Sheogorath (Skyrim)

Sheogorath is the Daedric Prince of Madness and ruler of the Shivering Isles in . He is "on vacation," and can be found in the mind of the late Emperor, Pelagius Septim III.
==Background==
For reasons unclear, Sheogorath decided to go on vacation and left the Shivering Isles to visit the mind of an old friend, located in the Pelagius Wing of the Blue Palace in Solitude.Dialogue with Dervenin in His long absence eventually led to a war between Mania and Dementia while the Flame of Agnon began to die out.
Dervenin has attempted to visit Sheogorath and request his return, but he refused. Dervenin retrieved Pelagius' Hip Bone in hopes of changing Sheogorath's mind, but he once again refused. One follower of Sheogorath, a madwoman, thinks it unwise to disrupt Sheogorath's vacation.Dialogue with Madwoman in 
By 4E 201, Sheogorath had been absent from the Shivering Isles for many years. Dervenin walks around Solitude in search of someone to help return him.Events of 
==Personality==
Sheogorath has chosen to neglect his followers and his realm in favor of a vacation. He spends many years chatting with Pelagius III in the latter's own mind, repeatedly telling the same story about the Oblivion Crisis, which he claims he was a part of.Events of "The Mind of Madness" in He refuses to let anyone disturb him, much to Dervenin's distress.
When the Dragonborn appears, Sheogorath is keen to remind them that he is an immortal and the Madgod and that they should tread carefully when addressing him. At the same time, he often gets sidetracked during conversation and even forgets at times what the Dragonborn is actually doing. Sheogorath describes his youth as involving narwhales, honey combs and babies' tears.Dialogue with Sheogorath during "The Mind of Madness" in 
Unlike previous appearances, Sheogorath wants someone cured of mental illness and instructs the Dragonborn to do just that for Pelagius III. He also makes a point of telling them they "treated" Pelagius and not simply "fixed" him. Sheogorath then expresses pride in Pelagius for finally being free of his illness, having believed that the late Emperor "always had it in him."Events of "The Mind of Madness" in 
==Interactions==
===The Mind of Madness===
Sheogorath has abandoned his people to go on vacation. Dervenin beseeches the Dragonborn to retrieve his master and gives them Pelagius' Hip Bone to accomplish this task. Once inside the mind of Pelagius III, the Dragonborn must cure his madness in order to convince Sheogorath to return to the Shivering Isles.
==Dialogue==
Show: The Mind of Madness
First encounter:
"How rude! Can't be bothered to host an old friend for a decade or two."
:I'm here to deliver a message. "Reeaaaalllllyyyy? Ooh, ooh, what kind of message? A song? A summons? Wait, I know! A death threat written on the back of an Argonian concubine! Those are my favorite. Well? Spit it out, mortal. I haven't got an eternity! Actually... I do. Little joke. But seriously. What's the message?"
:Who were you talking to? "Emperor Pelagius III. Now surely even you know about Pelagius' decree? On his deathbed - oh, and this was inspired - he forbade... death! That's right! Death! Outlawed!"
:Wait, where are we? "Inside the mind of Pelagius, silly. Oh. Is it your... first time?"
::I was asked to retrieve you from your vacation. "Were you now? By whom? Wait! Don't tell me! I want to guess! Was it Molag? No, no... Little Tim, the toymaker's son? The ghost of King Lysandus? Or was it... Yes! Stanley, that talking grapefruit from Passwall. Wrong on all accounts, aren't I? Ha! No matter! Honestly, I don't want to know. Why ruin the surprise? But more to the point. Do you - tiny, puny, expendable little mortal - actually think you can convince me to leave? Because that's... crazy. You do realize who you're dealing with here?"
::I think I made a mistake coming here... "Oh, no no no! No mistake at all. What you made was a choice. Granted, not a very wise choice, but these things happen. Ah, the folly of youth... You know, you remind me of myself at a young age. All I cared about was riding narwhales and sleeping in honeycombs and drinking babies' tears... Word of advice if you ride a Narwhale. Mind the pointy end. Ah, but there I go, waxing poetic about my misspent youth. Now where were we? Ah, yes. You're the mortal messenger. And I am...? Honestly. Have you any idea?"
:::I'm afraid I don't know, sir. "Wrong! Actually, you do. Sort of. I am a part of you, little mortal. I am a shadow in your subconscious, a blemish on your fragile little psyche. You know me. You just don't know it. Sheogorath, Daedric Prince of Madness. At your service."
