Episode 1
Gates of Madness
Talym
First, the player heads straight for the Gates of Madness. There, Talym encounters the Gatekeeper, a hulnking construct of stitched flesh.
Gatekeeper
(Challenging roar of the Gatekeeper.)
Talym
That thing looks tough. Not sure I'm prepared for this fight, but here goes nothing…
Unfortunatelly, the fight proves too difficult, and Talym is forced to turn back.
Garden of Swords
The Gardener
Away you! This is my garden, you hear me? Mine!
Talym
The player defeats the Gardener.
The Gardener
Stop it, stop it! You're wrecking the garden!
Talym
I need a weapon that can kill the Gatekeeper. Give it to me, and I'll leave.
The Gardener
It pains me to harvest it but… here. I used the body of the last Gatekeeper to fertilize the ground where this axe grew. Now get out of here! And stay on the path!
Talym
Armed with the Gardener's axe, Talym heads back to have another go at the Gatekeeper.
Garden of Swords
Talym
That thing's huge! Hope the Gardener was right about this axe.
This time, Talym defeats the beast.
Cyriel
You killed it! Fantastic! I've always wanted to see the other side of the gates! Good luck, pal. See you around!
New Sheoth Palace
Haskill
I must beg your pardon, but the Lord Sheogorath will not see you. He said you were, and I quote, 'Boring, boring, boring, boo hoo, my poor son, get over yourself. No wait, get under yourself, that would be funny."
I suggest you try to be more entertaining. Perhaps someone needs your heroic services? The Isles are full of exciting ways for a foolhardy adventurer to amuse my lord.
Talym
The player heads out into the Shivering Isles, hoping to find contests that will entertain the Lord of Madness and get his attention. First, Talym heads to No-Rat Camp.
No-Rat Camp
Cyriel
Help! Help! Hey, mister, please, I need to get out of here!
Talym
Well, look who it is. Still have my purse, thief?
Cyriel
You're not still mad about that are you? Of course you're not. Look, I'll give it back if you just help me okay? I was robbing this giant camp when these boulders fell and trapped my leg. Please, the giant could be back any minute!
Talym
What kind of giant?
Cyriel
The big kind! Weird one, too. They say he's afraid of rats. Probably why he calls this 'No-Rat Camp' come to think of it.
Nervous Giant
(Roars.) I smell elves in my camp! Prepare to die, elves!
Talym
Cyriel runs away, but Talym must fight the giant. After defeating him, Talym turns his attention back to the thief.
All right, he's running off. You're safe now, thief. Thief? Oh for the love of Vehk, she's run off! Great…
(Sigh.) Well, on the bright side, I'm sure Sheogorath found this highly amusing.
Next, Talym chooses to head to Notehollow.
Notehollow
Luzrah gro-Shar
LA dah dee dah DAH! No, no, no. Maybe it's La dee dee DAH! GAAAAH, that's not it either! Why?!
Talym
What's wrong?
Luzrah gro-Shar
Can't you hear it? The song … playing in my head. I can't recreate it!
(A tune plays. It is five notes long, with the five notes being comprised of just three distinct notes.)
Talym
By the gods, I think I can hear it! It's coming out of that cave.
Luzrah gro-Shar
Yes, I've ventured inside. There are strange Grummites there that I can tell hold the notes… but I can't make them play the song! It's driving me mad not being able to hear it out loud. Please stranger, please: Make them play the song!
Talym
Talym heads inside the cave. Inside the cave, he must fight a Grummite Savage.
It's uncanny. It's as though something in this cave is creating the song in my mind.
Talym realizes that killing the Grummite's fellows leads them to make notes that sound like the song Luzrah is obsessed with. He kills a red grummite, a blue one, and finally a yellow one, producing the nescesary notes.
Luzrah gro-Shar
That's it! You've done it! Let's get out of here.
It's like a fog is clearing from my mind. This cave must be some kind of cruel joke of Sheogorath's, designed to draw in musical souls like us. I'm in your debt, stranger.
Talym
Call me Talym.
