Lore:Gabrielle Benele

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Gabrielle Benele
ON-npc-Gabrielle Benele 05.jpg
Gabrielle Benele circa 2E 582
Race Breton Gender Female
Born 2nd Era
Died 2E 582
Colored Rooms
Resided in High Rock
Solitude
Anvil
Appears in ESO
Chief Arcanist of Antiquarian Circle
Reign 2E 582-
2E 582
Acting Guildmaster of the Mages Guild
Reign 2E 582-
2E 582
Previous Ruler Vanus Galerion

Gabrielle Benele was a prominent Breton author and Mages Guild member of first rank active during the time of the Three Banners War. Before her tenure with the Mages Guild, she was part of the University of Gwylim,[1] which she left and later rejoined through the Antiquarian Circle,[2] the University's most prestigious historical society, whose members scour the continent for lost antiquities to collect and catalogue. There she became the most accomplished antiquarian and their leader.[3][4] She participated in the Tamrielic Invasion of Coldharbour, where she played a major role in aiding in the defeat of Molag Bal and ending the Planemeld.[5] She subsequently became the acting guildmaster for the Mages Guild in Vanus Galerion's absence, and worked with the Stirk Fellowship to take down the remnants of the Worm Cult.[6] Gabrielle had a sister named Sara, who also accomplished notable feats of her own. Sara played a key role in preventing the Mage's Staff in the Spellscar from causing a catastrophe. Like Gabrielle, Sara was a member of the Mages Guild, though the two sisters were quite different in many ways.[7]

History[edit]

After her time at the University of Gwylim, Gabrielle left to join the Mages Guild.[1] She authored a number of books derived from her own experiences and theories. At one point, she refused the advances of and got into an altercation with a dragonknight and was banned from the Anchor's Point Inn in Evermore. In Ardent Flame: Draconic or Endemic?, she wrote that she believed the magic wielded by dragonknights should be considered a branch of Destruction magic as defined by the academy of Shad Astula. The academy's curriculum resulted in high-quality graduates produced in half the time of a traditional Mages Guild education, which inspired Gabrielle to later propose their structure of eight disciplines into eight different schools of magic to be used in the Mages Guild: Alchemy, Alteration, Conjuration, Destruction, Illusion, Mysticism, Restoration, and Thaumaturgy.[8][9] Vanus Galerion sent Gabrielle a stack of rejection letters for this proposal,[10] yet he would later be credited for creating the schools of magic.[11]

The Daggerfall Covenant[edit]

A missive with cruel advice for non-standard military techniques was written by a "Gabrielle Benele" to General Serien of the Daggerfall Covenant's Stonefalls campaign, which suggests driving out local "lower life forms" from their homes as a tactic, as it would cause the beasts to invade local villages and towns. There was also to be another note created on how to utilize the local flora for alchemical ingredients that are capable of achieving explosive results.[12] However, Gabrielle herself denies the notes were written by her, stating that it was an attempt to defame her and that the note doesn't even have her handwriting.[13]

Gabrielle unseals the Impervious Vault at King Fahara'jad's behest

Gabrielle was later stationed in 2E 582 to be the Mages Guild representative to the Lion Guard during their efforts to stop Angof the Gravesinger in Glenumbra. Her intelligence reports provided them with the information that Angof had many allies at his disposal, including the Bloodthorn Cult, Daedric minions, and the creature Faolchu who spearheaded a lycanthropic assault of the region.[14] With her magic, she assisted the Lion Guard and the Knights of the Dragon in breaking through Angof's defenses in Cath Bedraud, enabling their combined forces to strike him down and ending his campaign in the region.[15]

Gabrielle was subsequently sent to Sentinel. Concerned that necromancers would threaten peace in the Alik'r Desert, King Fahara'jad requested that Benele unseal the Impervious Vault in an effort to confirm if the Ansei Wards were intact.[16] Using a giant's toe, a flame stalk, and worm's head cap, she succeeded in bypassing the vault's defenses, allowing the king's agents to confirm that the Withered Hand stole the wards.[17]

Afterwards, Gabrielle joined other guild mages and agents of the Fighters Guild to serve as peacekeepers for a diplomatic meeting between Queen Arzhela of Evermore and Septima Tharn of the Seventh Legion. The meeting was a trap: the Imperials intended to forcibly annex Bangkorai and assassinate the queen, but Gabrielle managed to teleport her to safety.[18]

