-1A Madgod's Realm

Chapter Eight - The Cold Flame of Agnon

Haskill and Sheogorath were at it again, bantering back and forth talking about Aldric and his deeds. Sheogorath was convinced that the Redguard would never understand the two split parts of the Isles, and Haskill was convinced.

As the two got into the middle of it, Aldric just happened to waltz in from the House of Dementia.

"Well, well." Sheogorath's voice was quite the commanding presence as it boomed throughout the Palace throne room. As Aldric got closer, the Madgod kept speaking.

"So you've experienced both shades of madness. Wonderful. You seemed fulfilled. Full of fill. Bursting at the seams." He gasped. "Seamless."

Aldric stopped before the throne, nodding to the Chamberlain and bowing to the Lord of the Never-There. Why he had chosen to do so, he did not understand. Maybe the madness of the Isles and his prolonged exposure to the residents was causing it.

"My Lord," Aldric began, "I now understand how Mania and Dementia work and it was a most gratifying experience."

Sheogorath's eyes widened and a smile formed. "Excellent! Brilliant! Horrible! Wait, no…not horrible. That wouldn't make any sense…then again, I'm Sheogorath! Anyways!

"Now to the meat of your endeavor. The crux of the situation. The reason for your being here, and the likely cause of your death."

Aldric frowned, not liking that the cause of his death would be near. Then again, it could be the Madgod messing with his head. "What do you mean?" he asked tentatively.

"Why, you'll be stopping the Greymarch! Altering the course of events, breaking the cycle. We're going to change things. No... things will be different this time around. You'll be my champion. You'll grow powerful. You'll grow to be me. Prince of Madness, a new Sheogorath. Or you'll die trying. I love that about you."

Wait a minute, what did he just say? the Champion thought alarmingly. "Whoa, whoa, whoa…how can I be a Daedric Prince?"

The Madgod rest his chin on top of his staff, looking to be deep in thought. "A fair question. You won't, really. At least I don't think so. But you'll have power. My power. Try not to lose it. It's a pain to replace." Sheogorath paused to crush a fly by his left foot with a cane.

"But, for all intents and purposes, you'll be Me. A Me to fight the Him. Since I won't be around. It's simple, really. If you don't think about it."

Aldric crossed his arms, shaking his head as he looked at the floor. The idea of being a god…it made him nervous. He knew that being a god would corrupt his very soul and he would lose his humanity. "Why me? Why me!"

Sheogorath had a strange look on his face, then chuckled. "Because you seem a nice enough sort!" he replied boisterously. "And you've made it this far. And if you don't, I'll swallow your soul and vomit it into the Everfilling Chamberpot of the Ageless. But mostly because I asked nicely."

The Redguard couldn't help but laugh at the mention of such a random thing, which prompted Madgod and Chamberlain to exchange a glance.

"Sorry," Aldric said finally after he composed himself and wiped a tear from his eye. "It's just…I've never heard such random things before. It's hilarious! Really now! I love it. Thank you!"

What in Oblivion did you just ramble, buddy? he suddenly thought. I better not be going insane.

"Ah!" Sheogorath said. "It's understandable. Many find me irresistible…and I kill the ones who do resist, because that's just the natural order of things. Right, Haskill?"

"Yes, My Lord," the bald man replied, bowing slightly in the direction of the throne.

"Anyways…where will you be when Jyggalag arrives?" The fact that Aldric could resume a normal conversation after his outburst of whatever it was startled him. Nonetheless, surely the crazy god would ask his Champion to do something.

"Not here," the Madgod replied, a hint of weariness creeping in his voice. "Didn't I say that? I'm never here when Jyggalag walks. It's one of the Rules. I've told you too much for now. Listen to me prattle on. I can see your mortal brain straining. We'll talk more later."

As Aldric bid his thanks and began to depart, a magical barrier seemed to stop him and throw him back towards the throne. He landed hard and was not too happy at what had just happened. "What the fuck was that for?"

For the next few minutes, the answer to that question was ignored and he was given a new task. The Great Torch in the center of New Sheoth was supposed to be burning, but it was not. For many years, the Great Torch's flame kept the worries of the Isles' residents suppressed, but with it out, people would begin to panic.

On the Isle of Flame in the northwest corner of the Shivering Isles lay Cylarne, an ancient fortress where the capital of New Sheoth once resided. He was supposed to bring back the Flame of Agnon to light the Torch. Sheogorath warned him to "take care of his minions." It seemed that the Dark Seducers and Golden Saints were currently fighting for control of the fortress, and Aldric would have to pick a side, something he hadn't considered. Not only that, but there was Sontaire and Caius to see.

