Elder Scrolls 4: Shivering Isles Walkthrough

Before you head out make sure all your gear ready and you have a snack pack. I say go to the Gates of Madness and make your way to the arrow. The road will be relatively empty, but there are some Obelisks along the way that might need to be avoided. If you do want to take them down, simply kill the mage that guards them (but he won’t die so don’t try to take his stuff) and then plug three Hearts of Order into the crystal. Then touch the crystal again to get  some items and break it. Then you can get stuff off the dead priest.

**If you are choosing the Dementia side of things, please refer to the bottom  for the battle plan.**

When you get to the temple you will notice the bitter standoff taking place between the Mazken and Aureals. Talk to both guards and then enter the yard of the Golden Saints. Overhear the conversation between the guy and commander, then talk to the guy; his name is Mirel. Make sure you exhaust each topic and then speak with Aurmazel. When you talk about the ‘Battle plans’, make sure to tell her you will scout the Dark Seducer camp first. That is your next task.

Now go to the gate on the other side and enter the Seducer camp (oh, that sounds interesting…). There are no enemies in here so walk freely and make sure to check for all the treasures. Talk with the Mazken leader and then enter the altar. Not much but a few gems in some of the urns behind the altar. Go to the underkeep. Lots to explore and all you have to do is leave through the doors at the other end.

Tell the Aureal Leader about the Battle plan to take the underkeep. The gang might attack the lone Seducer outside, but you’ll all end up heading down the  tunnel. You really don’t have to do anything, but you might as well help take down the Mazken. Whenever I follow them, it seems like I’m nothing more than a decoy for the Saints. And I wouldn’t advise hacking and slashing when there are six allies around one enemy. So basically, just follow them.

**Don’t forget to plunder the bodies of any dead. Good stuff to be had.**

In the altar room it will be much more of the same. I didn’t have to do  anything and no one died. Simple as that. From the Seducers all I plundered  were the more pricier arrows and that’s it. It’s a whole bunch of arrows for  lots of money, and they weigh very little. Use any spare potions of feather  to carry everything out of here. Talk with the leader and watch the sacrifice. Don’t cry little one, all saints go to heaven.

Go outside and walk right into the fire. Greatballs of fire! Hurry and get the freak back to Bliss! (nah, no rush, but do go back ASAP).

In the church of Sheoth you have a choice to make, but for consistancy’s sake, just talk with the Bliss priest, Dervenin. Now walk into the pit and pass on the torch. And Sheogorath is not too far away, clever rascal!

**The direct attack through the halls isn’t that tough either. There is just   one part where you have to open a gate, and then it’s all gravy from  there.**

Okay this will be long. This is for all you Dementia players out there.

Actually, it shouldn’t be too long. There are two ways to help the Mazken.  Either just tell her you will help her defend, or tell her to reposition her troops and you lie to the Aureals.

The defense is not much. They lock the gates and ambush the saints at the  bridge. However, the saints are too tough to die here (unless you provide some amazing support), so you will most likely get into a fight when they break  through. But you should then retreat back to the altar room where everyone will converge for a big fight. You will lose many Mazken, but you will win so long  as you survive.

The betrayal route will involve you telling the Mazken leader to reposition her troops in the underkeep. Then you go tell the Aureal leader to attack  through the underkeep; you will tell her two lies. This choice is the toughest of all the options to get the flame. The trap seems perfect, but there are just too many saints and the traps are too spread out. The only way I got through  this one was by me and Ulfri going back-to-back and killing all the saints. So the plan doesn’t work too well here, but you can squeak out a win.

Basically, the Mazken route will be much tougher. And your overall choice will only slightly affect some dialogue from the winning side later in the game. Really, if anyone actually knows what benefits you get from which side you help take Cylarne, please let me know.

Ritual of Accession

He’s in the church, if you somehow didn’t notice. After another chat, go talk with the same priest as before, and then the other guy for good measure. We will follow the script and elect to off Thadon, so tell the madgod your  choice and you’re off.

**And if you want to do the other thing, please read farther down.**

Ritual of Mania

Head to the House of Mania to begin. Either run into Wide-Eye, or find someone who will tell you her where-abouts, Books of Bliss. Go talk with her and then get her to like you a bunch so she’ll talk to you about her daily routine.  Return to the palace grounds and make it noonish. Wait outside the doors of  the Mania house for the lizard to come out. Then put on the sneak and follow her down below; don’t get spotted, and it would be hard to.

