The Abbey of the Eight is one of many centres of worship in Cyrodill for the Eight Divines. The Abbess who leads this settlement of cloistered Initiates welcomes any who tire of Banners War to join their order, but their numbers seem few. In times of strife, and turmoil, the message that all blessings spring from the Divines can be badly received, to the point where blame and angry outpourings against those still pious in their beliefs are becoming ever more common. This explains the necessary presence of the Knights of the Eight. The relationship between the initiates and the Knights however seems strained. The Knights own piety is tested somewhat by the sanctimonious complaints of the initiates that none, including the Knights, offer sufficient thanks to the Eight to receive their blessings. In truth there is nothing that causes men and mer to revisit their convictions more then war.

S.K

The Nisin Cave in Southern Cyrodiil seems to be just another burrow of the Shadowed Path cult, albeit a little too close to Vlastarus for the towns comfort. But the difference here is that this circle of necromacers is lead by a Dremora fire mage, and this particular Dremora fire mage is dedicated in service to the Daedric Prince of Cruelty and Torture, Boethiah.

That this Shadowed Path circle seems to worship Boethiah, or at the very least are working under one who serves the Dark Mistress, raises many concerning questions. Whilst it is rare that deadric princes work together it is not unknown, for sometimes their hatred of mortals outweighs even that which they have for each other. But it is never a straightforward pact and their reasons for doing so are often beyond the comprehension of us mortals. I recall for instance the unanswered puzzle of the statue of Vaermina I discovered within the Shivering Isles whilst retrieving another of those cursed tomes for Shalidor.

Is it possible that this circle of the Shadowed Path worships a different, or indeed multiple daedric princes? Or are they here simply at the grace of Boethiah, being complicit in Molag Bal’s insidious plans for the heartland of Tamriel? Or could Boethiah itself be searching for the very same relic as Molag Bal for its own evil intent. Of course even daedric princes are not omnipresent, so perhaps it is that this Dremoa works for its own profit, unbeknownst to its patron? I recall seeing no evidence evidence of Boethiah cult activities when I returned to the Imperial City, or anywhere else in Cyrodiil for that matter.

Ultimately there were no answers to be found in Nisin Cave, just as there were none in the Shivering Isles. So I must presume and hope, that this is but an anomaly. It matters little however for these sheepish cultists which Daedric Prince thy choose to follow, for there is only one truth for them to discover, and that is that the shepherd always eats its sheep in the end.

S.K

The Shadowed Path cult have reportedly been taking over a number of caves and delves across Southern Cyrodiil in search of an unnamed artefact they believe will aid their dread patron’s conquest of the Imperial City, and eventually all of Cyrodiil. My first encounter with this cult was when I discovered them trying to raise a Lich at an Ayleid ruins within the Great Forest. Thankfully at Lindai their ambitions outweighed their talents.

The leaders of Vlastarus however are worried that the necromancers nefarious need for corpses to practice their foul rituals upon may soon lead them to prey upon their town. So they have asked that I venture north to Haynote Cave and cut down their numbers to thus reduce this threat.

These caverns by all accounts were once part of one of the most successful fungus-farming operations outside of Morrowind. Now however all that remains of the enterprise are the rotting wooden supports, and the foul musty stench of fungi. Though to be honest the stink could just as easily be coming from unburied rotten corpses, one must be careful where one tread when there are necromancers about.

I do what I can to cull their number, including going up against the leaders of this foul circle, the Dark Elf Theurgist Thelas, and the Imperial Bonelord Diabolist Volcatia. It is soon clear however that what this cult lacks in talent, they make up for in numbers and resources. The immediate threat to the people of Vlastarus may indeed be quelled, but it wont be so long before the towns leaders will be hiring other mercenaries to return to these caverns. In the end the only way to end the threat of the Shadowed Path cult will be to put an end to the threat of their dread patron, Molag Bal.

S.K