Shivering:Sheogorath

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Sheogorath (RefID: 00013641) (lore page)
Home City	New Sheoth Palace
House	Palace of Sheogorath
Race	Sheogorath	Gender	Male
Level	254	Class	Savant
RefID	00013641	BaseID	00013640
Other Information
Health	10000	Magicka	10000
Respons.	50	Aggress.	0
Essential	Always
Faction(s)	Faction for all NPCs in Sheogorath's palace

Lord Sheogorath, Daedric Prince of Madness

Golden Saint and Dark Seducer

Sheogorath is the Daedric Prince of Madness, ruler and creator of the Shivering Isles. He resides in his palace in New Sheoth, and is usually found in his throne room. The Isles reflect his personality: Mania stands for his positive view and vibrant joyfulness, while Dementia stands for his quick temper and nature to harvest deadly punishment. Unsurprisingly, it is he who makes it possible for you to enter his realm and start the Main Quest by opening a portal in Cyrodiil. He seeks a champion to stop an invasion which recurs at the end of every era, known as The Greymarch. By stopping it, he hopes to break the cycle, saving his realm from total destruction. For historical information, see the lore article.

His current clothing is the infamously misspelled Shegorath's Regalia and an additional cane (which functions as a right hand ring). He also carries lettuce and a yarn for his personal pleasure, which are also found at his shrines inside homes in the realm. Sheogorath is not capable of using magic, but if you are suicidal enough to attack him, Sheogorath will gladly fulfill your wish. As soon as you hit him, he says: "You really shouldn't have done that. Enjoy the view.", then casts a lesser power called "Sheogorath's Whim" (formID 00055527) on you. The spell teleports you straight to Punishment Point. To be more precise, he teleports you several thousand feet above Punishment Point. Gravity takes you the rest of the way there. There is no way to survive this fall, because the death is scripted.

To protect himself even more, Sheogorath can cast the Expert-level Restoration spell Sheogorath's Immunity: giving himself 90% Resist Normal Weapons, 100% Resist Magic, Water Breathing, Resist Water Damage for 100 seconds, 100% Resist Poison and 100% Resist Paralysis. However, except for the Resist Water Damage, the spell does not seem to have a duration.

As a Daedric Lord, he has his own personal army. Representing each zone of his Realm, his Golden Saints represent Mania, and his Dark Seducers represent Dementia, while they rival for Sheogorath's favor. Ask any of the Golden Saints about Sheogorath and they will state: "Sheogorath rules the Shivering Isles. We, the Aureal, are His favored soldiers, the most perfect expression of His might." On the topic of Shivering Isles, they explain: "The domain of the Prince of Madness, Sheogorath. We Aureal are tasked with defending this realm against the lesser beings that would destroy it." The Dark Seducers will state: "Sheogorath is our Lord, ruler of the Shivering Isles. It is by his whim that the Mazken walk, and we serve our Master to the death." and "The Shivering Isles are a reflection of our Lord Sheogorath. Divided, yet perfect.", respectively.

Outside the city of New Sheoth, two cults roam the lands: the Heretics in Mania, who wish to see Sheogorath dethroned, and the Zealots in Dementia, who believe Arden-Sul was Sheogorath's mortal aspect. Since both views are offensive to the Madgod, they are considered criminals and are therefore hostile.

Related Quests

• A Door in Niben Bay: Cross the threshold of Madness.
• A Better Mousetrap: Activate the Resonator of Judgment.
• Understanding Madness: Meet the Duke of Mania and the Duchess of Dementia and join their courts.
• The Cold Flame of Agnon: Choose sides in the battle at Cylarne to relight the hope of New Sheoth.
• Ritual of Accession: Become a Duke/Duchess in the Court of Madness.
• Ritual of Mania: Kill the Duke of Mania and take his place.
• Ritual of Dementia: Kill the Duchess of Dementia and take her place.
• Retaking The Fringe: Defend The Fringe and stop the attackers.
• Rebuilding the Gatekeeper: Find all of the parts of the Gatekeeper and rebuild it.
• The Helpless Army: Save the Mazken/Aureal from the Knights of Order.
• Symbols of Office: Procure the two items needed to craft the Staff of Sheogorath.

Quest-Specific Events

A Door in Niben Bay

An invitation

After having discovered the portal during A Door in Niben Bay, a seemingly insane Dunmer, Belmyne Dreleth, will emerge from it and attack Gaius Prentus. When he gets killed, the voice of Sheogorath himself will echo from the three-headed statue, inviting you to enter the Realm:

"Unworthy, unworthy, unworthy! Useless mortal meat. Walking bag of dung! A nice effort, though. A shame he's dead. These things happen. Bring me a champion! Rend the flesh of my foes! A mortal champion to wade through the entrails of my enemies! Really, do come in. It's lovely in the Isles right now. Perfect time for a visit."

A Better Mousetrap

"I've been waiting for you, or someone like you, or someone other than you, for some time."

When you've passed the Gates of Madness after having defeated The Gatekeeper, which starts A Better Mousetrap, it is only a matter of time before you reach Sheogorath himself. When you attempt to greet him, he will happily introduce himself:

"A new arrival! A shame about my Gatekeeper. I'm so happy, I could just tear out your intestines and strangle you with them. I suppose an introduction is in order. I'm Sheogorath, Prince of Madness. And other things. I'm not talking about them. You've probably figured that out by now. Let's hope so. Or we're in real trouble... and out come the intestines. And I skip rope with them! But, perhaps now's not the time. You've made it this far. Farther than anyone else. Well done! Take this trinket of mine. Perhaps it will serve you well. Or look lovely on your corpse."

