Just what is it exactly that we're doing, "clearing the focal points" in the College of Winterhold quest for the Illusion Master Drevis Neloren? What does this mean in the game world? Any significance? What would've happened if those weren't cleaned? Even the character dialogue seems to imply that he/she doesn't understand it either, even hinting that he/she might've thought Drevis is crazy. That is, the only dialogue option with Drevis after the quest is, "The focal points have been, umm... cleared", or something along these lines. Was it really nothing? Is Drevis just crazy, or did we just do something so complicated only a Master Illusionist can understand?

I just read on the UESP that you get a some sort of bonus from the gloves, but I never noticed anything special. I've also always done this quest right off the bat and then moved on to something else, so I haven't much paid attention to it. Apparently that bonus is those "side effects" Drevis thinks there may be. However, there was nothing on the UESP on just what did we do exactly when we cleared them. Does anyone have any idea whatsoever?

in-game wise, I THINK you sort of just cleansed the magical aura surrounding the college. all of those blue aura thingies are basically wells of magic and so be "cleaning" them you got rid any magical residue that Ancano might have left when he was using the Eye of Magnus. Think of it this way, it is sort of like cleaning an oven, or a fireplace. as for the bonus, the UESP DOES have something one it: http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Out_of_Balance

It mentions that there is a possible magicka regen effect that you might get, but it is not always gained.

How does that work when you can do that quest before the final quest of the college of winterhold questline?

really? well, i was just guessing it had to do with Ancano because i never did it until AFTER the quest. STill though, remember there are a group of wizards practicing powerful magics of all different kinds, the point still stands.

Well... I've always done that quest way before Ancano showed his true colors. Where does it say this has anything to do with Ancano, where did you get that idea? (E: Ninja'd, you answered before I asked )

But what does "cleansing the aura around CoW" actually mean, or do? What would be the consequences if this wasn't done; the College, too, would collapse into the Sea of Ghosts?

However...

The magical energies underneath the college still require purification.

Could this be some sort of maintenance for the Augur of Dunlain?

Don't try to make sense out of things like these in the college sidequest. Your head will hurt. Next you're going to want to know what is the blue ball, what does it do, Why is it so dangerous, why should you care, why are these elves interested in taking it, why should you let them take it or why do they have the authority to make you the archmage?

Har har. The Eye of Magnus is a topic discussed many times, in length, and it likely is not a minor detail at all. I like to hurt my head!

Let's hurt it some moar: does Faralda "lighting" these "wells of magic" (wasn't all magic supposed to come from Aetherius anyway? Do these wells have something to do with Aetherius? Or is a "well of magic" something else? Something Shalidor did or the like?) the first time we entered the College have anything to do with some of these "wells" being the focal points? Did she also purify something or do some other advanced things with them - or just put the lights on?

I think she jsut turned the lights on, many games have special magic wells, even OBlivion had the Ayeliad wells, which i assume are similar to the ones at the college.

Thing, you can look at it and guess al you want, but there will neve be ANY facts about it, EVER. there will never be a known canon reason behind.

Possibly, but there may be sophisticated guesses, or even straight-out deductions from some valid sources that can't be proven false. I thought whether the lore forum would be a place to ask this. Then again, I think it's nothing myself, just a random quest. Parts of this story could have been cut from the release, like seemingly so much else was, especially from College of Winterhold questline. And/or the quest has to do with those possibly Shalidor-era defenses that kept the College from collapsing to the sea.

THose "Deductions" though are still just educated guesses, unless someone from bethesda or something in the game says otherwise it is not canon. THat is why i stay away from the lore forums usually, all it is a bunch of people guesstimating something then trying to pass it off as fact and yelling down anyone who disagrees

I don't see it working like that. They do give room for arguments that are as good or better than theirs. Or, at least, they are ready to counter-argument to the very end.

The problem (or the fun in it?) in TES is that sources are many, and their credibility is often questionable. Even their right interpretation is often very hard. Not to mention there often is no single "right" one at all. That's how even science works. Those with best and most credible-looking arguments at a time gain the dominating position, whether or not that's the actual truth at all. The world is flat and sun orbits it, etc., etc. Proven facts in the medieval times.

But anyway, is there something we've missed so far? Why do you think the "focal points" had to be "cleansed", and what did it actually do/mean?