:::All I know is that your people need you to return. "Yaaawwwwnn.... Oh, pardon me. Were you saying something? I do apologize, it's just that I find myself suddenly and irrevocably... Bored! I mean, really. Here you stand, before Sheogorath himself, Daedric Prince of Madness, and all you deem fit to do is... deliver a message? How sad."
:::You're a madman. "Jolly good guess! But only half right. I'm a mad god. The Mad God, actually. It's a family title. Gets passed down from me to myself every few thousand years. Now you. You can call me Ann Marie. But only if you're partial to being flayed alive and having an angry immortal skip rope with your entrails. If not... Then call me Sheogorath, Daedric Prince of Madness. Charmed."
::::So does that mean you'll leave? Or not? "Now that's the real question, isn't it? Because honestly, how much time off could a demented Daedra really need? So here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to leave. That's right. I'm done. Holiday... complete. Time to return to the hum drum day-to-day. On one condition. You have to find the way out first. Good luck with that."
:::::Simple. "Is it? Care to take a look around? This is not, I dare say, the Solitude botanical gardens. Have you any idea where you are? Where you truly are? Welcome to the deceptively verdant mind of the Emperor Pelagius III. That's right! You're in the head of a dead, homicidally insane monarch." He will offer you help, however: "Now, I know what you're thinking. Can I still rely on my swords and spells and sneaking and all that nonsense? Sure, sure. Or... you could use... The Wabbajack! Huh? Huh? Didn't see that coming, did you?"
:::::Okay, what's the catch? "Ha! I do love it when the mortals know they're being manipulated. Makes things infinitely more interesting. Care to take a look around? This is not, I dare say, the Solitude botanical gardens. Have you any idea where you are? Where you truly are? Welcome to the deceptively verdant mind of the Emperor Pelagius III. That's right! You're in the head of a dead, homicidally insane monarch." He will offer you help, however: "Now, I know what you're thinking. Can I still rely on my swords and spells and sneaking and all that nonsense? Sure, sure. Or... you could use... The Wabbajack! Huh? Huh? Didn't see that coming, did you?"
Arch of Paranoia:
"Oh, good choice. Well, good for me. I find everyone being out to get you so terribly entertaining. You might find it... less so. You see, Pelagius' mother was... well... let us say 'unique.' Although, I suppose in the grand scheme of things, she was fairly average for a Septim. That woman wielded fear like a cleaver. Or did she wield a cleaver and make people afraid? I never get that part right... Oh, but she taught her son well. Pelagius learned at a very early age that danger could come from anywhere. At any time. Delivered... by anyone. The objective here is simple, you simpleton! Use your Wabbajack to defeat the enemy, while they do the same!"
:"Hmm... Your creature doesn't appear to be fairing [sic] any better than before. Methinks your aim is off."
::"Oho! I thought you'd never figure it out. With the threat gone Pelagius is under the delusion that he is safe, which means you've helped him out... sort of. And we're that much closer to home."
Arch of Night Terrors:
"You've headed down the path of dreams. Unfortunately for you, Pelagius suffered night terrors from a young age. All you need to do is find something to wake our poor Pelagius up. You'll find his terrors easy to repel... but persistent."
:"Well now, that's something to crow about. With Pelagius up and about you're moving right along. We'll both be home in no time."
Arch of Confidence:
"Ah, now this is a sad path. Pelagius hated and feared many things. Assassins, wild dogs, the undead, pumpernickel... But the deepest, keenest hatred was for himself. The attacks he makes on himself can be seen here fully. They are always carried out on the weakest part of his fragile self. The self-loathing enhances Pelagius' anger! Ah, but his confidence will shrink with every hit. You must bring the two into balance."
:"You seem to be having a small problem... or perhaps it's a big problem? Maybe if you shrunk the whole thing down a little first?"
::"Wonderfully done. Pelagius is finally ready to love himself... and continue hating everyone else."
When reporting progress:
"Do you mind? I'm busy doing the fishstick. It's a very delicate state of mind!"
:His paranoia is gone. "Oh... lovely. Now all my dear Pelagius has to worry about are the several hundred legitimate threats... But you're not out of the woods yet! Get it? Out of the woods?"
