Elder Scrolls
Register
Advertisement
Elder Scrolls
Tes4semap

The map of the Shivering Isles.

For the DLC expansion pack of the same name, see The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles.

The Shivering Isles, also known as the Realm of Madness[1] or The Madhouse,[2] is a Plane of Oblivion belonging to the Daedric Prince Sheogorath. The realm consists of three parts: Mania, Dementia, and The Fringe.

History[]

ShiveringIslesColorMap

A colored map of the Shivering Isles.

"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."
―Jyggalag[src]

The Shivering Isles were once the realm of Jyggalag, the Daedric Prince of order. He was so powerful that the other Princes feared him. Because of it, they cursed Jyggalag to live a life of a madman, the thing that he hated most. Since then the Shivering Isles have been ruled by Sheogorath. However, at the end of every era Jyggalag is allowed to revert to his original form and wreak havoc in this realm of Oblivion. This event is known as the Greymarch, when Jyggalag destroys the Isles and turns them into the realm of perfect order. As a part of his curse after gaining control of the Shivering Isles, Jyggalag transforms back into Sheogorath who then recreates the realm back to one of madness.[3]

Haskill, who would later become Sheogorath's chamberlain, was said to have mantled Sheogorath in an event in a previous time.[4] Sometime during the First Era, Sheogorath made a deal with the famed wizard Shalidor, giving him the Folium Discognitum for his work on Glamoril, in return for the island of Eyevea. Eyevea was later transported to the Shivering Isles, a decision which Shalidor would come to regret.[5]

In 2E 582, the Vestige and Valaste of the Mages Guild succeeded in creating a corporeal form of Shalidor's soul. With his knowledge, Shalidor assisted the guild in surpassing Sheogorath's trials in the Shivering Isles, in the locations of Cheesemonger's Hollow, the Glade of the Divines, the Circus of Cheerful Slaughter, and the Chateau of Ravenous Rodent. After the trial, Sheogorath had Eyevea returned to Tamriel.[5]

During the year 3E 433, Sheogorath sent an invitation to the Nirn in the form of a large three-headed gate to the Isles located in the Niben Bay. His purpose was to find a champion who would end the Graymarch. The person who would later become Sheogorath's champion would be none other than the Hero of Kvatch, who would kill the Gatekeeper, become the Duke or Duchess of either Mania or Dementia and defeat Jyggalag's Forces of Order while defeating the Daedric Prince himself in single combat, thus freeing him from his curse and allowing him to roam the plains of Oblivion in his true form. After being defeated, Jyggalag named the Hero of Kvatch the new Daedric Prince of Madness before departing to wander the voids of oblivion.[6]

During the Fourth era, Sheogorath went on a "vacation" to the mind of Pelagius Septim III. During this time, dialogue with Dervenin suggests that the Isles went into a state of chaos without the Mad God's rulership, as according to Dervenin the Cold Flame of Agnon went dark and that north and south raged war, suggesting a civil war took place. This was not until the Last Dragonborn, at the urging of Dervenin, went into the mind of Pelagius Septim III and made the Daedric Prince return to the Isles in 4E 201.[7]

Flora and fauna[]

Mania

A view of Mania.

The Flora and Fauna of the Shivering Isles are a testament to Sheogorath's madness, as the north, known as Mania, reflects the Mad God's pleasure with simple madness and calm obsession. Mania features tall mushroom-like plants and colorful trees, and its fauna reflects these traits as creatures native to Mania are known to have more colorful bodies. The south, known as Dementia, reflects the darker side of Sheogorath's personality, featuring swamps, bogs and dark forests. All of the plant life of the Shivering Isles are connected to the root system, a series of natural caverns and rock formations that is, in fact, a large living organism that is connected to all of the trees and plants in the Isles.

Dementia

A view of Dementia.

The Fauna of the Shivering Isles include many diverse creatures, including the tree-like Gnarl, the amphibious Baliwog and Scalon, the goblin-like Grummite, the insect-like Elytra, the canine Skinned Hound, the undead Shambles, the Daedric Golden Saint and their rivals the Dark Seducer, the Hunger and the Flesh Atronach.

Getting to the Shivering Isles[]

Arrival to the Shivering Isles is solely at the discretion of Lord Sheogorath, Prince of Madness. He permits the Hero access after killing an insane dark elf that comes out of the portal to the isles. Once they kill him, they can enter the portal.

Locations[]

Main article: Locations (Shivering Isles)

Mania[]

Dementia[]

The Fringe[]

Religion[]

The main religion in the Isles is obviously the worship of Sheogorath himself, as many, if not all, houses in the Isles include a small bust of the Mad God, as well as lettuce and string, the favorite playthings of the Mad God. There are also different opinions on Sheogorath's worship, and the role of the prophet Arden Sul. The Zealot cult believes that Sheogorath is a living god, and Arden Sul was his mortal aspect. While the Heretic cult believes that Sheogorath is in fact a powerful mortal man pretending to be a Daedric Prince who profanes the teachings of Arden Sul.

There is also the Apostle cult, which believes that the Mad God is unfit to rule the Shivering Isles after their leader Ciirta discovered during last Greymarch that Sheogorath "left" the Isles (while in fact he turned into Jyggalag). Ciirta and her apostles launched a movement to usurp the Mad God out of the Howling Halls that once kept the mad Emperor Pelagius III. Another part of the religion of the Isles is the worship of the prophet Arden Sul, as both Mania and Dementia have different stories of his death.[8]

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • In a conversation with the Hero of Kvatch, Dyus introduces himself as "Dyus of Mytheria," indicating that the Shivering Isles may have once been called "Mytheria" during Jyggalag's reign.

Appearances[]

References[]

  1. Dialogue with Haskill during "A Door in Niben Bay"
  2. 2.0 2.1 The Doors of Oblivion
  3. Interaction with Sheogorath
  4. Loremaster's Archive: An Interview with Haskill
  5. 5.0 5.1 Events of Online
  6. Events of Shivering Isles
  7. 7.0 7.1 Events of "The Mind of Madness"
  8. Interactions with characters in Shivering Isles
Advertisement