New Sheoth

After everyone was healed and checked we sought out Haskell as he stood by the gateway. He explained how it was satisfactory that we had defeated the Gatekeeper even if it was a loss on the Mad God's part. Such was the dichotomy of the Mad God. 

He then told us to follow the roads and they will lead us to New Sheoth. But a choice lay before us. To go through the whimsical wonderland of Madness known as Mania? Or, to follow the road into the depressing swamps of Dementia.

So Mad wonderland it was, decided by Throgor. And upon moving through the doorway we were given a minor blessing. A new spell was placed in my Circuits. It was a simple frenzy spell that caused others to attack blindly those around them. What was surprising was as we walked I compared with Granny Viola and the spell circles were different. 

In other words, The realm tailor made the spells based on the individuals. Which could be frightening on its own. The walk was on the longer side but by nightfall we could see in the distance the city as it sat in the middle of the divide on the realm. Stopping to make camp though was a mistake.

We found out quickly just how mad the citizens of Mania actually are as we sat around the campfire. One moment we were relaxing and the next we were besieged. Mages from far had thrown fire and frost towards our little cove off the side of the main road. Then came the fighters as they laughed and shouted with glee as they ran down a hill towards us. 

Shirou was the first to act as he pulled his bow and began to pick apart the outliers of the group. Throgor threw himself into the melee after a quick casting of Alteration from Granny. Then Granny Viola chose to engage the mages spells as she traded her own to snuff them out as they came. 

Then it came to me. All of the training I had done in the passed few months came quickly. Reaching behind my back i drew my blade. Dropping low, I moved to the flank of our group of madmen who decided it was a good night to die. I approached a lone man from the shadows that danced around the area from the campfire and stray spells. 

The blade moved to my left hand where I felt it comfortable and with a swipe at the man's knee he buckled and fell as he was running. Spirit vision came into my sight and allowed me to process so much more around me. My right hand came upon the back of his head where he fell. With no time to process what was happening to him lightning burst from my hand straight into his head. Rushing footfalls and shouting brought me to reality as I dodged a Warhammer crushing down towards me. Only to end up in the former man's spine. Though he didn't make a sound his body held a sickening crunch from his spine.

Moving before the would be ambusher could recover his weapon I moved closer to him ducking under his arm that held on to his weapon for dear life. A glance into his eyes only told the story of incoherent thought. His spirit and emotions were in chaos. The Orc who held the hammer didn't even recognize the threat. So as I slipped under his legs with a swipe on his inner thigh he simply bellowed in rage. But it was soon silenced as my newfound agility from being a Clown allowed me to climb. 

As he freed his hammer turning to attempt to find me I made my presence known far to quickly for him to register. As my blade was jammed into his neck. Pulling the blade and hopping off him I scanned the battlefield. 

The overall numbers weren't all that high for us as a group. 15 or so marauders with two mages. Now they only held 1 or 2 left and they were being cleaned out soon enough. While I felt the weight of my actions they were far lighter than before. There's a difference between shooting someone far enough away, than dragging a blade through someone. But these "People" their eyes and their souls were far to gone. 

Calling upon the rune for frost I manipulated a spear into existence. Taking aim and firing at the back of the last marauder as he was fighting Throgor allowed him to parry and end the battle with ease. 

As the chill of the night settled and the smell of iron in the air there was a collective sigh when they found me. So we were forced to make camp farther ahead. Snuffing the fires i was questioned on how i felt. I wasn't great, that was for sure. But that night when i nearly killed the one guy already cemented a fact. This world is harsh, And far more bloody than my Earth. Meeting Sheogorath only solidified it. 

In the end I might as well be "Touched by Sheogorath" in the truest sense. And at the end of the day we would need it for what was coming. The Graymarch was a war between two Dedric Princes, And we were smack dab in the middle of it. 

The Next morning after a light breakfast and some additional checkups from Granny we were on our way. With an hour's time we made it to the gates and were finally here. New Sheoth, the local golden saints still regarded us as a nuisance even if we were here on the orders of her lord. The Mania half of the city was interesting to say the least. A quick walk through allowed us to see a wide variety of the different breeds of madness flowing throughout.

Among the more interesting fellows were a mage dressed in old ragged robes speaking about the Dwemer and that he had deciphered their teachings. A Bosmer woman who was working out how to get more amber for her to forge. finally a shifty little fellow who was fully wrapped in cloth bragging about how our lord blessed him with a child. 

The last one made me think of the Argonian and Nord couple who asked Sheogorath to bless them with a child. And so he did for just because of how outrageous it was since the Argonians could only receive eggs from a Hist Tree. Took a literal God for the woman to be able to have a child. And it was a normal birth instead of the normal Egg hatching.

(True story since Argonians while they may have all the normal reproductive organs are not able to concieve on their own.)

