Fall of Vitharn Content . Chapter I . In which the Keep Vitharn is established and passes from the first generation of rule to the second . Count Vitharn , who built and appointed his keep from the mud of Dementia , gathered to himself any who would pledge themselves as liege . Nearby tribes of Fanatics were united as vassals to protect his lands and line , and thus the Count lived out his days in the Isles . He and his Countess Mawean bore Csaran and Nweala , the first son and daughter of Vitharn . Csaran ' s mother and father believed that with the proper political influence , Csaran could certainly usurp Sheogorath and carry the Shivering Isles into a prosperous age . For his part , Count Vitharn refused even to acknowledge Sheogorath , thinking himself and his heirs irrefutable rulers of the Isles . This , of course , amused the Madgod to no end , and so he allowed the marriage of Csaran to Sheen - in - Glade , daughter of an Argonian midwife who believed that the mortal sphere would afford her daughter nothing but hatred and oppression . Sheen - in - Glade was as excellent a Countess to Csaran as any in the Isles could ask for , wanting nothing but to bring pride and honor to her adopted house and Court . For years her mind was untouched , even living as she did in the heart of Dementia . Alas , none may reside too long in the Isles without the blessing of Lord Sheogorath , and so Sheen - in - Glade was finally pushed to the brink by the infidelity of her Husband , the Count . Csaran was obsessively nepotistic , and distrustful of anyone with whom he shared no blood relation including his bride . Though Sheen - in - Glade bore a son by the Count ( who disappeared from the Isles in his twentieth year ) , it is known that the two shared their bed with decreasing frequency as Csaran ' s paranoia grew , and he found himself in the arms of his birth - sister Nweala , who bore of their incestuous affair the heir apparent , Cesrien . There are those of us who remember personally the reign of Cesrien , and his contribution to the fall of Vitharn . Chapter II . In which the birth of Count Cesrien heralds a glorious , bloody , and brief age for Vitharn . Violent - natured and quick of temper , Cesrien sought enemies where there were none . His early days on the seat of Vitharn saw the extermination of every tribe of man , mer , or beast within sight of the keep , until none were left . During his brief reign , much of the southeastern coastline of Dementia was unsafe to travel , littered with the corpses of trespassers in the lands of Vitharn , staked to trees as territorial markers . Beside his sadistic temper , Count Cesrien of Vitharn was known also for his slow wit and ailing health . Indeed , Cesrien was born with legs that seemed mismatched in length , and breathed with a laborious rasp . As a youth , tutors were hard - pressed to school the dull boy . Midwives and nurses surrounded him , attending his every ailment with balms and vapors from every corner of the Isles , but when he came of age he sent them away , often becoming violent in their dismissal . Perhaps showing the influence of his father , Cesrien became increasingly introverted , allowing only a select few courtiers in his presence . He was seen in public only when organizing his vassal Fanatics for yet another raid on the countryside . Atypically adhering to the desperate counsel of his advisors , Cesrien paused in his plundering to take a wife and ensure the continuation of Vitharn ' s noble line . The increasingly ill Count chose a vibrant peasant women as his betrothed , from a Heretic Commune in the wilds of Mania . Indeed , Countess Jideen could not have been any more his opposite . Vassal Fanatics , long loyal to their ancestral agreement with Count Vitraen , were inflamed by this heresy , and tensions grew as the health of Cesrien finally failed , and his young son , Cirion , ascended the throne of Vitharn . Chapter III . In which conflict besets Vitharn and the Irenic Count Cirion is overwhelmed . Young Count Cirion had scarcely been seen in public before his hasty coronation in the bailey of Vitharn Keep . Some say he still bore bruises from beatings at the feeble hand of his father during his final hours during the ceremony . Had Cirion been old enough to govern , his gentle , reserved demeanor may have been enough to ease the seething tension among the Vassal tribe , but his mother , Countess Jideen was forced to assume many of the duties her husband had so long ignored . By all accounts , Jideen was a fit Countess ; loved by her people - - but the leaders of the Vassal Fanatics could not contain indefinitely their personal sentiments of outrage at her Manic heritage . Despite her exceedingly tactful attempts at diplomacy , the animosity against her was deep - seated , and grew over the years . It is perhaps admirable that the Vassals remained true to the oaths so long . When Cirion finally came of age to rule , the sheepish boy - Count tried in earnest to ascend gracefully , but his fear of the world was so great that even the shadow of a passing bird would startle him visibly . He was all but unable to address the people publicly , and when he attempted to placate the Vassals - - still outraged by his Mother ' s heritage - - he could scarcely contain his fright , and some say that he even soiled himself before fleeing the throne chamber . Certain as the march of fate , the tolerance of the Vassal Fanatics snapped , and warriors encircled Vitharn . The Count ' s personal guards were ill - suited to repel the attack and the siege lasted a single day . Since the day of that battle , no living soul has wandered away from Vitharn . Local myth tells of a tireless struggle between the spirits of the Fanatic vassals and Vitharn ' s meager defenders , damned by the treachery of Fanatics and the cowardice of Cirion to replay their final moments in perpetuity .