After which he rewards you with an enchanted amulet called Charity of Madness.

^(?)

"I've been waiting for you, or someone like you, or someone other than you, for some time. I need a champion, and you've got the job. Time to save the Realm! Rescue the damsel! Slay the beast! Or die trying. Your help is required. A change is coming. Everything changes. Even Daedric Princes. Especially Daedric Princes."

When you ask him about these changes, he'll tell you: "Daedra are the embodiment of change. Change and permanency. I'm no different, except in the ways that I am. The Greymarch is coming. And you're going to stop it." He won't provide you with any information when you ask him about the Greymarch: "The details aren't important. At least not right now. Eternity is on a rather tight deadline. We'll get back to that later." Finally, when you ask him what happens now, he'll give you a task: "Now? You run an errand for me. An important one. Of course, anything I tell you to do is important. My Realm, my rules. You're going to Xedilian, one of my favorite spots in the Isles. It's a little place I use to take care of unwanted visitors. And some are more unwanted than others." When you ask about the importance of Xedilian, he'll explain: "The Gatekeeper takes care of most of the unwanted, but he's dead. We'll have to remedy that soon, as well.... Anyway... there are those that have other ways into my Realm, and they're on the move. We don't want them here. Trust me. So, you're going to get Xedilian up and running. Here's a little book to tell you how, and the Attenuator of Judgement. You'll need that, too. Of course, you can always get more details from Haskill. He's a detail-oriented type of person. A big help. And a snappy dresser. Now, get going. Before I change my mind. Or my mind changes me."

At that point, you can ask him some additional information.

Topic	Answer
Shivering Isles	"The Isles, the Isles. A wonderful place! Except when it's horrible. Then it's horribly wonderful. Good for a visit. Or for an eternity."
New Sheoth	"Ah... New Sheoth. My home away from places that aren't my home. The current location is much better than some of the prior ones. Don't you think?"
Sheogorath	"Yes? Speaking to me? I'm he. He's me. And others, as well. Or, they were. Weren't they?"
Greymarch	"Really, no need to trouble yourself with the details of that now. It would just cloud your little mind. What is important is getting to Xedilian. Quickly. Before I get bored. You wouldn't like me when I'm bored."
Xedilian	"A little busy here! I'm trying to decide what to have for dinner. Oh, how I love eating. One of my favorite things to do. Talk to Haskill if you need more information. He's got more brains than a brain pie. Oh... Brain pie! Perfect! Care to donate?"

Greeting him again will anger him slightly: "Don't you have a book to read? Or something else very important I've told you to do?" Asking Haskill about Xedilian repeatedly, he will add: "I'd suggest you make haste and get to Xedilian. My Lord Sheogorath does not like those who lollygag. Or maybe He does? Bah! Just get going."

Understanding Madness

Sheogorath sitting upon his throne

After having been attacked by Knights of Order, Kiliban Nyrandil will tell you to report the reappearance of the Knights to Sheogorath, starting the quest Understanding Madness. As you greet him, he will ask: "Well now, what news do you have to report?" When you tell him what happened, he will reply: "So soon? Not a surprise, I suppose. We'll get to that later. No need to burden your little brain with it now. And Xedilian? Since you're standing here, I assume you've succeeded. Or you're terribly confused. Or really lacking in good judgement." He will be overjoyed when you tell him Xedilian is up and running: "Wonderful! Time for a celebration... Cheese for everyone! Wait, scratch that. Cheese for no one. That can be just as much of a celebration, if you don't like cheese. True? You've run a maze like a good little rat, but no cheese for you yet. Well, maybe a little. I've granted you a new spell - the ability to summon Haskill, my Chamberlain, to aid you in your travels. He knows a lot. More than he knows. In fact, give it a try. Summon our friend to you now. I'll wait." Much to the dismay of Haskill, Sheogorath's reward is the Summon Haskill Lesser Power, a spell which, as the name states, allows you to summon Haskill at any place and any time in the realm.

"What a surprise. I'm summoned."

If you attempt to talk to Sheogorath at this point, he'll say: "Go ahead. Summon him. He loves it." After having summoned Haskill once, Sheogorath will ask you to summon him again: "Just one more time. At least. He's a sport." While having summoned him twice, the Madgod will yet again ask you to summon him: "Isn't that a hoot? I love it, myself. Best part of being a Daedric Prince, really. Go ahead, try it again. He loves it!" After having summoned Haskill at least three times, Sheogorath will finally get down to business: "Good, good! You'll need all the help you can get if you're going to defeat Jyggalag and stop the Greymarch. Oh, don't expect to summon dear Haskill anywhere but in the Realm. He dislikes leaving My presence. I get that sometimes." If you ask him who Jyggalag is, he'll explain: "The Daedric Prince of Order. Or biscuits... No. Order. And not in a good way. Bleak. Colorless. Dead. Boring, boring, boring. And not a fan of My work, I can tell you. Hates it. Hates Me. A bit single minded, if you take My meaning. You've seen his Knights. Not the warm and cuddly sort. Not a bit of original thought in their lifeless husks. So, you're going to help Me stop him." When you ask him how you are going to stop Jyggalag, he'll get irritated: "Again with the niggling little details! Hold your tongue. Or I will. We'll get to that, all in due time. For now, you've got other work to do." If you ask him about the Greymarch again, he'll be a bit more specific this time: "An event. A movement. An apocalypse of sorts. Happens every era, at the end of every era. Which is to say, now. The Greymarch comes, and Jyggalag walks. Or runs. Never skips, sidles, or struts. Mostly, he just destroys everything around him."