As the Redguard left the Palace, he soon realized that his life had become more complicated then it had been--mentally, at least. There was something about the Shivering Isles and its people that really spoke to him…people with different insane tastes, who weren't threatening but merely eccentric, and it appealed to him greatly. Life back in Cyrodiil was too hectic and fast paced for him.

But that wasn't his immediate concern. What was his concern was getting his armor and Duskfang repaired at the local armor, which looked to be The Missing Pauldron because it was in Bliss and that district was closer to the Isle of Flame.

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Damn the Madgod into Oblivion! Aldric's mind absently cursed. Wait, this is a plane of Oblivion. Oh, whatever, He knows what I mean!

Aldric was only halfway to his destination, which was in the northwest corner of the Shivering Isles. But the long journey proved to be an ample opportunity for the Redguard to fill his map with locales. On his last venture out here, he had added Fain, Frenzied Camp, Camp Hopeful, and Dunroot Burrow. This time he had added a ruin named Milchar, a camp named Camp Talltrees, and a tree dungeon named Dire Warren.

The path to Cylarne was both dangerous and tedious--various creatures of Mania felt a grand need to attack him, and he ran into a few Knights of Order patrolling the roads. Twice he detoured around two Obelisks--while shutting them down would help stem the flow of Order, he didn't feel like dealing with them. But at last, he arrived inside the gates of Cylarne into a large courtyard. To his left and right were two gates leading into separate courtyards, each guarded by a Dark Seducer and Golden Saint respectively.

Now he had to make a decision. Earlier on his journey, he had summoned Haskill and asked him why he had to choose a side, seeing as though the two types of Daedra were Sheogorath's creations. The Chamberlain had responded as such:

"In normal times, Sheogorath would simply command it and his servants would leap to sacrifice themselves upon the Altars of Rapture and Despair. But, alas, the times are not normal, and Sheogorath has given you this task, without the authority to command it. I'm afraid you may have to be a little bit clever."

Just how clever, it seemed, was up to the Champion of Cyrodiil. So Aldric closed his eyes, stretched his arm out, and pointed. He then swayed his arm back and forth until he had counted to ten, then opened his eyes and discovered that he would be assisting the Dark Seducers.

Very well then, he thought soberly and approached the western gate. On his way over, he thought he heard some subdued whisperings over amongst the Golden Saints, and something about an Underdeep, whatever that was).

"Halt!" the female guard cried. "Mortals are not permitted within the walls of holy Cylarne."

"Stand aside," Aldric said matter-of-factly. "Sheogorath sent me."

The Dark Seducer gasped and reached into a pocket on her armored skirt. "My pardon, lord. I am Vika. Receive this key, and with it free passage throughout the Shrine of the Flame of Agnon."

"Thank you, Vika," the Redguard replied. He took the key and unlocked the gate and then unlocked a second door set inside of a large square column. Apparently this section led to the main portion of Cylarne, and from the looks of it as he walked about, the Seducers controlled all of the interiors. On his way into the center, he had passed a briefly hostile Seducer guard who told him to state his business. Mentioning Sheogorath quieted her and he was directed to someone named Ulfri, the commander.

He found her farther inside the ruins, and found Ulfri. She explained in detail that the Aureals, which Aldric presumed to be the Golden Saints, needed to be destroyed in order for the Flame of Agnon to be kindled. She also said that the Seducers were expecting an attack any moment, and that they would come down the main passage. She asked him if he would help her kind defend the Altar of Despair.

Then the Champion remembered overhearing the Saints mention something about an Underdeep and he brought it to her attention. The response he got back was surprising.

"Really now? That's interesting because I don't have any troops deployed there."

Aldric smiled at the deviousness of the plan. "If you redeploy your forces there, I'll lead the Saints into an ambush."

This caused Ulfri to smile. "I never suspected that Kaneh had the audacity to try such a risky assault. But we'll teach her to try to take the Mazken by surprise!

"I'll redeploy at once. You return to Kaneh and lead her into the trap. Once they are destroyed, I will kindle the Altars. Good hunting, friend."

With that, the commander began barking orders at her troops to move to the Underdeep and Aldric began to backtrack to the surface ruins.

He crossed the central courtyard, nodding at the Golden Saint who briefly glanced at him, and unlocked the door to the other courtyard. During this journey, he found it odd that the Saints hadn't attacked him for going down into the Seducers' area first. Then he realized that nothing would occur until one side took action first.

"I'm Aurmazl Kaneh," one said, who seemed to be the leader. "Mortals are not permitted here."

"I have been sent by the Lord Sheogorath," the Redguard replied. "I'm here to offer some tactical advice."

"Let's hear it."

"I've scouted the Dark Seducer position and indeed there aren't any forces in the Underdeep--"

Aldric was surprised when Kaneh interrupted him. "Ah, Mirel's beloved surprise attack. A perfect example of why males do not hold command positions. He has failed to consider the risks of his plan…"

It was Aldric's turn to interrupt. "I've seen it with my own eyes, Kaneh. It isn't a trap." The Champion had to resist the urge to smile at the deviousness of this plan.