Tamrielic Invasion of Coldharbour[edit]

The Light of Meridia is unleashed in the heart of the Planar Vortex

That same year, the Mages Guild played a critical role in Tamriel's defense during Molag Bal's attempted invasion of the realm. After a conference between the opposing leaders of the Three Banners War, it was decided that the Mages and Fighters Guilds would venture into Coldharbour to combat the Daedric plot.[19]

Although initially scattered across the realm, the invasion force quickly reassembled in the Hollow City, a Meridian sanctuary within Coldharbour.[20] After destroying the Great Shackle and breaking through the great citadel that served as Molag Bal's last line of defense, the "Army of Meridia" was granted access to the Endless Stair by the restored Foolkillers Clan.[21]

Within the heart of Molag Bal's sanctum, Gabrielle commanded a force of elite mages,[22] and was one of the few survivors of the guilds' all-out assault that entered the Planar Vortex with Meridia. Their goal was to unleash the Light of Meridia at the focal point of the vortex, a task which Meridia aided in by distracting Molag Bal. Acclaimed knight Darien Gautier fought alongside the Last Ayleid King to protect the Vestige, Archmage Vanus Galerion, and Gabrielle while they worked to unleash the full potential of the Lights of Meridia within. Their efforts resulted in a blast that destroyed the vortex entirely, setting back all progress Bal had made on the Planemeld. King Dynar and Darien were casualties of the explosion, with the latter having vanished altogether.[5]

Post-Planemeld[edit]

Gabrielle frustrated as she researches

Gabrielle acknowledged that Darien Gautier was a shameless flirt but admired him for his qualities of being a good-natured person with a "true hero's heart". She first met Darien when he was an officer in the Lion Guard, but they had gotten closer during some of the harrowing adventures they shared together. Gabrielle felt regret as she wished she had opened up to him about her feelings for him before his disappearance.[23] After the Planemeld, Gabrielle threw herself into her research, seeking a way to save the souls of those lost in Coldharbour and beyond, with a particular focus on Darien. Learning that Gautier may be trapped in the Colored Rooms, she shifted her focus on that.[24] This led her to rejoin the University of Gwylim through the Antiquarian Circle, where she served as their chief arcanist and leader.[2][4] Using the organization's resources, she hoped to find an Ayleid relic from a Meridia-aligned tribe that would grant her access to the Colored Rooms or otherwise further her efforts.[25] During her time with the Antiquarian Circle, she offered her opinions on the significance of various antiquities that the organization was able to find.[26]

She also invited several important figures and experts from various fields to participate in the University of Gwylim's series involving correspondences, interviews, and discussion seminars in various formats. Notable attendees included Madam Whim of Fargrave,[27] Azandar al-Cybiades,[9] Master Malkhest,[28] Sotha Sil (as interpreted by his priest Tarvus Indoril),[29] and Votary Nahlia of the Order of the Lamp.[30] Divayth Fyr of House Telvanni also took part in one of these events.[31] When Gabrielle was called upon to assist in important business, her colleague Amalien took on hosting this series in her absence.[32]

The Stirk Fellowship[edit]

Gabrielle, Prince Azah, and Razum-dar confronting Worm Cultists

As the Mages and Fighters Guilds were being targeted by the Worm Cult, Gabrielle answered the call to arms and assisted in thwarting a gathering of their forces in Rivenspire. With the guild hall underneath Shornhelm devastated, and the Fighters Guild leader Merric at-Aswala killed by a strange new device known as a Soul Reaper, Mages Guild leader Vanus Galerion arrived at the city to accompany his compatriots to the Cult's hideout near the lighthouse west of Northpoint. There, they learned the Worm Cult planned to hide the Soul Reapers across Tamriel and then activate them to siphon souls at a massive scale, making them a top priority target to disable.[33] However, Vanus Galerion was abducted by the Harvester Mezamma disguised as trusted ally Skordo the Knife, who teleported him to the remote island of Solstice. Vanus's staff was left behind, which Gabrielle retrieved to put it under safekeeping. With the two organizations now without their guildmasters, Gabrielle attended the summit the guild held on the island of Stirk, as the guilds sought to negotiate with the ambassadors of the Three Alliances for allies. They proposed the creation of Stirk Fellowship for the purpose of combating this new threat when Vanus projected himself out of his staff on Stirk and informed them of the danger the Soul Reapers posed.[34][35]

