For all you mage play experts, I have a few questions. I know this has probably been posted about to death, but I'd rather have all my questions in one place than searching all over for each one. I apologize for my laziness

What I am running is an Altmer Illusion/Conjuration/Destruction (all over 25{ mage with a smattering of Restoration and Alteration. I am at level 8 and trying to retrieve the Jarl's Helm of Winterhold in Hobb's Fall Cave. I am in the last room and am doing very little to no damage to the neromancers there with either my Lightning Bolt or Firebolt spells. I am Apprentice level (perks) in Conjuration and Destruction, thus far. I also carry The Staff of Jyrik Gauldurson for back up. I have Brelyna with me as a follower (who happens to love her heavy armor). I do not have the Duel Cast Perk for any school yet. I am also lacking any resistances (fire, frost, electrical, magic) in gear or potions. On my last try, I tried Fury to no avail. They must all above the level 6 I have on my spell description.

1) Mage appropriate Standing Stones: Which do you recommend?

1. Apprentice: 100% Magicka Regen / 100% Magicka Weakness
2. The Atronauch: +50 Magicka / 50% Spell Absorption / -50% Magicka Regeneration
3. The Mage: Learn all Magicka Based Skills at +20%
4. The Ritual: Raise all dead for 200 seconds

Does the spell absorption actually work? I recall hearing that it was not too reliable, especially when using a ward that expends magicka while trying to absorb it. The Mage Stone I avoid as I do not want to level up quicker than already possible, though I may consider it. The Apprentice Stone makes me worried for the 100% weakness to Magicka. The Ritual Stone I really have no interest in as I am not a "player with the dead"

(I am about to head to Solitude to grab the Steed Stone, as I am not putting anything into Stamina, so could use the extra carry weight perk.)

2) Perks:

Is it best to concentrate on one skill tree at a time? I am thinking that if I get my Illusion to Apprentice with some extra perks, then hit up Destruction and lastly Alteration, I may fare a little better than trying to keep the skills up somewhat equally. Is this good, bad, or indifferent?

3) How do you use all the "pre-battle" spells effectively? This is what I dislike about mage characters. I want to throw up my Oakflesh, get my Flame Atronauch out, and still have enough Magicka to cast my destruction spells. I am going into my inventory far too often for my tastes. I do make use of SkyUI, but if I have my inventory on spells, then I need a potion and have to move to that page. If I need to use my staff, I am moving pages again. Then, if I want to change my shout, I am looking at yet a different page. Or... I just keep it on the "everything" page and scroll like a mad dog.

4) Is this http://i.imgur.com/NmDfJQW.png a glitch? Where is this "Drain Magicka" coming from? I tried a Cure Disease potion, but it did nothing. Has anyone encountered something like this before?

I apologize for all the questions, but after 5 tries in Hobb's Falls Cave, I am thinking I am missing something I do have my last pre-level up saved, and had 2 perks to spend there. Maybe I should look at Apprentice and Duel Casting Illusion? Do I need to load up on Resistance Potions? Or is this possibly a Caius Cosades "Don't feel like you have to get through everything the first try. Back off if you're having trouble and try again later." advisemant? (I know. Wrong game, but...)

Thanks for any insight. I really do appreciate it