Beyond Skyrim:Cyrodiil/Astor Astentius

Astor Astentius (RefID: xx07C9D2)
Location	Frostcrag Spire
Race	Elder	Gender	Male
Level	PC×1.25 (range=25-55)	Class	Sorcerer
RefID	xx07C9D2	BaseID	xx07C9D1
Other Information
Health	50×?	Magicka	390×?
Stamina	50×?
Primary Skills	Destruction, Illusion, Heavy Armor, One-handed, Restoration
Perks	Alteration: Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert and Master Alteration; Magic Resistance 1; Atronach; Alteration Dual Casting Conjuration: Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert and Master Conjuration; Conjuration Dual Casting Destruction: Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert and Master Destruction; Augmented Frost 1 and 2; Deep Freeze; Destruction Dual Casting Restoration: Novice, Apprentice, Adept and Expert Restoration; Recovery 2
Class Details	CombatSorcerer
Morality	No Crime	Aggression	Aggressive
Faction(s)	CYRCollegeOfWhispersFaction; CYRCrimeFactionBruma

Astor Astentius

Astor Astentius, an elderly sorcerer, is a senile Master of the College of Whispers working to re-establish the teleportation portals at Frostcrag Spire. During Whispers of the Mountain you will discover he is to blame for the sudden appearance of strange items in the Bruma Synod Conclave and can decide whether to help or hinder him.

Astor wakes up early at 5am and after eating a quick breakfast heads out on the balcony to examine the portals at 6am. At midday he goes back inside and busies himself in the tower until 6pm, when he has dinner. After relaxing in his quarters for the rest of the evening, he goes to sleep in his cot at midnight. The only exception to this schedule is during the related quest: if you agree to help him with his experiments, he will instead stand next to the portals on the balcony all day.

Astor wears a set of College of Whispers robes and hood, farmer's gloves and mage boots, and carries a random selection of gold, lockpicks, gems, jewelry, food and drink. As well as being armed with an Ayleid dagger, Astor is able to cast the spells Conjure Dremora Lord, Ebonyflesh, Fast Healing, Fear, Grand Healing, Icy Fireball, Ice Spike, Ice Storm, Repel Undead, Revenant and Steadfast Ward.

Related Quests

• Whispers of the Mountain: Investigate the appearance of mysterious objects at the Bruma Synod Conclave.

Dialogue

His confused state of mind is clear upon first meeting him:

"Welcome to Frostcrag. Care to help me with an experiment on the physical properties of clannfear skin? No? Very well, but you're missing out!"

"No. Wait, what did you say?"

"Karland, is that you?"

"Who are you? Have we met?"

"Hmm? Oh it's just you again, Karland. How have you been?"

You can then ask him a few questions:

What is this place?

"Why, this is the ever famous Wizard's tower, Frostcrag Spire! So much history has taken place inside these walls, so many mysteries to uncover, so many previous residents to reincarnate and interrogate! Why, sometimes I hardly believe that I'm standing in the birthplace of Purple Grummites and Phosphorus Elytra!"

What's an Elytra?

"You don't know what an Elytra is? They are the most fascinating creatures! I'm sure I've told you about them before."

Truly? That's amazing!

"Indeed! One of the mages who occupied this tower was quite mad, and quite powerful. I wonder what became of that one? Well, I'm glad you can share in this venture with me, Karland. Losing you is something I wish never to experience again."

Uhuh, thanks.

"No need to thank me, my friend, you have earned whatever knowledge I can pass on!"

Who's Karland?

"What do you mean, "who's Karland"? Stop being ridiculous and let's get back to our research, already."

What are you researching?

"Same thing I've been researching for the past twelve years, this tower. It is truly fascinating!"

Twelve years? I thought you all just arrived.

"Correct, on both accounts! The College of Whispers reclamation team just arrived. I was here long before that. Originally, I came up here to scout out the area for magical artifacts, as many at the time tried to do. I was different, though. I succeeded. In fact, I was the first to enter this place after it was sealed by an unknown mage nearly one-hundred and fifty years ago. I had only planned on staying for a week or two. It turned into three years."

Only three? What about the other nine years you spent here?

"Nine years? I'm not quite sure, to be perfectly honest with you. The last thing I remember is packing up my equipment and leaving for a project I was assigned to in Hammerfell. I'm not going to talk about my time there. I wouldn't even if I could remember the full story. I know I was with someone, though... Who was it? Kaymlar? Hamland? No... odd, indeed... Well I certainly don't miss the hot, dry, sand, that's for certain. How I got back here is anyone's guess, but I've been here ever since. Was there any other places in my vast knowledge you wished to delve into?"

How did you break in?

"Well, first, I... Oh, hold on, I forgot, you don't have the College clearance I do. I almost revealed one of our best kept secrets there! Sorry about that."

That's interesting. Anyway...

"Did you have something else you wished to remember?"

What can you tell me about the College of Whispers?

