Shivering:Ritual of Dementia

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1 Quick Walkthrough
2 Detailed Walkthrough
3 Notes
4 Bugs
5 Journal Entries

Kill the Duchess of Dementia and take her place. ^edit

Quest Giver: Sheogorath at Sheogorath's Palace
Location(s): House of Dementia, Xirethard
Prerequisite Quest: Ritual Of Accession
Next Quest: Retaking The Fringe
Reward: Becoming Duke/Duchess of Dementia, Ring of Lordship, Summon Dark Seducer Greater Power
ID: SE07A

Syl's body is just the start of this Ritual.

[edit] Quick Walkthrough

Speak with Anya Herrick and Kithlan about Syl.
Make your way into the Duchess's quarters.
Follow Syl into the hidden tunnels.
Defeat (or sneak past) the Dark Seducer guards in Xirethard.
Kill Syl and take her heart.
Activate the altar in the Sacellum Arden-Sul to become the Duke/Duchess of Dementia.

[edit] Detailed Walkthrough

Replacing Syl entails an assassination. You are directed toward the palace to find out Lady Syl's routine.

[edit] Converse with the court

Ask Anya Herrick about Syl and she will inform you that Syl is staying out of sight because she fears that Sheogorath wants her replaced. Raise her disposition to at least 70 and she will offer to assist you by distracting the guards.

Speak with Kithlan. Again a disposition of 70 is required. He's getting tired of Syl also, and will offer to assist you by giving you the key to her wing of the Palace.

[edit] It isn't actually Paranoia...

The Dark Seducer guards in the House of Dementia will now attack you on sight. Enter the Duchess's quarters and locate Syl, on the bed. If you attack her, Kithlan appears and states that it is not really Syl, but a double. He will then inform you that Syl has escaped through a network of hidden tunnels. You are warned to watch out for an ambush.

[edit] ...When the Threat is real.

Activate the bust of Sheogorath in the garden and enter Xirethard. There will be a series of hunger statues in a grid pattern, all firing magic at the opposite end of each corridor. You can avoid the statues' path of fire by sticking close to the walls. Head all the way to the right and push the button on the wall (the switch is next to the statue looking up). Past the metal door are Mazken guards who, if you have been careful, will be initially oblivious to your presence. Exiting this room requires opening a secret door for which the activating switch is on the side of the statue near the treasure urn. Follow the passages and engage or avoid the other Mazken guards until you reach Syl's quarters. You will find Syl awaiting you, flanked by two Royal Dark Seducer guards and having exchanged her royal robes for Dark Seducer armor and armed herself with a large warhammer. Kill Syl and her guards, then take her heart and weapon, Nerveshatter, a magic warhammer.

[edit] Complete the ritual

Return to the Sacellum Arden-Sul and activate the altar. Speak to Arctus and Sheogorath, who will appear in the pews to the rear of the Sacellum, to complete your ascension to Duke/Duchess of Dementia. Shortly after, Thadon will enter and berate Sheogorath for the death of Syl. He will angrily reveal that the Fringe is under attack and express his intention to defect to the Forces of Order. After he leaves, Sheogorath will present you with the Ring of Lordship and the power to summon a Dark Seducer for 60 seconds a day.

[edit] Notes

It is not imperative that you enter Xirethard through the secret passage. You can also enter through the main entrance located just outside New Sheoth if you want. The only benefit that can be thought of by doing this is avoiding the hunger statues encountered in the first zone upon entering through the secret passage (although they are not much of a problem). It does not contain any good loot either.

There is a hidden Easter Egg, the 'Dark Chest of Wonders', located in Xirethard.

[edit] Bugs

If you kill Syl before disposing of her Dark Seducer bodyguard, you will receive a 1000 gold bounty for murder, and your Murders statistic will increase if you kill her afterwards.
- This bug is fixed by the Unofficial Shivering Isles Patch.

[edit] Journal Entries

Ritual of Dementia (SE07A)
Stage	Finishes Quest	Journal Entry
5		To learn more about Syl's routine, I should begin by asking around New Sheoth about Syl to determine the best way to get close enough to kill her.
10		I've discovered that Syl tends to stay out of public sight, and lets members of her court perform her day-to-day needs. It was suggested I seek out Anya Herrick, her Courtier and Kithlan, her Steward for more information. Perhaps if I can convince them to see things my way, I'll get some help from them.
15		I've informed Kithlan of my plans to replace Syl. He seems eager to help, and has provided me with a key to the Dementia wing of the Palace. I should now attempt to speak with Anya Herrick.
20		I've informed Kithlan of my plans to replace Syl. He seems eager to help, and has provided me with a key to the Dementia wing of the Palace. I should now infiltrate Syl's wing of the Palace, and end the Duchess of Dementia's life.
22		I've entered Syl's Private Chambers. I now need to locate Syl herself and put an end to her reign as Duke of Dementia.
25		I've been duped! The woman in Syl's bed was merely a decoy. Kithlan has told me that Syl must have used her escape tunnel to make good her escape from the Palace. I should immediately pursue Syl before she gets away.
28		I have discovered the secret door Kithlan described. I should activate the hidden switch and proceed inside in pursuit of Syl.
30		I've slain Syl. I should now remove her heart.
35		I've removed Syl's heart. I now need to make my way back to the Altar of Arden-Sul at the Sacellum.
40		After touching the Altar of Arden-Sul, there was a brief flash of light. Arctus, the High Priest of Dementia, has now proclaimed me Duke of Dementia.
45		After informing Sheogorath of my victory, Thadon, the Duke of Mania became furious. Before he departed the Sacellum, he threatened that we hadn't heard the last of him. I should speak with Sheogorath about the next step in his plan.
200	0	Sheogorath has awarded me the Ring of Lordship. I am now officially Duke of Dementia of the Shivering Isles.

Notes

Not all Journal Entries may appear in your journal; which entries appear and which entries do not depends on the manner in which the quest is done.
Stages are not always in order of progress. This is usually the case with quests that have multiple possible outcomes or quests where certain tasks may be done in random order.
If an entry is marked as "Finishes Quest" it means the quest disappears from the Active Quest list, but you may still receive new entries for that quest.
On the PC, it is possible to use the console to advance through the quest by entering setstage quest stage. Where quest is the internal name of the quest, and stage is the number of the stage you wish to complete. It is not possible to un-complete (i.e. go back) quest stages. See SetStage for more information.