When you use the phrase "What would You ask of me now?", he will suddenly burst out in anger: "Ask? ASK? I don't ask. I tell. This is My Realm, remember? My creation, My place, My rules. Look at you. No concept of what you've stumbled into. No sense of place. You don't even really know where you are, do you? I suppose few really do, but that's beside the point. We're going to give you a taste of where you have found yourself. You're going to learn." And when you finally ask him what it is you are to learn, he'll explain: "Two halves, two rulers, two places. Meet and greet. Do what they will, so you know what they're about. The Duke of Mania and the Duchess of Dementia. Seek them out, and let them show you what New Sheoth is. You might be surprised. Once you understand what My Realm is, you might understand why it's important to keep it intact. And maybe you'll make some friends along the way. That's always nice!"

Topic	Answer
Thadon	"The long-reigning Duke of Mania. A Master of Merriment, if you will. Or if you won't; I suspect it wouldn't matter to him."
Syl	"The Duchess of Dementia. Ever wary, ever worried. A prisoner in her own House, in a way. And a delightful conversationalist, really. A bit harder to meet than Thadon. Consider making an appointment."
Greymarch	"It's Jyggalag's time, and not a good time at all. You're going to help me stop it. First, though, you need to get your feet wet. I can't expect you to save the place if you don't even understand it. So, speak to my Dukes. Learn about Mania and Dementia. Try not to die."
Jyggalag	"Another Daedric Prince. Not a nice one. I don't think ANY of the other Princes like him, actually. I mean, Malacath is more popular at parties. And Malacath is NOT popular at parties."
Obelisks	"Seen them about, have you? Odd things. They've always been here, but they're not OF here, if you take my meaning. You'll see those Knights of Order around them during the Greymarch. Drawn to them, like flies to honey. Or rotting flesh. Ever wonder why flies like both? Best not to ask."

Should you ask Haskill about the Obelisks, he'll add: "Sheogorath has tried to remove them, but they always return." Trying to talk to Sheogorath again will agitate him slightly: "Isn't there something you should be doing right now? You know, for example, the things you were specifically told to do?"

The Cold Flame of Agnon

"I don't want to see you again until the Great Torch is lit."

When you've finished both the quests Addiction and The Lady of Paranoia, Sheogorath will send you on the next quest, The Cold Flame of Agnon, as he greets you: "Well, well. So you've experienced both shades of madness. Wonderful. You seemed fulfilled. Full of fill. Bursting at the seams. Seamless. Now to the meat of your endeavor. The crux of the situation. The reason for your being here, and the likely cause of your death." When you ask him what he means, he'll explain: "You'll be stopping the Greymarch. Altering the course of events, breaking the cycle. A fly in the ointment. A new cause for a different effect. We're going to change things. No... things will be different this time around. You'll be my champion. You'll grow powerful. You'll grow to be me. Prince of Madness, a new Sheogorath. Or you'll die trying. I love that about you." If you ask him how you can be a Daedric Prince, he'll tell you: "A fair question. You won't, really. At least I don't think so. But you'll have power. My power. Try not to lose it. It's a pain to replace. But, for all intents and purposes, you'll be Me. A Me to fight the Him. Since I won't be around. It's simple, really. If you don't think about it." If you ask him why you are the one to stop the Greymarch, he'll tell you: "Because you seem a nice enough sort. And you've made it this far. And if you don't, I'll swallow your soul and vomit it into the Everfilling Chamberpot of the Ageless. But mostly because I asked nicely." When you ask him where he will be when the time comes, he'll explain: "Not here. Didn't I say that? I'm never here when Jyggalag walks. It's one of the Rules. I've told you too much for now. Listen to me prattle on. I can see your mortal brain straining. We'll talk more later." Finally, when you ask him what's next for you to do, he'll tell you to go to Cylarne: "Now... you've seen the Great Torch that burns brightly over New Sheoth? No? Because it doesn't. It should. But it doesn't. You'll fix that. You'll go to Cylarne and bring back the Flame of Agnon to relight the torch. Oh... and take care with my minions at Cylarne. In their eternal quest to please me, they're constantly fighting over Cylarne. It can be tiresome. But, really, it's divine. Divinely tiresome. Well. That's your problem now. Off with you. I don't want to see you again until the Great Torch is lit. I wouldn't want to have to hurt you. Much. Oh, don't forget to make use of dear Haskill. Between you and me, if he's not summoned three or four times a day, I don't think he feels appreciated."

Topic	Answer
Great Torch	"The Great Torch shines brightly above New Sheoth, a beacon of hope for all the citizens. Except it doesn't! It's gone out. Happens every time the Greymarch begins. Which it has. Makes all of my subjects uneasy. Tense. Homicidal. Some of them, at least. We need to get that Torch relit, before the place falls apart."
Greymarch	"Aren't you the curious one? You know what they say about curiosity, though, don't you? It killed the intrepid adventurer who really should just be doing exactly what I say at all times. You're going to stop the Greymarch by becoming Me. Or a version of Me. You'll be powerful. Powerful enough to stop Jyggalag."
Jyggalag	"He's on his way, so I'm on my way out. It's terribly inconvenient, don't you think? You're going to stop him, though. And the first thing to do is to make my people feel safe. Otherwise, they tend to go work for him. It's annoying, to tell the truth. A bit hurtful. But they do it every time. Join up with the enemy, and become Priests of Order."
Priests of Order	"They're the worst of all. My own subjects, working for the Enemy! It's enough to make an old Daedric Prince get all weepy. It doesn't help that they're the ones who make the obelisks work. A little chanting, a little ritual, and POOF! Knights of Order. Bad news. Kill them when you see them. But don't touch the corpse until they're really dead. Which they aren't, until you deactivate the obelisk."
Obelisks	"They're getting more active every day. Not a good sign. You know what would be a good sign? 'Free Sweetrolls!' Who wouldn't like that? Shut them down where you can. And make sure to kill the Priests you see around them. If you don't, they can reactivate the obelisk."

