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With the vague goal of finding the Staff of Magnus set by the Augur of Dunlain set, you need to find out where it could be hidden in Skyrim. Mirabelle Ervine has a lead, suggesting that you investigate the ancient dwarven Ruins of Mzulft near Windhelm.
As with all the other dwarven ruins in the province, you will have to battle your way through an immensely challenging set of enemies that will push your spellcraft to its limits The ruins are even capped off with a unique puzzle that will need you to make use of your magic to solve.
Starting Revealing The Unseen
This quest starts after a conversation with Arch-Mage Savos. When relaying the Augur of Dunlain's instructions to find the Staff of Magnus, at the end of Good Intentions, he will tell you that Mirabelle Ervine had spoken to him about it recently and that she would know more.
She doesn't actually know where the Staff is, though she did note that a group of mages from Cyrodill representing the Synod, an Imperial organization similar to the College, had asked her for help. They mentioned going to the Ruins of Mzulft, giving you a lead.
Entering The Ruins Of Mzulft
The Ruins are in a remote area between Windhelm and Riften. As you enter, you will be stopped by a dying man called Gavros Pilnius. He asks you to make it to the Oculory, deep in the ruins before dying.
Loot him for the key to the Ruins and enter. Inside, you will encounter the usual selection of Dwarven Constructs such as Spiders and Spheres. They are joined with Chaurus as well.
Dwarven Constructs have 25 percent resistance to magic and immunity to Frost. Bringing a melee weapon would be wise.
You will eventually reach a door marked with dead Falmer. This is the entrance to the Mzulft Boilery. This area is another linear path that has you fighting more of the same enemies with Falmer joining the fight.
The Boilery is home to many steam-powered mechanisms that can push you or otherwise block your path.
At the end of the Boilery, you will reach the Aedrome, the final part of the dungeon. You will have to reach a central room containing many powerful Falmer. One of them has a Focusing Crystal that you need to loot.
Your progress will be blocked here. Take the east door, following it all the way to the end to find a Dwarven Centurion. You will need to defeat it to loot the key to the locked door. This will take you to the Oculory.
Solving The Mzulft Oculory Puzzle
Your way will be blocked by a locked door. Gavros' colleague, Paratus Decimius is on the other side. After some quick questions, he unlocks the door to let you in, to his surprise.
After some disbelief and discussion, he leads you deeper into the Oculory and to a large dwarven contraption. You will need to insert the Focusing Crystal to proceed.
This puzzle consists of three focusing lenses and three rotating rings with another lens on each one. Your objective is to get one beam of light to each ring's lens.
You will need to use Fire and Frost Spells to move the focusing lenses. Exposure to each element will tilt the lens. With sufficient finesse, you will be able to get one on each ring.
There will be Spell Tome: Flames and Spell Tome: Frostbite close to the buttons if you need either spell.
Once they're separated, go to the buttons and get a beam of light to each lens. Each button controls a different ring. Simply pressing the button until it aligns will be sufficient. With that done, the mechanism will work. Paratus will identify that the Eye of Magnus is interfering with the mechanism. While he is not helpful, he gives you enough information to return to Arch-Mage Savos.
Your return, however, is cut short when you find that Ancano has taken matters into his own hands. This causes an accident that leads to the next quest, Containment.