Lore:Sheogorath

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Sheogorath, in his throne room in the Shivering Isles.

Sheogorath is the Daedric Prince of Madness, whose motives are said to be unknowable. His realm is known as the Shivering Isles, the Madhouse, or the Asylums. The Golden Saints, or Aureals, and Dark Seducers, or Mazken, are his servants.

Sheogorath

The Creation of Sheogorath

Sheogorath is one of the few Daedric Princes whose creation may be linked to the change or destruction of an Aedra (some of the others include Malacath and Meridia). Aldmeri creation stories attribute his creation to the removal of Lorkhan's "divine spark". By one of these myths, he is described as the "Sithis-shaped hole" of the world.

Sheogorath is (or was), in fact, Jyggalag, the Daedric Prince of Order. The story goes that Jyggalag had, in times beyond memory, grown in power so much that the other Daedric princes grew jealous and fearful. They cursed Jyggalag to live as Sheogorath, the incarnation of the thing he hated most. At the end of every Era, Jyggalag was allowed to take on his true form once again, and reconquer his lands, an event known as the Greymarch. After that, however, he would be transformed back into Sheogorath, and Sheogorath would spread madness upon his lands once more. The Champion of Cyrodiil reportedly ended the cycle by defeating Jyggalag during the Greymarch at the end of the Third Era. This released Jyggalag from his curse, allowing him to remain in his true form instead of transforming back into Sheogorath.

After defeating Jyggalag, the Champion of Cyrodiil became the new Sheogorath. The Champion of Cyrodiil appears to remain at his post 200 years later, having also taken on Sheogorath's personality, voice and likeness.

Appearance of Sheogorath's Avatar

Sheogorath typically manifests on Nirn as a seemingly harmless, well-dressed man, much to the surprise of many mortals. The reasoning behind his appearance is to lead unsuspecting mortals down the path to insanity, or "the Golden Road".

Sheogorath in Chimeri/Dunmeri Culture

Originally, Sheogorath was one of the Daedric Princes the Chimer, now Dunmer, revered in their ancient ancestral worship. However, when the Tribunal Temple became the dominating religion in Morrowind, Sheogorath, as well as Mehrunes Dagon, Malacath, and Molag Bal, became known as one of the "Four Corners of the House of Troubles". He was said to rebel against the Tribunal, and thus worship of Sheogorath became punishable by death. His role in Dunmeri culture is to test them for any psychological weakness and is associated with the fear other races have of the Dunmer.

It is written that when he rebelled against the Tribunal, Sheogorath tricked the moon Baar Dau, inspiring it to hurl itself at the city of Vivec Sheogorath justified his actions by claiming Vivec was built in mockery of the heavens. Vivec is then said to have frozen Baar Dau in its descent with one gesture; the moon then swore itself to the Tribunal's service forever. After the Nerevarine destroyed the heart of Lorkhan, Vivec's power was greatly weakened, and Baar Dau continued its descent, destroying Vivec City and resulting in the Red Year.

Sheogorath in Khajiiti Culture

Sheogorath is one of the many prominent Daedric Princes in the culture of the Khajiit people. In the Khajiit myth of creation, Sheogorath is called "Sheggorath". By the Khajiit, he is known as the Skooma Cat.

Worship

The worship of Sheogorath is widespread in Tamriel. But historically, Sheogorath has been especially revered in the provinces of Morrowind and Elsweyr, home of the Khajiit.

Summoning

Sheogorath is one of the easiest Daedric Princes to summon. Although his official summoning date is Mad Pelagius day, the second of Sun's Dawn, Sheogorath can be summoned anytime there is a storm.

Literature

Sheogorath appeared in 16 Accords of Madness Volume VI where he outsmarted Hircine among the frigid peaks of Skyrim by summoning a little bird against Hircine's "weredaedroth". The place of battle was cursed by Hircine. In Volume IX Sheogorath won in the competition with Vaermina and taught her about importance of madness. In Volume XII Sheogorath makes Malacath kill his son by deceit and get his son's soul.

Artifacts

Fork of Horripilation

The Fork of Horripilation is a cursed artifact created by the Daedric Prince Sheogorath. In appearance and in function, it is a mundane iron fork. However, Sheogorath is fond of forcing mortals to use it as a weapon, in which case it curses the wielder with Fork's Wound, a magical effect which stunts the wielders magicka or drains it completely. It is unknown what relation the fork has to horripilation.

In 3E 427, the fork was in the possession of Big Head, a mad Argonian hermit and a worshipper of Sheogorath who lived in a small shack on an island in the Sheogorad region of Morrowind. Big Head was obsessed with forks and spears, which he had filled his hut with. Sheogorath instructed the Nerevarine to kill a Giant Bull Netch with the fork. Big Head willingly gave the fork to the Nerevarine, who then killed the Bull Netch and returned the fork to Sheogorath to earn the Prince's favor.

In 3E 433, Sheogorath returned the fork to the Shivering Isles, his Plane of Oblivion. Rumors circulated among the mortal population of the Isles about its return. Big Head entered the Isles in search of the fork, which "sang" to him, and took up residence in Bliss, where he collected a great many forks. The fork was of great importance to both the Heretics and Zealots, two outcast religious factions. The Heretics had obtained possession of the fork and had taken it to Longtooth Camp, near the Gates of Madness on the Mania side of the Isles. However, news of this reached the Zealots, who launched an attack on the Heretic base. The Fork supposedly changed hands several times, with the Zealots bringing it to Hardscrabble Camp, their nearby base in Dementia, only to have it reclaimed by the Heretics. Eventually, Big Head requested the assistance of Sheogorath's Champion, who then learned of its location from the beggar Bolwing. The Champion recovered the fork from the outcasts and returned it to the grateful Big Head.