Trying to talk to him again afterwards will only make him stress the fact you've got a task to do: "I'm almost positive I sent you away to do something important. Cylarne... Flame... Great Torch. Yes... why are you here?"

If you have been fueled with the Flame of Agnon, and you feel obliged to see Sheogorath before actually relighting the Great Torch in the Sacellum Arden-Sul, he will exclaim upon greeting you: "Marvellous, marvellous! Self-immolation is a wonderful thing, isn't it? But now that we've had our fun, off to the Sacellum with you."

Ritual of Accession

Sheogorath clapping his hands while waiting for you in the Sacellum

When you've lit the Great Torch, you'll find Sheogorath sitting on one of two benches depending on which side of New Sheoth you've lit the Great Torch for, marking the beginning of the Ritual of Accession. He'll be thrilled when you greet him: "Aren't you off to a good start! That's important. For me. Really, your work is going to save me a lot of time." When you ask him what time it is you're saving, he'll explain: "The Greymarch is upon us, and the Ordering begins. Armies of Order sweep My Realm. Death. Destruction. Then I have to pick up the pieces. And there are always lots of pieces. I don't like it, having to rebuild My Realm every era. Sometimes I forget where things go. Like New Sheoth. I can never remember where it belongs.... You'll change that. Break the cycle. You'll stop Jyggalag, and I'll have My Realm to come back to. I've never actually tried that before." When you wonder whether you can, he'll say: "Why not? Something has to work. Once, I dug a pit and filled it with clouds. Or was it clowns? Doesn't matter. It didn't slow him down. To be honest, it wasn't the best idea. And it really began to smell. Must have been clowns. Clouds don't smell bad. They taste of butter! And tears. But, this is all new! A fresh idea! Something I hadn't thought of, until I did. It's sure to work, even though it might not." When you ask him what you should do next, he'll explain: "Now? You'll need the respect of My citizens. They'll need a leader, someone to look up to when I'm gone. They're the backbone of any great land. Except where the backbone is an actual backbone. Ever been to Malacath's realm...? Nasty stuff. But, back to the business at hand. You'll need to control one of the Courts of Madness. Replace a current Duke. Or Duchess. Whichever. That will command respect! The people will rally around you. You'll have their love, their admiration, their complaints! Whatever. As long as it keeps them on Our side." When you ask him if that won't upset the Dukes, he'll say: "No. No, no, no. Absolutely not. Well... yes. Absolutely. Bit of a shame for them. But, sometimes you need to break a few eggs. Or skulls. There are rules, though. Even in the Isles. Rituals and rules. You need to follow them. Speak to Arctus and Dervenin, the High Priests at the Sacellum Arden-Sul. They can explain what needs to be done. And you've always got our man Haskill to call on for help. Faithful like a good hound, that one. And he looks better in a suit."

This time again, you can ask him for some additional information.

Topic	Answer
Greymarch	"It's already started, but you might be able to stop it. We're making you into a leader the people can trust. Someone to look up to. Someone to blame! Once I'm gone, things usually get bad quickly. Lots of defections. Lots of carnage. But with you at the helm, things will be different!"
Jyggalag	"This time, I'll beat him. I can't stand losing. And I don't mind cheating."

Accession

When you end the conversation, he will get up and walk up to the altar. Attempting to talk to him again before having spoken to any of the High Priests, he'll point you to them again: "You're talking to me. You should be talking to the Priests. You can't be doing both, can you? Neat trick if you could." If you've only spoken to one, he'll remark: "You haven't spoken to both Priests. You'll end up making a stupid decision, and you won't live to regret it. Don't do that." When you've spoken to both of the Priests, he will ask you to decide which Duke you'd like to replace: "You're back! How nice for you. Does that mean you've made a decision? Or are you lost? Suicidal? Just let me know." When you bring up the decision, he'll warn you: "A friendly word of warning before you choose. Once you have decided which Duke to replace, there's no turning back. One choice. No more, no less. Try not to do something stupid. So, which is it? What will it be? Mania? Dementia? The suspense is killing me. Or you, if I have to keep waiting." You have three possible replies at this point. If you tell him you're not ready to choose yet, he will get quite irritated: "I hate indecision! Or maybe I don't. Make up your mind, or I'll have your skin made into a hat -- one of those arrowcatchers. I love those hats!" When you bring up the decision later, he'll simply ask: "Syl or Thadon? Which will it be?" You can either choose Syl, starting the Ritual of Dementia: "A dangerous choice. I like it! She's gotten to be a bit much, anyway. Thinks everyone is out to get her. Which they are, in this case. So be it."; or Thadon, starting the Ritual of Mania: "A safer choice, perhaps. Maybe you'll live through this. Thadon's a bit lost these days. Not that it's a bad thing. It suits him. Until now. Besides, won't it be a grand surprise when you make his heart burst from too much Greenmote? Thadon loves surprises!"

Topic	Answer
Greymarch	"It'll be in full swing soon! Excited? You shouldn't be. It's the death of all things. But, if we can get you into shape, we might stand a chance. You'll lead My forces, inspire My people! Hopefully, everyone won't end up dead."
Jyggalag	"He'll be here soon, and I'll be gone. Can't say I like the sound of that. I like the sound of other things, though. Like birds. And bones cracking."

