Just a Skyrim fanfic: Extended cut

Searching for answers

Leonidas: Do you know anything about the staff of Magnus?

Mirabelle: Well now that's an odd question. Why in the world would you be asking?

Leonidas: It may be connected to the eye of Magnus

Mirabelle: The eye of Magnus?

Leonidas: It was the orb Tolfdir and I found in Saarthal

Mirabelle: I can appreciate that this orb is very impressive, very unique, and definitely worth studying. But lets not jump to conclusions, or assign it importance beyond what we're certain of

Leonidas: Sorry. So, the staff of Magnus?

Mirabelle: The staff is said to be very powerful. It has the capacity to store an incredible amount of magical power as the story goes. But it's more of a myth than anything at this point. I have no doubt that it actually exists, but no one else has seen it in decades or even longer. The only time I've heard it mentioned was when those synod characters showed up looking for it

Leonidas: Who are the synod?

Mirabelle: Imperial mages based out of Cyrodiil. They fancy themselves the imperial authority on magic these last few hundred years. My understanding is all they really do is make noise in attempt to curry favor from the emperor. Lots of politics and very little magic. I was quite surprised to find them on our doorstep. They seemed amiable enough, but their scout made me feel very uneasy

Leonidas: What was their leader like?

Mirabelle: A very large imperial man with a set of armor unlike anything I have ever seen before

Leonidas: Maximus...

Mirabelle: It became clear they're trying to hoard powerful artifacts, looking to consolidate their power

Leonidas: So no one knows the staff's location?

Mirabelle: No one here does. The synod seemed convinced it was here somewhere in Skyrim. They inquired about the ruins of mzulft, but that's all I remember. It sounded like they were heading there, though they were rather secretive about why

Leonidas: Any suggestions?

Mirabelle: I suppose if you're intent on looking for the staff, there's a chance they might be in mzulft yet. Just don't expect them to be cooperative

(Leonidas glides to the ruins of mzulft, and he finds a wounded figure in mage robes by the door)

Gavros: Crystal... gone... Find...Maximus... and Paratus... in oculary

(Gavros bleeds out and dies)

(Leonidas grabs Gavros's research log and discovers their findings about the staff of Magnus)

(He heads into the ruins and finds some destroyed dwemer automatons, and some dead falmer)

Leonidas: Maximus has definitely been through here. The falmer bodies are still warm, so it must have been very recent

(Leonidas explores the ruins and finds some kind of focusing crystal in a chest)

(Leonidas keeps heading deeper into the ruins to find Lydia fighting some falmer with a sword and shield, and Maximus whacking some falmer with his war hammer, volendrung)

(Leonidas provides ranged support for Maximus and Lydia with his bow)

Maximus: Leonidas? What brings you here?