Shivering:Count Cirion's Ghost

The UESPWiki – Your source for The Elder Scrolls since 1995

Count Cirion's ghost

Count Cirion is an Altmer noble and ruler of the ruined city of Vitharn, which was overrun by its own brethren centuries ago. As a result of the cowardice, inaction and incompetence displayed by the denizens of Vitharn, and especially Cirion, their ghosts were cursed by Sheogorath to relive their final moments in perpetuity.

Vitharn's destruction only three generations after its founding was no surprise, given that the young Cirion was coronated in haste due to his father's illness, even when it was widely known that he was a coward. Even a shadow of a passing bird would startle him visibly. When the Vassals slowly started to show aversion towards the regime, Cirion failed to react, and when he later learned the news of an upcoming attack, he stationed a defense-line of unprepared and incompetent soldiers and fled deep into the security of the Vitharn Keep. During the related quest, it’s up to you to correct all of his mistakes and help the defense line prevent the invasion of the Vassal Fanatics.

As soon as you enter the Keep for the first time, he will seek you out and approach you with the words: ”I am Count Cirion, and you have violated the inner sanctum of Vitharn. What say you in your defence?” You are given two choices, and if you choose the correct one, he will fill you in on the tragic tale of Vitharn: “Wisely answered. My people and I are in need. Maybe you can help us. Centuries ago, Viltharn was overrun by Fanatics. We were soft and failed to defend ourselves. I was the weakest of all. Now, the shades of my people are cursed by Sheogorath to repeat the final moments of their failures, over and over again. You must help us break the cycle of torment. Help my people overcome their weakness and defend Vitharn from the Fanatics. Walk among them. There were four who failed to protect the gate lever. Find out what they did wrong and help them correct it. You can put away your sword in these halls. Unlike the defending spirits, within these walls, none will war with you. Not even the Fanatics.”

After this speech, he will walk into the dining area of the Keep and take a seat in a chair on a podium, looking at all the ghostly upper-class residents that also chose to ignore the crisis and cursed with reliving their final moments. If you approach him again, he will enlighten you further: “Do you seek to deepen my dispair by reminding me of my great failure? Four people failed in their duties that day, allowing the Fanatics to open the main gate. In the end, I failed with them. At the moment of my death, Lord Sheogorath appeared. We had already earned His wrath for sins of pride. He told me that the spirits of my people would remain bound here, replaying our cowardice, as a lesson to those that thwarted his will.”

When you are done solving the quest and the invading Fanatics have been driven back, he will appear one last time and say: “You have lifted the curse. All of Vitharn thanks you. You may keep my helmet. It never did me much good.”

In the defense line, the archer Althel will tell you about their rulers reaction when the city was attacked: “1, 6, 1. I was the first to spot the invaders. 8, 0, 3. I was on patrol when I saw their skirmishers marching towards Vitharn. 3, 9, 8. I rode back as fast as I could to tell Count Cirion of the danger. 8, 7, 4. He went and hid.”

[edit] Related Quests

• Ghosts of Vitharn: Set things right for the ghosts of a fallen castle.