The Archmage Sleeps With His Robes On

As I arrive in the frozen wasteland that is Wintercold, the Jewel of Skyrim, the awful weather swirls around me. With a shiver I draw my robes closer and then remember the shout I learnt from the Greybeards.

It does absolutely nothing to help. Two, even three times I yell into the sky to stop the damned snow, to no avail. I hate this place.

I get back to the College at a rather unseemly hour, but Tolfdir seemed convinced it was extremely important so I head upstairs to the Arch-Mage's quarters to see if he's awake.

He's not, and apparently he sleeps with all his robes on. I consider waking him up, but he seems so peaceful, which I'm sure is unusual for a man in his station. Also he's a Dunmer and I know from experience that they don't like to be wakened.

In very socially acceptable manner, I sit down at the foot of his bed and wait for him to wake up.

One hour passes, and another, and another. Suddenly the bed is empty! I must have dosed off. Sure enough he's up and about so I fill him in on the details of what happened. He seems less than impressed by my daring (I refrain from reminding him that I didn't have to go back to Saarthal in the first place) and volunteers me for following it up. What is it about all these people that makes them think I'm ready and able to complete any and every task that comes up!

He sends me to speak to Urag, the cranky Orcish librarian downstairs. Apparently he's the best person to ask about an Elder Scroll as well.

Urag proves less than friendly, but more than useful. Apparently there's a crazed hermit living in the glaciers to the north who can tell me about an Elder Scroll, and there's some books that will tell us more about the orb from Saarthal. Unfortunately those books went with a young mage who joined a group of necromancers.

I know which one of those two options I want to pursue.

To my great joy, when I step outside it's the first clear sky I've seen in this place. It's surprisingly pleasant, and the view that the College grounds command of the land and sea surrounding it are stunning. I'm especially grateful as I'll be heading north into the ice and a clear sky helps a lot with avoiding angry bears.

I find my hermit with little trouble and no bears, and he informs me that the Elder Scroll is buried deep beneath the mountains, in a place called Blackreach. If that doesn't sound inviting, I'm not an Altmer! Even better, I have to journey through a Dwemer ruin to get there. I've never been inside one of those before, and I am actually looking forward to it.

Of course, I really should know better.