Gav pats Herod's back.

"Sorry, that is a lot to process. I want to ask why??"

"I was going to ask where it got its fashionable attire."

"Why to which bit? And I assume the Dremora's outfit was personally selected by Sanguine. It's mildly scandalous even by the standards of wizards."

"Why in the name of Our Creator All-Mother Lady Curiosity is my life being like this? Which I don't reasonably expect you to know. I guess you already mentioned Sanguine likes pulling pranks. Hm, I am not sure if I should feel concerned about its situation too," he indicates the Dremora with a glance. "Or yours," he tells Ruby. "Oh, why are you in here again?"

Sigh. "Is the Dremora fuckable? Gav, wait until we at least have some pants before dropping them at the first opportunity."

"I don't think the Dremora is fuckable," says Ruby with a half-smile. The Dremora itself seems content to completely ignore this conversation. "I have never gotten any words out of it that have not been taunts or battle cries.

"I'm with the Wizard College of Winterhold, and they've been working on excavating these ruins for archaeological purposes and to study ancient magic. Erandur here isn't with the College, he's just been following me around because he believes himself to owe me a debt of blood."

"I do owe you a debt of blood," he says. "But most importantly, I follow Mara wheresoever she should send me, and I believe she desires that I aid you."

"Mara is the goddess of love, fertility, compassion, and agriculture. Don't ask me why there are multiple divine spirits interested in me personally, I don't know."

Gav pouts. "Now, that is just cruel." He shakes his head. "Anyway, that sounds nerdy, but we can tag along?"

"Yeah... we overheard you guys before approaching and the words 'trap' and 'fire' were mentioned? Uh, sorry for the overhearing you two."

"Trying to gauge the risks when teleported to an unknown location by listening in to what the locals are saying sounds eminently sensible to me. And yes there are magic traps—and nonmagic ones. If you see a faintly glowing rune on the floor or an elevated slab of stone do not walk on it, you will have a bad time."

He bows his head. "Relevantly, I can enhance my senses and detect magic, though that comes with... the side effect of an aura of admiration. I can also dispel most temporary effects, but I doubt it will work on magic traps that have lasted however long this place has."

"'Aura of admiration'?"

"Hallowed vows - the angelic magic - give you a suppressible halo that causes people to think you're virtuous and admirable for a specific reason, mine for being a scholar that cares about learning and teaching."

"If it's suppressible then it shouldn't be a problem?"

"I need it active if I want to use the sensory part, and didn't want to spring it on you by surprise."

"I see. Well, fine by me."

"Thank you for the warning. I am also fine with it."

"What can you two do?"

"Broad question with a broad answer. We're mages, Erandur is a priest of Mara on top of that."

"I made a vow to never use destructive magics or commune with Daedra again."

"I assume you two don't have 'mage' as a category wherever you're from, what with how different your magic is."

"Not really, no. It is translating as a term for magic person."