"Mirel was very convincing as well... Very well. We'll risk it. The Underdeep it is. May Sheogorath's divine madness possess us today!"

She withdrew a magnificent golden longsword and raised it in the air. "Aureals! We attack through the Underdeep! The Mazken will be destroyed before they awake to their danger. Follow me!"

Out in the courtyard, Aldric saw Vika and the Golden Saint guard charge each other, swinging their axe and sword respectively, but ultimately Vika fell. This jolted the Redguard from his stupor and he managed to charge in front of the group of Golden Saints, barreling through the door, and running down the stairs.

He was now nervous having a bunch of Daedra at his back who would surely kill him if they figured out his treachery. He just hoped he would reach the Seducers in time.

At the end of a corridor, he saw a Dark Seducer archer step from behind a hidden corner and nock an arrow in her bow. Thankfully, she didn't shoot Aldric, but this also was noticed by Kaneh.

"Kill the traitor!" she screamed, and her Saints charged with renewed vigor at him.

Oh shit, oh shit! Aldric thought as he surged passed the archer and she let her arrow fly, which impacted in the stomach of a Saint. Much to his dismay as he looked over his shoulder, the archer was ran through and beheaded. But more Seducers lay ahead and as he joined their ranks, he withdrew Dawnfang and spun on his heel.

He flipped a Saint over his shoulder that had been charging him, bringing his sword up and down into her stomach. Strange for a Daedra, red blood spattered out. Perhaps they were just as much human as they were Daedric.

With that, the chaotic battle for Cylarne had begun.

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The battle proceeded on for about another hour but before then, all the Golden Saints were dead. He and Ulfri stood before the Altar of Despair, a fairly nondescript room with stairs on either side of the room leading up to a large circular indent in the ground. Before it, three Seducers were kneeling on either side, with the pair in the center.

"Victory is ours, Aldric!" she triumphantly proclaimed. "I have already instructed my subordinates to kindle the Altar of Rapture. It is my honor to sacrifice myself on the Altar of Despair at Lord Sheogorath's command."

As she began walking towards the indent, the Champion grabbed her arm, taken aback by her sudden words.

"Sacrifice yourself? What do you mean?" he asked alarmingly. He had liked fighting by the Seducers, especially Ulfri who was very skilled with her axe, more so than he was with a sword.

"The Altars which feed the Flame of Agnon can be kindled only by the willing death of an immortal," she replied blandly. "I have hoped for this moment since I took command of the Mazken at Cylarne. I return my soul to the embrace of Oblivion's dark waters. Farewell."

As she turn her back on him and accepted a small ceremonial dagger from one of the Seducers, it occurred to Aldric that such things as death did not instill fear in these Daedra. Unlike him, they were immortal, and such a task as to sacrifice themselves (if only temporary) brought great honor to them. Feeling that it was right, he took up a position in the middle of the two rows of kneeling Seducers and knelt with them.

Ulfri took the ceremonial dagger and plunged it through her chest, crying out in pain as she collapsed to her knees. A great wind swept through the chamber as a pillar of greenish-orange fire rose from the bowl and through a hole in the ceiling. Ulfri disappeared in a flash of light, and the fire burned for a few more seconds, then went out.

The Seducers all stood, and that gave Aldric his cue to stand. He began to walk, looking for a way out.

When he finally emerged on the surface, in the Seducer's side of the compound, Aldric saw a great green-orange fire burn in a tower in the central courtyard.

This must be the Flame of Agnon, he thought, slowly approaching it.

Two Seducers were flanking the lower portion, which almost seemed to be a man-sized fireplace.

"Sheogorath says I need to retrieve the Flame," he asked one of them. "How do I do this?"

The Seducer he had addressed smiled. "Why, you step into it, Emissary."

Aldric nearly collapsed onto his butt in frustration, but kept his footing. Surely there had to be another way to go about this other than…engulfing himself in it. He would die if he did so!

But before he could think of a way, another Seducer from behind came and pushed him in. As he found himself accelerating toward the burning flame, he cried out and caught each of the sides with his gloved fingertips. Then he found the other two Seducers pushing on him and he was trying with all of his might to not go in as the flames blazed in front of his face.

Aldric's efforts failed, however, and he was eventually pushed into the Flame of Agnon.

Yet…he didn't burn.

He walked back out of the 'fireplace' and he could definitely feel the sensation of fire all around him. But it was cold…chilly even…which felt good considering that the temperature on the way to Cylarne had been unceasingly hot.

With the cold Flame of Agnon rushing about his body, he made way for New Sheoth--detouring around the Obelisk of Order, of course.