Depending on which Duke you choose, he'll have additional information on one of them. He will tell you about Thadon: "Thadon may be in a constant state of euphoria, but I wouldn't underestimate his intelligence. Oh, this is so much fun!"; or Syl: "Syl is as crafty as she is beautiful. I'd watch my back if I were you. Oh, this is so much fun!" Talking to him after having decided, however, will be to no avail: "You have things to do. Talking to me isn't one of them."

When you've been declared Duke/Duchess by either Arctus or Dervenin, Sheogorath will be thrilled upon greeting you: "You've done it! The Ritual is complete, and you've survived! Who'd have thought? Now, on to other..." or "You've done it! The Ritual is complete, and you've survived! A shame about Thadon, but it's how he would have wanted to go. Now, on to other..." In both cases, at that moment the surviving Duke will shout out the Ritual is to be stopped while walking up to the altar.

	"You've done it! The Ritual is complete, and you've survived! Who'd have thought? Now, on to other..." Wait! I must speak! Halt! Cease! Desist! "Thadon, how dare you interrupt me! Only I interrupt me. Like just then."
	"You've done it! The Ritual is complete, and you've survived! A shame about Thadon, but it's how he would have wanted to go. Now, on to other..." Wait! I must speak! The Ritual must not be completed! "Syl! You dare interrupt Me? Only I interrupt Me. Like just then."

Sheogorath	Thadon	Syl
I'm speaking with someone. We'll talk later. Or not. When is later, exactly? Not now, I'm sure of that. Guards, I think Thadon/Syl forgot how to use the door. Kindly show him/her out. Before I forget myself.	Syl... my... Syl is dead? This can't be right. Is this right? What have you done? Have you done this?	Thadon... dead? You've done this. It was you all along!
Hold your tongue, little Duke/Duchess, or I'll tear it from your mouth.	But, this... stranger? Someone new? From somewhere else? Not here. I'm sure of that. I don't understand. Or I can't.	Replacing Thadon with this... outsider? This is how it ends. I should have seen this coming.
Calm yourself, Thadon/Syl. You're making my teeth itch. You still hold your office. I suggest you see to your duties.	Ridiculous! You can't do this! Although... you're omnipotent. Or just tall. It's one of the two, I'm sure. And a fool!	No! I see what's going on. I should have seen it before. You conspire to destroy us all! You're a fool if you think I'll allow this to happen.
Fool? Visionary! Change is in the air, Thadon/Syl. Breathe it deep! Bathe in its scent! Bottle it up. Save some for later.	Order approaches! It's taken the Fringe already! With Order clothes and Order hats! And you speak of "change"?	Order stands at our door. They've taken the Fringe! Did you even know? Do you care? And you speak of "change"?
Change will preserve us! It is the lifeblood of the Isles. It will move mountains! It will mount movements!	No. No. Certainly not. This isn't good. I'm sure it's bad. I can't do this anymore. No more.	No. I can't do this. There has to be a way out. A way to escape.
Then go, Thadon. Have your Greenmote. Take a bath. But leave. Before I decorate my throne with your insides. or Then go, Syl. Return to your quarters. Before I send you back in pieces.	Yes. That's it. I'll go. Away. Far away. Working for them is like working for us, but without all the dying.	Yes! That's what I'll do. I'll go. The enemy of my enemy. Order is the key. I'll keep them close.
(At this point the guards around the room draw their weapons.)
No! Let him/her go!	Enough! I go to Jyggalag. I give myself to him, as a Priest of Order! This isn't done, Madgod. I think it's just started.	This is not over, Madgod. I give myself to Jyggalag. As a Priest of Order, I'll be safe. Your empire will crumble before the armies of Order.

	After the dispute, the Duke/Duchess will leave the Sacellum and Sheogorath will turn his attention to you: "Wondering why I let him/her go, aren't you? I can see it in your face. Mostly in the eyes. I may take those from you when this is done. This has never happened before! The ruler of Mania/Dementia turning traitor? Unprecedented! But different is good. A new act in this play. Maybe we're on to something here. We'll see how it plays out. It can't be worse than what's happened before." When you remark "If you say so", he will complete the Ritual of Dementia: "I do. I did. And I won't say it again. But, that's enough about that. You're the ruler of Dementia! Just look at you. You're positively beaming! You now have the power to summon Dark Seducers. They've always served the Duke of Dementia. I think they have a thing for pain. And here is the Ring of Lordship, a symbol of your new station. Symbols are important. They carry weight in this Realm, and others. You would be well served to remember that."; or the Ritual of Mania: "[...] You're the ruler of Mania! [...] You now have the power to summon Golden Saints. They've always served the Duke of Mania. I think it's the bright colors. They just love 'em. [...]" Depending on which Ritual you've completed, you get a Summon Dark Seducer/Golden Saint Greater Power for 60sec and an additional Ring of Lordship. When you mention The Fringe, he'll explain: "He/She was right about that. I can feel it. In My bones. The little ones. The Greymarch has swept the Fringe. Order gathers its forces there as we speak. And I hate when people gather forces in My Fringe. You'll need to put an end to that. Stop them. My armies should already be there, but I want you to see what you can do to help. If they continue to marshal their forces there, we won't be able to contain them. Make sure they can't."

Retaking The Fringe

This conversation marks the beginning of the quest Retaking The Fringe. At that point you can ask Sheogorath some additional information. When you ask him about the Greymarch, he'll explain: "It's swept the Fringe. That's not good. See if you can't hold them off there. Because, if you can't, everyone is going to die. No pressure." He will also admit on Obelisks: "They'll get more and more active as the Greymarch continues. If they've already taken the Fringe, they must have one there already. I really hate those things." Once you end the conversation, Sheogorath will slowly fade away, after which he will be relocated in his throne room.