With Gabrielle Benele and Prince Azah assuming the roles of acting guildmasters for the Mages Guild and Fighters Guild respectively, they sought to fully convince the Three Alliances to join their fight against the Worm Cult. Azah already had significant influence with the Daggerfall Covenant, being the son of one of the Covenant's leaders, King Fahara'jad.[36] Gabrielle and Azah invited the Eyes of the Queen spymaster, Razum-dar, to inspect the devastated guild halls as well as their captured enemy correspondences. Razum-dar's investigations were fruitful, allowing him to deduce that the new leader of the Necromancers was a figure known as Wormblood, who had close ties or possibly a blood relation to Mannimarco. The evidence convinced the Aldmeri Dominion to combat the Worm Cult resurgence.[6] Gabrielle concurrently entrusted the Argonian Walks-In-Ash with being the link to convince the Ebonheart Pact to join the Stirk Fellowship, as they were a founding member of the Pact and also a combatant that fought alongside the Mages Guild during the Tamrielic Invasion of Coldharbour.[37]

After the Stirk Fellowship was successfully created, Gabrielle teleported a portion of her allies to the island of Solstice. However, Vanus Galerion's staff urged her to explore the area, drawing her towards the northwest side of the island. This was further encouraged by Mage Farinor, who told her about the abandoned temple laying there. In truth, Farinor was a Worm Cult spy that had infiltrated the Mages Guild. While Gabrielle was investigating the temple, the traitor sabotaged the portal anchors, killing many alliance troops, and scattering the ambassadors of the Three Alliances. The traitor may have inadvertently helped her enemies, as Gabrielle discovered that Broken Light Temple was Meridia-aligned, and uncovered its many relics that could possibly be used in the fight against the Worm Cult.[38]

At the city of Sunport, Azah and Gabrielle sought to gain Regent Karinwe and the Corelanya Clan as allies to the Stirk Fellowship. However, after Karinwe was saved from a kidnapping, the Worm Cult launched an invasion of Sunport, causing mass destruction and stealing many of its citizen's souls with their Soul Reapers. Gabrielle, Azah, and the Alliance representatives rallied the Stirk Fellowship against the invaders, while the Vestige confronted Farinor at the Palace. Though Farinor escaped, the cultists within Sunport were defeated and the Soul Reapers they deployed were disabled.[39] After the Vestige and Walks-In-Ash discovered that the remains of Mannimarco had been transported to Solstice, Vanus Galerion's projection advised Gabrielle to travel to Li-Xal Pass where the Writing Wall was thin so he can clearly reveal the Worm Cults plans where he would not interrupted by magical audio jamming.[40] There, Vanus revealed that the Worm Cult was gathering an army of necromancers and daedra on the eastern side of Solstice, and attempting to do a reverse Planemeld. Vanus also informed the two of the dangers posed by an artifact known as the Gift of Death, and urged them to swipe it from Vosgah Shrine before the Worm Cult could use it for some dark purpose. While the Vestige claimed the Gift of Death with Razum-dar, Gabrielle went to Sunport to warn the Stirk Fellowship of recent developments[41]

Gabrielle sacrificing herself to resurrect Darien Gautier

The Vestige and Razum-dar encountered Wormblood at Vosgah Shrine but their attempts to slay him were futile, for he would rise once again every time he was killed. The heroes were forced to flee but swiped the Gift of Death from the Worm Cult. Razum-dar managed to pickpocket a key from Wormblood, so Gabrielle instructed the Vestige to take it to use it at Coralanya Manor and explores its premises to see any hints as to what the Gift of Death was intended for. There, it was discovered that the artifact had the ability to resurrect someone in exchange for a willing sacrifice. With its importance as leverage, Gabrielle concocted a plan to have the Vestige lure Wormblood to Broken Light Temple with a trade offer of the Gift of Life in exchange for Vanus Galerion. Gabrielle would then use the Meridian relics to trap Wormblood in the Colored Rooms, but this would also cause everyone to be teleported within. When Wormblood agreed to the trade, the Stirk Fellowship ambushed the Worm Cultists and Gabrielle's plan was enacted. Everyone was scattered in the Daedric Realm, but the traitor Farinor took advantage of the confusion and disguised herself as Vanus Galerion. She called out to Gabrielle and stabbed her with a poisoned dagger as she had come to rescue Vanus. Realizing she was about to die, Gabrielle chose to use the Gift of Death to sacrifice herself so Darien Gautier could be revived and finish the fight.[42]

