Containment
Quest Giver	Mirabelle Ervine
Location	Winterhold
Prerequisite	Revealing the Unseen
Next Quest	The Staff of Magnus
Reward	Savos Aren’s Amulet Torc of Labyrinthian
Faction	The College of Winterhold
Type	College of Winterhold, Main Quest
QuestID	MG05

BackgroundEdit

Ancano has done something to the Eye of Magnus, causing the orb to release incredible amounts of energy, damaging the College and killing the Arch-Mage. The town of Winterhold may be affected as well, and needs to be secured.

WalkthroughEdit

A Plague on WinterholdEdit

Mirabelle Ervine rouses you from the battle-scarred Hall of the Elements, where strange magics are emanating from the Eye of Magnus. Ancano remains with the Eye, protected by bonded magic too strong to pierce.

Mirabelle’s most pressing concern is finding the Arch-Mage, who was knocked away by the explosion. Rendezvous in the exterior courtyard, where a crowd is forming around the crumpled form of Savos Aren.

Tolfdir confirms the shocking news; Savos Aren has succumbed to the wounds he suffered during the battle with Ancano. But the time for mourning will come later; Winterhold is being overrun with entities summoned by the Eye. The danger present in Winterhold is threatening the entire town. A plague of Magic Anomalies are attacking the townsfolk.

Although optional, it’s worth stopping on the bridge to tell Faralda of the situation. Ask her to help; she gladly brings her considerable magic to bear on the enemy and manages to coax Arniel Gane into the fight as well. The three of you should help even the odds once you cross the bridge into Winterhold. If you have made followers of students like Onmund, they will aid you as well as NPC's.

The ten Magic Anomalies are easily spotted and quickly removed. Ranged magic is a good choice, but pinpoint spells that don’t hit the townsfolk who are under Magic Anomalies attack work best; you don’t want collateral damage killing off the very people you’re here to protect!

You may wish to rush over to any groups of these magical entities and leave Faralda and Arniel to deal with them; this allows you to coax as many of them away from the townsfolk as possible. If Faralda is here when the ten magical foes are dead, she shouts that she’ll stay here and check for any more incursions. Pick up any Soul Gems that the Magic Anomalies dropped when they were dispatched.

Return to the College and seek out Mirabelle Ervine, letting her know that Winterhold is safe for now. She wishes she could say the same for the College. While she attempts to keep the Eye of Magnus contained with her fellow mages, you are to locate the Staff of Magnus once and for all.

Mention that you’re off to Labyrinthian, and Mirabelle is taken aback: The Arch-Mage gave her an item from this place and told her she’d know what to do with it. She hands the following items over to you and tells you to leave. Quickly.

JournalEdit

TriviaEdit

• The Magic Anomalies have Grand Souls, making it a very good opportunity to obtain many Grand Souls (10 in all) in a short amount of time. However, there a chance they will drop other soul gems (including Black).
• Using at least one rank of the Summoner perk, casting a summoning spell on the roof above Ancano's spell will raise an Atronach or Dremora inside the barrier. However, they still will not attack Ancano.

BugsEdit

AppearancesEdit

• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (First appearance)