Once you've taken care of the Obelisk at The Fringe, and either Aurig Desha or Grakendo Udico has asked you to report the news to Sheogorath, he will be satisfied as you greet him, only to immediately send you off on another quest, officially finishing this one: "News of your success in the Fringe precedes you. To further cement the victory I have an important task for you to perform. You will seek the assistance of Relmyna Verenim in Xaselm to rebuild the Gatekeeper. You remember the creature you killed to get in here? With the Gatekeeper restored and Xedilian in operation, we won't have to worry about anything getting in. Things already here are another matter. You'll need to speak with Relmyna Verenim. She'll help you with your task. Strange woman. Has some unusual tastes. With that done, the Fringe should be secure. For now. I can feel things start to get a little hairy. And, not in the good way, like on your head." This is the start of Rebuilding the Gatekeeper.

Rebuilding the Gatekeeper

Again, you can ask him about certain topics in particular. When you mention the Greymarch, he'll admit: "It's all moving faster than I'd expect. And I'm good at expecting. Things are getting a bit thin. Get that Gatekeeper in place, and do it quickly. I'm not sure how much time I have left." On Jyggalag, he'll explain: "He's almost here. I can feel it. You won't like Him as much as Me. He doesn't even carry a cane! More the giant, bone-cleaving sword type of Prince. If he's on his way, I'm on My way out. I already feel not quite Myself. Not quite someone else... but not quite Myself." When you ask about your task, as to why you should Rebuild the Gatekeeper, he'll explain: "It's essential. Simply essential! If only it were essentially simple... but it's not. I want him there guarding those Gates. If any of Jyggalag's forces show up, he should be ready for them. It wouldn't do to just let them in if more show up. And more always show up. Still and all, I think things are going well, considering! Go talk to Relmyna in Xaselm. Tell her you're working for me. She'd do anything for me, that little minx." If you ask him about Relmyna Verenim, he'll tell you: "A powerful Sorceress. Maybe a genius. And a complete lunatic. All in all, my kind of person. I brought her to my Realm so she could continue to study her 'sixth element.' Honestly, I didn't know there were five already. She's a bit obsessed with it. And with Me. Makes dealing with her difficult. You shouldn't have any problems, though. No one likes you that much."

Once you have created a new Gatekeeper, the next thing is to report the news: "A new Gatekeeper! Excellent. We might be onto something with you, after all. That should keep out the stragglers. And I see you've learned to summon Flesh Atronachs! Relmyna must like you, little Duke/Duchess... but probably not in THAT way."

The Helpless Army

Brellach is under attack.

At that moment, a messenger will run up to Sheogorath, starting the quest The Helpless Army. The identity of the messenger depends on which Duke/Duchess you are. If you're the Duke/Duchess of Dementia, the messenger will be a female Golden Saint or if you're the Duke/Duchess of Mania, the messenger will be a male Dark Seducer. The messenger explains their base is under attack: "Lord Sheogorath! I apologize for the intrusion, but you must help us! Order has attacked Brellach/Pinnacle Rock and routed us!", after which Sheogorath replies: "Well, well! What a turn of events this is! It's new, and I like new, even if it's bad. And this is bad, isn't it? My, my."

Pinnacle Rock is under attack.

He will then turn to you: "This is a particularly exciting turn of events, is it not? A perfect job for you, my newest and only Noble in the realm! If Order has entered my army's stronghold, things have taken a disturbing turn. It means Order has tried subterfuge... not its strong suit. Amazing! Perhaps things aren't going as poorly as I'd imagined. You'll want to get all the details from the messenger. Unless you already have. You haven't, have you?" When you ask him why Jyggalag himself hasn't attacked yet, he will make a shocking revelation: "Aren't you precious? Do you really not know? Haven't you noodled it all through yet? Because He is Me! I'm Him! We're a bit of each other, really. I won't be here when He arrives, because I'll be Him. Happens every time. The Greymarch starts, Order appears, and I become Jyggalag and wipe out My whole Realm." When you ask him when Sheogorath will disappear, he will admit: "Soon. Too soon. I can already feel the change beginning. I feel like I'm not quite here. I'm not over there yet, but I'm not quite here. And I've been having moments of clarity that are quite unlike me. Like now." When you ask him if you can stop it, he'll reply: "Stop it? Oh, no. Can't do it. Believe me, I've tried. It never ends well. But you're still going to stop the Greymarch. Stop Jyggalag... Me... from destroying My Realm." When you ask him what you should do now, he'll tell you: "Now? Nothing has changed! You deal with this messenger. Make sure my army is secure. You'll need them."

Topic	Response
Jyggalag	"Cat's out of the bag on that one, isn't it? Who puts cats in bags, anyway? Cats hate bags. Soon, I'll turn into Jyggalag. There's no stopping it. That doesn't excuse you from your duties, though. Get to it."
Greymarch	"Your job is still to stop it. And to stop Jyggalag. You've already forced Order's hand. No stopping now. Some things can't be stopped. Trust me. I've tried." If you try to talk to him again afterwards, all he'll say is: "You should be off like the wind, solving problems and doing good deeds! And if not good deeds, then deeds of a sort. Strongholds to save, and Daedra to rescue. That sort of thing. Now get going."