The Gift of Death was now purified into a Light of Meridia and was utilized to make quick work of the Worm Cult's devices, while Darien honored Gabrielle's wishes and charged into the Worm Cultists. Farinor tried to stop the Stirk Fellowship's advances but was slain. Ultimately, Mannimarco realized his Cult's plans on resurrecting him had fallen apart and so fell back on a contingency plan. He possessed Wormblood's body, stealing it, and escaped from the Colored Rooms and back into Nirn. Gabrielle's sacrifice was appreciated, but with Mannimarco back and the bulk of the Stirk Fellowship's forces arriving by ships soon, their next focus was pushing past the Writhing Wall and into eastern Solstice where the Worm Cult were gathering their army for a final confrontation.[42]

Gallery[edit]

  • Gabrielle Benele (far right)

  • Gabrielle next to Darien and Skordo (far left)

  • Sara Benele, Gabrielle's sister

Notes[edit]

See Also[edit]

Books[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Proposal: Schools of Magic — Gabrielle Benele, Daggerfall Mages Guild
  2. ^ a b An Introduction to Circle Correspondence — Verita Numida
  3. ^ Verita Numida's dialogue in ESO: Greymoor
  4. ^ a b Yvara Plouff's dialogue in ESO: Greymoor
  5. ^ a b The Final Assault quest in ESO
  6. ^ a b Meet the Character - Wormblood — Razum-dar
  7. ^ Sara Benele's dialogue in ESO
  8. ^ Proposal: Schools of Magic — Gabrielle Benele, Daggerfall Mages Guild
  9. ^ a b Loremaster's Archive - The Arcanists — Azandar al-Cybiades
  10. ^ What's an Arcanist? — Gabrielle Benele
  11. ^ The Black Arts On Trial — Hannibal Traven, Archmagister of the Mages Guild
  12. ^ Non-Standard Techniques — Gabrielle Benele
  13. ^ Gabrielle Benele Answers Your Questions
  14. ^ Schemes of the Reachmage — Gabrielle Benele, Wizard
  15. ^ Angof the Gravesinger story quest in ESO
  16. ^ Epode of the Ansei Wards — Weltan of Sentinel
  17. ^ The Impervious Vault quest in ESO
  18. ^ The Parley quest in ESO
  19. ^ Events of The Weight of Three Crowns in ESO
  20. ^ The Groundskeeper's dialogue during The Hollow City in ESO
  21. ^ Lyranth's dialogue at the end of The Citadel Must Fall in ESO
  22. ^ Events of The Citadel Must Fall in ESO
  23. ^ Gabrielle Benele's dialogue during The Stirk Fellowship quest in ESO
  24. ^ Gabrielle Benele's dialogue at the Anvil Mages Guildhall in ESO: Dark Brotherhood
  25. ^ Gabrielle Benele's dialogue in ESO: Greymoor
  26. ^ Gabrielle Benele's dialogue across various antiquity codex entries in ESO
  27. ^ Loremaster's Archive - Malacath and Maelstrom — Madam Whim
  28. ^ Loremaster's Archive - Infinite Archive — Master Malkhest
  29. ^ Loremaster's Archive - The Clockwork City — Proctor Tarvus
  30. ^ Loremaster's Archive - Scribing — Votary Nahila
  31. ^ Loremaster's Archive - House Telvanni — Divayth Fyr
  32. ^ Loremaster's Archive - Tamriel's Holidays — The Impresario
  33. ^ Resurrection and Revelation — Mezamma
  34. ^ A Guild in Crisis quest in ESO
  35. ^ Justice for the Fallen quest in ESO
  36. ^ Meet the Character - Prince Azah of Sentinel — King Fahara'jad of Sentinel
  37. ^ Meet the Character - Walks-In-Ash — Gabrielle Benele
  38. ^ The Stirk Fellowship quest in ESO
  39. ^ The Regent of Sunport quest in ESO
  40. ^ The Passages Beneath quest in ESO
  41. ^ The Writhing Wall quest in ESO
  42. ^ a b The Gift of Death quest in ESO
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