422. The maddening circle

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After thousands of years the majestic isle of Eyevea is finally returned to its home in the Abecean Sea.

The ancient Arch-Mage Shalidor greets us upon our arrival, but he is not here alone. The island has returned from Oblivion occupied by a host of Sheogorath’s insidious daedra, and Shalidor is keen to evict these most unwelcome guests from his sanctuary.

Also returning from the daedric realm are the huge mushroom trees native to the Shivering Isles, which now predominate Eyevea’s gardens and surrounding hillsides. Most of the island’s architecture however has remained surprisingly unchanged during its decampment from Nirn; the soaring spires and graceful arches of the halls, bridges and outbuildings reflecting perfectly the Altmeri heritage of their Summerset neighbours.

One last uninvited, if not wholly unexpected guest however, is Sheogorath himself. The Mad God could never let his game end without making the final play. And so to complete this maddening circle he offers one last obliquitous bargain.

S.K

421. The endgame?

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At the Mages Guildhall in Evermore, the Master of Incunabula Valaste has finally managed to decipher Sheogorath’s final tome, but it appears to have taken a serious toll upon her wits. Shalidor meanwhile triumphantly prepares to perform the rite that will finally return the isle of Eyevea back to the Mundus.

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One thing I have learnt from these games with Sheogorath however that Shalidor seemingly hasn’t, despite all his years, is that when you are playing by a deadric prince’s rules, the point of the game is not to win, but to survive.

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Something tells me that we are about to discover that this particular Mad God’s game has a tail as barbed as a Craglorn Scorpions.

S.K

420. I have to believe in redemption

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Sometimes we do things that have bad consequences, and sometimes we have to do bad things for a greater good. It does not mean we are evil, or that we can never again be trusted thereafter.

However, a repugnant act made with good intentions is still a repugnant act, and society expects all crimes be punished. Yet justice must acknowledge motive, else it is little more then vengeance.

I have to believe in redemption, I have to.

S.K

419. The Halls of Submission

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There are times in life when we must fight for freedom, sometimes we must even be willing to die for it.

Once more unto Coldharbour, that most damnable realm of Oblivion that no matter how many times I escape just keeps drawing me back in; where else but here does a man without a soul truly belong. It is here in the Halls of Submission that Molag Bal has kept his dread weapon, the Mortuum Vivicus, hidden since time before the First era. And It is here that we must put an end to its pernicious threat once and for all, else the God of Schemes unleash it upon Nirn. Defended by the three guardians of the blood fonts, Oru, Razan, and Irazur, our task is made more difficult still by a revelation of treachery that threatens the freedom of all Tamriel.

There are times in life when we must fight for freedom, but it is not always enough to be willing to die for it; sometimes we must be willing to kill for it also.

S.K

418. Of trust and honour

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As a legionnaire I was always taught that it was the height of dishonour to mistrust your comrades, and yet now I find myself at the Fighter’s Guildhall in Evermore about to start a hunt for a former guild comrade, accused, tried and condemned in her absence… or perhaps more accurately because of it.

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Despite all their creditable work in fighting back the dread anchors of Coldharbour, the more time I spend in the company of these people the less sure I am of their intentions.

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The one thing I am sure of though, is the only way to discover if you can trust someone, is to trust them; and hold faith that honest intent is enough to conquer dishonest words.

S.K