains blasting away the guards, and threw his arms towards the general, charging with the largest storm possible on Tamriel.

But he froze.

“What a pity. What a waste. Such a great soldier, such a talented mage, such a potential to lead the Dominion to victory.” Highus’ hand was above him, absorbing his control over his body, over his actions.

“You…you…” He attempted to resist the magic.

“Cyrenar!” Siloril tried to rush forward, but the general’s other hand pushed her along with Kunerr-jo and Gwinhroth against the opposite wall.

“I won’t surrender you to the Empire, nor will I waste such a strong force within the Dominion. This is for the greater good, Cyrenar. Only then will the Dominion have Tamriel in our hands.”

Cyrenar saw his hands fall, and his body straighten.

Highus’ hands loosened.

I…my body…no!

“Cyrenar? Cyrenar!”

The three run towards him. His arms stretched out to crush the wall behind them, before sending them to the next room.

“Fascinating. I’ve never controlled a body with a magicka of this strength. Well done, Cyrenar, for all you have done for the Dominion. In a few years, you will be remembered as a hero to the Aldmeri Dominion—no, to all of Tamriel.”

Cyrenar tried to gain his control back, but it was too much for him. His inner consciousness breathed heavily, before realising that behind him was an empty space, as if a corridor had opened for his mind to travel to.

Where is that?

He looked at his body once again.

Take the risk, he asked himself to.

He left his body to the old Altmer’s control and navigated through the dark tunnel. It was perfectly straight, like it was meant for him to go that way. After another few slow paces, he sped up, and ran.

Where is this leading me?

He fell.

And dropped into a hole, perfectly shaped for him, as light finally showed itself.

He looked into the mirror, and saw an Imperial boy.

*****

There you go! Thanks for reading! Any comments, questions or criticisms are welcome.

I’ve seen a lot of complaints over the years about Skyrim’s magic system and it being pretty weak; and it definitely is. But for a lore perspective, it actually makes PERFECT sense and I’m a little surprised not a whole of people realize why.

After the Oblivion Crisis, the Mages Guild got A LOT of flack from the local populace in the provinces because it was cult mages and wizards who brought on the Oblivion Crisis. Add the fact that it was started by a crazed High Elf, which things were later gettin dicey with the Thalmor as is, mages were being shunned, mistreated, and outright treated as social pariah.

Eventually, the treatment and blame on magic for the Oblivion Crisis was so bad, the Mages Guild and Arcane University really had no choice but to shut down, be it by local demand or Imperial Order.

The College of Winterhold was a stand-alone entity as is, having no direct connection with the Mages Guild, hence why they were exempt from this. I don’t know much about the College of Whispers so I can’t speak on their behalf.

Once the Great War happened, hatred for magic seems to have been pushed over the edge due to the Aldmeri Dominion being made up of primarily Battlemages and Wizards. Madena of Dawnstar brings up the brutal magical fuels where flesh was literally ripped apart by magic, and just how scarring it was for her to witness. So if a skilled mage who knows that she is using magic to kill can be scarred by using it, imagine what the common solider, who can’t or won’t use magic, must be thinking or experiencing when he sees that.

So naturally over the course of 200 years, and during the 30 gap after the Great War, magical study and progression does began to dramatically slow down. People can’t really openly practice magic anymore, at least in Skyrim, out of fear of being treated as pariahs or being outright killed.

The art of summoning a Skeleton and other undead becomes almost entirely lost, to the point that now Mages can only raise what’s nearby unless they have the stomach to make a deal with an Ideal Master.

The art of Spellcrafting would become lost overtime to the point that mages really only have the texts they can find to rely on for learning new spells, hence why WE ONLY learn new spells by finding tomes in Skyrim. If the locals knew that the College was inventing new and more powerful spells, it would lead to a massive rebellion in which the College would probably be wiped out; especially since they already looked at as blame for the Great Collapse, even though no evidence suggests they were the reason behind it. I am sure powerful enough mages (such as Savos Aren, Faralda, Neloth and Sybille Stentor and others) have the magical ability to create their own spells, but seem to not do so; or at least share with others that they can. Even if those individuals knew how to craft spells, they probably wouldn’t anyway. Maribelle Ervine suggests that there are already problems with the local nords. Granted she also says that they have contingencies to handle it; but I’m sure they would prefer not to, since they run the risk of an outright revolution against them and they are thin ice as is (literally).

One theory I have is that because of this loss of magical knowledge, magic itself does seem to somewhat be evolving as the more a mage dedicates themselves to a particular branch or element of magic, that branch or element will get stronger over time. So as a Frost Mage uses frost spells more often, those frost spells will get stronger overtime (Faralda also mentions this if you ask her more about Destruction magic).

People within the provinces definitely seem to understand that there are some challenges where magic either will be required or will be much beneficial to aid them; but they definitely do not like to see advanced magic or see people advancing their skill with it. Mages with high magicka also seem to seep magicka out of their bodies to the point that locals pick up on it and comment in disgust (if you have high enough magicka, people will usually always ask if you mind ‘dosing that magic’). Even asking about learning more about magic, almost everyone questions why anyone would want to and quickly shoots them away to Winterhold just to stop talking about it.

Not everyone will agree with that reasoning, and that’s totally fine. But when I, personally, look at everything that as gone on over the years were magic was involved; I can’t blame anyone in any province for wanting to get rid of it. And it definitely makes perfect sense to me why the magic system is so watered down in Skyrim.

What do you think the reasoning is behind the magic system in Skyrim?

(Besides just “lazy writing”)

What are some new types of Magicka, or unexplored forms of Magicka, that you would like to see in future games.

I would personally LOVE if there was time manipulation (like the Psijic Order) or if Ash was more advanced.