Luzrah gro-Shar
Luzrah gro-Shar, bard extraordinaire, at your service. I've been wandering the isles trying to learn their lore and songs. If you ever need knowledge, companionship, or a jaunty tune, never hesistate to call on me!
A Man Divided
Talym
Only one location remained marked on the map. Talym headed there, and, upon arrival, found an Altmer named knight Rayvat.
Rayvat
You there! You look like a formidable fellow. I need your help. There's a pesky knight, who's been following me around constantly! Every waking hour, it seems! I can't see him, can't ever find him -- but just I know he's there. Find him and beat him bloody for me, will you?
Talym
Talym looks around, and sees an Altmer Mage nearby.
The Other Half
Talym
You… you wouldn't happen to be following around a mage named Rayvat, are you?
Tavyar
What?! That worm? No, he's the one who's constantly following ME around! If only I could find him, I'd run him through!
Talym
You, uh… You look a lot like him, you know that? A whole lot.
Tavyar
Nonsense! That weakling and I are nothing alike. Say, you wouldn't be willing to sort him out for me, would you? Believe me, he deserves it.
Talym
Talym can either choose to fight the Knight (Tavyar) or the Mage (Rayvat )... or just tell them that they're the same person.
(Select "Fight Knight") TalymNo, I promised Rayvat I'd sort you out. And a deal's a deal I suppose. |
(Select "Fight Mage") Talym(Sigh.) Sure. I'll sort out 'Rayvat.' Tell you what, why don't you go around the corner and I'm sure he'll turn up. |
(Select "You know...") TalymYou do realize you're the same person, right? Tavyar/RayvatWhat? No, that's ridiculous! Although… it would explain… Oh. Oh god. No. No, it can't be true! How dare you, you insolent, you… you pathetic coward? I'll blast you to pieces! |
Talym
The Dunmer defeats the knight-mage, and decides to head back to New Sheoth Palace.
Something tells me I'm not going to get paid for this job. (Sigh.) Well, hopefully Sheogorath at least enjoyed the show.
Haskill
Well done, sir, My lord has been much diverted by your violent and musical antics. I myself had a most raucous chuckle. Sheogorath will see you now.
Together, the two of them return to the palace, where the Prince of Madness is waiting.
Sheogorath
a want me to do WHAT?! I'm the Daedric Prince of Madness! I don't make people sane! I'd have to be crazy to do that! And I am crazy. So I'll do it!
But here's the bargain, mortal...
You want me to make one person sane? You've got to bring three people around to my side of the coin. Y'understand?
Three lovely broken minds for one boring whole one. That's fair isn't it? Given that you're desperate and I'm mean.
Talym
You have a deal.
Sheogorath
Wonderful! I promise, It'll be the most fun you've ever had. Scratch that: It'll be the most fun I ever had, heh! But I'll have enough for both of us!
Episode 2
Sheogorath
Your first victim is a crusty old assassin named Zhanar. This cat has killed enough people to buy a fortress, and would ye believe, he doesn't so much as lose sleep over it? Never hears the phantom whispers of his victims? Hasn't once huddled in the darkness to escape the staring eyes of the dead? Terribly rude if ye ask me.
There's got to be a hint of mind shattering terror in there -- and you're going to find it! Give him a good and proper haunting for me. Oh, and I brought you some friends to help! I promised them riches, cheese, and that I wouldn't dismember them.
Luzrah gro-Shar
Suur-prise! Luzrah's here to heeeeelp!
Cyriel
Uh...Hi. No hard feelings about that purse thing right? Of course not, you're not the type for hard feelings, right? Right.
Sheogorath
I told you this would be fun!
Fortress Catacombs
Cyriel
Look, I found a way into the fortress catacombs.
Talym
Hmm. Sheogorath wants a "proper haunting." Maybe we can start by making a little noise.
Inside the catacombs, Talym fights a variety of Catacomb Creatures. He makes noise by copying the summons of the creatures, and eventually defeats them.
Fortress Guard
Zhanar, did... did you hear that racket last night? It was as if the walls of the fortress were shaking, but we couldn't find anyone inside.
