Summary
Sheogorath is possibly one of the most memorable gods in gaming, and central to the story of one ofOblivion Remastered’s most beloved DLCs. Players walking into the Shivering Isles will be met with twisted plants, manic characters, and Daedric creatures twisted beyond imagination. But nothing can hold a candle to Sheogorath, the mad god himself, fickle master of his domain, who will quickly enlist his new champion to take on a very important task.
NewerOblivion Remasteredplayers may be wondering who Sheogorath is. They’ve probably heard about him and his love of cheese, but with so much lore on this Prince, there is undoubtedly a lot that they don’t know, some of which paints this cheerful god in a much darker light. Before delving deep into Dementia, or meandering through Mania, it’s wise to take a stroll through Sheogorath’s story, and see why serving him is only fit for the most insane.
Sheogorath Is Oblivion Remastered’s Daedric Prince of Madness
Sheogorath, the Daedric Prince of Madness, covers all things insane. Whether it’s mad jubilation at a hallucination only one person can see, or an overwhelming sense of dread at the thought of leaving the house, his sphere extends over a broad range of maddening phenomena. Random acts of hilarity are just as likely to occur as long, planned-out moments of callousness, and if one thing is predictable about Sheogorath, it is how unpredictable he always is.
One of the most popular Daedric Princes inThe Elder Scrolls, Sheogorath is a very well-fleshed-out character. Many fans have been attracted to him for his crazy character, loving how he breaks the fourth wall, or threatens to use their internal organs to go skipping. His two-faced nature is perfectly captured in theDaedric artifact Wabbajack, which causes random effects to occur to its target, sometimes turning them into a chicken. But he wasn’t always a lord of whimsical things; he used to be the exact opposite.
Some spoilers for The Shivering Isles in Oblivion Remastered below
The Story of Sheogorath’s Origins
If time can be applied to the gods inThe Elder Scrolls, then Sheogorath could be one of the youngest, as he did not start out as the Prince of Madness. In a time before recorded history, there was onceJyggalag, Daedric Prince of Order, who governed the spheres of logic, order, and deduction. Where most other Princes were somewhat chaotic in their nature, Jyggalag stood apart, and he proved to be an incredibly effective and powerful Daedra, his mindless legions and knack for perfection posing a huge threat to the other realms of Oblivion.
In a rare moment of cooperation, the otherDaedric Princes conspired against Jyggalag, cursing him to become Sheogorath, the antithesis of order. The two could never be separated, sharing a dual identity as Sheogorath and Jyggalag, and to keep each personality in check, Jyggalag would reassert himself at the end of every era in the Greymarch, returning to the Shivering Isles to wreak havoc, then transforming back into Sheogorath, so the cycle could start again.
Though the memories of being Jyggalag are unbearable to Sheogorath, and he tends to block them out, in 3E 433, sensing another Greymarch, he sought out a champion. This time around, Sheogorath had a plan to face Jyggalag and change the cycle forever. This is when theHero of Kvatchfound their way into the mad god’s domain, and the fate of one Daedric Prince changed forever.
The Shivering Isles, Sheogorath’s Daedric Realm
Daedric Realms of Oblivion are all reflections of their respective Prince’s will, and Sheogorath’s provides a twisted mirror to madness. The Shivering Isles is a realm of two halves, Mania and Dementia, reflecting the quirkiness of manic episodes, and the profound darkness of deep depression. Madness is a very broad topic, so all kinds of things can manifest in the realm, but theGolden Saints and Dark Seducersare Sheogorath’s favorite lesser Daedra, policing the mortals that make their home in the mind-scape of the Mad Prince.
Unusual for aDaedric Realm of Oblivion, the Shivering Isles are home to many mortals. Many of Sheogorath’s followers came into his service unknowingly, their creeping insanity taking hold of their minds, but plenty came willingly, finding no place for themselves in Tamriel. Whole towns exist in the Isles, complete with their own forms of law and order, a strange reflection of reality. There are flesh sculptors, madness ore smiths, fork whisperers, and many more besides. The Isles provide a refuge from the dull, mundane reality of Tamriel, but not necessarily any safety.
There Is a Darker Side to Sheogorath
Many will know the Prince of Madness for his bouts of laughter, strange antics, and love of cheese, but Sheogorath is every kind of deranged. Just as with many of his Daedric kin,Sheogorath will delight in the suffering of mortals, turning it into a game for his own amusement. Everything depends on his whims, and sometimes his whims leave misery in their wake.
A few famous examples stem from the time Sheogorath challenged his fellow Princes in theSixteen Accords of Madness. In one tale, he and Vaermina began a bet that they could make an artist the most hated man in the empire. Vaermina filled the man’s dreams with awful images, inspiring him to create disgusting works of art that repulsed many people, but established a cult following around his unique expression. Then, when it was Sheogorath’s turn, he ended the nightmares, leaving the man alone. Without inspiration, the artist became lost, becoming more desperate for attention and craving the nightmares, until he was so despised that the locals turned on him.
Sheogorath’s dark sidecan be seen within his own realm, too. Madness encompasses all manner of feelings, and the dark side of mental illness is not spared. On the lonely Hill of Suicides, several ghosts can be found, trapped and restless, forced to remain after their deaths. Sheogorath does not take kindly to people taking fate into their own hands, and while he might smile on some of his favorite mortals, he is sadistic in his treatment of others.