Then we were upon the palace. It Split the realm down the middle as it did the city. The guards of both Suducers and Saints stood by as we climbed the stairs leading to the doorway that was also split between two doors. As we entered the throne room, as i entered first do to bravery or stupidity i don't know, but then I saw him. The relaxed posture as he sat in the purple colored robes. The middle aged man with golden eyes with slits like a dragon through them. The left side of the room was warm reds and orange colors. The left, cool colors reigned as dark green and blues were present. 

A look in the Mad God's eyes was telling of amusement. As we walked down the aisle of the room and approached, he began to clap. A chuckle left him as we came upon him. Our faces were a mixed bag. The seriousness on Granny and Shirou's faces were looking as though they would be going to a large fight. Throgor's kept a small smirk but his tense body was also telling. Myself, I smiled and bowed. The Mad God likes entertainment so why not play into it. 

"A new arrival! Shame about my gatekeeper. I'm So happy I could just tear out your intestines and Strangle ya with them." Fixing his suit and sitting straighter he continued as if not noticing how my company tensed even further.

"I suppose and introduction is in order. I'm Sheogorath! PRINCE OF MADNESS! and other things, I'm not talking about them... You probably figured that out by now. Lets hope so. OR, We're in trouble... and OUT come the intestines. AND I, Skip rope With THEM! 

Taking a second to relax further into his seat he continues.

But, perhaps now's not the time. You've all 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. 

Throgor moved forward and stood next to me as the Prince was speaking to him mostly. The prince just waved as a small amulet shot towards him. 

"What do you seek, Lord Sheogorath." The air chilled as the Prince got a far off look in his eyes. A Smile grew on his face as he looked further into the man in front of him. 

"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 Dedric Princes. Especially, Dedric Princes.

The Dedric lord's face was marred by a serious look when he finished. With a confused look Throgor simply said "Changes?"

Adopting a scholarly tone he spoke again. "Dedra are the embodiment of change. Change and permanency. I'm no different. except in the ways that i am. His smugger tone shifted once more to serious once again. "The Graymarch is coming. And your going to stop it."

"Graymarch?" "The details aren't important. At least not right now. Eternity is on a rather tight deadline. We'll get back to that later. Seeing how the Dedric lord wouldn't be answering that Throgor simply moved on. "So what now?"

"Now? you can run an errand for me. An important one! of course, anything i tell you to do is important! My Real, My rules... You are going to Xedillian. One of my Favorite spots in the Isles. It's a little place i use to take care of... unwanted visitors"

With Righteousness he continued "And some are more unwanted then Others!"

while Throgor took the lead in most of this conversation Shirou picked up the slack here. "What is so important at this Xedillian?" With amusement then a somber tone The Dedric lord spoke addressing Shirou this time. "The Gatekeeper takes care of most of the unwanted. But HE's dead. we'll have to remedy that soon as well. Anyways... there are those with other ways into my realm, and they're on the move. We don't want them here. Trust me." 

Turning his attention back to Throgor he started again with a slightly more chipper tone. "So, your going to get Xedillian up and running. Here's a little book to tell you how. And The Attenuator of Judgement. You will need that too. Of course you could always get more details from Haskell. He's a detailed orientated type of person. A Big Help. And, A snappy Dresser! Now Get going! before i change my mind. OR my mind changes me."

But just as Throgor who accepted the items from Sheogorath moved to speak with Haskell, Sheogorath turned to me. 

"Little Mystery, I've noticed you have grown stronger. But i will have to Ask you to stay here for now. The rest of the party will have to continue without you for now." 

Shirou was about to say something, as well as Granny, but a look i gave them said otherwise. 

"Understood Lord Sheogorath. Did you have something in mind by this change."

"Ahh the little one can Understand! Quite, Some mortals and some princes were speaking about your cooking skills. I wished to partake in some new delicacies. As well as... Guide you. In the end you might join our ranks... So Why not create a little Chaos among my siblings." In a low tone, while cupping his mouth with one hand and a sly look, he continued so that the others could not hear. "Even my other side agrees. simply because you knowing more is more, Order." A distasteful spite was thrown in at the end.

Damn, lessons on how to be a god from the Dedric Prince of Madness? Never thought i would make that statement, even if that is so far in the future.

A smirk graced my face, matching the mad glint in his eyes. Reaching out and griping into the air, Arrodes appeared. Might as well add some flair. 

"Azarius, Future Lord of Mysteries greets The Mad God. And I would be delighted to learn from you."

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You have been found in the Shivering Isles, touched by Sheogorath, And He demands Payment in Stones!

An:// Thank you for reading as always! I used the Script from the Oblivion game mostly in this chapter since it is Sheogorath. But i hope my addition to the final part did him justice. Because even if he hates himself (Order) he likes the chaos more. What Azarius will be learning will be more in line of the God side of things. such as the creation of Dedric Artifacts. Not so much learning the how but the theory of it. 

This is Both as a distraction from the process of mantling so Azarius cannot interfere in the overall process. Shirou doesn't matter due to still being affected by fate. Will be explained later! 

Have Fun and May you always remember we are all Touched by Sheogorath! Only some recognize it.