The Golden Saint base, Brellach, and the Dark Seducer base, Pinnacle Rock, were given to them by Sheogorath. It is where they return from the waters of Oblivion through its Wellspring. Commanders Staada and Dylora, one of which will be encountered during the Helpless Army quest, will add: "Brellach/Pinnacle Rock was given to us by our Lord Sheogorath as a sanctuary and place of restoration."; and when asked about the Wellspring, they will explain: "The Darkness is a frightening place, even to us, and so our Lord has given us this beacon, a light to guide us back to Him." Any other Golden Saint or Dark Seducer may add: "The Waters of Oblivion lead us to the Wellspring, where Lord Sheogorath has given us a place to return to His service."

Symbols of Office

Sheogorath transforming into Jyggalag

When you return having secured Pinnacle Rock/Brellach, which started the Symbols of Office quest, you'll notice Sheogorath standing further from his throne in a strangely... normal pose, obviously different than his usual self. If spoken to, Haskill will claim: "Time is short. You must speak to Sheogorath immediately." When you greet the Madgod, it seems his alternate persona will prompt the following words of wisdom: "Time. Time is an artificial construct. An arbitrary system based on the idea that events occur in a linear direction at all times. Always forward, never back. Is the concept of time correct? Is time relevant? It matters not. One way or another, I fear that our time has run out. As I feared it would, My plan has failed. The Greymarch is upon us, and I must go. I thought we had more time. I thought we had a chance. My plan has failed. And we were so close...." When you ask him what happens now, he will tell you: "What happens is what always has happened -- what always will happen. I crumble, I fade, the Realm dies. And you with it. Flee while you can, mortal. When we next meet I will not know you, and I will slay you like the others." When you tell him you haven't failed, you'll put a smile on his face: "Optimism! How adorable! I love it! Even at the end, you make me laugh. I'm lying. That wasn't funny at all. No matter. Soon you and everyone else will be dead, and I will be left a mad god, ruler of a dead realm. Again." Finally, when you ask him what you can do, you will hear Sheogorath's last words admitting: "I had intended to give you My staff, the symbol of My office. But life has gone from it, as it goes from Me. It is now dead wood. A useless twig. With the staff, there was hope. But now, hope is dead. I am dead. The Realm...." As the conversation ends, he will transform into Jyggalag when he utters the words: "The realm is dead! Sheogorath is dead!! All shall crumble before Jyggalag!"

The transformation causes him to vanish, presumably teleporting him to the other side of the Realm with the Forces of Order. He will return during The End of Order as Jyggalag, never to be seen as his old self again. Without a Madgod to tell you what to do, the Greymarch's outcome seems fixed. However, as you turn your attention to the Chamberlain, Haskill will keep his head cool as he explains there is a chance of victory: "He is gone, but hope is not lost. We have a rare opportunity here, but I hesitate to do what must be done. If the Throne of Madness remains empty when Jyggalag storms the palace, he will prevail. But there is a chance that the throne may not be empty." As of now, you have three different possible replies (although all three are given very similar answers):

• "Why do you care?"

"My duty now is to the Realm. By serving you, I serve Lord Sheogorath. The only way to protect the Realm from the Greymarch is to place you in the Throne of Madness."

• "What do you mean?"

"You will sit on the throne. It has always been Sheogorath's intent for you to be the new Madgod."

• "Who will sit in the throne?"

"Why, you will, of course. It has always been Sheogorath's intent for you to be the new Madgod."

When you tell him that you are not a Daedric Prince, he will explain: "True, but perhaps you can hold the throne -- provided that you possess the proper symbol of office. Namely: the Staff of Sheogorath." He will explain how to obtain the Staff when you ask him what you must do: "Unfortunately, when Sheogorath faded, the power of the Staff faded with him. It must now be remade. The Staff is the symbol of power in this Realm. He who rightfully holds the Staff may hold the throne of the Shivering Isles. However, the secrets of its construction are lost." When you point out this doesn't seem very hopeful, he will send you to Knifepoint Hollow, as he claims you will find the answer you need there.

Sheogorath's prisoner

You will soon stumble upon an old man sitting in a chair, Dyus. Surprisingly, he knows of your purposes: "Sheogorath has fallen and you seek the means to foil the machinations of the Prince of Order. You seek the Throne of Madness. However, no mortal may sit upon the throne without the staff. So here you are in my prison, seeking to supplant the one who placed me here. If you wish to take the place of Sheogorath, then ask me what you will." He will explain he was Jyggalag's Chamberlain and keeper of the great library of Jyggalag. If you ask him about the library, he will tell you what happened to it: "When Sheogorath discovered the library he had it burned, insisting that it was an abomination and that personal choice defied logical prediction."; and if you should ask about his survival, he will explain: "Following each cycle of the Greymarch, Sheogorath has cast out or killed every aspect of Order found in the Shivering Isles. I alone have survived. Sheogorath cannot bring himself to destroy the knowledge that I possess. Instead, he has confined me to this place and forbidden me to die. I have not seen another creature until fate, predictably, sent you to me." Should you ask him about his torment, he will explain: "Your predecessor cursed me with immortality and placed me in this remote location in order to 'protect His Realm from my knowledge.' [...] And so, here I remain until the day that Sheogorath -- or rather, you -- choose to release me. And we both know when that will be..."

He will explain how to create the Staff of Sheogorath which is to hold Sheogorath's power: "I can create the physical shell of the Staff, but the divine essence must be gathered elsewhere. But, apotheosis is no simple matter and the creation of the staff is no simple task. I will require two sacred items in order to complete it." The first item needed is a mortal's eye who has witnessed the disappearance of Sheogorath and survived the Greymarch: "The Shivering Isles hold many secrets but few remain unseen by mortal eyes. The Staff is a tool of great vision and thus, requires the eye of one who has witnessed one of these unseen secrets firsthand."; while the second item is a branch of one of the oldest trees in the Shivering Isles: "The trees and branches of this Realm feed from a deep font of madness and mystery. One of the oldest trees, named the Tree of Shades, lies in the halls of Milchar. Milchar is a place of ruin, root, and mania." Should you ask him about the Staff of Sheogorath again at this point, he will add: "The Staff of Sheogorath contains a portion of the divine power of the Daedric Prince. It is the embodiment of Sheogorath and of this land."