**Being fast in the next section should let you get through without running   into many Aureals.**

In this new cave system, sneak is the name of the game. Any chameleon and  other booster will be helpful now. If your sneaking is good enough, then you can follow my immediate advice and go for some loot. If not, then skip the rest of this paragraph. Start by turning left and plundering the stump, gas thing, and then head down the path to some more loot not too far away. And then come back toward the start, but keep heading south. Take the path, but don’t  run to the otherside of the clearing when your path expands into a room. The saint in here can be spotted by going into third person and watching her  movements (back and forth). There are two urns and one chest in the room. Cross to over to the east so you can spot the urns from safety. As soon as she walks into view and leaves, sneak over to the mushroom plants, quickly jump, and  then hide in the shadows not moving. Move around the root and get the urns from behind, while she ain’t lookin’. Then go back and hop on the mushroom without getting caught. In order to get the chest you will have to sneak directly  behind her as she walks, touch the chest ASAP, and then quickly sneak your way back to the original path.

**Sorry, but you might want to save after getting each treasure, just so you  don’t have to keep playing it over and over.**

Wind down the path and take a right to get some more loot from a small room. Get back on the main road and wait for the saint patrolling the three-way  stop ahead, wait for her to walk north and you take the south path. In the  big room, make a short stop for some loot. Go up the ramp and carefully make your way around the ledge so you can get to some loot in the southeast corner (use the root edgings and just keep pressing jump, and no big deal if you  can’t make it).

Now keep sneaking into the greenmote vault and swing around to the left. Make sure Wide-Eye can’t see you or all is lost. Jump into the pit and grab two scoops of the stuff. Click into third person and watch for the old gal to leave the room soon after. Don’t follow her and even give her a good head-start  before you head out. Save for good measure before leaving. When you get near the entrance of the stone tunnel, pause and watch the top of the ramp if think she is not that far ahead. Return to the surface the way you came in. If you are quick enough, at the three-way from before (watch out for the saint too) you might run into Wide-Eye again. Let her go in front and you follow behind the rest of the way. Caution at the crossing too.

Now phase two. If you still have time before eight (dinner time), make your  way to the gardens of Mania. Take the door at the back and go into stealth  mode. Save after you’re inside. A ring to detect life will help a bunch here. There are just two guards, but it is always hard to tell where they are. You can always play it safe and only move after you have them both in your sights, but I say just round the corner and hide in shadow until you get the intel on their locations and routes. Quite simply, you’re trying to get to the north point of this room and then walk down to the food area. When you have only one, or you know where both are at any point, use the columns and sneak around the  golden guards. Plant the stuff in the plate of food and the largest bottle of  booze on the shelf. Wait in the shadows down here and do what you did before, just in reverse to get out of here.

Now get to the throne room and get time up to eight at night. Have a seat at the table and enjoy your meal! Take the blood and the crown, then visit that crazy madgod. Put the blood in the altar and watch the shocking turn of  events! *Organ sound from soap opra*

Reward: Ring of Lordship, Summon Golden Saint.

Or maybe you wish to do things the hard way…

Ritual of Dementia

Locate Anya and Kithlan. They will be in Dementia’s throne room during the day, so it might be best to fast forward time. Get both to like you up to 70 and  they will help you in taking down Syl. Enter the gardens and fight the guards, or fight them later, it doesn’t matter. Enter the room and find that Syl has tricked you! Kithlan tells you the truth and you are free to go, but you might want to loot the place of all the valuables. Leave and turn left to find the  secret tunnel.

When you reach the spot with the bones on the ground, watch out! Seriously,  just watch for the incoming attacks from a statue. Bob and weave like you’re playing a platforming game to get through. Use the detailed map if you really need help (it’s up, right, right, left, left, and right); push the button at the end to turn it all off. Go through the door to enter an archery fight with two Mazken. Another may show up, so kill all three. When you enter a very intimidating room, sure enough, you’ll get trapped and attacked by two guards. Down the next hall is one more. Enter the next area.

Two more guards. There is a button on a statue that will open a path. Pass  through another door to find a long walkway with two more guards. In a big ruined room you will see one more Mazken guarding a door. This door leads to the prize. Syl is guarded by two, so just do whatever. Rip out her heart and go all the way back to Sheogorath to move on.

**And it will be Thadon to go turncoat, just in case you hadn’t figured that  out.**

Much more difficult than the Mania assissination.

Reward: Ring of Lordship, Summon Dark Seducer.