"They've been my family for most of my life. Don't you listen to wild rumor or the devious Synod mages either... The College is not some rogue sect of necromancers or some secret-hoarding gathering of rabble. No, we simply try to keep the people of Tamriel safe from their worst enemy: their own ignorance. We keep the most dangerous knowledge and magic away from the public and in the hands of those who wish to devote themselves to its practice. That way, the real threats to society are powerless. And those who simply wish to learn the arts, all of them, can do so freely and without constriction."

When leaving conversation he will say:

"Where are you going?"

"Hope to see you again, I still need a test subject for my research."

Quest-Related Dialogue

When first entering Frostcrag, you will be confronted by Ravil Fandrani, who asks what your business is. If you're on a mission from Cadius Venucius of the Bruma Synod Conclave to investigate the odd appearances at the Conclave, he will point you towards Astor:

Strange items have been appearing in the conclave. We think they came from here.

"Well, I can assure you that we are in... no way... responsible. Hrm. On second thought, I'm not so sure. The only thing I can say is to check with Master Astor Astentius here in the cynosure. Something tells me he might have something to do with your little mystery."

Head up to the tower and you will come upon Astor and Kalimbria in conversation:

Kalimbria: "Astor, you have to be more careful! We don't want anyone getting hurt in this experiment!"

Astor: "Be calm, my dear, be calm! We don't even know if the thing is sending anything through. We have yet to send anyone to check the destination site! For all we know, the blasted creature could be in pieces all over the Jeralls."

Kalimbria: "But a zombie? What if it did go through and somebody gets hurt? We can't have that happen, Astor!"

Astor: "We need live tests, but I see your point. Very well, we'll do it your way."

Kalimbria: "Well, thank you. I just hope it didn't cause too much of a panic over there already."

Alternatively, if you find Kalimbria first, you can ask her:

Did you know strange items are appearing in the Bruma Synod conclave?

"What? Oh no... I knew the old man should have been more careful in his experiments. Go talk to Astor, he should be able to shed some light on your conclave's little mystery."

You can now interrogate Astor:

Did you know strange items are appearing in the Bruma Synod conclave?

"They are? Fascinating! It works, then! Simply wonderful!"

What works?

"Why, the Spire's portals, of course! You know, the ones I've spent the past few days slaving away at, tweaking, in an attempt to get the damn things to work properly? So, tell me: were the objects intact?"

l [sic] need you to stop your experiments.

"Really? Why would you go and ask a thing like that of me? You must understand, if we are to implement our own teleportation platforms in our cynosures, this is vital research! Why don't you aid me? It would help speed up the process greatly and I could finish the testing stage in no time!"

This spire has portals?

"What kind of scatterbrained question is that? Of course it has portals! There's one to each of the old Mages Guild halls in Cyrodiil's cities. Unfortunately, it seems the passage of time has worn away the enchantments enabling the transfer. That's why I'm up here calibrating the things at all! If we lose those, then we lose yet another potential source of arcane knowledge."

Actually, they were only partially intact.

"Truly? Well, this calls for some celebration! We need to push further! Oh, yes, I think it is time to test this beautiful device out for real! Will you assist me? Without a true test we will never be able to move forward. It needs to be done if we ever wish to implement our own teleportation platforms in the cynosures. I doubt the Synod will take too kindly to a Whispers mage suddenly appearing in their conclave!"

l [sic] think I'll just inform the Synod.

"Hm, well, I can't stop you if that's what you feel you have to do. Just be aware, by the time the Synod finally get around their political bureaucracy and try to stop me, my experiments will already be complete. Would it not be easier to aid me, my friend, and get through the research as painlessly as possible?"

At this point you have several options. If you want him to stop, you will need to Persuade or Intimidate him, the latter being much easier:

Answer	Success	Fail
Astor, you must calibrate the portal to send things away from Bruma. (Persuade)	"What? But, why would you ask such a thing of me? It's my work! I... I suppose you seem trustworthy enough, my friend. You wouldn't be asking without a good reason. Very well, I will stop."	"Haha, you always know how to make me chuckle, my friend!"
I'm not Synod. Stop or you'll get thrown off this Spire. (Intimidate)	"What? Wait, hold on a moment! Isn't there some way I can prove to you the value of what I'm doing here? No, I suppose there isn't. It's fine, I'll stop, at least until the research can prove to be less... intrusive."	"You try throwing me over the edge and you might just find yourself with a frost atronach sticking its arm through your chest."

Alternatively, you can agree to help:

If it stops zombies from appearing in the conclave, I'll help.

"I knew I could count on you. Follow me."

He will then lead you out onto the balcony to show you portals and ask:

"Are you ready for what awaits you?"

What is it you need?

"What I need is to genuinely test these portals out and get them calibrated! I can't fix a problem I don't know exists, after all. First, though, I need you to place a marker at the destination site. This ancient thing is set to send people to the old Bruma mages guild, which is now the home of the Synod in Bruma. Here's the beacon. I hid it inside this boot here. Just put it in the main hall. With it in place, I'll hopefully be able to focus the portal's trajectory directly to the beacon's location before you test this thing."

Did you just say I was testing it?

"I certainly said no such thing, at least not yet, now get a move on!"

I can do that.

"Good. I knew I could trust you."

Won't the Synod object?

