Phinis Gestor is a Breton mage at the College of Winterhold and the College’s resident expert in Conjuration. He once studied under Falion, and he is refreshingly frank about the fact that he practises necromancy.
Where to find them
Phinis mostly works in the Hall of Countenance but also turns up in the Arcanaeum. At one point in the College storyline he gives a lecture on the mysterious orb from Saarthal in the Hall of the Elements, which most of the College attends before returning to their routines.
Quests
- Conjuration Ritual Spell – once your Conjuration is high enough, Phinis offers the master-level spells. First he needs a sigil stone from an Oblivion gate, so he teaches you a spell to summon an unbound Dremora at a prepared spot atop the Hall of Attainment. Prove you’re in charge, collect the stone, and he inscribes the new spells for you, then returns the stone with a reward.
- The Missing Apprentices – he mentions that four students, Yisra, Ilas-Tei, Borvir and Rundi, have gone missing. The quest is broken: no journal entry appears and you can’t report back, though finding them still yields loot.
Services
Phinis trains Conjuration up to Expert level and sells Conjuration spell tomes, including Bound Sword, Conjure Familiar, Raise Zombie, Soul Trap, the atronach spells and Conjure Dremora Lord. After the ritual quest he adds the master spells Dead Thrall, Flame Thrall, Frost Thrall and Storm Thrall.
Personality & relationships
He politely asks you to keep your summons on College grounds, since atronachs wandering through Winterhold don’t help relations with the locals, and raising the dead in town is even worse. He has no time for old bans on necromancy, calling it just another tool, but admits the College doesn’t flaunt it.
According to Phinis, Falion left the College because he couldn’t stand the Arch-Mage, leaving only a note on his desk, and has since caused a stir in Morthal. Phinis has his own Morthal ‘incident’, which he insists was a misunderstanding whatever the guards say. He also promises that if you ever meet with an unfortunate accident, your remains will be put to good use. Sweet.
Good to know
If the master spells don’t appear after you hand over the sigil stone, talk to him again. Missing tomes in his stock often show up after waiting a couple of days.
Quick facts
- Race: Breton
- Gender: Male
- Level: levels with you (x1)
- Class: Conjurer
- Status: Essential
- Found in: college-of-winterhold
- Services: Sells Conjuration spell tomes; trains Conjuration (Expert)
- Trains: Conjuration – Expert (up to 75)
- Factions: College of Winterhold
- Base ID: 0001C199
Also in college-of-winterhold
Quaranir, Sergius Turrianus, Tandil, Velehk Sain, Arniel Gane, Arniel’s Shade, Augur of Dunlain, Colette Marence, Drevis Neloren, Nirya.
Race, level, class and factions read from the Skyrim game files; story details checked against community wiki articles and written in our own words.