Zhanar Tabav
It is surely nothing. But make sure you lock the doors tonight, if it makes you feel better.
Trophy Room
Luzrah gro-Shar
I've heard tales of this Zhanar -- he's killed some pretty renowned heroes. The Red Avenger, the Hero of Dawn, the list goes on. He's said to keep their weapons in his trophy room.
Talym
Is that so? Cyriel, if you can get me past the locks, I have an idea.
The gang infliltrates the trophy room, but Talym has to defeat Fortress Guards before they can take the trophies. Once the guards are dead, Talym and the crew sneak back out.
Fortress Guard
Zhanar! Some of the guards were found dead in the trophy room... and there was blood on the blade of the trophies! It's … it's almost as if the ghosts of your enemies took up their weapons against us.
Zhanar Tabav
After all these years, you think these spirits would suddenly bother Zhanar? No, we have some unseen enemy. Double the guard.
Cyriel
Those guards might be a problem.
Talym
Or an opportunity. Luzrah, tell me more about these heroes Zhanar killed.
Talym learns more about the heroes, and dresses up as them to further terrify the guards.
Fortress Ramparts
Fortress Guard
Halt! Who goes there?
Talym
I am the fire in the darkness, the blade of the morning, the protector of the weak.
Fortress Guard
It can't be. But that helm, that axe -- It must be! It's the hero of dawn, Benor Redoran!
Talym
Talym defeats the guards while dressed in the hero's relics.
Fortress Guard
I swear lord Zhanar, there's no question. It was the hero of dawn! Benor Redoran is reborn, and out for vengeance!
Zhanar Tabav
I will hear no more of this nonsense! This "hero" was only a man, and Zhanar killed him long ago! Zhanar fears no spirits, you hear? None!
Fortress Hallway
Fortress Guard
What's that noise? By... by the gods. That mask -- it looks just like the one worn by the Red Avenger, Renthos Hlaalu!
Talym
Again, Talym defeats the guard while pretending to be the dead hero.
Fortress Guard
Zhanar, Zhanar, I saw it with my own eyes -- I was attacked by the Red Avenger!
Zhanar Tabav
Rhenthos Hlaalu is dead. This one killed him, remember? And when Zhanar kills someone, they stay dead!
Necrom Graveyard
While the guards were terrified, their master was still not scared. It was time for something more radical.
Talym
We've done all we can short of showing Zhanar an actual ghost.
Haskill
Then might I suggest showing him some? My lord sent me to bring you this. It's a special soul gem able to trap and release restless spirits. Its existance is also quite offensive to them, so I dare say some should be along any minute.
Talym
He heads into the catacombs, defeating and trapping various Graveyard Spirits.
The gem is full. Let's give Zhanar a taste of what's inside.
Fortress Personal Chambers
Zhanar Tabav
These cowardly simpletons. Ghosts. Pfah. Perhaps spirits roam this world, but if they were vengeful, would they not have haunted Zhanar long ago? Or the tyrants and monsters of history far worse than Zhanar?
No. Death frees one of mortal concerns. Of vengeance, anger, and guilt. Zhanar has freed many, and someday... He will be freed in turn.
(A creaking floorboard, the moan of a ghost.) What is that? Who's there? No. No, it can't be! It cannot be!
Talym
Talym proceeds to fight Zhanar's guards. He uses the haunted amulet to unleash ghosts and scare away the waves of guards.
Zhanar Tabav
Come back here you cowards! That's not a real ghost! It... it can't be!
Cravens, all of you! Zhanar fears no mindless spirits!
Talym
Eventually, all the guards flee or are defeated, leaving just Zhanar.
Zhanar Tabav
It is true. After all these years, they have come for Zhanar! They wish to torment this one for all eternity! I must flee!
Talym
Zhanar Fled into the night, but there was no escape. Seeing our ghosts had broken the assassin, who would live out his days in fear of his long-dead victims. I almost pitied the old killer, but I was one step closer to curing Novos.
Throughout the story of the Isles of Madness, the player may take on the chapters in different orders. They have been arranged here in a way that reads best to me.