"The Synod might not like it if they suspect you are helping us out. But, you already knew that, so I'll see you back here when you're done."

After this he will continue:

"Oh! I almost forgot, and it's not like me to forget, so... I'd best tell you, before I forget again! Bruma's quite the long walk from here."

I... already knew that.

"Remarkable! Truly. But I have more to tell you. Oh, yes. Much more. Indefinitely- err, infinitely? Indef- no, no, definitely infinitely. Infinitely more!"

What are you getting at?

"Excellent question, Karland! Allow me to tell you."

Either way he will conclude:

"I can teleport you to Bruma! Oh, yes. The glistening frozen city high atop the Jerall Mountains, if my memory serves, and I believe it does! Traditionally teleportation magic uses a focus. That's what the boot is for. To focus the magic. To make sure we end up precisely where we intend to. It's also why, throughout Tamriel's history, mages have employed Mark and Recall spells, invocations of divine intervention, and the like. However, I believe I've perfect- well, nearly perfected, mostly - a spell to teleport you to an imprecise location. That means I can teleport you to Bruma with a simple flick of my wrist. Expedite your journey! And a lot of fun on the way, I'd expect. However, as I alluded to - I can't send you to any particular location in Bruma. Imprecise magic. So no direct travel to the conclave, I'm afraid. Still, the theory behind the spell is sound. Mostly. I think. So, if you want me to teleport you to Bruma - now, or, well, anytime, just let me know."

From now on, you can ask him to teleport you to Bruma:

Teleport me to Bruma, Astor.

"Always a pleasure to help you out, Karland. Steel yourself. This may feel a bit... tingly. All right. Here we go. Prepare yourself!"

After landing in front of the Cathedral of St. Martin and leaving the beacon in the Conclave, return to Astor for one final test:

So, now what is it you need me to do?

"Now that I've made every adjustment I can think of to assure its proper function, I need only one thing. Step onto the teleportation pad. If it works, then not only will you have aided me in this first essential test, you will have stopped any further items from appearing in the conclave. Simply step onto the pad when you're ready."

Why is this such a critical test?

"Simple! You may have noticed that all the items sent through the portal so far have been inanimate, or, well, bereft of souls. As it turns out, recalibrating a teleport to transfer solid material is much easier than the transfer of actual souls. So - if you appear, whole, in the conclave, then I have succeeded in my recalibration. And if your body finds itself gadding about the conclave, limp and without purpose as your soul writhes eternally in purgatory... Well, we'll know that my experiment has failed. So, are you willing to try?"

And if it doesn't work?

"Er, well... honestly I'm not certain. I would speculate that your body will be stretched, violently torn apart, and spread across the province. It's also possible that your soul will not remain attached to your body during the transfer, leaving it stranded in some forgotten plane of Oblivion. The chances of that happening, though, are infinitesimal. You yourself have seen it work in action!"

All right, I'll do it.

"That's the spirit! The arcane arts can never make any progress if nothing is risked! Take this with you. If you make it through in one piece, don't bother returning to me, this'll let me know you made it. So, whenever you're ready."

With this, he will teleport once more, this time indeed directly to the Conclave building.

Rumors

Astor's altered mental state following his mysterious expedition to Hammerfell is common knowledge in the group, as both Encarnus and Kalimbria will comment:

"It's sad really, he doesn't even remember my name all the time. I'm not quite sure who Karland is, he may not even be real."

"I wouldn't doubt it. The man is a genius in his own right. I would've loved to have known him a few years back, but ever since his expedition to Hammerfell..."

"It's sad to say it but I agree with you. Astor use to be one of our most respected Masters of the College, but now look at him."

"So far he's still been able to contribute, but I'm not sure how long that will last. The other Masters or the Archmage, Tiberius Rindellian, might soon force him to retire."

"Divines, no. The old bat's mind has been slowly degenerating ever since he returned from an expedition to Hammerfell. Anyway, I have important research to return to. If you want gossip, talk to the Breton"

Conversations

While in Frostcrag Spire, you may overhear the following conversations with Ravil and Kalimbria:

Ravil: "Astor, how are you feeling? How goes your research?"
Astor: "Fine, fine, don't worry about me. The vault portal still has yet to yield to me, but don't you worry. I'll find a way."
Ravil: "Glad to hear it. Keep up the good work."

Astor: "Oh, Kalimbria dear, there you are! I've been looking for you."
Kalimbria: "Wow, Astor, I'm impressed. You remembered my name this time!"
Astor: "What are you talking about? How could I possibly forget something as simple as your name? I wanted to ask if you had finished examining the balcony portals yet, like I asked you to."
Kalimbria: "Yes, in fact I did it just yesterday. Why?"
Astor: "Well, if we are ever going to use the things, it would be quite helpful to know whether or not they'll be tearing us apart in the process!"
Kalimbria: "Astor, you told me last week that none of those portal enchantments are active anymore, that you've tried yourself many times."
Astor: "Huh, well... I'm sure at the time I wasn't thinking clearly... must have had things on my mind. We'll examine them together tomorrow, then."
Kalimbria: "If you say so, Astor."