Shivering:About

The UESPWiki – Your source for The Elder Scrolls since 1995

Shivering Isles Box Art

A map of the isles.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles is the first expansion for Oblivion. The official release date was March 27, 2007; however, the expansion was made available one day early for the Xbox 360 due to routine maintenance scheduled for Xbox Live on the 27th. The size of the 360 download is approximately 993.75 MB. Bethesda has subsequently released Shivering Isles in various other formats, including a PS3 version and packaging it with the GOTY edition of Oblivion.

The expansion revolves around the Daedric Prince of Madness, Sheogorath, and the Shivering Isles - the exotic and strange landmass located in his plane of Oblivion. The Isles are roughly 25% of the size of Cyrodiil, and are full of many new creatures, weapons, items, alchemical ingredients, and quests. Over 9,500 new lines of dialogue have been recorded for the multitudes of new NPCs. There are also ten new Achievements (worth 250 points) that can be awarded in the Xbox 360 version of the expansion.

The lands are divided into two halves: northern Mania and southern Dementia. Mania is a land full of slightly over-saturated colors and fanciful flora, whereas Dementia is a much darker, somber realm containing foreboding architecture and gloomy skies. There are over a dozen new creatures to fight in both realms, including hideous insects, Flesh Atronachs, skeletal Shambles, amphibious Grummites, Gatekeepers, Golden Saints, the Knights of Order, Gnarls (who are made of tree roots), and many more.

The main quest of the Shivering Isles involves Sheogorath himself, who seeks a champion to save his realm. He claims that at the end of an era, his lands are destroyed by an otherworldly force known as the "Greymarch"... and this era is almost over.

The expansion retails for $30 for the PC and PS3 versions. The Xbox 360 version costs 2400 Microsoft Points.

[edit] The Beginning

The gateway of Madness, appearing on the new island in Niben Bay.

Initially, installing the Shivering Isles will make no change to Cyrodiil. However, after resting for 24 hours, the game informs the player that a mysterious isle has arisen in the Niben Bay. On this island sits an unusual gate, in the shape of a conglomerate of faces joined at the eyes. The open mouth of one of the faces contains a portal to the Isles; however, the player is not immediately free to explore the lands. Initially, the portal takes the player to a small chamber; inside is Haskill, Sheogorath's assistant. He informs the player of Sheogorath's dilemma, and transports the player to a region called The Fringe.

[edit] The Gatekeeper of The Fringe

The Gatekeeper: a gigantic, unnerving collection of body parts whose demise is your only ticket to exploring the Isles.

The Fringe is a large, walled section in the western areas of the Isles, on the coast of the Emean Sea. The player, however is still not free to explore the Isles at this point, because the only way out is to defeat a gargantuan beast known as the Gatekeeper located to the east of the Town of Passwall.

Once the Gatekeeper has been defeated the player is free to explore the Shivering Isles themselves.

[edit] New Sheoth

New Sheoth is the capital city of the Shivering Isles, and is divided into three districts.

• Crucible - Located on the south side of town, in Dementia. This murky area of town has a lot of rundown houses.
• Bliss - A bright and cheery place, in Mania, most of whose residents are utterly insane.
• New Sheoth Palace - Home to Sheogorath.

[edit] Blacksmiths

In both Crucible and Bliss, you can find blacksmiths who will create armor and weapons. The Crucible blacksmith specializes in Heavy Armor, made from Madness Ore. The Bliss blacksmith specializes in Light Armor, made from amber. (Amber is found in Tree Root Dungeons in Amber Stumps, Tree Branches and sometimes on the bodies of Gnarls. Madness Ore is found in the fortress ruins around the Isles, and also sometimes on the bodies of Grummites.)

Crafting items requires anywhere from one to five pieces of amber or Madness Ore. The item can be made even more potent with the use of "matrix stones", which augment crafted equipment with various powers and effects. There are specific "Matrix Stones" for Light and Heavy Armor, as well as for individual pieces of armor

[edit] The Museum of Oddities

The Museum of Oddities is in Crucible. The museum is "mostly" empty, and it is up to the player to fill its treasure chests with various items.

The twisted, exotic flora and skies of the Shivering Isles provide a stark contrast to the outdoors of Tamriel.

[edit] Main Questline

The central questline offers around 30 more hours of game play, with quest lines that branch more than they did in Oblivion. You will face Sheogorath's trials and explore the extremes of his insanity, creative vs. psychotic. At one point, you choose to become duke of Dementia or Mania. The official site asks, "Do you have the strength to...wear the mantle of a God?", giving us a hint about the main questline.

[edit] Links/Sources

1. Official Shivering Isles site
2. Voodoo Extreme Article on The Shivering Isles
3. Official XBOX Magazine
4. A video about Shivering Isles
5. First information release from Bethesda
6. CVG's articles 1, 2, and 3.
7. GameSpot Article
8. 1UP - "Exclusive hands-on"
9. IGN: "The Elder Scrolls IV: The Shivering Isles Hands-On"
10. Fan Interview IV
11. Official Shivering Isles Trailer