Gambolpuddy

The glove Gambolpuddy makes the wearer both stronger and weaker. It was last seen in the city of Ald Daedroth.

Neb-Crescen

There is an artifact from the book 16 Accords of Madness called Neb-Crescen. It gives warriors an obsession to kill everyone when they hold the blade. Malacath killed his son with this blade.

Spear of Bitter Mercy

One of the more mysterious artifacts is the Spear of Bitter Mercy. Little to nothing is known about the Spear. There are no recorded histories but many believe it to be of Daedric origin. The only known legend about it is its use by a mighty hero during the fall of the Battlespire. The hero was aided by the Spear in the defeat of Mehrunes Dagon and the recapturing of the Battlespire. Since that time, the Spear of Bitter Mercy has made few appearances within Tamriel.

Staff of Sheogorath

The Staff of Sheogorath, a powerful Daedric artifact, is the symbol of the Daedric Prince of Madness. It contains the power of the Shivering Isles, and is needed to assume the title of Mad God and sit upon the Throne of Madness. The Staff is the namesake of Sheogorath. In its traditional appearance, the Staff is a simple walking stick, often with an eyeball attached to the top. During each Greymarch, the Staff's power waned and it became a useless twig. This marked the beginning of Sheogorath's transformation into Jyggalag.

Staff of the Everscamp

The Staff of the Everscamp is a Daedric staff associated with Sheogorath. Once the staff is activated by reading its engraved rune, four non-hostile Everscamps appear and follow the staff's bearer. The staff's bearer is no longer able to put down or get rid of the staff. There are only two ways to get rid of the staff: find someone else who is willing to take it, or return to its original location, namely the shrine of Sheogorath in Darkfathom Cave.

Wabbajack

The Wabbajack is a Daedric artifact created by the Daedric Prince Sheogorath. It takes the appearance of an ebony staff. As befits the Prince of Madness, his artifact is unpredictable in its effects. The staff has the power to transform its target into a completely random creature. This can be helpful to the wielder, turning a fearsome opponent into a docile animal; similarly, it can be detrimental, transforming a relatively weak enemy into a powerful monster. The staff can produce other effects, such as damaging, healing or instantly killing the target.

An anonymous author wrote about his obtaining of the staff in the book Wabbajack. In his search for the Oghma Infinium, the author was tricked into summoning Sheogorath, believing him to be Hermaeus Mora. After serving the prince, Sheogorath's servant gave him the Wabbajack. In the events leading up to the Warp in the West, an unknown agent of the Blades summoned Sheogorath and dispatched a battlemage who had displeased the Prince. In return, the agent was given the Wabbajack from a worshipper of Sheogorath.

In 3E 433, Sheogorath was aided by the Champion of Cyrodiil in tormenting the Khajiit settlement of Border Watch in Cyrodiil. The inhabitants were very superstitious, and were driven into a state of frenzy when the Prince simulated their K'sharra Prophecy, said to mark the end of the world. These occurrences were reported in a special edition of the Black Horse Courier newspaper entitled Rain of Burning Dogs!. It is unknown whether this took place before or after the Champion assumed the position of Sheogorath; regardless, the Champion received the Wabbajack from either Sheogorath or Haskill.

In 4E 201, the Last Dragonborn unknowingly entered the mind of the dead Pelagius Septim III, tasked with convincing Sheogorath to return to the Shivering Isles. Sheogorath agreed to return, but only if the Dovahkiin could escape Pelagius' mind. Having completed several challenges and conquered the dead emperor's inner fears, the Dovahkiin was able to leave and was given the Wabbajack by Sheogorath.

Realms

The Shivering Isles

The Shivering Isles, also called the Madhouse or the Asylums, is the Daedric realm of Sheogorath, Prince of Madness. The realm consists of a main land mass surrounded by a group of smaller islands, the area of which is divided in half: the northern half of these lands is called Mania, and the southern half Dementia. This divide represents Sheogorath's split personality, the "two shades of madness". The isles are inhabited by mortals as well as Daedra, but they have been driven insane.

Notes

• Sheogorath is the alter ego of ex-developer Ted Peterson. Not surprisingly, Sheogorath's name comes from "Theodore", which is the longer version of the name Ted.

• Sheogorath appeared in TES II: Daggerfall, TES III: Morrowind, TES IV: Oblivion, and TES V: Skyrim.

Gallery

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  As seen in Daggerfall

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  Morrowind

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  Oblivion

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  Skyrim

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  Wabbajack, as seen in Oblivion

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  Wabbajack, as seen in Skyrim

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  Fork of Horripilation, as seen in Shivering Isles

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  Staff of the Everscamp, as seen in Oblivion

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  Staff of Sheogorath, as seen in Shivering Isles

See Also

• For game-specific information, see the Daggerfall, Morrowind, Oblivion, Shivering Isles, and Skyrim articles.

References

Note: the following references are not found in game. They are included to provide a rounder background to this article, but may not reflect established lore.