Witness of Sheogorath's disappearance

Dyus will point you towards The Howling Halls to find Ciirta, founder and leader of a cult created to rid the Isles of Sheogorath, for the eye necessary to complete the Staff. Should you ask Haskill about her, he will tell you: "She is an interesting character indeed. She is one of the very few individuals in the Shivering Isles that is party to the secret of Sheogorath. She once made her way into the throne room during the Greymarch and saw that Sheogorath was nowhere to be found. However, she did not recognize this event for what it was. She believes that Sheogorath had abandoned the Realm out of fear of Jyggalag's attack. So while she is party to the secret, she does not know its significance. She believed Sheogorath to be a traitor to His people. She believed it so strongly that she led a revolt against Sheogorath when He returned. She was imprisoned in the Howling Halls for her trouble." Depending on your actions, you may hear her opinion on Sheogorath when you speak to her: "I know His secret. I have seen His empty throne -- seen it with my own eyes while New Sheoth burned in the grey fires of Order. Sheogorath refuses to protect us. Madgod? Bah! The Greymarch brings darkness. We seek light for all.", "I sought Sheogorath. This is His Realm, and I knew that He would protect us. And what did I find? The Throne of Madness -- empty! Sheogorath had fled! Left us all to die!" or "I could not abide Sheogorath's betrayal. He brought disharmony. He allowed the Greymarch to take us. I gathered those who could see the light and I led a revolt against him. We were... slaughtered by his Dark Seducers. I alone was spared. And in sparing me, Sheogorath made His final mistake. In this place, I will gather a new army and dethrone our coward god once and for all!"

When you bring back the items Dyus has asked for, he will create the Staff for you: "You possess the eye and the branch. Together, they shall form the physical shape of the Staff of Sheogorath. After I shape them into the Staff, you must take it to the seat of power in the Shivering Isles -- the Palace of Sheogorath. There, imbue the Staff with power from the Font of Madness. Soak the staff in the waters of the land, and it will open its full power to you."

The Roots of Madness

Upon your arrival in the Throne Room, you find out the Font of Madness has been tainted by Order. Haskill will explain that you have to cleanse it by entering The Fountainhead to remove the forces of Order and cleanse the pools. If you ask him about The Fountainhead before you enter it, he will add: "Sheogorath's private sanctuary, where he would often meditate amidst the tame Gnarls that tend the roots."

You will eventually encounter the surviving traitor Duke, Thadon or Syl. Depending on your methods, they may converse with you and show no regret for betraying the Madgod:

Thadon: "How he must have mocked me, with my poems, and my painting, and my meaningless revelry. [...] We have lived too long as the playthings of the Madgod." Syl: "Sheogorath's pet. That used to be me, so blinded by my suspicions that I could not see the truth of my own situation. [...] We have lived too long as the playthings of the Madgod."

The End of Order

After having cleansed the Font of Madness, the palace will be under attack by the Forces of Order, marking the start of The End of Order. It is at this time you will get to see Sheogorath's alternate form - Jyggalag. In a one-on-one duel, it becomes apparent that he is no longer the joyful spirit he once was as he may utter the following lines during battle regarding his former self: "Another of Sheogorath's foolish schemes!", "Are you the best the Madgod could muster?", or "This is what the Madgod sends against me?"

Sheogorath's true form?

Upon defeating the Prince, however, he will explain the truth behind the Greymarch in a final speech: "Enough! I am beaten. The Greymarch is ended. For millennia this drama has unfolded, and each time, I have conquered this land, only to be transformed back into that gibbering fool, Sheogorath. It was not always so. Once, I ruled this Realm, a world of perfect Order. My dominion expanded across the seas of Oblivion with each passing era. The other Princes, fearful of my power, cursed me with Madness, doomed me to live as Sheogorath, a broken soul reigning in a broken land. Once each era, I was allowed my true form, conquering this world anew. And each time I did, the curse was renewed, damning me to exist as Sheogorath. Now, though, you have ended the cycle. You now hold the mantle of madness, and Jyggalag is free to roam the voids of Oblivion once more. I will take my leave, and you will remain here, mortal. Mortal...? King? God? It seems uncertain. This Realm is yours. Perhaps you will grow to your station. Fare thee well, Sheogorath, Prince of Madness."

This is the last you'll see of the Madgod, or rather, the Prince of Order. For now, the Madgod is none other than yourself! All of the Isles will recognize you as Sheogorath, which is in practice, other than having additional duties and priviliges as described by Haskill during The Prince of Madness, nothing more than an aesthetic title. As for Sheogorath's future, that is entirely up to you...

Notes

• Shivering Isles also introduces new dialogue for Sheogorath during the Sheogorath Daedric quest, all of which is documented at the quest page.
• At level 254, he is the highest leveled NPC in the game.
• You are unable to pickpocket Sheogorath.
• Sheogorath is the only NPC in the game who has a modeled beard.
• As with numerous other NPCs, Sheogorath doesn't employ the principles required to participate in the Speechcraft minigame.
• Should Sheogorath go unconscious while casting his eponymous power, he won't attempt to send you to the Punishment Point again when regaining consciousness and hence you won't die. However, you will be stuck in a non-playable scene for eternity and will need to reload. If you are playing on PC, type enableplayercontrols to disable cutscene mode.