:No more self loathing for Pelagius. "Ah, wonderful, wonderful! Why waste all that hatred on yourself when it can so easily be directed at others! But someone still has quite a bit to do. Hmmm?"
:He'll sleep peacefully now. "Ah! Good, good! No more barking at all hours, and chewing up my slippers. You used the hemlock, then? Damned good idea! I... Um... We're not talking about Barbas, are we? Clavicus Vile's... dog? Oohh... awkward. Oh! That's right! Pelagius! Yes, yes, now I recall. Well done, well done. Now keep going."
:Self loathing? Conquered. Paranoia? Abolished. "Mortal? Insufferable. Yes, yes, you're entirely brilliant. Conquering madness and all that. Blah blah blah. But you're not done yet. And you could still die..."
:No more night terrors, no more paranoia. "Ah, so now my dear Pelagius can hate himself for being legitimately afraid of things that actually threaten his existence... ...but only during... the day? Honestly, I can't keep up. But by all means, don't stop now."
:The night terrors and self loathing are gone. "Oh, I am so happy for you! My, what a burden to have carried. But you've done it! You've conquered your own inner demons! Bravo! Um... You... didn't mean... yourself. You meant... Pelagius... Well! Same congratulations apply! Just, you know, for what you did for the insane emperor. Conquering paranoia should be a snap after that ordeal, hmm?"
After all three Archs are completed:
I've done it. I've fixed Pelagius' mind. "Hmmmm... 'Fixed' is such a subjective term. I think 'treated' is far more appropriate, don't you? Like one does to a rash, or an arrow in the face. Ah, but no matter. Heartless mortal that you are, you've actually succeeded and survived. I am forced to honor my end of the bargain. So congratulations! You're free to go! I... have been known to change my mind. So... go. Really."
:"Pelagius Septim the Third, once the Mad Emperor of Tamriel, now so boringly sane. I always knew he had it in him!" as he prepares for the trip: "Well, I suppose it's back to the Shivering Isles. The trouble Haskill can get into while I'm gone simply boggles the mind... Let's make sure I'm not forgetting anything. Clothes? Check. Beard? Check! Luggage? Luggage! Now where did I leave my luggage?"
After Dervenin is sent away:
::"And as for you, my little mortal minion... Feel free to keep the Wabbajack. As a symbol of my... Oh, just take the damn thing. You take care of yourself, now. And if you ever find yourself up in New Sheoth, do look me up. We can share a strawberry torte. Ta ta!"
==Conversations==
;The Madness of Pelagius
Sheogorath: "More tea, Pelly my dear?"
Pelagius: "Oh, I couldn't. It goes right through me. Besides, I have so many things to do. So many detractors and undesirables, naysayers, buffoons. My...My headsman hasn't slept in three days."
Sheogorath: "You are far too hard on yourself, my dear, sweet, homicidally insane Pelagius. What would the people do without you? Dance? Sing? Smile? [laughter] Grow old? You are the best Septim that has ever ruled. Well, except for that Martin fellow, but he turned into a Dragon god, and that's hardly sporting. You know, I was there for that whole sordid affair. Marvelous time! Butterflies, blood, a Fox, a severed head... Oh, and the cheese! To die for."
Pelagius: "Yes, yes, as you've said countless times before."
Sheogorath: "Harumph! Well, if you're going to be like that, I think its best I take my leave. A good day to you, sir. I said good day!"
Pelagius: "Yes. Leave me to my ceaseless responsibilities and burdens."
Dervenin: "Master! You've taken me back! Does this mean we're going home? Oh, happy times! I can't wait to..."
Sheogorath: "Yes, yes, that's quite enough celebration. Let's send you ahead, shall we?"
==Quotes==
*You are the best Septim that's ever ruled. Well, except for that Martin fellow, but he turned into a dragon god, and that's hardly sporting." – Speaking to Pelagius Septim III
*"Mortal? Insufferable. Yes, yes, you're entirely brilliant. Conquering madness and all that. Blah blah blah. But you're not done yet. And you could still die..."
*"I... have been known to change my mind. So... go. Really."
==Gallery==
Sheogorath skyrim.jpg|Sheogorath
==Trivia==
*Sheogorath is voiced by Wes Johnson, who reprises his role from .
*This is the first time Sheogorath has appeared without his cane.
*Sheogorath's character model is that of a Breton.
==Appearances==
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==References==